Chapter: 758
Shhhhh -!
Thud –!!
The sound of explosions went off one after another.
The heat filling the surroundings was suffocating.
Hwaaak -!!
Blue flames surged up, and fire soared high.
With all my strength, I continually threw the holy spear.
“Whew!”
One step further.
Shh…
The holy spear flew in and hit the target. Immediately, the heart was released and exploded.
Phew–!!
A tremendous noise erupted, and the wind pressure spread in all directions.
“… Ugh…!”
“Ugh!”
Those with lower skill levels couldn’t withstand it and would be swept away.
Perhaps because I unleashed all my power, the original ground had already collapsed terribly.
But.
‘Should I use two more steps?’
My expression was still not good.
Already six steps done.
Having thrown enough to reach my limit, I still needed to shoot a few more times.
It was at this moment that such thoughts came to me naturally.
Gulp.
I chewed and swallowed another piece of Dokcheondan.
Using up the few I had left hurt my stomach, but I had no choice.
‘The Poison King will take care of it.’
Since they said they were almost successful in making Dokcheondan, let’s consider it an investment.
Otherwise, I thought I might keel over first due to my stomachache.
‘… Damn, how much would this sell for?’
Maybe a little more expensive than the Mannyeonhancheol?
It could buy a decent place right in the middle of Hanam.
‘Crap…’
The more I calculated, the more it hurt.
I was already agitated since I had just eaten one. This was already my second.
‘Phew…’
I narrowed my eyes, trying to soothe my burning stomach.
Even though it was regrettable, I had to think rationally for now.
Sure, what use is money if you’re dead?
‘I have to survive first.’
I cycled through my goals, reminding myself.
The smoke from the explosions made it hard to see ahead.
Even so, I could tell that nothing ever goes as planned.
Phew–!!
I generated wind pressure to clear the smoke.
Then, the target became clearly visible in the brighter scene.
Thud thud.
The first white lump I saw.
Something pure white, still spewing out threads.
It looked slightly cracked, perhaps from the impact of the holy spear, but it wasn’t completely broken.
‘… Tsk.’
Seeing this made me click my tongue briefly.
I was a little hopeful, but I guess the clichés never fail.
‘So even though it looks like that, it really is a top-class beast?’
A hundred-level monster.
Commonly known as a dragon.
It was likely the remnant of the past that was sealed in Hanam. That seemed to be it.
It must be as I thought.
‘So, it must be just the imagination giving such a strong impact.’
I was convinced when I saw the cracked part.
It must have taken damage because my mind was intertwined with it.
The problem is.
‘Is that all?’
This was also less of a hit than I expected.
The crack was obvious, but it was only that bad.
It was too vague to be considered a solid blow.
‘I poured all my strength into this.’
Unlike during the martial arts competition, this was a holy spear shot with all my might.
What’s more, I had only used it twice against the Shenlong back then, so surely the power is incomparable.
Look.
“… Is this the anti-inflammatory…?”
“No matter how you slice it, this is worse than the rumors….”
The warriors who appeared around seemed shocked by the power of the holy spear.
Looking at their outfits, they were warriors from a famous sect.
‘There’s even Hwasan Sect. Are they Kunlun?’
I could see some from Gu Pailbang and Shaolin as well.
There were indications of noble clans, but they seemed outnumbered by the sect members.
There were dozens of them.
Given the signs of battle, they appeared to have been holding off an attack until just before.
Did they come here after sensing my energy in that chaos?
‘That’s really gutsy.’
Instead of jumping out, he leapt straight into the center.
I’ll give credit for their guts.
I quickly memorized their faces.
The intention was to spare them if needed in the future.
Well then, from here onward.
“Listen carefully.”
“What?”
“…Ugh!”
As I spat out my intention, my amplified voice resonated all around.
I turned it up to the max so everyone could hear.
“From now on, anyone who cannot handle the heart must step back.”
A brief warning.
The reactions to these words were quite wild.
“Imagination, you say?”
“By imagination… are you referring to something like the unification of the divine sword?”
In a sect, that’s an elder-level stance. Maybe even the chief sect level—close to that position.
They must infuse their imaginations into their martial arts.
This is something achievable only through the combination of a lifetime’s lofty enlightenment and sublime state.
“If you can’t control this and must step back… does that mean you can control it?”
Does that imply that snowflakes can deal with a hundred-level monster?
There was surprise mixed in with that reaction. Why mention the heart? Is that really the key? The martial artists are quite astonishing creatures, really.
“That’s not the important part right now. If you can’t use it, it won’t be a big help, so if you can’t use it, just step away.”
For me, the situation preceding that reaction was of utmost importance.
This was a trait discovered by the seeker.
A hundred-level monster can’t deal damage without the power of imagination.
What a fucking absurd condition this is.
‘Elders from prestigious clans. At the very least, that’s the required level.’
Whatever the case, it was a bit much.
‘What can I do?’
If told, I must comply.
Nothing changes no matter how I judge the situation.
‘Phew.’
All I could do was sigh and relax my body.
At the same time, I turned to the side and said.
“You too, step back.”
“… ”
“Honestly, you really don’t listen. What are you even doing here?”
As I spoke with a frown, Namgung Bi-ah flinched slightly.
By the way, why on earth is she still wearing my clothes?
“I clearly told you to stay calm this morning. Why didn’t you listen?”
“… ”
No response.
She just stared at me with her characteristic expressionless face.
The emotions in her eyes were a mixture of worry and mild irritation.
A feeling I wouldn’t have recognized a few years back but can see to a degree now.
“You came here knowing what that was, didn’t you?”
“… What do you mean by that?”
“… Hmm?”
“… I don’t know what it is…”
Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes shifted slightly.
On closer inspection, it seemed like she was frowning.
“But… why is it that only you know…?”
“… ”
Why was it that most people didn’t know what she did?
At that question, my mouth suddenly went shut.
My eyes twitched. Did she catch on? She probably did.
“That’s….”
“… ”
Just as I hesitated, unable to come up with a response.
“… You don’t have to say anything… But….”
Swish.
Namgung Bi-ah had pulled out her sword before I knew it.
“… Don’t say anything… ”
“… ”
Don’t worry about it, and don’t keep nagging me.
It was a flawless tactic.
‘Damn.’
Since when did she get so clever?
I wondered if she’d always been this articulate.
While I was left speechless and unable to retort, a voice chimed in.
“My niece is absolutely right. Yes, indeed.”
A middle-aged man suddenly appeared, chuckling softly.
With handsome white hair and a refreshing appearance.
“… Gu Hwa Seon.”
Shaman Gu Hwa Seon, Namgung Hyung.
He was Woo Hyuk’s teacher.
As I glanced at him, Namgung Hyung quickly waved his hand and spoke.
“Just to let you know, I came to talk you out of this. But my niece is quite stubborn about it. Hehe.”
That much was true.
It was a flimsy excuse.
‘This guy couldn’t be persuaded.’
I figured he wouldn’t even step foot here.
‘Woo Hyuk easily managed to keep it in check.’
That guy is currently holed up in his quarters.
Being a being of clear authority, he could be stopped with just a command.
More precisely, instead of issuing orders, they maximized the concept that he should stay put to protect the princess.
As more people came in, I tried to keep those around me from entering this place.
It had to be that way, or else.
“That doesn’t stop anything, does it?”
There was more energy felt behind Namgung Bi-ah.
“Do you really know that your nephew is troublesome?”
A very agitated Woosung Yeol popped up, sporting a pair of sprouted horns.
“Knowing you would still sit idle while I’m in trouble, this is not something I can just ignore.”
Even Wi Seol-ah, who had gauze taped on her chest.
In particular, I felt assaulted with various thoughts seeing Wi Seol-ah.
“Others may not know, but you shouldn’t be here.”
Wi Seol-ah was bedridden after a duel with the dragon.
It was mentioned that she needed continuous rest because of serious external and internal injuries.
I spoke angrily, as though I were furious.
“… How could you just lie there?”
Wi Seol-ah smiled at me in such a situation.
“It’s just not possible.”
‘I’m getting fed up.’
I wanted to yell at them to all get lost right now. Don’t meddle and just leave.
Even while feeling the urge to curse at them to leave me alone,
Wooooww.
“… Damn it.”
I don’t even have the luxury to preach like that.
I immediately turned my attention back, gathering my strength.
Swish.
“What is that, what is that?”
“… A thread…!?”
Everyone around widened their eyes.
A white lump.
The thread that had come from something that resembled an egg finally took shape.
Layering little by little, the threads began to connect.
The completed appearance started resembling…
‘Butterfly wings…?’
Butterfly wings.
It seemed reasonable considering how it looked.
It wasn’t that large in size. However, if scaled against the egg, it looked somewhat larger.
Thinking about that made my mind race.
‘Is it a failure to capture from the very beginning?’
Looking at how far it has progressed, it seemed likely.
But I wasn’t disappointed.
‘I thought it would turn out that way anyway.’
I never believed things would resolve that easily.
Suddenly.
Whoosh-!!
The ring of the Nine Flame Wheel Gong attached to my heart began to spin rapidly.
The heat escalated to extreme levels, making my body more energized.
‘I need more time to figure it out.’
What kind of creature is that?
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to check it out. However.
‘For now, we’ll figure it out while we fight.’
Now was the time to rush in.
Thwack -!
Hwooooshhh—!!
Just before leaping, my body was enveloped in blue flames.
I turned to look at the women watching me.
What should I say?
Should I warn them it’s dangerous and to just watch? No.
They weren’t the kind to heed that warning.
Should I warn them to be careful and not die? They’d probably heed it half-heartedly.
Then, should I order them to run if things get dangerous? No, that wouldn’t quite work either.
So.
“I’m only going to say this once, so listen closely.”
Only one thing remained.
“If you seem like you’re not going to help, then back off. That might just be the most helpful action you could take.”
“…!”
“….”
“… Ugh.”
The moment they heard those words, the expressions of the three women visibly twisted in surprise.
I knew these words could hurt.
One, this was the most rational way.
Immediately after saying that.
Thud -!!
I stepped hard on the ground as if I were going to break it and increased my speed.
‘If I can’t take it out from a distance, I should try closer.’
The gap closed in an instant.
Hwoosh -! As I felt that speed, I fashioned a holy spear in my hand.
While it was crafted for throwing, in terms of destructive power, this would surely be better.
With both hands, I grasped the finished spear and shoved it forward with all my might.
Just before the tip of the spear made contact with the mass.
Crack -!
“… Huh!?”
The mass shifted, and a hand shot out, grabbing the spear in an instant.
Yeah, that was a hand.
Closer to an animal’s paw than a human’s hand.
Such a hand slipped out and blocked my spear.
Seeing that, I felt my tension ease.
My judgment was quick.
The moment I released my grip on the spear, I shifted my weight back.
The holy spear exploded as it was.
Boom—!!!
An explosion erupted, and the shockwave hit, but.
‘What the hell?’
Keeping my distance to gaze upon the scene, that question lingered.
Thud thud.
As the hand which caught the holy spear was met with the explosion, it fell apart with pieces scattering around.
That was fine so far.
But.
‘What is that?’
Swish….
My gaze drifted not toward the hand but the mass itself.
Clunk.
Thud thud.
With the hand pulled back,
The mass itself began to transform.
Starting with the initially reached-out arm, both arms were created.
Then it passed the torso and acquired two legs, along with a tail.
Lastly, it shaped a head.
The being, now formed, stood up as if staggering on two legs.
How should I label that?
Walking upright might hint at it being human, but looking at the form of its arms, legs, and tail—
it couldn’t be called as such.
Moreover, with butterfly wings sprouting from its back, its face was…
‘… the face of a goat.’
A goat or something similar.
It bore the head of a beast from that family.
As I noted earlier, it measured just over nine feet.
While it was considerably large for a human, it seemed too small to categorize as dragon or monster.
‘It’s different from the dragons I’ve seen before.’
This thing wasn’t nearly the imposing size of the dragon from my memory.
What on Earth was that creature?
I couldn’t make sense of it.
But.
Gulp.
Wiping off the cold sweat trickling down, one realization locked in.
‘… It’s dangerous.’
That thing posed a considerable threat.
I gazed at it with mounting caution.
[…]
The being who had just awoken turned its head, scanning the area.
It glanced at its arms before starting to examine everyone around one by one.
The thing turned its head around and, not long after, locked eyes with me.
“… ”
[…]
The eye contact didn’t last long.
If defined by seconds, it didn’t even last a full second.
That alone rendered clarity on what it would do next.
“Everyone.”
That was sufficient to determine its upcoming actions.
“… Prepare for battle.”
The moment my words were infused with my resolve,
[Ah.]
The creature let out a short grunt.
[AHHHHHHHH—!!!!]
Then it produced a booming roar.
A roar filled with killing intent.
“Uggggh…”
“Ears, ears…!”
At that sudden moment, everyone hastily covered their ears.
Just the sound alone sent tremors through my insides.
Those around me would likely grasp it too.
That thing was definitely no friendly creature.
That thing was the foe we had to battle.
‘… This is bad.’
The corners of my mouth twisted upward. I could feel the danger washing over me.
The odds didn’t look promising.
It felt just like the time I confronted that unpredictable hundred-level monster before.
If we ventured to hunt it, it seemed downright impossible at this point.
Yet while the tension surged, I focused on a plan of action.
‘It’s okay.’
Things should be manageable.
If I aimed to hunt, it definitely could pose danger.
I certainly wasn’t here to do battle with that creature right now.
‘I just need to hold on.’
If I couldn’t snag it right off the bat, the second plan would kick in.
That was to weather the storm against that beast.
My second plan was simply to endure for as long as I could.
I was not the one meant to draw its blood.
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