Chapter 24
The Blood Pilgrim
The ground beneath the Pilgrim’s feet was drenched in red.
A crimson carpet, laid solely for him, marked his path.
His entrance was as grand as a king’s. Blood pooled and spread with every step he took.
The Pilgrim raised his head. His gaze turned toward the old masters of Silverwood Forest, who stood blocking the village’s entrance.
“….”
Someone audibly swallowed.
The Pilgrim’s fingertip twitched. The pool of blood rose, forming wild dogs that charged ferociously at those daring to obstruct the king’s procession.
“It’s coming!”
“Tch!”
The hunt began. He attacked with no hesitation, intent on killing.
Fortunately, those standing in his way were not so easily defeated.
The old masters of Silverwood Forest struck down the blood-formed dogs before they could bite, and the creatures quickly lost their vitality, collapsing into puddles of viscous blood.
Seeing this, the Pilgrim tilted his head slightly.
A chill ran through the air.
Within the darkness of his hood, his red eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
The old masters who met his gaze felt an inexplicable shiver.
Their instincts screamed at them to run.
And those instincts were not wrong.
Splatter!
Blood sprayed in all directions.
The crimson carpet spread further, and the stench of blood filled the air, stinging their noses.
As the Pilgrim raised one hand, the blood gathered, forming a massive wall.
It was so towering that they had to crane their necks to see its top.
Shock spread across the faces of the onlookers.
“What in the world…”
The Pilgrim lightly flicked his raised hand forward.
But the result was anything but light.
Roar!
The wall of blood surged forward like a colossal wave, large enough to swallow the entire village.
At that moment, a single streak of light cut through the blood tsunami.
Slash!
The streak flashed, and the massive wave split in two, collapsing like a poorly built tower.
The Pilgrim’s head turned. There stood Spear Dragon, holding his spear diagonally.
The Alliance Leader, keeping his eyes fixed on the Pilgrim, spoke.
“Evacuate. I don’t have the energy to protect you all as well.”
Staying here would only get them caught in the crossfire of a battle between two Beyond-Heaven masters.
Given the Pilgrim’s ability to absorb and recover by consuming any living creature with blood, it was better to fight alone.
That’s why he had come alone.
“Hurry!”
Overwhelmed by the massive wave of blood, Pang Deokjo and Nam Dusik snapped to attention at the Alliance Leader’s shout.
As they moved to pull back the hesitating villagers, a voice rang out.
“Everyone, get back! I don’t mean to disrespect the elders, but you’re no help in this fight. It’s like shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight! You’ll only get in the way! So stop being stubborn and get out of here!”
It was Jegal Samdol, the youngest member of the Extermination Squad, shouting through a megaphone while directing the evacuation.
When did that guy get here?
“What are you doing? Move!”
“Oh, right.”
At Dam Wolrin’s words, Pang Deokjo and Nam Dusik hurried to follow the old masters of Silverwood Forest in retreating, but they paused.
“Big sis, aren’t you coming?”
Dam Wolrin snorted.
“Why would I? This lady has reached the pinnacle of demonic arts. I won’t lose to that filthy blood lump.”
The Alliance Leader asked.
“Pinnacle of demonic arts… You’ve entered the Transformation Realm?”
“Something like that.”
“Congratulations.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Then you won’t be a hindrance. You can stay.”
“Don’t order me around. I only follow the leader’s words.”
“Of course you do.”
Flap!
Birds took flight from the trees all at once.
No, to be precise, they were birds made of blood.
In an instant, the sky was covered in black.
“Gasp!”
“Crazy.”
“Get out of here, now!”
At Dam Wolrin’s shout, Nam Dusik and Pang Deokjo fled with all their might.
Hundreds of blood birds swooped down on the two left behind.
A spear swung, and white frost scattered.
The blood birds burst apart at a rapid pace.
“You’ve stopped with the crude disguise as a man. Change of heart?”
“What, you knew?”
“Wouldn’t it be weirder if I didn’t? I thought ice techniques were easier for women to master.”
“Tch. You’re annoyingly perceptive for someone who looks like that.”
Even as they conversed, blood birds swarmed in darkly, and blood surged at their feet, hindering Dam Wolrin and the Alliance Leader.
They froze and slashed through with the spear, continuing their conversation.
“I’ve been curious about something for a while.”
“What?”
“Why did the leader choose me as the Alliance Leader back then?”
“How could a mere human understand the will of the heavens?”
“You don’t know?”
“Nope. Ask the leader yourself.”
“You mean HeavenlyMaiden?”
“Yes.”
“She inherited the leader’s will?”
“Watch your words, Alliance Leader. She is the heavens themselves.”
“Hmm. My apologies for the slip.”
Slash!
The spear swept widely, wiping out the blood birds within a 50-meter radius.
It was as if a brush had painted a single stroke across the scene.
Beyond it, the Pilgrim still stared at them intently.
“Why doesn’t he come closer? All he’s doing is playing these tricks.”
“No idea what he’s thinking.”
“No wonder he’s one of the Evils. Where’s that guy from?”
“Judging by his actions, maybe a mage?”
At that moment, the Alliance Leader swung his spear widely.
The Pilgrim’s upper body, standing far away, was cleaved off.
The Pilgrim collapsed into a puddle of blood, only to rise again a short distance away.
“…He doesn’t die even when killed. Is he immortal?”
“Something like that.”
The Alliance Leader pointed his spear at the resurrected Pilgrim and explained.
“As you saw, truly killing him is difficult.”
“Is it possible at all?”
“In theory.”
“How?”
“Eliminate every drop of his blood, leaving nothing behind.”
“…That’s near impossible.”
“That’s why, until now, we’ve just driven him away when he got too close. But…”
The Alliance Leader’s gaze turned to Dam Wolrin.
“With your help, we might have a chance. Care to lend a hand?”
Dam Wolrin pretended to think for a moment before saying,
“Follow my lead. Say, ‘Long live Heavenly Demon.’”
“…Seriously?”
“Just do it. Long live Heavenly Demon.”
“…Long live Heavenly Demon.”
Dam Wolrin nodded in satisfaction.
“I’ll play along just this once.”
“…This is why Demonic Cult folks…”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I’ll create an opening, so freeze him.”
With that, the Alliance Leader charged forward.
As if waiting, various blood-formed animals blocked his path, but the Alliance Leader shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, aiming for the Pilgrim’s main body.
The Pilgrim’s nails extended, clashing with the Alliance Leader’s spear.
Clang! Clash!
In the meantime, Dam Wolrin prepared her ultimate technique.
“Hoo…”
One chance.
Dam Wolrin gathered white frost in both hands. As the energy intensified, a chilling wind swirled around her.
Slowly, a white flower of death began to bloom.
Crack-crack-crack!
The surroundings began to freeze white.
When her preparations were complete, Dam Wolrin glided into the heart of the battle with her signature footwork, like an Ice God.
“Now!”
The Alliance Leader leaped into the sky, and at that moment, the white flower of death bloomed.
Ice Snow Blossom Realm!
Boom!
A burst of white frost exploded, freezing the entire area.
In the sudden silence, the Alliance Leader landed like a snowflake, looking around at the forest that had turned into winter in an instant, clicking his tongue in awe.
“Terrifying.”
Dam Wolrin smirked.
“See that? This is the pinnacle of demonic arts.”
“What tier are you at?”
“The top.”
“You’ll hit Challenger soon.”
“Not just Challenger. Beyond-Heaven isn’t far off.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Can I join the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why not? Don’t I look youthful enough?”
“Don’t crash the kids’ party looking all old.”
Muttering, the Alliance Leader swung his spear at the frozen Pilgrim statue.
Thud!
The Pilgrim statue shattered into dust, scattering everywhere.
“Did we get him?”
“He’s not dead. But he’s taken a significant blow. He’ll retreat for now. He’s not compatible with you.”
“Sounds like I’m the reason.”
“…Not entirely wrong.”
It was true.
Without Dam Wolrin’s freezing, who knows how long he’d have had to swing his spear to drive the Pilgrim away.
“Then don’t you have something to say?”
The Alliance Leader looked at Dam Wolrin with a reluctant expression. Her smile deepened.
With a sigh, he muttered.
“…Long live Heavenly Demon.”
“That’s right.”
“Damn Demonic Cult weirdos.”
At that moment, a stream of red blood shot up from behind Dam Wolrin, piercing her back before she could react.
Stab!
“Ugh!”
“Damn it!”
The Alliance Leader thrust his spear, but the Pilgrim had already absorbed Dam Wolrin’s blood.
Drained of vitality in an instant, Dam Wolrin collapsed to her knees.
“You bastard!”
As the enraged Alliance Leader prepared to swing his spear, the Pilgrim’s mouth opened.
“Calm down, Alliance Leader. If I wanted to kill her, I would’ve done so already.”
“…!”
The Pilgrim removed his hood. His once-gleaming red eyes had returned to black.
And the face revealed from under the hood was strangely familiar.
The Alliance Leader’s eyes widened in shock.
“You…!”
The Pilgrim crouched to meet the kneeling Dam Wolrin’s eyes.
Meeting an old comrade thought long dead, the Pilgrim smiled warmly.
“It’s Chilbok. Long time no see. I could never forget the taste of your blood.”
Smack!
Dam Wolrin slapped his head.
“It’s Dam Wolrin, you bastard.”
But her face showed a hint of joy at the reunion.
“You’re alive, Blood Demon.”
“Couldn’t die without the leader’s permission.”
The Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Strategist and one of the Four Heavenly Kings confirmed each other’s survival.
————-
“Get up. Don’t just stay there.”
The Blood Demon grabbed Dam Wolrin’s hand and helped her up.
“Ugh! Like a damn mosquito. Getting my blood sucked always feels awful. It drains me completely.”
“Sorry about that. It’s the most reliable method.”
Watching from the side, the Alliance Leader muttered,
“Blood Demon…? You’re alive? No, you’re the Pilgrim?”
“Yeah, that’s how it turned out. Getting hit by Chilbok’s frost snapped me out of it.”
Dam Wolrin shot a sarcastic remark at the Blood Demon.
“Surprising. The weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings was the Blood Pilgrim.”
“I seem to recall being stronger than you back then.”
“Shut up.”
Chuckling, the Blood Demon spread his arms wide.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come to my senses, and now I see the face of a comrade I thought was dead. It’s a damn good day.”
“Were you consumed by a heart demon?”
“Something like that. No idea how long it’ll last. So let’s talk while it does. How’d you survive?”
So, it seemed he’d been wandering around half-mad, possessed by a heart demon.
…Somehow, it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.
“You’ve reached the pinnacle of demonic arts already. Congrats. Did you gobble up a ton of elixirs somewhere? Yin-based elixirs aren’t easy to come by.”
“Wait here a sec.”
Dash!
“What? Where are you going?”
Dam Wolrin vanished in an instant and returned with a pair of goggles in hand.
“Here, take this.”
“Goggles? Why?”
“There’s someone you need to meet.”
————
[HeavenlyMaiden’s Kwitch Conquest Day 9]
Part 1: Healing Healing Stardew Valley☆
Part 2: Chaotic Arena♡ Platinum Speedrun!
– It suddenly grew a second tail?
– How does that even make sense?
The viewers were in shock, watching the fox’s two tails wag back and forth.
– What’s going on?
Holding the restless fox, Chi Yulang said,
“It seems to have eaten the mana stones I was saving up while I was streaming. Then, suddenly, a second tail popped out.”
– It ate mana stones?
– Do beasts normally eat mana stones…?
HeavenlyMaiden tilted her head.
“They don’t? I eat them as snacks when I’m bored.”
– Huh?
– You eat mana stones?
– Okay, beasts aside, why are YOU eating them?
– Are they tasty?
“They’re not particularly tasty. But they’re crunchy, like ice. Ugh, stay still!”
Pant, pant, pant!
– Doesn’t the fox look a bit bigger now?
– Yeah, it does.
– So cute, licking the cute one lol.
– (Happy emoticon)
After chatting with the viewers for a while, Chi Yulang sent the fox outside and officially started the stream.
“As I wrote in the announcement, Part 1 will be Stardew Valley, and Part 2 will be the Arena.”
– Ooh!
– Nice!
“As you all know, the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament is coming up soon, so I need to reach Platinum by today.”
– Whoa, HeavenlyMaiden’s joining the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament?
– With her skills, it’d be weird if she didn’t.
– Didn’t she crush a Platinum player when she ranked up to Gold?
– This is gonna be fun!
[A Mission Has Arrived!]
– Mission: Reach Platinum by the end of today
– Mission Reward: 100,000 Cookies
– Platinum in one day sounds tough.
– Yeah, isn’t that a safe bet?
At that moment—
– [HeavenlyDemonForever] Leader.
– Oh, Chilbok’s here!
– Where’ve you been, Chilbok? The leader was so worried.
– Chilbok, you slacker.
– Atone with your death!
Seeing Dam Wolrin’s chat, Chi Yulang quickly asked,
“Chilbok, I heard something about a Pilgrim showing up. Are you okay?”
– [HeavenlyDemonForever] I have something to tell you about that.
“What is it?”
– [HeavenlyDemonForever] Can you enter the Arena right now?
“Not a problem.”
Chi Yulang swapped the order of Part 1 and Part 2, put on her goggles, and logged into the Arena.
Ding!
[WhereIsMyGod (Beyond-Heaven) has challenged you!]
[Accept?]
[Y/N]
“Hm?”
– ?
– ???
– What’s that?
