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Chapter: The Encounter with the Dragon

Woodeuk-!! Gu Yangcheong frowned as he stepped on something’s head.

I hit it first, but something felt off.

“What the heck is this?”

What could it be? A strange feeling lingers. It’s like a heaviness in my stomach? It’s just bizarre.

So, I decided to put in more strength.

Kwa-ddeudeuk—!!!

I heard the sound of bones shattering.

[Keuuuuuuah–!!]

A scream echoed in my ears. Watching that, Gu Yangcheong nodded slightly.

“Durability is impressive.”

I intended to crush the head, but it held up well. So, I applied more force.

Kuwung-!! The pressure exploded.

Demon energy swirled around me. Stronger power pressed down on its head than before.

[Kreeeeeh—!!!]

In pain, it thrashed around. That was fascinating; I didn’t expect it to hold out this long. However—

Swiik-!

An arm suddenly charged at Gu Yangcheong. I leaped low, avoiding it.

Distance increasing, I narrowed my eyes.

‘Did that arm move from that angle?’

I managed to dodge, but the attack was bizarre.

The arm came from an angle where it shouldn’t be bent.

As evidence—

[Keuu… you monster….]

As it got up, its left arm twisted in a grotesque manner.

[So it was you after all?]

“Hmm?”

At the monster’s reaction, Gu Yangcheong’s eyes widened slightly. I couldn’t tell before, but looking at its face, I seemed to recognize it.

“Gyecheon Sect Leader?”

The identity of the creature was Gyecheon Sect Leader.

Even though his hair had turned white and his body had changed in various ways, I could tell.

However,

“What are you?”

That changed appearance was particularly disturbing.

Regardless of what happened, Gu Yangcheong’s instincts were speaking.

“You….”

Looking at the Gyecheon Sect Leader now, the emotion I felt narrowed my eyes even further.

This was hostility. Slowly, the intent was clearer than anything else.

And the meaning of such hostility could only be one.

‘A Dragon.’

Right now, the Gyecheon Sect Leader was a dragon. The feeling I was getting was similar to that passed down against a White Grade Demon Beast. Such hostility could only be felt towards one of my kind.

This meant—

‘Is the Gyecheon Sect Leader a dragon?’

Could it be that he was originally a dragon like me? That thought crossed my mind, but Gu Yangcheong instantly denied it.

‘No, he was not a dragon.’

If he truly was, I should have felt it long ago.

However, Gu Yangcheong had never sensed that from the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

That meant he had the ability to hide such a feeling? No, I thought it wouldn’t be that either. It wasn’t that kind of feeling.

‘And saying he just looks like a dragon is also off.’

It was peculiar. To exemplify the feeling, it was distinctly different from a White Grade Demon Beast. If I had to pick—

‘The princess of the North Sea. Or perhaps, the King of Demons.’

It was similar to the sensation I felt when I saw the Apostle of Mang, whose name I couldn’t even recall now, or the King of Demons.

This indicates—

‘Half-Dragon.’

That creature wasn’t fully a dragon. But to say he wasn’t was also ambiguous, so it would fit to call him the ‘Half-Dragon’ mentioned by the King of Demons.

[Huuuuuuu….]

He glared at Gu Yangcheong.

Scales raised on his skin and horizontally slit pupils undulating within somewhat murky gold eyes. That unique energy radiating.

That was unmistakably the shape of a dragon.

And—

[You… why are you here?]

It seemed the Gyecheon Sect Leader sensed something different about me compared to the others.

From that reaction, Gu Yangcheong felt certain.

‘Until now, I was unaware.’

He hadn’t known until recently and now grasped it.

This too signifies he only felt this after becoming a dragon, meaning he was human until a moment ago.

At this point, more questions emerged.

‘How?’

How on earth did he become a dragon? I couldn’t understand that part. Because of this, I looked at the Gyecheon Sect Leader with curious eyes.

‘No, it doesn’t matter.’

It was pointless. This wasn’t the time to be pondering such doubts.

Gu Yangcheong turned his gaze from the Gyecheon Sect Leader to look sideways. There stood Nangong Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah, observing him.

With narrowed eyes, he scrutinized the two closely.

‘They’re injured.’

Nangong Bi-ah’s condition didn’t look good. She appeared pale as if she had lost quite a bit of blood.

On the other hand, while Wi Seol-Ah didn’t seem as harmed, she likely wasn’t unscathed either.

Watching that, Gu Yangcheong spoke.

“What on earth happened here?”

“…!”

“…!”

At the cold tone, both of them flinched. They had never heard such a frigid voice before.

“Why do you keep ignoring me? Doesn’t what I say sound like words?”

“…Th-that….”

“Shut it.”

As Gu Yangcheong frowned and spoke, Nangong Bi-ah bit her lip and fell silent.

“…”

“Stay in the corner.”

“But….”

“Shut up and stay in the corner. Help her with the bleeding. We’ll talk later.”

Even Wi Seol-Ah, who was about to say something, was silenced by a single word.

Frustration welled up inside. Gu Yangcheong tried to ignore it and took a step forward.

The scenery shifted.

[Kuk…!]

Gu Yangcheong was now right in front of the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

Kwa-deuk-!

He kicked the leader’s knee with his foot. A loud noise rang out as one of the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s legs crumpled.

[Kuhack!]

The Gyecheon Sect Leader’s eyes widened in pain. He couldn’t even react to the sudden attack.

His body staggered. He desperately tried to maintain his stance but—

“Raise your head.”

With that statement, he struck the other leg as well. His knee slammed into the ground.

“Who do you think you are?”

Kwa-jik-! His jaw shook.

“How dare you touch me.”

Woodeuk-! His head snapped back. It felt as if his facial bones had shattered. That wasn’t all.

Continuous impacts rained down on the already broken areas.

Pain multiplied. It seemed intentional. It was clearly chosen to inflict maximum suffering.

[Keu… keugh.]

The ongoing blows disoriented the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

Even in his efforts to resist, he couldn’t manage a single movement.

Thus began the one-sided violence.

Woodeuk-! Something shattered. Kwa-jijik-! Something unidentifiable tore apart.

My entire body was in pain, and I had no idea what was happening to where.

All I could do was endure the agony.

[Keuuuuuu!!]

After writhing in pain for a while, the Gyecheon Sect Leader—

[INNOOOOOM—!!!]

Released a roar that ruptured from within, unleashing his energy.

Giiing—!! Swords surged up and lunged at Gu Yangcheong.

Nangong Bi-ah, who was catching her breath, widened her eyes, surprised.

The speed was completely different from when he fought her. Even the power behind the swords had doubled.

Such speed was hard to even follow with the eyes. Those swords dove toward Gu Yangcheong.

Gu Yangcheong gave them a quick glance, then turned his upper body back, using his waist’s strength to swing his fist.

Tu-woooong–!!! The air ripped apart, and something invisible exploded.

It was Heart’s Authority.

Kwaaaaaaaah—!!!

The swords veered off course due to the impact. Ting-! Ting-! They struck against the wall, emanating ringing sounds as they fell.

Seeing that, the Gyecheon Sect Leader let out a gasp. At that moment.

High up on the ceiling, one sword remained unyielding to the wind. It seemed to rise high due to the shock but didn’t fall.

Had he not noticed? Just as he spotted it, the Gyecheon Sect Leader immediately channeled his power into the sword.

Swiik—!!!

The sword plunged rapidly toward Gu Yangcheong. Even then, Gu Yangcheong was observing elsewhere.

If it continued like this, it could pierce straight through his head.

The powered sword rapidly approached Gu Yangcheong’s head, but—

“I’ve always thought this.”

In that moment, Gu Yangcheong whispered.

“You all are always so predictable.”

As he spoke, he moved. He reached out his hand towards the air.

Swiik–!!

[…What!?]

The sword darting toward Gu Yangcheong trembled, then spun! The tip of the sword was rotating.

It wasn’t the tip but the hilt that fell away.

[Such nonsense–!!]

The Gyecheon Sect Leader cried out in frustration. His own Sword Art of Poisoned Blade was being held against him.

It was different from simply moving the sword through space; Gu Yangcheong casually seized the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s sword.

This meant he had completely taken control over it.

Thud.

The Gyecheon Sect Leader’s sword fell into Gu Yangcheong’s grasp.

Chaak—!!!

Gu Yangcheong took it and slashed the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

[Crack….]

A deep scar appeared as the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s body was pushed backward.

It seemed he was about to collapse. Without allowing that, Gu Yangcheong aimed a kick at the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

Bang-!! With a strong kick, the Gyecheon Sect Leader was driven against the wall, collapsing softly.

[Ku… ugh….]

He propped himself against the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

In his eyes were not just pain, but uncertainty as well.

[What the hell… how?]

He still bore a look of confusion. How on earth had he lost the sword?

“Hmm?”

Did he catch my thoughts? Gu Yangcheong spoke to the Gyecheon Sect Leader with lowered eyebrows.

“Just do it normally. Why do you look at me so strangely?”

[Just… do it normally?]

As if struck, the Gyecheon Sect Leader trembled.

His expression bore disbelief.

And that expression, as if indifferent, Gu Yangcheong just inspected the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

“Regeneration seems quick.”

His body, half-crushed, was gradually healing.

At a glance, his recovery seemed faster than my physical body. Comparing it to the Apostle of Mang was still far off.

“Was your physical strength always like this? Hmm, I don’t really know since I’ve never fought you. What do you think?”

[…What on earth are you even saying right now?]

“Don’t you understand? That’s fine then.”

I can just find out directly.

With those words, Gu Yangcheong started moving again.

 

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