Chapter 280
‘Clank, clatter…’
The sound of chains.
‘Huffffff…’
A faint breathing.
Lastly, the sensation of mana touching the skin.
This place is the deepest part of the ‘Brain Prison’, where the prisoners of the Heavenly Demon Cult are held captive.
Jinhyuk took a step forward.
He saw the iron bars stretching to his left and right, and humans mumbling within them.
‘They must not feed them properly. It isn’t even possible to stretch out one’s legs and sleep.’
Being confined in this place until death without any hope of leaving was a more brutal punishment than he expected.
Just then.
Crash!
An old man with unkempt beard in the prison cell in front of Jinhyuk screamed.
“Let me out, let me out of this hellish place!”
That was the fuse.
“Giggle giggle!”
“Kahaha, what’s this? How long has it been since we had a visitor?”
“Looks like someone’s here. This place has been dead for too long.”
“Whoever you are, if you help us escape, I’ll give you the whole world! Wealth and honor, I promise you all of it!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Crash!
The sound of kicking the iron bars mixed with maniacal laughter.
These people were once revered and feared as the powerful… But now convicted criminals.
This is why one should live without committing sins.
I don’t need to worry about these guys.
I came to the Brain Prison to deal with the high-level goblin at the end.
The hidden quest must also be about finding a specific clue there.
“Hey, don’t ignore me and stop!”
“Do you even know who I am? Open this thing before I rip you apart!”
Yeah, right.
Like they’d stop if it were them.
“Excuse me, sirs. Straining your throats won’t help; you’ll only lose your voice. Seems like you’re barely getting any blood gruel as it is. Don’t strain yourselves into crossing the River Styx because of high blood pressure.”
This place looks like a special prison made from eternal metal, and there seems to be talismans sealed by the Death Mage himself.
Even if you died and came back to life…
But then.
Thunk!
“Uh…?”
The prison doors unlocked simultaneously.
＊＊＊
“As you instructed… aside from the demon area, all seals… have been released.”
The leader of the Soul Commanders who oversee the Brain Prison spoke up.
The giant crystal ball before him displayed everything happening inside the Brain Prison.
“Is this really… okay?”
The leader’s gaze shifted to Dokgo Ryong.
Regardless of the Left Executor’s orders, he never expected to be doing something this insane.
“Leader of the Soul Commanders.”
“Yes, Yes!”
“Just do as you’re told. Haven’t you forgotten already? While the Heavenly Demon is away, who is acting on his behalf?”
“Well, naturally that would be…”
Fear flickered in the eyes of the leader of the Soul Commanders.
With the Heavenly Demon secluded and the Dark Emperor acting on his own volition, the real ruler of the Heavenly Demon Cult had been decided.
And beside Dokgo Ryong, there was another one of the top ten experts of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Hwarang Jachang (Fire Dragon Purple Spear) Chae Hong Ah, wasn’t there?
No matter how much authority the Soul Commanders’ leader had, he couldn’t afford to defy two of the top ten experts.
“I think I need to go down there myself.”
Chae Hong Ah rested his red spear on his shoulder.
“Yourself? Aren’t the prisoners enough?”
“It’s better to take action than just watch. I have the token given by the Left Executor, just open the door and leave the rest to me.”
“Hmm. If that’s what you want, do as you please.”
Dokgo Ryong slowly nodded his head.
If Chae Hong Ah personally takes action, then there would be no variables left to account for.
“Soul Commanders’ leader, open the gate.”
Even if one wanted to save their life, they shouldn’t harbor doubt.
Nor should they ask questions.
“…Understood.”
Only a well-trained dog survives the longest. The leader knew this better than anyone else.
“Well, let’s see how this will go.”
Dokgo Ryong watched the prisoners emerging from their cells and Jinhyuk.
Despite being weakened from years of imprisonment, each of these people once possessed fearsome martial arts.
Even a master who soared through the skies would stand no chance.
Only death awaited.
＊＊＊
Crash!
Jinhyuk’s body flew back from being hit simultaneously.
“Pwahaha! Freedom, true freedom!”
“I can’t remember the last time I could move freely. Tehehe!”
Eyes flickering with manic glee.
After long years of imprisonment, the convicted were exuberantly jumping around.
“Really troublemakers. Now they’re going all out, huh?”
Jinhyuk quickly got up and took his stance.
The talismans that firmly sealed the bars just moments ago were now torn apart and dropped.
As if someone had deliberately undone the seals.
There was no need to speak out loud to guess who caused this.
Left Executor Sama Ja and his rabble.
Using the event at the Heavenly Demon Fortress as an excuse, they planned to bury everyone in the Brain Prison.
He had no intention of letting them do as they pleased.
[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ is activated!]
Woong!
A black aura wrapped around the Fang and Twin Dragon Swords.
A formidable sword aura formed flawlessly along the blade’s edge.
“Ho. There’s someone who knows how to wield a sword aura?”
“Fit for the Infinite Hell. This will be amusing.”
Even seeing the sword aura, the prisoners showed no sign of intimidation.
Instead, they got into position as if familiar with the situation, closing in the encirclement.
‘There’s no choice but to cut them all down.’
Hesitation or messing up meant his downfall.
Jinhyuk made the first move.
His horizontal slash aimed for the throat of a prisoner.
Crash!
The Fang was blocked.
Not by a sword, but by a fist.
“Fist Aura [??].”
The dark aura entirely covered the fist, blazing fiercely.
Of course.
“If you think all fists are the same, that’s a big error.”
The power balance shattered rapidly.
The Fist Aura of the long-imprisoned convict was no match for the Sword Demon’s aura.
“Ugh…!”
The previously confident prisoner’s face contorted.
“Wait a minute!”
It was too late to shout.
Slick!
The Fang sliced through the neck.
A cleanly severed head disappeared into the darkness.
Simultaneously.
“Attack!”
The rest of the prisoners acted.
Front, back, left, right.
Knowing they couldn’t beat him in a direct confrontation, they opted for a convergence attack strategy.
True to being slippery snakes who’d been through countless battles, their hit-and-run tactics were exquisite.
“Quite a headache.”
Jinhyuk gritted his teeth, parrying a stab coming from behind.
Next was the waist.
Only because they lacked weapons. The rapid succession of attacks was enough to make one dizzy.
Without a moment to catch his breath, Jinhyuk side-stepped.
Crash!
The spot where he stood moments ago was obliterated.
‘What the…?’
Jinhyuk swiftly swung his Fang, slicing through soundless approaching stone shards.
A silent assassination technique.
Looking around, there were indeed prisoners specialized in assassination here.
Close-combat was already challenging, and now long-range attacks were involved.
Moreover, as their bodies finally got a proper warm-up, the accuracy and sharpness of their attacks had become incomparably more lethal compared to before.
However, Jinhyuk wasn’t the only one in shock.
“All those attacks were parried…?”
“Incredible. To suffer no injuries after such onslaught…”
“Did the Heavenly Demon Cult birth the 11th top expert?”
About thirty of these formidable talents had combined their efforts.
Yet, they hadn’t managed to kill him, not even inflicting a minor wound.
No, if it were just that, they would not even speak of it.
So far, it appeared as if they had merely exchanged blows, but in reality, the convicts sustained increasing injuries.
No less than seven were incapacitated due to severed arms and legs, unable to fight.
If things progressed this way, their casualties would become uncontainable.
Certainly, none of them wanted to lose their hard-won freedom so fruitlessly.
“Hey.”
“Yeah.”
They still hungered for blood, but this person didn’t necessarily have to be their victim.
If they could escape the Brain Prison and join the martial world, plenty of easier prey would be available.
Their collective hesitation didn’t last long.
Glances exchanged, they gradually stepped back.
This situation might actually resolve easier than anticipated.
That’s what Jinhyuk thought, when:
“Hehe… You’re more of a monster than I thought. If I’d just watched passively from above, the situation would have been tangled up terribly.”
A new figure emerged from the corridor.
A woman with long hair that cascaded down her back.
There was a faint recollection of seeing her at the Heavenly Demon Fortress before.
‘This is worsening by the minute.’
Must be a hidden passage.
If she had come by the normal route, she would have encountered Elis first.
“I am Chae Hong Ah.”
“What an inappropriate time for introductions, don’t you think? The atmosphere is decidedly hostile. I figured you guys might scheme something, but to be so blatant is surprising.”
“Hehe. Don’t be so cold. It’s your fault for visiting our cult at such a critical moment.”
Schrrrrk.
Chae Hong Ah dropped a bundle, spilling various weapons across the ground.
“Our… we used those…”
“My sword… there it is! My sword!”
“Blackbird, I never thought I’d see you again.”
The pupils of the convicts quivered.
Stirred by the return of their treasured weapons, the martial artists’ emotions rippled.
“I have a proposition for you all. Kill that man, and I’ll give you the freedom you crave. A genuine freedom, free from pursuit for the rest of your lives.”
“Is that… really? Is that the truth?”
“Freedom…” “Kekkek… So we just have to kill him. That’s all.”
The atmosphere suddenly reversed.
Hunting dogs that had been cowering now had murder in their eyes.
This was what it meant to throw a spanner in the works.
The convicts, armed with weapons, glaring at Jinhyuk.
Hm.
Would’ve been manageable with bare hands, but not like this.
Especially now with Chae Hong Ah involved.
Jinhyuk began to slowly back away.
“Planning to run away?”
“It’s not running! It would be appreciated if you called it a strategic retreat.”
He had to hold out until Elis or Goguma arrived.
However.
“Don’t waste your hope on reinforcements. The place where your companions are is filled with tricky goblins. They won’t be able to reach here for a few hours at least.”
“So this is a checkmate.”
“I suggest you all don’t waste energy and die gracefully. I’ll convey to the Right Executor that it was an unforeseen accident, so don’t be too regretful.”
Her tone suggested she didn’t care if they caught on to their plan.
Perhaps these scoundrels intended to flip the entire Heavenly Demon Cult upside down.
“What are you waiting for? Begin, unless you’re not eager for freedom?”
Chae Hong Ah gave a nod.
“Attack!”
“This time will be different. We’ll cut you down in one blow!”
Crash!
Clang!
Sword clashed against sword.
Vicious attacks rained down like a tempest compared to before.
Jinhyuk focused all his senses and dedicated himself to defense.
‘I can heal injuries with the grace of the stars, but my legs must be protected.’
If encircled, it would be the end.
Jinhyuk leaped towards a wall, minimizing exposure.
But then…
Thud!
Jinhyuk’s back, while retreating swiftly, hit something.
Not a wall, but what he thought was a wall – an iron bar.
“What?”
Jinhyuk cocked his head.
Weren’t all the prison doors opened?
In his rush to flee toward the innermost cells, he neglected to notice, but a few cells indeed remained closed.
At that moment.
“Grrrr…”
An animalistic growling echoed from within the cell.
These creatures…
Ho.
An interesting idea crossed his mind.
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