Kuuuung—!
Beneath the darkened sky, a massive tremor reverberated outward.
A vibration so great it could shake Mount Tai.
Kwadudeudeuk—!
The aura that surged without respite
swept across the dry ground like a tidal wave, razing everything in its path.
Trees standing in dense thickets collapsed in the wind mixed with internal energy.
And upon the uneven ground littered with rocks, massive marks were left behind.
Huuuuuk—!
The air pressure mixed with internal energy spread to the surroundings.
For a situation created by a single strike,
it was an utterly absurd amount of power.
“What…?”
Paeng Ahee, who had witnessed it before her very eyes,
unknowingly let out a question.
What did I just see?
Who is the person before me?
What she saw was a black martial uniform. It was similar to the one her older brother always wore,
and his black hair seemed similar as well.
Yet the feeling was entirely different.
Should she say it gave off a far denser feeling?
‘This person is…’
Just who are they?
Paeng Ahee watched the back of the young man blocking their path. In a fleeting moment,
she recalled who he was.
“…Young Master Bi?”
Even after speaking, she was filled with surprise.
One of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
The Fighting Dragon (鬪龍), Bi Uijin.
The eldest son of the Bi family, from which Overlord Bi Ju of the Three Overlords hailed.
A man who had attended the Dragon Phoenix Gathering only once several years ago,
and taken the Dragon’s sobriquet.
However, since he had been virtually inactive since then,
all sorts of rumors had circulated about this young man.
She had heard he entered the Divine Dragon Hall,
but likewise, he had shown no notable activity or presence.
Even idle talk like, ‘Does the Fighting Dragon even exist?’ had been going around.
‘What…?’
Paeng Ahee had to doubt her eyes.
Geom Muhui, collapsed on the ground and breathing heavily,
was someone who had at least surpassed the Peak.
And the opponent who had rendered even Geom Muhui helpless without her being able to do anything
had sent that level of expert flying with a single blow.
‘Was the Fighting Dragon always such a powerful martial artist?’
Could it be… he has even touched the Transformation Realm?
“Stop gawking. Start by stopping the bleeding.”
“…!”
The dust that had risen high began to settle.
Through the lingering traces of internal energy,
the Fighting Dragon spoke to Paeng Ahee.
To be exact, he was not speaking to Paeng Ahee, but to Dang Soyeol.
“If you wish to die, I won’t stop you, but if not, it would be best to hurry.”
The blood flowing from her thigh and shoulder was no small amount.
Paeng Ahee urgently poured internal energy into her, attempting to stop the bleeding, but
it did not appear to be easy.
The Fighting Dragon glanced at this and clicked his tongue softly.
Tsk.
“…These days, children don’t fight bloody battles, so their methods of treatment are immature as well.”
“Yes? What did you say…?”
“It’s nothing.”
The Fighting Dragon shook his head slightly and looked somewhere.
Krrk….
Something was groaning and writhing.
It was Cheol Jiseon, who had been struck and sent flying far away earlier.
Keulheok….
Cheol Jiseon repeatedly coughed dryly.
Since blood did not seem to be flowing, he fortunately did not appear to be seriously injured.
The Fighting Dragon, watching this, spoke to Cheol Jiseon.
“You’ve worked hard.”
A fleeting moment bought by time.
The reason Cheol Jiseon had feigned madness and rushed at the Black Night Palace Lord was precisely because of the Fighting Dragon’s voice transmission.
Of course,
charging in at those recklessly shouted words had been Cheol Jiseon’s own choice.
What had he trusted to do that?
Even to the Fighting Dragon’s eyes, it had been an utterly incomprehensible choice.
He wanted to ask about it, but
unfortunately, now was not the time.
“If you’re up, take those women and flee.”
“Eh… yes?”
As Cheol Jiseon was barely rising, controlling the shock,
the Fighting Dragon spoke to him.
Geom Muhui and Paeng Ahee, collapsed on the ground.
And he was telling him to take the injured Dang Soyeol with them.
“Uh… where to?”
“Well, I don’t know that far, but it will be safer than here.”
Every time the Fighting Dragon moved his body slightly, cracking sounds could be heard.
As if the blow from just now had not been an illusion.
The traces of internal energy faintly remaining
even seemed heavy at a glance.
“Y-Young Master, what do you intend to do?”
Along with words asking if it wouldn’t be better to go together,
there was an underlying plea to go safely.
Upon hearing that, the Fighting Dragon let out a short laugh.
“I must stop that, so where would I go?”
“Yes? By that, you mean….”
The Fighting Dragon’s gaze was fixed on where the Black Night Palace Lord had been sent flying with the blow from just now.
Cheol Jiseon slightly furrowed his brow at that gaze.
He seemed to have taken the attack head-on just now.
Then wouldn’t he be half-dead?
It had been a force capable of twisting and overturning the terrain.
The traces left on the ground even now,
and the faint aura lingering there was enough to leave one slightly breathless.
As if sensing Cheol Jiseon’s reaction,
the Fighting Dragon took a peculiar stance and gave an answer.
“I too would have preferred to end it in one blow, but it seems he is not someone who would die from merely this much.”
“But….”
Still, if they had bought even a moment of time,
wouldn’t it be better to flee in this situation?
That’s what Cheol Jiseon thought.
However, the Fighting Dragon seemed to think differently.
“Turning my back on an opponent? That’s impossible.”
“Y-Young Master Bi?”
“Moreover, if the opponent is emanating killing intent, all the more so.”
His face, smiling as if delighted,
looked somehow terrifying.
How could he smile in this situation?
“Young Master Bi… your opponent is an absurd master.”
“So?”
‘So?’
He was a martial artist who may have touched the Transformation Realm.
A realm one wouldn’t dare imagine.
Cheol Jiseon’s own level made it impossible to know what level the opponent was at,
but the title Black Night Palace Lord
was enough authority in those four letters.
The master of the Black Night Palace, said to have vanished several years ago by the Martial Alliance,
and one of the Samaoje, called the strongest of the Demonic faction.
Though there were rumors that the Martial Alliance had dealt with him,
and many stories that his whereabouts were unknown,
for some reason, he was raiding this place.
Could the person from just now really be the Black Night Palace Lord?
If so, it was highly likely he was a martial artist who had reached the Transformation Realm.
The Fighting Dragon did not look very frightened.
As if proving that, he smiled shortly and spoke.
“If the opponent I must fight is strong and I avoid him, what meaning would that hold?”
“But….”
“One might do so if afraid, but a martial artist (武人) must not.”
Crack.
The sound coming from his clenched fist
rang especially loud in the ears.
He had tried to say more, but
Tuk.
“Urk…,”
The Fighting Dragon reached out and pushed Cheol Jiseon.
Just as he wondered why he was suddenly doing this—
Paaak—!
Something grazed Cheol Jiseon’s cheek and flew toward the Fighting Dragon.
At the same time, the Fighting Dragon thrust out his clenched fist.
Kuung—!
The black aura that had flown past Cheol Jiseon clashed with the Fighting Dragon’s fist.
Immediately after,
Padeudeuk—!
with a bizarre sound, internal energy burst out to the surroundings.
The air pressure that erupted was such that if one did not forcibly brace oneself, one’s body would be sent flying.
After a brief storm,
the aura that had flown from yonder scattered like fragments.
“Hah… hah….”
Cheol Jiseon plopped down on the ground and caught his breath.
If the Fighting Dragon had not pushed him aside just now, his head would have flown off.
Relief and terror welled up to the top of his throat.
Along with the relief of having somehow survived,
“…Huuu….”
the heavy breathing coming from behind was the problem.
“…Impressive.”
!
..
Crack. What appeared, emanating aura,
was the Black Night Palace Lord, who had been struck by the Fighting Dragon’s blow and sent flying.
“That wench was absurdly surprising as well… This was truly unexpected.”
Holding his throbbing ribs, he trudged over.
At the moment he attacked,
he had drawn up his internal energy and deployed his protective qi, but
it had been the wrong choice.
He should have focused solely on defense from the start.
Somehow he succeeded in blocking it, but the internal energy inside his body was disrupted.
He could feel a few broken places.
Pain accompanied him with every step he took.
Moving such a body, the Palace Lord looked at the one who had attacked him.
“Who are you?”
That this generation was filled with unusually talented individuals
was something the Palace Lord knew as well, but
this was already far beyond the domain of a mere junior.
He had been close to astonishment while crossing swords with Geom Muhui,
but the situation just now
left him speechless with shock.
Upon hearing the Palace Lord’s words, the Fighting Dragon glanced at Cheol Jiseon.
“Once again, take those women and flee.”
“You think I will let them?”
The Palace Lord tried to move upon hearing the Fighting Dragon’s words, but
at the same time, the Fighting Dragon moved.
He quickly closed the distance and thrust his fist once more.
Reacting to this, the Palace Lord attempted to counter, but
“…!”
he felt that his energy was not moving properly.
‘Was it because of that earlier attack?’
It seemed aftereffects remained.
Even so,
the moment the Palace Lord tried to extend his hand and pour energy toward Cheol Jiseon,
the Fighting Dragon wedged himself into the flow and blocked it.
Reaching through the gaps in the energy to neutralize the martial art?
With no time to be surprised, the Palace Lord furrowed his brows and moved his legs.
He seemed about to move himself, but
before he could take a step, the Fighting Dragon’s foot touched down first, destroying the Palace Lord’s stance.
Pang—!
Movements filled with internal energy met with energy, and the sound of ruptured air spread.
Given the situation, the Fighting Dragon should have taken damage as well,
yet he blocked the Palace Lord’s movements with an unbothered expression.
‘How…!’
The Palace Lord had to continuously be shocked by his opponent.
It was true that his own movements were fast,
but were the Fighting Dragon’s movements faster? No, they were not.
Compared to the Palace Lord’s speed,
the Fighting Dragon’s movements were definitely slower.
Whether it was due to a difference in realm,
or some other reason, the Fighting Dragon was clearly slower than the Palace Lord.
And yet,
the Palace Lord could not get past the Fighting Dragon.
As if the Fighting Dragon knew exactly how the Palace Lord would move,
he attacked preemptively, blocking the Palace Lord before power could be placed into his movements.
How could that be?
‘What is this…’
It was absurd.
Teung—!
Before he could extend his hand, his shoulder was struck and he was pushed back.
The attack had not pierced his protective qi, so there was almost no damage,
but because his stance was slightly twisted, he could not execute the movement he desired.
At that time, Cheol Jiseon moved and lifted the fallen Geom Muhui from the ground.
He seemed to have realized he could hesitate no longer.
At the same time, Paeng Ahee supported Dang Soyeol.
The bleeding had not completely stopped, but they could not remain still.
The Black Night Palace Lord ground his teeth upon seeing that.
To have his ankle caught by a mere junior and let his prey escape!
It was unthinkable.
He unleashed his energy.
The energy that slithered out from the Palace Lord’s toes
tried to fly toward the others, but
even this was blocked by the Fighting Dragon’s hand.
It wasn’t even a direct blockage.
As the Fighting Dragon tapped here and there,
the energy withered and scattered.
“…This is absurd…!”
The energy mixed with his own power
disappearing with such trivial movements!
Surprise was momentary.
Kuung—!
“Keuk…!”
In the moment the Palace Lord hesitated as his energy scattered,
an impact struck his solar plexus and he was pushed back.
On top of receiving that blow earlier,
all his movements were blocked,
and he couldn’t even move his energy as he wished.
Moreover, while the pain was not great,
the attack had landed.
He had been injured in the fight with Geom Muhui as well,
but this was an entirely different feeling.
“Did you say you were curious about my name? How kind. I cannot say I am curious about yours.”
The smile remained.
What was so enjoyable?
The Fighting Dragon was smiling broadly.
What was he so happy about?
For the Fighting Dragon, there was always the same answer.
How could he not be happy?
For a martial artist, battle was entertainment itself.
Even in a situation that seemed somewhat desperate,
fighting was a joyous thing.
“I haven’t been called by many names, but there is only one now.”
What did names from the past matter?
They were names the current him could not bear.
In the time he had been called the Overlord,
the reason he had not bothered to deny it
was because he had the confidence that he could bear such a name.
But having reached this point, it was a bit too much to bear, so he simply didn’t speak of it.
“I am Bi Uijin. My sobriquet… what was it again? Ah, it was the Fighting Dragon.”
He couldn’t even remember what his sobriquet was. Perhaps because he hadn’t placed much meaning in it.
Anyway, that much of a name was enough for now.
The Palace Lord spoke upon hearing Bi Uijin’s introduction.
“…Fighting Dragon. Don’t tell me, are you the descendant of the Overlord?”
Among the descendants of the Three Overlords, the only one known today was the descendant of the Sword Overlord.
As for the descendant of the Heavenly Overlord, one might say it was Geom Muhui or the Thunder Dragon,
but that was a slightly different story if one considered the meaning.
It was a famous story.
Namely, what kind of reputation the martial arts they used held.
That alone…
‘…I see.’
The reality that he had momentarily been pushed back by a mere junior before his eyes—
was enough to acknowledge.
If he was the descendant of the Overlord, it was possible.
He had never met him directly,
but in the days before the current Samaoje, when he was called by more names,
he knew of the incident where the Overlord had single-handedly killed three masters called the best of the Demonic faction.
Even so, he had not known that his descendant would be such a monster.
Had he passed his martial arts to the bloodline of the main family?
‘Then that power from before… does that mean it’s the Overlord’s martial art?’
If he had not raised his astral qi then,
and had gone purely on the attack,
it was a might that might have killed him on the spot.
Moreover, perhaps because of that blow,
the internal energy in his body was not moving properly.
Shiiik—!
The Palace Lord unleashed his energy once more, but
once again, the Fighting Dragon responded as if he had already known.
He seemed slightly late,
but the extended energy faded before touching Cheol Jiseon’s back.
Finally, Cheol Jiseon and Paeng Ahee took the two and disappeared.
Watching this, the Palace Lord gritted his teeth.
This was not good.
Those arrayed on the mountain were likely martial artists of the Black Dragon Squad,
but if they missed the summit by even the slimmest chance,
it could become a great problem.
He thought about ignoring the Fighting Dragon standing right before his eyes and giving chase immediately, but
“You seem to have room to spare. Thinking of other things, are we?”
The Palace Lord’s mind returned at the voice.
Feeling this, the Palace Lord inwardly swallowed his breath.
His realm seemed to still be at the verge of the Peak,
yet for him, who had reached the Transformation Realm, to be this tense—
no matter that his opponent was the Overlord’s descendant, it was a moment that wounded his pride.
Of course, that pride
had been blown away in an instant by the killing intent radiating from the Fighting Dragon.
“The children have left, so we can do this properly now.”
Energy erupted.
“…!”
It was truly absurd killing intent.
It seemed to have long surpassed the limits a Peak-level martial artist could emit.
Moreover, what the Fighting Dragon had said
meant he had not been fighting properly until now.
At those words, the Palace Lord unconsciously hesitated in his steps.
The Fighting Dragon took a step and spoke.
“This is the first time I’ve used this body, so I’ll give you some good news.”
The moment he took a step while speaking,
the Fighting Dragon was already before the Palace Lord.
“Ten moves.
The Fighting Dragon’s body moved.
“It seems that is the limit after all. I’ll tell you in advance.”
Recalling his earlier mistake, the Palace Lord pulled up his protective qi to the fullest.
“If you withstand ten moves, you win.”
The Fighting Dragon threw a punch.
Far slower speed than before.
The Palace Lord harbored doubts. Why was he thrusting out so slowly?
‘What is this, a feint?’
It was a movement so slow and visible that such a thought came to mind.
A completely different level from what the Fighting Dragon had shown earlier.
‘…Should I avoid it?’
In a fleeting instant, he pondered what choice to make.
Based on his earlier experience, he judged that blocking was unreasonable.
He thought he might be able to do it,
but the risk was too high.
Thus, he shouldn’t let his guard down thinking it was a feint.
His first thought was to create distance.
But.
Kkuuuuk.
“…!”
In the time he spent pondering like that,
the Fighting Dragon’s fist had already drawn near.
It had clearly been slow enough to be seen with the eyes,
so how was it already upon him?
The Palace Lord frowned.
Astral qi gathered where the Fighting Dragon’s fist was about to land.
Since it was late, he blocked.
Moreover, unlike before,
he had focused solely on defense.
He might be pushed back,
but it would be convenient to respond next….
Kwadeudeuk—!
“What…?”
The protective qi was shattered effortlessly by the fist.
The Fighting Dragon’s fist dug into the Palace Lord’s abdomen.
Kuuwung—!
Once more, Mount Tai seemed to tremble.
This vibration was on a level incomparable to before,
and perhaps due to the aftermath of that vibration,
a crack formed in the darkened sky.
Huduuduk.
Fragments of energy scattered down from the cracked parts.
And from the gaps where the fragments fell,
Huaaa….
something somehow familiar,
as if brimming with heat,
a red aura could be faintly seen.