The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 544
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 544
By the time Yean finished showing me around, the sun was already beginning to set.
I returned to my quarters as the sun slowly descended toward the horizon. The room they had given me was already tidied up, though I couldn’t say when someone had entered.
I’d heard that servants came to clean whenever no one was present. It didn’t matter—I’d already brought out everything I needed.
“I hope the tour wasn’t too inconvenient for you.”
“Not at all. It was excellent.”
I was grateful I’d only brought what was necessary. At my words, Yean bowed respectfully.
“Thank you. Then I hope you rest well… I shall see you again later.”
“Yes.”
Perhaps I’d see him again during training? He’d mentioned we’d meet in a few days.
I nodded slightly as I watched Yean depart.
‘As expected.’
It grated on me—that subtle spiritual energy and the aura of Patcheon Gung I sensed beneath it.
‘He appears courteous on the surface.’
But he’s definitely hiding something. If I hadn’t sensed his energy, I might never have noticed how refined his deception was.
Click.
I cracked my knuckles with deliberate force.
‘Three to four.’
I constructed information in my mind. Three to four—the number of variables and unknowns I could identify from observing them.
“The Divine Sect, perhaps.”
This wasn’t going to be simple. Today alone made that clear.
When should I make contact with the Elder? Worry kept surfacing as I pondered this.
[What troubles you so?]
The Celestial Demon read my emotions and spoke.
[If something displeases you, destroy it all. That is the way of the demonic path.]
“…I’ve told you before—I have no intention of walking the demonic path.”
This demonic path nonsense. I’m doing this precisely because I don’t want to go down that road, so who’s lecturing whom here?
“Sigh.”
Nothing seemed to work out right. I let out a quiet laugh and brushed my hair back.
“I need to focus.”
There was too much to do. There was no time for distraction.
And yet.
‘Destroy it all, she says.’
It was certainly violent and chaotic advice.
‘But it’s not entirely without merit.’
Perhaps it wasn’t entirely wrong. The thought flickered through my mind.
* * *
Time passed. Before long, the day arrived for me to join the Demonic Sect’s training session alongside their gathering.
I hadn’t made any grand preparations. I simply donned the clothes I’d been issued and equipped my weapons.
The problem was that I couldn’t wear certain specific weapons, so I had to leave the Divine Sword behind.
Thus, I stored it in a wooden coffin. I arranged it so I could sense immediately if anything unusual occurred.
‘Does it matter if I’m separated from the Divine Sword?’
The Celestial Demon seemed troubled by the question.
[It doesn’t matter. I’ve already made contact with the demonic energy in your body.]
“…Is that so?”
Unfortunately, the Celestial Demon appeared unwilling to part from me. The Divine Sword had been the medium before, but that had changed now.
As I stepped outside, the others had already changed into their clothes and were waiting.
“This feels uncomfortable.”
Woon-ryong’s expression showed displeasure. As a disciple of the Shaman Sect, wearing the Demonic Sect’s robes seemed distasteful to him.
The others didn’t seem particularly bothered. As for Yoo Yeon—
‘It suits her.’
The dark gray martial robes looked remarkably well on her.
I tied my own hair back loosely and moved forward.
‘The Sword Emperor—’
Since his conversation with the Elder last time, he’d remained secluded in his room and hadn’t shown himself.
Since he hadn’t come as a guard in the first place, there was no problem.
I hadn’t discussed anything different with Jeolma, Mee Yeon-hwa, so proceeding as planned should work.
“What should we do once we get there?”
“Just do what we’re told and smash everything to pieces, right?”
Paeng Dojin and Woon-ryong conversed, and a Martial Artist from the Demonic Sect came to find us.
“I’ll guide you.”
I followed him.
* * *
The building’s interior was quieter than before.
Despite the sparse sounds from the early morning activity, a considerable number of people had already gathered in the designated training area.
Their ages varied, but there wasn’t much significant difference among them.
It was obvious at a glance.
‘There they are.’
The disciples of the Demonic Sect we would be training with.
“You’ve arrived.”
And before them stood a man of massive build, his entire body covered in scars.
Thud.
He rose to his feet and slammed a large cudgel against the ground.
“I was prepared to beat you senseless if you were late. You’re fortunate.”
We weren’t late though. We came immediately after being guided here—what was he talking about?
“I am Paling-do, the instructor for this training session.”
His grin looked disturbingly violent. It was a face I had no desire to look at for long.
“Welcome to hell, you incompetent fools from the Righteous Faction.”
All eyes were fixed on us. The disciples’ gazes carried unmistakable hostility and wariness.
Among them, I could also see shallow sneers.
It was as expected.
Why would I expect warm welcomes? From their perspective, we weren’t much different from how they viewed Marin.
We were the successors of those who had brought about their downfall. The position of the defeated would be even more bitter.
“There’s nothing particularly special to introduce.”
Paling-do sat back down and glanced over at us.
“Do you want to introduce yourselves? If so, go ahead.”
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
It sounded like a joke, but Paeng Dojin stepped forward as if he’d been waiting for the opportunity.
Ah, that crazy man.
My attention was drawn to Paeng Dojin, who had suddenly moved ahead.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Paeng Dojin of the Peng Clan. I quite like this atmosphere. I enjoy things like this.”
He showed no sense of alienation whatsoever. He seemed like he could fit right into the Demonic Sect.
“I like your eyes. If you’re bothered, challenge me anytime. I welcome that sort of thing. Ah, but I’m not interested in the weak, so only send those with some skill, yes?”
Crackle.
At those words, fighting spirit erupted from various corners. This crazy bastard—he really was starting with provocation right from the beginning?
‘Has he lost his mind?’
It was truly impressive. I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“Ahahaha.”
At those words, Paling-do laughed.
“An amusing fellow. How did the Righteous Faction manage to have someone like this?”
“If you wish, I could have a match with you as well?”
At Paeng Dojin’s words, the corners of Paling-do’s mouth lifted upward.
“How amusing. I’d love to rip out your tongue and teach you some manners… but I have other matters to attend to first, so I’ll let it slide.”
Tap, tap.
“That’s fortunate. It seems today’s training is connected to this anyway.”
Today’s training.
It really seems like there were no introductions or greetings between us at all.
“Today’s training is the Divine Sect Battle, as announced. With guests from the Righteous Faction here, it should make for an excellent opportunity.”
Divine Sect Battle? The name alone sounds ominous. Just as I was watching—
“Does anyone want to have a go at this hulking beast?”
As Paling-do pointed to Paeng Dojin, hands shot up from all directions.
“I’ll crush your skull.”
“You righteous faction bastards. Let’s see how far your arrogance can take you.”
“Come on then. I didn’t like the look of you from the start, you wild boar.”
“Ohhh.”
Watching the hostility explode toward him, Paeng Dojin let out an exclamation of admiration.
“I like this. There are actually people who can come at me like this.”
Among the disciples of the Righteous Faction, there were hardly any who could stand against Paeng Dojin.
Even among fellow geniuses, most would simply back down rather than face this madman in combat.
But here, every single one of them looked desperate to crush Paeng Dojin to pieces.
As the numbers exceeded hundreds, I was beginning to find it tedious—
Kuuuuuuung—!!!
‘Hm?’
A pressure of a different quality forced its way through the air. At that distant, overwhelming aura, everyone flinched.
I turned my gaze toward the source of that palpable presence.
‘Who is that?’
In the back. Positioned slightly apart even from the other disciples.
Someone was gathered there.
As if occupying a different position from these others, a group stood clustered together, watching.
And among them—
‘Yoo Young-jin?’
Yoo Young-jin, who had vanished after being beaten by Dok-ryong, was glaring at me with a twisted expression.
And this violent aura was—
‘Gyoyeon.’
That man I’d met yesterday, the one called Gyoyeon. It was the aura he was radiating.
“…Blood Battle Fist.”
“…That person…?”
Blood Battle Fist. It seemed to be Gyoyeon’s epithet.
Radiating that aura, Gyoyeon walked forward. The violent energy continuously pouring from him caused him to approach, then stop.
Not in front of Paeng Dojin, but in front of me.
What’s this? As he stared intently at me, he spoke.
“I don’t want to fight that hulking bastard. I want to fight you.”
“….”
“Instructor. Do we really have to fight him first?”
“Mm.”
Gyoyeon spoke, and the Instructor nodded in response.
“It doesn’t matter. Listen.”
“Paeng Dojin.”
“Right, you from the Peng Clan. Were you thinking of changing the order?”
“Hmm.”
Paeng Dojin stared directly at Gyoyeon and me. Was he going to throw a tantrum about fighting first? It was possible.
I could always yield if that’s what he wanted.
I just watched, inviting him to speak.
“No? It’s fine. Our leader needs to loosen up a bit anyway.”
‘This bastard?’
At Paeng Dojin’s words, I clicked my tongue.
“Leader?”
“…Wasn’t that bulk the leader?”
“So this pretty boy is the leader?”
“Ha. That sounds ridiculous.”
All eyes turned to me because of that. Damn it. I was trying to stay quiet.
“Leader? You must be quite impressive if you can afford to ignore me. Isn’t that right?”
He brought up what happened last time. Hearing that, I smacked my lips before speaking.
“…Are you perhaps the narrow-minded type?”
“Maybe? I’m the kind who always repays what I’ve received.”
“But technically, you’re the one who started the trouble. Why come at me?”
“It doesn’t matter. The reason is meaningless. I simply don’t like you.”
A crimson aura began to rise from Gyoyeon’s hands. It was the same thing I’d seen before.
“Come out, pretty boy. I’ll tear that smug face of yours to shreds.”
“….”
I exhaled a sigh.
It seemed I couldn’t avoid this after all.
‘Why on the first day?’
Why did it have to come to this on the very first day?
My luck was truly abysmal. This was the moment I realized it.
* * *
There was no need to move. The training grounds were located right ahead.
It was enough that everyone spread out at a distance.
Paling-do, the instructor, stood at the center and positioned the two of us facing each other.
What was it called again? A Divine Teaching Match? From what I heard, they just have everyone fight on the first day of training as a commemoration.
Apparently they assign numbers and call people by those numbers?
With so many people here, I wondered what they were actually planning to do.
In any case, it seemed the first match would proceed with just the two of us like this.
“When you’re ready, fight on your own.”
For a referee, that was remarkably irresponsible.
Whoosh.
Gyoyeon takes his stance upon hearing those words.
“Should I let you have the first move? Tell me if you’re scared.”
“….”
Is that line fixed? Everyone says the exact same thing.
Hmm.
I pondered for a moment as I watched. What should I do? In a flash, something comes to mind.
[Why are you even thinking?]
[Just destroy everything.]
Those were the words of the Demon sealed within my blade.
Destroy it all.
Why hold back?
‘She’s not wrong.’
There’s no reason to hold back now that I’ve come this far.
“That’s not something a weaker person should be saying.”
“…What?”
I spoke to Gyoyeon. His expression crumples at my words.
“Get your head on straight. If this gets too boring, I’ll be disappointed.”
“…You bastard.”
Kuuuuung-!
A crimson aura erupts from his body. It’s different from the aura of the Heavenly Killing Star.
There’s a fishy stench to it. The reek of blood. Can an aura alone create such revulsion?
Veins bulging grotesquely, muscles swelling violently.
At a glance, he looked like the type who knew how to throw a punch.
“Fine then. Let’s see how far your arrogance goes. I’ll smash that visible pride to pieces.”
Kuguguung-!!!
Gyoyeon speaks and gathers all his energy.
Boom-!!!
He charges forward, shattering the ground. He becomes a crimson flash, closing the distance to me in an instant.
“Oh ho.”
The instructor watched and marveled at the sight.
“Your aura has grown even stronger than last time. At this rate, it will end much faster than expected—”
Before he could finish speaking.
Crack-!! Boom-!!!
“Ugh.”
“What?”
Gyoyeon let out a strangled cry as he was driven into the ground.
My fist had buried itself in the face of the man who’d been flying toward me.
I slammed him straight down into the earth.
Crash-!!!
Debris erupted upward.
“Ugh….”
Gyoyeon’s eyes rolled back as the clear impression of my fist remained etched across his face.
“Hmm.”
I spoke, observing him.
“What is this? You’re pathetically weak. Why were you even talking trash?”
The match was far more disappointing than I’d anticipated.
Extremely so.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————