Editors: Ytho, LaidBackGuy

Huge thanks to John Doe for sponsoring 4 chapters of Possessing Nothing (1/4)

He wasn't surprised at Aine using Defense Aura. Lee Sungmin did not know what exactly the black heart was capable of, but he knew that Aine was using the moves from the Hundred Step Manual. At the same time, he remembered Xeon, whom she killed and pulled out his heart.

Aine had been difficult to fight at that time, but now it was even harder. Aine was a strong opponent five years ago but was still immature in many ways. There was a strong feeling of her being unfamiliar with fighting.

But not now. Aine's attacks and body movements were seamless and seemed impossible to do with a human body. The tentacles and blades protruding from her body could twist at angles that limbs could not replicate. It was truly monstrous.

They clashed again. Their inner forces collided with each other and scattered away. Aine launched another attack without stepping back. Dozens of tentacles bursting out from behind her back hit Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin rotated the spear in his hands, and  Nine Dragons Spirit burst forth. The spear made of Orichalc.u.m was far more powerful and fierce than ever before, and it struck Aine with Nine Dragons.

Aine's hands wriggled. She increased the size of her hand to inhuman proportions and attacked with her inner force.

Kkwaaang! 

The Nine Dragons exploded in Aine's hand. Her right arm was torn apart and flung away, but Aine didn't even scream. She stabbed forth using her left arm instead of her right arm. The stabbing hand took the form of a large awl. Lee Sungmin recovered the spear he had shot at her and immediately threw it at her. Lee Sungmin's spear attack and Aine's fist collided.

Ppadeudeudeuk! 

Their respective inner forces collided with one another. Lee Sungmin moved forward, overcoming the immense pressure with his whole body.

One step, two steps. The Two-step Calamitous End unfolded itself with an explosion of inner force aura over his entire body, creating a storm. He tried to use his inner force aura to crush Aine's whole body.

There, Aine's simple and efficient movement took shape. She had learned and perfected his footwork completely.

Pavavak! 

Aine's body left behind dozens of afterimages and escaped Lee Sungmin's Two-step Calamitous End before the scattered afterimages united again. She burst out in joyous laughter.

Aine's tentacles came forth like dozens of knives and spears. The wide variety of blades were also as sharp as they looked. Lee Sungmin transferred inner force into his palms and performed the Nine Dragons Spirit technique once again. His Dantian overflowed with inner force, and the spear made of Orichalc.u.m made it possible to amplify that force even more.

The biggest difference between Lee Sungmin and Aine was their bodies. Even though Aine's body was destroyed, she could repeatedly regenerate it without any difficulty –  but Lee Sungmin couldn't do that. Even if Aine's arm was ripped off, it would regenerate again, but once his arm was ripped off, that would truly be his end.

That's why there was a difference in their boldness. Lee Sungmin moved in such a way that serious injuries could be avoided, but Aine did not have any such considerations. She did not hold back in antic.i.p.ation of fatal injuries. Aine jumped into the Nine Dragons Spirit attack without any hesitation.

Kwkwkwkwa! 

The Nine Dragons Spirits swept through the snowfield and swallowed up Aine's body.

All she had to do was protect her heart.

Aine had learned a lot during the five years. She couldn't use magic, but she had learnt a lot of martial arts. In fact, her growth was not the kind meant for learning, rather it was for predation. Besides that growth, Aine had learned other things too.

She had also learned pain. She learned how to use her body effectively.

Aine's body was maintained by her heart. Even if her limbs were ripped off, or her head was crushed. All of it could be regenerated as long as her heart was fine.

The Nine Dragons tore off Aine's limbs. Aine's limbless body shook in the air and spread its wings behind it. The limbs that were severed were regenerated in an instant. The same was true for her head that was blown away by half. Aine smiled, revealing her teeth, and immediately jumped toward Lee Sungmin.

At that moment,

“Hahahaha!”

A huge storm of power burst forth following the loud sound of laughter. It was enough power for both Lee Sungmin, who was waiting in antic.i.p.ation for Aine's attack, and Aine, who was rus.h.i.+ng to strike, to back down. Both of them retreated at the same time.

Kwaaang!

The snow around him had evaporated. Crazy Heavenly Demon stood up amidst the white mist of rising water vapor. He was watching from a distance and jumped in because he couldn't stand it anymore. He didn't care. Crazy Heavenly Demon jumped in without any hesitation or thought, giving in to his excitement and the rising urge to draw blood that was heating up the blood in his body.

“Where is this place?”

Crazy Heavenly Demon asked, stretching his arms. Aine stared at him without answering, and Lee Sungmin felt perplexed by Crazy Heavenly Demon's sudden appearance.

“You are… ?”

“I asked first!”

Crazy Heavenly Demon roared. It gave the feeling of a great lion's spirit rising from him. As the mist dispersed, it shook the ground. The roar was enough to sway both Aine and Lee Sungmin's bodies.

“I asked where this is. If you want to hear the answer to your question, answer the question I asked first!”

Crazy Heavenly Demon roared again. His att.i.tude was quite audacious, but the aura rising from his body could not be taken lightly.

“North. Travia.”

“As expected!”

He had guessed that it was Travia when he saw the huge city walls that were visible so far out in the snowfield. Crazy Heavenly Demon nodded with a warm smile as he heard the answer.

In fact, even though it was so ridiculous, Crazy Heavenly Demon could not be shaken by that much. He had come all this way to this snowy northern land while he was on a senseless rampage. However, Crazy Heavenly Demon did not express it.

That was that, and this was this. Originally, he was just going to ask them where this place was, but he changed his mind. Seeing a fierce battle like this, there was no way his heart would not move. Crazy Heavenly Demon moved forward without hesitation, his aura growing stronger by the moment.

“Now, Let's have some fun!”

Although he yelled such words, Lee Sungmin and Aine could not say anything to it. The man suddenly popped out and approached them while radiating such an aura, so he couldn't figure out what to do. Lee Sungmin glanced at Aine's side. Even Aine, who rushed onto the scene without any thoughts, was hesitant to start acting in this situation.

In fact, the most perplexed person out of them all was Freskan, who was watching the situation through a familiar in the sky. He thought it would be possible to bring back the stolen heart with a little more time. But everything got entangled up because of some man who suddenly jumped out.

“… First of all, who are you?”

“This highly esteemed individual is the Crazy Heavenly Demon, Byuk Wonpae!”

(T/N: He talks in 3rd person. Referring to himself as 'highly esteemed'. No English equiv.)

Crazy Heavenly Demon announced. Lee Sungmin's eyes widened at that roar. Crazy Heavenly Demon Byuk Wonpae. Along with Minor Heavenly Demon and the b.l.o.o.d.y Heavenly Demon, he was one of the three monsters with the t.i.tle 'Heavenly Demon'. He had heard that he'd lost his mind and would go around here and there slaughtering senselessly. He never thought he would encounter that lunatic here.

'When you meet Crazy Heavenly Demon, run away.'

He recalled the advice that Namgoong Heewon gave to him in Shaolin a few years ago. At that time, Namgoong Heewon had added that Crazy Heavenly Demon was well suited for the t.i.tle 'Heavenly Demon'.

Aine was feeling unpleasant. She thought she could have a good time, but this Crazy Heavenly Demon suddenly popped up out of nowhere and ruined everything.

No. It was fine, even in spite of the interruption.

Aine brought out her aura at full force with a bloodthirsty look in her eyes. A huge uncontrolled force swallowed up her body. The Crazy Heavenly Demon laughed, watching her.

“That's right!”

In response to Crazy Heavenly Demon's cry, Aine ran forward. Crazy Heavenly Demon stretched out his arms as if he had been waiting for it. An unparalleled force struck Aine's body. Up to that point, Aine was not too vigilant. She was used to destroying her body to drive her opponent into a corner.

But this was different.

In front of the force rus.h.i.+ng forth – Aine realized it too late. She could die. This was not an attack she could throw herself into. If she threw herself in thoughtlessly, she would be smashed or killed. Aine hurriedly pulled out her tentacles and shot them forward. The tentacles that came in contact with Crazy Heavenly Demon's attack force turned to dust and scattered. Not only that, but she also spread her wings and twisted her waist 180 degrees. It was a maneuver that would normally be impossible for human joints, but it didn't matter for Aine. Then, without hesitation, she jumped out of Crazy Heavenly Demon's range of attack.

Kwaaang!

The size and magnitude of the explosion were beyond imagination. The Crazy Heavenly Demon's attack made a large hole in the ground and made their surroundings shake as if an earthquake had occurred.

[Escape!]

Freskan also saw that Crazy Heavenly Demon's attack had more power than expected. He ordered Aine with an urgent voice. Aine hesitated for a moment. Crazy Heavenly Demon's attack power was more than what she had imagined, but it wasn't so much that she could not hold out. Aine still had a lot of moves she hadn't used, and if she pulled out everything she had, she was confident that she could fight even against Crazy Heavenly Demon.

[No! Runaway now!]

But Freskan's orders were unwavering. Just like Aine had more hidden moves, it was also very likely that Crazy Heavenly Demon did too. Moreover, it was not only the Crazy Heavenly Demon that she had to be vigilant against. In the first place, Aine's purpose was not to fight against Crazy Heavenly Demon, but to take back the black heart from Lee Sungmin. It was true that she was also greedy for Crazy Heavenly Demon's heart, but there wasn't much chance that she could survive against both Lee Sungmin and Crazy Heavenly Demon.

[Hurry!]

Freskan screamed. Aine bit her lower lip and stepped back. Although she was unwilling, she wasn't an idiot. She could clearly see that the current situation was not looking good for her. Aine spread her wings wide and looked at Lee Sungmin before jumping into the air.

After a short glance at Aine who jumped into the sky. Crazy Heavenly Demon stopped throwing his aura toward her direction. He had disregarded age and played with her, but seeing her jump back and run away like that cooled down much of his excitement.

“Hmm.”

Crazy Heavenly Demon let out a groan feeling sour and turned to look at Lee Sungmin. It didn't matter. It was fun to play with that b.i.t.c.h who ran away, but in fact, it was Lee Sungmin, not Aine, that Crazy Heavenly Demon was really interested in.

It was a strange feeling. It was definitely the first time he had felt it. A feeling like something deep in his heart was burning up. It was a strange feeling for the Crazy Heavenly Demon, who had lived for many years. He did not know what this emotion that he was feeling was, but he didn't care. He didn't know when he would go crazy again. Before that time came, he wanted to enjoy this moment while he was still in his right mind.

“Will you run away too?”

“I don't know why you're fighting.”

“How ignorant!”

Crazy Heavenly Demon replied by yelling at Lee Sungmin's calm words. The tumultuous cry reminded Lee Sungmin of Jang Deuksu, whom he had met in the dungeon, but Jang Deuksu couldn't compare to even an inch of the power in the Crazy Heavenly Demon's voice. Namgoong Heewon had said that the Crazy Heavenly Demon was an expert at the zenith of transcendence. Indeed, it was as he had said. The Crazy Heavenly Demon's aura was so dense that even breathing was difficult in his vicinity, and the glint in his eyes made every hair on his body rise up.

“One strong person and another strong person meet. One warrior and another warrior meet. Do we need a reason to fight?!”

Lee Sungmin found his words to be incomprehensible. He tried to say something once again, but Crazy Heavenly Demon wasn't listening anymore. Crazy Heavenly Demon leapt forward. His movements could not be said to be 'fast'.

It was just heavy.

Kuuuung!

He could cause an earthquake just by stepping on the ground. Lee Sungmin's body was shaken since he wasn't prepared for it, but Crazy Heavenly Demon jumped into the place where Lee Sungmin stood. Instead of the strong force that Aine faced, Crazy Heavenly Demon's hands covered Lee Sungmin's vision. Lee Sungmin hurriedly reached for his spear in an attempt to escape his force.

That was exactly what he wanted him to do.

Kuuuung! 

The shock waves pa.s.sed onto Lee Sungmin's body. It wasn't a direct hit, but the aftermath shook his intestines. Considering the weight of the attack, Crazy Heavenly Demon's power was greater than that of Wijihoyeon's Doppelganger.

[This… ]

Heoju said, sounding startled. It was the same for Lee Sungmin. Crazy Heavenly Demon's aura had infiltrated into his body and shaken his internal organs but failed to destroy them. Heoju's powers that were sitting deep in his dantian shook and responded to it.

[Don't run away! Capture him!]

Heoju shouted in haste.

[That b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You think you can steal my power?!]

Heoju screamed angrily.