Chapter: 631
It was Woohyuk.
Woohyuk, who had just been in the Ice Palace, was holding my hand with his eyes open.
Only, there was something different.
Woohyuk’s long hair had turned white.
His pupils were also tinged with blue light.
As soon as I saw this, I could grasp the situation.
“You little punk….”
The one holding me now wasn’t Woohyuk.
It was the third pureblood. The one called Mang.
Seeing my bewildered expression, Mang smirks.
“Your expression is delightful to see.”
The face was definitely Woohyuk’s, but the way he smiled was entirely different.
“Just a little bit.”
His voice was thick with regret.
“… If I had just done a little more, I could have achieved it perfectly.”
The bastard’s voice was getting sharper.
“… I never thought you would block that moment.”
I felt the pressure tightening on my hand.
“Alright. This should be sufficient. Since we are fellow countrymen whom I haven’t seen in ages, I wanted to show mercy.”
The corners of his mouth twisted upwards.
“This is how it is. Preemptively catching the twist is not a bad idea. Now, let’s die in the flesh of a close friend—”
KABOW—!
“SNAP!”
Mang’s head shook as my remaining fist connected with him.
I kept swinging my fists as I watched.
BAM—! BANG—! THWACK—! KABOOM—!
I kept slamming his face as if trying to break him.
The distance was close, making it easy to land hits.
When the onslaught continued to shake the space with vibrations.
“This…! That son of a bitch…!”
With one heavy hit, Mang loosened his grip and erupted with energy.
SHRAAAAK—!!
Cold air burst forth and aimed at my body, forcing me to hold back my regret and create some distance.
THUD. THUD.
I stepped back, shaking the frost off my body.
“SPIT!…!”
Mang spat blood onto the floor. There was a lot of it.
After that, he looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
And he said.
“Seriously, you’re not in your right mind. Don’t you recognize what this body is?”
“Do I look like I have no eyes? I see perfectly well.”
It’s Woohyuk’s body. How could I not know that? I couldn’t possibly be unaware.
Whether his hair had turned white or his eyes had turned blue.
At a glance, it was definitely Woohyuk’s body.
‘It’s just that Mang has flipped it.’
I answered this with calmness, and Mang’s expression twisted even further.
“Surely, you came here to save this body.”
“Exactly.”
Yes, that’s right. It definitely was.
I had forgotten for a moment.
“But, you attacked without hesitation the moment you saw me. Do you not care what happens to this body?”
I tilted my head at his question.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“What?”
I couldn’t understand.
What he meant was difficult for me to grasp.
“Why should I hesitate to hit you?”
He wore Woohyuk’s face.
Why should I hesitate to hit it?
“You’re going to fight me.”
“…”
Look, I can’t deny it.
“So what, you’re saying I should just stand still and take the beatdown? I thought you were more selfish than that.”
“No, that’s not it….”
“Or, did you think I’d hesitate to hit you just because we’re friends? Are you my friend?”
“… Ha.”
“No, that’s definitely not right.”
I’m not sure about your body, but that guy isn’t my friend.
Furthermore,
“I was just about to hit you. That bastard stuck a knife in my stomach.”
Even if it wasn’t him, I was planning to beat him up after Woohyuk got back his body.
It worked out well.
So, I can also release my frustrations while I’m at it.
“Let’s add some venting to this.”
I spat out the words and charged at the bastard.
THUMP—! The ground collapsed beneath my feet as I threw myself at him.
WHOOSH.
I engulfed my body in flames and rushed forward.
Then, I kicked out my foot.
FIRE SPITTING WOLF!
WHOOSH—!
KABOOM—!!
The flames that erupted from my toes transformed and engulfed him.
It was originally a martial art meant for fists, but once you get accustomed to it, it doesn’t matter where you apply it.
FWOOSH—!
The rapidly exploding flames gradually changed their form.
It looked somewhat similar to a dragon.
Mang frowned upon seeing this and raised his hand.
SHRIIIIP—!
A chill burst from his fingertips, erecting walls around the room.
BAM—! The flames dissipated as they hit the barrier. At that moment, I had reached Mang’s back.
The flames were just a feint from the start.
When Mang erected the wall, I slipped right behind him.
Like that.
‘Heart Technique.’
I extended my fist, channeling my resolve into it.
THRUM—!! A formless energy screamed out, flipping the ground beneath it.
If it had been Woohyuk’s body, it would have been crushed on impact.
“… You have a short temper.”
“…!”
Right after I unleashed my heart, I instinctively took a step back.
At that very instant.
SPLAT—!
Blood erupted.
My chest got nicked.
Looking at this, I thought:
‘That was close.’
If I hadn’t taken a step back, I would have been cleaved in half.
Though I was injured, it wasn’t fatal.
I casually shifted my gaze to Mang.
He was already holding a sword.
This caught me off guard.
“Was that your power?”
A sharp blade made of ice.
He wasn’t wearing armor, but this was a martial art that Yurine used.
That was for sure.
‘I didn’t think it was a power?’
How is it that he can use it so effortlessly?
He chuckled slightly at my question.
“What’s so strange about that? In the first place, the abilities used by the North Sea’s lineage originated from me.”
“… Huh?”
The ice powers in the North Sea originated from him? He continued.
“Didn’t you ever find it odd?”
Mang, wearing Woohyuk’s face, asked me.
“How could such a witless apostle try to wield a sword foolishly?”
This was a question I had during my fight with Yurine.
He must have been a martial artist yet still tried so hard to use a sword.
“It’s simple. The power was tailored to me.”
“… Because you wield a sword, it merely looks like a sword, is that what you’re saying?”
“Ninth, you were originally a worthless servant. Have you never thought that was odd?”
‘Hmm?’
SWISH—!
Mang twirled the sword a few times while continuing to speak.
“Generating flames, unleashing ice, or summoning thunder. Do you truly think these are feats that humans can achieve alone?”
“What?”
His words snapped my concentration.
In that instant.
SWISH—!
“!”
I ducked quickly at the sight of Mang’s lunging attack.
Then something sharp sliced through above my head.
WHOOSH—!! A loud crash echoed from behind.
It sounded like something was being split in two.
Frowning, I hurriedly moved my hand.
Flames rapidly coalesced in my palm.
After forming the jade, I launched it at him with all my might, like throwing a ball.
WHOOSH—! The flames shot toward him in an explosive manner.
Just before the jade hit him and detonated.
SNAP—!
Mang swung his sword and sliced through the fire jade.
The split jade hurtled toward the wall with Mang.
BAM—!!
It crashed against the wall and exploded.
SWISH—.
Mang, having taken action, swung his sword a few times before resting it on his shoulder.
His expression, for some reason, looked intensely dissatisfied.
“… Indeed, that moment seemed lacking. My body does not respond as I wish.”
Discomfort was evident. I looked at Mang and inquired.
“What did you just say? What was that?”
“Huh?”
“That thing about humans not being able to do it.”
Mang chuckled at my question.
“That isn’t something particularly surprising to say, is it?”
“It’s surprisingly extraordinary!”
“Well, yeah. You might think that. But…”
As he spoke, Mang pointed the sword he had rested on his shoulder at me.
“Why should I explain this to you?”
“… Hah.”
I couldn’t help but admire his mockery.
“Man, you really know how to get on someone’s nerves.”
“I feel great that things are going my way.”
“Why bring a perfectly fine person here and make them look like that? Did you at least get permission from the owner?”
“This body? Well, it’s one I found appealing. Above all, I appreciated the fact that it’s a piece of the dragon.”
“… A piece?”
I had heard that phrase before.
A piece of the dragon.
What does it mean?
“Don’t worry. Once I find my original body, I plan to release you.”
“It’s been hundreds of years. Where do you expect to find your body?”
“Where can I not find something?”
THUD, THUD. He said as he touched the debris that had fallen to the ground.
It was the shrapnel of the Ice Palace.
“Inside this, you see. I stored my energy here.”
“…!”
“It took quite a while to replenish my energy, since it was entirely depleted from the battle against the dragon.”
The North Sea’s bloodline poured its life force into thwarting the extreme cold of the past.
Does this mean that all of that bastard’s energy went into this?
‘Wait. Does that mean…?’
A sudden realization hit me and I spoke immediately.
“… If the energy is here, then the body must be there.”
“Oh. You’re quick on the uptake.”
Mang reacted to my question as if impressed.
“In another piece of ice, my body is held.”
“I clearly didn’t see anything…?”
“The form doesn’t matter. What matters is that it exists.”
Is that truth or deception?
Doubts surrounding this wouldn’t linger long.
Because I’d seen it as well.
‘Eggs and hearts.’
I was aware that an immense energy dwelled within the Ice Palace, so much so that it’d come to mind like that.
Are you saying that inside is none other than that bastard’s body?
“Even this feels equally unsatisfactory. It doesn’t even come close to the energy I originally held. But it’s fine.”
He looked at me, speaking.
“If I reclaim my body, I’ll be able to sufficiently fill this deficit. Then.”
I could see a glimmer of menace in the tip of his sword.
“I might finally be able to devour that incompetent dragon as well.”
It seems that his anger towards the dragon or the blood demon is genuine.
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