The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2 Novel

Chapter 396

Sung JiHan's eyes widened.

Asoka.

He knew that he was an extraordinary person, but...

'He noticed Dong Bangsak, someone who couldn't even notice me. He noticed him to that extent.'

Although Dong Bangsak had aged 600 years since the Gangsang era, he was still feeble.

However, his martial arts had definitely become stronger compared to back then.

His casually swung sword, Ilgeom Pacheon, was a formidable move that even the current Sung JiHan would have a hard time dealing with.

But even so, Sung JiHan, who Dong Bangsak couldn't notice, was immediately noticed by Asoka.

"A guest, you say? Could it be...?"

"You are inside this tree. Will you come out and join me?"

"...Step aside. I will extract him."

Asoka spoke with confidence.

And behind him, Dong Bangsak was raising his terrifying aura.

Sung JiHan observed his momentum and estimated his approximate strength.

'If it's the current Dong Bangsak, he's still a worthy opponent...'

Although he had developed a lot compared to the Gangsang era.

Sung JiHan himself had become considerably stronger compared to when he released the Gugung Palgwae.

Moreover, his opponent hadn't completed the Taegeukmagem.

All the martial arts Dong Bangsak used could be acquired through the use of spirits.

So, even though there was a risk in fighting him, it was worth a try.

'Asoka will be in danger.'

Asoka immediately grasped Sung JiHan's position.

He had no idea how strong he was.

In the past, during the succession ceremony, he was also an extraordinary existence.

Except for when time was turned back, he hadn't shown any signs of powerlessness.

At that time...

"Emergency situation. Please release the seal immediately."

Words appeared urgently in front of Sung JiHan.

The Red World Tree, which had only been urging the release of the seal, was now speaking with a more serious tone.

"If you release the seal, you can immediately expel the two people from this space. It's time to make a decision."

There are many things that can be done if the seal is released, really.

However, Sung JiHan hesitated for a moment.

"No, I will go out."

He decided to meet them once.

'If the seal is released, it feels like everything here will come to an end...'

Before this world resets.

During this era, Sung JiHan needed to find out what Asoka and Dong Bangsak were planning.

But as Sung JiHan tried to leave...

Kururur...!

The space inside the tree shook, and the space where Sung JiHan could move became cramped.

"Until the seal is released, you cannot leave."

Then, the Red World Tree revealed its true colors.

Sung JiHan chuckled as he looked at it.

"Hey, I actually don't know the release code."

"I know everything you know."

No, even if you say you don't know, you're acting recklessly.

'Then I'll have to force my way through.'

Hwarururk!

Sung JiHan gathered the enemy's power.

Perhaps because he had obtained many stats from the Red Administrator's hand.

The flames, which had become much more intense than before, burned the tree as it was.

"This power... You handle the enemy so well..."

The World Tree tried to regenerate itself with a powerful life force.

But the flames of the enemy didn't allow it to recover.

The trees that had repeatedly blocked the path were all burned and turned into ashes, disappearing.

"As expected, my lord... I will open the way."

The Red World Tree gave up its rebellion and opened up space on its own.

Sung JiHan...

Beyond the clearly open space.

"...Who are you?"

Dong Bangsak, who exuded a fierce aura, glared at him.

Compared to his days as Gang Sang, he had lost his leisure and appeared as a feeble old man.

But the energy he emitted was unmatched in sharpness.

At that moment.

Step. Step.

"Calm down for a moment."

Asoka stood in front of Dong Bangsak.

"He is the reason and the result of the 'proposal' I made to you."

"Him...?"

At Asoka's words, Dong Bangsak, who had momentarily calmed down his energy, looked at Sung JiHan.

"...He seems inadequate to entrust such a big task."

"But he came here looking for this place."

"Hmm..."

The two nodded their heads while exchanging meaningful conversation among themselves.

Sung JiHan frowned as he looked at them.

"Instead of talking about things only you know, can you tell me something too, Asoka?"

"Asoka? Is that my name?"

When Sung JiHan said that to Asoka, his pupils slightly widened.

"...That guy. You don't even know your own name properly. Can I trust you?"

"No, I am more convinced. I will ask again. Is that my 'future' name?"

Future.

Like how he accurately found his own location earlier.

Certainly, he seemed a bit different from the others in this sealed world.

But seeing him come out like that, was Asoka's original name different?

"...Alright. You were called Asoka. What is your current name?"

"I am still Asoka."

As he said that, he looked at Dong Bangsak and pointed to his own mouth with his finger.

Meaning not to speak.

Dong Bangsak coughed in response.

"Ahem... Alright, Asoka. He is Asoka."

"It seems like you have a different name that you changed for a reason. I only trust my own judgment."

"Future... How can I be so sure that I came from the future?"

"Well."

Sung JiHan.

Asoka looked around and laughed.

"This place is a virtual space created by Dong Bangsak's memories and the sealed world tree."

* * *

"What, what is this...? This is a virtual space?"

"Didn't you vaguely notice it?"

In response to Dong Bangsak's question, Asoka spoke with a smiling face.

"Reflect on your memories carefully. Was time actually passing in this space before he came?"

"That...?"

"And even though you haven't accepted my proposal yet, how did the future guest come?"

"..."

Dong Bangsak, who listened to Asoka's words with a serious expression.

Swoosh.

Suddenly, he drew his sword.

"I still can't be sure about him. Warriors communicate with weapons, it's the way to know each other. I have to test him."

What the hell.

Are we going to fight after all?

Sung JiHan laughed as he saw Dong Bangsak's rising momentum.

"It's better this way, Dong Bangsak. Please upgrade your martial arts a bit."

"What?"

"I learned this earlier in the woods."

Sss...

The Eclipse, a dark sword, emerged from Sung JiHan's hand.

Cheonma Sin Gong, the Heavenly Demon God Technique.

Ilgeom Pa Cheon, the One Sword Breaking the Sky.

The tip of the dark sword pierced through the space.

Chiik!

Leaving traces of the sword all over Dong Bangsak's world.

The deep emptiness left traces in the sky and the earth, gradually disappearing.

Dong Bangsak's expression, upon seeing this, hardened more than ever before.

"The essence of Ilgeom Pa Cheon is not about splitting the sky, but about completely annihilating a single point."

"..."

"The collapse of the sky is just a side effect of the overwhelming power contained in the sword."

"You know a lot."

Shoo!

Dong Bangsak's ten swords, which were floating in the sky, flew towards Sung JiHan.

The tips of the swords were aimed directly at Sung JiHan.

"Where are your pitiful skills? Keep using them."

"Don't hold back on your martial arts. Use them all. I'll learn everything."

"This bastard...!"

With a sharp face, Dong Bangsak approached with a burst of energy.

'Where should I start dismantling him?'

Kang!

Sung JiHan's eyes sparkled as he clashed swords with Dong Bangsak.

* * *

Two hours later.

The desolate world inside the Gugung Palgwae was utterly devastated.

Bang! Bang!

Explosions resounded from all directions.

Except for the land where the World Tree was planted, the earth was completely dug up.

And then.

Swoosh!

An old man and a young man who moved across the ground in the same way.

Dong Bangsak's face twisted when he saw Sung JiHan, who used the same martial arts as him.

"You even took this!"

"Oh, the Heavenly Demon Ruling Scroll was already taught to the future Dong Bangsak. Try using something else."

"Huh...!"

"But as expected, the future Dong Bangsak is better at using martial arts. There's not much for me to learn."

"There's nothing for me to learn...!?"

Dong Bangsak couldn't contain his anger as he looked at the young man who smirked.

When he tried to use more power.

"Dong Bangsak, isn't this enough to acknowledge him?"

As Asoka, who was leisurely watching their fight, opened his mouth.

"Not yet!"

"The fire of a warrior's fighting spirit has truly ignited in you. Well, then... I feel like you've already learned a lot from your future self, so why don't you try using that sword?"

"If it's that sword...."

"The sword that annihilates souls."

Upon hearing those words, deep wrinkles formed on Dongbangsak's forehead.

"...The Taegeuk Sword is incomplete."

"I couldn't learn it even as a soul in the future. Please teach me once."

"Did I... complete the future's Taegeuk Sword?"

"Yes, I drew out the Sword of Light."

"The Sword of Light...?"

At those words, Dongbangsak suddenly calmed down.

"The Sword of Light... Have I been thinking wrong?"

He sat down and crossed his legs.

Swoosh....

His body floated up on its own, and ten swords began to roam around him.

"What? Did you have an epiphany on the spot?"

He asked for instructions on how to use the Taegeuk Sword, but he only heard about the Sword of Light and entered his own world.

While Sung JiHan was looking at him in disbelief, Asoka approached him with a smiling face.

"I saw your conversation."

Even amidst the explosions all around, not a speck of dust stained Asoka's clothes.

Sung JiHan observed him closely.

"Even though I deliberately let a few attacks through, you completely blocked them...."

He wanted to assess Asoka's power, so he sent a few sword strikes while fighting Dongbangsak.

But Sung JiHan's attacks disappeared before they could reach him.

"As expected, there was a reason why the future me chose you."

"Apparently, the future you said that my talent is ambiguous."

"To say that my talent is ambiguous... It means that the opponent has become stronger."

The opponent he referred to must be the God of War.

While Sung JiHan thought that, he asked Asoka a question.

"Now, tell me what you're planning."

"Understood. I can tell you."

Asoka looked at the red World Tree.

Even amidst the clash between Sung JiHan and Dongbangsak, the World Tree quickly regenerated.

"That will soon ignite the flame that will engulf this planet in the near future."

"Flame... Is that what the red World Tree means?"

"Yes. It is an intense fire that no one can survive."

Does that red World Tree have such a powerful force?

Sung JiHan looked at the red World Tree with a puzzled expression.

Perhaps because it can clear the way by burning enemies.

He didn't think it would show such overwhelming destructive power.

However.

"It might be different if the seal is released."

The red World Tree kept asking to release the seal.

If he had done as it said, the output might have been different from what he sees now.

While Sung JiHan was looking at the red World Tree like that, Asoka spoke.

"I convinced 'him' who wanted to ignite the flame through the World Tree. Moreover, I told him that there is a better way."

"You... convinced him?"

"Yes. I asked him if it wouldn't be a waste to use humanity only once and discard them."

Swoosh....

Behind Asoka, a golden chariot wheel appeared.

The one that the future him used.

Unlike the eerie appearance of the golden skull head and the red bone composition of the Kwonryungjeokbo, this chariot wheel was radiant.

Furthermore, it even felt sacred.

"I will continue to turn back time. Please grant a reprieve from destruction."