Chapter: 603
Bam-! Bam bam-!
‘What’s going on?’
I opened my eyes to the sound I heard.
For some reason, my ears felt stuffy.
Thud-!
I heard a vibration sound.
Covering my throbbing forehead for some unknown reason, I looked around.
“Hmm?”
I felt confused.
The sight I finally registered was incredibly disconcerting.
“What is this?”
It’s white.
The world was completely painted in white.
At first, I thought it was a snowfield.
‘But it’s not snow?’
The world was simply white.
I touched the ground.
The sensation brushing against my fingertips was subtle.
‘What is this?’
I couldn’t call it a stone because it was soft.
And it was too peculiar to simply be dirt.
It felt like something unknown. Yes, that seemed like the right judgment.
I frowned and looked around.
‘Where the heck am I?’
Why am I suddenly here?
What was I doing that caused me to wake up in such a place?
I tried hard to recall the scene just before.
“Ugh…!”
Sudden pain hit me, and I clutched my head.
I attempted to think of something, but the pain persisted.
Good grief, what in the world is this nonsense?
“Damn….”
I shook my head in pain as I sat up.
Standing up, I noticed the world was even whiter.
It felt more foreign and creepy for some reason.
It was as if I were standing in a place I shouldn’t be.
After looking around for a while, I noticed something.
“Hmm?”
I spotted something in the distance.
The center of this white-painted world.
There stood someone above it.
Are they human?
The figure resembled a person, but I couldn’t be sure.
Because…
‘…Flame?’
The form looked human, but its entire body was enveloped in flames.
And those flames were the familiar blue ones.
‘That….’
Yeah, it can’t help but feel familiar.
I instinctively recognized it as my own flame.
“What?”
I exclaimed without realizing it.
At that moment—
“…!”
The creature’s gaze, which had been directed at the sky, turned towards me.
But that wasn’t all.
“What do you think?”
This human-shaped flame not only looked at me but even spoke.
“What?”
“It’s a question about how it feels to live among insignificant creatures.”
I frowned at those words.
“What are you?”
Why did you suddenly appear and act out? It was absolutely absurd.
Is this a dream? And if so, what kind of ridiculous dream is this?
With such a bewildered expression on my face, I stared at it.
“It’s utterly shameful and disgusting.”
Ignoring my question, the flame began only to talk about itself.
“Having broken your bowl and soared to the heavens, how can you live amongst the insects below?”
I was filled with doubt after hearing those questions.
And that made me feel something strange within.
‘I think I’ve seen this somewhere.’
For some reason, it felt strangely familiar.
It was true that the flame was indeed my flame.
And I felt like I had heard those bizarre word choices and tone somewhere before.
As I contemplated this, it dawned on me.
“Ah.”
I was finally able to catch on to what this creature was.
“Are you, by any chance, Blood Qi?”
“…”
Upon my words, the creature fell silent.
It seemed like I was spot on.
This was the creature that had tried to consume my body a few years back when I passed away.
Back then, it appeared in the form of a monster, but now, for some reason, it was a flame.
“I thought you were dead, but you’re still alive?”
At that time, I believed I had swallowed it whole.
So how on Earth is it alive?
Then is this my head or some internal space, I wonder?
Then—
Bam-! Bam-!
‘What is that sound?’
A booming noise reverberated as if the world were about to shatter.
That caught my attention more than Blood Qi in front of me.
I couldn’t figure out why.
It just felt like something was off.
“You ignorant fool.”
At the accusation, I turned my gaze back to Blood Qi.
“If you’re going to dwell in oblivion, forgetting your purpose, it would be better to hand yourself over to me.”
“What are you talking about? Why did you suddenly show up and start causing chaos again?”
If I had been swallowed, I would have just quietly digested it.
Why does it have to appear out of nowhere and do this?
“Why, do you want to throw down once more?”
Is it feeling greedy for my body again?
With that in mind, I posed the question.
“Hah.”
The creature chuckled dismissively.
“It’s already passed to you. You only had one chance. I’m just a spectator now.”
“Then just watch and quit messing with me.”
If I hadn’t died and lived, I would have just said thanks and kept to myself.
There must be another reason for it to appear so suddenly.
“I came to warn you about your petty actions.”
“Warning?”
“Consider your place clearly.”
The flame flickered with intensity.
“Understand what your existence is.”
“What on earth are you saying? Who am I?”
When I incredulously asked, the flame answered with conviction.
“Do you think the insignificant beings around you can comprehend you?”
I paused.
The flame’s words left me speechless for a moment.
I had been deeply contemplating a question that lingered from long ago.
I am no longer human.
Because those around me are human.
Though my body is no longer human, my mind still holds onto that identity for comfort.
But the disparity caused by that remains a problem for me.
And the flame touched upon that disparity.
“They cannot understand you, and gradually, you will cease to understand them as well.”
What nonsense.
I thought that to myself, but it was hard to voice it.
Did it catch on to my reaction?
“Foolishly suppressing your instincts… You already know, don’t you?”
A smile crept onto the flame’s lips.
“You know how great a being you are. And how insignificant those around you are.”
“What are you jabbering about?”
“That is the essence of the difference in races.”
The flame rested its chin in a mocking manner.
It was annoying, as it felt like it was mimicking my demeanor.
“Unless you can acknowledge that plainly, a path shall not open for you.”
“Quit talking nonsense. If you have something to say, say it directly.”
My teeth gritted in annoyance.
What on Earth is the essence of this conversation?
Is it asking me to recognize that humans are insignificant while I am superior?
‘What a load of crap.’
How can I acknowledge such arrogant and absurd words?
How can it be that recognizing that would pave a way forward?
“I’ve never been blocked from the start, you bastard.”
“That’s what you would like to believe.”
This was irritating.
With an emotional gesture, I swung my hand.
Bam-!
I grabbed the creature by the throat.
Even though I held tightly, the smile didn’t leave its face.
“Why? Is it because you think we’re just communicating that you’re trying to choke me? How delightful. Just like ‘us’.”
“… If you’re going to keep babbling, get lost. I’m not interested.”
Woof-!
I poured all my strength into it.
A pounding sensation reverberated through my heart.
At the same time, flames gradually began to be drawn into my hand.
It was the technique of demonic absorption.
The creature effortlessly flowed into my body.
Somehow, it felt like it wanted that to happen.
At that moment—
“I don’t accept you.”
As I was being absorbed, Blood Qi said to me.
“You’re merely occupying a role that doesn’t fit you.”
“So what do you want? Are you asking for a rematch or something?”
“One.”
Snap-!
“…!”
It grasped my wrist that was gripping its neck.
“This time, I’ll assist you.”
“What the—!”
As Blood spoke, a reaction surged through my body, sparked by the grasp on my wrist.
Whoosh whoosh-!
“Ugh…!?”
I felt an overwhelming heat within me.
It was so hot that even I was in pain.
“This brat… what are you doing…?”
“If you hadn’t been so busy with trivial matters, I wouldn’t have needed to help you like this.”
But the pain forced me to release my grip and create some distance.
For some reason, my body wouldn’t move properly.
Whoosh whoosh-!
The heat generated within consumed my entire being.
Within it—
“Remember.”
I heard Blood Qi’s voice.
“Any kin that invades your territory should be devoured.”
That voice was etched into my being like a tattoo.
“Prove that you are the ruler.”
The heat continued to rise, at last reaching my head.
It felt as if I was burning, going up in flames until only ash remained.
Death.
It could easily have been mistaken for that.
Yet for some reason, I felt no fear.
What I felt was something other than fear of death.
What on earth is this emotion?
As I took a moment to ponder, I recalled it.
“Don’t forget.”
Yes, this is undoubtedly more than just fear.
“We are not humans; we are dragons.”
It bordered on ecstasy.
Bam-!
‘Ah.’
The heat that had surged in my body started to cool.
Boom-! Bam-!
As the heat subsided, the fog that had clouded my vision lifted.
What just happened?
What the heck went down?
It was like a dream.
Everything was blurry and distant, yet the memories were clear.
What exactly occurred…?
Boom-!
“Ugh!”
As I tried to think, the pain that gripped me made my body sway.
I barely managed to maintain my balance and posture.
Otherwise, I would have collapsed.
“What… ugh….”
For a moment, I wondered what kind of situation this was.
I felt pain coursing through my body.
It was a different sensation than when I felt the previous heat.
The agony was present not only within but also on my skin.
What about my joints? A slight movement felt as if they were on fire.
What’s going on? Have I been beaten up all day?
Bam-!
“Huh!?”
Instinctively, I raised my hand to block the left side.
A dull thud accompanied the pain, knocking my body back.
Something had struck me.
Moreover—
‘This sound.’
The gruff noise accompanied by my blows.
Until just a moment ago, it was the vibration I had heard in that white world.
“Damn, is this even real?”
I wondered what that sound was, only to realize it was the sound of my own body taking the beating?
Shit, I felt uneasy listening to it.
Just when I thought something was breaking, it turned out to be my own body.
I scanned my surroundings.
I had to check who was hitting me like this.
“Huh?”
A familiar face came into view.
A young man was gazing at me, hands casually in his pockets.
A rather innocent-looking lad with black hair.
It was Pajeon.
“Elder…?”
“Oh.”
Upon my call, Pajeon reacted.
“The title has changed. Looks like the discipline is beginning to take effect.”
“Pardon?”
“You were calling me trash, insignificant insects, filth, and all sorts till just now. Tsk, tsk.”
“What the heck…?”
Did I say that to Pajeon?
‘…Me?’
I couldn’t remember.
What had I been doing for him to pound me like this in the first place?
A question flickered in my mind.
Then, a memory surfaced.
“Ah….”
The ornament from Namgung Bi-ah that I picked up in the snowy field.
From the moment I laid eyes on it, I had lost all rational thought.
Had I lost it and gone on a rampage?
So—
‘…Is that why I said that to Pajeon?’
Calling him a bug or trash, did I really say that to him?
That’s how I ended up like this?
It felt dizzying merely to think about it.
The surrounding area was already a chaotic mess.
The ground was pitted as if it had been dug into by someone.
Above the cold snow, a flame flickered.
It was so apparent that it was my fire.
Swallow.
Something brushed against my lips.
I wiped it away and realized it was blood.
Seems I took a serious beating.
Swallow.
As I swallowed dryly in the frigid situation, Pajeon smiled and spoke while watching me.
“I told you, right? When you get hit like this, you might remember.”
“…Just a moment, sir.”
“See, experience never lies. Right?”
“I’m sorry. I think I lost my memory for a bit—!”
Whoosh-!
I turned my head.
Pajeon’s fist passed through that space.
Bam-!!
Almost instantly, the air cracked.
How does something like that make such a sound?
Cold sweat poured down my back.
“I told you I came to my senses?”
“No, disciple. You haven’t regained your senses yet.”
“That’s completely annoying.”
Looking into Pajeon’s eyes enlightened me.
This fellow looked furious.
I had no clue what I had said.
But he appeared extremely ticked off.
“Definitely, with the way you toss around such rough words, it seems you haven’t come to your senses yet.”
“I swear I just snapped back to reality! Listen to me…!”
Bam-!
This time, I couldn’t block it.
The punch landed in my side. Agony flared through me. But feeling pain wasn’t the priority right now.
I needed to twist my body before fully feeling the impact.
Whoosh-! I attempted to rotate and dissipate the shock.
At that moment, Pajeon pressed on my joints, sending me off-balance.
My vision gradually descended.
Before my eyes, Pajeon’s fist approached.
There was no way to defend in this position.
When I focused and looked around, countless threads spread out from Pajeon.
Finding a way out of there seemed hopeless.
This is bad.
This could end in disaster, right?
That thought crossed my mind.
‘Can’t stop it, can’t evade it.’
So what’s the plan? Thinking won’t help.
In that case, I had only one option.
If I couldn’t run or defend, I had to attack.
The immediate concern was to attack and push Pajeon back, gaining some distance.
Woosh-!
I gathered my strength, thinking that way.
“Damn it…!!”
There was no power left in my heart.
I had exhausted the energy, leaving me empty.
At best, there was barely a handful left.
Under normal circumstances, that would mean nothing to me.
But it was urgent now, so I had to make use of whatever I had left.
Wha-ooosh-!
I condensed even the tiniest bit of energy into my fist.
I swung it with no regard for whether it would work or not.
At that moment—
“…!?”
Something caught Pajeon’s attention, and he swiftly turned his head away as he recalled his previous attack.
I wondered what brought on the sudden change.
Then, just as that thought formed—
Whoosh!
Something shot out from my fist.
THWACK—!!!
The air ripped apart with a chilling sound.
And then—
KWAAAAAAHHHHH—!!!!
The strike pierced the iceberg behind it.
“…uh…?”
This is insane.
What the hell was that?
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