The forest was in chaos.
In a radius of one ri, everything lay in ruins.
The towering trees that once guarded the area were all toppled or shattered, their remains strewn across the ground. Even the massive boulders that had dotted the forest were now reduced to rubble.
And in the midst of it allâ
âGahâ¦!â
Ilcheon Sword clutched his chest, blood trickling from his mouth.
âCoughâ¦!!â
Blood stained the ground beneath him, soaking into the torn and ravaged earth. His expression contorted in agony, reflecting the sheer severity of his injuries.
His body was in shambles. Already damaged from the start, it had only deteriorated further. His left arm hung limp, useless, while his breathing was uneven and labored.
If he faltered even a little, his energy would collapse entirely. That was how dire his condition had become.
And yet, despite this, Ilcheon Sword could not allow himself to fall.
The fight wasnât over.
âHeeheeheeâhahaha!!!â
ââ¦!!â
The sound of manic laughter pierced the air. As soon as he heard it, Ilcheon Sword forced his battered body to move.
BOOMâ!!!
The spot where he had been standing exploded in a violent storm. A spear gouged into the ground, tearing it apart and creating a massive crater as wind pressure roared outward.
The sheer force was staggering.
Gritting his teeth, he leaped away just in time, narrowly avoiding the impact. Dust and debris clouded his vision as he concentrated his energy on his eyes to peer through the haze.
In that instant, a flash of light pierced through the dust.
Screechâ!
âUgh!â
The spear struck his blade, the impact redirecting the light skyward. Suspended mid-air, his body wavered from the blow.
Though he had deflected one attack, it wasnât the end.
âHup!â
The spear lashed out like a whip, striking his blade again.