DEB 134

Huiyun had fought in countless monster wave battles before.

Back in the distant past, when the war with the demons truly began, battles against overwhelming numbers were daily affairs. 

It was routine for only three or four to be sent against thousands, and still emerge victorious.

Among them, Yasha had even fought tens of thousands alone. 

Unless the enemy was a being equal in rank to a Demon Lord, the number of monsters made no difference.

That was the power of Domination.

The primordial power granted to the Guardian of all life, to make all lower beings kneel, to incapacitate them but look up in awe. 

The power of the first and the source, the one who also served as their protector.

Though reborn in a human body, the more Huiyun used this power, the more the old memories returned, and the instincts of battle once again ruled his body. 

It was why he could still fight despite his ruined state. 

The techniques and experience of his prime surpassed physical limits, guiding his mortal body.

Swallowing the blood that welled up his throat, Huiyun whispered.

“Halt.”

At those words, every monster that had been charging and shrieking froze. 

Silence. 

It was as though only they had been locked in time.

Hyeon let out a short, breathless laugh before swinging his blade through their defenseless forms. 

Siho leapt from Huiyun’s shoulder, darting through the battlefield and tearing monsters apart. 

With every bite, the creatures burst, their demonic energy extinguished.

But the pause lasted less than ten seconds. 

Soon, the monsters moved again, burying Hyeon and Siho under their sheer numbers. 

Huiyun too became the focus of their frenzied assault. 

Sensing him as the greatest threat, the horde lunged for his throat.

In that instant, Huiyun clenched his heart and redirected Domination.

No Pain.

He compressed the force of Domination to its limit, directing it to his heart. 

The penalty ceased. 

His movements became freer. 

He could not safely use Domination further in this state, but he could fight with his body.

He fought barehanded, recalling the arrogance of a Lord who once believed Yasha was helpless without Domination, only to be smashed into the ground by a single strike. 

Huiyun had never been weak at close combat; he had only carried himself with dignity befitting his station.

Now, with no need to maintain dignity, he fought like a beast.

He drove a kick into a monster’s head, sending it crashing into its fellows. 

He grabbed another by the skull and slammed it into the earth.

BOOOOM!

The ground cracked open into a crater. 

Each time Huiyun hurled another foe, their bodies piled high until the crater was a tower of corpses.

Watching between his own strikes, Hyeon clicked his tongue.

“…Seems you didn’t even need protecting.”

Even with his body ruined from overusing power, Huiyun was still a Guardian. 

Bathed in blood, he no longer looked noble, he looked like a fierce war god. 

Seeing the one they supposed to protect killed more and more monsters, Hyeon and Siho fought harder.

Yet the tide shifted again. 

The beasts stopped their frenzied charges, pulling back to circle warily, watching for an opening. 

Huiyun bit down on his lip.

His power blocked the pain and agony, but not the damage done to his body. 

Every impact still accumulated ever so slowly. 

The instant Domination stopped, he’d be unable to move at all. 

He couldn’t drag the battle out.

“If you won’t come to me, then I’ll come to you.”

He charged headlong into their ranks.

SKREEEE! KEHHHH! KIKIKIKIK!

Twisting bones, tearing maws, shaking the earth to disorient them, Huiyun butchered hundreds before his body finally faltered.

“—!”

His legs buckled. He staggered like a man losing balance. 

The pain hadn’t returned, Domination was still holding it at bay. 

But his body could no longer endure the damage.

It was inevitable. 

A human body, unawakened, could only carry Yasha’s battle style for so long.

Sensing weakness, the horde surged, clawing at him, tearing his flesh and hair.

“Yasha!”

Hyeon and Siho fought desperately to reach him, but the swarm was too vast. 

Monsters clambered over them, seizing Huiyun.

GRRRRR!

Siho roared, releasing a blue breath that burned away dozens, but the horde was unrelenting.

“This is—!”

Hyeon’s face twisted with dread. 

They were about to lose, not just the battle, but Huiyun himself.

And then—

BOOOOM! BOOM! BOOOOOM!

Hundreds of fireballs rained down. 

The earth froze solid. 

Razor winds carved bloody gashes.

GRRRAAAHH!

Fallen monsters rose again, attacking their kin.

“—ghk!”

A divine light wrapped Huiyun, healing his wounds.

In less than a second, the hopeless battle turned.

“Yasha!”

“Lord Yasha!”

“You damn monster bastards!”

Ash, Vina, Moot, Vita, Zenith, Verita—and Huigang—burst from the Fountain, cloaked in newfound might. 

At their every step, ice, fire, wind, and vines erupted, tearing the monsters back and clearing a path to Huiyun.

They reached him just as the Domination on his heart faded and he coughed blood. 

Seeing them, his exhausted eyes softened.

“Huiyun!”

Every single one had returned alive, stronger than before.

Huigang laid a hand on Huiyun, murmuring words that called forth a soothing energy unlike any other, knitting bones, sealing wounds.

“…A new power.”

Huiyun spoke, astonished, before Huigang cuffed him gently.

“You nearly killed yourself fighting alone, again. Wait until we’re home to lecture you.”

Smiling faintly at his brother’s scolding, Huiyun looked over his disciples. 

Already the monsters were dwindling under their power. 

In less than ten minutes, none remained.

“…Still not enough.”

He remarked quietly. 

Compared to their prime, their strength still fell short. 

The disciples averted their eyes, mumbling excuses. 

Huiyun only laughed.

Then Vina spoke cautiously.

“… Yasha, don’t you think it’s time you Awaken? The Lords have already revived. Holding out without Awakening is… wasteful. Even partial Awakening would ease the burden on your body.”

“I agree,” Moot added. 

“This routine, one use of power, then a week of rest, won’t do. If war breaks out while you’re incapacitated, we’re doomed.”

The others all murmured in support. 

Huiyun fell into heavy thought.

They weren’t wrong. 

He couldn’t keep going like this.

Perhaps it is time.

Yip!

Siho cried, tail flicking. 

At that, Huiyun remembered. 

The Education Book for Reincarnator. 

What would happen to it if he Awakened?

A blue window appeared.

[The ‘Education Book for Reincarnator ’ will continue to function to aid your bond with your disciples! However, if you Awaken, instead of curing Mana Hypersensitivity, you will be granted a ‘Stone of Revival’ once bond completion reaches 100%.]

[If you choose to Awaken, please update the Book now. Proceed?]

Even if the administrator was away for punishment, the Education Book system still ran, thanks to Siho.

Huiyun looked once at the screen, then at Siho watching him with unreadable eyes, and drew a long breath.

Yes.

Awakening was inevitable.

He moved his hand. 

The window responded. Siho barked joyfully and bounded onto his shoulder, brushing him with a soft tail as fresh air filled his lungs.

[Updating ‘Education Book for Reincarnator ’…]

[…Loading…]

[Update complete!]

[‘Education Book for Reincarnator  Ver.2’ is now active!]

Fireworks filled his vision. 

Then, as always, the familiar prompt:

[The power of the honorable savior has manifested in you across the ages. Would you like to awaken?]

How many times had he seen this? 

Too many. Huiyun swept his gaze over his disciples—and Huigang—then closed his eyes.

A burst of light flared. 

Amid its brilliance, he gave a small, wry laugh.

So, persistent system…

…you win.

His resolve was set.

Time to shoulder the burden he had once abandoned.