Chapter 317 - Not a Lord (3)

Seo Li and Seo Eun-hyun charge toward Seo Hweol.

Boo-oong―

The first attack is Seo Eun-hyun's sword strike.

However, Seo Hweol can't recognize it as a 'sword.'

'What is he swinging?'

To his eyes, it appears as though Seo Eun-hyun is gripping and swinging transparent void.

Considering that the Formless Sword Seo Eun-hyun originally used was transparent but its outline could be surmised, Seo Eun-hyun's current weapon is utterly unidentifiable.

Shukuang!

Before Seo Hweol can react.

Seo Eun-hyun has torn through the moment, appearing before him and launching thousands of slashes in an instant.

"...!"

Seo Hweol, without losing his smile, begins to use his Demon Ability.

Demon Ability.

Dragon Sea Exceeding Ascension (龍海進越弄).

Chwaaaa—

The dragon-shaped seawater is summoned around him, shooting towards Seo Eun-hyun and Seo Li.

Boo-oong―

However, behind Seo Eun-hyun,

Seo Li transforms the Clear Scale Armor he is wearing into a gigantic hand and rushes in, smashing the dragon-shaped seawater.

Kwaaang!

A deafening explosion sounds, and the dragon-shaped seawater shatters, spraying water everywhere.

Thick sea fog begins to spread around.

Woo-woong―

Within the thick sea fog, I exhale yin wind to try to disperse the fog.

But the fog stays fixed around me, unmoving.

Whisper-whisper-whisper...

Somewhere, from a distant place, I hear the sound of something whispering.

'What is this?'

I try to focus on the sound.

At that moment.

Whiing―

A white slash sweeps past in front of me.

Following the path cleaved through the fog, Seo Eun-hyun walks toward me.

"Do not be deceived, Seo Li. It's one of his brainwashing spells."

"... Main body..."

"It's 'Seo Eun-hyun.' Seo Li."

"... Alright, Seo Eun-hyun."

I ask, not understanding.

"Why insist on being called that? The distinction is meaningless to us."

Seo Eun-hyun smiles softly at my words.

"It seems you still don't know."

"...?"

"You'll understand naturally later."

He seems calmer and more composed than before, perhaps due to what he has experienced inside Seo Hweol.

"Anyway, what's Seo Hweol's ability? How does he parasitize so easily?"

I ask about Seo Hweol, who had somehow parasitized me and manipulated my mind.

Seo Eun-hyun's smile vanishes as he answers.

"His ability is not parasitism."

"What?"

"His ability is 'infection' or 'replication'...or, yes, 'assimilation' would be more accurate."

Seo Eun-hyun explains.

"He's capable of disassembling his own mind. How he does it, I don't know, but he dismantles and decomposes his own mind and emotions to create a certain configuration, and when that configuration is assembled, it becomes 'Seo Hweol.' Every entity that encounters Seo Hweol unconsciously imprints that 'configuration' into their minds. As time passes, the configuration spreads throughout our minds, and at some point, the configuration assembles, creating a new being known as 'Seo Hweol.' It's a form of brainwashing."

I feel a sense of absurdity at this ability.

"What is that...that plague-like ability? No, more importantly, can he really use such an absurd technique without any restrictions?"

"From what I've figured out, there are restrictions. First, to brainwash an opponent stronger than himself through the 'configuration' takes a considerable amount of time and effort. That's why he killed beings like Gyo Yeom and the one from the Tall Tree Race, who were at the Four-Axis stage."

"I see..."

"Secondly, the weaker a person's mental strength, the easier it is to brainwash them. Conversely, the stronger their mental strength, the more resources it takes to brainwash them."

"..."

I let out a hollow laugh at those words once again.

Is my mental strength that weak?

Swoosh―

Seo Eun-hyun places a hand on my shoulder.

Perhaps because we are the same 'me', it doesn't feel unpleasant.

Woo-woong―

In an instant, our hearts connect, and I discover a startling truth.

[Our mental strength isn't weak. We just got too deeply immersed in the conditions for his brainwashing.]

'What?'

So it isn't just a matter of killing Seo Hweol to be brainwashed?

As I listen to the conditions for Seo Hweol's brainwashing, I feel chills all over my body.

[The condition for Seo Hweol's brainwashing is to 'meet Seo Hweol, talk to him, and have an impression of him remain in your mind.' The more you talk to him, the more you remember him, and the more you encounter him, the higher the probability and risk of turning into 'Seo Hweol.' Our mental strength isn't weak.]

Seo Eun-hyun's eyes seem to burn with a fierce intensity.

He is wary of Seo Hweol.

[Since the first time I met him 3,000 years ago, I have been brainwashed and eroded by him.]

'Ah...'

So that's how it is.

Seo Hweol has been brainwashing me since my very first life, since the 0th cycle.

And so, from that time until now.

Over the span of about 3,000 years that he has been brainwashing me.

The result is the current 'me.'

The reason Seo Hweol could read my thoughts is simple.

By that point, I was already being eroded by Seo Hweol.

The configurations of Seo Hweol that slept within my consciousness must have conveyed the information to him.

It's truly a terrifying ability.

"That Seo Hweol you see over there is both Seo Hweol and, simultaneously, the brainwashed 'me.'"

After Seo Eun-hyun stops transmitting his heart language from my shoulder, he speaks aloud.

"There's a simple way to reclaim 'me.' Either make him draw out the Colorless Glass Sword or directly cut open his stomach to take out the Colorless Glass Sword, then through the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections..."

At the same time, Seo Eun-hyun's 'true' plan flows through heart language.

[By overwriting my memories onto Seo Hweol's configuration, I'll re-brainwash Seo Hweol's personality back into 'Seo Eun-hyun.' Yes...perhaps the term 'assimilation' fits better.]

Boo-oong!

Seo Eun-hyun swings the sword of all of Heaven's natural colors.

Simultaneously, the fog surrounding us is completely torn apart and dispersed.

Kugugugu―

Outside the fog, Seo Hweol is seen diligently forming hand seals and preparing the next spell.

Demon Ability.

Three Hundred Million Jin Sweet Water Peach.

Chwaa―

Kududududuk!

Suddenly, the Clear Scale Armor protecting my body becomes incredibly heavy.

Demon Ability.

Sea Tears Submerging Resentment.

Tears from the furious sea pours down from the sky.

"Hoho, even the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections won't work on me. You two won't even be able to approach me."

Boo-oong―

I move the now-heavy Clear Scale Armor, using it like the Formless Sword to deflect all the falling raindrops.

Then, raising the prismatic sword, Seo Eun-hyun speaks.

"In other words, 'I'm scared of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, so I absolutely won't let you approach me.'"

We exchange glances.

One word is enough.

"Go."

Tadat!

Clad in the Clear Scale Armor, I wield a cursed ghost sword and, enveloped in dark ghostly energy and yin energy, don the armor formed by the power of Great Desert to Dead Sea.

And Seo Eun-hyun, with no protection, charges in with the sword of light.

"Hoho, my current strength reaches the Integration stage..."

In the next moment.

Boo-oong―

Pukwak!

Seo Eun-hyun's sword plunges into Seo Hweol's mouth.

Getting used to the heavy Clear Scale Armor, I begin to handle the shapeless armor like the Formless Sword.

Chwaruruk!

Though it became heavier thanks to Seo Hweol, the increased weight of the Clear Scale Armor allows for a more powerful strike that surges towards Seo Hweol.

Paaatt!

He uses the Mad Lord's circuits to enhance his physical abilities and draws out his immortal beast true blood to strengthen himself further. He then uses his Five Blessings Orthodox Axis to deploy a canopy, increasing his power.

Chwaruruk!

The Four-Axis Canopy covers the Care Layer.

"This is..."

Is it because of the Five Blessings Axis?

Seo Hweol's canopy is unlike that of Baek Wi-ik or other cultivators in the Four-Axis stage. Rather, his canopy is as solid and strong as that of Wi Ryeong-seon, an Integration stage cultivator.

The pitch-black world I had seen before.

A place as nauseating as Seo Hweol's heart essence.

I'm slightly taken aback, but Seo Eun-hyun, unfazed, skillfully finds his way through the darkness and delivers a slash.

"Hoho, Daoist Seo, you seem to be in a hurry. To strike aimlessly like that already, are you afraid of my power within the Axis Canopy?"

Seo Hweol's mocking voice echoes from the opposite direction of where Seo Eun-hyun's slash landed.

However, Seo Eun-hyun isn't deceived. He keeps his gaze fixed on the spot where he had struck, his eyes gleaming.

"In other words, 'How did that happen? I was hit by the slash without even perceiving it. How can you exert such power within my Axis Canopy?'"

"..."

I can't help but let out a gasp as I watch Seo Eun-hyun expertly translate Seo Hweol's words.

"SEOIC 990 points..." [Author making a pun; TOEIC -> SEOIC]

"...?"

"Oh, nothing...you used to be terrible at foreign languages. Remember when you boasted about scoring 900 points in TOEIC in front of Kang Min-hee, but then shrank back in front of her 990 points?"

It's fascinating to see myself become so proficient in completely different languages like Seo Hweol's and the Mad Lord's.

Seeing me marveling, Seo Eun-hyun smiles as he concentrates power into the sword of light, preparing for another slash.

"Seo Li, you really think about Kang Min-hee a lot, don't you?"

"Ah, no. I was just reminded of that incident. You...no, I have become so proficient in interpreting alien languages..."

"Do you love Kang Min-hee?"

"No, why are you bringing that up suddenly? Kang Min-hee is just...to me, she's..."

However, as I look at the warmly smiling Seo Eun-hyun's eyes which seem to be saying 'I know everything already,' I can't hide it any longer.

"... Yeah. I like Kang Min-hee."

Chuaaruruk!

From the darkness, black chains come down upon us.

I move the Clear Scale Armor to fend off the chains, while Seo Eun-hyun pinpoints Seo Hweol's location in the darkness and strikes accurately again.

Seo Hweol continues to taunt us, saying, 'Hoho, where are you aiming those slashes? You can't even scratch me,' and whatever, but neither of us pay any attention to his words.

Seo Eun-hyun chuckles softly.

"Was it from that time, I wonder? When we started to diverge?"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't it interesting? Love... I also like Kang Min-hee. As an old friend, that is. But... I settled my feelings for her long ago. I still have lingering feelings, sometimes I miss her, sometimes I recall the times we watched the sunset from Namsan...however, I already have someone I love. But you are in love with Kang Min-hee again. Aren't you?"

"..."

"You are no longer me. Starting from your love for Kang Min-hee, you have become independent of me, 'Seo Li.'"

Kuuooooo―

Numerous yin dragons charged at us, roaring.

I unleash curse spells, while the main body delivers slashes, grinding them down as we stand back to back.

I smile bitterly.

"Being called Seo Li...not even Yuan Li, it really drives me crazy. You bastard, why did you name me Seo Li?"

"I'm really sorry for that. Go to Temporal Fate Island later and apply for a name change."

"Forget it. Even the name Seo Li..."

I infuse the entire Clear Scale Armor with curses.

The armor, now turbid like black water, transforms into formless strikes that scatter in all directions.

Seo Eun-hyun, wielding his prismatic sword, begins performing a sword dance.

"...is not too bad."

"That's a relief."

The black-and-white sword dance tears through the dark space.

As the white and black sword formation combines, the power of the sword strikes rises to the level of a Grand Cultivator at the Integration stage.

And Seo Hweol's canopy is torn apart.

I retrieve my sword.

The surroundings revert back to the environment of the Care Layer.

Seo Li begins desertifying the Care Layer using Great Desert to Dead Sea, and I approach Seo Hweol with the Formless Sword in hand.

"You retracted the Axes before the canopy was damaged."

"..."

"Now give up. You cannot defeat us."

Seo Hweol takes a step back, smiling faintly.

"Do you intend to attack me?"

"Yeah."

"Hoho...not bad. However, there's one thing I need to tell you."

"Don't bother. Farewell."

I take the Starting Form.

And Seo Hweol raises a finger and says,

"I told you earlier that I found the [Pillar] of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections."

Uduk―

I freeze in place.

"I couldn't touch the [Pillar] because I needed the attraction force of the Four-Axis stage...but hoho...after having a bout with Daoist Seo, finally..."

With a bright smile, he continues.

"I was able to reach the [Pillar]."

"..."

Seo Li, standing behind me, has a confused look on his face.

"H-hey, Seo Eun-hyun. What is he talking about?"

Seo Hweol spreads his arms wide and grins.

"Now then, shall we unveil Daoist Seo's secret?"

Shaaaaaa―

Simultaneously, he activates the Colorless Glass Sword, causing the mist of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections to billow.

Watching him, I'm thrown into confusion.

I feel the same as Seo Li.

'Indeed. What in the world is he talking about?'

The Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections has no [Pillar].

No, to be precise, [everything] is a pillar.

I have always cherished and recorded every connection in my life as the pillars that make up my existence.

So, what exactly does Seo Hweol mean by the [Pillar]?

Seo Hweol traverses through the hazy mist with attraction force.

He senses it from afar.

Within the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, there is an entity that is both particularly alien and inherently protected by the Canvas itself.

"At last, I can peek into Daoist Seo's secret. How delightful."

Clench―

Within the mist of the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, Seo Hweol grabs the shoulder of [a certain being].

"You must be the memory Daoist Seo cherishes the most. Reveal your identity to me."

Beaming with the thought of using this [Pillar] as a key to glimpse through everything in the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections, Seo Hweol suddenly senses something amiss.

"Hm?"

Ssss―

The being covered in mist, whom Seo Hweol thought of as the [Pillar], reveals themself.

It's a woman in white, holding a jade norigae in one hand.

And Seo Hweol, realizing something, takes a step back with a faint smile.

"... Who are you?"

To his question, 'she' replies.

"I am but a mere wanderer. A traveler who happened upon this place while researching dharma treasures."

"... You are not the [Pillar], are you?"

"I'm not sure what you mean. I simply came here while investigating the object connected to this norigae."

Seo Hweol's gaze falls upon the jade norigae she is holding.

"Ah, I see. Hoho, it's not you but 'that' which is the [Pillar]. Could you give it to me?"

"Who knows. It does seem to play a crucial role in this space. But giving it to you is impossible."

"Why is that?"

"Because...this space is whispering to me. Though I am but a traveler, it tells me that you are an unwelcome guest."

"Hm?"

"Though I cannot play the host as a mere guest here... I can still drive out an uninvited guest."

The woman in white smiles faintly and raises the jade norigae.

"Haha, I don't know who you are calling an uninvited guest. We both entered the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections without permission. Why don't you just hand over the norigae?"

Ignoring the woman in white, Seo Hweol reaches out to seize the norigae.

Clench!

Seo Hweol's hand grasps the jade norigae.

"Hmm?"

And then,

Seo Hweol, Sees it.

The [inverted cone] within the norigae.