What is the secret to increasing combat power?
Seol-Hwi saw it as a realization of martial arts, converted to numbers.
In particular, he thought that the change in combat power for these people was due to how they practiced martial arts.
Unlike a member of the Demonic Sect, who only uses internal energy, most martial arts practitioners focus on both mental and physical understanding.
Come to think of it, even my combat power has improved.
Is it because of the White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts?
By the time Seol-Hwi got accustomed to using it in several battles, his proficiency with it had gone up.
Did he not experience a significant increase in combat power as a result? In that case, it can be said that an increas in combat power happens after understanding the nature of the martial arts.
In other words, if there are martial arts that Seol-Hwi possesses only basic knowledge of, he could master and improve them to increase his combat power.
The weapons I have now are…
Seol-Hwi looked at the martial arts he possessed.
[Martial Arts List]
<Unified Elimination Demonic Martial Arts (Perfect)>
<White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts (Intermediate)>
<Flame Aggregating Demonic Martial Arts (Intermediate)>
<Four Peak Demonic Martial Arts ‘Wind’ (Beginner)>
These were his four main martial arts.
Among them, the recently acquired one caught his eye.
The Flame Aggregating Demonic Martial Arts.
It’s a skill that was created by combining Blood Hand Demonic Martial Arts and Peak Flourishing Demonic Martial Arts, and hasn’t been used properly yet.
Therefore, the understanding of it can be accelerated just by using it correctly.
“Are you out of your mind?” Lee Gu-myung asked.
He must have felt that the expression on Seol-Hwi’s face didn’t go well with the current situation.
“No. I feel more refreshed than ever.”
Seol-Hwi raised his sword.
When the situation came, he thought of unleashing this technique and subduing Lee Gu-myung.
Whoosh!
Flames rose on the sword, as Seol-Hwi injected his energy into it.
Seeing this, Lee Gu-myung looked shocked.
“T-this… Samadhi of Fire?! 1 “
Samadhi of Fire, to make fire from one’s internal energy.
Isn’t it a martial art that can only be known to those at a higher level?
So he stepped back.
It’s intimidating. Lee Gu-myung’s judgement told him that fighting in close proximity wasn’t a good idea.
16 close body attacks, 8 sword techniques.
In the meantime, Seol-Hwi kept thinking about the Flame Aggregating Martial Arts.
Except for the 2 special techniques, there are 3 for offense and 3 for defense.
However, Seol-Hwi knew that even though there were only 6 he could use, in general, the martial art could create numerous opportunities for him to win, depending on how it was used.
And now, it was time to put it into practice.
The first attack started with a run, and then a swing of the sword.
Lee Gu-myung responded by meeting the opponent’s blade, without moving from his spot. This was his way of handling it.
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique is known for its splendor, but in reality, it was fast and sophisticated.
Once the swords clash, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique will gain a sufficient advantage in the next encounter.
Lee Gu-myung believed so. But…
Kwang!
As soon as the swords collided, for a moment, Lee Gu-myung fell into great confusion.
A shock that far exceeded expectations. This wasn’t simply because of the internal energy of his opponent.
The flames burning on Seol-Hwi’s sword. Somehow, it shook Lee Gu-myung’s mind.
What…
It was then, Lee Gu-myung realized that his opponent wasn’t using just Samadhi of Fire.
A ring of fire that engulfs the opponent in pain when the sword touches them.
The opponent’s attack would penetrate deep into his lungs and organs, agitating his body.
Whiik!
And the second attack followed.
Lee Gu-myung didn’t respond, and instead managed to avoid it a few times.
Another crisis soon came over him though.
“Haah!”
Seol-Hwi, who knew his movements in advance, used fire again.
It was the Flame Demon.
A fire that attaches itself to and burns the opponent. Lee Gu-myung grunted, and defended himself.
However, he was forcefully pushed away, and rolled backwards.
Thud!
Lee Gu-myung, who came to his senses, stood up and looked at the ground.
The fire, which had almost reached his feet, spread to the rest of the floor. If he was even a little late in diffusing the fire energy from his body, he would have taken a huge hit.
It’s fine…If my opponent is using up so much internal energy, he’ll tire himself out before I do.
Lee Gu-myung was looking for his chance. He knew that such mistakes would only lead his opponents to their deaths.
So, waiting for the opponent to exhaust himself seemed more appropriate.
Such a mistake…
Seol-Hwi was also bewildered by this.
Even though he hadn’t used the Flame Aggregating Demonic Martial Arts more than a few times, about half of his internal energy was already gone.
Each technique guarantees great damage, but…
<Internal energy: 1.15 million (↓1.25 million)/2.4 million>
The skill level of Flame Aggregrating Demonic Martial Arts hasn’t risen yet.
This was risky.
He thought that if the proficiency of the martial arts went up, the combat power would also go up, but the opponent wasn’t someone he could mess around with.
But without a strong opponent, I can’t raise the proficiency of it either.
And practicing alone doesn’t help him.
No, he didn’t have time for that at all.
He had practiced the Unified Elimination Technique for several months to reach enlightenment.
But, it was apparent that such a destructive technique would need more time.
While Seol-Hwi was thinking about various things, Lee Gu-myung moved. Seizing the opportunity, he got closer with his sword.
Chak!
Seol-Hwi blocked the sword.
At that moment, Lee Gu-myung leaped into the air.
And then…
<A great chance! Seol-Hwi discovered a gap in Lee Gu-myung. How will you respond?>
The turn-based gave him a choice.
Seol-Hwi pondered for a moment and read the opponent’s intentions by his move.
This guy! He had no intention of attacking!
If he had attacked with the purpose of killing, there would have been no gap. This meant that Lee Gu-myung did not intend to fight properly.
This is what happened…
Seol-Hwi strengthened his heart. He wanted to make use of this chance somehow.
▶ Attack
So, what he chose was to go back 3 seconds.
Chak!
Time rewound to when he used his sword to block Lee Gu-myung.
And Seol-Hwi’s eyes shone.
“Final Flame Technique.”
The Flame Aggregating Technique’s one other form.
If the sword is stuck into the ground, great heat begins to condense to create cracks in the ground.
And the heat that remains will rise, in an attack that would destroy the surroundings.
And it worked, exactly like that.
Kwakwakwang!
The entire area shook with explosions.
Flames rose from within the cracks, spitting out plumes of black smoke.
A man with soot on his face could be seen.
“This…”
He had serious injuries. His face was half cooked, and his clothes half burned.
The expression on his face said that he didn’t expect this to happen.
What the hell…
Seol-Hwi couldn’t find joy in this. He thought that he would be able to kill Lee Gu-myung if he did this.
But the man was still alive and well.
Originally, this was an attack where Seol-Hwi had to use all of his internal energy, but he had cut this down by 70% due to his internal energy already being drained.
<Internal Energy: 5,000 (↓1.11 million)/ 2.4 million >
Only 5 thousand…
Seol-Hwi checked his status, and didn’t like what he saw. Just 5 thousand. Almost all of his internal energy had been exhausted.
<The skill level of Flame Aggregating Demonic Martial Arts has risen. > <Combat power increased. >
At that moment, the long-awaited results had arrived.
However, Seol-Hwi couldn’t be happy.
It was too late.
In this situation, to change the battle, he didn’t have enough internal energy.
That’s what he thought, until he saw…
<The skill table for this skill has been activated. >
Skill table?
Seol-Hwi’s eyes widened.
Characters popped up, like they did in the techniques before.
And this was what appeared to him now.
<Flame Aggregating Demonic Martial Arts > <MAX Power > <Gathering energy (Miracle): ABCD (strength) >
What is this…?
For a moment, he wondered what it was. This was a miracle (气積)?
It seems like a different word from miracle (寄蹟), which refers to something that common sense cannot explain.
But then, Seol-Hwi felt like they were one and the same.
Because as soon as he clenched his right hand, and then his left, he felt something was different.
<Internal energy increases > <Internal Energy: 55k (↑50k)/ 2.4 million > <Internal Energy: 100.5k (↑50k)/ 2.4 million > <Internal Energy: 150.5k (↑50k)/ 2.4 million>
His internal energy began rapidly soaring up.
“Haha… I think you must be out of internal energy now.”
Even in this painful situation, where his body was burned by the fire, a faint smile spread across Lee Gu-myung’s face.
His opponent had already given up too much internal energy to attack him. It was safe to say he had nothing more to spare.
Now is the time for him to take the lead.
“What are you doing?”
Yet, doubt was evident in the eyes of Lee Gu-myung, who was slowly approaching his opponent. Seol-Hwi suddenly clasped his hands together, and was mumbling something.
Lee Gu-myung felt an indescribable aura around Seol-Hwi.
“Again, what more are you trying to pull…”
“…!”
Something felt unusual.
The internal energy that should have been all used up was suddenly increasing. A chill ran up Lee Gu-myung’s spine.
Despite this, Lee Gu-myung caught his breath.
Perhaps, because of the widespread explosions which had happened, he felt a bit hesitant to attack Seol-Hwi again.
H-he…! Is he gathering more internal energy somehow?
He couldn’t watch this any longer. Because he knew something was wrong.
Lee Gu-myung dashed towards Seol-Hwi.
Chik!
Seol-Hwi, who had already regained his internal energy, immediately counterattacked.
It was time for the appearance of his White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts.
Ching!
“…!”
Lee Gu-myung looked stunned at the ice beginning to cover him. As soon it touched his body, it hardened.
And a single ice crystal shot towards him.
No, it was a sword made of ice.
He- he is a master!
In an instant, all his previously arrogant thoughts ran away from his mind.
A master who unleashes fire energy and then immediately shifts to ice energy right away?!
He wondered who this person was.
And that thought.
“Kuak!”
Was shattered by Seol-Hwi’s sword piercing his abdomen.
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