Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Gakseon is an incarnation of Changhil, one of the Eight Legions Divine Generals?!

And they've all come swarming in!

Everyone panicked at the sudden declaration.

Seeing Gakseon and the other six of the Eight Legions Divine Generals right before my eyes, I couldn't help but tense up. They all took human forms, ones I'd never laid eyes on before. The reason I was so on edge, though, was that in my previous life, I'd dashed head-on with one of their number—Ginnara—and felt that power firsthand.

Even with the aid of Fire Dragon True Man and Jang Sambong, we'd struggled against Ginnara and barely lost. We might have won, but who knows what would've happened if the fight dragged on. Ginnara was at least Demon King level, and considering that such a powerhouse was merely low-tier among the Eight Legions in terms of raw strength—

'This situation is a disaster.'

If all the Eight Legions Divine Generals came at me, there'd be no way to stand against them.

It would be a battle more hellish than the Sea God Subjugation—far worse.

[ Changhil, you say... I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. And I certainly don't see how it justifies barging into my cult and strutting around like you own the place. ]

Saaat

The Cult Leader suddenly summoned his Taiji and unleashed a single-palm strike toward the back of Gakseon's head. That move, slicing through space as if it were his plaything, was so subtle and swift that anyone lesser would've lost their life in an instant. But Gakseon whipped around the black staff he held.

Intent Severing Technique

Crouching Dog Frenzied Strike

Thud thud thung

With sounds like drumbeats, the rapid counter flicked away the Cult Leader's attack with ease. Even though it was just a light probe, the hall's occupants were shocked all the more when it was blocked. Gakseon chuckled heartily and said,

"Heh heh! A frail human body, but you've trained it well."

Well? Far beyond that.

From the way he'd just wielded the Intent Severing Technique, he was at the pinnacle of masters—no question. Above all, only a handful in the entire world could deflect the White Lotus Cult Leader's strike like that. The White Lotus Cult Leader said,

[ You've been hiding your true power all this time. You're at least ten times stronger than the Gakseon I knew. ]

"Uncheon. It's been over eighty years since you and I last met, hasn't it... Back then, you were practically a madman, obsessed with one thing and blind to everything else."

[...... ]

"Your human tenacity and will were so extraordinary that I wanted to befriend you. And sure enough, you toppled even Qingyun Demon Lord and rose to become the supreme leader of the White Lotus Cult. As a human, I respect you greatly."

It seemed the White Lotus Cult Leader and Gakseon had been acquaintances for a very long time.

Gakseon continued,

"...However, I'm here not as the 'human' Gakseon, but as Gundalpa of the Eight Legions Divine Generals. If you don't step aside, we'll have no choice but to annihilate the White Lotus Cult."

A ferocious red glow swirled in Gakseon's eyes.

Gwoooo

Just as he took a single step forward, an indescribable chill swept over us.

Everyone sensed something off, their faces stiffening. This wasn't the pressure of supreme martial prowess from an Absolute Realm master. It was more like a vile monstrosity crawling up from hell, filling the space with overwhelming malice. It stemmed from the inhuman, savage aura Gakseon exuded.

A non-human entity was revealing its true nature.

Only the hall's top powerhouses—those at the pinnacle of the Absolute Realm like the White Lotus Cult Leader, Yi Chaengun, and Jin So-cheong—could withstand it unflinchingly. The White Lotus Cult Leader murmured lowly,

[ No mere bluff, then. Where in the martial world have superpowers like you been hiding? ]

Gakseon replied impassively.

"Not in the martial world, Uncheon. 'We' don't live in such a narrow realm. I'm the only one of the Eight Legions who's been active there properly, and even that was mere amusement."

[ In the world beyond... ]

"Exactly. Since ancient times, far before the first human king was born... we've been watching over humanity on Changhil's orders."

[...... ]

The White Lotus Cult Leader pondered for a moment. Then he said,

[ What do you want with Baek Woong? ]

"Not your concern. Stay out of it any longer. Hand over Baek Woong, and we'll vanish from history as if we never existed."

[ I can't do that. ]

"What?"

The White Lotus Cult Leader continued firmly.

[ I recognize Baek Woong and the Anti-Heaven Alliance as sworn allies. As long as you intend them harm or disrespect them, I, Dokgo Uncheon, will stand against you by the will of the White Lotus Cult Leader. ]

"......!!"

Not just Gakseon, but everyone in the hall was stunned.

'For the White Lotus Cult Leader to go that far...'

The power gap was obvious. Only my comrades, who'd received the black obsidian from me, truly grasped its extent, but even the White Lotus followers could tell these seven freaks—the Eight Legions Divine Generals—were no joke. This was a crisis that could doom the cult, yet the Cult Leader chose to honor his bond with me!

Gakseon stared at the White Lotus Cult Leader in disbelief for a moment, but then the black-haired beauty with a listless expression standing beside him spoke.

"Just as Hyeok-a described. A man worthy of pursuing hegemony in this era."

"Yaksha."

Was she one of the Eight Legions too?

The beauty called Yaksha by Gakseon addressed the White Lotus Cult Leader.

"We mean Baek Woong no harm. It's something you all can know anyway, so let us speak with him."

At that, the Eight Legions' gaze briefly focused on Yaksha. Moments later, they all turned away as if in agreement, apparently reaching a consensus in an instant. Watching this, I felt an odd sensation.

"Each of the Eight Legions wields overwhelming power, yet they want to talk?"

Honestly, if all seven unleashed the kind of power Ginnara had shown on Mount Tai back then, there'd be no surviving it. I'd been bracing for death moments ago, yet unexpectedly, the Eight Legions wanted to avoid fighting. They couldn't be just bulldozed us—the easiest option—and it was strange.

Did the Eight Legions have some other nature I didn't know about?

But there was no time for more thought. As every gaze in the hall snapped to me, I realized it was my turn to speak. I glared at Gakseon and Yaksha in turn, then said,

"What do you want with me?"

"No need to be on guard. We're not here to fight."

Yaksha replied softly. Then she continued.

"We've watched the human world for a long time. Sometimes intervening, sometimes allying with dark forces to prepare for the end times as Changhil wills. We weren't supposed to reveal ourselves properly for another five hundred years..."

Yaksha said,

"But the being prepared as the Ominous God's apostle reported awakening and received a name from you instead, massively derailing the schedule. The Ominous God has fully seized the laws of causality and is primed to wage war on the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns right now. It's a huge problem for us too, so we've come to you—the root of this chaos."

She knew the details remarkably well.

'......'

As I listened to Yaksha, I desperately memorized each of the Eight Legions' faces. If I died and reincarnated later, I had to recognize them somehow. There'd be no other chance to face the entire Eight Legions like this.

Pretending ignorance, I said,

"I didn't know naming someone was such a big deal. But now that you're here, what do you want from me? I'm far weaker than any one of you Eight Legions Divine Generals. Even a single Great Earth Immortal could erase me. No reason to bother with a weakling like me."

At that, a portly middle-aged man stroked his beard and interjected.

"Quite the opposite."

"You are?"

"I am Ginnara. The strategist and brains of this lot."

"......"

Ginnara!

Back when he'd possessed Zhuge Yuryong, I hadn't realized—turns out in human form, he looks like that? A plump, tall, burly middle-aged man. Not at all like a head-stroker, but the self-proclaimed strategist Ginnara said,

"You recently struck a major deal with the Zhurong Clan's king and gained the right to use their mighty weapon. Somehow, you also possess an extraordinarily powerful divine-level spell and own the Imperial Seal of the Realm. On top of that, you likely hold the Seven Desires Pearl, making you the key to the coming chaos."

"I have no idea what you're talking about..."

I brushed it off, but inside, I was burning up.

'How the hell does this bastard know all that?'

The "extraordinarily powerful divine-level spell" must be the Ominous God's Word-Spirit I possess. The Zhurong Clan's king refers to the Prophet, from whom I'd recently received the one-time use of the Tower of Endless Nothing. But I hadn't blabbed to anyone—it was a closely guarded secret. How did he find out? And he seemed dead certain about the Imperial Seal too.

All my hidden cards exposed. Grinding my teeth inwardly, Ginnara continued.

"Of course, if we attacked, matching the Imperial Seal would be child's play. But..."

"But?"

Ginnara nodded and said,

"You humans rarely show such tremendous drive, knowledge, and potential for growth. So rather than crushing you by force, we've come to make you an offer."

"What offer?"

"Join hands with us, the Eight Legions Divine Generals. And soon, pay audience to our master."

'......'

Joining hands was somewhat expected. But audience with the "master"—did he mean for me to face the legendary Changhil? My heart raced inwardly, but I kept calm and replied,

"Why should I meet him?"

"Our master is intrigued by you. Because your actions seem to defy the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns."

"......"

He was right. Ultimately, I wanted to take down those Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns bastards too. That's why I'd resolved not to rely wholly on their power—had he read that defiance? Could he glean that from my path?

Amid my confusion, I snapped and said,

"What guarantee do I have Changhil won't kill me?"

"No idea."

"Arbitrary bunch."

"Choose."

I stared piercingly at the Eight Legions, noting their traits.

'No emotions.'

Their faces moved, but they lacked the vitality or quirks of humans. It felt exactly like they'd donned human shells. Ordinary people wouldn't notice, but having faced otherworldly beings so often, I could tell.

'Maybe I can distinguish them next time with this sense?'

Collecting my thoughts, I said,

"Fine. I'll join hands with you. But leave the White Lotus Cult and Anti-Heaven Alliance alone."

"Agreed."

"And send me back safely if possible."

"We'll consider it."

Per Mangyang's soon-to-be words, these Eight Legions before me were likely the third force. His assessment that they'd seek my intent was spot on. For me, better to go along than fight a hellish battle here. Because—

Paaat

A massive dimensional gate suddenly tore open in the air. Unlike those opened by the Two Tribes, it felt different—no unrestrained malice or madness leaking out, just a hollow darkness lurking beyond. Soon, the Eight Legions stepped through one by one, and I followed Ginnara alone into the gate.

Mangyang shouted from behind.

"Baek Woong! Don't fear!"

I turned to him with a smirk.

"What's there to fear but death?"

Exactly. What else but death?

Mangyang's urging not to fear meant overcome the dread of death and seize maximum gain. This was a chance to face the colossal being "Changhil"—something I'd never encountered in all my reincarnations—and learn his intentions and thoughts! For me, I couldn't pass it up, even if it meant dying.

Wuuuung—

Moments later, my body shot through the gate into some otherworld. It felt like passing through dozens of folded space distortions. Per my demonic knowledge, routing through other dimensions via space warps was to evade tracking by divine beings.

'Changhil's home dimension location must be top secret.'

Probably Dark Heaven Village's moon, but even there, they likely shifted positions constantly.

When I opened my eyes again, I stood in a bizarre place.

Like heaven and earth flipped? The sky was flat yet infinitely vast, occasionally writhing—and beyond it, a churning sea surged. The ground resembled stitched clouds, floating in the void. Glittering rainbow beasts roamed about.

Eerie, but almost no malevolent aura—a spiritual realm. I followed the Eight Legions, eventually entering a pitch-black building.

Step

"Huh."

The moment I took a step inside, the presence of the Eight Legions ahead vanished entirely. Not total darkness—faint light glowed—but they'd evaporated like goblins! Looking around in confusion, the narrow passage held only silence.

No choice but to proceed straight to the end—where a four-eyed being floated in the air, staring at me. No fur or genitals on its body, draped in pale, ghostly skin—a grotesque lifeform.

'Changhil...'

Was it?

I doubted because it tilted its head dumbly, peeking at me without any intelligence. Then it ignored me and floated past. Looking closely, these four-eyed folk drifted everywhere in the space. Not Changhil—just his subordinate race.

Kugugu—

An ominous rumble suddenly echoed. Then a "will" reached me.

[ What do you de-sire? ]

I knew instinctively.

This was Changhil.

A sensation like the [Ancient Ruler]!! Chills pierced me from the Word-Spirit stabbing like needles. Barely holding on lest it seize my body, my mind reeling, I answered.

"The destruction of all [Ancient Rulers]!!!"

He'd called me here, and if it was Changhil, half-hearted lies wouldn't work. As I shouted, Changhil replied with interest.

[ Ha ha ha... Re-in-car-na-tor... Moth-er of Dis-as-ter... To con-front the hu-man world dan-ger ous e-nough to re-quire my swift in-car-na-tions... ]

Gritting my teeth, I mustered courage and yelled.

"Changhil! What is your true purpose?"

[ No rea-son to tell you. ]

"The truth you gained from the Emperor..."

[ No rea-son to tell you. ]

"......"

No words left. As I froze, Changhil continued.

[ I shall keep you for a time. Soon you shall wit-ness some-thing en-ter-tain-ing. ]

"What do you mean?"

[ The on-rush of de-struc-tion... the end of this era... ]

Paaat!!

Moments later, I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I wasn't in Changhil's strange palace—I was back in the mortal world.

"......?"

What?

Did Changhil summon me just to say that?

Bewildered, I checked: my Imperial Seal, Non-Euclidean Helmet guard—all fine. My Fire Dragon Divine Sword too. Safely returned to the human realm, but oddly, I was in a barren mountain valley.

No White Lotus people, no comrades anywhere! Trees burned to ash, no sign of life. I'd been in the Cult Leader's hall—why this? Puzzled, I used my Sound Transmission Jade to contact Zhuge-sa.

[ Zhuge-sa! Where are you? ]

No immediate reply. After calling two or three more times with nothing, I was about to stop when a sluggish voice came.

[... Uh, Baek Woong? Is that you? ]

Zhuge-sa answered. But the voice echoing in my head was slightly off from the one I knew—hoarser. Suspecting someone else had his jade, I grew wary.

[ Not Zhuge-sa? Who are you? Where are you? ]

[... Heh... heh heh heh. Unbelievable... of all times... ]

[ Answer me! ]

As I barked my will, the "Zhuge-sa" replied in a deflated tone.

[ Still got the Non-Euclidean? ]

[ Are you really Zhuge-sa? ]

[ If you do, come to Dadu Kingdom. We're all here. ]

[ What the... ]

Dumbfounded, I headed to Dadu Kingdom anyway.

Entering the base, I froze in shock.

"You bastard... you're here?"

"Zhuge... sa."

"Heh heh heh."

Zhuge-sa was there. But hardly any comrades remained.

And beside the middle-aged greyer Zhuge-sa—in an old man's body—stood Mangyang, also aged, and Jin So-cheong, unchanged.

Zhuge-sa grinned mekerally with a mad lilt.

"The world's about to end soon, and after fifty years of what, you show up now?"

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