Chapter 247: The OJP Sect Master (2)

The Terras’ aura never exuded hostility toward the Skians. It looked as if it really were smoke, just flowing and filling the air. However, the more smoke rose to the ankles, the more Skians coughed.

“What is this? I can’t breathe.”

The vast cave blazed up.

“

Ug, ug, ug, uger! Ug, ug, ug, uger! Ug, uger!

”

Thump, thump, thump, thud, thump, thump, thump, thud.

All the Terra warriors rushed in. They had the Skians surrounded, so they could attack from all directions. Aided by the shadows, the Terras danced and slaughtered the Skian warriors. However, they weren’t simply swinging their swords. Their blades burned like fire, and their spears became pillars of flames in the cave made of blazing illusions.

A Skian warrior screamed as the fire cut him.

“

Aaaaaaaaagh!

”

“Hot, hot! It’s so hot!”

“It’s fire!”

“Fire! They’re using fire to attack us! Run away!”

“Run toward the exit!”

“

Aaaaaaaaah!

”

“Where’s the exit?!”

“There’s places where you can see light peeking in! Over there! Run, you bastard!”

The Skian warriors’ defense formation collapsed in an instant. Those who were proficient in aura knew this wasn’t fire, but aura manifested to resemble fire. However, they couldn’t tell that to their subordinates. When the aura struck them, it was hot enough to burn them. How was it any different from fire?

Demonic Heaven Formula Arts.

First Form:

Playhouse On Fire.

Today, the tragedy of the burning mansion was recreated on this battlefield.

“Run away! Run! Ruuuuuun!”

The Skians ran to the exit with all their might, but those who weren’t used to the darkness stumbled and fell. The warriors behind them crashed in and collapsed as well. Their retreat was extremely messy and chaotic, resembling a flock of animals fleeing in panic rather than trained, brave warriors.

The fire lurking in the darkness roared.

“Do you think we’re letting you go?”

“Feel the pain of burning to death.”

“Live until the only thing you can do is scream as the fire consumes you.”

The Terras were already deeply immersed in the Cavefire play. They were warriors, but now, they were also actors. As priests who recreated the White Lion’s legends on this land, they became an inferno hot enough to burn down their enemies.

They became the embodiment of flames, fascinated by the fire they created. Hundreds of years ago, enemies had dared to trap them in this burning mansion—no, in caves of salt where it was difficult to even breathe. It was time to direct their blazing anger toward the old enemies for the horrors they had to endure for hundreds of years in those caves.

“

Ug, ug, ug, uger! Ug, ug, ug, uger! Ug, uger!

”

Thump, thump, thump, thud, thump, thump, thump, thud.

The legends colored the sky and the earth while history embellished the battlefield. The Terras became the White Lion’s followers and interpreted the world. Once again, they were oppressed slaves under the Slime Empire, setting their anger on fire. Once again, they used their swords as warriors with aura burning within their hearts.

“

Aaaaaaah!

”

“Save me!”

“Run away! It’s fire! Divine fire! Run away!”

“Heroes! Our seven heroes! Please—”

It was chaos. Everyone fell victim to the hallucinations, regardless if they were Skian or Terra. The aura that hung like thick smoke further aggravated these hallucinations, so the Skians couldn’t even think of swinging their weapons at the fire. Meanwhile, the Terras bit off the limbs of their enemies as if they were fire itself.

The Skian army collapsed just like charcoal crumbling after burning past its limit.

***

That was why I could safely say that the war was like nothing I had ever seen before. Even my vassals fell silent. The first person to open his mouth was Kim Yul, who was the most familiar with tragedy among us.

“This is amazing, Patriarch.” He glanced down at his notebook expressionlessly. “So far, I have traveled to many worlds where

murim

existed. Each time, I met a faction that is said to have created their formula arts. However, their formula arts were, at best, about hindering people’s perception with hallucinogenic incense and trapping them in a pre-made maze. Otherwise, it did not go far beyond the level of a joint attack.”

Kim Yul slammed his notebook shut and looked down the mountain where the first form of the Demonic Heaven Formula Arts had been cast.

“But this is different. All of the casters have learned the same Demonic Heaven Arts, and they all have the same image in their minds. Aura is a tool for them to bring into the real world the scenery they share in their minds. The purpose of the scenery isn’t just to create and be looked at. Every one of the Terras becomes an actor and burns. You completed these formula arts.”

Only then did Sylvia Evanail speak. “W-What the heck is this? This is almost like a divine manifestation, right? I mean, it’s the same as when a divinity descends and creates a barrier around an area. Those guys are no gods, they just know how to use their aura, yet they're using it as if they are a Constellation. How?”

Uburka nodded. “Daddy’s hundreds-of-years-old plan has finally come true,

ugor

.”

I looked down at the burning land. Only a handful of Skians managed to escape from the Playhouse on Fire. However, the Seven Skian Heroes, the ones the Viper controlled, were nowhere to be seen.

“This is the sect master’s crushing defeat,” Estelle commented.

All the clan members nodded in agreement. However, some disagreed with that assessment.

“

Haha

...”

I picked up on some laughter from afar. An uproar erupted from the Terras. It was unbecoming to think that it came from the supposed winners.

“W-What?”

“Corpses! The thorny bastards’ corpses are standing up!”

Indeed, the fallen Skians released stronger energy than before.

“That man...” Estelle muttered, feeling dumbstruck.

I realized what just happened.

People Possession

Grade: SSS

Effect: You can possess the characters of your choice. If that character dies, you return to your spirit form.

Cost: Not for sale (This is a special reward.)

※ You can only possess a person within one minute after death.

The Skians who stood up had the Viper’s shadow!

“Who said there are only seven heroes among the Skians?”

“There is an infinite number of heroes among the Skians!”

“It looks like the Seven Skian Heroes went down.”

“

Hehe...

Well, those guys were the weakest among the Skians”

“They’re a disgrace to the Skians for letting the Terras defeat them!”

Amid the Skians scattering in panic, twelve of them took a stance to continue fighting. Yes, they were all possessed by the Viper.

“We are the twelve Skian Elites!”

“It’s not just us! Behind us are the seventy-two Skian Demon Lords!”

“The one hundred and eight Enlightened[1] Skians are here too!”

“We are immortals!”

The Terras stumbled back.

“Why the heck did the corpses stand up again and make a fuss,

uger?!

”

“It’s dark magic! This magic is a blasphemy to both the gods and nature!”

The Terras weren’t the only ones utterly shocked. The Skians who had barely escaped from Playhouse on Fire also muttered in fear.

“W-What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know... But,

uh...

Something is definitely happening!”

I was dumbstruck.

So this was his secret plan for dealing with Uburka?

Enraged, Estelle gritted her teeth. “This is clearly cheating! Sect Master isn’t from this world! Although he’s basically a god here, he already possessed seven Skians to intervene directly in the war. That alone crossed the line, but he possessed all the fallen warriors this time! He went too far!

Perhaps the Viper heard Estelle. One of the Skians possessed by him turned around and looked up toward the ridge, where Estelle and I stood.

The Viper shouted, “Shut up! I don’t care if what I’m doing is pathetic and ugly! Say whatever you want! Call it cheating, foul, or whatever!”

The OJP Sect Master, the man most respected by his people, sounded so desperate that it seemed he would soon cough blood from all the yelling. “If I can help these guys win, I’ll embarrass myself as many times as needed!”

He was right. What he was doing was pathetic, ugly, and childish, but above all, it was humane. The Viper showed his sincerity with everything he got, so I tidied my appearance and took a step forward.

“Chief Warrior.”

Uburka went down on his knee. “

Ugor

, Patriarch.”

He looked calm. His voice, eyes, and demeanor were like those of a general who only served the head of the family.

“Advisor.”

Estelle also went down on her left knee as if she had been waiting for this moment. “Yes, Patriarch.”

I nodded as I looked at my daughter and son. They both silently awaited their orders.

“Sect Master declared that he doesn’t care about his reputation or honor of the Skians. If so, for his sake, the right thing to do is to fight back with everything we have. I will entrust all of my species points to you two. Use them as you wish, and create as many soldiers as your heart desires. After that, entrust Chief Warrior to lead the vanguards. Advisor, you will be the commander-in-chief and strike the sect master’s forces.”

“Shall we obliterate the army?” Estelle asked.

“Each soldier of the army you will lead is an elite martial artist who was there at the beginning and end of the Demonic Heaven. Even a thousand Sect Masters won’t be able to handle them.”

“You’re right.”

Estelle bowed before standing up. A huge red greatsword, the Demon King’s weapon, was strapped to her back. The greatsword was so fine that it was worth a name of its own someday.

“Then, I will do as you commanded. Even the Terras won’t be able to refuse help from their friend in a situation like this.”

Estelle turned around, carrying the greatsword that had annihilated a continent on her back.

“I’ll return the dead to where they belong. Sect Master may criticize us for what we did, but I believe there is no need to worry. I would appreciate it if he would rather curse himself for not even being able to throw a proper punch.”

Uburka was slightly perplexed. “

Uger

... Sis? You’re a lot tougher than you look.”

“Go, Chief Warrior. You’re our only vanguard. Please buy us some time while I prepare bodies for the warriors with the Patriarch’s species points. You can do just fine on your own, right?”

Uburka grinned. “It will be a piece of cake for me.”

“If so, then please show that to the Sect Master.”

Estelle unsheathed her greatsword and thrust it into the ground. The sword seemed to require five or six men just to move it, but she lifted it very lightly, as if she were swinging a wooden sword.

“Please show them who the Death King Clan is.”

“

Ugor. Ugor.

” Uburka cracked his fists with a grin. “I complained about the reason I was pushed out of the succession struggle...

Ugor

, knowing how to fight a war is a wonderful virtue. Being good at it is an even more magically wonderful virtue. Come on, Sis! Let your younger brother take a look at your skills!”

Uburka looked up and breathed in three times before screaming at the sky, “Goruuuuuuu—!

”

[The Immorality-Dreaming Pig roars!]

The battlefield suddenly became quiet. The panicking Terras, the surviving Skians, and thousands of Vipers—regardless of species or affiliations, everyone froze as the roar echoed throughout the world.

Estelle aimed her sword at the frozen battlefield. “Here we go.”

Our clan’s first war was underway.

1. The raw is Arhat. A different term has been used since this is a whole other world. ☜