The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 101

“Fear?”

Pal Du-Hyeok ground his teeth at the thought that came to mind without his realizing it.

Fear. How could he feel fear from such a twerp?

It was unthinkable.

*Drip.*

Blood flowed down his body.

Though the wound wasn’t excessively deep, the stinging pain was bothersome.

Pal Du-Hyeok wiped his chest with his hand.

He cleaned the running blood to examine the wound.

‘…… Cut.’

When did he get cut? He hadn’t even noticed the moment it happened.

How and when?

With a distorted face, Pal Du-Hyeok looked at someone.

There stood a handsome young man facing him with a firm attitude.

His hair was black with a slight brownish tint, he had fair skin for a man, and wasn’t particularly tall.

His gentle eyes and well-defined features showed he was quite the looker, but—Despite his gentle appearance, his eyes blazed more intensely.

Even though his weapon seemed considerably heavy.

He had swung it without even realizing it?

And—’…… That guy.’

Had he always had such an aura?

Pal Du-Hyeok swallowed nervously at the changed atmosphere around Bang Sung-Yun.

Something had changed.

Nothing had actually changed, yet something had indeed changed.

Pal Du-Hyeok’s instincts told him so.

‘What is it?’

What had changed? Even squinting his eyes to look, he couldn’t see anything immediately different.

But—”…… Were you hiding your strength?”

Since not everything visible is all there is, Pal Du-Hyeok questioned Bang Sung-Yun.

Bang Sung-Yun responded with a slight smile.

“For someone who looks like that, you are surprisingly sensitive.”

Pal Du-Hyeok narrowed his eyes at that. It was an affirmation.

He was hiding his strength?

‘…… How?’

He couldn’t understand. Even now, he couldn’t.

‘Hiding his true realm.’

There was nothing different. He was still at the First-rate level.

That was evident to Pal Du-Hyeok.

But to believe that plainly—’His actions up to now are suspicious.’

The way he had fought earlier.

Most of his actions had been feints and bluffs.

So—’Is this act another bluff?’

If it was a bluff—’Which one is it……?’

Was he pretending to hide his strength, or was he really hiding it?

It was confusing. It was hard to believe anything absolutely about him, his state was too subtle.

At that moment.

“You seem to be overthinking things.”

Bang Sung-Yun slicked back his hair. As his hand ran across his forehead, the flowing blood was wiped away.

“Shall I give you more time to think?”

“This brat…….”

A blatant mockery. Upon hearing it, a cross-shaped vein bulged on Pal Du-Hyeok’s forehead.

“Are you so full of yourself just because you hid one trick?”

*Crack–!!*

Pal Du-Hyeok swept his spear across the ground.

A fierce aura emanated from the tip as the spear moved.

*Whooo–!!*

The harsh wind pressure filled the surroundings, mingling with Pal Du-Hyeok’s fighting spirit.

“You might have lured me into an attack and landed a blow, but having failed, you no longer have a future.”

He referenced the chest wound.

It didn’t matter what the young man was hiding.

“I’ll pierce your neck and erase you and those behind you.”

He maximized his muscle strength, pooling his energy.

His enormous body absorbed the qi gradually.

“That’s enough antics. Let’s see how much you can struggle….”

“Anyway.”

At that moment, Bang Sung-Yun interrupted Pal Du-Hyeok’s words.

The expression on his face showed obvious signs of irritation.

“Weaklings always talk too much. Can’t they muster their strength without running their mouths? Had you been swinging your spear instead of flapping your gums, you might have been the World’s Greatest.”

“…….”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. It’s always the pretentious ones like this. If it were the old days, I would have just yanked your tongue out. I’ve gotten too old and mellow.”

Shaking his head, Bang Sung-Yun’s words rendered Pal Du-Hyeok speechless for a moment.

What was this brat spouting?

It was ridiculously absurd. Truly absurd.

‘…… Why.’

Why was he just listening? Realizing this.

*Swish–!!*

Pal Du-Hyeok tightened his grip on his spear.

He regained his focus.

‘To be swayed by such petty provocations.’

It was merely a trivial taunt.

A desperate struggle at the brink of defeat.

Whatever trick he had hidden, it would be meaningless.

“They say you slashed the sky?”

He claimed his sword cut the sky.

So be grateful.

It was a cocky statement from a kid still wet behind the ears.

Truly arrogant.

Had he become so conceited after being hailed as the Sword Saint’s successor?

Or maybe, he was always like this.

Whatever—’Just like his master.’

From the boy, he felt a strange resemblance to Yu Chun-gil, that monster.

Especially in his gaze.

Eyes devoid of any sense of anxiety or fear.

Despite his smaller stature, his presence felt like he was looking down on him.

The World’s Greatest.

The Greatest of All Time.

The Supreme of the Central Plains.

He had only briefly encountered such a being.

And he could never forget that fleeting moment.

Could that even be called human?

No.

He had seemed more like a god descended to earth.

When he heard that he died, Pal Du-Hyeok couldn’t believe it for a while.

But such a being—’From that young man.’

Why did that young man exude a similar scent?

The scent of an absolute being.

Something that one shouldn’t sense from someone not even in their prime.

From that young man, he clearly reeked of such a scent.

‘Is it because of that sword?’

Such crude and fierce behavior was abnormal.

Now, looking back, it became clear.

‘That’s it.’

It was the sword wielded by that monster. Had his disciple found and taken hold of it?

*Gruuuuuk-!*

He tightened his grip on the spear.

‘He needs to die.’

He had to die here.

That guy would definitely poison the lord.

‘Even if I were to be punished by the lord for this.’

He had to kill him here and now.

“Show me what you’ve got.”

Gritting his teeth, Pal Du-Hyeok took a step forward.

At that moment.

*Thud-!!!*

The ground cracked as Pal Du-Hyeok charged at Bang Sung-Yun.

His massive body tore through the air as he lunged.

Normally, one would yield the first strike, or utter such words.

Pal Du-Hyeok did neither.

A strange surge of anxiety hindered him.

Thus, he decided to check by throwing a tentative blow.

*Screeeech-!*

*Clang-!*

“!?”

Suddenly, the angle of Pal Du-Hyeok’s spear blade shifted.

What had been thrust straight now flowed and struck the ground.

“Impressive strength.”

A voice. By then, Pal Du-Hyeok’s lower body was already moving.

Using the spear as a lever, he utilized the recoil.

Encircling his foot with inner qi, he swung it at Bang Sung-Yun.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

Only the sound of the wind being sliced was heard.

Bang Sung-Yun was no longer in his initial spot.

Where did he go? There was no need to search.

*Viiiing-!*

A heavy presence was felt from the side.

*Crack-!*

He pulled out the embedded spear and swung it towards the presence.

But, *Whoosh-!!*

Once again, there was nothing.

‘Damn.’

Yet how had he felt the presence? The question was soon answered.

Something was floating mid-air. A blue mass formed of qi.

“You bastard!”

Had he used a trick to distract him?

If so, ‘Where?’

Where had he gone?

Just as Pal Du-Hyeok frowned and tried to turn his gaze.

*Swoooosh—!!!*

A sound was heard.

His body had already moved.

*Claang–!!!*

He blocked it with his spear. From the left, the guy had swung his sword.

Qi exploded out like an eruption. His body trembled and was pushed back.

‘What strength!’

Was this the strength of a First-rate martial artist?

Pal Du-Hyeok gritted his teeth.

‘He approached while hiding his presence.’

Distracting him with qi, he had approached while concealing his presence.

Because of that, he missed that presence.

‘To accomplish that in an instant?’

It was an incredible control of qi.

Qi spread like a mirage.

*Whoosh-!!*

The spear spun rapidly. Embedding qi through the generated force.

Dance of the Ocean’s Return.

Pal Du-Hyeok’s unique martial arts unfurled like a disaster—*Crack—!!*

At the moment it was about to be unleashed, Bang Sung-Yun inserted his sword through the gap in the spear.

*Thump-!*

The qi twisted, and his motion wavered.

*Crunch-!*

The sound of something collapsing was heard.

“Hu…?”

At the sight that followed, Pal Du-Hyeok gasped.

His offensive stance crumbled.

Unable to execute his martial arts, his flow had been interrupted, and his form collapsed due to the recoil.

And then.

*Swoooosh—!!!*

The sword flew at him.

“Argh!”

Pal Du-Hyeok forcefully charged his movement.

Exerting excessive strength on his lower body to maintain his balance, he swung the spear accordingly.

*Clang-!*

A rough noise resonated as it clashed with the sword.

“Hmm.”

Bang Sung-Yun narrowed his eyes at the sight.

Right after blocking the attack, Pal Du-Hyeok took a stance to increase the distance.

Bang Sung-Yun did not pursue him.

Only.

“How interesting.”

As if something displeased him, he tilted his head from afar.

“Under normal circumstances, I would have cut off an arm, but my feeble body couldn’t even manage that.”

“What…?”

What was he talking about? Pal Du-Hyeok’s face twisted.

Despite that, Bang Sung-Yun continued to speak without pausing.

“Boy. Did you see that? Using fake moves is fine, but if everything is false, it loses meaning. The method isn’t wrong, but…”

What was he rambling about?

“In every situation, there’s a gap. What you need to focus on in battle is noticing that gap and finding how to exploit it…”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Ah.”

As Pal Du-Hyeok snapped irritably, Bang Sung-Yun finally widened his eyes.

“My apologies. There were a few things I had to explain.”

“Who exactly are you talking to?”

“There is someone. A fool who seems clever.”

Hoh hoh hoh.

His chuckling face was irritating.

Though he spoke, it clearly wasn’t directed at him.

Just who was he speaking to?

Or.

“Are you mocking me?”

Was he ridiculing him?

As he spat out his suspicion.

“Hmm?”

With a very puzzled expression, Bang Sung-Yun replied.

“Mocking? Such interesting words.”

“What’s so interesting about it?”

“Why bother with that, what would change? Anyway.”

*Sreung.*

Bang Sung-Yun shook the tip of his sword.

“No matter what you do, you won’t be able to touch me.”

“!”

At Bang Sung-Yun’s words, veins bulged prominently on Pal Du-Hyeok’s forehead.

“You bastard!”

Simultaneously, he forced a sinister grin.

And then—*BOOM!*

He exploded with energy, as though his entire body were detonating.

The force was so fierce that the surroundings shook violently.

“Fine.”

Rumble—Gradually, Pal Du-Hyeok’s spear became enveloped in energy.

It seemed as if the spear’s size was inflating.

A gigantic pillar took shape.

Grasping this colossal spear, Pal Du-Hyeok moved.

Now it was the moment.

No matter what Bang Sung-Yun possessed or what tricks he held.

It no longer mattered.

‘I will kill him.’

Only that purpose remained for Pal Du-Hyeok.

He had to pierce through that arrogant guy’s head.

Thinking so, he poured his energy and killing intent into the tip of his spear.

Then—*Crack!*

The energy grew stronger and began to take shape.

It was sword qi.

Beyond merely surrounding his energy, it assumed a tangible form.

It was the enhancement of energy most martial artists dream and aim for.

This was also the main reason why First-rate martial artists couldn’t defeat peak martial artists.

‘Although you defeated Young Azure Sword…’

Even so, you were probably a rookie who couldn’t even properly use sword qi.

If Young Azure Sword had known how to properly use sword qi, there was no way Bang Sung-Yun could have won.

After all—’Only sword qi can break sword qi.’

A martial artist who could not handle sword qi could never defeat one who could.

This was common knowledge in the Central Plains.

‘You will die here.’

It was evident that the First-rate Bang Sung-Yun could not defeat Pal Du-Hyeok.

Thinking of that, Pal Du-Hyeok moved the spear enveloped in sword qi.

And then—”Hm.”

Bang Sung-Yun’s eyes narrowed as he observed.

Seeing that smile, Pal Du-Hyeok’s eyes burned with rage.

“Laugh? Your tricks won’t work anymore.”

Though Bang Sung-Yun’s mental attacks were considerable, it was too late now.

“Deflect this, if you can.”

*BOOM!*

Pal Du-Hyeok shattered the ground as he charged once more.

This time, his speed was on a different level.

When Pal Du-Hyeok arrived in front of Bang Sung-Yun, the sound followed belatedly.

“Hup!”

Pal Du-Hyeok thrust his spear with all his might.

This attack wasn’t just about piercing; it would crush him entirely.

The spear tip directed itself towards Bang Sung-Yun’s head.

At that moment—”Child, never lose focus.”

*Crack!*

With Bang Sung-Yun’s words, something shattered.

“What?”

Pal Du-Hyeok uttered in bewilderment.

What was that?

‘Why…’

Why was his spearhead flying in front of him?

‘Is it…’

Had his spear broken?

Pal Du-Hyeok glanced down slightly.

Yes, the spear’s end was cleanly severed.

The broken spearhead flew through the air.

What was happening?

‘… What is this…?’

He couldn’t comprehend.

How could a spear surrounded by sword qi be severed?

Just when he was pondering this—”It’s always been like this.”

Vibration emanated from somewhere.

“The rigid common knowledge, how narrow and trivial it is. People fail to recognize this.”

The vibration grew stronger.

“Martial artists pursue higher realms, carving their paths forward. But,”

Pal Du-Hyeok’s eyes moved again.

“If one is ensnared by trivial common knowledge, they miss what must be seen. How regrettable.”

His gaze fell on Bang Sung-Yun’s sword.

‘That is!’

Pal Du-Hyeok’s eyes widened in astonishment.

They had no choice, for on Bang Sung-Yun’s sword—’Sword qi…?’

Indeed, there was sword qi wrapped around it.

How could a First-rate martial artist wield sword qi?

‘Could he have hidden his true level?’

Had he actually reached the peak? No, even now Bang Sung-Yun’s level seemed to be First-rate.

Then, how was he wielding sword qi?

Moreover, ‘What is this?’

It wasn’t just sword qi.

Not merely wrapping his sword with sword qi, but—’It’s glowing.’

The energy radiated light.

So beautiful was the light that it momentarily captivated Pal Du-Hyeok’s gaze.

Thus, “The first evokes the moon.”

Bang Sung-Yun’s words, “The second grant’s night to the rising moon.”

And his subtle movements, “What shall the third be?”

Fixed Pal Du-Hyeok’s eyes in place.

“The moon inherently must glow.”

Bang Sung-Yun’s sword tip moved.

“This is the third that I shall show you.”

Blue Moon Sword Dance.

The Third Form.

Radiant Moon’s Annihilation.

*BOOM!*

The blue moon rising from the sword—Overturned the world.