Chapter: 629
Hooook-!
The hallway was filled with cold air.
Thud thud- The sound of the palace collapsing echoed in the aftermath of a fierce battle.
The silence was evident, yet within it, a faint sound resonated.
Drip.
At some point, that sound ceased.
Silence had come.
Suddenly, all sounds halted.
I didn’t even feel the cold air that had been rushing in.
I wasn’t flustered by this.
I simply sat still, gazing at the woman I was holding.
From the corner of her mouth, black blood was dripping.
Even the whites of her eyes were exposed as she fainted.
It was obvious she had lost consciousness.
[How did you know?]
She began speaking to me.
What was peculiar was that it wasn’t the voice of the woman I originally thought to be beautiful.
The surprising part was that a deep man’s voice was coming through.
Upon hearing that voice, I grinned.
“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you too.”
…
The guy fell silent for a moment at my greeting.
His expression was frozen, making it hard to gauge his thoughts.
I didn’t let it bother me.
A few seconds passed.
[I’ll ask again.]
The guy repeated his question.
[The ninth pureblood.]
[How did you know that I was in the body of an apostle?]
‘Hmm.’
Hearing that, I slightly furrowed my brow.
Already in that short phrase were two pieces of information.
Apostle.
The ninth pureblood.
I had to forcibly suppress the corners of my mouth that wanted to curl up.
Then I said to him:
“Apostle… Does that mean this girl is your apostle?”
[Haha-.]
He let out a short laugh.
[I know you’re not surprised, but trying to put on a funny show, are you?]
Oh, I’ve been caught.
Alright.
I wasn’t particularly surprised by what he said.
Having gone through so much in life, I wasn’t one to be shocked by things like this.
What’s more,
It was even less surprising because I had somewhat anticipated it.
‘Sadoni, I didn’t know about the “ninth” part.’
All I expected was that something resided within Yuseon’s body.
I had suspected it was related to something icy.
Any other information was a complete mystery.
[Are you not going to answer my question?]
I nodded at that.
You’ve really got a nasty temper.
“It wasn’t really a huge question.”
Even if you say it was expected, it wasn’t that hard to figure out.
It was for a purely simple reason.
That being the case.
“This girl.”
Yuseon is.
“It’s not a topic of discussion.”
Too weak to be called a dragon.
[Subject?]
“Yeah. Not a proper topic.”
It’s not my place to say this, but Yuseon clearly has too many shortcomings to be called a dragon.
That was the first doubt.
I wouldn’t have known that before.
After a few matches and battles, I realized this.
I don’t know what principle or effect this power entails.
However, when Yuseon used the power, she was strong.
It’s just that compared to her normal state, there’s a world of difference.
‘… It’s not that bad.’
She wasn’t that strong.
Oh, of course.
Considering her age, she’d be incredibly strong. But simply put, it’s just ‘in comparison to me.’
It’s true that she’s reached Hwagyeong, but when you compare that to a dragon, it feels lacking in a lot of ways.
If she lacks power, she’s no different from an ordinary martial artist.
It’s a tad odd to categorize Hwagyeong as a normal martial artist, but anyway.
It felt inadequate to call her a dragon.
I just realized that in battle.
‘It’s too much of a stretch to say she’s a dragon.’
That Yuseon possesses remarkable talent as a human was true.
However, it didn’t seem like she had the innate potential to become a dragon herself.
Thus, I began to contemplate.
What had transpired that allowed Yuseon to become a dragon?
The reason she transcended to become one.
And,
Even though I refer to myself as a pureblood, the reason Yuseon isn’t.
I wanted to know that.
Stir.
When greed temporarily swallowed up the power of that guy.
It was then that I realized one thing.
‘There is something inside her.’
Yuseon harbors something.
Just like I do.
What could that be?
I wonder what it is that she possesses.
What is it that makes it feel so exquisite and yet so clear?
What I could surmise from this is:
‘That’s what made this guy a dragon.’
That was the conclusion.
With that confidence, I didn’t second-guess myself for long.
Because I had sensed a familiar aura due to my own hunger.
There was no way I wouldn’t recognize something I had just felt moments ago.
Ice Essence.
Yuseon radiated the energy of ice essence.
There’s nothing strange about that.
To start with, the bloodline of the Ice Palace utilizes ice abilities as is.
So it’s only sensible that the ice crystal would radiate such an aura.
As the princess had stated.
‘Since the bloodline carries the curse of ice, it is only natural it has energy.’
However, the sensation that appeared through Yuseon felt different.
It was distantly awry.
It seemed much heavier.
What could it be?
I had been so curious about that.
“It’s refreshing to meet you like this.”
[…Huh.]
Fortunately, I was able to meet him after putting on a slightly (??) stronger front.
“What should I call you? Bingjeong? Is that alright?”
[…Titles don’t matter. That’s not the point.]
Shwoo-!
“…!”
Kwaaaahhh–!!
An ice spear shot up from the ground.
I quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding it.
Cook cook cook-!
The rising spear pierced through the ceiling, creating a wall.
“What is this?”
[It seems we’re too close to converse.]
Thud, thud.
The flesh of the voice speaking slowly morphed.
The twisted figure was being forcibly regenerated.
Torn skin was healing.
Broken bones were mending.
It was a savage sight to behold.
[Nice to meet you, ninth. I am the third pureblood.]
Crack.
Even the sunken upper body was completely restored.
[They call it ‘Mang (망)’.]
Mang.
Upon hearing this, Yuseon’s memories of using their powers resurfaced.
– Mang…!
I was certain she uttered something while using her powers.
That must be its name.
Moreover.
‘The third pureblood.’
Alongside my title of ninth, it suggests a ranking.
“Are you saying there are seven more besides you?”
Even excluding Yuseon, who is not a pureblood.
This implies that there are more beings recognized as pureblood.
In response to that inquiry, this guy named Mang replied.
[There were. Long ago.]
The answer came with an affirmative response, speaking of the past.
Long ago.
“You mean there aren’t anymore now?”
[Haha.]
Mang let out a short laugh.
[None remain. Except for one, no, it now seems to be two.]
If there’re now two, it means that one is lost.
Who could that one be?
There.
‘There were eight purebloods, seven disappeared, and one remains.’
It seems to be sort of like that.
Putting aside the old circumstances, these things weren’t important now.
The one confronting me right now, who is saying they’re in trouble.
This fellow.
‘Isn’t a blood horse.’
He was not a blood horse.
I could tell since I had encountered a blood demon, even for a brief moment.
At first glance, the energy seems similar, but something appears different.
What troubles me about this is:
‘The ice essence was left behind by the blood demon.’
The being they call a dragon appears to be in fact a blood demon, who put the ice essence into the North Sea, triggering the ice age.
Yet.
If Mang here isn’t a blood demon after all.
‘What is this then?’
It could hardly be a more peculiar situation.
“What are you? What are you doing in that woman’s body? And what is a pureblood?”
The ninth pureblood.
In a state where I don’t even know truly what a dragon is, what could a pureblood possibly be?
‘The princess said that it is a dragon that broke free of its vessel and ascended.’
It’s a rather ambiguous statement.
This implies there are only eight others who have undergone such a process besides me.
To that questioning tone with such implications.
[Strange. The ninth. You seem deluded.]
Mang replied to me.
[How could you expect me to give an answer to that question?]
He conveyed he had no intention of answering my questions.
Upon hearing that, I involuntarily laughed.
“You’ve really got a prickly attitude. Can’t you just tell me something?”
[Do I appear to be kind towards you?]
“We’re in the same situation being purebloods or whatever. We could help one another out.”
Spitting those words out, I examined the ice before me.
Can I smash it?
I had contemplated giving it a shot.
At that moment.
[Same? Nonsense.]
The net continued admonishing me.
A chilly undertone brimmed in his voice.
[You are a distortion. A being who was never meant to exist.]
I frowned at Mang’s words.
A being that should never have existed?
“What does that mean?”
[From the very beginning, we should have been eight. That was the rule that the world had determined.]
There should have only been eight from the start.
Was that akin to a rule? It was incomprehensible.
“If that’s the case saying that, seven have already perished. It has filled the void left by the deceased.”
[Ha.]
Mang laughed as if he found my answer absurd.
[The fact you don’t comprehend this is evidence you’re a distortion.]
This time, I chose not to respond.
Rather than answering, I resumed my stance and threw a punch.
A fist filled with my energy slammed against the barrier.
Bang-! Crackle crackle–!!
As my fist struck the wall, cracks began to splinter as debris flew.
At this level, I’d say that a few more hits would shatter it completely.
… Truly violent.
“Just keep talking. I’ll do what I have to do.”
That isn’t a threat.
I genuinely thought it was something that must be conducted.
“So then, what will you say?”
I asked as I readied my fist once more.
“If you refuse to tell me what I am, just shut it.”
Unlike before, I no longer felt frustrated or irritable asking why they didn’t reveal anything.
If you aren’t going to share, you might as well stick to what you know.
“I’ll figure it out, one way or another.”
Even if it’s somewhat cruel and aggressive.
I’m prepared to do what needs to be done.
Whoooo—!!
The barrier shook violently.
My fist pushed in deeper, the cracks darkened further.
Once again.
Let’s strike a bit stronger this time.
As I judged it, I pumped in more energy, readying for another hit.
[Stop.]
Mang brought forth the command, but I kept my motion, staring him down.
“Why? Something to say?”
Is he finally ready to share? I tilted my head at him.
[Stop with the futile actions. We need not engage in this.]
“Still no answer, huh?”
I swung my fist at his trivial words.
Kaboom–!!!
A sound much larger reverberated through the corridor.
Casting a glance at all the debris fluttering about, I noted.
‘No retaliation.’
Even after everything, there’s still no sign of a counterattack.
What could that signify?
Does that mean I’m not worth it?
Or rather.
‘Is it that they’re in a position where they can’t retaliate?’
That could be the case.
‘Whatever.’
If I go at it hard, surely something will come forth.
This time I reached into my soul to channel it right.
Swiiiiish-!
Feeling an odd tremor ripple through my soul, I aimed to strike the barrier again.
[… We seem to be adversaries.]
Pause.
After hearing that from Mang, I finally halted my movements.
“Keep speaking. I’m all ears.”
…
Naturally, I was set to maintain my energy. I had to be ready for destruction any moment.
[… You don’t plan on facing the dragon, do you?]
That was a bold statement.
That meant the dragon wasn’t him.
It implied he understood I was leaving the Celestial Demon to combat the Blood Demon.
Additionally, it subtly suggested that his enemy was the Blood Demon too.
If the dragon truly is a Blood Demon.
I forced myself to suppress that thought.
“What’s this dragon? He said he left you here. What’s the relationship there?”
…
Silence fell.
As I slightly moved my elbow, Mang spoke.
[The reason the number of purebloods shrank from eight to seven is because of that fellow.]
“Oh.”
Only then did I realize noteworthy information emerged.
The cause for decreasing pureblood entities.
That was because of the Blood Demon?
“Explain. What’s that mean?”
[He devoured the other purebloods for his own greed.]
I frowned. That means.
‘So Blood Demon is one of the purebloods?’
Manifesting as the first calamity of the Central Plains.
A being who for centuries has lurked in the Murim Alliance, scheming.
Moreover, another dragon who’d planted blood essence into me was the Blood Demon.
He.
‘Are you saying he consumed and eradicated the other purebloods?’
The will of the character, Mang, entrenched here.
Why would that be?
“Then why did he leave you here?”
After devouring them all, what’s his motive for leaving this guy behind?
That was a crucial point.
It couldn’t simply be dismissed.
“Ice Essence is your heart, isn’t it?”
…
Mang maintained silence at my words.
The princess referred to it as the egg left by the dragon king. Or more accurately, his heart.
When I gazed upon it, I stated it was half true.
That explains it.
‘That isn’t the dragon’s heart.’
It was saturated with tremendous energy.
It was so potent that I couldn’t even decipher its essence.
However, it was fundamentally different from the blood demon’s power.
So whose energy was this?
The doubts that stirred within me when touching the ice crystal were put to rest when I met Mang’s eyes.
‘That was entirely Mang’s power.’
What lay within the ice was the energy of this being known as Mang.
I have no clue why the Blood Demon left it here, but I’m certain this isn’t his energy.
Determining by this logic, I posed another inquiry.
“Why did you reckon we were like adversaries?”
[It’s simple…]
The being remarked.
[The dragon intends to devour all purebloods, and thus, he’ll come after you too—making him your enemy as well.]
What he said was a straightforward reason.
One that also made my ears perk slightly.
“Why? Why does he hunt the others?”
Dragons are considered arrogant creatures. When they see their kin, they tend to see hostility.
Thus, it might be quite natural for them to clash, but his specific mention of ‘purebloods’ indicates there absolutely must be something more underlying.
[It’s to amass power. To achieve what he desires… he requires strength.]
“What does that guy desire?”
[… Can’t say.]
Kaboom–!
…!!
With my roar, the barrier crumbles.
Just one more.
Only one more punch can demolish this wall.
“Then, just keep mum.”
[Truly, you’re incredibly rough.]
“It’s because my life has never been smooth. I tend to lack patience.”
[I made it clear we needn’t fight like this!]
“If you want to act as though we’re allies, at least provide proper information. Otherwise, fighting seems like the only option left.”
Reaching the end of my patience, I’m sick of continuing this whimsically absurd discourse.
It’s better if we part ways sooner than later.
And aside from that.
While staring at that guy known as Mang, I began to ponder.
‘He doesn’t seem trustworthy either.’
Even while the information he’s sharing isn’t unpleasant, I still find it hard to trust him.
’It’s unsettling.’
If he were genuinely in a hasty situation, he might have said something, but he hasn’t shown that inclination.
While I feel a bit of an attempt at coercion, it doesn’t fill the gap too greatly.
I sensed he was hiding something.
Feeling that way makes any possible interest fizzle out.
‘Bother.’
I’m annoyed.
This mindless reiteration of trivial queries drives me nuts.
So I want to keep it straightforward.
Yeah, that’s the simplest approach.
“If I keep the punches coming, you’ll likely spit something out eventually.”
I’d pester him until he divulges.
Then most of the bigger matters would settle.
Hooook-!
In that moment, I wrapped my fist with energy to deal the final blow.
[You really don’t listen, do you?]
Crack crackle–!!
…!
In an instant, a furious gust swirled around me.
It was an annihilating cold.
The type that could outclass anything Yuseon emitted.
Once I created a distance, I stared at that guy.
[Similar to how you feel about me, I too have interest in you.]
In the form of Yuseon, Mang began to speak to me.
[A pureblood born against the rules. The power to devour authority. How could I not be intrigued?]
“I suppose my existence is a bit out of the ordinary?”
[Your features are not merely distinctive. They transcend logic altogether. It’s akin to… .]
The shape of Mang, resembling Yuseon, pointed a finger at me.
[Do you not think I chose you as the individual to silence the blood demon?]
A force meant to combat beings who aren’t human.
The implications were alarmingly evident, almost making me laugh helplessly.
If that’s truly his intention, then.
‘What does this world think of me?’
What does this world desire from me, I wonder?
The blood demon who manifested as a disaster for this realm.
If he survives and seeks to re-exert himself.
Surely, the world ought to endorse that.
[I will sever the neck of that bastard and consume it whole.]
[Not only did he devour me, but he left my heart crushed and discarded in this land. With time, I will find him and exact my due vengeance.]
There was fury underlying Mang’s words.
[Hence, I can align my will with yours. It means we can support one another to fulfill our purposes.]
“Are you aware you’ve labeled me a distortion? Yet you still wish to team up?”
[Nevertheless, it doesn’t alter the fact you are a pureblood.]
He transitioned the gesture he’d directed toward me.
He appeared to reach his hand.
[Ninth, let us join hands. Together, we can conquer the blood demon.]
“Hmm.”
I feigned a thoughtful expression.
Joining forces, huh?
“What do you mean by that? You’re sealed within ice, how could you propose we work together?”
Questioning him, he assured me.
[When the dragon left, he made a mistake.]
Mang told me, as if assuring me not to fret.
“What mistake was that?”
[I sealed part of my being and power within the ice, but he likely didn’t realize doing so would grant me opportunities to rejuvenate.]
Upon hearing Mang’s words, I scrunched my face.
His body and power were entwined and sealed. I understood that from hearing him out.
‘That’s why.’
The overwhelming energy I sensed from the ice essence was due to this.
Additionally, this seemed eerily familiar.
Once I met the ancient hero from ages ago, Shaolin’s Cheolyeong, he had once claimed.
‘He ripped the blood demon’s senses apart and sealed its body and power.’
It bore a striking resemblance.
Could this simply be coincidence?
‘Perhaps or perhaps not.’
It may merely appear reminiscent of it.
This could be related to something altogether different.
Yet something else was chafing at me, and quite significantly too.
I faced Mang and questioned.
“That ice essence in the palace was said to hold back the bitter cold. The other half was claimed to unleash it.”
That was what I learned from the princess.
The ice essence, split as it was, played opposing roles, she’d stated that her lineage sacrificed vitality to maintain it.
Now, at this juncture.
His claiming to have spent time recovering energy sounded quite disconcerting.
“Did you purposely do that?”
[Hmm?]
Mang tilted his head at my inquiry.
[That sounds rather peculiar.]
As if bewildered by the question.
[It’s a natural course of action. To restore energy necessitates it.]
…
Hearing his retort, I fell silent, my expression fading.
What he indicated meant that the wave of cold generated by the ice essence,
The bloodline of the Ice Palace had once consumed their life force to stave off the coldness.
In essence, that was the detail he’d offered.
[That very remark was his gravest mistake.]
Mang smiled.
[Perhaps once I fill my energy completely, he might’ve intended to reclaim it. But never in his wildest fantasies would he imagine he’d become sealed himself. That granted me time to restore.]
[Not too long remains. I will resurrect. So, join hands with me to face him…]
“Forget it.”
[Hmm?]
I shook my head.
That’s enough listening for now.
[Ninth…]
“Now that I’ve heard it all, it’s sufficient. I wasn’t really proposing joining forces anyway.”
Having gathered the essentials of the situation, I felt more resolute.
“I guess it must be that skanky quality of him. The more I learn, the more I despise it. Leave.”
[Ha.]
Mang let out a hollow chuckle.
[Truly, that I have to confront…!]
Mang halted his response as my actions were confirmed by him.
Whoosh whoosh–!!
Heat amassed around me.
I was forming a fireball on my hand, sending it spinning toward my target.
However, the focus of my gaze wasn’t on Mang’s icy body.
Rather, it fixated on the barren ground.
No, it wasn’t entirely devoid of substance.
Deep within the earth, an unfathomable energy stirred.
That must be where it lies.
Where the ice resides.
[Not possible—!]
Mang reacted violently as if catching onto something.
With that realization, I threw the fireball to the ground.
Kabooom—!!!
An explosion erupted, creating a massive crater in the earth.
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