Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon

Chapter 63: Training (2)

Its finally over

Woon-seong looked down at his body, gritting his teeth through the pain.

My clothing was pure white at the start. Now its more red than white

It wasnt blood. After all, the arrows were too blunt to tear skin. The red marks left on his body were from dye, which had been applied to the tips of the arrows. 

A cloth drenched with red dye instead of an arrow head this is a real clever method of training. 

Woon-seong slowly tilted his head up, breathing in rough breaths. Huff, huff.

Your body must feel heavy. However, you must endure.

Woon-seong could hear the Heavenly Demons voice emanating through the training room. It was possible that this room had been reserved, or maybe it had been set up specially for Woon-seong.

This is the First Gate, the Gate of the Darkroom.

It was literally a dark room.

When Woon-seong moved, he could not see even a single point of light. Thus, when the machine-controlled arrows flew, he had to dodge by instinct. 

Its a training program in which you avoid numerous arrows launched by machine devices. Based on the color of your clothing, you can easily review and reflect on your performance. Remember, when your inner strength reaches its limit, the only thing you can trust is your will to not let go of your weapon and the training you have gone through!

Chun Hwi talked to Woon-seong from somewhere above. Woon-seong nodded and went to the corner of the room. In this corner, there was a pile of white clothes, which had not yet been worn. 

Woon-seong picked up one of them and changed out of his current outfit.

Im ready.

Woon-seong had returned to the center of the area with his fresh clothes.

The Heavenly Demon smiled slightly, then nodded, gesturing with his hands.

Whee!

A wind blew and all the lights went out, welcoming back the darkness. 

It was time to go back to training. 

It was only the First Gate, but it wasnt easy at all. 

If those arrows all had proper tips Woon-seong felt a chill up his spine. I would be a hedgehog. 

He shook his head as he gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face. 

I thought I trained intensively everyday, but this denies my confidence in that statement

Woon-seong slowly closed his eyes. 

An experience that pushes me beyond my limit. I would love to collapse right about now, but I need to review even if Im exhausted. Because if I dont do it today, Ill make the same mistakes again tomorrow 

So this is it! If those who were titled the Heavenly Demon were born only after going through dreadful training like this then I shall face it too! Ill push through this if its what it takes to achieve my masters revenge!

Woon-seong grit his teeth in determination. 

The young man heard a small sound and when he opened his eyes, he found Chun Hwi standing before him.

It looks like you have surely improved.

Thank you, sir.

Chun Hwis gaze was on Woon-seongs clothing, which was mostly white. Its been exactly 15 days since he started his training at the First Gate. His dress, which was completely soaked in red on the first day, has only been grazed in a few places. The number of hits has drastically decreased.

I am constantly surprised by his attitude and spirit, how he approaches the training. I can feel the value of teaching him. 

Of course, Chun Hwi also fleetingly wondered if Woon-seong was satisfied with his own improvement.

Chun Hwi sat down next to the collapsed Woon-seong. Youre moving dynamically without the help of your qi. Its only obvious that your muscles are strained. He placed a palm on the others back. Let me help you with that.

Oooo-

A turbulent force rushed from the Heavenly Demons body into Woon-seongs. It flowed through Woon-seongs muscles, relaxing and repairing them as it went. 

Chun Hwi let his energy circulate a few times before retrieving it. He threw a small pellet at Woon-seong, like usual. Eat this.

He said that this stabilizes my body and rejuvenates my energy, Woon-seong thought, eating it. I wouldve collapsed by now if it wasnt for this. 

Its time to take out the needles too. 

Chun Hwi waved his hand and the silver needles drifted out of Woon-seongs body, carried by the wind. 

Once the needles were removed, Woon-seongs body immediately felt lighter than before. The qi restriction is gone! I feel much stronger than before. 

Chun Hwis voice broke through Woon-seongs momentary ecstasy. 

Its about time to move on to the next step.

It had been about two weeks since the start of the training at the First Gate, which focused on honing the senses. It seemed Woon-seong was ready to move on to the second. 

This doesnt mean your training in the First Gate is over. As before, well continue the training of the First Gate every day. Your skill level is only just good enough to enter the Second Gate. You havent even mastered the First Gate yet.

Yes, sir.

Also! Considering your rapid pace of improvement, we will increase the difficulty of training.

It was only natural that the intensity of the training matched with the speed of improvement. Not only did the number of arrows flying at Woon-seong increase, their speed also increased. 

Ugh! Woon-seong groaned as he stumbled, an arrow hitting him on the thigh. 

The moment you sit down, youll only become a target of more arrows! Get up!

Seriously. He doesnt give me a chance to get used to the training at all. 

Of course, Woon-seong could only endure. 

Besides, training in the Second Gate was much more painful.

Ugh.

Woon-seong gripped his spear, searching his surroundings. 

The Leader should be hiding somewhere in this maze. Did he hide his presence? 

No. Hes not hiding. Hes simply existing. Its just that I cant sense him. 

Just then, Woon-seong felt a tingling sensation and unconsciously twisted away from the source. 

Shhhhh!

Something sharp sliced through the air, tearing the fabric at his waist. 

I wouldve had a hole in my waist if I reacted any slower. Though there was no blood, Woon-seongs hair stood on end. That was dangerous. 

Woon-seong turned to look at the man who had attacked him, cold sweat still dripping down his neck. 

It was the Cult Leader, of course, who was playing with something flashing silver some distance away. 

It was a knife. Its a knife the size of a finger, but I was barely able to react. 

As soon as Chun Hwi realized that Woon-seong was looking at the knife in his hand, he acted once more. 

Woon-seong instinctively raised his spear in front of him.

Ding-!

A small spark rose from where the knife had hit the shaft of the spear. 

Woon-seong had no time to react before the knife was once more directed towards his neck. He acted on pure reflex. 

Ack!

This time, several strands of Woon-seongs hair were cut off as he ducked. 

Everything seemed to move slowly, time oozing like thick honey.

Another close call. 

Chun Hwi gave him a split-second to rest before moving once again. A hellish attack followed. Woon-seong reacted with the White Night Spear in his hand, but was unable to touch Chun Hwi at all. 

Just as Woon-seong was beginning to seriously struggle He disappeared!

Im here.

Woon-seong looked up to see Chun Hwi, who was standing some distance away on the wall. 

I didnt know there was this big of a gap between us. Im sure hes not giving his best, but I cant even catch his shadow.

Woon-seong was angry, though he wasnt sure at who or what. 

Chun Hwis voice lightly floated into the boys ears, If youre angry, be angry. Try harder to catch up to me.

The Leaders voice sounded mocking and the smile on his face was goading. 

With a small sound, Chun Hwi vanished from his spot on the wall once more. 

The labyrinth walls were part of the Second Gate. When Chun Hwi attacked Woon-seong, he freely went back and forth around the maze. 

Woon-seong, who was in such a hurry to dodge and parry the oncoming attacks, had yet to make a single proper counterattack. 

I wouldve destroyed the walls of the maze if I had enough qi. But I was restricted to 10 years worth of qi before the start of this training, so thats not an option 

Huff, huff.

Woon-seong searched the area, breathing heavily. Where did he go?

Lets think about it. There must be a reason this training takes place after the First Gate. Focus. Use the sense you trained during the First Gate!

From his position above Woon-seong, Chun Hwi let himself smile. Hes already starting to realize his sixth sense and use qi detection!

It was then that the Heavenly Demons voice echoed through the maze, coming from all directions at once. 

Dont let your guard down just because you cant see the enemy! They are always aiming for you!

Something whistled through the air towards Woon-seong but was met by the White Night Spear. Without pause, numerous knives came raining down. Woon-seong twisted his body, barely avoiding them. He had no choice but to be continuously pushed back.

Youve gotten pretty good, praised Chun Hwi.

A compliment Woon-seong chuckled self-deprecatingly. Im only barely keeping up here. 

But Im starting to see his movement little by little, he comforted himself. I know hes not giving me his best but this is still exciting!

My senses are reacting before my eyes can catch up. There are always signs before a humans movement. I just need to read them!

Within Woon-seongs eyes, the figure of the Cult Leader could be seen clearly. He stared intently at the others movements. 

I can see the Leaders muscles twitching. A sign of attack. 

Woon-seong lifted his spear and the knife was blocked with a sharp sound. 

Clang!

The Heavenly Demon seemed a little surprised. Hes predicting my movements through my muscles?

Oh-ho, Chun Hwi almost laughed to himself, then sped up his movements.

Shit! Hes speeding up! Hes only engaging with 10 years worth of qi too, but hes faster than a peak level martial artist! Extremely swift movements like there is no limit. 

Woon-seongs head was spinning fiercely.

I need to think! How do I react to attacks that come from all directions? Do I retreat? Woon-seong thought about it, but shook his head. No my path of retreat is also within his attack range. In cases like this, I must advance. Building the habit of retreating will only result in my death!

Uahh!

Woon-seong pressed forward, attacking wildly with his spear. His muscles twitched and energy gathered in the spear, which Woon-seong released in an all out offensive. 

And then Chun Hwi used the knife to swipe at the boy.

Just one, smooth movement. 

Guagua-!

There was a flash of bright light and Woon-seong was swept into the air, slamming into the opposite wall. 

Cough!

Fortunately, there were no heavy injuries on Woon-seongs body. 

Just before he had hit Woon-seong, Chun Hwi had flicked his wrist to the side, changing the knifes trajectory. 

Still, Woon-seong could not help but be shocked. He and his all-out offensive, albeit an exhausted one, had just been swatted out of the air like a fly. 

That will be all.

Woon-seong, who had been clutching at his chest, took this as permission to collapse. He stretched out on the floor, unable to get up. Fatigue had piled up in his body and finally spilled over his limit, so he let himself pass out. 

That was the first day of training in the Second Gate. 

It was one hell of a day.

I think Im going to die