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Chapter 7: Chaotic Flames

“Karurrruk–!!”

The black flames erupted across the field like wild beasts. A heavy noise echoed, one after another.

“Bang-! Kwooong–!!!”

The air pressure caused sparks to explode, and in the midst of it all, the Duryeong swung his axe repeatedly.

Flames wrapped around the blade, creating a fierce form. The flames, intensified by ignition, expanded in size.

The Duryeong kept using his strength as if he would break everything before him.

But the man in front of him casually deflected the Duryeong’s attacks.

As he elegantly dodged the axe, he spoke.

“Duryeong.”

He called out the name of the Duryeong, but the Duryeong was too busy moving his body.

“Answer me, Duryeong.”

“Shut up-!”

“…….”

Ignoring the words, the Duryeong stomped the ground hard with his foot.

Kuuung-!!

The ground where he stomped caved in.

It was proof that immense pressure had been applied. Using that force, the Duryeong swung his axe once more.

“Kwaaaah—!!!!”

“Hmph.”

The black flames morphed into the face of a wild bull and charged at the man.

Seeing that, the man sighed and spread his wings. Feathers fell from his open wings.

Swoop.

He grasped a white feather and transformed it into a spear.

“Foolish actions.”

He swung the trident with all his might. A white flash cut through the air, colliding with the black flames.

What seemed like a clash was overwhelmingly one-sided.

“Kwagak-!!”

The white Qi cleaved through the black flames.

“……!”

The Duryeong’s eyes widened as the black flames vanished as if they had never existed. In that moment, the man charged toward the Duryeong.

The man’s slender fingers invaded the Duryeong’s thick neck.

With a firm grip, he pressed the Duryeong down to the ground.

Kwooong—!!!!

With the impact, the Duryeong’s body was pinned flat against the ground.

“Grrk!!”

“Duryeong. What sort of state is this?”

With the Duryeong immobilized, the man inquired.

“What is this pitiful state?”

The man asked incredulously, but the Duryeong only let out a grunt in response.

“Grrr…”

Does he not wish to answer? The man tilted his head slightly as he posed the question again.

“Answer me.”

Wuuung-!!

A tremor spread through the air.

The command manifested from the man’s words, wrapping around the Duryeong’s body.

If he wouldn’t speak, he’d be made to do so, or so the man thought.

“Grraaah…….”

“Huh?”

The Duryeong, struck by the command, endured it. Absurd.

His vessel had risen to the master’s level; surely the command should reach even the Duryeong.

“Enduring?”

Can he truly withstand this?

It’s unbelievable that he’s enduring the command. This was not something one could simply withstand.

“Is this punk……?”

How on earth is the Duryeong managing to hold on?

With narrowed eyes, the man examined the Duryeong’s body.

“Huh?”

It didn’t take long for him to realize. The energy stemming from the command didn’t properly penetrate the Duryeong.

“What kind of…”

The energy emanating from him was obstructing it.

What is that black Qi? It radiated a discomforting aura just by being seen.

The flowing energy blocked the command. This could mean only one thing.

That energy contained a level of power capable of nullifying a command.

It didn’t seem to originate from the Duryeong himself.

That energy was…….

“Ah, I see.”

The man realized where he had seen it before.

“It’s from that beast.”

The one who had fought within his space.

The energy harbored by the young dragon resembled precisely that.

The fact that the Duryeong possessed that energy meant.

“You fool. Did you betray me?”

It implied the Duryeong had allied with that dragon.

“Grrk…!”

The Duryeong reacted to that statement but didn’t spit out any words.

“You have nowhere else to cling to, yet you attach yourself to someone like him. Are your eyes so blind?”

The man had no intention of listening to the Duryeong’s response.

He had wondered why he was here.

“It seems you received orders from that dragon. Am I right?”

He knew that dragon was connected to the Hwasan Sect. That must have been why the Duryeong was guarding this place.

“You stupid fool.”

You pledged loyalty to the Master of Mankye yet fell for a dragon—doing such disgraceful things? And becoming such a pitiful sight to behold?

“How disappointing.”

The man grimaced as he looked at the Duryeong. He had thought of him as a man of some dignity, occasionally offering aid.

He never expected this from him.

He lifted the trident.

“There’s no need to see this any longer.”

Energy seeped into the white spearhead. He then aimed it straight at the Duryeong’s head.

Swoosh–!!

Right as the spear tip aimed to pierce the Duryeong’s head.

Bang-!

“Hmm?”

The spear tip failed to reach its target, completely blocked.

It felt as if something solid had obstructed it. There was a sensation of a line thrusting out and binding the spear.

It was hard to describe exactly what that feeling was.

“Who is it?”

Sensing it, the man looked up into the void.

As his blue eyes gazed at the sky, a figure floated above, looking down at him.

“I came out because it was so noisy. And what a ridiculous scene is unfolding here.”

The face and shell of a turtle. A heavy staff and an out-of-place beard.

And a being clad in white silk with scarlet embroidery.

“Oh my.”

Seeing him, the man pursed his lips.

“I never expected to find a noble here!”

He smiled, as if recognizing someone.

“So that’s why. No wonder I wondered who crafted this remarkable barrier; it was you.”

“While I appreciate the compliment, it’s not something I wish to hear.”

The turtle.

The Elder of Hwasan descended slowly from the air to confront the man.

“……Hmm.”

The Elder let out a soft sigh upon confirming the man’s appearance.

“What a grotesque sight… It seems you crossed the line, am I right?”

“Grotesque? That’s not quite right.”

The man chuckled.

“This is a sight more noble and great than anyone else’s. Moreover, you used to harbor it yourself, didn’t you?”

Sure, that other people might not know, but that being could not outwardly deny what he had become.

“Foolish talk.”

The Elder shook his head as if disinterested.

“If you rose by your own merit or were chosen, it might be a different story. But how can you claim splendor when you were inherited like a puppet? You know that well, don’t you?”

Swoosh.

The staff pointed towards the man, its end flickering as changes coursed through the surroundings.

“That is fake. Don’t comfort yourself with false prestige.”

“……”

At the Elder’s resolute words, the man briefly fell silent.

But not long after.

Chomp.

With a strong grinding sound, three pairs of wings spread wide open.

Swoosh–!!!

“Foolish words.”

As the massive wings unfurled, a whirlwind surged through the formerly disturbed space.

“False prestige? Why does it fall to you to decide that?”

The man’s face contorted in frustration.

“This is an opportunity granted to me by the heavens. A stepping stone I earned for myself!”

Crack.

Gripping the trident that had suddenly appeared, the man shouted at the Elder.

“It seems you wish to compare me to what you lost. Don’t mistake me for a fool.”

“……”

“I am different from you, Duryeong, the master of a lost world.”

The Elder narrowed his eyes.

“An illusion should fade back into the abyss like a mere specter.”

At those words, simultaneously.

Wuuuuuuung–!!!

The Elder’s staff began to vibrate softly.

*

Swooosh-!!!

He darted madly through the golden space.

How long had it been since he entered this demonic gate?

It felt like two hours had passed, yet he was still flying through the same place.

While soaring for a time, he turned back and asked.

“How much longer do we need to go?”

In an urgent tone, he questioned, and Yarang held up two fingers to show him.

He had no idea what that meant, but surely it meant there wasn’t much longer left? No, it had to mean that.

Breathing heavily, he increased his speed.

‘Was it a mistake to rely only on words?’

Without certainty, he threw himself into the demonic realm. No matter how urgent the situation was, it was undeniably a reckless gamble.

Who knows how long this would take—had he done the right thing?

He questioned himself continuously, but it was already too late.

‘There’s no turning back now.’

He had already crossed ahead in time. Now turning back was no longer an option.

‘Or not? Should I just demand immediate exit and run away?’

Logically, that seemed to be the right approach, but hesitation clouded his thoughts.

There was no solid reason to trust Yarang.

That one thought was the only thing he held onto as he flew like a madman.

‘Heavenly Demon.’

She followed me with a blank expression. In this space, perhaps her speed had decreased? Or maybe Yarang and the Heavenly Demon were simply stronger than he expected, keeping pace easily.

It was a situation too urgent to ponder such thoughts.

‘What is going on?’

What on earth was happening at Hwasan?

What event occurred that made the Elder speak those words?

‘Please.’

I hope it’s nothing significant. Even if something happens, may I find a way to stop it.

As he hoped and flew for a while.

Zzzzziiing-!!

Light appeared ahead.

That was.

‘An exit?’

It seemed to signal an approaching end. Drawing every last ounce of his strength, he headed towards the light.

Thunk-!

He felt the same sensation he had when he dove into the demonic gate.

As the scenery changed, the world came into view.

“Here is…….”

He widened his eyes at the transformed sight.

He recognized the place.

‘Hwasan Sect.’

The entrance to the Hwasan Sect. It was the same spot he used to traverse when moving from Yawol.

“What in the world……!”

He lost words while processing the sight.

It was far too different from what he had known.

 

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