The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 148

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 148
This was entirely different from when I faced Dok-ryong.
The difference in skill.
I felt it acutely.
‘Against Dok-ryong, I could have won if I tried.’
I actually did win. But with Cheonhye-in, that feeling doesn’t exist.
Crack—!
I drove force into my legs.
I channeled my energy into the ascending blade.
As the sword tip rose, I found something I could use.
Though my stance was somewhat disheveled, the angle was sufficient.
Night seeps into the raised sword.
I brought the night crashing down.
Wol Seon-geom Technique Second Form.
Yawol.
The cascading fallen night hurtled toward Cheonhye-in.
“Hmm.”
At that, Cheonhye-in let out a snort.
Whoosh—!
“…!”
She twisted her body with fluid grace.
Her form resembled a serpent. And the sword she held seemed to bend as well—an illusion born of her movement.
Our tangled blades shifted the angle of Yawol.
The sword that had been aimed at Cheonhye-in struck the ground at a twisted angle.
Crash—!!
The blade struck the dueling arena directly.
It should have bounced up from the impact of hitting the floor, but it didn’t.
‘Damn.’
Cheonhye-in was pinning my sword’s spine with her foot.
Her pale calf held the blade fixed.
And as I registered this, her foot sole drove toward my face.
I twisted my head. Her toes grazed my nose.
I barely evaded it.
As I withdrew my body, my trapped sword regained its freedom.
‘Insane.’
Then something absurd appeared in my Wol-an perception.
As Cheonhye-in approached me, countless pathways were visible from her form.
Not just one or two blue lines.
All of them were possibilities she could unleash against me.
‘…Damn.’
I clenched my teeth.
Thus began an intense exchange of blows.
No.
A desperate exchange of blows began.

* * *
Crack—! Tap tap—! Boom——!!
Dull sounds rang out without pause.
Whoosh—! Crash———!!!
Impact erupted at the sword’s edge as it cleaved the wind, qi burst through empty space, and shockwaves rippled outward.
Attack and defense repeated endlessly.
The two wooden swords clashed fiercely, sustaining the exchange.
At first glance, the duel between the two appeared evenly matched.
But that was only at first glance.
Most of those present could not fail to see how heavily the exchange was tilted toward one side.
“…Overwhelming.”
“The gap is that wide.”
Those from Sowoldae watching muttered among themselves.
“The Protagonist, the Protagonist. We wondered if his reputation for talking much meant something, but it seems he’s no match for the Heavenly Supreme.”
“We heard he surpassed the Seven Prodigies by far. That doesn’t seem to be the case either.”
The Protagonist was rumored to be remarkable enough to easily defeat the Seven Prodigies, the current seven geniuses.
But now I learned that rumor was false.
“He did seem to defeat Dok-ryong, but the Heavenly Supreme is beyond his reach.”
“Indeed. No matter how much of a predecessor he is, the Heavenly Supreme is a genius comparable to the Sword Saint herself.”
“Rumors are never entirely trustworthy anyway.”
Those watching the duel spoke in unison.
It was inevitable.
Though the fight hadn’t ended, the outcome was as clear as day.
“He can’t close the distance at all.”
Crack—! Tap——!!
The Protagonist.
Bangseong-yeon, the youngest member of Sowoldae called Geomseong’s Predecessor, wielded his sword with grim determination.
The wooden sword carved through the air swiftly, creating dozens upon dozens of sword paths.
The power contained within them was formidable.
While it might seem rough in some respects, the strength behind it was considerable enough to overlook such shortcomings.
His level was respectable enough.
“The problem is his opponent.”
That was the issue with Bangseong-yeon’s adversary.
Whoosh—! Tap—!
Displaying light, graceful footwork, she evaded or deflected every single one of Bangseong-yeon’s attacks.
Whenever I attempted to unfold even the slightest sword technique, it was severed.
Footwork tangled and disrupted at every turn.
Every conceivable method to prevent my opponent from regaining composure was being employed.
Delicate, cunning, and devastatingly beautiful.
It appeared as an exchange of offense and defense, yet it was closer to one side merely toying with the other.
The Seventh of the Heavenly Blade—Wol Muhui.
Cheonhye-in deflected Bangseong-yeon’s blade again and again with an expressionless face.
The smile she had worn long since vanished.
Her breathing remained steady as she continued moving only her sword.
“Haah!”
All that could be heard was Bangseong-yeon’s ragged breathing.
It spoke volumes of the extreme difference in stamina.
The blade never made contact, and he could not draw near.
Those watching reached the same conclusion.
Wol Muhui was stronger than the Protagonist.
Overwhelmingly so.
It was a duel perfectly designed to cement that understanding.
And.
‘As expected.’
Sochul Daeju made no effort to hide his laughter.
‘His arrogance ends precisely here.’
Bangseong-yeon could not touch Cheonhye-in in the slightest.
Watching him, I could not help but smile.
‘He dared to test me.’
The image of Bangseong-yeon, speaking to me with such brazen confidence, came to mind.
That moment when he exchanged words with me, his eyes half-lidded in that peculiar manner of his.
‘What did he say?’
That he needed to become Moonju, and asked for my strength to aid him.
‘Not even amusing.’
I despised that man for speaking so boldly.
‘How dare he….’
Did he even comprehend what that position was before attempting to ascend to it?
And on top of that, he asked to borrow my strength?
‘Preposterous.’
It was an impossibility.
Moreover.
‘There is no world in which I would choose him over the Heavenly Supreme.’
Faced with such radiant potential, I would never choose an ignorant fool.
‘However he came to know of this matter.’
When I heard that Geomseong’s Predecessor had appeared.
Sochul Daeju contacted the Dang Clan and made a request.
Until the situation could be assessed, he asked them to prevent rumors from spreading.
Fortunately, the Dang Clan agreed to his request.
Just as Sochul Daeju had business with the Dang Clan,
the Dang Clan also had something they desired from him, making it possible.
Though it did create one additional matter, it was something I could endure.
‘I cannot tarnish the Sword Saint’s name.’
Compared to bringing shame upon the great Sword Saint’s name, I could do this much without hesitation.
‘The Sword Saint’s Predecessor? That’s absurd.’
Even if by some chance it were true, I could never acknowledge that man.
Sochul Daeju could never accept Bangseong-yeon bearing the name of the Sword Saint, such a great existence.
‘That man is skilled at manipulating people and cunning.’
Compared to that great one who was praised as a hero and a gentleman,
he was a dissolute man who bewitched people with his glib tongue.
And what of the power he possessed?
‘No matter how much Moonju acknowledges him, or that he defeated Seom Seong-gyeong.’
He cannot be called the Sword Saint’s Predecessor.
Even if he uses that great one’s martial techniques and possesses his relics,
even if every possibility suggests Bangseong-yeon is that great one’s predecessor,
I cannot accept it.
‘I will not acknowledge him.’
I refuse to recognize that man, no matter what method he used to obtain traces of that great one.
‘He said he accomplished something great in Sichuan.’
He supposedly killed a heterodox master and saved the Dang Clan, earning the alias Protagonist in the process.
‘Did something happen within the Dang Clan?’
I didn’t believe even that.
‘He does seem stronger than before he left, as if he gained some fortuitous encounter.’
But that’s all there is to it.
‘He saved Dokuou with that level of power? That’s ridiculous.’
With the power Bangseong-yeon possessed as I saw it, he could never have saved both the Dang Clan and Dokuou.
‘He must have used some scheme.’
It couldn’t have been accomplished through pure martial prowess alone—that cunning mind of his must have orchestrated something.
‘…while bearing the Sword Saint’s name.’
It was truly displeasing.
Had the Sword Saint still lived, he would have stepped forward confidently and proven himself through strength, not such petty tricks.
‘You are not worthy of that name.’
I despised Bangseong-yeon for lacking the power to prove the name’s worth.
‘Though Moonju seems to favor him.’
Even that will be only for now.
No, once this duel ends, even that will be gone, I was certain.
How could Moonju not set his heart upon witnessing such a display?
KWAAAAGH-!!!
“Ugh!”
Bangseong-yeon’s wooden sword trembled violently.
Cheonhye-in had struck upward again, sending it soaring.
And then.
CRACK-!!
“Hack!”
The wooden sword struck directly into his exposed torso.
Bangseong-yeon, caught by Cheonhye-in’s attack, flew backward and tumbled across the ground.
“Cough-!”
He barely managed to steady himself, but blood trickled from his lips.
He had taken a solid hit.
The fortunate part was that his energy hadn’t been properly channeled, so the impact was lessened.
‘In the end.’
Even accounting for that, the outcome of the duel was unmistakable.
‘He couldn’t land a single touch.’
Bangseong-yeon’s blade had never reached Cheonhye-in.
All those claims—that he had slain a heterodox master to save the Dang Clan, that he had defeated Dok-ryong.
Every last one of those words found their proof in this single moment.
‘The Sowoldae belongs to the Heavenly Supreme.’
A distant and remote possibility.
The alien talent that Cheonhye-in possessed.
A brilliant potential that captivated all who beheld it and sometimes filled them with dread.
Moonju seemed to be contemplating something as he gazed upon the Heavenly Supreme, yet Sochul Daeju believed the conclusion he would ultimately reach would be the same.
Even Bangseong-yeon, who had appeared as Geomseong’s Predecessor, was helpless against Cheonhye-in.
With so many witnesses to this, what would unfold next was painfully obvious.
“Hmm.”
Wol Seon-geom exhaled softly.
A hint of disappointment flickered across his features.
Sochul Daeju swallowed his laughter at the sight.
‘It’s over.’
Sochul Daeju nodded with certainty.
Then Cheonhye-in walked toward Bangseong-yeon to finish it.
I couldn’t say what expression Wol Seon-geom wore, but he likely bore the same face as Cheonhye-in.
For disappointment filled the visage of Cheonhye-in as she approached Bangseong-yeon.
“…Is this all there is?”
Her voice was hollow.
“You were so confident, yet this is all you amounted to.”
All emotion had drained away.
“…What was I even expecting?”
Disappointment gathered between my brows.
Cheonhye-in, her face darkened, raised her wooden sword.
Bangseong-yeon rose to his feet, blood streaming from his wounds.
“Huff…”
Exhaustion was plainly evident.
Blood traced the corners of his mouth, and crimson stains seeped through his garments.
Then.
“…Ah, this won’t do.”
He spoke in a voice tinged with regret.
“It seems I’m still not ready.”
His tone was one of acceptance and resignation.
Was he admitting defeat?
Bangseong-yeon then lowered the wooden sword he had been holding.
Swish.
Gradually, he released the tension from his body.
What is this?
Sochul Daeju narrowed his eyes.
‘He’s given up, it seems.’
It appeared he had abandoned hope, deeming the situation hopeless.
‘Truly, even to the very end, he displeases me.’
That person would never have done such a thing.
To give up.
There was no need to watch further.
Sochul Daeju thought as much.
And in that very instant, Cheonhye-in’s wooden sword moved to finish Bangseong-yeon.
The duel would end.
Everyone thought so in that moment.
“Huh.”
Wol Seon-geom exhaled sharply.
Boom—!!
“Gack—!!”
Someone collapsed to the ground.
“What?”
“What…!?”
Many who witnessed it gasped in shock.
Everyone had naturally expected Bangseong-yeon to fall.
Yet shockingly, it was Cheonhye-in who collapsed instead.
Cheonhye-in, who had rushed forward to finish the match, suddenly coughed violently and crumpled.
“Ugh—!!”
He even gagged painfully, his body convulsing.
What in the world was happening?
Everyone stood frozen in bewilderment.
Sochul Daeju’s eyes had widened to the size of lanterns.
“What…!”
What was this? What had just transpired?
In that moment, I lost track of the action.
As Sochul Daeju stared at the Dueling Arena with incomprehension etched across his face.
“Hahahaha!”
Wol Seon-geom burst into laughter.
“…”
At that sight, Sochul Daeju could not help but gasp in shock once more.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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