Chapter 588

Chapter 588: The Lazy Falls into Despair (3)

“This is insane…”

Chilji Singae twisted his face.

It was impossible not to feel dismayed.

Just a few days ago, they had received orders to rush immediately, as a confrontation between Baekgeom Fortress and the Righteous Martial Alliance was expected in Anhui.

Gathering all their available forces, they had just arrived in Hefei moments ago.

Learning that the battle had already begun, they ran breathlessly to get here, but the scene unfolding before their eyes rendered all their efforts useless.

‘How did things end up like this?’

The view from a distance was too shocking. A huge army, seemingly from the Righteous Martial Alliance, was being surrounded on three flanks by forces dressed in white.

It was a situation where even a child who knew nothing of military strategy could see at a glance who held the advantage.

“Damn useless beggars!”

As he ran, Chilji Singae kept cursing. It was a habit, but his insides were much more rotten than his appearance.

The situation on the battlefield was too critical.

Without external help, it would be difficult to overcome that situation. Thinking that perhaps their lateness had been a blessing in disguise, Chilji Singae quickened his pace.

“Beggar scum! If you’ve eaten, it’s time to pay for it! Run! Run until your legs break!”

“Ugh, seriously!”

“As if there’s anything to gain here!”

Although the responses weren’t very friendly, the members of the Beggar Sect he led also followed Chilji Singae with all their effort. They were aware that this decisive battle would determine the fate of the martial world, so there was no room to argue about fatigue.

Chilji Singae’s expression changed subtly as he approached the battlefield.

His speed decreased.

Little by little.

Until he finally stopped completely.

“This…”

Chilji Singae murmured, as if he had run out of words. But that sentence was never completed. There was no way to describe what he saw before his eyes.

Chilji Singae’s eyelids trembled.

‘What kind of hell is this?’

Before him unfolded something that defied all common sense. He had thought that the Righteous Martial Alliance was being attacked and surrounded by Baekgeom Fortress, but as he approached, he realized that Baekgeom was only surrounding them.

Rather, they seemed reluctant to directly confront the Alliance.

Why was this happening?

The reason was simple.

Several individuals shrouded in a dark demonic energy were moving frantically on the field. At first, he thought they were elites from the Demon Cult infiltrating the ranks of the Alliance.

But that wasn’t it.

Their attire was no different from that of the other disciples around them. Among those crazed individuals, there were faces that Chilji Singae recognized. No, there were too many.

His mind couldn’t process it.

Although the scene was clear before his eyes, he couldn’t understand why something like this was happening.

In an incomprehensible situation, there was one person to look for first. Chilji Singae’s gaze turned towards the Supreme Sovereign.

It wasn’t difficult to find him.

‘The power of the fist?’

An overwhelming force began to emanate. Just by feeling the energy contained in that fist, it was easy to guess who it was.

But it was strange.

Why was the Supreme Sovereign’s power not directed towards the enemy, but towards this side? If it continued like this, the allies would be exposed to that force…

Then, something unexpected happened.

The members of the Righteous Martial Alliance were carried away by the energy released by the Supreme Sovereign. It was a force so colossal that it was enough to lighten the body and let oneself be carried by the air. The Supreme Sovereign’s power was launching them like feathers.

“What…?”

Words were not enough.

Confusion, then disbelief.

In this desolate battlefield, strange events were occurring that had no place there.

‘What is the leader doing…?’

It was at that moment.

Chilji Singae saw it.

The Supreme Sovereign releasing his energy towards this side, and Baek Hoemyung charging towards him.

Baek Hoemyung’s sword shone with a bluish glow.

“Ah, no…”

The sword that pierced the Supreme Sovereign’s chest shone brightly in the sunlight.

“Leadeeeeeeer!”

Chilji Singae shouted desperately.

Plop.

A drop of blood fell to the ground.

It was common on a battlefield. Blood and death were part of it.

But that drop of blood had a distinct meaning.

The Supreme Sovereign, Sima Cheonse.

Although all blood is valuable, that of the Supreme Sovereign had a different weight.

From the tip of the cold metal that pierced the body of an exceptional being who had sustained the martial world for decades, blood flowed ceaselessly.

All eyes turned towards the Supreme Sovereign.

Even among those who had lost their minds and were acting frantically, some stopped their movements to look at him.

“Mo…ve.”

Blood gushed from his mouth.

A sword pierced his abdomen.

But, in contrast, the Supreme Sovereign’s expression had not changed in the slightest. Undeterred, he continued to release his energy.

“Go!”

Uuuuuuuuum!

The energy intensified.

Despite the wound, the Supreme Sovereign did not waver. It was as if he knew this would happen and was simply fulfilling his duty.

Faced with that attitude, everyone was paralyzed.

But the one who was most horrified was, of course, Baek Hoemyung.

His bulging eyes could not close.

His sword had clearly pierced the Supreme Sovereign’s body. But he, as if nothing had happened, continued to deploy his energy calmly.

“This…”

Confusion gave way to anger.

He twisted the embedded sword. He felt a solid resistance. He pulled it out with a brusque movement.

Shiing!

With a chilling sound, the sword tore through the Supreme Sovereign’s back, exposing the bloody flesh. But the Supreme Sovereign didn’t even flinch. He continued to release his energy as if it were the most natural thing.

‘What the hell are you?’

Baek Hoemyung’s eyes wavered.

This was something they should have possessed.

The right to immerse oneself in a single thing, forgetting even the pain of hatred towards the enemy, was theirs. At least at this moment.

This was not the destiny that the Supreme Sovereign, who carried the fruits of the sins of the martial world, should have.

“Sima Cheonse!”

Puuuuf!

Baek Hoemyung’s sword pierced the Supreme Sovereign’s chest again.

“Cough!”

No matter how powerful he was, the Supreme Sovereign was still human. A jet of bright red blood gushed from his mouth.

“Young Master.”

But his voice remained firm.

Hearing that voice without a trace of doubt, a chill ran through Baek Hoemyung’s entire body.

“Observe carefully.”

Uuuuuuuuum!

He had gathered so much internal energy that the earth trembled. Fragments of stone rose into the air.

“Still, this is the martial world.”

Kwaaaaaaa!

A terrifying energy burst from his hands. There was no coordination or strategy. The warriors of the Righteous Martial Alliance who were in front of him were swept away like leaves in a storm.

“Leader!”

“Leadeeeeeeer!”

Those who understood what the Supreme Sovereign was doing cried with tears while trying to resist, but it was impossible to oppose his power.

They flew away without remedy.

“Leadeeeeeeeer!”

A heart-wrenching scream echoed across the field.

“…”.

At that moment, Baek Hoemyung even forgot that he had to cut off the Supreme Sovereign’s breath. He just plunged his sword into his back and stared at him.

The warriors of Baekgeom Fortress surrounding the Righteous Martial Alliance did not dare to act either.

They were paralyzed by this surreal and overwhelming scene.

Was this something a human could do?

No one would have imagined it. That someone was capable of something like that. That’s why no one was prepared, no one could stop him.

And they didn’t even think about trying.

A strange atmosphere was created.

Although they carried a deep hatred for the martial world in their hearts, at this moment they felt that they should witness this. They had to see with their own eyes how far a man’s will could go.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The energy swept them away.

Like a raging torrent, the Supreme Sovereign’s power swept away the crowd.

Chilji Singae backed away in a daze.

The tide pushed them.

It was like witnessing a dam breaking and water flooding an empty canal. Only, instead of water, it was pure energy, a hundred times more dangerous.

The people swept away by that energy flew towards them like leaves in a storm.

“Catch them!”

Chilji Singae shouted thoughtlessly.

At first, those affected by the gentle current of energy managed to maintain their balance, but now it was impossible. Most lost consciousness from the pressure or flew uncontrollably.

The beggars caught them.

Thud! Thud!

They caught those who were unconscious or unbalanced.

Chilji Singae, after giving the orders, did not look back. With torn eyes, he watched the Supreme Sovereign. The sword protruding from his chest was heartbreaking.

“…Leader.”

The Supreme Sovereign could have survived.

With his skills, it would have been easy to escape any situation. But he didn’t choose that path.

He was silly. But it was also the most natural thing.

Because the Supreme Sovereign was like that.

It was impossible to imagine him abandoning the others to save himself. Those who had known him for years knew it.

A sacrifice chosen without hesitation.

That’s why it hurt more, that’s why it was sadder.

“Leadeeeeeeeer!”

Chilji Singae’s heart-wrenching scream echoed across the field.

“Cough.”

The Supreme Sovereign’s body had changed.

His hair, once black and thick, was now completely white. His skin, once youthful, was now covered in wrinkles. His imposing figure, which seemed capable of lifting mountains, had shrunk, with his back hunched.

Just by his appearance, no one would recognize the man who was once called the Supreme Fist of the World.

But there was something that hadn’t changed.

Baek Hoemyung swallowed.

The Supreme Sovereign was at his limit. He had exhausted even his innate energy; there was no way he would survive. Even without intervention, he would die soon.

And he didn’t have much time left.

‘And still…’

Why was his presence still so overwhelming?

That withered back.

Shrunken and weak, why did it seem so big?

Baek Hoemyung understood.

“Power is not everything. What matters is will.”

It was something his leader used to say.

Baek Hoemyung accepted all his leader’s words as truth, but he had never understood this phrase. After all, they had suffered from a lack of power. With enough strength, the martial world would not have dared to challenge them.

That’s why they sought power. Because power was everything.

But now, the Supreme Sovereign was demonstrating what not even his leader had managed to make him understand.

That power was not everything.

That will sometimes surpassed strength.

“…Leader.”

Without realizing it, Baek Hoemyung called him “Leader” again.

Respect.

How could he not feel respect for such an extraordinary man?

Beyond enmities, as a martial artist, it was impossible not to honor him.

Slowly, the Supreme Sovereign’s body straightened.

After looking at the sky for a moment, he looked down to contemplate the devastated battlefield.