Evil will carried in dance and song continued without end.
“Hee–ee–eh–heuh–yah–heuh!”
“Hee–eee–eh–euh–ah–euh–heiriroya!”
The Dueoksini used the dokkaebi ritual stolen from Cheongeumdang.
An evil ritual that restructures the hope and illusion in one’s heart into a desire that swings between madness and delusion.
The fourth tomb in the center of Paju Samneung filled with fresh red blood.
A horrific pit of blood created by slaughtering innocent lives.
And the earth veins of Paju Samneung began to be tainted by that blood.
Gugugugug—
An ominous rumble continued.
The ground went insane, and the air corrupted.
“Yes! The great legacy that existed before humans set foot on this land awakens!”
“Our leader who slumbered will bestow great power!”
“The time of feast approaches! The time of feast approaches! The time of feast approaches!”
Chaotic shouts erupted.
The Gourmet Expeditionary Force was no proper religious order. It was closer to a community of fanatics sharing the same faith and ideology.
Thus, there were no unified chants or synchronized hymns one often hears in other cults.
‘If it weren’t for the Dueoksini, this atrocity would have been impossible in the first place.’
But the [Predator of the Mountains] that the Gourmet Expeditionary Force worships, an avatar of the [Blood Demon King], had summoned the Dueoksini.
An event that should never have been possible.
‘Why did this event occur? Because I shattered the masquerade? Or because, as Seo Cheonseul said, I destroyed the Sea Well?’
My actions and choices were causing ripples in the predetermined future of this world.
Escaping this world before an unmanageable situation arises is the only way I can survive.
“It’s rising. Be careful, Master Cheon.”
“Be careful of what—?”
Kwarrrr—
At last, the Expeditionary Force’s desire and will began to manifest in this world.
Scarlet mana surged toward the sky.
It mingled with the air, forming a blood-red mist.
“You mean I should be careful of that?”
That thing! Yes, be careful of that!
I wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come.
[Everything around you is stained with blood— blood— blood— blood. The land, the plants growing from it, the creatures walking on it, and even the air trapped in this evil barrier that cannot circulate will be dyed red.]
A foreboding script began to appear in the message window blocking my view.
[System: Attempting resistance against delirium using Willpower stat. Willpower check...]
In any other situation, I would have screamed, but instead I waited calmly for the result.
[...Success!]
I succeeded in the check to resist delirium.
‘So the successful check must be fake, right?’
My heart thumped wildly in a completely different way from my thoughts and feelings.
‘I don’t know what’s happening deep in my body and mind, but it seems quite a catastrophe.’
My fragmented psyche’s radiance was being suppressed by other personas.
In any case, the structure was clear.
Though I carried a bomb that might detonate at any moment, at least today I could act ignoring the madness.
“Mr. Kim, are you all right?”
“Ah, I’m fine. What about you, Master Cheon?”
“Baha ha— no, I’m not fine.”
Seo Cheonseul covered her mouth with one hand.
“Mr. Kim, do something about this. One wrong breath and I’ll turn into a Dueoksini.”
A dokkaebi that drinks blood and revels in its taste transforms into a Dueoksini.
“Wait!”
I had anticipated this situation and prepared a countermeasure. I meant to use it earlier, but the message window prevented me, so I completed the spell now.
[Purification Barrier]
[Even Gar’s Beacon]
A wall of white flame flared around Seo Cheonseul and me. It would repel incoming yin energy and burn away the corrupting blood mist that induced madness.
“It was wise to bring Mr. Kim. I am you, and you are me. We can help each other— surely all according to Lord Manggeum’s plan.”
“I’d like to think so.”
“What will you do now? The ritual is already underway. Isn’t it too late?”
“Well, the method is simple. They brought ox, snake, sheep, and pig to create yin energy, right?”
They disrupted yin–yang harmony to mock reality’s laws.
“So we just need to restore the lost yang energy around here and foil their plan.”
“Yang energy? That’s what you told me to prepare. Why did you think I’d hate it? Ah— red beans! Red beans, right? Ugh— the worst!”
“Red beans aren’t bad, but they can’t move on their own, so I asked for something else.”
Moreover, we’ve already summoned the powers of the Twelve Zodiac and Twelve Divine Generals—red beans would break the theme.
“Master Cheon, this is dokkaebi magic based on the Five Elements. Look.”
I pointed to the structures surrounding the ritual site.
Torii gates made of red pillars.
“See the animals offered as mountain sacrifices?”
“Disgusting sight.”
The gate pillars hung with the corpses of animals Yeomgeumja provided.
This was the core of the barrier isolating Paju Samneung from the outside.
“That’s right. But if we follow the dokkaebi ritual’s Five Elements—”
I pointed to each beast hung on the torii in order.
“The ox represents Earth, the snake Fire, the sheep Earth again, and the pig Water.”
“Five Elements. So Wood and Metal are missing from Wood–Fire–Earth–Metal–Water.”
Yeomgeumja spoke as if he’d been asked to procure edible beasts, but in dokkaebi magic they were carefully tuned symbols of geomancy, yin–yang, the I Ching, and more.
“Exactly. They created a clashing energy Earth-overcomes-Water, Water-overcomes-Fire. And as you said earlier, with the ox and sheep they formed chukmisangchungsal, and with the snake and pig sahaesangchungsal.”
It sounds complex, but the key is one thing.
In an Eastern worldview based on harmony and cycles, anything that interferes with harmony and cycles brings discord, malice, and chaos.
The Dueoksini had amassed that very discord.
Discord, discord, discord.
Continuing Eastern thought, there is only one way to resolve this.
“To stop the ritual filled only with yin energy, Mr. Kim must supply yang energy embodying Metal and Wood.”
“That’s right. But one animal is enough. One representing Wood and possessing yang energy is sufficient.”
I raised the Sain Chamjeong Sword.
“Oh, that tiger blade? Yes. That will do. Then what embodies Metal with yang energy?”
“A beast that awakens the night, heralds a new dawn, and draws in sunlight.”
“Oh, wait. You’re not suggesting the retinue of General Migira, are you?”
“That’s right.”
“Listen, Mr. Kim, I’m a dokkaebi! I don’t want to hear that!”
Complaining while enjoying sunbathing.
“I’ll solve that problem.”
I enhanced the barrier around Seo Cheonseul.
[Sound Distortion]
“Can you hear my voice? If all sound were blocked, fighting would be inconvenient, so I adjusted its range.”
“Ugh. Mr. Kim, this is—”
I cut her off before she could complain further.
“Now smell, taste, and sound can no longer disturb Master Cheon. Go forth and show the Treacherous Dueoksini who betrayed Cheongeumdang the authority of Cheongeumdang.”
Her expression brightened at the words.
“Good. I’ll show those rotten Dueoksini the true power of with dokkaebi!”
Kwaaang!
Understanding her purpose, Seo Cheonseul sprang off the ground in an instant.
“Wihooo! Master Cheon approaches!”
She had complained that she could only move one step at a time—right?
“It’s a valid complaint.”
But in one bound she flew hundreds of meters into the sky.
Like a golden meteor rising from earth to heaven.
“Look over there!”
“Th-that’s Master Cheon!”
“Master Cheon! Master Cheon!”
The Dueoksini’s screams of awe.
“Traitorous scum of Cheongeumdang! If you don’t want to be struck by Master Cheon’s Diamond Vajra, flatten yourselves on the ground!”
The flying Master Cheon turned into a bolt of gold and struck the ground of Paju Samneung.
Kwaaaan!
The golden Diamond Vajra shook the earth, scattering Dueoksini in all directions.
“Master Cheon! Master Cheon!”
“Arrgh! Gyaaagh!”
The Dueoksini, as if in a frenzy, writhed.
“Out of the way, you fools!”
“What can a single dokkaebi do?”
The Gourmet Expeditionary Force’s cultists charged Seo Cheonseul.
“Yes, come on! I’ll show you what that gold you saw in your dreams truly is!”
Kwaaang!
Seo Cheonseul’s Vajra spun at incredible speed, creating a tremendous vortex.
“Good. I ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) should start too.”
I pushed mana into the Sain Chamjeong Sword and formed a spell.
Wood begets Fire, summoning lightning—
[SSS-Tier Weapon Sain Chamjeong Sword (Green존) Unique Effect ‘Aspect of Celestial Flame’ activates.
// Aspect of Celestial Flame: Fire-type spell effects are increased by 100%.]
Pajiijijik— Uruuurung—
Flames and lightning released from the sword filled the sky, generating an oppressive roar.
‘I could skip most of the incantation, but casting a spell of this scale inside the barrier isn’t easy.’
But that barrier would be shattered soon.
[Fire and Thunder, Smoke the Heavens]
Kwarrrr! Kwaaa! Kwang! Kwagagyagyagyagyaek!
From the myriad magic circles above, countless storms of flaming lightning rained down.
Though they appeared random, I targeted precise locations.
First, the cultists charging at Seo Cheonseul!
“Dodge!”
“Arrgh!”
“Gyaaaagh!”
“Magic! It’s a mage!”
They scattered backwards to avoid the lightning.
“Oolssu!”
Master Cheon danced to the thunderous beats my lightning created.
And the Dueoksini trapped in the prison of lightning with Master Cheon.
“The tiger’s power is sufficient now.”
As the tiger’s energy spread westward, the barrier the Dueoksini had formed began to falter.
‘It’s about time to emerge, right?’
Should I call to urge them?
I cast a spell to check Yeomgeumja’s situation.
[Heavenly Hound]
Wheeeek—
Hundreds of meters collapsed in an instant, and Yeomgeumja came into view.
Brum— brum—
All the trucks started simultaneously.
Two hundred beasts rampaging in their beds.
Yeomgeumja, as always, was astute.
Seeing the lightning and weakening barrier, he sensed the right moment to strike.
Kwa-dudeudeuk!
Though in a forest with no roads, the trucks plowed through insignificant trees and charged forward.
They headed for the easternmost tomb, Sunneung.
Kwaaaang!
The trucks burst into the area around Sunneung.
A few Dueoksini controlling the snakes covering Sunneung shrieked “Shaaaak!” in snake-like hisses.
“Who is it? Who dares disrupt our ritual?”
A Dueoksini with snake scales and a split tongue.
“Arrgh!”
Yeomgeumja’s subordinates screamed.
Madness? Impossible.
I directed lightning at the snake-headed Dueoksini.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang!!
[Those around you are inspired by your heroic deeds. Temporarily waive Reason checks for nearby people.]
Yeomgeumja shouted after witnessing this.
“See that, you bastards! I told you! The Destruction Demon of the Triarch Council aids us! The Bomb Demon who drove out the Red Head! The tiger hunter who slew Cheongho, that mad Lairai Mage is our comrade!”
Wait, what? What nonsense is that?
“Waaaah! The Destruction Demon Kim Sinhwa is on our side!”
“Waaaah! Destruction Demon Kim Sinhwa!”
“Destruction Demon! Destruction Demon!”
“Shoot anyone in your way! Let’s get our Cheongeumdang passes!”
Da-da-da-da!
Submachine guns and assault rifles spat fire.
Under the gunners’ cover, the cages on the trucks swung open and two hundred beasts poured out.
Warurururur—
Poodoodoodoodudeuk!
The roar of four hundred wings beating on two hundred beasts.
At their head, a massive creature let out a proud cry toward the sinister ritual at Paju Samneung.
“Ko-kki-yo!!!”
Chasing away night, heralding dawn, they cried their sacred star call in unison—the retinue of General Migira, leading light and sunrise.
