When Lee Dohyeon arrived on the battlefield, the heads of Hwasan and Gonryun, Jang Taejun and Yun Gwanghu, were already gravely wounded. They were barely hanging on, fending off the relentless onslaught of the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen. Their energy was quickly draining, their defense as fragile as a ship battered by stormy waves.
From a distance, Lee Dohyeon took in the dire situation. Without a moment's hesitation, he charged forward. He had arrived ahead of his comrades, and he knew—he had to save the two grandmasters before anyone else arrived. The blade in his hand, the Heukwoon Sword, trembled quietly, its blue mana light flickering to life. Now attuned to his will, the sword responded as if alive.
"I can't stop here." He poured his mana into the blade, which flared to life with brilliant intensity. Drawing upon both fire and lightning, he prepared to unleash one of his most powerful techniques.
This was Yeomroe Geommu—the Flame-Lightning Sword Dance. It was a martial art born of his own creation, combining searing flames with crackling thunder in perfect harmony. The sword released a flaming phoenix that soared across the battlefield, its wings illuminated with arcs of lightning that vibrated the very air. The burning energy surged forward like a tempest, bearing down on the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen.
"It's Lee Dohyeon!" disciples of both Hwasan and Gonryun exclaimed, their faces alight with surprise and relief. He appeared like their final hope—a miracle rising from the ashes.
The Flame-Lightning Sword Dance tore through the battlefield with terrifying speed, engulfing the Demon Queen in a storm of fire and lightning. The energy crackled and exploded like a divine thunderclap aimed at cleaving the earth. For a moment, it seemed as though she had been consumed by it entirely.
But the Demon Queen did not retreat.
With a faint smile, she gathered the energy of Magyo in her fingertips. One of her Seven Swords rotated midair and intercepted the attack with uncanny precision. Like a shield forged of darkness and discipline, it deflected the searing flame and slicing lightning with ease. To her, even such overwhelming force was little more than flickering light.
"We meet again," she said with a serene, unsettling calm. Her gaze was sharp—like a predator reuniting with its prey.
"You're…!" Lee Dohyeon gasped. He had encountered her before, but never had he realized the full extent of her power. Now, facing her head-on, he felt it—an aura so suffocating it threatened to engulf him whole. His technique had been completely shattered. The oppressive force she emanated rocked his entire being.
"I thought I had faced a mere elite of Magyo…" The realization struck hard. She was far more than that. It was like facing something beyond human—a presence that shook the very foundations of his beliefs and skill.
Watching his turmoil, the Demon Queen smirked. "So you can use that sword's power… but not nearly well enough." She summoned two more of her Seven Swords. They spun in the air, approaching Lee Dohyeon with serpentine, erratic motion—like vipers coiled to strike.
Lee Dohyeon gathered his mana again, narrowly dodging their pressure while preparing to retaliate. "I won't back down here." His voice was resolute, though inside he could feel the crushing tension. She was unlike any opponent he had faced before—her strength wasn't just overwhelming, it was unrelenting.
Her eyes were cold but composed. "You're still lacking." With a graceful gesture, the Seven Swords swirled around her like sentient beasts. They closed in on Lee Dohyeon's space, trapping him in a deadly spiral. His every strike was read, every move countered. No matter how hard he tried, she was always one step ahead.
"Cheonuhoe, Jeongpa… you're all just playthings to me," she said, tilting her head ever so slightly. Her voice was soft, but the menace within it was unmistakable. Hearing her words, Lee Dohyeon grit his teeth and reaffirmed his resolve.
"I won't be used by you. And we will protect Murim."
He launched the Flame-Lightning Sword Dance again, channeling everything he had. But the Demon Queen moved like the wind—faster, sharper. Her Seven Swords weaved through the air, deflecting his strikes in perfect rhythm. His heart pounded against his ribs as the pressure closed in.
The masters of Hwasan and Gonryun watched him with awe. Though their bodies were broken, Lee Dohyeon's unwavering spirit rekindled hope in their hearts.
"Lee Dohyeon… please… stay alive…" Jang Taejun murmured faintly, barely conscious. Yun Gwanghu felt the same, silently urging him on.
The battlefield remained dominated by the Demon Queen's terrifying presence. Yet amid that crushing aura, Lee Dohyeon fought with everything he had. This battle was a test of his very limits—but he refused to retreat. His sword still burned bright, and within it, his unyielding resolve blazed ever fiercer.
***
Chapter : The Awakening of Ego's Blade and the Duel with the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen
As Lee Dohyeon struggled against the overwhelming power of the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen, he realized he was not alone. He had a trusted companion by his side—Ego's Blade. Until now, it had seemed like nothing more than a weapon obeying its master's will, but Dohyeon could now feel that it was far more than that. Within the blade dwelled a living consciousness, an ancient will. And now, more than ever, that will was awakening.
At the tipping point of the battle, when the situation seemed dire, Ego's Blade began to heat up in his hand. Dohyeon felt the surge of heat through his fingertips, realizing that the blade was responding on its own. It vibrated in the air, releasing a powerful wave of energy—as if something deep within was stirring to life. This was no ordinary sword.
"What is this…?" Dohyeon murmured, feeling the flow of mana intensify. It wrapped around his body, not draining him, but revitalizing him—fueling his spirit with newfound strength. The blade and its wielder had become one. The sword no longer simply followed orders; it fought beside him.
The Heavenly Sword Demon Queen sensed the change and arched an intrigued brow. "Oh? This sword… how fascinating." Her voice remained calm, but her curiosity—and a flicker of wariness—was clear.
Still, she did not relent. Two of her Seven Blades whirled through the air, striking at Dohyeon with predatory precision. The blades moved as if alive, seeking his weakest points. Meanwhile, the remaining blades targeted the already battered leaders of the Hwasan and Kunlun sects—Jang Taejun and Yoon Gwanghoo. The two men, already at their limits, barely had the strength left to stand.
They attempted to defend against the incoming assault with what little power remained, but the pressure of the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen's attack was too great. Crushed under the force, both men collapsed to the ground. Their disciples, eyes wide with panic, rushed to lift their masters and flee from the battlefield.
"Masters, we must get you out of here!" the disciples cried out, helping the wounded men retreat to safety. The Demon Queen made no move to stop them—her gaze was now fixed solely on Dohyeon.
Her smile deepened. "Looks like it's just the two of us now." Her voice was laced with confidence, and the remaining blades danced gently in the air around her like serpents in flight.
Dohyeon steadied his breath. His body ached with exhaustion, but the mana flowing from Ego's Blade sharpened his mind. It was not merely a tool in his hand—it was alive, and it fought with him. Its subtle but unwavering energy bolstered him.
Two of the Seven Blades lunged once more. This time, Dohyeon moved differently. The energy radiating from his blade flared bright, clashing with the demon queen's weapons.
From his blade burst a fusion of fire and lightning—an evolved form of his Flame-Thunder Sword Dance. Dohyeon gripped the sword with both hands and charged. Flames exploded around him, lightning lanced through the air, and every step thundered like the wrath of a storm god.
The Demon Queen smiled, pleased. "Yes. That's more like it. Make this fun for me." She summoned all seven blades now, commanding them to converge on Dohyeon, weaving through the air like a pack of dragons. Each one aimed to crush his blazing advance.
"Your sword… It's become powerful enough to challenge me. But still..." Her voice trailed off as her own sword met his. The clash of steel sent out a shockwave that ripped through the forest. Flame and thunder collided, echoing like an eruption.
Dohyeon focused, his every swing meant to parry and press forward. His blade moved with uncanny precision, as if it had a mind of its own. And in that moment, it did. Ego's will pulsed through the steel, pushing him to endure.
The Demon Queen's expression changed. She could feel it too—that the energy in the blade was not ordinary. She watched him with keen interest.
This sword... it's not just powerful. It's hiding something far older, far deeper.She remembered ancient records from the Magyo—mentions of blades like this one, forged with consciousness, possibly tied to forgotten forces like Elysium. She didn't yet understand it fully, but she knew the blade was far more than just a weapon.
Their duel escalated. Every time their blades collided, the earth trembled, and the air crackled with mana. They were pushing the limits of human capability, moving with supernatural speed and force. Those watching from afar could only hold their breath in awe.
"You and I—this ends here," said the Demon Queen, spinning her blade once more. "But the secret of your sword… I will uncover it."
Dohyeon gritted his teeth, raising Ego's Blade once again. He would not back down. This was no longer just his fight—it was their fight. The living blade in his hand, and the hidden truth it carried, had yet to fully reveal themselves.
To win this duel was to protect the balance of the Murim. It was to protect his comrades.And most of all, it was the only way forward.
The true battle between Lee Dohyeon and the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen… had just begun.