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Chapter 630: Nine and Three

With an explosion, smoke began to rise.

Thick, burnt odors brushed against my nose.

Heavy smoke obscured my vision.

Woosh-!

I directed my energy to regain sight.

The ground was visible before me.

Whoosh-!

I quickly gathered flames to create a Flame Jade.

Then, I hurled the Flame Jade back at the ground.

Boom—!!

Once again, a loud explosion echoed, and fragments swirled around.

I continued this process repeatedly.

I could feel my energy being drained. The Flame Jade itself consumed quite a bit of energy.

It was particularly draining today.

Still.

I wouldn’t stop.

Bang-! Boom-! Bang-!

The ground shattered beneath me, and I used Flame Jade without worrying about the energy I was wasting.

As I watched the fragments burst, I reflected.

‘In the past, even using it once was tough.’

There was a time when using it just once would leave me half-destroyed for days.

I think it was around the time I entered Shinryong Temple.

Back then, I could only use it with great effort after reaching the Transformation Realm.

It’s still the same now when using techniques that are beyond my realm.

‘But I’ve improved.’

At least the days of becoming half-crippled after a single use are over.

Of course.

‘That doesn’t mean I can use it recklessly like this.’

Objectively speaking.

I could manage about ten uses, give or take a little, depending on my efficiency with compression and rotation, and my energy use.

If I keep throwing them out like I’m doing now, the number would definitely decrease.

I had no time to find a proper path.

This was not the time to conserve energy.

Boom—!!

As I wrapped the heat around me and used Flame Jade several more times, counting them, it must have been around the fifth use.

Thud-!

Suddenly feeling an odd sensation, I halted the energy I was channeling.

The chaotic terrain I had seen until now was gone.

I could see a properly constructed underground area.

It looked as if someone had artificially built it.

Thud.

Landing lightly, I sensed the surrounding energy.

‘This is it.’

I could tell immediately.

This was the place I had been searching for.

A chill passed through my body, accompanied by an unsettling silence.

I waved my fingers randomly.

Flick-!

Suddenly, a light turned on behind me, illuminating the area a bit more.

It was still just an ordinary corridor, though.

With the light shining on my back, I walked along the corridor.

I expanded my Qi perception, but strangely, no presence was following me.

I had expected some shadow lurking behind, but to my surprise, there was none.

As I walked a little further down the corridor, I discovered a massive door ahead.

I frowned at the sight of it.

‘This…’

It was a door I had seen somewhere before.

It was the same size and shape as the one in the Demon Lord’s hideout.

Recognizing it, I immediately grabbed the doorknob.

I thought it would open easily like last time.

Creak—!!!

“…!”

To my surprise, I felt resistance.

With pain came an unknown force pushing me back.

It felt as if it was trying to keep me from opening the door.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at it.

“Are you kidding me?”

It was hilarious. I was just trying to open a door, and now I’m being blocked like this.

A sudden sense of irritation shot through me as I gripped the doorknob again.

Then.

Creeeak—!!!

Once again, that force pushed against me.

It was immense pain, but.

‘That’s something I’m used to.’

Being injured and in pain was so familiar it was almost boring.

I could ignore it and muster my strength.

Creeeak.

As I endured the pressure, my skin began to rip.

Even with a thin layer of energy covering me, it was surprising.

Of course, I wouldn’t let go.

Grrr—!

I pulled the door towards me, feeling the overwhelming resistance.

But I focused my energy and fought back.

What a stupid method.

If there were some formation or something, the smart move would be to disable that first.

But I didn’t care; I just went straight for the door.

I couldn’t believe how foolish that was.

Yet.

‘When did I start thinking things through?’

In the end, I believed this was the most fitting method for me.

Though my skin tore and pain coursed through me.

I ignored it and pressed my strength.

Grreeek.

As time passed, the door finally began to open.

Well, more accurately.

‘It was more like I was yanking it off.’

What difference did that make?

I pressed my strength down hard.

Snap-! Bang-!

Finally, the iron door was torn apart.

The iron door that had guarded the Ice Palace for hundreds of years was ripped apart.

Holding the door in my hand, I said.

“See, it should’ve just opened peacefully. Why did you put up a fight?”

Whoosh.

Bang-!

I casually tossed the iron door aside down the corridor and immediately made my way to the entrance.

Fortunately, there was no recoil as I entered, unlike when I tried to open the door.

Instead, the chill I felt grew much stronger.

Moreover, I turned my gaze and inspected my forearm.

‘Hmm.’

There were goosebumps appearing between the scales that had slightly protruded.

‘What’s this now?’

The moment I entered the space, chills ran down my entire body.

It was an uncomfortable, nauseating sensation.

Seeing the traces of a half-dragon always made me feel this way, but this time, it was particularly intense.

As if.

‘Like when I met the Blood Demon.’

The one hiding in the form of Jang Seonyeon.

The same overwhelming animosity was bubbling up again.

Suppressing my emotions, I surveyed my surroundings.

‘It looks similar.’

The space where I saw the Ice Spirit in the hideout.

This area looked remarkably similar.

‘In that case…’

I turned my head towards the place where the energy felt especially strong.

Sure enough, there it was—the Ice Spirit.

‘Got it right.’

The Demon Lord had said.

There were Ice Spirits underground that could block the cold.

It seemed that this was the place.

Just like the space, the shape of the Ice Spirit was no different.

It only left me with questions.

‘Block the cold, huh?’

The surrounding chill remained unchanged, looking no different at all.

This guy said it consumed the cold and spread it, but I couldn’t feel any difference.

So, I had no idea how that worked.

‘Not that it really matters.’

How it was possible was no longer my concern.

What mattered was understanding why it was doing that.

As I approached the Ice Spirit, I gathered my energy.

Whoosh.

There were no grand thoughts or detailed plans.

It just seemed wrong, so I’d break it.

With that singular thought, I moved towards the Ice Spirit, preparing to unleash my fist upon it.

“…?”

At that moment, as I closely inspected the Ice Spirit, my action froze, and the energy dissipated from my hand.

“Shit.”

An expletive slipped from my lips without thinking. It couldn’t be helped.

There was something inside the Ice Spirit.

It revealed what I couldn’t see behind the cold.

Inside was—

“What the hell is this guy doing here?”

Woo Hyeok was inside.

“Huh?”

My eyes widened as soon as I saw him.

I recalled my original purpose for searching the Ice Palace.

I had come to find and rescue Woo Hyeok.

What the hell? Why is he stuck inside this Ice Spirit?

I was bewildered.

This was the most shocking situation I had encountered lately.

Why on earth was Woo Hyeok inside the Ice Spirit out of the blue?

Frowning in confusion, I glared at the Ice Spirit.

‘What a mess.’

I needed to put aside my shock quickly.

No matter what crazy circumstance had happened.

Now I had all the more reason to smash the Ice Spirit.

With a grunt, I twisted my waist and balled my fist. The energy filled my fist.

I was about to hit the Ice Spirit directly.

[Goddammit.]

With those harsh words.

Boom—!

Suddenly, sharp ice exploded from the Ice Spirit.

Should I just tank it and punch?

I briefly considered it.

Whoosh-!

But my instincts had already twisted my body and widened my distance.

Tch.

It wasn’t worth hitting; the attack targeted all the vital spots, making it tough to dodge.

After stepping back and avoiding the strike, I caught my breath and glared straight ahead.

“Hah, damn it.”

I cursed as I faced the front.

“You bastard. What the hell are you doing?”

[…]

A brief silence fell after my words.

[Truly, this is absurd.]

I recognized that voice.

It was Mang’s voice echoing from the Ice Spirit.

[Are you smart? Or just stupid? Who would recklessly barrel in like this?]

Creeeak.

While speaking, there were slight tremors in his voice, indicating his rage.

[You needed only a little to succeed. It was but a moment. How dare you reject my hand and interrupt the process?]

“Interrupt? No way.”

I smirked at Mang’s words.

“I had no intention of joining forces with you, you piece of trash.”

Do you think I’m an idiot?

“Am I supposed to sit back and just listen to you?”

I’d realized from our conversation that Mang had never intended to work with me.

An unrooted core.

His conversations were filled with omitting vital information, any hint at cooperation was simply a guise.

“Your intention to stall was crystal clear. Why would I waste time listening to that?”

[Ha.]

His laughter echoed sarcastically.

[It seems you’re smarter than I thought.]

He was buying time against me.

Using Yu Seon’s body, no less.

What was his reason for doing that?

I didn’t ponder for long.

If there was a reason he had to do that with me, it had to be in the Ice Spirit.

Anticipating that, I sought out the Ice Spirit, and sure enough, the situation was a complete catastrophe.

“What the hell is going on?”

I clenched my teeth and questioned him.

[I want to ask you that.]

Mang returned the question to me.

[Ninth? What on earth are you doing here?]

“What?”

[Why are you interfering with me?]

Mang genuinely appeared not to understand.

[At least I hadn’t inserted lies into our conversation. We share a common enemy, and it was true that I was willing to ally with you. Why did you choose this path?]

There was a hint of grievance in his words.

I looked at him and replied.

“Do you happen to lack ears?”

[What?]

How could he not understand? It didn’t add up otherwise.

“I made it clear I didn’t want to work with a piece of trash like you. Do you need help comprehending?”

[…]

“I can’t stand someone who stabs you in the back.”

If someone raises their weapon in front of me, I can just beat them down.

But a backstabber is someone I can’t predict; there’s too much to be wary of.

Especially the fact that he had been preying on the Bloodline of the North Sea for hundreds of years for his revival made me sick.

[…And that’s the reason?]

Even after I explained, Mang continued to express his confusion.

[Is it simply because of that?]

“Look at your tone. Even that sounds like nonsense.”

[It’s a blessing that these insignificant beings are being used for my revival.]

“Now you’re talking crazy.”

[Even when facing death, you should be grateful for such matters, and yet, can it really upset you to have it come from one of your own kind?]

Hearing his words made me click my tongue in irritation.

I couldn’t stand the thought of continuing this conversation.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

I refocused my energy in my body.

“It’s none of my business whether the North Sea suffered or not.”

Exactly, I didn’t care.

What kind of solemn connection could there be that would upset me over such matters?

What mattered to me was not the sacrificed Bloodline of the North Sea.

“It’s because of you, thinking nothing of stabbing others in the back, that I’m fed up with you, you bastard.”

With even greater energy swirling in my fist, I lunged forward.

Creeeek—! Just like before, ice spikes erupted, but.

This time, I avoided them with ease.

Even if the fabric of my clothes ripped, it wasn’t a sufficient hit to worry me.

Thud-! I pivoted, assessing the situation.

In the end, I closed the distance and reached the Ice Spirit without hesitation, thrusting my fist into it.

Creeeek—!!!

My fist smoothly penetrated the Ice Spirit.

I swallowed a slight gasp of surprise.

It was much easier to push through than I had anticipated.

I expected some resistance, but it felt like breaking through ordinary rock.

‘It’s intriguing.’

Channeling all my strength, I pressed my fist deeper.

Suddenly.

Creeeek—!!! Cracks began to spread from where my fist had penetrated the Ice Spirit.

Rapidly, the cracks traversed across the surface and engulfed the entire Ice Spirit.

Then.

Creeeek.

It only took a few seconds for the Ice Spirit to crumble and collapse.

Thud.

As the fragments of the disintegrating Ice Spirit began to scatter, I grimaced.

It wasn’t the fact that the Ice Spirit had shattered that bothered me.

The reason was.

“…Ugh… You’re really pushing my buttons.”

Someone was gripping my outstretched fist.

 

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