Chapter 627: Greed.
A fundamental desire and an emotion that everyone possesses.
Though Shaolin, one of the nine orphanages, is said to strive for liberation from such desires.
In my view, desire is the most significant meaning of life.
It’s also human nature to want to advance.
It’s also about striving to achieve and obtain something.
Be it material desires, fame, or even sexual desire.
Whatever it may be.
Ultimately, it is desire.
When I think of humans, I think of the primal aspect.
Then,
‘Is it really any different because it’s a dragon?’
Whether it’s youthful blood or a woman.
They boast of themselves as a great being, filled with arrogance.
From my perspective, they were no different from dragons.
In fact, if anything, they were just more honest about their desires; they aren’t beings who are free from them.
Otherwise,
‘I wouldn’t grant you this kind of power, true to your instincts.’
This thought surfaced as I witnessed the unfolding scene.
Crack—!!!
My gaze focused on the sinister sound.
It was dark.
A blue yet black world unfolded before my eyes.
‘How fascinating.’
It was a refreshing sight, being my first time witnessing it so directly.
‘This is’
power.
A variety of emotions flooded over me.
The exceptional regenerative power I’d obtained through dragon speech or, so to speak, dragon-like attributes.
It wasn’t a body that was close to perfection for a human, nor nor a broad, expansive vessel.
‘The real deal.’
This wasn’t a stage of martial arts that could be attained through training by the untrained.
It was power acquired purely by mere existence.
That was the essence of power.
When I opened my eyes.
I naturally realized that power permeated through my body.
Yes, I would come to know it naturally.
That I held power.
What kind of strength this authority entails.
How it could be utilized.
What the conditions are.
I could understand most of it without employing it or experiencing it myself.
Until now, if I ever gained strength.
Unlike previously, where I had to labor for days using it repetitively to glean information.
There’s never been a power quite as effortless as this.
‘How absurd.’
I felt this situation was somewhat unreasonable.
All those years spent honing martial arts, almost to the brink of death.
The energy that I had painstakingly built up by chewing through and swallowing.
It felt like everything was trampled by the mere fact of being a dragon.
I found that utterly unreasonable.
Is that why?
To the power created in likeness to my greatest desire.
That’s the reason why my discomfort was turned inside out.
This power was made more for dragons than for humans.
It felt like a power created solely for use on dragons.
Power resembles its master. So this must be the nature of this strength.
I thought so.
Crack-!
Starting with the ravaged heart, something shadowy engulfed the surroundings.
The room, which had not been too narrow, was completely shrouded, with not a shred of light penetrating.
Darkness, murky.
In there, I felt vividly intense emotions.
Greed.
That’s the name of my power.
Splash-!
Whack!
I heard the sound of something being bitten and consumed.
An awfully unsettling sound.
Thud-!
The heart pierced through Yoo-seon’s hand trembles.
Thump-!
It was strange; despite being shattered, I felt my heart beating just fine.
Is it permissible for dragons to have such vital points obliterated?
‘That’s unlikely.’
I chuckled at that thought.
Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Right now, it’s merely a special situation.
Grind-!!
The darkness that had long been engulfing everything.
Ugh…
Seemingly having finished its feast, it unleashed a rough gulp.
From that point on, fractures began forming in the presence around.
Crackle–!!
The darkness that had surrounded was shattering and collapsing.
Whoosh—!!
The darkness began to draw back towards my heart.
It took barely a few seconds.
In an instant, the encroaching darkness faded away.
Only then did I find myself back in the world as it was.
However.
It wasn’t the same as it had been before.
I turned my gaze and checked my arm.
Sure enough, my shoulder had exploded.
Yet, the arm was back to its original form.
The pierced chest restored likewise.
It was a familiar situation.
The damaged body reverted to its original state as space crumbled.
I brushed off my chest and surveyed the surroundings.
I wasn’t surprised.
I had anticipated this outcome from the start.
“Ugh…!?”
Thud-thud—!
I shifted my gaze towards the new sound.
There lay Yoo-seon, who had pierced my heart, now collapsed.
She was pressing her neck; we had been so close.
Though engulfed in darkness earlier, she was now sprawled near the throne.
Blood pooled around her.
“Cough…Gulp.”
Pfft! Blood splattered from my mouth, soaking the ground.
Yoo-seon, struggling to lift her body with trembling arms, looked at me.
Her gaze was full of shock.
“…What’s going on…? What did you just—!”
I wouldn’t wait for her to continue.
I approached Yoo-seon and delivered a swift kick to her face as she lay there.
Bam-!
“Ugh!”
Her chin snapped up from the impact.
Blood sprayed as a response.
Long white hair fluttered into the air.
I grabbed it, acting without hesitation.
I swung the hair I had caught to toss her backward.
Whoosh-!
Boom–!!
Yoo-seon’s body collided with a massive pillar.
Crash!!!
Debris tumbled, burying her beneath it.
I gave my left hand a little shake.
Flick-! Flames immediately danced around me.
I sensed it.
The heat felt significantly more intense than before.
Judging by its feel, the firepower might have almost doubled, but not quite.
Whoosh-!
Flames converged in my palm, trying to compress further.
It was the same for this.
The flames collected deeper and heavier than ever.
The will of the Wheel spun within the flame as it rotated.
Whoa! Whoa!
The ring of the Gu Flame Wheel Technique began to spin in response.
‘Flaming Jade.’
In an instant, I hurled the compressed jade with all my might.
The Flaming Jade swiftly flew toward Yoo-seon, striking the gathered debris.
Boom-!
With a resounding impact.
Kaboom—!!!
It triggered a massive explosion.
Thud—!!!
It swept across the wall, exploding part of the palace.
Whooosh—!!
A gust of cold wind rushed in through the significant hole in the palace wall.
I peered outside through that hole.
Splash…
It was pouring rain endlessly outside.
Observing this, I advanced my steps.
Thud-!
I sensed movement amidst the burning debris.
Thud-thud…
It was Yoo-seon.
She was barely managing to rise from the pile of debris that had accumulated on her.
“Cough….”
Her appearance while bleeding profusely was quite a spectacle.
I glanced at her left hand.
A hand so charred it appeared blackened.
‘Did she use that to block it?’
It seemed she sacrificed one hand to mitigate the fire.
Yoo-seon, now a mess, was gazing at me with frosty eyes.
She extended her comparatively intact right hand toward me.
And then.
“Hope…!”
As she spoke, light burst from the tips of her fingers.
She was seemingly putting forth an effort.
But.
Crack-!
“…!”
The dark energy extending from my shadow consumed her light once more.
Yoo-seon opened her eyes wide upon seeing the spectacle, then swiftly scowled and glared at me.
“What…! What did you just do…!”
Her expression clearly indicated her inability to grasp the situation.
Seeing her, I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“Is this surprising?”
“…What on earth did you do…!”
“Is your power ineffective?”
“…!”
Upon hearing my comment, Yoo-seon’s eyes widened, and she bit her lip.
It appeared I hit the nail on the head.
I observed her surroundings.
I was examining the interior of the palace.
As I shifted my gaze slowly, it didn’t take long to notice something.
The corridor.
More precisely, the border of the space that had been tinted with black energy.
Beyond that, an odd ripple was present.
‘To be concise…’
It seems that the energy consumed has reverted back to its original state.
While pondering this, I turned my gaze back to Yoo-seon.
“There were not just one or two odd things.”
“…”
The first instance that raised suspicion was,
Naturally, the situation when I first encountered Yoo-seon.
I breached an enigmatic barrier.
Out of nowhere, it had been said to be the garden where Woohyuk spent his childhood.
That part didn’t concern me.
It could have been a method of sorcery or talisman, things that were beyond my feeble understanding.
What mattered was.
‘How I felt.’
My arm had been ripped off.
Teetering on the brink of death, I had survived through Yoo-seon’s dubious mercy.
It bore a resemblance to the domain utilized by the Dark King.
It felt akin to his power.
Not only that.
“People here seem quite lost when it comes to navigating the palace.”
I had barged into the Ice Palace not too long ago.
Naturally, one would expect a battle to ensue.
I was aware of that.
I never intended to obliterate everything in my path, but I had foresight of a confrontation.
‘The garden and entrance had been manageable.’
Yet, stepping slightly into the main palace.
They couldn’t even properly acknowledge my presence.
Quite a bizarre scenario.
Did they all partake in some collective intoxication? Or was there—
“Is something overlaid upon the entire palace?”
“…”
Yoo-seon remained silent.
Her gaze was intensified with scrutiny.
Seeing this brought forth a sense of familiarity; the oddity within the palace.
It resonated like—
That element that was entangled within the hiding place.
“It feels akin to witchcraft.”
A force dissimilar to the truth.
So-called witchcraft that embroiders hiding places into complexity.
It bore similarities to that.
As I mentioned this,
“Hah.”
Yoo-seon chuckled as though bemused.
“Did you say they are alike? You’re mistaken.”
A curious hint of anger tinged her voice.
“From the get-go, witchcraft itself is the power bestowed by dragons.”
“Hm?”
“It’s not something for humans to wield and prattle about.”
This was yet another intriguing statement.
I tilted my head and regarded Yoo-seon.
“Are you saying that witchcraft is a force brought by dragons?”
“…You really know nothing at all, do you?”
“You’re the one acting odd. If anyone saw you, they’d surmise you had lived for centuries.”
If I were to turn into a dragon, I would undoubtedly glean many insights.
But that wasn’t a guaranteed scenario.
‘It doesn’t really matter anyway.’
I no longer felt stifled by my ignorance.
What should I say?
‘I have a hunch I’ll figure it out sooner or later.’
There’s no need to fret about this; I’d discover the truth inevitably.
That thought crossed my mind.
Furthermore.
‘After all, a knowledgeable presence is right in front of me, isn’t it?’
There existed a person who could impart a wealth of information.
To that end,
“I wish you would indulge me a little longer.”
As I uttered that, I launched myself toward Yoo-seon.
“…!”
As I rapidly closed the distance, the tension rose.
At that moment.
Whack!
“Hm?”
Her charred black arm revived unexpectedly.
Witnessing it, I couldn’t help but express admiration softly.
‘Wow.’
What on earth? Such a level of regenerative ability.
‘Is that also a power?’
Is that what healed my internal wounds?
Curiosity beckoned; could this power regenerate others’ bodies too?
Moreover.
‘Just how far does this regeneration reach?’
I was intrigued.
It was odd to feel this way amidst the chaos, yet my emotions remained remarkably candid.
Crack-!
Just as I neared, a chilling air surged from her feet.
Adjusting my movement slightly.
Sharp ice erupted forth.
Had I not evaded, my body would’ve been pierced.
In tandem, I twisted my head.
Whoosh-! A gust brushed past my cheek.
It was Yoo-seon’s fist.
Boom—!!
A crack cracked the air, packed with substantial strength.
Yoo-seon, who had seemed weary until now, sprang into action with agility.
Her advancing footfalls were steady.
Her waist centered, her arm movements precise and deadly.
‘Upper level. And mid-level.’
Thwap! Thwap-thwap!
They exchanged blows seamlessly while attacking.
Whenever Yoo-seon took a half step forward, I countered half a step back.
With each thrust of her fist, I preemptively halted her from gaining momentum.
My mind’s eye unveiled all of Yoo-seon’s precise movements. This was a straightforward task.
Boom-! Boom boom—!! Bam!
Even the slightest tussle between our hands reverberated with energy.
Boom!!
Inside the palace, the structure quaked as if an earthquake had struck.
Bang! I deflected her wrist, meeting her punch with my own.
Crack-!
My energy burst forth, and something crunched audibly near my ear.
I rolled my eyes towards the source of the sound.
There was frost clinging to the meeting point of our fists.
‘Is this icing?’
I’d heard a fleeting mention, yet this was my first actual clash.
Bam-! As I wrapped my hands around the warmth, the frost dissipated swiftly.
Since I was already feeling the warmth, I pushed just a bit more power into it.
Wwoom-! Energy coursed down my shoulder, enveloping my entire right arm.
Simultaneously, Yoo-seon hastily advanced towards me.
She was rapid.
The distance shortened drastically, seemingly aiming to intercept my brewing power.
An astute decision.
But.
Grin.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
“…!”
Noticing my smile, Yoo-seon widened her eyes, as if sensing something.
“Your Majesty.”
Swish-!
In response to my call, shadows shot from my left arm, ensnaring Yoo-seon’s body.
“This…!”
I couldn’t entirely halt her actions.
Despite her surprise, Yoo-seon continued her assault.
With that, a flash-! Once again, something sparkled from her hand.
It seemed she had something in mind.
However.
Crack-!
Again, shadows surged forth to engulf her light.
“This…!”
The opening granted by the binding allowed me to seize the moment.
Summoning my bound energy-filled fist, I extended it lightly toward Yoo-seon’s chest.
Heart Strike.
My spirit flowed through the tips of my fist.
Despite the immense energy, the action was merely simple.
Thud.
Like a confirmation of this, an extraordinarily light sound erupted.
Wwoom—!
Light movements didn’t equate to light results either.
“Ugh…!?”
Yoo-seon let out a soft groan.
Right after.
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba—!!!! A tremendous vibration erupted from her body.
“Ughhhhhh!!”
A massive force burst forth from her back.
Bang—!! The shockwave erupted, resonating powerfully.
As the explosion swept the area, the corridor began to cave in.
Crash—!
Yoo-seon wasn’t swept away completely.
I prevented that by gripping her hair to keep her grounded.
Thud-!
Gradually, one of Yoo-seon’s knees buckled.
Though she appeared to be clinging on, her collapsing body seemed uncooperative.
“Cough… Gulp…”
An alarming volume of blood spilled onto the floor, far exceeding earlier amounts.
Observing this sealed my conviction.
I spoke to her in a blunt tone.
“You’re not as strong as you seem, are you?”
“…”
Yoo-seon shivered at my statement.
This wasn’t a comment aimed to belittle.
She was indeed potent.
Yoo-seon had surpassed the flower realm and perhaps was stronger than I just days earlier.
However.
This signified that she was not at a level where she would rip my arm off or seize my neck in suppression.
Thus, this meant.
“Without the space you crafted, you can’t fully unleash your potential, can you?”
“…Hoo…Huff…”
Yoo-seon remained silent, though her answer felt preordained.
It seemed that without her crafted domain,
A manifestation of true strength wouldn’t emerge.
She gazed at me, contorted in pain, and uttered:
“…What was that…? Why…?”
“Ah.”
She seemed to question the rationale behind my powers’ failures.
I sensed this curiosity shining brightly in her.
So, I decided to elucidate.
“My power is as follows.”
When discussing power.
“I suppose I’m just too greedy and can’t stand others wielding their capabilities.”
I said this with a grin.
“The power of absorption and devouring. That is my power.”
“…!”
This means consuming a dragon’s power and ultimately seizing it.
For the record, the conditions for the actual seizing are rather bothersome.
But it suggests it’s possible.
Thus, greed is the nature of it.
Upon hearing this, Yoo-seon trembled and replied with incredulous eyes.
“How can that… be even remotely possible…! That can’t—!”
You dare imply you’re consuming the power of another dragon?
There’s no way such a thing could exist.
Yoo-seon’s visage echoed exactly this sentiment.
One.
“What if I said you don’t have to believe it?”
I held no inclination to assuage her disbelief.
She had far too many pressing matters at hand.
Ah, indeed.
‘I indeed had something on my plate.’
It was a reality I had temporarily overshadowed amidst our struggle.
For now,
I firmly—
I grasped Yoo-seon’s shoulder and forcibly tore it off.
Crackle-crackle!
“Goouuuu—!?”
I had no particular hesitance.
Pop-!
“Kyahhh!”
With an agonizing cry, Yoo-seon screamed as her arm was wrenched from her body.
Snap-!
Amidst the racket, I gave her a hard slap.
“Ugh!”
My eyes, fixed on Yoo-seon as she turned her head, brimmed with interest, divorced from the noise.
I couldn’t help it.
Whiff-!
After tossing her severed arm aside, I asked Yoo-seon.
“Earlier, your body was rapidly regenerating.”
The absurd regenerative ability struck my mind.
Bear in mind, I now posed a question to her.
“Can you regenerate something like this? I mean, the one you just lost.”
“…!”
“To what extent can you regenerate? Is it possible even if I remove a kidney? Or about vital points? That might be impossible, right?”
Before long, I realized I’d momentarily derailed from my original line of questioning.
Yoo-seon’s expression twisted with fear as she looked at me, as though she grasped the implications of my inquiries.
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