Episode 629. Nine. And Three.
Fwoooosh-!
What had filled the corridor was cold energy.
Thudududuk-! The sound of the palace collapsing from the aftermath of the fierce battle rang out.
Silence was certain, yet within it, the tiniest sounds reverberated.
Tuk.
At some point, those sounds stopped.
Stillness had arrived.
Suddenly, all sounds ceased.
And the surging cold energy could no longer be felt.
I wasn't flustered by this.
I simply stared quietly at the woman held in my grasp.
Black blood trickling from the corners of her mouth.
To her eyes, rolled back in unconsciousness.
It was clear she had already lost her mind, and yet.
[How did you know?]
She was speaking to me.
What was peculiar was that it wasn't the voice of the woman who had seemed so fair.
It was the thick voice of a man.
Hearing the voice, I smirked.
"Ah, yeah. Nice to meet you too."
[...]
At my greeting, he fell silent for a moment.
His expression was stiff, so I couldn't properly grasp what he was thinking.
But I didn't care.
A few seconds passed.
[I shall ask again.]
He asked me again.
[Ninth Pure-blood.]
[How did you know I was inside the Apostle's body? I asked.]
'Hmm.'
Hearing his words, I slightly furrowed my brow.
Those brief words already contained two pieces of information.
Apostle.
The Ninth Pure-blood.
I had to force down the corners of my mouth that were trying to rise.
And spoke to him.
"An Apostle... So this bitch is your Apostle?"
[Haha-.]
He let out a short laugh.
[I know you are not surprised; are you trying to put on a comical act?]
Oops, caught.
Yeah.
As he said, I wasn't particularly surprised.
Having experienced so much in my life, this wasn't enough to surprise me.
Moreover.
It was something I had more or less expected, so all the more so.
'I didn't know about the Apostle or the whole Ninth thing, though.'
What I had expected was simply that there was something inside Yuseon's body.
I had even realized it was related to the Ice Spirit.
But anything beyond that was unknown to me.
[Do you intend not to answer my question?]
Hearing that, I tilted my head.
What a nasty temper he has.
"It wasn't exactly a great mystery."
Even calling it a guess. It wasn't hard to figure out.
It was purely for a simple reason.
And understandably so.
"This bitch."
Yuseon.
"She doesn't have what it takes."
She was far too weak to become a Dragon.
[What it takes?]
"Yeah. She wasn't cut out for it."
It's not my place to say, but Yuseon lacked far too much to be called a Dragon.
That was the first thing that made me suspicious.
I wouldn't have known in the past.
Having crossed hands a few times. It was something I realized while fighting.
I didn't know what principles or effects her Authority held.
Yuseon using her Authority was strong.
It's just that the gap between her with it and without it was too great.
'...She's not exactly bad, though.'
She wasn't that strong.
Ah, of course.
Considering her age, it would be an incredible level. But simply comparing her to me, that's what I mean.
She had indeed reached the Transcendence Realm, but applying that to the inhuman known as a Dragon, it was a miserable level.
Without her Authority, she was virtually no different from an ordinary martial artist.
Treating someone in the Transcendence Realm like an ordinary martial artist is a bit strange, but. Anyway, that's how it was.
Calling her a Dragon felt somewhat lacking.
The battle just now confirmed it.
'She doesn't have what it takes to be a Dragon.'
It was true that Yuseon possessed outstanding talent as a human.
But she didn't seem to have the qualifications to become a Dragon in and of herself.
So I thought.
What could have happened for Yuseon to become a Dragon?
The reason she became a Dragon beyond the wall.
And.
I was called a Pure-blood, yet. The reason Yuseon was not a Pure-blood.
I wanted to know that.
Squirm.
When Greed briefly devoured her Authority along with her.
Only then was I able to notice one thing.
'Inside, there's something.'
Yuseon was harboring something.
Like me.
What is it?
Just what is she harboring?
What is she harboring that makes it so faint yet clear?
What I could be certain of here.
'That is what made this one become a Dragon.'
That was it.
With that certainty, I didn't agonize for long.
Because I noticed an energy already familiar thanks to Greed.
It was none other than what I had felt just moments ago; there was no way I wouldn't know it.
Ice Spirit.
From Yuseon, the energy of the Ice Spirit could be felt.
This wasn't strange.
From the start, since the bloodline of the Ice Palace itself uses ice arts.
Possessing an energy similar to the Ice Spirit was only natural.
As the Palace Lord said.
'Since the bloodline bears the curse of the Ice Spirit, the energy is a given, but.'
The sensation felt from Yuseon was different from that.
Far more twisted.
And far denser.
What is it?
I had been so curious about that.
"Meeting like this is novel."
[...Huh.]
Taking a somewhat(?) forceful approach, fortunately, I was able to meet you.
"What should I call you. Ice Spirit? Is that fine?"
[...Titles matter not in the slightest. That is not the point.]
Craack-!
"...!"
Kwaaaaah--!!
An ice spike shot up through the ground.
I quickly leaped back and barely dodged it.
Kukukuk-!
The risen spike pierced through the ceiling and formed a barrier.
"What is this now?"
[I thought the distance was too close for a conversation.]
Tuk-tuk.
The body of Yuseon that uttered those words gradually changed.
Her twisted body was forcibly regenerating.
Torn skin revived.
Shattered joints mended.
It was an unspeakably gruesome sight.
[Welcome, Ninth. I am the Third Pure-blood.]
Crunch.
Even her caved-in upper body perfectly recovered.
[I am called Mang (望).]
'Mang.'
Hearing his words, I recalled when Yuseon used her Authority.
-Mang...!
She had definitely said something when using her Authority.
So that was this thing's name.
On top of that.
'The Third Pure-blood.'
Along with calling me the Ninth, the fact that he assigned himself a number meant.
"Are you saying there are seven more besides you?"
Even if we exclude Yuseon since she isn't a Pure-blood.
It could mean there were more things called Pure-bloods.
To such a question, the one called Mang answered.
[There were. In the distant past.]
An affirmative answer in the past tense was heard.
In the past.
"You mean they're gone now?"
[Haha.]
Mang let out a short laugh.
[Gone. Except for a single one... No, now there are two.]
That it had increased to two likely meant one was referring to me.
Who was the other one?
On top of that.
'There were eight Pure-bloods. Seven disappeared and only one remained.'
The situation seemed to be roughly that.
Such old business could be set aside. That wasn't important right now.
The one facing me now, calling himself Mang.
This bastard.
'He isn't the Blood Demon.'
He wasn't the Blood Demon.
Because I had faced the Blood Demon, even if briefly, I could tell.
At a glance, the energy seemed similar, yet something was different.
The problem was.
'They said the Ice Spirit was left behind by the Blood Demon.'
The one they called the Dragon Lord was, in my eyes, the Blood Demon.
They said the extreme cold began when he placed the Ice Spirit in the Northern Sea.
However.
If this bastard isn't actually the Blood Demon.
'What the hell is this now.'
It was inevitably a bizarre situation.
"What are you? What the hell are you doing inside that woman's body? And, what is a Pure-blood?"
Ninth Pure-blood.
In a situation where I didn't even properly know what a Dragon was, what could a Pure-blood be?
'The Palace Lord said it was a Dragon who shattered the vessel and ascended on their own.'
It was truly an ambiguous statement.
Because it meant that excluding me, only eight others had gone through such a process.
To a question containing such meaning.
[How strange. Ninth. You are under some misunderstanding.]
Mang spoke to me.
[How did you think I would answer that?]
He was saying he had no intention of answering the question.
Hearing those words, I smirked involuntarily.
"What a prickly personality. You could tell me a little."
[Do I look favorable toward you?]
"You're a Pure-blood or whatever too, so fellow sufferers could help each other out."
I spat out the words and examined the ice before me.
Could I break it?
I was contemplating trying it out when.
Just then.
[Equals, you say. Utter nonsense.]
Mang continued speaking to me.
His voice was filled with an inexplicable coldness.
[You are a distortion. An aberration that should not have existed in the first place.]
I frowned at Mang's words.
An existence that shouldn't be?
"What does that mean?"
[From the beginning, we were beings that should have been eight. That was the rule set by the world.]
That there should only be eight from the start.
That was like a rule? It was incomprehensible.
"Then you say seven are already dead. Guess that means the spots were filled as they died."
[Ha.]
Mang burst into laughter as if my answer was absurd.
[The very fact that you fail to understand this is proof that you are a distortion.]
This time, I didn't answer.
Rather than answering, I set my stance and threw a punch.
A fist laden with fighting spirit struck the barrier.
Kwang-! Kadududuk--!!
When the fist struck the barrier, cracks formed on the wall and fragments flew.
At this rate, four or five more hits would break it.
[...Truly savage.]
"Keep talking. I'll do what I have to do."
It wasn't a threat.
I genuinely thought it was something I needed to do.
"So, what about it."
I clenched my fist once more and asked.
"If you're not going to tell me what I am, shut up."
Unlike before, I wasn't frustrated and annoyed asking why he wouldn't tell me.
If you won't talk, drop it.
"I'll find out on my own."
Even if that turned out to be a somewhat cruel and savage affair.
I was more than willing to do so.
Kuwoong---!!
The barrier shook violently.
My punch sank deep, and the cracks deepened.
Once more.
Let's hit a bit harder this time.
Judging so, I tried to imbue my energy more densely when.
[Stop.]
At the word Mang spat out, I held my movement and looked at him.
"Why. You got something to say?"
Had he finally thought to talk? I tilted my head and looked at him.
[...Cease your useless actions. There is no need for us to do this.]
"Still not an answer."
At those pointless words, I swung my fist as is.
Kwaang--!!!
A vibration even greater than before spread through the corridor.
Watching the flying fragments, I glanced sideways.
'He's not counterattacking.'
Despite going this far, no counterattack came.
What did that mean?
That I wasn't worth it?
Or.
'Is it a situation where he can't counterattack?'
That could be the case, but.
'Whatever.'
I'll know once I hit him.
This time, to use the Heart Fist, I touched my soul.
Seueuu-!
Feeling an uncomfortable vibration from my soul, just as I was about to strike the barrier again.
[...We share the same enemy.]
I paused.
Only then was I able to halt my movement at Mang's words.
"Keep talking. I'm listening."
[...]
Of course, I maintained my energy. I had to be ready to break it at any moment.
[...You, do you not intend to face the Dragon Lord?]
An interesting statement.
Those words meant that he was not the Dragon Lord.
And that he knew I had left the Heavenly Demon to face the Blood Demon.
It was also a remark subtly hinting that the Blood Demon was his enemy as well.
If indeed the Dragon Lord was the Blood Demon.
I asked while deliberately hiding that.
"The Dragon Lord? They say he left you here. What's your relationship?"
[...]
Silence.
Seeing that, I slightly moved my elbow.
[The reason the Pure-bloods went from eight to seven is because of him.]
"Oh."
Finally, valuable information popped out.
The reason the number of Dragons called Pure-bloods had decreased.
It was because of the Blood Demon?
"Explain. What do you mean?"
[He devoured other Pure-bloods for his own greed.]
I frowned. In other words.
'This means the Blood Demon was also one of the Pure-bloods.'
The being who appeared as the first calamity in the Central Plains.
The one who had been scheming something while hiding in the Martial Alliance for centuries.
Furthermore, another Dragon who had planted blood energy in me was the Blood Demon.
He.
'Devoured other Pure-bloods and eliminated them?'
And he had planted the will of this one called Mang here.
Why had he done that?
'That isn't the Dragon Lord's heart.'
Immense energy permeated it.
A mighty power that made one wonder what was inside could be felt.
But essentially, it was different from the Blood Demon's power.
Then whose energy could this be?
The doubt I felt when touching the Ice Spirit was resolved upon seeing Mang.
'All of it was this bastard's power.'
What was inside the Ice Spirit was the energy of the one called Mang.
I don't know why the Blood Demon threw it here and left, but I was certain it wasn't his energy.
Judging thus, I asked.
"Why did you think we share the same enemy?"
[It is simple...]
He said.
[The Dragon Lord intends to devour all Pure-bloods, so he will come for you as well. The Dragon Lord is your enemy too.]
It was truly a simple reason, as he said.
However, it was also a statement that faintly piqued my interest.
"Why? Why is he devouring other Pure-bloods?"
Dragons were arrogant beings. It was said hostility arises when they see their kin.
Thus, fighting each other was perhaps natural.
But seeing that this bastard specifically called them 'Pure-bloods.'
There was clearly another meaning.
[To grow stronger. To achieve what he desires... he needs power.]
"What does he desire?"
[...I cannot say.]
Kwaang-!
[...!!]
The barrier crumbled at my thrown punch.
Just one more.
Just one more hit would completely shatter the barrier.
"Then keep your mouth shut."
[Truly, incomparably savage.]
"My life's been anything but soft. I'm just not very patient."
[I clearly said there is no need for us to fight like this...!]
"If you want to act like an ally, you need to properly explain things. This just looks like you want to fight."
I'm sick of people trailing off mid-sentence.
If you're not going to talk, it's best to get rid of you quickly.
'Besides.'
I looked at the one called Mang and thought.
'This bastard doesn't feel very trustworthy either.'
I listened to the information he spat out, but the reason I wasn't particularly fixated on it was exactly that.
Hearing information about the Blood Demon wasn't bad.
Hearing bits about the Ninth and Third, about the Pure-bloods, wasn't bad either.
But.
'It's fishy.'
If he were truly desperate, he would have said something, but he wasn't.
He did have a hint of trying to win me over, but it wasn't strong.
It felt like he had some ulterior motive.
Feeling that, my interest instantly cooled.
'Annoying.'
I'm fed up.
Repeating these pointless questions.
So I decided to go with something simple.
Yeah, the simplest method.
"If I beat you up, you'll probably talk properly."
Torment him until he speaks.
That usually resolved most things.
Fwoooosh-!
Thus, wrapping my fist in qi, I prepared to deliver the final blow.
[Truly a man who does not listen.]
Kwadeudeudeuk--!!
"...!"
I quickly leaped back at the sudden gust.
It was immense cold energy.
On a level incomparable to what Yuseon had emitted.
After creating distance, I looked at him.
[As you do, I too have interest in you.]
Mang, wearing Yuseon's body, began speaking to me.
[A Pure-blood born in violation of the rules. And a power that devours Authorities. How could I not be interested?]
"Guess I really am unusual?"
[It's beyond merely unusual. It is a power far beyond reason. It is as though...]
Mang in Yuseon's form pointed a fingertip at me.
[Does it not seem you were chosen as the one to stop the Dragon Lord?]
A power to face another Dragon, not a human.
The meaning contained there was so clear it was almost laughable.
If indeed it was as he said.
'What does it want?'
What does this world want from me?
The Blood Demon, who was likely the calamity sent by the world.
If he survived and tried to express his will again.
The world should be cheering him on.
[I. Shall tear out his throat and devour him.]
[Not content with devouring me. He trampled my heart and left me in this land. I shall capture him and punish him somehow.]
Anger could be felt in Mang's words.
[Thus, I can share my will with you. I mean that we can help each other achieve our goals.]
"You called me a being who deviates from the rules. Can we still work together?"
[Even so, the fact that you are a Pure-blood does not change.]
He changed the motion of pointing at me.
It was as though extending his hand.
[Ninth. Let us join hands. And overcome the Dragon Lord.]
"Hmm."
I put on a slightly pondering expression.
Work together?
"You're sealed in the Ice Spirit, so how exactly do you propose we work together?"
I asked as if containing doubt. Then.
[The Dragon Lord made one mistake when he left me here.]
Mang spoke to me as if telling me not to worry.
"What?"
[He divided and sealed my flesh fragments and energy within the Ice Spirit. But he would not have known.]
[That there would be ample opportunity to recover my energy.]
I frowned at Mang's words.
His flesh and energy were divided and sealed. I realized upon hearing this.
'So that's why.'
That was the reason the tremendous energy was felt from the Ice Spirit.
Moreover. This was something I had heard before.
A hero of the past I had met once. Cheoryeong of Shaolin had said so.
'He said he tore the Blood Demon's five senses and divided his flesh and energy to seal them.'
It felt very similar to that.
Could this really be a coincidence?
'Could be, or could not.'
It could simply be a similar case.
Or this could also be something connected.
But right now, something else grated on me. And greatly at that.
I looked at Mang and asked.
"The Ice Spirit in the palace was said to block the extreme cold. The other half was said to cause the extreme cold."
This was what I had heard from the Palace Lord.
I was told that the divided Ice Spirits played opposite roles, and that the Palace Lord sacrificed her life force to maintain them.
Then.
Those words of his about recovering his energy over time.
Sounded extremely grating.
"That, by any chance. Was that your doing?"
[Hmm?]
Mang tilted his head at the question.
[Strange words.]
He almost looked like he was wondering why I was asking something strange.
[It is only natural. It was necessary to recover my energy.]
"..."
Hearing the answer, I wiped my expression.
In other words, the extreme cold caused by the Ice Spirit.
And the bloodline of the Ice Palace having their life force drained over the years to block the extreme cold.
All of it was his doing.
[That was his greatest mistake.]
Mang smiled.
[Perhaps, he intended to come reclaim and devour it once my energy was fully restored. He must not have known he would be sealed himself. Thanks to that, I bought time to recover.]
[Now, little remains. I shall be resurrected. So, join hands with me and...]
"Enough."
[Hmm?]
I shook my head.
Hearing up to there was enough.
[Ninth...]
"I've heard enough now. I didn't really plan on working together from the start."
Having roughly heard the situation, I became even more certain.
"Guess it's because you're such a fucking bastard. I like you even less now. Fuck off."
[Ha.]
Mang let out a hollow laugh.
[Truly, such a...!]
Mang, about to speak, paused.
[You... what are you trying to do now?]
It was likely because he checked my actions.
Hwareureureuk--!!
Heat gathered around me.
I created a Purgatory above my hand and was repeatedly rotating it toward my target.
However, the direction I was looking was not at Mang in Yuseon's body.
But at the empty ground.
No, it wasn't empty.
From far below the distant ground, an immense energy could be felt.
That was probably it.
Where the Ice Spirit was.
[Surely not-!]
Mang showed a fierce reaction as if realizing something.
Hearing that, I glanced at him with a slight smile.
"I'm going to meet it now."
I hurled the Purgatory wrapped in heat straight at the ground.
Kwaaaaaaaah--!!!
An explosion erupted and a massive hole formed in the ground.