Absolute Regression Chapter 788

Episode 788: Then, under the light?

From the dark hole, the divine princess Ga-ye burst out.
She frowned and gasped for breath. The feeling of her body being moved was the most unpleasant experience I’d ever had in my life.

“Haa, haa.”

Before her, panting, stood the Dark Princess.
The Five Great Scholars of the Dark Palace sat in the center of the room, surrounding her, extending their hands.

Crackle crackle.

Their outstretched hands made several hand signs.
Each time, a thin stream of smoke rose from their fingertips, forming strange patterns and unintelligible letters in the air before vanishing.

As each letter and character was created, a single letter glowed on the floor where the Dark Princess sat. While it
was unclear what kind of sphere they were creating, one could imagine the immense power it would wield once completed.

And they weren’t alone in this space.
Two old men sat side by side in one corner. They looked so identical, they almost looked like twins.

The absolute masters of the Dark Palace, the Dark Twins,
were none other than the Dark Old Man and the Black Old Man.

Both of them were over a hundred years old, and the Dark Princess had cherished them for her final moments.

Even for Ga-ye, who had served the Dark Princess for a long time, this was her first time seeing them in person. She expected to examine them further, but her gaze was fixed on the opposite wall.

On the opposite wall, a man was depicted standing.
Gaye’s gaze was fixed on this one because it seemed more curious.

Sensing her gaze, the man on the wall turned to her and smiled. The sight was so vivid that, even though she’d expected it, her heart sank.

Dark Spirit.

It was the moment when I saw for myself the secret weapon of the Dark Palace that I had only heard about.

The man in the painting began to move slowly. He walked as if the world within the wall were his own. He walked within the wall.

Then, when passing the Dark Princess, he walked cautiously and stealthily.
He reached the opposite wall, then went behind the Dark Twins, waving his hand and playing a prank.

Among the Dark Twin Blades, Black Noh swung his hand without looking back.

Phew.

His tension hit the wall, but the man inside the wall had already disappeared.

Gaye lost sight of him as he vanished in an instant.
Where had he gone?
Just then, he suddenly appeared, popping out from the corner between the walls.

Although her appearance was vaguely playful, Gaye knew.
Along with the Dark Twin Blades, the Dark Princess’s most prized possession was the Dark Spirit. This must have meant she was both fearsome and powerful.

It wasn’t just them. Today, all the Dark Palace masters were mobilized around this ship and the Dongjeongho. The Dark Palace, as if staking her life on this battle, unleashed all the strength she had accumulated over three hundred years.

In this life or death battle with the Demonic Cult, it’s a matter of life or death.

Soon, the Dark Princess, who had been closing her eyes, slowly opened them.
Gaye asked her.

“Why did you call me in when I didn’t give you a signal?”

Although the tone was polite and calm, there was a strong sense of dissatisfaction.

He was unilaterally subjected to the words of the swordsman. He couldn’t utter a single word in rebuttal, but the Dark Princess pulled him out of there.

The Dark Princess had overheard the entire conversation between Gaye and the young leader in the VIP room.
He didn’t stay longer to ask what she intended to say to the young leader. Instead, he probed her feelings.

“Why were you so angry?”

The moment she got caught up in the psychological warfare of the sword dance and became angry, she had already lost.

“If you’d stayed there any longer, you might not have been able to return. Didn’t you see how quickly the cult leader found you? Didn’t you experience how he changed your mind the moment he arrived?”

This meant that if he had stalled any longer, he might have truly died at the hands of Geommu-geuk.
Just as he had with Geommu-geuk, Gaye was unable to refute the Dark Princess.

She was truly angry at the time.
The question of whether she wanted to kill Cheonhwaruju hit home. The question of whether or not she could foresee the truth left her feeling completely naked.

“Do you know what you regret?”
“What is it?”
“It would have been better if you weren’t a priestess.”
“!”

Those were the first words the Dark Princess spoke.

“That pretense of being a priestess is making you unlike yourself.”

The emotion that surged up in me at that moment was similar to the feeling I had previously felt toward Geommu-geuk. It was something that made people angry, yet made it difficult to refute.

“That facade is all there is to me.”
“Is that really true?”

The Dark Princess looked at her with eyes that seemed to pierce her soul.

“Are you trying to say that if I weren’t a priestess, I would be a real bitch? I apologize, but from the beginning, I’ve been assisting you as a priestess. I’m following the will of heaven, not yours.”

Honestly, I wanted to add this.

I am a person who touches the sky.

She should have been able to speak confidently, but
she couldn’t.
Even at this crucial moment, Heaven hadn’t revealed its will to her.

The Black Princess, who had been looking at her with an unknown gaze, nodded.

“I was reckless. Don’t worry about it and just calm down.”

How can one easily choose a mind whose existence is denied?

That was when.

Sssssss.

The Dark Princess’s limbs, Hwe, appeared from the floor.

“Everything is ready.”

Then, a dark aura began to rise around the Dark Princess. It was a darkness far deeper than usual.

“Today’s battle is the most crucial one, one that will determine our fate. Don’t let a single one of the demonic cultists live!”

The rising darkness completely covered the Dark Princess’s body.

“The Dark Crusade begins now!”

* * *

When it comes to martial arts, there are certain things you can tell at a glance when you reach the level of swordsmanship.
Consider the skill with which the Shinnyeo Princess was so easily taken out, or the level of magical arts currently being displayed.

“It seems the Dark Princess is here.”

At the mention of the Dark Princess, the expressions of the Demon Lord and the Heavenly King hardened.
It wasn’t that they hadn’t expected it, but the ultimate mastermind behind this whole affair had truly appeared. The Heavenly King’s heart sank once again at the thought of her having even thought of coming here alone.

Phew.

The black aura that had been covering the hallway floor began to encroach into the room like fog.
The Dark Princess’s own act of destruction of greed was terrifying to behold.

“What would happen if I were exposed to that energy?”

To Cheonhwaruju’s question, Geommugeuk shook his head as if he didn’t know.

“At least, you must not forget that this magic is a dark magic that exploits human desires.”

It meant that I had to make up my mind.

“Now that you know it’s a trap, let’s get out of here, shall we?”

Cheonhwaruju didn’t want the younger sect leader to be put in danger because of her. After all, this promise was made for her sake in the first place.

“This dark aura must already be spreading throughout the ship.”

In response to the sword dance, the Demon Lord of the Underworld made a suggestion.

“Should we break down the cabin wall and get out?”

I was thinking that I should leave this ship and fight, even if it meant fighting.
Unfortunately, it was impossible.

“You cannot escape from here unless you destroy the great destruction of greed.”

As if to demonstrate it directly,
Geommugeuk lightly swung his fist at the cabin wall.
No sound came from his fist.

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

A hole appeared in the wall and continued to penetrate beyond it.

Fight.

The last sound of a disparate impact.
Cheonhwaruju and Sehonmajon looked at the gaping hole. Black smoke billowed from its tip. Even this massive fist couldn’t penetrate it.
The ship was completely enveloped in the dark smoke of the Great Destruction of Greed.

“Even if I could break through that with a stronger force.”

If the Great Fire Demonic Sect had achieved greatness, it would undoubtedly be destroyed. If he unleashed the Heavenly Demonic Sect against an empty wall, everything would vanish without a trace. Naturally, the Great Destruction of Greed would also be destroyed.
However, there was a reason why that couldn’t happen.

“If you destroy the Great Destruction of Greed like that, everyone on this ship will die instantly.”

The Great Destruction of Greed will already be connected to those aboard this ship. This magic itself was unleashed based on their desires.

“It must have been because of us that the princess waited in the last room.”

The Demon Lord immediately understood what the Sword Dancer was saying.

“So it was to connect that dark magic with us as well.”

The sword dance nodded.

“That’s right. That’s why I was casually sitting in the hardest-to-find spot to buy time. I thought it would take longer for us to arrive and get here.”

Because the swordsman came here straight to find the captain, and even after arriving here, he immediately chased away the gamblers and got to the point.

“Fortunately, we are not deeply involved with the greedy and tyrannical forces.”

The Demon Lord was secretly impressed.
If it were him, he would still be searching for the Princess Divine in the lower level gambling hall, so the outcome would have been as his opponent intended.

“So if we force our way through, we might survive, but everyone else on this ship will die.”

Even if they were addicted to gambling, I couldn’t just let them all die like that. There were also the Water Dragon’s Faction warriors and sailors who didn’t know martial arts.
Furthermore, the Water Dragon’s Faction was a sect belonging to the Sa-pa clan. Considering their relationship with the Sadomaeng, I couldn’t let them die.

“If we don’t destroy the magic quickly, everyone’s desires here will become material for the magic and be consumed. They’ll all die of depleted vitality, unaware of their own condition.”

The fearsome aspect of the Great Destruction of Greed was that it sucked up all human desires.

“Besides, if we delay, it will affect us too. It will even drag down our desires.”

Cheonhwaruju couldn’t readily recall what her own desires were.
She had thoughts about how she wanted to live, but the word “desire” didn’t quite fit.

On the other hand, the Sub-Honma-Jon knew exactly what his desires were.

To become a Demon Lord with the highest level of skill. Therefore, to become the best Demon Lord among the Demon Lords of the Small Sect. To become the Demon Lord he cherishes the most.

That was her desire.

“Okay, first, let’s get out of this room.”

Before he knew it, the black energy had already spread halfway into the room.
Geommugeuk examined the back wall.

Kwakwakwakwakwang!

A large hole was drilled in the direction of the space, large enough for a person to pass through. Beyond that wall was a corridor on the other side.

The sword dance drama entrusted the spirit of the demon to the demon king.

“To destroy the Great Extermination of Greed, we must find the Dark Princess. I will find her, so in the meantime, please protect Lady Rouge. And please avoid that black fog as much as possible.”

The Demon Lord nodded with a firm look in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Young Master.”

The sword dance was about to enter the place where the black fog was rolling in.

“Are you okay?”

To Cheonhwaruju’s concern, Geommugeuk smiled and answered.

“To find him, we must go to the source of that darkness.”

The Dark Princess must be at the source of that black energy.
After raising the Heavenly Demon Guardian Art to its limit, Geommu-geuk walked into the black fog.
In an instant, darkness swallowed Geommu-geuk.

* * *

Mabul looked at Chwima with a dumbfounded expression.
Chwima, who had been gulping down alcohol, slumped forward and fell asleep. He was even snoring.
How could he possibly fall asleep drunk at such a crucial moment?

Is this guy crazy?

Mabul looked at Chwima with such eyes and then smiled faintly.

All of this is the work of the cult leader.

As I spent time with the Sogyoju, my drunkenness changed like this, and I started to see him smiling like this, and I also didn’t worry because the person on that boat over there was the Sogyoju…

The moment he absentmindedly looked at the wealthy ship, Mabul’s expression hardened.

“Hey, wake up!”

At Mabul’s urgent cry, Chwima opened his eyes.

“Look over there!”

Chwima, who had been looking at the place Mabul had been looking at while sleeping, opened his eyes wide and sat up.

A huge dark aura was felt from the Buguiseon, and thick black smoke began to envelop the ship.

As soon as the two people met each other’s eyes, they nodded simultaneously.

Wheeeeeek.

Their new form flew towards the ship of wealth and honor. It was a vast and evil aura, too great to be expected of the sword dance.

At that moment, the two people were running towards the ship of wealth and honor, stepping on the water surface.

Fight.

Something blocked the two men, throwing them backwards. There was an invisible barrier ahead. They were still a long way from reaching the ship.

“It’s a boundary!”

At the sound of the horse’s cry, Mabul looked at the curtain spread out before his eyes.

“It’s the Heavenly Night Demon Realm!”

The Dark Palace’s barrier magic.
It was known to be so powerful that it was impenetrable, especially at night.

with a plop.

The drunken horse swam down.
However, the barrier extended even beneath the surface. Inside the barrier, a large, transparent sphere, lay the Buguiseon.

The dark aura I felt on the ship earlier was the same, and so was this barrier. It was truly the ultimate form of dark magic.

Judging by the fact that they didn’t notice the barrier unfolding even though they were all around with blood bonds floating, today’s encounter was a thoroughly prepared trap.

“We have to somehow break through the barrier and get onto that ship.”

At Mabul’s words, Chwima was the first to speak.

Ssaeaaaang!
Pfft.

A powerful strike struck the barrier.
The barrier seemed to cave in, then bounced back.

“Let’s do it together.”

This time, Mabul and Chwima simultaneously launched their attacks.
However, the barrier remained unbroken despite their attacks.

“You will be able to break through if you find a way to destroy it.”

However, because the barrier centered on the Buguiseon stretched out in a vast, spherical shape, finding the method of destruction proved difficult.
Furthermore, what if the method of destruction lay beneath the surface? Finding it in these dark waters would be nearly impossible.

Chuma took out his dagger and injected his internal energy into it.

Whoosh.
Whoosh!

But the dagger of the drunkard failed to penetrate the barrier and bounced off. The barrier was unfolding with truly tremendous force.

Then Mabul thought of another method of destruction.

“Isn’t Cheon-Yama Station stronger in the dark?”
“I heard so.”
“Then what about under the light?”

Mabul’s eyes seemed to sharpen, and soon a golden light began to emanate from his body.

Hwaaaaak!

Everyone on the lakeshore, as well as the people on the other boats nearby, saw the light.

Mabul gathered the light emanating from his body into his palm. The light emanating from his hand focused on a single point within the barrier.

The dagger of the drunkard flew towards the part where the light shone.

Whoosh!
Whoosh!

This time, the dagger pierced the barrier.
However, it only pierced, not torn, so Chwima raised his internal energy to the limit.

Hwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

The light emitted by the demon became so bright that I couldn’t even open my eyes.

“Now is the time!”

Jjieeeeeek.

The dagger of the drunkard began to tear through the barrier.