What is your wish for the third time?
I opened my eyes.
I have opened my eyes countless times in my lifetime, but I have never been this desperate before.
Please let me go back to a time where I can undo everything.
Please!
And what unfolded before my eyes was a spectacle that compensated for all the hardships I had endured before my regression.
I stood on a wide stage like a plaza.
Beyond the thousands of military commanders filling the audience seats, there were colossal demon statues. The red, blue, and yellow demon statues clashed with each other around the training field. Their massive swords and fists served as the roof of the unarmed combat.
And in the distance, there stood an even larger statue. The black demon with his arms crossed, looking down at the world, was the symbol of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
‘I’ve returned to the past!’
My heart started racing as if it would burst.
“Wow!”
Cheers erupted from all directions as if to congratulate my regression. The followers of the Heavenly Demon Cult filled the vicinity of the training field.
‘Come to think of it, today is…’
At that moment, a man climbed up onto the stage from the opposite side.
‘Shinma Duel (新魔爭鬪) Day.’
Around that time, my father made a shocking announcement that he would not limit the future head of the cult to his own bloodline.
The news caused a stir within the cult. Now, anyone with enough skill could become a Heavenly Demon.
To emphasize his announcement, my father organized a martial arts tournament for the senior disciples of the cult. That was the Shinma Duel.
And the winner of the Shinma Duel was given the opportunity to challenge one of my two sons.
It was said that whoever won between the winner and my son would be granted one wish by the Heavenly Demon.
Therefore, imagine how heated the Shinma Duel must have been. Young disciples from the cult participated in droves, competing fiercely.
After ten days of intense battles, the victor of the tournament emerged, and he chose me as his opponent.
“Swordless Extreme (劍無極)! Swordless Extreme!”
The military commanders chanted my name. The name that the wandering spirits had been so curious about. Swordless Extreme, the youngest of the Heavenly Demon’s two sons, that’s me.
As the military commanders cheered for Swordless Extreme, the winner of the tournament frowned deeply.
“Hmph! By the time this match is over, you’ll be shouting a different name. I won’t go easy on even someone like you.”
At that time, I felt displeased that he had chosen me. It meant that he saw me as more competent than my older brother.
However, looking back, there was another reason why he chose me.
“Would you like to surrender right now?”
He was already confident in his victory.
And indeed, I lost in this martial arts competition.
It wasn’t because of a lack of skill. It was because of his cunning strategy. He poisoned my meal with a special toxin called Sangong Dok (散功毒) that temporarily depleted my inner energy.
It was not an ordinary Sangong Dok. It had no apparent effect until a situation like a martial arts duel arose, then it would disperse my inner energy. Later, I found out that it was a special toxin called Heukbi (黑妃) developed by the Sado Sect and secretly circulating in the market.
Anyway, that day, after losing in the duel, I informed my father of the fact, but he did not say much. Instead, he gave me a stern look that implied disappointment in falling for such a petty strategy.
Afterwards, in order to make up for my defeat that day, I attempted various desperate measures one after another.
My opponents were not my older brother or other candidates for the successor. My opponents were my impatience and wounded pride. I could sense Father’s eyes, which used to look down on me with pity, whenever I closed my eyes.
Through a series of mistakes and failures, I distanced myself from the successor competition.
Everything started from the defeat that day.
My first words at the turning point of my destiny were this:
“What was your name again?”
Instantly, laughter erupted around me, and the expression on his face stiffened. He probably saw it as a mockery, but I genuinely couldn’t remember his name.
“You dare to disrespect me, Goo Pyeong-ho (具坪浩)! It is as if you are insulting the master!”
“Oh, right.
✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧ 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓋𝒾𝓉𝓎𝓃𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈 ✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧
