< Episode 603 > Heart Fist (Sim-gwon).
Boom-! Boom boom-!
‘What……?’
I open my eyes at the sound.
For some reason, my ears are muffled.
Boom-!
A vibrating sound.
For some reason, I hold my throbbing forehead and survey my surroundings.
“Hm?”
It’s bewildering.
The scene I barely managed to look at while coming to my senses is utterly perplexing.
“What is this?”
White.
It is a world entirely painted white.
At first, I thought it was a snowy field.
‘It’s not snow?’
The world itself is simply white.
I touch the ground.
The sensation brushing against my fingertips is strange.
‘What is this?’
It is too soft to be stone.
Yet to call it mere dirt would also be questionable.
Something unknowable. That seemed to be the correct judgment.
Frowning, I look around here and there.
‘Where the hell is this place now.’
Why am I in such a place out of nowhere?
What was I doing to wake up in a place like this?
I try hard to recall the situation just before, but—
“Urk……!”
I clutch my head at the sudden pain.
I try to recall something, but the pain takes precedence.
Damn it, what the hell is this now?
“Fuck…….”
Shaking my head in pain, I raise myself up.
Standing, the world seems even whiter.
Thus, it feels even more alien and somehow chilling.
It felt like standing in a space that should not exist.
While looking around for a while like that—
“Hm?”
I see something far away.
The center of the world painted white.
Someone is standing there.
A person?
The form resembles a human, yet it is hard to be certain.
Because—
‘……Flames?’
Only the form is human.
The bastard’s entire body is covered in flames.
And familiar blue flames at that.
‘That…….’
Yes, it couldn’t help but be familiar.
I knew instinctively. That those are my flames.
“What?”
Seeing that, I blurt out words involuntarily.
Then.
“……!”
The bastard’s gaze, which had been looking at the sky, turns this way.
And that is not all.
“How is it?”
The human-shaped flame not only looks at me but even speaks to me.
“What?”
“The question is, how is it living among insignificant lesser creatures?”
Hearing those words, I frown.
“What are you?”
Why is this bastard spouting nonsense after appearing suddenly? It is absurd.
Is it a dream? If it is a dream, what kind of shitty dream is this?
While looking at the bastard with such a dumbfounded expression—
“Disgraceful and utterly disgusting.”
The flame ignores my question and begins speaking its own words.
“You shattered your vessel and soared to the heavens, so why do you try to live with the insects of the floor?”
Along with that question full of doubt.
Hearing those words, I feel a strange sensation inside.
‘I feel like I have seen this somewhere before.’
Because it feels somehow familiar.
Not only because the flame is my flame.
I felt like I had definitely heard that shitty word choice and tone somewhere before.
While thinking like that for a moment—
“Ah.”
I barely realize what this bastard is.
I wondered what it was.
“You, don’t tell me you are the Blood Qi?”
“……”
The guy falls silent at my words.
It seems I was right.
That bastard was the one who tried to devour my body a few years ago when I went to the other world.
Back then, it took the form of a demonic beast like a little idiot, but this time, for some reason, it is flames.
“I thought you were dead, but you were alive?”
I thought I devoured it all back then.
How is it alive?
Then is this place inside my head, or a space inside my body, something like that?
If so—
Boom-! Boom-!
‘What is that sound?’
A thunderous roar that sounds as though the world is breaking.
That bothers me more than the Blood Qi in front of me.
I do not know the reason.
I am simply extremely bothered by it.
“Ignorant fool.”
At the Blood Qi’s words, I turn my gaze back to the bastard.
“If you are going to live in oblivion having forgotten what you must do, you would have been better off handing your body over to me.”
“What are you saying? Why are you spouting nonsense again after appearing suddenly?”
If you got eaten, you should have been quietly digested.
Why are you acting like this after appearing out of nowhere?
“What, want to go another round?”
Do you covet my body again?
Asking with that meaning—
“Ha.”
The guy lets out a laugh as if I am insignificant.
“The vessel has already passed to you. There was only one chance. I am merely a spectator.”
“Then you should just spectate. Why are you doing this?”
If you survived without dying, you could have just said thank you and stayed tucked away in some corner.
There must be another reason for pointlessly appearing here like this.
“Because you are doing such trivial, worthless acts, I have come to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“I am telling you to think clearly.”
The flame’s flickering grows larger.
“Be certain of what your existence is.”
“What the hell is this now? What am I?”
When I ask back in absurdity, the flame speaks firmly.
“Do you think the inferior creatures around you can understand you?”
I falter.
At the flame’s words, I am momentarily at a loss for words.
Because it struck at a doubt I had been harboring for a long time.
I am no longer human now.
Because those around me are human.
My flesh is no longer human. I had been comforting myself that my mind is still human, but.
The difference in perspective arising from that had always been a problem for me.
And the flame dug into that.
“They cannot understand you. And you too will gradually be unable to understand them.”
Nonsense.
I think that inwardly, but it does not easily come out of my mouth.
Did it notice my reaction?
“Though you suppress your instincts unbefitting of your station. Do you not already know?”
The flame holds a smile at its lips.
“How great a race you are. And how insignificant the trash around you is.”
“What bullshit.”
“That is the difference between races.”
The flame rests its chin on its hand.
It seems to be imitating my appearance, which annoys me.
“Unless you properly acknowledge that, the path will not open for you.”
“Stop spouting nonsense. If you have something to say, say it straight.”
My teeth grind.
What the hell is the essence of these words?
Is it telling me to acknowledge that humans are insignificant and I am a superior race?
‘I have to listen to all kinds of bullshit.’
How am I supposed to acknowledge such arrogant, shitty words?
And even if I acknowledge it, the path will open?
“I wasn’t blocked from the start, you bastard.”
“You must want to believe that.”
Annoying.
At the same time, the flames begin gradually getting sucked into my hand.
It was the Demonic Heavenly Absorption Technique.
The bastard gets sucked into my body without resisting even once.
Somehow, it seemed to want that.
Then.
“I do not acknowledge you.”
While being sucked in, the Blood Qi speaks to me.
“You are no different from one sitting in a station unbefitting of your standing.”
“So what? Are you asking for it back or what?”
“One thing.”
Clack-!
“……!”
It grabs my wrist that is holding its neck.
“This time, I shall help you.”
“What—?!”
The moment the Blood Qi speaks, a reaction occurs in my body through the grabbed wrist.
Fwoosh-!
“Kgh……!?”
An enormous heat surges inside my body.
It is at a level where even I feel pain from the heat.
“You bastard…… what are you doing now…….”
“If you had not gotten entangled only in troublesome matters, there would have been no need to help you like this.”
I try to let go and distance myself due to the pain, but—
For some reason, my body does not move properly.
Fwoosh-!
The heat generated inside my body engulfs my entire body.
Inside it.
“Remember.”
The Blood Qi’s voice is heard.
“Devour and swallow your kin who invade your territory.”
That voice is engraved somewhere inside my body like a tattoo.
“Prove yourself to be the ruler.”
The heat continues to surge up and soon digs into my head.
A sensation of burning and blazing, leaving only ashes.
Is this death?
I could be mistaken like that, but—
For some reason, I am not afraid.
Rather than fear of death, I feel something else.
What is this emotion?
Harboring the question briefly, I recall.
“Do not forget.”
Yes, this is definitely closer—
“We are not humans, but ‘dragons’.”
To ecstasy.
******************
Boom-!
‘Ah.’
The heat filling my body cools.
Kugong-! Boom-!
As the heat cools, the muffled fog blocking my front lifts.
What was that just now?
What on earth happened?
It was like a dream.
Hazy and distant, yet the memories are clear.
What the hell kind of spirit…….
Kugong-!
“Kuk!”
While trying to recall, my body suddenly sways at the piercing pain.
I barely maintain my center and steady my posture.
If I had not, I would have fallen.
“What…… krrr…….”
The moment I wonder what situation this is again—
Pain is felt throughout my entire body.
It is different from when I felt the heat earlier.
Not just inside my body, but pain seeps from my skin as well.
What of my joints? Even moving slightly makes my bones ache.
What? It is like I got beaten all day long—.
Bbang-!
“Kgh?!”
Instinctively, I raise my hand to block the left.
With pain, a dull sound bursts out, and my body is pushed back.
Something had struck me.
Moreover.
‘This sound.’
This rough sound heard while being hit.
It was the vibrating sound I had heard in the white world until just now.
‘Shit, don’t tell me.’
So what on earth was that sound? Was it the sound of my own body getting beaten up?
Fuck, no wonder it felt so uneasy to hear.
I thought something was breaking, and it was my own body.
I turn my gaze.
To check who is beating me like this.
“Huh?”
A familiar face is seen.
A young man is looking this way with his hands clasped behind his back.
A handsome young man with black hair and a gentle air.
It was Paejon.
“Elder……?”
“Oh.”
He reacts when I call him.
“The form of address has changed. It seems the effects of discipline are gradually showing.”
“Huh?”
“Until just now, you were saying all sorts of things like trash, lesser creatures, insects, garbage. Tsk tsk.”
“What do you mean……?”
I said that to Paejon?
‘……Me?’
I cannot remember.
Why was I getting beaten by Paejon in the first place?
A question flashes by.
Then I remember.
“Ah…….”
The ornament of Nangong Bia I picked up in the snowfield.
From the moment I saw that, I cannot remember.
Did my sanity snap, and I rampaged?
So.
‘……So I said those things to Paejon?’
Insects, garbage—did I say such things to Paejon?
So this is what happened to me?
Even imagining it makes me feel faint.
The surroundings are already a mess.
The ground has hollowed-out places here and there, as if someone had done it.
Flames are blooming atop the cold snow.
Anyone can tell those are my flames.
Drip.
Something trickles past my lips.
When I wipe it slightly, it is a bloody nose.
Seems I got quite thoroughly beaten.
Gulp.
Swallowing dry saliva at the chilling situation, Paejon speaks while smiling, seeing me like that.
“Did I not say so? At times like these, if you get beaten, you will remember.”
“……Wait a moment. Elder.”
“As expected, experience is never wrong. Right?”
“I am sorry. It seems I lost my memory for a moment—!”
Fwing-!
I turn my head.
Paejon’s fist passes through that spot.
Kwang-!!
Immediately after, the air explodes.
He struck empty air, so how is it making that kind of sound?
Cold sweat flows.
“Come on, I said I have come to my senses!”
“No, my disciple. You have not yet come to your senses.”
“Damn it.”
Looking at Paejon’s eyes, I can tell.
This man is angry.
I do not know what he heard.
He seems incredibly angry.
“As expected, seeing you speak such rough words, you have not come to your senses yet.”
“I really have come to my senses! Listen to me……!”
Bbang-!
I could not block it this time.
A fist digs into my side. It hurts like hell. But this is not the time to feel pain.
I have to twist my body before the full impact comes in.
Fwip-! I spin my body, trying to disperse the shock, but—
At that moment, Paejon presses my joint and destroys my balance.
My vision gradually lowers.
I can already see Paejon’s fist approaching before my eyes.
Defense is impossible in this posture.
Somehow attacking to push Paejon away and create distance is the urgent priority.
Ung-!
Trying to gather energy with that thought—
‘Shit……!!’
There is not a single wisp of energy felt in my heart.
I do not know how much he beat me, but all that abundant energy is empty.
At best, only a handful remains.
An amount that would not even register normally.
It is urgent now, so I have to use even this.
Uuuung-!
Gathering a measly amount of energy the size of a mouse dropping into my fist.
Whether it works or not, I swing it as is.
Then.
“……!?”
Having noticed something, Paejon withdraws his attack and urgently turns his head.
I wonder why he is suddenly doing that.
As I think that—
Hwak-!
Something extends from my fist.
Shwaaaaaaack—!!!
A spine-chilling sound spreads as the void is torn.
Then.
Kwaaaaaaa—!!!!
It pierces through the peak of the iceberg behind.
“……Huh……?”
Crazy.
What the hell is that?
****************
A space where darkness has settled.
A quiet and silent place without a single light.
There, a grand throne is prepared.
It was originally where the Palace Lord, master of the North Sea and sovereign of the Ice Palace, sat.
Upon it.
Someone other than the Palace Lord is sitting.
Srrrr.
Cold air fills the grand hall.
As always, it is the freezing wind of the North Sea.
Amidst that wind.
Gugugugu-!
A shallow vibration arrives, and then—
Faint heat mixes and flows through the wind.
An energy so alien among the cold.
The heat that flutters in mingles between the cold, flows past, and brushes by the throne.
Then.
“……Hmmm…….”
The figure sitting on the throne slowly opens their eyes.
In the darkness, blue-green eye light shines.
“This energy is…….”
Perhaps because they felt something.
The corners of the figure’s eyes gradually curve up.
“Well, well…… An unexpected guest has arrived.”
A voice full of laughter.
Kuk kuk kuk.
Whenever they make a sound, cold air flows from their mouth.
The figure slowly raises their body.
Step.
They step out from the throne and move into the grand hall.
A shallow pleasure has risen on their face.
“Yes, I was thinking it would not be fun if it were too easy.”
I thought it was too easy.
This was not something I wanted to obtain so easily. My interest was just waning.
The figure continues walking.
Beyond that, someone is there.
The center of the grand hall.
Someone kneels on one knee with their head bowed before the throne.
The figure looks at him and wears a deeper smile than before.
“There must be such festivals too. Is that not right?”
“……”
“Even if I say this, you probably cannot understand. But that does not matter.”
After all, the matter has already begun.
The figure has no intention of turning it back.
“Fei Waijun.”
At the figure’s call, the kneeling one raises his head.
Meeting his gaze, the figure asks.
“Did you finish the entrusted task well?”
“……Yes. I have finished everything you commanded.”
“Good.”
Having heard the young man’s answer, the figure nods.
“Since it is your word, I will not bother to check. However, just in case.”
The moment they are about to speak.
The figure’s pupils slit vertically like a reptile’s eyes.
The young man has to bite his lips upon seeing those eyes.
“I hope there are no lies. It would not be good if a problem arose with the collateral you value so highly, would it?”
“……Yes. I will keep it in mind.”
At the figure’s words, the young man bows his head again.
“Go. You have more entrusted tasks, do you not?”
“……”
As the command falls, the young man raises his body.
The blade hanging at his waist makes a clanking sound.
Seeing that, the figure lets out a short laugh.
Originally, it was something the figure should have done.
But the figure decided not to bother doing so.
Precious gifts are opened later.
Because that is the happiest of joys.