The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

"It's Kang Seol! Kang Seol!"

"Didn't Obsidian supposedly die along with the Death Flower and the others?"

Seol Hong's party had been declared missing and presumed dead—until now, that is.

Jang Du was flustered at Seol's appearance. He had always been a bit dark, but where did the long hair and armor come from?

"What the…"

Tae Yul muttered with dazed eyes.

"She’s alive… She is alive…"

At that moment, Tae Yul's Dragon's Stone, Ma Song, shouted.

"Tae Yul! We must protect General Sang!"

"Protect General Sang! Don't let them lay a finger on him!"

Having fallen from his horse, General Sang was dangerously vulnerable. With Maegu having realized his importance, rescuing him didn't seem easy.

"You think we're going to let you?"

Swoosh—!

A sharp wind shot from Maegu's long nails toward the fallen Eul-ryong’s chest.

Clang—!

However, Seol Hong swung her sword and blocked the attack, successfully saving General Sang.

Despite having blocked Maegu's attack, Seol Hong's sword remained intact. It was a sword that had been crafted by Hamun specifically for Seol Hong.

Although it had no special abilities, it was immune to Ghost Energy and had remarkable durability. Hamun made twelve of those swords and handed them to Seol Hong.

Hamun's ability to produce swords of such quality in such a short time was truly astonishing.

"Seol Hong… you…"

Tae Yul found the sight of Seol Hong gripping the sword unfamiliar. What was this strange energy emanating from her?

"Seol Hong!"

Despite Shin Yo's call, Seol Hong didn't turn to look at them—taking her eyes off Maegu was akin to suicide.

She had temporarily borrowed Yu Hwa's strength but had yet to make it fully hers.

Perhaps she might never be able to do so.

Maegu's reflection appeared in Seol Hong's pupils.

As the ominous energy flowed from Maegu, Seol Hong raised her sword to her chest and summoned her energy.

Whoosh…

The golden energy Hye Myeong had bestowed on her continued growing.

Instinctively wary of it, Maegu twisted her mouth and said, "So you have that strange energy too. Is that why you dared to stand before me so boldly?"

Seol Hong wiped away the cold sweat trickling down her face, masking her exhaustion with a blank expression.

Tae Yul quickly drew out his sword, ready to intervene.

"Seol Hong! I'll help…"

"Don't come!"

Seol Hong flatly rejected his offer.

Tae Yul stood frozen, confused.

"Why…"

"Please, don't get involved in this fight. It's too dangerous…"

"What are you talking about?! The enemy of Khan…"

"They aren't the kind of ghosts that can be overwhelmed with sheer numbers. You will just end up putting us in danger too."

Though she spoke in a gentle tone, the meaning behind her words was clear—no matter how much someone weak tried to help, they wouldn't even be able to touch a strand of Maegu's hair.

In fact, they could become a weakness.

After all, humans are beings bound by intangible values like emotions.

Maegu chuckled, "It seems you know your place."

Meanwhile, although Tae Yul understood the meaning behind her words, his hands were trembling.

"So you want me just to stand here and watch…?"

"I'm asking you to believe in me…"

"Seol Hong…!"

BOOM—!

There was another loud crash.

As expected, the sound came from Yaksha and Seol's direction.

They had already begun their full-on battle.

Seol Hong and Chi Woo exchanged glances.

Nod…

They also needed to show the results of their training.

Swoosh…

A thick white fog settled in.

[Maegu used Sinister Dawn.]

[Creates a fog around you. Casting Daoist Spells within the fog refunds up to 30% of the Mana spent.]

[Mana recovery for enemies casting Daoist Spells within the fog will only be half as effective.]

Crack…

[Yagwanggwi used Rapid Freeze.]

[You freeze your enemies. Enemies affected by this ability will also have 'Unleashed Frost' stacked on them.]

[Unleashed Frost can stack up to 100 times. At a certain threshold, the opponent will suffer additional negative effects.]

Yagwanggwi began freezing his surroundings, preparing for the battle.

Swoosh…

Maegu melted into the fog and said, "Let's see what you're capable of."

Her figure disappeared. It only felt as if something huge was moving within the mist.

* * *

Clang—!

"Ugh…"

"…"

Seol groaned.

Having blocked Yaksha's sword made his hand tremble.

He had already dispelled both the Ghost Energy and the Evil Energy. The only thing that remained was pure strength.

Whish…

Yaksha lowered its stance as if it were preparing to unsheathe its sword.

[Yaksha used Sanho Swordsmanship: Pumpkin Cut.]

[If the opponent is hit by Pumpkin Cut, it will be followed by Link: Pumpkin Drop.]

Yaksha slashed its sword in an upward crescent.

Fwoosh…

There was no way to avoid it. Seol’s only option was to block it directly.

Clang—!

"Ugh…"

His arms were trembling violently.

At this moment, Seol and Karen had perfectly divided the control of the Night Crow.

This was the optimal allocation they had chosen.

Creak…

Before the Yaksha could make its next move, Karen swiftly kicked it in the abdomen. Startled, Yaksha blocked the kick with its elbow, though the kick didn't seem to carry much power.

Which basically meant that their next attack was already prepared.

Fwoosh—!

Flames rose and enveloped Karen's sword.

Yaksha's stance changed.

Paf—!

[Yaksha used Daeryu Mountain Swordsmanship: Skipping Stone.]

[Unleashes a powerful slash that repeatedly pushes the target back. If the target collides with a wall, they take additional damage based on the distance traveled.]

Tang—!

"Ugh…"

Tang… Tang… Tang…

The Night Crow was sent flying backward.

This was the second reason why Yaksha was such a troublesome opponent.

The first was that its sword could absorb the opponent's energy. The second was that it could freely use the sword techniques it had stolen.

It was unpredictable.

Even the energy within the sword could shift dramatically—sometimes light as a feather and other times as heavy as iron.

That's why one couldn't think of Yaksha as a single swordsman.

'Dozens… hundreds of swordsmen…'

Not every swordsman Yaksha devoured was likely highly skilled, so it probably only used the techniques of the best of those it had consumed. And that was certainly the case.

But it was still strong.

On the other hand, the swordsmanship the Night Crow was using was limited to just the Montra Guardians.

Karen had learned some Eastern Swordsmanship during her time with Karuna, but it was just that, some. She couldn't use them in a life-or-death battle like this.

Karen's sword was straightforward, while Yaksha's sword was ever-changing.

So, did that mean Yaksha had the upper hand?

"Haa!"

Slash—!

Karen's sword slashed down, stretching toward the distant Yaksha.

Crash—!

Yaksha's legs momentarily faltered.

Karen wasn't being overpowered by Yaksha.

After taking advantage of the brief distance created between them, Seol assessed Yaksha's level with his Eyes of Foresight.

[[Usurper Yaksha]

Rank: Supreme

Estimated Level: Unknown

Yaksha's origins are unknown.

What is certain, however, is that Yaksha has existed for a long time, attracting many beings who sought to claim its power—only to perish in their greed. Yaksha is a ruthless being that slays its foes and absorbs their strength, treating living beings as mere tools.

Those who encounter Yaksha must immediately flee. After all, not even death offers escape from this monster once it's too late.

Basic Effect: [Unknown]

Bonus Effect: [Unknown]]

Yaksha's true identity had been revealed—no, Seol wasn't sure if this could be described as a revelation.

'Supreme…'

Yaksha was Supreme-rank.

Few had ever reached Immortal-rank, but Supreme-rank, which surpassed even that, was reserved for beings so powerful they could wield significant influence over Pandea.

Yaksha is a monster that has devoured countless souls. Though its swordsmanship wasn't overwhelmingly superior to Karen's, the fact that it absorbed the power of others and devoured the Barrier Stone seemed to have determined its current ranking.

As Seol struggled to suppress his unease upon seeing Yaksha's information, Karen suddenly burst into laughter.

"Kyahaha!"

"Karen… Why are you laughing?"

The helmet rattled.

"Because it's exciting! That guy is strong. For a swordsman, this is a blessing."

"A blessing?"

"An incredibly skillful swordsman is standing right in front of me. It's a blessing for both of us! Just as Lain always said!"

"What did he say?"

"Hmm… Something like that—anyway!"

Seol understood why Karen called this encounter a blessing.

But he couldn't help but shake his head.

While a duel between two swordsmen could be a blessing, from Seol's perspective, this was a curse.

A curse that would torment him forever if he couldn't break.

Everyone here saw Yaksha as a monster. They considered the mask and the swordsman before them as one entity.

The only ones interested in the swordsman Yaksha possessed were Seol and Agony. And Seol was the only one who knew about that swordsman's past.

"It's coming!"

Paf—!

Yaksha instantly closed the gap between them.

Seol quickly cast aside all distractions.

'This is the strongest opponent I've ever faced!'

There was no time to be distracted.

Screech—!

Screech—!

Yaksha did a strange movement.

The movement didn't suit the long sword it was holding. The technique it used was most likely meant for a sword shorter than the one it held.

[Yaksha used Turin Swordsmanship: 13 Tributaries.]

[You unleash a sequence of 13 rapid strikes.]

[Total damage is the same, but damage can be distributed across each strike.]

'Damn it! Turin Swordsmanship!'

It was an infamous swordsmanship from the East.

Even the One-Armed Sword Saint had become injured upon facing someone who used Turin Swordsmanship.

The technique that struck him was exactly this one: the 13 Tributaries.

The moment Seol recognized the sword technique, he quickly took control of the Night Crow.

Without offering resistance, Karen handed over the control to him.

'The turning points will come three times.'

Whoosh—!

Whoosh!

Although the first two slashes were loud, they carried almost no strength. They were feints.

The following one would be the third slash.

Clang—!

Seol gasped.

'The sword suddenly shortened!'

Seol was saved because he knew there was a hidden trick in the third slash. He would have suffered a major blow if he tried to avoid it based on the distance alone.

Just like Agony, Yaksha's sword could extend or retract at will. He had just learned an important piece of information.

Swoosh—!

Whoosh!

Despite Yaksha's vicious movements, Seol dodged like a slippery eel, calculating the timing.

'The seventh slash is coming.'

The ability to distribute damage was a trap. Though the damage could be distributed, the movements weren't so flexible.

Turin Swordsmanship was predictable if you knew how the turning points worked.

The One-Armed Sword Saint was likely injured because he didn't know this.

'But now I know!'

Paf—!

Seol leaped into the air and lunged forward.

Since his center of gravity was moving forward, Yaksha would have to block it.

'Good luck with that.'

The seventh strike targeted the lower part of the body. Yaksha's sword had changed into the shape of a whip.

Slash—!

It was the same this time.

Yaksha's sword could change not only its length but also its shape. As expected of a Cursed Sword, it was very similar to Agony.

However, because of Seol's movement, the low strike couldn't reach him.

Screech!

The Night Crow's sword grazed Yaksha's shoulder. Just a bit more, and he should be able to inflict a wound.

However…

"Ugh…"

Fwoosh—!

Yaksha shot a concealed weapon from its other hand.

If Seol hadn't pulled back, it would have pierced his head for sure.

Clang—!

As Yaksha hit Agony, it retracted Turin Swordsmanship and took a moment to catch its breath.

"…"

Seol did the same.

"Oof... Oof..."

Although his movements weren't more intense than usual, the weight of the fight left him breathless.

Karen once again regained control.

'How can I defeat it…'

As Seol pondered this while still watching Yaksha, a strange sound reached his ears.

Crunch…

Crunch…

Startled, Seol looked at Agony.

Agony was chewing on something.

It was a fragment of something.

【Agony has arrived!】

Agony had bitten off a piece of Yaksha's sword during their clash.

After checking the state of its sword, Yaksha angrily narrowed its eyes.

【The Great Sea Urchin Agony has come to save you!】

It was at that moment when a voice flowed out of Yaksha.

"Agony…?"

'There was a response?'

The eyes underneath the mask widened. It was an expression of surprise.

'No way, it wasn't Yaksha who spoke?'

The voice hadn't come from the mask but from the swordsman trapped beneath it.

"Save… Me… I will… Wait…"

Someone's words were echoing within Yaksha's mind.

- I'll definitely save you! So wait for me…!

- Wait… Wait…

Whose voice was that?

"Wait…? Me…? Who…?"

BZZT—!

Lightning surged from Yaksha's sword.

[Yaksha used Thundercloud Swordsmanship: Thunderstorm.]

[Lightning damage is added to your attacks, dealing additional damage that penetrates armor.]

Yaksha's sword became lightning itself.

"Who?"

Yaksha rushed forward while swinging the lightning sword.

As always, the attack came in an instant.

Clang—!

Bzz…

"Ugh…"

"Who…?"

Yaksha kept attacking while mumbling.

Crack!

Crack!

"Eek…"

Stunned by the electric shock, Karen clenched her fist and struck Yaksha's mask.

Clang—!

Thud…

Yaksha fell and rolled on the ground.

"…?"

Even Karen, who had punched Yaksha, was dumbfounded by how easily it had been knocked back.

Why had Yaksha been so defenseless against the counterattack?

The reason soon became clear.

BZZ…

'As expected… It came!'

The moment Seol had judged to be the most dangerous while facing Yaksha.

Tsss—!

The Barrier Stone that Yaksha had swallowed started to activate.

The surrounding space started to distort.

"Jamad!"

At his call, a massive troll appeared behind him.

"You’re not going anywhere!"

Swoosh…

Jamad, who appeared along with darkness, brought his palms together and cast a shamanic spell.

[Jamad used Shadow Shamanic Spell: Tail Bite]

[Binds all individuals within a certain range inside a confined space that tracks any attempts to teleport, escape, or flee.]

Swoosh…

Jamad, who had activated the Barrier Shamanic Spell, frowned.

"Damn it… The power of the Barrier Shamanic Spell it absorbed is much stronger than I expected! I'll eject the non-combatants!"

Unexpected problems always arise in the middle of a battle. Seol had already anticipated some of this.

The issue was that there were too many people occupying the space, preventing Jamad from fully containing the Barrier Stone's influence.

Once the decision was made, things proceeded swiftly.

Pang—!

In an instant, everyone except those actively fighting the ghosts was ejected from the space. Shin Yo, Tae Yul's group, General Sang, and the Central Army were all sent flying in the process.

As Tae Yul was thrown out, he called out to Seol Hong.

"Seol Hong!"

"Leave it to us!"

BZZT!

A transparent barrier formed, cutting the world apart, and they disappeared somewhere else.

Though faintly, those left behind could still see them as if they were a residual image rather than reality.

* * *

- Medium-sized City, Huchong -

One of the cities that had suffered the most damage due to Yaksha was now in the process of recovery.

"Wow… Things look great."

"Great? Can't you see how the city's still in shambles?"

"Come on, old man. They say the masked guy doesn't appear in the same place twice. So we should see this as a good thing."

"Ugh…"

"Thanks to that, more people are flocking to the places it’s passed through. If it weren't for that, you wouldn't have been able to run your shop again."

It was true. Yaksha didn't appear in the same place twice.

It was as if it were following a rule.

"Stop talking nonsense, and get over here! Help me with this!"

"Why are you so obsessed with the sign? The repairs aren't even done yet, and you're already hanging up a sign. You old man, when will you learn? Once it collapses again?"

"You've never run a business, have you? Now's the perfect chance! While all the other shops' signs are torn up, I'll hang up a new one. This will catch people's attention."

"It's pretty fancy… It must have cost quite a bit… Why do you live so tiringly?"

"Quit grumbling and help me."

"Oof…"

The transferee who had climbed onto the roof lent a hand.

Typically, this wasn't the kind of task you would do with enthusiasm.

"You should have hung it once the maintenance was done… I'm not a laborer, yet you're trying to work me to death because I'm a regular customer…"

"Hey! With all the tabs, you…"

It was at that moment.

Crack…

"Huh…?"

Crack!

"O-old man!"

"Wha—?"

"Damn it!"

The man quickly grabbed the shop's owner and went out of the store.

Soon, the store began to collapse.

CRAACK—!

A huge crack appeared, causing the building to collapse, as if it had forced the very space around it to shift.

And those who witnessed the battle unfolding within that crack screamed.

After all, it was a sight they could never erase from their minds.

"Gh-ghosts…!"

"Ghost?"

The transferee who had just saved the shop's owner blankly stared at the fissure.

"Ugh… Are you okay?"

"Old man…"

"Hey! What's wrong?"

"It's that guy…"

"What?"

"It has returned…"

The ghost that wore a bizarre mask and called out for other ghosts. It was the most notorious and brutal figure in Khan right now—Yaksha.

And right now, someone was facing off against it.

CLANG—!

As the figures engulfed in flames and lightning came into view, people scattered in all directions.

Eeennnggg…

Amplifying devices alarmed throughout the city.

"KYAA!"

"R-run!"

"Why did it appear again?"

"Who are those people?"

At first, Seol and his group, watching from inside the barrier Jamad had set, had panicked. But now, they showed no signs of distress.

No, at first, they did panic.

However, a similar situation had already happened more than three times.

Crack!

The newly erected shop sign tilted and fell.

Currently, a strange phenomenon is causing chaos all across Khan simultaneously.