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Chapter 631: Nine. And Three.

It was Woo Hyeok.

Just moments ago, Woo Hyeok had been at Ice Spirit, now with his eyes wide open, he was gripping my hand tightly.

But there was something different.

His long hair had turned white.

And his eyes were tinged with a blue hue.

As soon as I saw this, I understood the situation.

“You bastard….”

Right now, it wasn’t Woo Hyeok holding me.

It was the third Pure Blood. Mang.

Seeing my bewildered expression, Mang grinned.

“Your expression is delightful.”

It was definitely Woo Hyeok’s face, but the smile was entirely different.

“Just a little bit.”

His voice was filled with regret.

“…If only I had gone a little further, I could have obtained everything perfectly.”

His voice was slowly becoming sharper.

“…I didn’t expect you to block that moment.”

I felt pressure in the hand that held mine.

“That’s enough. This much should be sufficient. As a long-lost kin, I intended to show mercy.”

The corners of his mouth curled up.

“Considering how things turned out, it wouldn’t be bad to keep the distortion in check. Now, let’s see how you die in a friend’s body—”

Boom—!

“Crack!”

Mang’s head shook from the punch I landed.

Seeing that, I kept swinging my fists.

Bang—! Thud—! Bang bang—! Boom—!

I mercilessly rained blows onto his face.

The distance was close, making it easy to hit him.

While I continued my assault to the point where the space trembled from the vibration—

“This…! You damn bastard…!”

After taking a beating, Mang released my hand and unleashed his energy.

Whoosh—!!

A chill burst forth, demanding my attention, forcing me to distance myself again.

Thud thud.

After creating some space, I shook off the frost-covered body.

“Spit…!”

Mang spat on the ground, his blood pooling heavily.

Afterward, he looked at me, utterly dumbfounded.

Then he said,

“Truly, you’re not sane. Can’t you recognize what body you’re in?”

“Do I look blind to you? I can see just fine.”

It was Woo Hyeok’s body. How could I not know that? I couldn’t ignore it.

Whether it had turned white or blue, there was no mistaking this was Woo Hyeok’s body.

‘It’s just that Mang has taken it over.’

As I replied calmly, Mang’s expression twisted further.

“Surely, you must have come here to save this body.”

“That’s right.”

Indeed, that was the case.

I had briefly forgotten.

“But to attack without hesitation upon seeing me, you don’t care what happens to this body?”

At that question, I tilted my head.

“What’s the problem with that?”

“What?”

I couldn’t understand.

It meant I was having difficulty grasping the intent behind his question.

“Why should I hesitate to hit?”

Since he was wearing Woo Hyeok’s mask.

What would be the reason for me to hesitate in hitting him?

“You’re going to fight me, right?”

“…”

I couldn’t deny it.

“Then what? Should I just stand still and take the hits? You’ve turned out to be a more selfish bastard than I thought?”

“No, that’s not….”

“Or were you expecting me to hesitate just because we’re friends? You think you’re my friend?”

“…Hah.”

“You’re not.”

I didn’t know about the body, but that guy wasn’t my friend.

Moreover.

“Honestly, I’ve been wanting to hit you. That bastard stuck a knife in my belly.”

Even if it wasn’t him. After Woo Hyeok reclaimed his body, I had planned to throw a punch.

It worked out nicely.

“This is a good chance for some venting too.”

After saying that, I picked up the speed towards him.

Boom—! The ground crumbled as I leaped forward.

Flame Burst.

With flames enveloping my entire body, I charged straight at him.

I kicked out.

Gu Yeomtaeyarang.

Flame Burst—!

Kwah-aaa–!!

The flames that erupted from my toes transformed and engulfed him.

It was originally a martial art intended for punches, but once you got used to it, how you used it didn’t matter.

Flame—!!!!

The rapidly erupting flames gradually took shape.

It looked a bit like a dragon.

Seeing this, Mang furrowed his brows and raised a hand.

Swoosh—!

Cold air exploded from his fingertips, forming a wall.

Kwah-! The flames were blocked by the barrier and scattered. In that instant, I had reached behind Mang.

The flames were merely a distraction.

As Mang began to raise his barrier, I slipped behind him.

And then.

‘Heart’s Authority.’

I extended my fist with the power of my heart.

Dududududuck—!! The formless energy surged and flipped the ground as it shot out.

If it had been Woo Hyeok’s body, he would have been crushed by the impact.

“…You’re so impatient.”

“…!”

Right after extending my Heart’s Authority, I instinctively took a step back.

At that moment.

Slash—!

Blood splattered.

My chest had been lightly grazed.

Seeing this, I thought to myself.

‘That was close.’

If I hadn’t stepped back, I would have been cut deeply.

I was injured, but it wasn’t a critical wound.

I subtly redirected my energy and watched Mang.

He had, by now, drawn a sword.

Seeing that was a bit surprising.

“That’s your power?”

A sharp sword made of ice.

He wasn’t wearing armor, but this was a martial art used by Yu Seon.

That was definitely.

‘I didn’t think it was a power?’

Why could he use it so nonchalantly?

Mang smiled faintly at my question.

“What’s so strange about it? After all, the powers used by the North Sea’s bloodline originate from me.”

“…Hmm?”

The ice technique from the North Sea originated from Mang? Recognition of that made me recall my previous doubts.

“Didn’t you wonder how that shabby Apostle was trying to wield a sword?”

A question that had arisen during my battle with Yu Seon. Clearly, he was a martial artist of the Martial Arts Category, yet he had insisted on fighting with a sword.

“It’s simple. The power was adapted to suit me.”

“…So, you wield the sword, and that’s just a sword’s appearance?”

“Ninth Son. You were originally a worthless creature. Have you ever stopped to think about it?”

“Hmm?”

Swoosh—!

Mang moved the sword a few times before continuing.

“To ignite flames. To pour out ice or create thunder. Do you really think a human can achieve those feats alone?”

“What?”

Confused by Mang’s words, my senses wavered momentarily.

At that moment.

Whoosh—!

“!”

I quickly bowed my head upon seeing Mang’s movement.

A sharp energy whistled just above my head.

Slash—!! A loud sound came from behind me.

It sounded like something was being cut.

I planted my foot down.

Flames enveloped my entire body as I charged towards him.

Gu Yeomtaeyarang.

Furrowing my brow, I moved my hands.

Flames rapidly congregated in my palm.

After creating Flame Jade, I tossed it at him with all my might.

Whoosh—! The Flame Jade shot toward him at an incredible speed.

Just before the Flame Jade reached him and exploded.

Slash—!

Mang swung his sword, cutting the Flame Jade in half.

The split Flame Jade sped toward the wall.

Kwah-aaa—!!

Upon hitting the wall, it detonated in an explosion.

Swoosh.

After executing his move, Mang waved his sword a few times before casually resting it on his shoulder.

His expression looked strangely filled with dissatisfaction.

“…Once again, it seems I was lacking in that moment. My body isn’t as agile as my mind wishes.”

He looked clearly uncomfortable. Seeing Mang like that made me ask,

“What was that you just said?”

“Hmm?”

“The part about what a human could do, it isn’t possible.”

At my question, Mang chuckled.

“That’s not really a surprising statement.”

“It’s an incredibly surprising statement!”

“Hmm, true enough. It could be a surprise for you. But—”

As he spoke, Mang aimed the sword he had rested on his shoulder at me.

“Why should I tell you that?”

“…Hahaha.”

With a sneer, I couldn’t help but admire him.

“You really know how to piss people off.”

“I’m feeling good since things are going my way.”

“Why would you bring a perfectly fine person just to do this? Did you get the homeowner’s permission?”

“Is this body? Well, it was a physique I found appealing. More than anything, I particularly liked that it’s a fragment of the Dragon Emperor.”

“…Fragment?”

I had heard that term before.

A fragment of the Dragon Emperor.

What could that possibly mean?

“Don’t worry. Once I find my original body, I intend to let it go.”

“It’s been hundreds of years. Where will you find your body?”

“Where would I not be able to find it?”

Thud thud. While speaking, Mang touched the debris that had fallen on the ground.

It was a fragment of the Ice Spirit.

“In here, I stored my energy.”

“…!”

“It took me quite a long time to replenish my energy after the battle with the Dragon Emperor.”

That meant all the vitality the North Sea’s bloodline had poured out to withstand the harsh cold had been absorbed into his energy.

‘Wait a minute. Does that mean…’

With that thought rising in my mind, I immediately spoke to him.

“…If the energy was here, that means the body is then…”

“Oh. You are quite perceptive.”

At my question, Mang reacted with a sense of pride.

“In other Ice Spirits, my body is contained.”

“But I didn’t see anything…?”

“The shape isn’t important. What matters is the fact that it exists there.”

Is what he’s saying true or false?

That question would not linger for long.

I already knew the answer myself.

‘Egg and Heart.’

I recalled that the Ice Spirit housed an overwhelming amount of energy.

Did that mean, indeed, his body was within?

“It’s also no surprise that I am dissatisfied. This doesn’t even come close to the energy I originally had. But it’s still fine.”

He looked at me and said.

“Once I regain my body, I can fully fill this void. Then—”

I could see killing intent emerging at the tip of his sword.

“I will surely devour the now slightly weakened Dragon Emperor.”

It seems the anger directed at the Dragon Emperor or Blood Demon was indeed genuine.

 

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