The outskirts of Cheonuhoe. Twilight had fallen, and the sky was painted in shades of crimson and black. In the distance, flames rose high, heating the air like a furnace. From beyond the heat shimmered a figure—an elite martial artist of the Chilheukhoe. His name was Heukyeom.
Heukyeom's aura was overwhelming. The fire born of his internal energy danced with lethal menace, threatening to burn even the grass and leaves around him. Backlit by flames, his silhouette resembled that of a demon.
"Black Cloud Sword... I will never forgive you," Heukyeom growled, his voice low and seething."The humiliation I suffered in our last battle—it's still fresh in my memory. Back then, you were simply lucky. Today, you'll vanish in my flames."
Lee Do-hyeon watched him with a calm, curious gaze, then lightly drew his sword."I didn't expect you to still hold a grudge over that. But I don't think it was luck. You merely let your guard down. If you're ready, I'll face you properly this time."
At those words, fury flared in Heukyeom's eyes."Letting my guard down? That will be the last thing you ever say! I won't rest until you're consumed by my fire!"
A massive blaze gathered in his hands. The flames were dark red and black, roiling like molten lava. With a roar, Heukyeom hurled the fire forward."Be devoured by my flames!"
Lee Do-hyeon summoned mana into his sword. A fiery phoenix took form and soared forth, intercepting Heukyeom's inferno. The phoenix split the flames as it flew, and the two fires collided in the sky with a thunderous explosion.
"Your flames are fierce," Do-hyeon remarked, intrigued. "But my firebird is more than just fire."
Heukyeom screamed in outrage,"That's no martial art! Don't think your sorcery can surpass the essence of the Murim!"
Do-hyeon smiled calmly."If that's the 'essence' you speak of, then I will prove that my power can surpass it."
Heukyeom unleashed a storm of flames, engulfing the battlefield. His fire did not simply attack—it devoured the land itself.
"Take this! Witness my true power!"
Do-hyeon dodged, searching for an opening. Gathering his mana, he unleashed Yeomnoegeommu—a fusion of firebird and lightning-infused sword strikes. Bolts of blazing energy shot forward with razor precision.
"This is the power that will surpass your flame!"
Their techniques clashed, shaking the battlefield. Heukyeom was pushed back, but quickly regained his footing and counterattacked with another infernal surge.
As the battle intensified, Do-hyeon felt the strain on his new sword. Though he held it tightly, the blade finally cracked—then shattered in his grasp. He looked down at the broken weapon in disbelief.
"No..."His voice was raw with pain and despair.
Heukyeom laughed cruelly."Now that you're unarmed, you have no chance of winning. Accept your defeat!"
He sent a final wave of scorching flame. Do-hyeon raised his bare hands, conjuring mana to defend himself, but he was slowly being pushed back.
And then—A radiant sword appeared in the sky. Spinning with a brilliant light, it descended into his grasp as if called by fate. It was the Ego Sword.
"Lee Do-hyeon," echoed a voice from the blade."I was never merely Lachesis's weapon. His era has ended. I now stand with your will and conviction. I will be your sword."
As the Ego Sword rested in his hand, a surge of power flowed through him once again.
"You've returned... Ego Sword. Let's end this—together."
With one sweeping motion, Do-hyeon cleaved through Heukyeom's flames and overwhelmed the battlefield. The sword, stronger than ever, shattered Heukyeom's techniques with ease.
Heukyeom fell to his knees, lowering his head."Lee Do-hyeon, the Black Cloud Sword… You are stronger than I imagined. But remember—Chilheukhoe will not leave you in peace."
Wounded, Heukyeom retreated into the shadows. Do-hyeon exhaled slowly, still holding the sword in his hand.
He looked at the blade and said,"Your return means more to me than you know. Let's grow stronger—together."
The Ego Sword glowed faintly, as if answering him."I am now a blade of your conviction. As long as we stand together, no threat can bring us down."
Lee Do-hyeon steadied his stance once more and vowed silently,"Stronger enemies will come. But with this sword at my side, I will overcome anything."
***
Chapter : The Sword Demon Queen's Inquiry and Discovery
Within the heart of the Chilheukhoe stronghold, news of Heukyeom's defeat reached the ears of the Sword Demon Queen. Yet what stirred her interest was not the loss itself—but the message that accompanied it.
The Ego Sword had returned.
"The vanished sword... has reappeared?" she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "And in the hands of that man—Lee Do-hyeon, the Black Cloud Sword?"
The Sword Demon Queen fell silent, lost in thought. She had personally witnessed the Ego Sword vanish during the dimensional rupture. Its return defied reason—and that alone was enough to ignite her curiosity.
Known across the Murim as a scholar of forbidden arts, she had long studied the roots of the Magyo, unearthing truths other factions had buried. And now, she could sense that the strange energy surrounding both the sword and Lee Do-hyeon was not born of internal energy or martial technique alone.
She turned to ancient tomes, flipping through the worn pages of Magyo's oldest records. In one such text, she stumbled upon a cryptic passage—an origin nearly forgotten.
"Our ancestors were not born of the Murim's natural flow. Their strength came from a force beyond this world—a power unlike internal energy, which, over time, transmuted into a similar form. Thus were we shaped into outliers within the Murim. But the original source was lost."
Reading this, the Sword Demon Queen spoke quietly to herself."So that's why we've always stood apart. Our internal energy does not share its root with the others."
Even at her level—mastery over the highest fire state—she realized this new energy could not be wholly grasped. It was foreign. Dimensional. As though existing parallel to internal energy, but never converging with it.
She recalled the sensation emanating from Lee Do-hyeon.
"His strength is not merely tied to the roots of the Magyo. It may have come from an entirely different world."
Though his mana bore echoes of Magyo's origins, it was not the same. It had not evolved into internal energy, nor had it adapted to the principles of the Murim. In fact, she began to suspect it was something far purer—something untouched.
"His energy... it resembles our ancestral source, yet it remains unaltered. Untamed. Still in its original form."
The Sword Demon Queen, once intrigued by the emergence of a new celestial warrior, began to lose interest. Lee Do-hyeon, she realized, was not of her world—not truly.
"The Celestial Disciples once piqued my curiosity. But now, I see there's no need to delve further. I do not seek mere power. Only that which can shake the foundation of my world holds meaning to me."
Though the Ego Sword and its wielder fascinated her, they no longer aligned with her pursuit of complete understanding. Still, she could not deny the anomaly they presented.
She reached a conclusion.
"The power he wields is curious—but not the path I seek. And yet… how he will influence the Murim—that is worth observing."
Rising from her seat, she summoned the remaining elites of the Chilheukhoe and gave her orders.
"Do not move against Lee Do-hyeon—yet. Let him grow. If his strength truly diverges from ours, he may become the catalyst for something far greater."
As she stepped out of her chamber, her thoughts lingered on the man once more.
"Lee Do-hyeon… Let us see what your power truly brings to this world. I'll give you time—but only for now."