Chapter 515

Chapter 515
## Chapter 515. Into the Darkness (10)

—

When **Do-gwang-su** claimed he possessed an excellent sense of direction, I didn’t give much of a response, but it was already a known fact to me. **Do-gwang-su** was indeed a skilled pathfinder. This was particularly true when navigating terrains completely absent from any chart. When the surrounding blackness grew thicker than a moonless night. When forced to forge an entirely new route to survive, his tracking capabilities sharpened even further. While his precision could never truly rival mine, **Do-gwang-su**’s incredible survival reflexes had rescued the cleanup squad on numerous critical occasions when all sense of direction was lost. He had cheated death time and again by placing his bets on an intuitive perception that most people simply dismissed as a ‘gut feeling.’ It was because of this track record that I had assigned the task of scouting ahead to **Do-gwang-su**.

“……Th—that is.”

**Do-gwang-su**’s eyes darted frantically. Because he jerked his head in the opposite direction to evade our scrutiny, it was impossible to see **Do-gwang-su**’s expression. I shifted my gaze back to the exact spot where **Do-gwang-su**’s outstretched finger was aimed.

“**Gwang-su**-ya.”

The target of **Do-gwang-su**’s gesture was nothing but a completely blank wall.

“Just what sort of situation are we looking at here?”

“Wa—wait a second! Just hold on! There is absolutely no way this…… could be happening. *Heuk*—!”

Bizarrely, **Do-gwang-su**’s behavior was incredibly overwrought. He acted precisely like someone whose very existence depended entirely on this outcome.

“Th—this is the right path! I am certain of it because this is the exact route I traversed before.”

**Dang-seo-hee**, idly balancing a sharp implement in her grip, gradually tilted her head to one side.

“Then for what reason are we staring at a solid wall?”

“Th—that is…… it’s just……”

According to the layout of the chart, it was indisputable that advancing past this point would lead straight to the cavern that **Yong-so-a** had mentioned. If that were the case, what could possibly explain a stone barrier blocking the way?

*‘Either **Do-gwang-su** made a blunder…… or a different variable is at play.’*

Looking at the odds, the first option seemed far more plausible, but as a person who understood the depths of his capabilities from my previous life, I made a different assessment.

*‘There remains a distinct chance that it is the latter option.’*

Assuming that were true, could a passage that definitely existed simply vanish, leaving a blank wall in its stead? I began to sift through the vast archives of the library inside my mind. These were the specific documentation regarding the **Cheon-ma-chong** (Heavenly Demon Tomb) that I had meticulously memorized during my past life. Out of those diverse records, I managed to isolate a handful of entries that shared a connection.

> ※ C-Grade
> —A peculiar phenomenon was recorded in specific sectors of the **Cheon-ma-chong** where a multitude of martial artists congregated before a solid wall and perished together. Several bodies indicated attempts to violently shatter the sealed cavern. It is hypothesized that they suffered a mass hallucination while deprived of their cognitive faculties due to the effects of **Musim-hwan-gak-san**.

> ※ B-Grade
> —A significant number of casualties from starvation were uncovered deep within the **Cheon-ma-chong**. Their remains were primarily located in sectors completely unaligned with the locations indicated on the treasure map. It is deduced that they perished from exposure while wandering aimlessly after their spatial awareness was compromised. Further investigation into the correlation between **Musim-hwan-gak-san** and spatial disorientation is required.

> ※ A-Grade
> —A structural discrepancy was identified between the layout documented by the Initial Scouting Unit and the actual topography observed inside the cavern. Subsequent verification is mandated.

When these seemingly disconnected findings were cross-referenced and assembled together, the underlying narrative pointed toward a singular conclusion.

*‘The physical layout of the Sword Tomb is actively shifting.’*

Stepping past **Do-gwang-su**, whose mouth was quivering uncontrollably, I stepped up to the completely sealed stone face.

“*Hieek*! **Great Hero Jin**! I beg of you, please spare my life! I will perform any task you require.”

“……”

I had no inkling of what sort of frantic delusion **Do-gwang-su** was experiencing, but I was in no frame of mind to indulge him.

“*Uwaaaa-ak*!”

Paying no heed to **Do-gwang-su**, who shrieked as though he might drop unconscious from terror while squeezing his eyelids shut, I scrutinized the barrier. *Tap-tap*— A simple rap against the surface revealed a profound, dense solidity packed tight within.

*‘Ha…….’*

It was clear that those lunatic designers had constructed these mechanisms using genuine, solid boulders.

*Vwooom*— I enveloped my knuckles in a layer of protective qi.

*Kwang*— Harnessing an internal force possessing destructive power sufficient to shatter a standard block of blue-steel stone in a single blow, I rammed my fist straight into the barrier.

*Rumble*— Originating from the impacted surface, a massive tremor rippled through the entirety of the cavern.

“*Heh*, fascinating.”

The shockwave dispersed and ground to a halt. It was undeniable that they had utilized materials far denser than ordinary blue-steel stone. Whether it was due to the sheer durability or the profound thickness of the boulders, the barrier remained completely unmoved, save for a solitary, deep indentation left upon the stone.

“**Gre—Great Hero Jin**! If you unleash that sort of concussive force……”

Given that the **Man-hwa-mu-jeok-gwon** was ill-suited for this particular task, I simply channeled a greater reserve of inner energy and struck down with far greater vehemence.

*Kwa-kwang*— The fist, propelled forward with absolute maximum output, buried itself deep into the stone, leaving a collapsed crater.

*Crack*— Demonstrating catastrophic force, the surrounding perimeter of half a *jang* sank deeply inward.

*Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble.* A perilous, continuous trembling shuddered through the entire cavern system.

“**Gre—Great Hero Jin**…… *keugh* this **Jin-so-un** dog…… no, **So—So-un-nim**!”

Immediately following, a sound like tearing stone reverberated, sending a sharp snapping echo through the cavernous space.

*Thud-thud-thud*— Boulders the size of small residences began tearing away from the roof of the cave, raining downward.

“**Jin-so-un**, you absolute madman!!!!”

A mere instant before she could be crushed into a crimson pulp by a descending boulder, **Dang-seo-hee** vaulted over **Do-gwang-su**’s head and delivered a swift, precise kick to the stone.

*Swaaaa-ek*— *Boom!* The boulder, which had been plummeting with terrifying momentum, instantly altered its trajectory horizontally, smashing directly into the side wall with a deafening crash.

“……*Ugh*.”

**Do-gwang-su**, cautiously parting his eyelids, collapsed straight onto the ground as if the strength had entirely drained from his limbs.

“I—I cannot take any more of this……”

**Il-gak**, who had deflected an incoming rock in a manner identical to **Dang-seo-hee**, spoke up with a grim countenance.

“**Jin Siju**, if you apply any further concussive force, the entire subterranean structure could collapse upon us.”

“……”

Short of employing a specific martial technique capable of piercing cleanly through a surface without radiating the impact outward, there was no predicting what sort of catastrophic reaction might occur across the rest of the Sword Tomb if I continued to utilize raw strength in this manner.

*‘If the Sword Tomb were to suffer a total collapse.’*

No mortal human, regardless of their martial prowess, could survive the colossal mass of the Great Snow Mountain crashing down upon them.

“What about utilizing the **Sang-gwan-gong** (Piercing Through Void Art) or perhaps the **Il-ji-seon-gong** (One Finger Zen Art)?”

Would the outcome differ if it involved the legendary Seventy-Two Supreme Arts of Shaolin?

“The **Sang-gwan-gong** radiates its kinetic force in all outward directions upon the final moment of contact, whereas the **Il-ji-seon-gong**……”

“It amounts to nothing more than boring holes with a single digit……”

How much time would it take to hollow out a passage wide enough for a human to walk through using a mere finger discipline? Even if one could successfully tunnel through the stone using specialized hand or fist techniques, it would ultimately result in a massive waste of energy as long as the total depth of the barrier remained unknown. I walked over to **Do-gwang-su**, who was cradling his skull and shivering while curled into a tight ball.

“Hey, stand up.”

“I refuse…… I already stated I refuse to proceed…… just let me leave……”

The fellow had completely parted with his sanity. I bent down low and exhaled a quiet whisper directly into his ear.

“You, you just referred to me as an absolute madman, did you not?”

“……Wh—what sort of nonsense are you uttering?”

“I distinctly caught you starting to say dog-something as well.”

**Do-gwang-su** snapped his head upward instantly. His gaze was suddenly sharper and clearer than it had been all day.

“**Great Hero**!! Surely such words would never cross my lips.”

**Do-gwang-su**, shifting his gaze rapidly, desperately steered the conversation in a different direction.

“Mo—more importantly, is it not your wish to gain entry into this chamber, highly esteemed Great Hero?”

“That is correct.”

“In that case, might you allow me to attempt to uncover the passage utilizing my own methods?”

“Your own methods?”

“Yes. I believe I have a way to navigate us to that destination.”

I wasn’t entirely certain what had prompted this sudden shift, but it was highly encouraging to see **Do-gwang-su** demonstrating such a proactive attitude.

“Very well. Show me what you can do.”

“Understood! Entrust it entirely to me!”

*‘They are all dead.’* **Yong-so-a**’s ominous forecast suddenly drifted back into my thoughts. Would the person I discover waiting on the other side of this stone barrier be a living **Moyong-seol**, or a lifeless **Moyong-seol**? I offered one final remark to provide an extra bit of incentive for **Do-gwang-su**.

“Given that your entire prospects for survival rest upon the outcome, you would do well to apply yourself fully.”

“*Hieek*!”

For whatever reason, the remaining color drained entirely from his complexion.

**Moyong-seol** had reached the absolute limit of her endurance. Her physical form was utterly spent, but the true burden weighing her down was the crushing weight of psychological exhaustion.

*‘When exactly did the shift begin?’*

Had it originated right after acquiring the coveted [**Paewang-sin-gwon**]? The conduct of her fellow family members had started to warp, their speech and demeanor turning distinctly alien compared to their usual selves. Even so, during the initial stages, she tried to dismiss it as mere paranoia. They had spent far too long traversing the bleak corridors of the Sword Tomb, and every single person was pushed to the brink of collapse. Yet, following their encounter with the adversarial **Yu-hyang Gate**—

“*Kuaaaaa-ak*—!”

The entire environment fractured violently. A sudden, vicious ambush launched by the forces of the **Yu-hyang Gate** caught them completely off guard. As a direct consequence of that skirmish, over half of the Moyong Clan’s retainers were slaughtered. **Moyong-seol** herself was forced to endure a grievous wound to her left shoulder as the price for narrowly evading the clutches of death. It was only when she managed to heave **Jang-un-hyeon**’s lifeless torso off herself and drag her body upright that she truly recognized the profound wrongness of her situation. Looking around at the remaining survivors of her house, she saw the reality.

“What was the point of dying while gripping this so stubbornly? It is nothing but an inconvenience.”

“The state of this one’s gear is perfectly serviceable.”

Not a single soul shed a tear or displayed the slightest hint of grief. Every individual was completely preoccupied with systematically stripping the belongings from the corpses of their fallen brethren.

“Young mistress, do you live?”

The Hall Master offered a flat, emotionless inquiry.

“If you can walk, let us press on. This location is no longer tenable for an extended stay.”

“Hall Master…… what is the meaning of this?”

“To what do you refer?”

“Those men…… what exactly are they doing right now?”

The Hall Master cast a brief, dispassionate look toward the retainers who were busy rifling through the dead before replying as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“The deceased have no further requirement for rations or water, do they?”

He spoke as if **Moyong-seol** were the one behaving irrationally. Every single survivor conducted themselves in this manner. It felt as though **Moyong-seol** had been discarded entirely alone into an unfamiliar, distorted reality.

“Move forward. I shall provide leverage.”

“*Ah*, hold on……”

Gripped by the Hall Master’s uncharacteristically forceful and aggressive hold, **Moyong-seol** was dragged along half against her will. Because they lacked any proper medicinal supplies to treat her injury, the flesh—which had only received rudimentary battlefield binding—gradually began to fester and degrade as the hours bled away. Despite this, among the remaining members of her clan, not a single person paid any heed to **Moyong-seol**’s suffering.

“*Ah*, honestly, how long must we drag our feet at this pathetic pace?”

“It isn’t as though her legs are broken. Is she not simply exaggerating her distress for attention?”

Instead, they intentionally voiced their bitter grievances within her clear hearing, treating her presence as a severe liability.

“……!”

Whenever she abruptly glanced backward, she would catch the lingering, cold focus of the retainers’ eyes upon her, which would then hastily avert themselves. Furthermore, above all else.

“*Keu-heuh-heuh*……!!”

The moment a skirmish commenced, they transformed into bloodthirsty fiends as though possessed by a ravenous hunger for slaughter. The concepts of containment or pacifying an opponent that they once practiced were completely abandoned. A single strike, a guaranteed fatality. They made absolutely certain to butcher their targets instantly, refusing to spare even those who threw down their weapons to beg for clemency. **Moyong-seol**, ignoring the agonizing throbbing in her shoulder, clutched at the Hall Master’s sleeve.

“Hall Master! What in the world guides your actions? That warrior had already yielded!”

Yet, the response she received was cold.

“Young mistress, did the tragedy involving the **Yu-hyang Gate** impart no wisdom to you whatsoever?”

“……”

“It is high time you abandoned such naivety.”

The only thing returned to her was a dismissive look of scorn and isolation, as if she were a mere nuisance to be tolerated.

*‘This completely contradicts the honorable tenets of the Moyong Clan.’*

If a shift in circumstances was all it took to discard one’s morality, what worth did any of their lifelong principles hold? Unfortunately, **Moyong-seol** lacked the physical capacity to forcefully correct their behavior. She was deeply incapacitated and entirely dependent on their protection just to travel. As this grim dynamic persisted, **Moyong-seol**’s cognitive state began to rapidly fracture and dissolve.

*‘What is the truth? Have they lost their minds? Or…… am I the one who is failing to see clearly?’*

The neglected laceration began to rot in earnest, and the resulting systemic infection caused a ferocious delirium to surge across her entire frame. No matter how deeply she attempted to perform her breathing exercises, her consciousness refused to stabilize, remaining trapped behind a dense, impenetrable haze.

“Ha—Hall Master……”

Even as **Moyong-seol** hovered precariously on the threshold of existence and demise, the remaining retainers of the Moyong Clan merely observed her condition with detached, vacant expressions. There was no longer anyone within her family willing to extend a hand to care for **Moyong-seol**.

*‘I am so incredibly tired…….’*

It was during a moment when she was staring blankly out into the oppressive blackness that a series of sounds broke the silence. *Thump, thump, thump.* A deliberate, rhythmic cadence of footfalls reverberated. The entity generating the noise seemed to be executing repetitive, leaping bounds through the shadows, landing heavily upon the stone floor each time.

*‘What could that be…….’*

Straining her eyes toward the distant mouth of the passage through a heavily blurred vision and a wandering mind, she could faintly perceive a shape silhouetted against the dark, rhythmically rising and falling. Shortly thereafter, the outline of two limbs extended rigidly straight out in front of the torso became visible.

“Ha—Hall Master……”

“I have already informed you, we possess no extra provisions to waste on you.”

“That…… that is not what I mean. That entity over there…… is it merely a trick of my sight?”

*Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.*

In stark contrast to the standard phantoms born of her fever, this particular entity grew sharper and more defined the closer it drew. Two upper limbs locked entirely straight ahead. Coupled with elongated, obsidian claws protruding from its fingertips. A completely bloodless visage that appeared starkly white against the surrounding gloom. There were even sharp, predatory fangs peeking out from beneath a frozen, expressionless mouth. Without a doubt, that creature was…….

“Ga—ga…… A Jiangshi?!!!”

The terrifying reality was instantly validated by the frantic gasp of the Hall Master.

*‘This is no delusion!’*

**Moyong-seol** forced her broken body up from the ground with immense effort.

“Everyone, retreat……”

*Crack*—

Before the warning could fully clear **Moyong-seol**’s lips, the Jiangshi surged forward with the velocity of a gale.

——!

Accompanied by a sharp, whistling gust, the section where the scouting Commander’s skull had been located vanished entirely from view, and a geyser of dark crimson erupted violently from the flat plane of the freshly severed throat.

“*Uwaaaa-ak*!”
“*Uwaaaa-ak*!”

Confronted by the horrific abomination that had materialized without warning, the surviving members of the family fractured into absolute hysteria within seconds.

“N—no!!!”

Through the dense fog of her failing consciousness, she recognized the truth after witnessing a solitary motion from the monster. She had no concept of where this unnatural horror had emerged from, but it was a certainty that they stood absolutely zero chance of overcoming it if their forces scattered in fear. Regardless, her efforts were in vain.

“Regroup……!”

“*Uwaaaa-ak*!!!!”

**Moyong-seol**’s desperate commands dissolved harmlessly like sand cast into the wind. The retainers deliberately shoved their own comrades to the floor, abandoning them to ensure their own solitary escape.

“Move out of my way!! I said, get out of my way!”

A panicked warrior who had stumbled to the ground unleashed his sword-qi with desperate intensity in a frantic bid to halt the advancing Jiangshi. However, those elongated, obsidian claws sliced through the blade saturated with sword-qi as effortlessly as though splitting brittle twigs.

“*Uh, uwaaaa-ak*!”

The martial artist, his chest cavity cleanly transfixed through the heart, expired without even the luxury of shutting his eyes. The Jiangshi instantly pivoted its frame, leaping toward the next closest prey.

“Stop!”

A tremendous concussive impact resounded as a strike connected with the Jiangshi, which had been barreling directly toward another retreating swordsman.

*Kwa-kwang!*
*Crack*—

The Jiangshi’s head was violently wrenched to an unnatural angle, presenting an even more unsettling and grotesque form.

“Yo—young mistress!”

“I shall hold the line to secure us some time, use this moment to rally the men!”

The complexion of **Moyong-seol**, who had concentrated every ounce of her strength into that solitary intervention, was entirely devoid of color. It was the direct consequence of violently forcing her inner reserves to activate while her physical container was in such a ruined state. Even so, she possessed no alternative. With the Hall Master already dead, **Moyong-seol** remained the solitary combatant capable of standing against this aberration.

“*Ha-at*!”

A linear beam of concentrated sword-qi radiating from her weapon shot forward, aiming to pierce cleanly through the Jiangshi’s central core.

*Tung!*

She had executed the thrust by precisely maneuvering past the trajectory of the Jiangshi’s clawed fingers, yet a dull, hollow ring and a sharp ricochet rebounded through her arms, exactly as if she had driven her blade into a sheet of solid iron. Unfortunately, there was no window of time available to transition into a secondary stance. From the very beginning of the encounter, the monstrosity had not bothered to display a single defensive reflex.

*Ske-gek*—

She managed to jerk her head aside at the absolute last microsecond, but a shallow laceration was carved across her ear. She instantly executed the complex motions of the **Ssang-yong-seon-pung-geom** (Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword) to forcefully create separation from the Jiangshi’s lethal reach. Though she was deprived of her paired blades, even when channeled through a singular sword, a remarkably potent and ferocious tempest of cutting wind materialized, twisting one of the Jiangshi’s arms backward into an entirely impossible, broken alignment.

*Crack, crack, crack.*

Just as **Moyong-seol**, believing she had successfully neutralized one of the monster’s limbs, prepared to decapitate it using the swift strikes of the **Seom-gwang-bun-un-geom** (Flash Cloud-Splitting Sword), the Jiangshi casually hoisted its remaining hand, intercepting the incoming blade with raw force.

*Kwang!*

Immediately following, the Jiangshi dropped into a deep, solid stance and cast a brief look down at its shattered arm.

*Crack, crack, crack.*

The mangled limb forcibly snapped back into its appropriate sockets, resetting entirely to its initial, undamaged state.

*‘If this persists…….’*

For a fleeting second, she allowed herself to lament how differently this would go if her body were functional, but **Moyong-seol** understood perfectly that such thoughts were nothing but empty rationalizations.

*‘The only viable strategy is to incrementally build distance and execute a structured retreat.’*

The moment she formed this rapid assessment and spun her gaze toward her clan members to relay the command to fall back.

“Vice…… Commander?”

There was not a single living soul left standing within the passage.

“*Uh*?”

*Kwang!*

**Moyong-seol**’s entire frame was launched airborne by a straight punch delivered by the Jiangshi. She traveled a full three *jang* through the air before being violently smashed into the rocky boundary.

*Thud!*

A sharp, agonized cry tore from **Moyong-seol**’s throat as she collapsed heavily to the ground, bringing down a shower of splintered stone from the shattered wall.

“*Uwek*—”

Her internal pathways fractured, causing her vital energy to violently invert and surge backward, inflicting catastrophic trauma upon her internal organs. She comprehended the absolute finality of her situation the moment she gazed down at the pool of dark blood she had just coughed up. This was the end.

*‘Despite receiving so many warnings never to surrender my focus under any duress…….’*

The distinct, grating sensation of fractured ribs pressed clearly into her awareness, and her inner energy raged completely out of control. She felt that given her current failure, she lacked any rightful authority to hold bitterness toward the clan members who had abandoned her to save themselves.

*‘No, if anything, I ought to commend their choice.’*

Regardless of their cowardice, those who ran would possess a marginally higher probability of surviving this place. The Jiangshi shifted its vacant gaze between her slumped form and the darkness down the corridor where the remaining survivors had fled. It appeared momentarily incapable of determining which targets to slaughter first.

“Over here……”

**Moyong-seol** forced her trembling lips to move.

“*Ha-ah*……. You need to…… face me first!!”

Summoning the absolute remainder of her willpower, **Moyong-seol** dragged her torso upward and directed an intense wave of pure, unfiltered killing intent straight toward the monster. The Jiangshi, which had been on the verge of pursuing the others, instantly corrected its alignment back toward her. And then.

*Thump, thump, thump, thump.*

It resumed its advance, using those specific, deeply unsettling bounds that defied natural movement. Viewed from a detached perspective, it might have seemed an almost absurd spectacle, but in this immediate context, it was profoundly terrifying. Perhaps the source of this dread did not stem solely from the Jiangshi itself. The true origin of this overwhelming panic was clear.

*‘It is because I am staring directly into my own demise.’*

An icy wave of horror washed over her soul. Pure terror attempted to seize complete control of her thoughts. An profound sorrow welled up from deep within, and tears began to track down her face in steady lines. Though she had lived under the assumption that she was perpetually reconciled to death from the precise moment she first grasped a hilt, now that her end was physically manifesting so deliberately, displaying its presence without ambiguity, an immense despair and suffering flooded her mind.

“*Keugh*!”

**Moyong-seol** roughly brushed away her tears and clamped her jaws tight. Because only if she managed to hold out for a few more moments here would the fleeing members of her house stand a chance at life. Because the odds of their survival would increase by even a fraction.

*Crack,*

The oncoming Jiangshi came to an abrupt halt, angling its upper torso as its feet rooted into the stone floor. It was the exact preparatory form that had claimed the life of the scouting Commander in a single breath. **Moyong-seol** marshaled every scrap of her remaining vitality and raised her blade into a final defensive posture.

*Thud-thud*—

The Jiangshi propelled itself forward, transforming into a blurred line of kinetic wind. The moment she braced her teeth to absorb the anticipated, crushing force of the strike.

*Kwa-kwa-kwang!*

A cataclysmic detonation shattered the silence of the cavern first, forcing **Moyong-seol** to instinctively catch her breath.

*‘Where…… where did the Jiangshi go?’*

The abomination that had been on the verge of tearing her apart had vanished completely from her immediate path, and in its place, a figure radiating a brilliant, golden luminosity was walking forward, keeping his gaze anchored entirely upon her.

“……”

*Crack, crack.*

The Jiangshi, which had been blasted deep into the stone wall, began to extract itself while grinding the surrounding masonry into dust. **Moyong-seol** watched that horrific resurrection with sheer disbelief, but the newcomer merely unleashed a wave of golden sword-qi as though it required no effort at all, maintaining his steady march toward her position.

“*Kuaaaaa-ak*!”

For the very first time since the confrontation began, the Jiangshi emitted a harsh screech of pain. Regardless, the man continued his deliberate approach toward **Moyong-seol**, completely indifferent to the monster’s cries. And then.

“Are you unharmed?”

He offered the question while reaching down to present a solid, unwavering hand.

“*Ah*……”

**Moyong-seol** stared at the outstretched hand before slowly lifting her gaze to take in his features. The man before her was someone she recognized well. Simultaneously, he was a person she could never have anticipated encountering under these circumstances in such a deep abyss. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes entirely outside of her control.

“**Young Master Jin**……”

Even though she was the one who felt the profound wave of deliverance at his arrival.

“It is a profound relief to find you. **Lady Moyong**.”

**Jin-so-un** clasped her hand with tremendous fervor, behaving as though he were the party who had just been delivered from destruction, refusing to loosen his grip for even an instant.