Chapter 56

Chapter 55. The White Dream Warlord (2)

‘Am I going to die like this...’

A window of opportunity appeared before his eyes.

He would normally try to find a better situation, but now he couldn't even think about it.

The opponent was the 29th-ranked member of the Demon Sect.

The White Dream Warlord, after all.

6... 5...

Even though there was no way to win, he had to make a choice.

It would end in one move, anyway.

‘Wait. If I'm definitely going to die, the window of opportunity shouldn't have appeared.’

When he thought about it, that was true.

In his previous life, when he died to the White Dream Warlord, he couldn't resist at all.

There was a huge gap in their levels, but also, he was too close to the opponent.

The situation was a bit different now.

The appearance of the window of opportunity meant there was a chance to survive.

Even if the probability was extremely low, it meant there was a chance.

2... 1...

As the time ran down, Seohui's gaze lingered on the combat style above.

Could he change it even at this moment?

He tried to make a choice, just in case...

‘It’s changing!’

Combat Style

The change was clearly visible.

And after another choice...

Combat Style <Simulation>

He chose Simulation. As soon as the selection time ended, everything stopped again.

Swoosh—

Then, countless illusions unfolded before his eyes.

In this frozen moment, the illusions moved in different directions.

Some jumped around the room.

Others crouched or rolled.

Another repeatedly ran, dodged, and retreated.

Soon, all but one illusion disappeared.

The movement it made appeared in front of him in text.

1st: Stay in place, Wuhen Wajiao (無痕臥脚)

Lying on the ground, lifting one leg.

Wuheng Guishenbu (無痕鬼神步) 4th form, Wuhen Wajiao appeared.

Without hesitation, Seohui replicated the movement.

Then, he saw the White Dream Warlord approaching him on the ground.

Bang!

He narrowly avoided Seohui's leg attack, but his movements were slightly off balance.

And the second action appeared.

2nd: Place both hands on the ground, Wuhen Dengjiao (無痕登脚)

Seohui quickly pushed off the ground with both hands and delivered a powerful kick.

It was clearly a powerful attack.

Still, the White Dream Warlord blocked it with both hands and quickly retreated.

3rd: Using sword techniques, Xiaoshen Shumagong 3rd form, Pajian Suojie (破劍素解)

This time, it was a form attack.

Seohui drew his sword from his waist, focused his inner energy, and unleashed the form.

Zing!

A white sword qi flew toward him.

It scattered in all directions, breaking into hundreds of pieces and tearing him apart.

Moreover, the confined space of the room blocked his escape routes.

Sssss—

The ice particles, a characteristic of Xiaoshen Shumagong, momentarily clouded the surroundings.

And with the text appearing before his eyes.

[The simulation has ended.]

“Ah...”

Seohui's mouth dropped open.

The White Dream Warlord.

Hadn't moved from his spot.

He was still alive.

What Seohui had shot were not just ice particles but tiny sword qi.

He had taken them all with his body.

Still, he seemed to have taken some damage... a trickle of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth and the top of his head.

“How can a demon in broad daylight...”

The White Dream Warlord just stood there, dazed, even as Seohui prepared to counterattack.

He seemed to find the situation hard to believe, his eyes occasionally twitching.

‘I don't know either, man.’

Seohui let out a hollow laugh in this tense moment.

The opponent had taken a direct hit from his attack but didn't seem to be significantly damaged.

How strong was his protective aura? He had taken hundreds of sword qi beams and still stood.

‘I don't know what will happen now.’

Seohui looked up.

There was no answer.

Now, he could only trust the other guy.

The other guy inside him would surely find a way.

So he changed.

Feeling his body separate as he did.

Combat Style

If it's ‘you’...

I can trust you.

* * *

I changed to AI and watched him from the ceiling.

He first looked around, then stared intently at the White Dream Warlord.

Then, his body trembled.

And he shouted loudly toward the ceiling where I was.

“Hey, you damn bastard!”

‘Huh!’

I felt a chill at AI Seohui's sudden outburst.

The current situation must have matched his emotions.

Glancing to the side, the White Dream Warlord also seemed taken aback.

Not out of fear, but because a crazy guy shouting was absurd.

“...”

AI Seohui seemed to have calmed down.

He was more composed now.

“Of course, I showed some consideration when I killed your subordinates.”

More composed, not angry or indignant.

“I could have killed them all, you know.”

“...What?”

But the words that came out of his mouth were a strong provocation.

He was deliberately provoking him.

“Come outside. I'll show you who I am.”

And he walked out the door.

Perhaps because of his provocative actions, the White Dream Warlord just watched as AI Seohui passed by.

‘Could there be a way to win...?’

AI Seohui's calm actions suddenly gave me hope.

Maybe he had some extraordinary ability I didn't know about.

Judging by his confident words, he must have had some hidden trump card.

But.

‘...Huh?’

“Gaaaaah!”

As AI Seohui crossed the threshold, he started running like a madman.

Not toward the White Dream Warlord, but in a completely different direction.

‘...’

I was speechless, unable to describe the scene. And, of course.

Boom!

He didn't get far before the White Dream Warlord, using incredible lightness of body, caught up and sent him rolling on the ground.

But AI Seohui didn't give up.

“Gaaaaah!”

Like a lunatic, he continued to run.

‘...’

He ran and ran.

And ran some more.

Then, after seeing a powerful sword qi heading for his back.

I saw a familiar message.

[You have two more chances.]

‘Damn...’

* * *

[When would you like to rewind time?]

■ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-1. The Three Lives Gonma Offers

□ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 3-1. [Core Warrior Success] Stormy Growth Period (Bonus Story) 3 Years

□ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 3-8. [Core Warrior Success] Stormy Growth Period (Bonus Story) 1 Year

After seeing this, Seohui thought for quite a while.

With only two lives left, he repeatedly questioned whether he had made a mistake by taking on the crazy mission.

But in the end, he chose the third option.

Going back in time to do the same thing again was frustrating, and he couldn't abandon a mission that had cost him two lives.

[‘Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 3-8. [Core Warrior Success] Stormy Growth Period (Bonus Story) 1 Year’]

“Phew...”

Seohui slowly looked around.

The feeling of being alive again.

But it wasn't a pleasant feeling, like coming back to the past.

“I shouldn't have taken this in the first place.”

Seohui thought.

The Zayong Grass was something he shouldn't have taken from the beginning.

He hadn't expected the White Dream Warlord to come, and he couldn't find a way to persuade him.

In the end, Seohui had only one option.

To give up the Zayong Grass and hand it to Gonma.

That was the only way now.

* * *

- What's going on?

- This... Did Hong really give this to you to pass on?

- It was a great help. I will never forget this day.

- Don't worry. Even if the White Dream Warlord comes, he won't act rashly.

“Phew...”

Seohui sighed in relief after talking with Gonma.

He felt a bit of self-reproach for making things so difficult when it could have been so simple.

‘Damn! My precious two lives.’

And through this experience, he realized something important.

Excessive greed can cost you your life.

Not every mission is worth taking.

Danger always lurks around, so you must act rationally.

That was it.

Seohui devoted himself to the only hope left: martial arts practice.

His ultimate technique.

To use the Fenshen, which creates a powerful wind pressure and tears the opponent apart.

◆ Four Great Extreme Demon Arts Wind. Skill Characteristics Table ◆

Fenshen (風神): → N (Neutral) ↓↘, A <4.5x Speed>

It was difficult.

He practiced countless times but couldn't execute it properly.

Focusing on the precise movements, he couldn't keep up with the flow, and focusing on the flow, the movements weren't accurate.

Especially, the movement requirements were too high.

He had to hit the exact point in a very precise flow to execute the Fenshen technique.

It was a huge difference in difficulty compared to the Dabok Sword.

After