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I squinted as I looked at Duryeong after hearing those words.

The Dragon Emperor, no, the Blood Demon was sealed by the Master of Mankye. That sound lingered in my ears.

What does that even mean?

‘Did that really happen?’

If that’s the case, when was it? If it was said to be sealed…

‘Was it before or after the Blood Demon came to the Central Plains?’

The timing was crucial. If the Blood Demon was sealed…

‘That would mean he invaded the Central Plains while being sealed.’

I didn’t know what kind of seal it was, but it was certain that it had negatively impacted the Blood Demon in some way.

If he really invaded the Central Plains in such a state…

‘…What kind of monster does that make him?’

It meant I wouldn’t even be able to grasp the original strength of the Blood Demon.

That was a bit troubling.

‘I’m not there yet.’

I had reached transcendence, far surpassing my previous life’s level. Yet, I still felt weak.

I had no sense that I could win against Shin Noya yet.

But how many individuals had come together to face the Blood Demon?

And it was said that they were all sealed as well?

“That’s just ridiculous.”

It truly was. I couldn’t help but vocalize that thought.

I glared at Duryeong and spoke, “Sealed? What do you mean? Explain in detail.”

I channeled my demon energy again. The energy tightened around Duryeong’s neck.

“Cough!”

Duryeong let out a choked sound.

“Ugh…”

I could see him straining to resist the demon energy. Seeing that, I put more strength into my heart.

<Whoosh...!!!>

Under my will, the strength of the demon energy intensified against Duryeong.

It was truly impressive he could endure this much. While I was focused on pouring in strength…

“…The Dragon Emperor broke the rules.”

Duryeong began to speak again.

“Rules?”

“You must not interfere in the mortal realm without the world’s permission. He violated that law… thus, the Master intervened.”

Interfering in the mortal realm without permission. I nodded at that.

But who grants this permission? Thoughts of it crossed my mind.

‘The world, huh?’

The world.

Or maybe the universe.

An unknown will that wants to inscribe its laws upon the world and move according to its whims.

That this fate of becoming a master was given to me through my mother.

That the Blood Demon’s invasion of the Central Plains was also due to that will.

But…

‘Doesn’t that mean such a being wouldn’t allow others to invade without their permission?’

Was my mother acting to stop that? Did the Dragon Emperor get defeated and sealed after a clash with her?

And so…

‘Is that why they spoke of the destruction of the Dragon Realm?’

The Dwarf Clan that had been under the Dragon’s rule was freed to come to Mankye. That the Dragon Emperor leading the Dragon Realm was gone, and that dragons were no more.

I sensed that many resented such dragons.

‘Because the Dragon Emperor invaded the mortal realm repeatedly.’

Was that why so many worlds were ruined?

If so, another question arose.

‘Then why send the Dragon Emperor to the Central Plains after violating such laws?’

I couldn’t understand.

Additionally…

“Then, is your hatred toward dragons due to something they did in your world?”

As I questioned Duryeong about his intense dislike for dragons, his body expanded in size.

<Crash!!!>

His combined hatred and killing intent solidified and burst forth.

“Ugh…”

“…”

It seemed my assumption was correct.

‘I see.’

He was not of the Moon Night Clan. His very existence in Mankye meant he was someone the mortal realm had chosen to come here, not originally from Mankye.

For Mankye to extend that courtesy…

‘The world must have faced destruction.’

A world faded away with the death of its master. Those who perished must have headed toward the Abyss.

Some of them would have reached the surface of Mankye. Duryeong must have been among them.

I had no interest in what he did in his own world, nor did I care what his world was like.

What mattered was…

‘His world was destroyed by dragons.’

That’s why he held such deep hatred toward them.

“…Dragons must disappear.”

<Crackle!!!>

“Grah! Dragons…!”

The demon energy pierced through him, pricking his skin and causing him pain.

Even so, he directed his hatred straight at me without delay.

“Hmm.”

I felt the restraints loosening more and more. He was clearly thinking of abandoning his body to resist.

<Creak!>

A sound came from his joints as his skin tore apart. Though he seemed weakened, he kept regenerating due to his immortality.

He barely managed to hold on.

‘The sun will soon rise.’

Once it did, he wouldn’t be able to use his powers anymore.

‘If I leave it as is…’

Duryeong wouldn’t stop. If I just let him be, who knows what he might do?

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue and clenched my hand tightly.

Then, I delivered a powerful strike to his jaw.

<Thud!!!>

With a shockwave, the rocky grounds trembled. It felt like normal strength wouldn’t inflict damage, so I delivered a somewhat stronger blow.

“Gah!”

He groaned, and that massive body fell to the ground.

Seems he lost consciousness. Watching that, I immediately placed my hand on his chest.

<Whoosh...!!!>

My energy surged into him, fully refined and filtered demon energy.

I aimed to locate the source of his power.

‘Not the Lower Dantian.’

He appeared to have become human, but that was merely on the surface. His energy center wasn’t the Lower Dantian, not as a human would have.

If that’s the case…

‘Is it the heart?’

I twisted the energy flow and directed it toward his heart.

‘Correct.’

His energy was tethered not to the Lower Dantian but to his heart. I injected the demon energy there.

As he possessed the power of immortality, it was clear he would regain consciousness soon.

Before that, I aimed to extend my time using the demon energy.

‘Using Tam as well might complicate things. For now, just the demon energy.’

I couldn’t predict what would happen if I completely shut down his powers. The effect would diminish the further I distanced myself.

Thus, I forcefully infused the demon energy, blocking him from awakening.

Additionally…

<Tsssss...>

I infused power into his heart, deploying threads of sorcery. I sprinkled them in layers around the area.

This was inspired by the sorcery spread in the Spirit’s Den.

Though it was uncertain if it would work since I was trying it for the first time…

‘I can do it.’

A sense of conviction surged within me. A certainty that I could achieve this.

Armed with that certainty, I initiated the sorcery.

<Crack!>

With the sound of something intertwining, the world shifted.

It looked like something was draped in a heavy stone blanket.

No one could see the inside from the outside.

‘It worked.’

I did it. The scope wasn’t exceptionally large. It barely covered Duryeong’s form, but it was satisfactory enough.

I stepped back from him and got to my feet.

<Tsssss.>

I emerged from the space that had been created.

The timing couldn’t be better. The sky was gradually brightening.

‘Hmm.’

Dependent on the amount of demon energy, I guessed maybe two time points. That was likely the length of time Duryeong would remain unconscious.

Incorporating the fact that immortality would also prevent him from recovering too quickly, it might be even longer, but I didn’t factor that in.

‘Two time points, huh?’

That’s not a bad time.

With that thought, I set off.

*

I returned to the Spirit’s Den. Unlike before, finding where the gems absorbed in my body had gone was now much easier.

Night had fully retreated, and day had arrived.

As I walked in, I noticed the inhabitants of the Spirit’s Den. Individuals who weren’t visible when I first arrived were now occasionally seen.

‘No, that’s not right. I’m only now sensing them.’

Unlike in the night, I had felt the presence in the Spirit’s Den during the day.

‘There were ones I couldn’t perceive.’

If they weren’t visible or hid within a building, I couldn’t detect them. But now, I sensed all whom were in the Spirit’s Den.

It seemed the sorcery enveloping the surroundings had disappeared completely.

Feeling that, I took a step forward as the scenery shifted, and I found myself right before the lake.

“Gah!?”

“Eek!”

Suddenly, the people around me gasped as they spotted my appearance. Ignoring them, I continued forward.

Before the Divine Tree by the lake.

Now stripped of its black shell, it had become just a tree, and below it sat a woman.

She was a spirit.

“Ah…”

She reacted as she saw me. Though she wore a veil, I sensed a lack of vitality in her eyes.

“Noble Person…”

“What a sight, huh?”

“…”

“Didn’t it turn out just as you desired, so why the long face?”

What she had longed for—escaping Duryeong and freeing all that were bound in the Spirit’s Den.

Now that it was resolved…

“Are you feeling that something’s off now that it’s all settled?”

“…”

The sorcery spread around faded away. The gems she held melded into my essence.

Though Duryeong wasn’t dead, it was unclear whether he could still act as a general.

In this case…

“Isn’t this freedom?”

Has freedom finally come to the Spirit’s Den? I suggested that idea, but…

“…”

The spirit remained silent.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had a feeling I understood why she felt that way.

“So you wanted to escape so badly, but now that you really are free, you have no idea what to do next?”

“…”

Perhaps the disconnection from the master was the issue.

I truly knew what that feeling was.

Though she had been freed from bondage and gained freedom…

It felt like she no longer knew what to do after spending her whole life tied down.

I had felt that way once.

Just as I was about to say something to her…

<Swishhhh--!!>

“Hmm?”

I heard a noise from beside me. What is that? Turning my head, I saw…

<Whooooooooosh-!>

“What’s happening…?”

The void was tearing apart.

A crack suddenly formed. What is this?

‘Demonic Gate…?’

Or perhaps a crack from which soldiers were sent to Duryeong?

Yet, something about it felt dangerous.

I decided to take precautionary measures when…

“Ah.”

“…Huh?”

The one coming through the crack was none other than the Heavenly Demon.

“You…”

“Hello.”

“Where did you come from…? What the hell? You…”

I spoke in a flustered tone.

“…Were you able to open a crack?”

“Hmm?”

In response, the Heavenly Demon tilted her head, then nodded after a moment.

“Yep.”

She said she could do that? I asked with trembling eyes.

“But why didn’t you say anything?”

At my words, she slightly furrowed her brows.

“You didn’t ask.”

Ah…

Upon hearing that, I ran my hand over my face.

It was annoying, but she was right.

 

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