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Chapter 7: The Fractured Encounter

“Noya…?”

Noya, with his upper body pierced. I asked weakly, rushing towards him, but my vision swayed uncontrollably.

My legs seemed to give way, and I kept stumbling. With all my might, I focused on my knees to approach him.

“Noya…? Noya.”

As I got closer, he looked at me and smiled, showing his pearly white teeth.

“Ah, what a pity. My body isn’t in perfect condition. If only I had a little more time…”

“Right… is that really the issue? Noya’s body…”

“Yangcheon.”

Noya’s hand found its way to my head, slowly petting me.

“Even if the setting sun seeks to hold on, it cannot prevent the night from coming. You already knew that, didn’t you?”

It was fate that he ended up like this. I couldn’t accept that Noya would say such things.

“No… I could have done something! I searched for the Divine Tree, even risking my life for it! Who’s fault is it that I…!”

“Whose fault is it?”

“…Huh?”

“Is it really my fault? Or was it for your own sake?”

“…!”

His firm words stripped me of my voice for a moment.

“I know you feel lonely, but being too obsessed only turns your charm into something grotesque. Tsk tsk…”

“Is this really the time for jokes…?!”

Crack.

Fragments fell from Noya’s body. My trembling hands tried to catch them.

“Enough of this.”

Noya shook his head, stopping me again.

“Did you see what I was trying to show you at the end?”

“…I don’t know. I didn’t see it.”

I spat those words out with trembling eyes. But, inside my head, another thought emerged.

‘Ignite something.’

Just as he had created a tree, I was told to ignite something myself.

Even though I understood, I pretended not to. I didn’t want to admit it. If I admitted it, it felt like it would be the end.

“Don’t act like you don’t know.”

Noya smiled dryly, as if he understood my feelings.

“Even though I always called you foolish, I know you’re clever. You’re just pretending to be clueless.”

“Don’t give me compliments. Just insult me like usual.”

Why was he acting like this and confusing me with compliments?

“I can’t ignite for you. My tree can no longer grow here.”

“…What do you keep saying about igniting? I don’t know how to do that. I still don’t get it.”

There was so much I needed to learn.

“Please.”

So please don’t go.

Please don’t leave.

I grabbed Noya’s sleeve, but it crumbled into dust.

“You understand why I told you not to come, right?”

“I said I don’t know! I’m too foolish for those things!”

“Have you seen enough? I’m not good at teaching, so this was the best I could do.”

“…Please just listen to what I say.”

What should I do? What can I do?

How can I resolve this? My mind felt frozen.

Creak.

Drip.

As I bit down hard, blood flowed from my lips.

‘Damn it.’

What’s the point of regressing?

If I had one more chance, what would I do? What could be done if things weren’t ordinary?

‘Damn it.’

Seeing Noya’s collapsing body, I felt utterly powerless.

“Huh? What’s this? Are you crying?”

“I’m… not crying.”

I had nothing but the urge to blubber. My vision was fading as my hands trembled.

At that moment, Noya’s body was crumbling away.

“Ah, what the hell…? What should I….”

“What do you mean, what should you do, you fool.”

While I was flailing around, Noya hit my head playfully.

“Just accept it. How much affection do you think you’ve built up?”

“Ha… is that really the time for this…?”

Are you really saying this to me?

Just as I was about to retort…

“Go ahead first.”

Noya laughed as he spoke.

Crumble.

He shattered into dust.

“Uh… ah…”

I stopped, looking at the fragments in my hand.

They were merely dust. The remnants of a body that once was. Or perhaps a facade of a body.

I stood quietly, gazing at these fragments.

It felt as if my own body was malfunctioning.

While I blankly stared at the mess…

Crumble.

I heard the sound of something shattering again.

Even though Noya’s body had collapsed, what else was breaking?

Within my fading vision, it soon became clear.

That sound was coming from my own body.

‘Ah.’

The vessel.

The vessel that was created while becoming a dragon.

The vessel, which had been unstable for a while, cracked and shattered.

And it collapsed from within.

Realizing this…

Sssss…

The energy contained in the vessel overflowed, invading my mind.

*

“Mm.”

Taechon, watching me stand there dazed, said quietly.

“What a pity.”

It was indeed a pity. It had been a long time since I had a chance like this; no, it wasn’t just a long time.

“It was a rare genius I had never seen before. How incredibly unfortunate.”

Born insignificant in the beginning and breaking through the ranks by one’s own strength.

I had never seen such a being before. How could something like that even exist?

In addition to possessing a soul of such value, it needed to be steeped in an overwhelming belief and enlightenment.

An ordinary soul would have already shattered under such pressure.

“The broken one isn’t the soul, but the body.”

The soul seemed ready to endure anything, but the body could not contain it. The falsehood was likely the issue.

“Truly unfortunate.”

Leaving aside any objectives, such a being should have been observed. It was a rare occasion to witness this life, transcending time.

“Compared to that…”

Taechon turned to look at the material that Shin Cheol had left behind.

It was the reason why Gu Tae had driven his sword into me, charging recklessly until the end.

“Just for that?”

A body containing a dragon.

Or, a body that held a dragon.

Was it for the purpose of the Dragon Emperor? Or simply a crack?

Taechon found himself lost in thought as he looked at Gu Yangcheong.

“What is it for?”

I could tell that this was an unforeseen crack in the world. Whether the Dragon Emperor intended this or if it was the will of another being, I couldn’t say, but it certainly wasn’t what the world desired.

However…

“Still,”

In comparison, Shin Cheol was far more noble.

A being who lived solely for their tier is more valuable than one steeped in the will of others.

How could anyone sacrifice themselves for something like this?

Furthermore…

“What was it you were trying to show?”

What did Shin Cheol, who was seeking to enlighten himself, wish to show that thing?

Whatever it was, it felt like a meaningless sacrifice, a thought that wouldn’t leave.

As if dismissing any further sentiments, Taechon spoke, averting his gaze.

As he exhaled, his eyes slackened, then he examined his surroundings.

“I suppose, now.”

The intriguing part had come to an end.

Time was running short.

Recalling this, Taechon said.

“I need to move quickly.”

Clearing the area and achieving his objective. If he continued to maintain this descent, Mankye would notice.

Or rather, they might have already suspected it.

If they had noticed, then that would actually be good.

It meant they couldn’t act, even if they were aware.

“It seems like something’s going on.”

That reckless one hadn’t revealed their presence until now.

It felt as if they had truly become invisible to the world.

“Good.”

This was a good opportunity. With this, he could even take Mankye into his hands. If that were to happen…

“The entire world itself shall be mine.”

A stepping stone to reach even greater heights. Taechon moved forward with grand ambitions.

It was towards Gu Yangcheong. First, he needed to clear away that ominous thing.

If it couldn’t be cleared away, he would swallow it whole. With that thought, he approached, only to be confronted by…

A figure appeared before Gu Yangcheong.

Something with black hair. It was also a dragon. Taechon recognized this. He could also sense the depth hidden within it.

“The remnants of the Dragon Emperor.”

“….”

A sneer was evident in his voice.

“The pitiful thing has left its trace of desperation. Quite a sight.”

“Mm…”

At those words, a woman—the Heavenly Demon—scratched her cheek. Her usual dazed expression seemed infused with some newfound intensity.

“That’s disgusting. Remnants.”

“Mm?”

Hearing the Heavenly Demon’s words, Taechon scowled.

Something felt off.

“You. What are you?”

As I watched, something felt peculiar.

It was alien. What should have merely been a mass of energy was muddied with something else.

Even with their rank, I couldn’t fully discern it. That was impossible.

Even if they weren’t descending in their true form, could they really not recognize such a mortal being?

“What the hell.”

“You don’t need to know. And I have no intention of fighting you. You, I don’t like very much.”

With an enchanting smile, Taechon squinted his eyes, simultaneously preparing to act.

“Ah, so you know me.”

“I know you well. Thanks to you, I’ve managed to gain a few things…”

The Heavenly Demon raised her hand, her purple eyes sparkling against her pale skin.

“Aside from that, our dear one shouldn’t get involved with you.”

“What are you saying?”

“That’s enough. I’ve taken enough time.”

“Mm?”

Just as Taechon reacted with confusion to the woman’s words…

Thud.

Gu Yangcheong’s body began to change.

His muscles expanded, and his very form started to mutate. White fur sprouted abundantly, and a tail emerged.

He had transformed into a behemoth. His original essence had completely vanished.

“Grrrrrrr.”

The monster’s form.

“Huh?”

Looking at that, Taechon let out a laugh. He was not surprised by the transformation.

That was…

“…Divine Status?”

The appearance of breaking through to the Divine Rank.

Such a presence it was.

“Ha. This is interesting.”

I realized something then.

“What has Mankye been up to? Looks like they’ve been engaged in such activities.”

Taechon recognized the intentions of the Master of Mankye.

While confirming that, he was about to feel furious when…

“Kyahhhhh–!!!”

The monster lunged at Taechon.

 

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