Chapter 17: Something Inside My Body
The Six Demons pushed Yu Gyeongseong relentlessly, giving him no room to breathe.
As they did, their own killing intent was getting sharper by the day. They were all getting ready for the fight ahead, tuning themselves to peak condition.
The past few days had been nothing but brutal training for Yu Gyeongseong. From dawn until nightfall, he threw himself into nothing but martial arts training.
His daily routine consisted of nothing more than his quarters and the training grounds. The only exception was the occasional, brief visit to the Heavenly Lake. That was it.
Once they finished another brutal sparring session, one of the Six Demons asked Yu Gyeongseong who was patching himself up.
"So, how's it feeling?"
His body was already healing at a ridiculous rate.
“I definitely feel like I’m getting the hang of it more than before. What do you guys think?”
"We can see it too. You've improved a lot. Though there are still some rough edges here and there."
They still weren't completely satisfied.
Life Demon added her own comment.
“The real question is going to be how many of our martial arts you can use at the same time.”
Just switching between them quickly wouldn't be enough. But even to reach that "insufficient" level, he'd need to get to the point where the Six Demons' martial arts flowed like it was second nature to him. And to use them at the same time? How much more hellish training would that require?
It hadn't been that long, really, but maybe because they'd been in the thick of it together every second, Yu Gyeongseong felt like he could read the Six Demons' inner thoughts better than before.
'Have they... gotten to know me better too?'
He decided to be honest about what was on his mind.
“For some reason, I’m having a really hard time properly using Mystic Control and the Spirit Illusion Formula.”
Mind Demon and Illusion Demon were pleased to hear that.
After all, it meant their arts were more advanced than those of the other four clans.
'Heh, you bet they are. Our arts aren't like other generic stuff!'
Psychokinesis and illusion arts couldn't just be improved through physical training alone. They're all about mental strength, focus, and Spiritual Power.
Honestly, the fact that he could even pull off a bit of mind-bending or illusion spell while being pummeled by a bunch of Absolute Masters was incredible.
'The problem is... the opponent this kid has to face is just way too fucking ridiculous.'
In the past, they might have enjoyed this feeling a bit more, but there was no time for that luxury now, so they changed the subject.
"How's your body holding up?"
Everyone's attention naturally focused on that question.
Raising his martial prowess quickly was important, but his physical condition mattered just as much. He'd need to draw out every ounce of his potential on the day of the fight.
Plus, though they didn't say it out loud, there was something else that kept nagging at them.
Getting injured during sparring wasn't a concern. With Rock Demon and Life Demon's arts at his disposal, what could really go wrong?
No, what they were really wondering was whether there were any side effects from undergoing a ritual as powerful as the Great Law.
Whether he had any clue what they were thinking, Yu Gyeongseong's answer came out nonchalantly.
"I'm not sure."
This wasn't something that could be brushed aside so easily, so Live Demon pressed for more details.
“…What about your memory? Still nothing?”
"Yes."
"Then, what about your body? How does it feel?"
"Well..."
Then Yu Gyeongseong said something that immediately grabbed everyone's attention.
“You know… now that you mention it… there is something inside my body.”
“…What do you mean, something?”
"It's like... there's something condensed into a sphere in my dantian."
"......"
The Six Demons instinctively glanced at each other.
In that moment, Yu Gyeongseong realized something.
'They know what this is.'
He kept his face a perfect mask of calm and asked his next question.
"Do you know what this is?"
But they couldn't readily give him an answer.
After a moment, Crushing Demon spoke up.
"There's a story passed down from the Founding Cult Leader and the Founding Six Demons."
Truth.
“To borrow their esteemed words… what you have consumed is the sole and greatest treasure of our Divine Cult.”
Truth.
'So the Great Law didn't just consume the Six Demons' six divine artifacts and the Sacred Flame?'
But something about the Crushing Demon’s explanation was bugging him.
Sole and greatest treasure? Does that mean everything else they used was basically worthless compared to this one thing?
"Is this some kind of... divine elixir, or maybe the inner core of a Divine Beast?"
"You could think of it as something similar."
If something that valuable is inside me… it’d be weird if I didn’t get stronger.
"But why me...?"
He was asking why he was the one who got to eat it. In other words, why was he the one who received the Great Law?
Was it because the Heavenly Demon and the Six Demons were busy casting the ritual, so they couldn't be the ones to receive it?
Or was it because they were all competing with each other, so none of them could be chosen?
No one was jumping to give him an answer.
So Yu Gyeongseong decided to speak again.
I have to ask.
It's the only way I'll find out.
"...Why me? Wouldn't it have been better for the Cult Leader or the Clan Lords to receive the Great Law?"
After a brief silence, Rock Demon finally spoke. His tone suggested it was no big deal.
"The Cult Leader had to perform the ritual, so that was never an option. And as for us... we need every hand we can get to face the Sword God. It takes at least someone on our level to deal with him. If one of us received the Great Law, we'd be down one person, wouldn't we?"
It was the perfect excuse, full of high-minded talk about putting the cult’s crisis first and doing whatever it took to win. If the regular followers had heard it, they would’ve been blown away by their selfless spirit. But Yu Gyeongseong just laughed to himself. He didn't need the Grand Grotto Mystic Mantra to know that was a load of shit.
'You, greedy bastards?'
Then why did you start an internal conflict the moment the Great Law was inherited, when I couldn't even think straight? Wasn't that all because you're all greedy bastards?
If one of the Six Demons had inherited the Great Law, wouldn't they have become way stronger? Then they could've wiped the floor with the Sword God.
If you’d just admitted you were all too jealous to let anyone else get stronger… I might have actually believed you.
Yu Gyeongseong was certain. No, he had suspected it before, but now it was a certainty.
There had to be some reason why he was the one who had to get the Great Law. And a reason why the Six Demons couldn't.
'The Heavenly Demon had to perform the ritual, so he was out of the question from the start...'
...So why did he choose me?
Was it because a Clan Lord becoming stronger than the Heavenly Demon was unacceptable?
Whatever the reason was, he didn't know… But it was obvious they were hiding it tight and not telling him a thing.
Maybe it was the awkward atmosphere that settled over them.
The Six Demons hurriedly wrapped things up.
"Let's call it a day."
"Thank you for your hard work."
As Yu Gyeongseong bowed silently, they left him with some parting advice.
"Keep your spirits up! If you continue like this, we've got a shot at winning!"
“Victory or defeat will be decided by how quickly and proficiently you can wield these arts.”
“Keep pushing yourself! See you tomorrow.”
They were basically telling him to go train some more, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yes."
Truth be told, Yu Gyeongseong didn't really mind. It was a necessary part of the routine if he wanted to make today's lessons stick.
Finally, some time to himself.
He sat cross-legged in the middle of the empty training grounds and reviewed everything he'd experienced today, piece by piece.
How they responded when I attacked. How they attacked me. How I blocked their strikes. Whether there were better methods. What caught me off guard. When I was in real danger.
.
.
.
His thoughts sank deeper and deeper.
How long had he been like that?
Suddenly, Yu Gyeongseong let out a long, low breath.
"Huuuuu..."
The sound echoed through the desolate training grounds and rang in his own ears.
It was then that he realized it. He had been so immersed in his thoughts that for a long while, he had not even drawn a breath.
'Am I really… that on edge?'
Yu Gyeongseong thought to himself.
Desperation could be helpful sometimes, but right now... this wasn't good.
So he took a step back to think.
When something's nagging at you, you'd better stop first and check what it is before moving forward.
So he asked himself a question.
'Why am I getting so desperate?’
Is it just because my life is on the line?
And after a moment, he found his own answer.
'...I see.'
Right now, the world surrounding me is nothing but the Six Demons. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their overwhelming presence has wrapped itself tightly around me. Their attitude... their approach has been rubbing off on me in a huge way without me even noticing.
Of course, there’s no denying that I’m getting stronger thanks to their efforts. And since I’m the one who has to fight the Sword God, it’s not like I can say no.
But still...
He felt stifled somehow.
Was it because he couldn't find the “Unforgettable”?
'Come to think of it...'
That first day after waking up from the Great Law, that presence he thought he'd seen in his dream. That desperate feeling that he had to find someone... or something.
Even that has started to get blurry lately.
Though he hadn't completely forgotten it.
"Sigh..."
Another sigh escaped him.
It was difficult.
Holding firm to a resolution.
'Especially if it's a fuzzy, unclear decision based on a memory you don't even have…'
No need to say more.
The instruction I'd left for myself was simple: Find the person who says the "Unforgettable."
But I didn't have time to wander around searching, did I?
'...'
Frustration gnawed at him.
He had paused to examine his heart because he was displeased with his circumstances…
…but in the end, nothing had changed.
'Time to move.'
Just worrying about it isn't going to change a thing.
***
Wu Wonta had been waiting outside the training grounds since before sunrise until the sun was about to set.
"Divine Demon! Have you finished training?"
Yu Gyeongseong looked at the guy greeting him with a big smile and said. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
It was obvious that today's routine had been even more brutal than usual. Wu Wonta was about to say that he should get some rest after such a tough day, but he bit his tongue and stepped back. Even though he looked fine physically, Wu Wonta could tell that he wasn’t fine on the inside, judging by how haggard his face was more than usual.
"Of course. But you should change into this first."
Wu Wonta handed him neatly folded new clothes, something he'd been bringing every day just in case.
Was he doing this because they had to hide his existence from the cult members? Or had he perhaps grown a bit attached?
'Other days I just let it go, but...'
Even Wu Wonta himself didn't know why he was reaching out his hand now.
As if he could tell the guy was looking out for him, Yu Gyeongseong took the clothes and added.
"I'm going to the Heavenly Lake. My body's perfectly fine, so don't worry."
***
The Heavenly Lake has gone dark at this time.
Gentle ripples played at his feet, and the vast water was as mysterious as always.
So it felt like standing before infinite space, or like an unknown world had wrapped itself entirely around him.
'...'
He felt a sigh build up inside him, but he held it in.
He'd come here to relieve his frustration, but somehow he felt even more stifled.
Why had my past self... come here?
When he first heard about it, he'd wondered if he'd left something here for his future self.
But after coming here last time, he'd abandoned that thought. How is a guy with amnesia supposed to find anything in a place this huge?
Still, just in case, he'd tried reciting the Grand Grotto Mystic Mantra incantation, but nothing happened then either.
[From what I saw, you seemed to go there sometimes when you felt suffocated.]
Did I ever actually accomplish anything by coming here?
No, more than that... why had I been frustrated?
Yu Gyeongseong tried to imagine the past self he could not remember.
I received special attention from the Heavenly Demon among all these cult members. So much so that I was granted a Heaven-Reaching Token that only core leadership possessed. And on top of that, I received some kind of Great Law.
Doesn't that mean I was doing really well in the cult? That much is a fact you can't deny.
But… if that's true, why was I so frustrated?
It didn't make sense.
Being the Cult Leader's person... wasn't that a good thing?
Had life here been unsatisfying?
"......"
Like a stone guardian statue surrounded by thick darkness, Yu Gyeongseong stood there without any presence. After a moment, he rolled his head as if trying to shake off his troubled thoughts.
'Let's go.'
Nothing's going to change by just standing around moping.
His body did what his mind decided.
As he walked away listlessly, he suddenly stopped and turned back to that space filled only with darkness.
"......"
Would he be able to come back to see it again?
Whether the Heavenly Lake knew of the feeling left behind or not, it quietly watched his departing figure drift away.
***
Yu Gyeongseong headed toward his quarters.
But then, he suddenly hesitated, and his steps changed direction.
It was because the face of a certain person had come to mind.
That person was none other than…
…the one who knew him best.
'I wonder if this frustration will lift a little if I meet him..?’
But how am I supposed to find him in this massive cult?
Yu Gyeongseong looked up at the pitch-black sky, trying to guess the time. That's when he remembered something Maeng Heum had said.
[Oh, we work on regular shifts. Day and night. I’m on days this month. That’s noon to midnight.]
He made his decision, still looking up at the sky.
‘I should be able to meet him if I go to the Law Enforcement Hall now.’