"We need to find a way right now."
While the raid was still underway. A complicated discussion was also taking place within the pavilion.
The surroundings were still enclosed by a barrier, and they were equally anxious about being unable to break through it.
Even so, they couldn't just sit still.
They were trying to put their heads together to come up with a plan to overcome this situation when...
"...Ubongchwigae... Have you not discovered anything?"
Mu Oh-geom, the Lord of the Tabak Clan, called out to Ubongchwigae and asked.
It was because he had been observing the barrier from various angles for a while now.
Perhaps he had grasped some weakness? He had asked with such expectations.
"...I did find something."
"Huh?"
"Really!?"
At Ubongchwigae's response, their expressions immediately brightened.
To think he actually found something.
Just as they thought hope was finally emerging...
"I did find it, but..."
Ubongchwigae added with a somewhat troubled expression.
"Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, I'm not an expert in this field... so it seems it will take quite a bit of time."
"Still, it's something that it can be undone. It's a relief there's a way..."
"You said it would take a lot, but how much exactly?"
Since he said it would take a long time, maybe half a day?
Everyone thought so, but...
"...Two days."
"Excuse me?"
"...Wh... what... what did you say?"
The time that came out of Ubongchwigae's mouth was far longer than expected.
Two days? What do you mean two days? What kind of nonsense is this?
Thus, everyone looked at Ubongchwigae with bewildered expressions.
"I told you I wasn't confident. Can't you open your eyes properly? You're going to stab me to death with your glares, honestly."
The old man shouted with a distorted expression.
"The rules connecting the barrier are too intricate. It seems like a formation, but if I make the wrong move, everything will be ruined."
The Beggar's Sect, which pursued information over martial prowess.
As the person who had risen to the highest position within it, he had some knowledge about formations as well.
Fortunately, the barrier in front of them was at a level where one could figure out how to dispel it with just a little knowledge.
However.
"It's damnably difficult..."
It was merely visible.
To put it bluntly, it was a tangled skein of thread.
It was so complex and tightly bound that trying to untangle it would take an eternity.
"Ugh."
Because of that, unless one was skilled in formations, this was the limit for Ubongchwigae, who only possessed shallow knowledge.
"Two days... What do you mean two days? That takes too long." "Let's find another method instead."
It was an urgent time right now.
They didn't know what might be happening outside, and since this inside wasn't a safe location either, they had to find a way to escape somehow.
"Even if the barrier absorbs internal energy... wouldn't it have a limit? So, how about we keep striking it for now?"
"That is too dangerous a thought. What if the barrier fluctuates and the internal energy it absorbed explodes?"
"No, Patriarch Cheol. What kind of baseless speculation is that? Where in the world is there such a technique..."
"Is the barrier you're looking at right now a technique you originally knew? You must be incredibly ignorant. To think you'd just try to smash it first. Even if you speak, you should make proper sense..."
"What? Ignorant? This gentleman is right now--!"
As they conversed, the atmosphere heated up.
A difference in opinions arose, creating a rift.
Given their sensitive state, it was the perfect situation to get intense.
The martial artists' fighting spirit, looking as if they would draw their swords at any moment, began to fill the inside of the barrier.
At that moment.
"Hahk-!"
"...!"
A fierce roar swept through the surroundings.
Everyone widened their eyes. The one who shouted was surprisingly the Sword Emperor, who had been silent until just now.
Immediately after the fierce internal energy suppressed the surroundings.
The Sword Emperor closed his eyes again as if nothing had happened, and in the quieted atmosphere, another person opened their mouth as if they had been waiting.
It was Geomseon.
"Branch Leader... please try it first."
"...Are you talking about dispelling the formation?"
At Geomseon's request, the surroundings began to buzz.
"But, Alliance Leader... The Branch Leader said it would take two days to dispel it..."
"Is there any other method right now?"
"..."
The person who had spoken flinched.
It was partly because it was a sound argument, but also because Geomseon's eyes were incredibly cold as she spoke.
"Even if we pursue a method, we must try something right now. Whether it takes two days or three... Let's just try it first."
"...Th-That's right."
Let's do something first and think later.
At those words, everyone nodded.
"...I leave it to you."
"..."
Seeing their reaction, the Alliance Leader spoke to Ubongchwigae, and Ubongchwigae also nodded.
"I'll say it again, whatever happens, I'm not taking responsibility."
It was incredibly burdensome.
It was frustrating that he ultimately had to do something, but there was no help for it.
Ubongchwigae suppressed a sigh and reached his hand out to the barrier.
But.
Halt.
Suddenly, Ubongchwigae's hand stopped right in front of the barrier.
A distance that seemed like it would touch at any moment.
Despite being so close, Ubongchwigae couldn't move.
The same was true for the others.
Everyone stiffened their bodies and turned their heads.
Their gazes gathered. The location was the middle of Henan, some distance away from here.
They couldn't see anything, but everyone present felt it.
"...Some... thing..."
"...This is...!"
Something was coming.
Thump-! Thump-!
Their wildly beating hearts and instincts were telling them so.
A fiercely surging sense of vigilance.
The moment they felt this and everyone started to become extremely tense.
Boom-!
Hwaaaaaaak--!!!
A fierce wind pressure and a massive pillar of light poured down from afar.
Light bursting forth from a pattern formed in the sky.
That intense and bright light struck the ground.
Judging by the distance, it seemed quite far, but it was such a violent spectacle that it could be seen even from here.
"...What, what in the world is that-!"
"What in the world is happening...!?"
They didn't know. They couldn't know, but one thing was certain.
"...We must get out of here right now."
That they had to escape from here this very instant.
Either escape from here somehow and head towards that place.
Or escape in the opposite direction and flee.
They had to do one of the two. They must not stay here.
It was a thought that simultaneously crossed each of their minds.
"...Damn it...!"
"We have to do something...! How on earth...!"
Just as everyone was panicking and showing anxious attitudes.
"Wait!"
Someone seemed to have found something and pointed beyond the barrier with their hand.
Because their attention had been stolen by the pillar of light, only a few looked over there.
"Huh?"
"That... person."
Their reaction was unusual.
It couldn't be helped.
Someone was walking beneath the barrier, and their state was too strange.
Stumbling and crawling, they approached with difficulty.
Behind their slow movements, blood was dripping down. Even in what must have been agonizing pain, the figure was silently approaching.
The problem was.
"...How is that person?"
That most of the people here recognized the approaching figure.
An old woman with a wizened body and silvery white hair.
A being who could be said to be managing the entire alliance's formations.
The Leader of the Wind Dragon Unit, Bimapa.
The master of formations was approaching the barrier heavily damaged for some reason.
******************
Kwoooooo---!!!
The pouring pillar was a magnificent sight just to behold.
I had never seen such a massive amount of light, and even if I tried to push through with firepower, it was an imposing presence that I couldn't create with my internal energy reserves.
It meant it was as much of an outstanding as it was a chilling sight.
"Th-That is."
"Run...! Run away!"
An unbelievable event was taking place.
Perhaps the others realized this too, as some began to flee in a hurry.
Most of them were civilians, but there were also martial artists mixed in. Well, seeing that sight, who cared whether one was a martial artist or a civilian.
If it were in the past, I might have chickened out and bolted too.
'Their direction is fine, so I don't need to go and catch them.'
The direction they were fleeing in was okay. So I didn't bother paying attention.
Kwooooong-!!
Right now was the time to focus on what was in front of me rather than such things.
I narrowed my eyes and observed only the pillar.
'...It's peculiar.'
It was definitely peculiar.
The fact that such a massive light was pouring out from the pattern was one thing.
'Such a massive light is pouring onto the ground, yet the damage is almost non-existent.'
Even though it was shooting down at the ground like that, there were no cracks in the surroundings or exploding debris.
How could that be?
Was it unable to pierce inside?
I didn't think that was the case.
'For that to be true, it's too straight.'
Even without looking, I could tell it was falling to the ground with immense pressure.
Then, was it cleanly piercing the ground and entering inside?
That didn't seem to be the case either.
'...Hmm.'
I didn't know. How on earth was that massive energy flowing?
Even using my Mind's Eye to look, I couldn't figure it out.
The only thing I knew was.
'It's dangerous.'
That light was dangerous.
Just looking at it stimulated my wariness.
As I had empathized when seeing the people fleeing earlier, I felt the same way.
Run away, even now. Otherwise, it's dangerous.
Every instinct in my body was saying so, but...
'...Where am I going to run to at this point?'
Running away now made no sense.
I've already laid an elephant-sized pile of crap; shouldn't I clean it all up before leaving?
And...
'If I can't get what I'm supposed to get here, there's nothing I can do in the future.'
This was the core of the plan.
Even if everything else could be fixed, dismantled, and modified.
This one thing was impossible.
A task that had to be accomplished no matter what. This was one of them.
"...Young Master..."
A voice came from beside me, and I sent my gaze over.
It was one of the martial artists of the Hwangbo Clan.
"A message just arrived. It's a report that Miss Nahi has finished her preparations."
I nodded.
'Good.'
Fortunately, there seemed to be no setbacks on that side either.
Since I was checking on the task, the man added one more thing.
"And... they said they confirmed the movement of the Wind Dragon Unit Leader near the pavilion... this is..."
"Leave that alone. It doesn't matter, so also tell them not to intervene separately."
"Understood."
It seemed the Wind Dragon Unit Leader was also starting to move slowly.
I grasped the situation one by one and adjusted my breathing.
The situation itself hadn't strayed far from the plan.
No, it was actually flowing well.
However.
'When the hell is that bastard Nokwang coming.'
Where and what the hell is this bastard doing?
He should be showing up by now, but I couldn't see what Dang Deok was up to.
'Tsk.'
Was it because I didn't give more detailed orders?
This was a bit of a problem.
'It should... be fine.'
It wasn't anything else, so this much should be fine.
For now, I decided to believe so.
Hwuuk-!
I expanded my energy sense.
To figure out if there were other people around.
The energy sense expanded in an instant. A few people were caught within it.
'Not civilians. A number of people who appear to be martial artists.'
Since it was urgent, I couldn't grasp the exact number, but a considerable number of them were approaching this way.
They were probably approaching after seeing the pillar.
I checked them to see if the person I was looking for was among them, but...
'...Not yet.'
Unfortunately, the person I was waiting for didn't seem to be included.
'Tsk.'
Why is this bitch late again.
Honestly, there's not a single one I like.
'I should just replace them all.'
Chess pieces that don't listen are unnecessary.
I had to keep making moves.
"Huu."
I exhaled a breath and swept my hair back.
I felt tense.
When emotions waver, the body stiffens, and an uncomfortable sensation will seep into the muscles.
I swung my hand.
Smack-!!
"Y- Young Master!?"
The other person next to me jumped in surprise.
It was because I had slapped my own cheek with all my might.
Trickle-!
My lip was torn, blood flowed, and my cheek swelled up slightly.
It was just right.
*Ptui.*
I spat out the blood and stretched my body.
"That did it."
When feeling tense, this method is the best.
If there was a mistake, it was that I hit myself a bit too hard and my tooth was shaking.
I used the shock to loosen my body, then took out a pouch from my bosom.
I took out a spiritual pill from it and swallowed it.
The spiritual pill was none other than the Dokcheondan.
Seuuuu---!!!
Immediately, internal energy seeped out from the spiritual pill and soaked into my heart.
The internal energy that had scattered while radiating sparks began to be replenished.
The Dokcheondan was a spiritual pill counted among the best in the Central Plains. To think I was using something like this just to recharge my internal energy.
Even I thought it was absurd, but it couldn't be helped.
This was the fastest method.
"Mm."
Clenching and unclenching my fist a few times to check, the effect was definitely good.
Thanks to that, I was able to recover some of the lost energy.
This was an unparalleled luxury.
While I was regulating and controlling my energy like that.
"Gyo...! Young Master!"
A powerful voice came from afar.
It seemed they had finally arrived.
I turned around with a deeply scowling face.
"You damn bitch. I clearly told you to come right away...!"
The moment I was about to speak, filled with annoyance.
The person I had been waiting for. Short black hair.
Bong Sun appeared, carrying a spear.
"Sorry-!! But this sister told me to go with her... so I'm a little late!"
Bong Sun came with a bright smile.
She was the person I had been waiting for until just now, but my gaze headed toward the figure behind Bong Sun rather than her.
"You..."
"...Hello..."
Blue-white hair swaying at the wave of her hand.
A woman wearing my martial arts uniform for some reason.
If it were the past, it would be one thing, but the woman who had now become one of my lives was there.
I widened my eyes at the absurd situation.
This was not a place where she should be.
I was sure I had told that woman never to come out, too.
"Why are you here again...!"
Right as I was about to yell in anger.
Snap-!
"...!"
Damn it, I couldn't even do that.
My head immediately turned.
The place where the pillar had shot down. I stared at it as if to confirm it.
"Damn."
Seeing that, my brows immediately furrowed.
The energy that had poured down so fiercely was nowhere to be seen.
Surprisingly, in the spot where I expected a deep crater to be, there was only a clean surface of the ground.
Then, where on earth did all that countless light go?
If it hadn't bored into the ground, where had all that light gone?
Questions arose about this, but they were resolved before long.
There was something on the clean surface of the ground.
I narrowed my eyes to focus and see, and it became clearer.
"That's..."
A white lump.
An unidentified white lump was there.
Its size was barely that of an adult male, and its shape resembled an egg.
What in the world was that?
Was that the dragon sealed in Henan that Pilduma said about?
If so, wasn't the size too small?
When such thoughts were coming to mind.
Sw... sweuuu...
A change slowly occurred in the lump.
'Threads...?'
They were thin and fine threads.
Threads slowly spewed out from the object, and they began to slowly construct a shape.
The outline being formed was much larger compared to the lump.
What would happen if it were left alone like that?
It was a thought that came to the minds of everyone around as they watched the sight, but...
Swish---!!!
Kwang-! Kwaaaaaaa---!!!
As if terrifying to even think about, a strike flew in and attacked the lump.
Sparks erupted, and a massive explosion occurred.
That wasn't the end.
Swish-! Swish---!!!
As if it wasn't going to end with just one time, flashes continuously burst forth.
Hwaruruk! Kwaaaaa---!!
The consecutive explosions were intense enough to change the surrounding temperature.
At this, everyone looked at me in surprise.
"...What?"
Why were they sending me such looks?
Seeing that, I immediately shouted.
"It's obviously transforming, so why are you just watching it? Are you crazy?"
Someone might call that romantic.
To hell with romance.
It was obvious that my head would fly off if I tried to protect something like that.