Chapter 38
“It’s the first time we’re moving on such a scale.”
“Who would’ve thought we’d deploy the Heavenly Net in the Demonic Sea?”
“Though, calling this a ‘Heavenly Net’ feels a bit shabby.”
After a long period of rest, Mupungdae began a large-scale mission, moving with crisp efficiency.
They checked the pre-assigned route repeatedly, memorizing every location on the map.
Once all preparations were complete, the mission commenced in grandeur.
A massive number of troops departed from the camp—it took three whole days just to move.
“Is it alright to move this slowly?”
Unlike the regular members, who only knew the outline of the plan, Oh Jiyeon, aware of the details, couldn’t hide her unease.
“These guys have always moved so secretly that we never even noticed them. If we march on such a large scale, won’t they immediately slip away?”
“They will. I thought the same and even suggested using a small elite strike force instead.”
“And Young Master Cheon refused.”
“He said there’s no need to worry about them escaping. More importantly, he said the entire Mupungdae must witness this.”
“…Witness it?”
Witness what?
She tilted her head, but no answer came.
Even the Commander of Mupungdae didn’t know.
“Anyway, get ready. We’re nearly at the operation zone—”
Trying to shake off Oh Jiyeon’s unease and lighten the mood, the commander suddenly shot upward.
And then—
Boom!!
A thunderous crash echoed almost at the same time.
The ground trembled faintly.
The commander landed back down heavily.
“Commander?”
“The battle’s already begun. Increase Mupungdae’s speed! Vice Commander, take the main force and follow!”
“Yes!”
Leaving the main force to Oh Jiyeon, the commander rushed forward with a pre-selected elite squad.
Ten captains, the best of the best.
They swiftly tore through the forest, arriving at a clearing before a cliff.
At the cliff’s base was the mouth of a cave. Dust swirled violently at its entrance, where something was clashing.
“Commander!”
“Do Woojin! What’s happening?”
When Do Woojin appeared from behind, the commander barked urgently.
Do Woojin’s twisted expression said it all before he even spoke.
“These bastards… they’re even crazier than we thought.”
Meanwhile, before the main force arrived—
Cheon Mujin had already reached the site with Squad 13.
“Captain, we’re not seriously storming this place alone, are we?”
“Do-senpai, lately you’ve been asking the most obvious questions.”
Cheon Mujin swung his fist into the air.
“Of course we’re going in.”
Crack!!
With a roar, the very air split apart, revealing cracks like broken glass.
“What in the world…?”
“The way these guys hide is always the same. Formation and illusion—that’s their best trick.”
“No, I mean… how did you break both just by punching the air—”
Unable to voice his disbelief fully, Do Woojin fell silent.
In the end, did it matter?
What mattered was that Cheon Mujin had decided to charge in.
So much for saying Mupungdae had to witness this…
If he was going to storm in and wipe them out himself, why even call the unit?
Swallowing the questions boiling inside him, Do Woojin followed behind. Ahead were Baek Woo and Yoo Hyunhwa, almost fanatically loyal to Mujin.
So much for becoming a close aide.
They were talented, skilled, and even younger than him. Most of all, their blind trust in Mujin was unshakable.
People like them will always stand at his side. I can only be content following behind…
“Ugh—”
Yoo Hyunhwa gagged, barely holding back vomit.
The stench hit Do Woojin a moment later, wrenching his thoughts away.
What they saw under the dim torchlight was beyond horrific.
“These lunatics…”
He cursed reflexively.
And then—
“This is the reason, Woojin.”
Cheon Mujin’s voice was unlike usual, colder, sharper.
“We seek demon power, but we must never become demons. The moment a Demon Man is devoured by demonic energy, he ceases to be human.”
The intensity in his voice was enough to make the three instinctively bow their heads.
“Those who force others to be fed to the demons… I don’t even consider them human.”
Rage.
So fierce was his rage that Yoo Hyunhwa lifted her spear.
“Give us the order.”
She stood at his right.
“…The order.”
Baek Woo unsheathed his sword and took the left.
Do Woojin chuckled faintly.
“I’ll block the escape routes.”
Meeting Mujin’s eyes, he stepped back.
“My senior will handle the rear. Go wild. Destroy everything. Show them why we carry the word ‘Demon’ before ‘Human.’”
“An intruder! Kill them!!”
“Activate the barrier!”
Enemies scrambled in panic, but it was already too late.
Yoo Hyunhwa and Baek Woo charged like arrows, weaving past rotting corpses fused with beasts and humans.
Their rage only accelerated their pace.
“Captain, I think this is the back entrance.”
“Seems so. You don’t dump trash at the front gate.”
Though Mujin had traced the demonic energy here, it wasn’t a complete investigation.
There had to be more exits.
“That’s why Mupungdae’s surrounding the area. We’ll flush them out.”
Leaving a path of escape was necessary.
“Woojin, stay here, then join the main force and pass them the intel. If it gets dangerous, you know what to do.”
“…Understood.”
With that, Mujin looked back at Hyunhwa and Baek Woo.
As expected—
“They’re still too green.”
Despite their furious charge, both were quickly blocked by prepared elites.
Not surprising.
They were still first-class warriors, while their foes, handlers of demons, employed peak masters as errand boys.
Yet even so, their techniques were crude, their strength forced. That’s why the two could hold out surrounded.
“Such short-lived dogs, yet they work so hard.”
Kyaw?
“You’re the opposite—live lazily,” Mujin said, scratching his companion beast Cheonghwa.
Then he stepped forward.
It was time.
The real enemies would reveal themselves now.
“Arrogant brats! Do you know where you stand?!”
An enemy powerhouse appeared, aura blazing.
Hyunhwa and Baek Woo exchanged sharp glances—they had to strike him together.
But before they could—
Smash!!
Blood, bone, and white fluid splattered.
“Click. Failed to hold back.” Mujin muttered.
“…Insane.”
The gap between him and other “first-class” warriors was absurd.
Baek Woo thought, Is this even possible? Shouldn’t he already be in a higher realm?
But Mujin didn’t care.
He flexed his hand, demonic energy boiling.
His body was still “first-class,” cursed with little talent.
But his bloodline made him resilient—his control of demonic energy grew sharper by the day.
One day, when his body broke past its limit, he’d ascend naturally.
“…Annoying fight.”
Absorbing his opponent’s energy, he grimaced at the filth mixed within and abandoned it.
He didn’t need it. He had enough stockpiled already.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you fleeing?”
Just as smoke drives rabbits from their holes, fear of death drives humans.
“Retreat!”
“Destroy the records!”
“Dispose of the test subjects!”
Panic spread like wildfire.
Mujin didn’t chase.
Not yet.
What mattered more than killing them was finding it.
The mystery that had haunted him since his return to the past.
He followed the one who shouted about “disposing of the test subjects.”
They arrived at a chamber near the back exit. Mujin slipped inside.
And froze.
“…Kyu.”
Cheonghwa whimpered at his side.
The sight was monstrous.
Humans fused with demons—grotesque abominations locked in cages, sprawled on experiment tables.
But Mujin’s gaze wasn’t on them.
It was fixed on a pink, translucent pool.
Inside, cross-legged like a meditating monk, sat a creature.
Its body was shaped like a man’s—arms, legs, spine, and head proportioned like a human’s.
But… fur covered its frame like a monkey’s. Horns jutted from its skull. A tail swayed behind.
It looked like some nightmare version of the Great Sage of legend.
Mujin’s eyes hardened.
“…So it really was you bastards who made this.”
Killing intent poured from him.
The creature’s golden eyes opened.
Deep, hollow, and strangely vacant.
Yet its body remained motionless, as if bound.
Perfect.
This was the only chance.
Before it could awaken—kill it.
Thank the heavens he found it before leaving the Demonic Sea.
He launched forward, fist cocked.
His killing intent roared.
And—
His fist smashed down—
Or should have.
Bwooong!
It struck a barrier of hardened aura.
The creature lifted its empty gaze to him.
Not the eyes he remembered.
Now’s the only chance—
He pulled his arm back for another strike.
But then—
“D-damn it! To hell with this!”
The guide who had led him here shouted and smashed something.
A strange wave of energy rippled through the chamber.
“…Heh.”
A mocking laugh echoed.
Crash!!
Mujin’s body was blasted into the wall.
