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There are few people around.

This was said about places where the human presence is significantly low or where hardly anyone passes through.

Due to certain reasons, people may refrain from coming and going.

Especially when it’s too dangerous to enter, such wording is used.

‘But this doesn’t feel like that?’

The place I just arrived at was filled with a sensation that the term “few people” couldn’t adequately capture.

‘It’s not just that there are few that’s missing…’

There’s just no presence at all.

Not only the presence of humans but the presence of any living beings. It simply didn’t exist.

‘What is going on?’

How can this be? A profound sense of alienation rises throughout my body.

It’s not just less presence; it’s—

‘It’s nonexistent.’

Absolutely absent.

The level of presence where not a single hint of life can be felt.

This should be impossible.

With my transcendence, the range of my Qi perception had greatly widened and deepened, and yet to feel nothing at all?

I frowned and scanned my surroundings.

From the moment I first saw it, the trees and grass were sparsely grown, and the remaining areas were made up entirely of rock.

Perhaps that’s why the vitality felt even less.

‘It shouldn’t be this absent.’

Feeling a strange premonition, I drew up my energy.

Whoosh-!

A ring formed behind me. I quickly spun it, pouring most of my energy into Qi perception. As a result, the area of my perception rapidly expanded, and an overwhelming amount of information flooded into me.

It was a dizzying amount of information, but still.

‘There’s no hint of living beings.’

Information about the region’s characteristics or appearances poured in, but there was still nothing about living beings.

As I tried to extend it further.

Tingle-!

“……!”

I immediately wiped out my energy at the sensation felt at the edge of my perception.

‘Oh no.’

That was a mistake.

‘I extended it too wide.’

Even though I came knowing what was at Spirit Mountain, I momentarily forgot.

‘I pulled back right away. Did it feel me?’

As I expanded and expanded my perception, I caught something. It was the hint of a living being. But.

‘……It’s too massive.’

What I felt was too coarse and large to be considered a living being. It was the same sensation I had when I encountered a Yusa.

That meant.

‘There’s only one creature that gives off such a presence.’

Knowing what is at Spirit Mountain, I could quickly guess its identity.

It must be that beast.

‘Was it called Duryeong?’

The master of the region known as Spirit Mountain, the guardian of the second Divine Tree I came to seek.

General Duryeong.

That was the presence of that monster.

Due to having expanded my perception so far, I was able to confirm where he was in Spirit Mountain. That wasn’t a bad find.

‘The problem is…’

Just as I noticed it, he could have noticed me too.

Just as I verified his presence with my perception.

He might have sensed the ripple from my Qi perception as well.

If that were the case.

‘He could potentially figure out my position—.’

Kururururu—!!!!

“Damn it.”

Thinking it was a mere thought, I felt a tremor. The entire mountain shook violently.

Even after reducing my perception, the presence exploded. I definitely knew it was far away, yet instinctively, Qi surged from all directions toward me.

‘He noticed me, didn’t he?’

The corners of my mouth rose. There was no doubt. He became aware of my presence.

‘Ah.’

What should I do?

There wasn’t much time to ponder. Even if he were distant, if he intended to come, it would be instantaneous.

I glanced sideways. The Heavenly Demon was staring intently in the direction where the presence was emanating, as if he had noticed it too.

‘Hmm.’

If I were to fight while using this guy, it wouldn’t be a major issue…

‘Will he listen to me?’

Whether the Heavenly Demon would act according to my intentions was uncertain.

‘…But I wouldn’t want to do that.’

I had no particular desire to fight alongside the Heavenly Demon.

Then what should I do?

‘This works out better.’

I lifted my head.

Yes, this is better.

‘After all, I needed to observe him anyway.’

If the monster comes, that would be sufficient. It’s preferable to this over searching for him.

With that thought, I immediately grabbed the Heavenly Demon’s arm.

“Hmm?”

“Come with me.”

I moved as if pulling him along.

*

Hooosh—!!!

The wind blew fiercely. Since the mountain was high, the wind had always been blowing, but this felt particularly strong compared to earlier.

Is it angry? No. If anything, it was more like the wind was scared.

The monster getting closer must have made even the wind tremble in fear.

I stared at the sky with a tense gaze.

At that moment.

I saw something catch in the rising night sky. It seemed like a dot.

As time passed, that dot gradually expanded, and before long, its shape became discernible.

A massive being with the head of an ox and the body of a human.

With a deadly gaze and flames surrounding him, he plummeted from the sky to the ground.

Kuaaaaaaaaa—-!!!!

The ground shattered, shaking violently.

Rock fragments flew in all directions, and the earth was deeply dented.

It resembled a meteor crashing down.

As dust soared into the sky, obscuring my vision, the moon rose, and my evolved eyes easily pierced through the chaos.

I can see it.

‘That’s the one.’

It was my first encounter in Mankye with the General.

Commonly known as Duryeong.

The one with black skin, an ox head, and a human body.

The massive creature, at least several times larger than an ordinary human, was lifting an axe, the size of his own body.

Ssss-.

‘Wow.’

A laugh escaped me involuntarily.

The massive body and the overwhelming presence he radiated sent tingles down my spine.

‘I met such a creature back then?’

What I couldn’t see then stood out perfectly clear now.

It was the same as when I encountered a Yusa upon reaching transcendence.

The issue was that this beast was even more dreadful.

‘It’s not just killing intent.’

It’s Qi. He exuded an overwhelming amount of Qi.

Or perhaps there was killing intent as well, but the Qi was so intense that it overshadowed that will.

‘What kind of monster is this?’

The way he looked almost desperate to fight seemed ridiculous.

I couldn’t help but feel amazed at the sheer Whup of Qi as I watched him.

Moreover.

‘If caught, there’s no way out.’

Seeing his condition, I decided it was best not to be seen.

Right now, I was hiding my body in the rock crevices, keeping my distance and closely observing him.

‘Hmm.’

I narrowed my eyes. Looking up at the moon, a small orb rose between the lunar gaps caught my attention.

Flame Wheel Sun.

I used the Flame Wheel Sun to conceal my presence.

To prevent him from noticing, I masked my body’s presence and further suppressed it with flames.

The Heavenly Demon was next to me too, but it appeared he had also significantly reduced his presence.

At this level, even the King of Demons wouldn’t detect us.

I utilized that to scrutinize his movements.

‘Hmmm…’

I frowned when I glanced at him.

‘It’s hard to see.’

Duryeong strangely couldn’t be seen well from the inside.

Could it be that he’s hiding his Qi?

‘That could be it.’

He must be aware that I’m here. He might not know it’s me exactly, but he knows that an outsider sent their Qi out toward him.

To prepare for any unexpected situation, he might be shrouding his energy.

Given the circumstances, I had to be careful while observing him.

He might catch on.

“Hmm…”

I exhaled quietly.

I circulated my energy within my body, accumulating heat.

‘Should I fight?’

I pondered.

What are my odds if I were to battle him now? Or would there be losses? What advantages could I gain?

I meticulously weighed those factors.

At the same time, I wore my mask and puffed up my body.

‘The situation is good.’

The situation itself was favorable. With no living beings present, it meant there were no allies to aid him.

‘His powers won’t work against me either.’

Even possessing the ability of immortality, my own power can nullify that.

That’s a significant advantage. Beyond the fact that his powers wouldn’t work.

‘As long as he doesn’t know this, when we face each other, his combat style will likely change.’

If he fights believing in immortality, his fighting style would be predictable.

‘He’ll charge in, trusting that he won’t die.’

Monsters like him, with high regeneration ability and solid physique, always operated that way.

As an example.

‘… I was just like that.’

That’s how I used to be.

I was like that before, but as I became a dragon, my regeneration abilities increased, and I became even more reckless.

I believed Duryeong would be no different.

Therefore.

‘I’ll capitalize on that.’

If he charges in, believing in his immortality, I’ll seize that opportunity to exploit his weakness.

If I wanted that moment of panic, the fight shouldn’t be that difficult…

‘But not yet.’

I took a step back and decided to observe the situation further.

There’s a high risk in engaging immediately upon arrival.

Getting more information and approaching slowly would be wiser. Judging accordingly.

I stepped forward alongside the Heavenly Demon.

Just as I was about to grab my mask and remove it.

“How unfortunate.”

Hwhoosh.

Duryeong exhaled through his nose, “You’ve stepped onto my land without fear, so I thought you’d be a brave one.”

“……!”

“But it appears not.”

At those words, I turned my head to look at him.

In that moment.

“……Hah.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Standing alone on the stone floor, scanning the surroundings, he surprisingly gazed in our direction.

That means.

‘……He’s known.’

It meant he was aware of our presence all along.

 

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