Chapter 99: The Reincarnated One Completes It

"Hmm..."

In the forest, the black mana flickered, and a tingling sensation ran through his fingertips. Confirming that his decisive blow had hit its mark, Lee Sehoon quickly surveyed his surroundings.

The assassins, covered from head to toe in black cloth, appeared somewhat small, but Lee Sehoon, who had killed them directly, realized their bodies were abnormally emaciated.

'Abnormally deformed bodies with exceptional stealth abilities... Could this be the work of the Tuner?'

One of the Ten Evils, the 'Tuner 調律者'.

A mage who had recklessly modified living beings' bodies, and one that Lee Sehoon was particularly wary of. It was the Tuner who, in collaboration with the Observer before his reincarnation, had created one of the Six Great Demon Gods, the 'Demon God of Sword Destruction'.

'Last time it was the Puppeteer, and this time it's the Tuner. I must be quite popular.'

Both the Puppeteer and the Tuner had different 'directions', but considering that their main ingredients were human or mage bodies, it wasn't too strange that he was targeted consecutively.

In the situation where he had been marked by two of the Ten Evils, Lee Sehoon was taken aback.

Swoosh

Feeling movement around him again.

Despite the leader being swiftly dealt with, they remained calm and looked for opportunities, indicating that they had been well-trained, separate from their modifications.

'The absence of Ma Guangshu is also strange... It seems a significant figure has arrived.'

Though he wasn't sure how the situation was unfolding, he first needed to check on Park Jin-hwan at the workshop and, most importantly, ensure the safety of Yeom Seong-ha, who had disappeared.

Having made his decision, Lee Sehoon infused mana into his index finger, which was etched with tiny characters, and recited the incantation.

"Call of the Dead."

Whoosh

A black wave spread from the tip of his finger.

The black mana within it formed eye-like patterns on the bodies of the corpses, which slowly closed.

Finally, when all the patterns turned into thin lines and penetrated the corpses.

Swoosh

The corpses disappeared, and eight shadows appeared.

The shadows stood in a peculiar formation, like the shadows of the assassins. Lee Sehoon's eyebrows furrowed at the sight.

'Resurrection? They said these were not very efficient.'

A necromantic spell that resurrects corpses as undead. While it looked impressive, it was one of the outdated methods due to the weakened state of the resurrected and the high mana consumption.

However, given the situation, Lee Sehoon immediately ordered the undead to protect him and ran towards the workshop.

Whoosh!

As he moved, darts and shadows attacked him from all sides. Clutching the Five-Color Painting, Lee Sehoon responded.

Swoosh

Everything was cut by the undead.

Swoosh!

The bodies of the undead assassins, elongated like shadows, whipped out like whips, silently slicing through everything that threatened their master.

Lee Sehoon's expression turned incredulous at the sight of the undead, which, despite being weaker, possessed the characteristic of shadows and were enhanced to a B-level.

'Just a finger bone...'

As always, it was impossible to gauge just how monstrous the Perfect Ones were.

Surprised but having assessed their abilities, Lee Sehoon broke through the encirclement and ran to the workshop.

Bang!

"What, what's happening?!"

Park Jin-hwan, startled, looked up as Lee Sehoon kicked open the door.

Apart from slightly puffy eyes, he had no injuries. Seeing this, Lee Sehoon relaxed and quickly asked,

"We were attacked by enemies, and Yeom Seong-ha is missing. Is there a place he might go when he's angry?"

Park Jin-hwan's eyes widened as he understood the situation and quickly replied,

"The waterfall! If you go northwest from here, there's a waterfall where the founding master and I used to go!"

"Understood. I'll leave the protection to the undead, so be careful!"

Leaving four undead assassins to guard Park Jin-hwan, Lee Sehoon ran back to the forest where he had thrown the black short spear.

If the ambush was only in the village, there should be no one following him. Upon reaching the forest with rocks, Lee Sehoon activated the necromantic spell 'Eyes of Vigilance' through the Bone of the Nameless.

Swoosh

Black outlines indicating the boundaries of objects. Lee Sehoon immediately extended his left hand upon discovering a large line floating in the air.

Whoosh!

The Bone of the Nameless in his left index finger touched the space, and a gap opened, dropping the black short spear he had thrown earlier.

'The enemy... committed suicide.'

Upon realizing they were completely overpowered, the enemy had thoroughly destroyed all evidence, leaving not even a piece of clothing.

It was likely the evidence-destroying device prepared by the Tuner.

'That's why I hate assassins.'

Impressed by the thoroughness, Lee Sehoon retrieved the black short spear and checked its condition.

Black veins, like blood vessels, protruded from various parts of the spear shaft. Concerned by this ominous appearance, Lee Sehoon opened the information window.

[Shadow Spear 影唵槍]

[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Medium-Low]

A short spear consumed by shadows.

It can absorb life force from contact and convert it into dark mana, and use mana to manipulate boundaries.

However, excessive use of its abilities can lead to a state of corruption, reducing its performance.

*Absorbs life force and converts it into dark mana.

*Can use the skill 'Hidden Shadow 潛影'.

*Cannot use the skill 'Projection 投影'.

*Internal corruption limits performance.

'Projection is blocked.'

The weapon skill 'Projection', which stores and releases power, had been used to unleash the 'Flame of the Eye'. However, it caused corruption after just one use, reducing its functionality.

'Still, with Hidden Shadow, it's still usable. What's left is...'

Turning his head towards the northwest, where the waterfall was, Lee Sehoon quickly found a trace.

Footprints clearly left behind, as if there was no intention to hide them. If he followed them, he would likely find Yeom Seong-ha.

'Just stay alive!'

He would deal with broken limbs later. With this thought, Lee Sehoon ran into the mountains.

***

Rushing water

A small waterfall above a stream.

The droplets scattering in all directions reflected the sunlight, sparkling, but the eyes of Yeom Seong-ha, who was looking at it, grew even darker.

'Recalling the past for comfort...'

Recalling the harsh words he had spat at Park Jin-hwan, Yeom Seong-ha looked down at the spear in his hand.

A spear he had wielded on the battlefield with his master. Though he had never seen it himself, the marks on the spear revealed its past.

How his master had wielded the spear in the past. And how powerful and valiant he had been. These images naturally formed in his mind.

'I am no different...'

Seeing his master's weakening state day by day was painful, and the fear of not being able to see him at all one day drove him to cling to the past.

Distorted by this behavior, Yeom Seong-ha looked at his reflection in the stream.

'Can I really become the master?'

Becoming the master of the Yeomhwa School, as his master wished, was his unchanging goal, but he had doubts.

Could he really lead the Yeomhwa School like his master? Could he inherit the Yeomryeonjanhwa Spear and carry on his master's legacy?

Becoming the master and being an excellent master who doesn't tarnish his master's reputation were two different things.

'Go away. I have nothing to give to a brat like you.'

Lee Sehoon, who had looked at him with cold eyes, filled with disappointment. Unconsciously, Yeom Seong-ha gripped the spear tightly.

"I am..."

Normally, he would have erased such thoughts from his mind, but today they wouldn't go away easily.

As Yeom Seong-ha stared at his reflection, a mocking voice came from the opposite side.

"Is that the spear?"

"To think such an old relic still exists. Park Jin-hwan is really stubborn, isn't he?"

A middle-aged man with a crimson crescent moon saber on his shoulder walked out from the opposite side. Yeom Seong-ha's eyes widened at the sight of him.

"An Gil-hyun..."

A disciple who had killed a fellow instructor during a mission in a dangerous area and attempted to cover it up, but was caught and expelled.

Seeing him appear after several years, Yeom Seong-ha looked at him with a tense expression.

"You should have an instructor. You still lack discipline."

"There's no reason for an expelled disciple to have one."

In response to Yeom Seong-ha's sharp words, An Gil-hyun stopped in front of the stream and clicked his tongue.

"Tsk tsk. For someone who wants to be the master, you're quite clueless... Don't you understand why I'm here?"

An Gil-hyun, speaking with a disdainful tone, slowly lowered the crescent moon saber from his shoulder.

"Unlike the stubborn previous masters, the 4th master recognized my grievances."

The 4th master, Yi Won-ryong, had promised An Gil-hyun a return. Hearing this, Yeom Seong-ha thought for a moment and slowly spoke.

"I see. You were already in league with Yi Won-ryong from the time you were expelled."

"Perhaps. The one I killed back then was highly expected to be the next master."

Swoosh

An Gil-hyun scraped the ground with the crescent moon saber and twisted his lips as he looked at Yeom Seong-ha.

"Like this!"

"!"

Bang!

The two simultaneously kicked the ground, and red spear tips clashed above the stream.

Bang!!

A series of explosions followed the collision of the spear tips.

The flames, which had tried to engulf each other, retreated, and the two, enveloped in their respective flames, swung their spears.

Whoosh!

The basic combat technique of the Yeomryeonjanhwa Spear involves controlling space with the spear and subduing the opponent with the following flames, 'Janhwa 殘火'.

Thus, intense clashes often occurred. However, when two Yeomryeonjanhwa Spears faced each other, the situation was slightly different.

Clang!

The spear tips, trying to control space, clashed and pushed each other away, and the Janhwa, which had caused a large explosion, burst in small scale.

Clang—Bang!

Using the recoil from the explosion, they twisted the trajectory of the spear tips or created openings by obscuring their vision with flames.

A fierce exchange of attacks to gain the upper hand. In this intense battle, Yeom Seong-ha was gradually pushed back.

"Your reaction is slow...!"

Clang!

"Grgh...!"

An Gil-hyun's crescent moon saber gradually dominated the space, increasing its power, while Yeom Seong-ha retreated, desperately trying to counter the force.

An Gil-hyun, who had become an instructor over ten years ago and had been an A-rank hero, naturally had the upper hand in both experience and strength. However, there was another reason.

'This guy... didn't just kill one person...!'

The struggle and experience of killing another user of the Yeomryeonjanhwa Spear were embedded in the tip of his spear, tearing apart Yeom Seong-ha's spear technique from the roots.

Clang!

With each attack aimed at his vital points, Yeom Seong-ha understood who he was facing.

A hunting dog for Yi Won-ryong, who had been eliminating obstacles to controlling the Yeomhwa School for a long time. That was An Gil-hyun's true identity.

"You learned from Yeom Jin-hyun, so your spear technique is just as bad. Instead of that outdated thing, show me the dual spear technique you showed the master!"

An Gil-hyun, mocking his spear technique and thoroughly dismantling it, made Yeom Seong-ha feel two conflicting emotions.

The thought that he might have held out longer if he had used the dual spears. And the belief that his spear technique, and his master's, could not have fallen behind.

Amid these conflicting emotions, Yeom Seong-ha clenched his teeth and infused mana into the inside of the spear.

Whoosh!

A massive flame erupted from the spear tip. The 'Flame Demon 炎魔' thrust, which had once pierced countless monsters and mages, was recreated in Yeom Seong-ha's hands.

Whoosh!

An Gil-hyun's crescent moon saber cut through his body faster.

Crack!

The spear tip grazed his chest, causing a burning pain. However, Yeom Seong-ha's eyes were fixed on the spear in his hand.

"..."

The spear, now split in half.

The internal mana circuits were damaged, and the spear tip turned dull, with no response to the infused mana.

Seeing the completely dead spear, Yeom Seong-ha's eyes widened, and An Gil-hyun clicked his tongue.