지이이이이잉—!!!

Vibrations ripple from all around. Crystals rise from the ground. They’re the source of the vital energy emanating from this area, the culprits behind the strange presence I’m sensing.

These crystals are shaking like crazy.

It’s not just one; there are dozens all around me, and recalling the numbers from my Qi perception, there must be an absurdly large quantity.

I don’t know what those crystals signify, but one thing’s for sure—they’re so ominous!

With all that shaking going on…

‘What’s happening?’

I scowled, staring at the vibrating crystals.

The vibrations intensified. What once was a light tremor was now shaking the entire ground.

‘Tsk.’

There’s no time to assess the situation. If it’s come to this, there’s only one choice.

Flame Burst-!

I heated my body.

Immediately, I spun the ring, channeling the heat.

Kaboom-!!

I charged towards the creature. I didn’t know what it was planning, but…

‘For now, I’ll just kill it.’

I rushed in with that singular purpose in mind.

Thud-!

I twisted at the last moment, a fiery explosion gathering in my fist, my heart racing.

Extreme Gu Flame Mountain.

Flames burst forth from my fist, enhancing its form. I infused my intent into it and shot straight at the creature.

Crackle–!!!

A calamity of flames erupted, but—

Kwahh–!!

“……!”

The flames never reached it. The creature’s half-formed upper body sprouted wings that blocked my attack.

‘Huh.’

I exhaled in disbelief. My eyes widened. While its wings held off my flames, its body rapidly regenerated.

The speed was comparable to the Duryeong ascending to immortality using powers.

Could this be power, then?

I activated Tam, squinting as I sought clarity.

‘No.’

Tam did not react. That meant this wasn’t power.

So, could it simply be a matter of regeneration? How could it be that fast?

‘Oh, this isn’t good.’

My instincts screamed at me.

Kwahh–!!!

I tried to up my fire power, but it was still blocked. It was no joke. What the heck was this?

‘Sigh.’

I exhaled softly, releasing my Qi. If the flames wouldn’t work…

Kiiing–!!!

I kept pouring flames from one hand while collapsing Qi in the other.

Friction ignited. I conjured Chaos Jade and launched it.

Kwahhh—!!!

The explosion roared. I felt three-fifths of my energy escape in an instant. The cost-effectiveness plummeted, but there was no other choice.

I aimed to destroy that thing. With that intent, I launched my assault, but—

BANG!

It didn’t break through.

‘What the hell.’

Why is it so solid? This is absurd. My energy keeps draining, yet it doesn’t even scratch the surface.

‘What kind of wings are as hard as steel?’

No, it wouldn’t have mattered if it was steel. If that were the case, I could’ve just melted it away.

‘What the heck.’

It wasn’t steel but was unreasonably durable, almost as if engulfed by some unknown strong energy, rendering my attacks ineffective.

I pushed against it desperately, but time was slipping away.

Eventually, its body was completely restored.

At that moment.

Crack-!

“Tsk!”

The creature’s wings fluttered as it lunged at me. I hurriedly moved back to create distance.

A whirlwind surged.

Whoosh–!!!

Dry earth lifted, morphing into a gigantic vortex.

Once the gust disappeared, and its form was shrouded in the sky—

“Cough, cough, cough.”

A soft chuckle echoed as the creature reappeared, having fully regenerated, back with a new look, but…

‘……What the heck is that.’

There were many differences suggesting it hadn’t simply returned as before.

First, I noticed the change in its wings.

Previously a single pair, now it boasted two pairs of black wings.

And—

‘The energy…’

I sensed no energy from it. What is this? What just happened?

As I cautiously eyed it—

“How unfortunate.”

It spoke, gazing at me.

“It could have been perfected in ten years. No, even five more years would have sufficed. I never expected an interrupter to appear.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Master said.”

Swish.

It pulled out the trident once more.

“Even if an anomaly occurs, those who stand in the way must be trampled.”

Vrrrrrrrrr—!!!

The ground shook violently. I half-wondered if it was going to collapse.

But the real problem was…

‘It’s not the vibrations that matter.’

I needed to focus on why this vibration was spreading.

The moment that thought crossed my mind…

Kwahhh—!!!!

The vibrations intensified, and at long last, energy burst forth from the crystals.

Energy, radiating a brilliant blue light, poured forth, soon threatening to block out the sky.

‘It’s more than meets the eye.’

I suspected this, but it looked like something was hidden within those crystals.

Thud-!

I braced my feet. Whatever was happening, I couldn’t just let it unfold.

To stop the situation, I leapt into the air.

Gaining speed while channeling energy to execute my martial art.

Azure Sky (靑天).

I activated my domain. Using Blue Flame, I completed the azure sky above.

And then—

Flame Wheel Sun (火輪星).

I unleashed another technique. The moment the Flame Wheel formed in the void, my senses heightened.

Even though it was still daytime, my body transformed, taking on the characteristics of Moonlit Night.

It strengthened sixfold.

Simultaneously…

‘Breaking Heaven.’

Whoosh-!!!

I invoked the Tua Pacheon technique once more, overloading my body again.

The physique that had been strengthened was reborn.

This was the culmination of all the physical enhancements I had mastered.

While the rigorousness of my Moonlit Night physique bore the burden, I could maintain it for roughly half a moment.

With this, I was set.

Flame Burst—!!!

I revved my fire power and charged straight at the creature. The heat of the flames added speed to my momentum.

Like a meteor crashing down, I launched myself right into it.

Kwahhhh—!!!

The impact was tremendous.

Even I deemed that I had unleashed sufficient strength, but—

‘What?’

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the sight unfolding before me.

Flame Burst–!!

I slammed every bit of my energy into the attack, yet remarkably, it simply absorbed my attack effortlessly.

Energy clashed against energy.

The barrier formed by its energy pushed my energy away.

Sizzle–!!!

Friction crackled, and the ground shook like waves. The overwhelming force of energy colliding distorted the air.

I was stunned even by my own power, but for it to block this?

‘Unbelievable.’

My face twisted in disbelief.

I immediately pulled back the flames from my body.

Then—

‘Breaking Heaven.’

I recalled the flames I’d been channeling, switching them for the energy of Tua Pacheon.

I infused the coiled ash-gray energy back into it, but—

Swish-!

It unfurled its wings.

BANGBANGBANG—!!!

“……!”

Countless feathers rained down on me.

Seeing this, I quickly avoided the Tua Pacheon, opting to detonate it instead.

Kwahhhh—!!

An explosion roared, engulfing the feathers.

While deflecting the attack, I hurled my body into the explosion. I couldn’t let this chance slip away. I thought, forcing through the heat and reaching out.

I aimed to grab its neck but—

“Fascinating.”

I heard its voice, laced with amusement.

“Stop.”

“……!!”

A powerful voice rang!

Upon hearing that sound, my body stiffened, solid as if turned to stone.

Not my body, but—

‘My soul has frozen.’

My soul, hidden somewhere in my body, felt an abrupt halt.

The discomfort was unfamiliar, yet deep down, I knew what it was.

‘Command.’

This is command.

The established rules rooted within Mankye.

A soul command usable solely by those of the General rank or higher.

It forced submission to anyone whose soul rank was lower.

That power was now drenched over me.

If that’s the case…

‘This creature…’

Could it really be of a higher rank than me?

How?

As I pondered in utter confusion, a colossal presence surged from the crystals overhead.

The Azure Sky waned, and the Ashen Sky filled the area, where piled energy began to whirl around.

A tremendous whirlpool engulfed the sky.

It felt ominous.

That energy, filled with vitality, was dripping with foreboding.

While I grappled with how to deal with this unexpected situation…

“In this moment, you pay no attention to the right place.”

Fwoosh-!!

“–!!”

Blood burst from my body. The creature sliced me with its trident.

Drip, drip.

Crimson spilled, soaking the ground.

“Cough….”

I grasped my upper body, struggling to breathe.

“Ha.”

It let out a derisive laugh upon witnessing my state.

“Releasing command in that condition? Impressive, indeed.”

Had I stayed still, I’d be dead. Straining, I enforced counter-pressure, distancing myself.

Hissss.

Steam escaped from my body. Fortunately, the recovery capabilities of my Moonlit Night physique kicked in immediately.

“This is…”

It sighed, glancing at me with disappointment.

“Perhaps you’re still unfamiliar with the vessel you bear…”

Vwooom.

At its words, the energy surging from the sky began to shift.

“One, I cannot waste the generosity bestowed by my Master.”

In a heartbeat, the distance that had once felt vast closed dramatically, and the creature was before me.

‘Mad.’

I clenched my teeth. My recovery still hadn’t completed.

I needed to evade, yet my movements were sluggish.

Just as the tip of the trident descended upon me…

Kiiing–!!!

Something tore through space, flying toward me from behind.

Wahhh–!!!

A white energy assaulted the creature.

“Cough…?”

Startled by the sudden attack, it stumbled back, its assault interrupted.

Thud.

The trident it wielded was instantly turned to dust.

The creature’s expression twisted, turning monstrous as it looked towards my rear.

“Where did you come from…?”

I turned to see—

“……You?”

A woman appeared behind me, wielding a sword.

From the sword’s tip wafted a soft white energy, and she wore a black mask.

Within it glimmered golden eyes.

As I trembled at the sight of her, she softly said—

“……Yarang.”

The creature whispered the name of a woman different from what I was thinking.