Fwoooooosh--!!
Soaring flames filled the empty air.
The sizzling, surging energy was scorching to behold.
The night with its hanging moon had already turned to day.
Fwoosh.
I waved my hand at the writhing tongues of fire.
Kwooooooooosh--!!!
The sound was like the roar of a demon.
The densely laid flames stirred with a single gesture. Not long after.
Kwaaaaaaa--!!
Causing an enormous shockwave, they began to be drawn back into me.
Cheongnyeom returned to my body.
They poured in, burrowing deep and accumulating energy in my heart. The energy thus amassed was about half of the internal energy I possessed.
"…Hoo…."
Right after recalling all the flames, I let out a low sigh.
I generated wind pressure as if to sweep away the heat filling the surroundings.
Fwoooosh--!!
After sweeping away the heat a few more times, I turned my gaze as if surveying my surroundings.
After which I immediately had to let out a hollow laugh.
'This is a mess.'
It seemed the aftermath of the flames had turned everything into a wreck.
Trees were charred, and black scorch marks littered every which way.
Of course, I had been blasting flames, so it was natural for things to end up this way, and yet.
'…I can't remember the last time I failed to control it to this extent.'
It was a bewildering situation for me.
Once one attains a certain level of proficiency in the fire arts, it becomes possible to limit damage only to desired areas.
In my past life, I hadn't concerned myself with such things and just killed everything in my path, but in this life, since I couldn't do that, I thought I had attained mastery in flame control.
'It got fucking difficult.'
Last night. Perhaps due to the transformation I had undergone, I couldn't control the flames.
Every time I shot them out, they flared far stronger than expected.
They were strong, of course, but because I couldn't control them either, I nearly burned down the entire mountain.
If I hadn't hurriedly withdrawn them, I probably would have really set a whole mountain ablaze.
After that, I tried shooting at the empty air rather than straight ahead to practice control, but…
'I couldn't resolve everything in the end.'
I stayed up all night experimenting with this and that. The conclusion was a single one.
'It won't do in just a day or two.'
Resolving this would take more time.
'My firepower has increased too much.'
What did I say last night?
That since my firepower seemed to have increased, I hoped it had risen by about thirty percent?
'Thirty percent my ass.'
It wasn't around thirty percent.
At this rate, it had doubled.
'My firepower has at least doubled compared to the flames I used before.'
Moreover, it wasn't just firepower—the strength with which I reinforced myself using internal energy had increased as well.
Because of that, controlling my strength was still a difficult situation.
An increase in firepower meant the limit of what I could gather and detonate at once had increased.
If the maximum I could gather and explode was originally ten, you could say it was now over twenty.
This meant my destructive power had increased, so one could say I had grown stronger, but.
'The problem here is…'
The point that I couldn't control this abruptly increased power, and.
The point that while my firepower had risen dramatically, my actual energy remained the same.
I possessed a great deal of internal energy to begin with, so my firepower had been high from the start.
In that situation, my firepower had doubled while my energy stayed the same? This wasn't something to be entirely happy about.
'It means the need for energy has increased further.'
Just having this much already put me at a level where I wouldn't lose to anyone in terms of energy.
As far as I knew, those who possessed more internal energy than me could probably be counted on one hand.
Surely that was the case, and yet…
'It's insufficient to sustain the firepower.'
I recalled the flames I had been shooting all night and had to furrow my brow.
My strength had truly increased.
It was a power surprising even to me.
However, I lacked the energy to sustain it.
'Should I consider this a good thing?'
In any case, since the ceiling of my power had risen, it was a fortuitous encounter if nothing else.
But to properly make use of it, I would need to increase the amount of training until I grew accustomed to it, of course.
'I'll have to find a way to acquire more energy.'
To utilize it fully, I needed to widen the vessel of my energy.
Whatever the case, it was good. I had to think of it as good.
'I did get stronger, after all.'
It was undeniably a fortuitous encounter.
When I recalled how pressed for time I was each day, it was better than the alternative, at least.
'It means that if I just secure energy, it will be a considerable advantage.'
Literally, if I just acquired the energy to sustain the firepower…
'Wouldn't I be able to compare to the Three Venerables?'
Leaving aside application or proficiency, in terms of firepower alone, I might surpass them.
No, I had to make it so.
Since the place I sought to reach was higher than theirs, I had to find a way somehow.
'At the very least, I have to surpass Cheonjon.'
He was the one with the strongest firepower among the Three Venerables.
I had felt it keenly in the battle against that demon the other day.
'I lose in firepower.'
The dark clouds that had filled the sky.
The lightning erupting from within.
It was fierce and inspired terror enough to be called a calamity.
Personally, I had thought to choose Cheonjon as the weakest among the Three Venerables, but…
'A Venerable is a Venerable.'
Having seen Cheonjon's true form, I had no choice but to think differently.
A human calamity.
Those who had reached the heavens with a human body.
I had to reach them.
'How far have I come with this fortuitous encounter?'
I had probably been around the middle ranks of the Ten Great Experts.
If it were now…
'I'd at least be in the upper tier.'
Comparing me to Maehwaseon or the Sword Emperor would be difficult, but I wouldn't fall below their lower tier.
If the situation aligned. If I somehow managed against those two.
If I overwhelmed them with firepower and seized the initiative early on, I could do it.
Of course.
'A prolonged battle would be difficult.
If my energy ran out first, my head would roll.
That was the objective assessment.
However.
'This is when fighting as a martial artist.'
Judging as a transcendent rather than a martial artist, the story changed again.
Because I possessed far more than just martial arts.
'If I used everything, I probably wouldn't lose.'
Whether I could win was ambiguous, but I wouldn't lose. That was the conviction I felt.
"…Hmm."
I calmly organized my energy and looked toward one spot.
Everything I possessed.
This of course meant the martial arts I had built up until now. It also meant the things I had obtained upon becoming a dragon.
The sorcery I was still repeating research on was the same.
And more precisely.
'Authorities.'
The authorities gained upon becoming a dragon.
Until now, Dragon Words and Tam.
Along with those, the Wind I had gained by capturing the Net.
In truth, while none of those had been exceptionally helpful in combat.
I had been able to gain another authority in the battle against the hundred-grade demon the other day.
And this authority I had gained…
'It's a decent power.'
I prided myself that it was quite a good power even by my standards.
I felt I had finally obtained something usable in combat.
'I should properly test this out too.'
If things had been normal, I should have checked it long ago, but.
I had spent the entire night trying to grasp my changed physical condition.
"Hmm…."
Shall I test it now?
Thinking so, I flicked my hand.
Honestly, I wanted to try it out.
However.
"Tch…."
Unfortunately, I had to hold back.
'It's dangerous here.'
No matter how remote the place, the authority I had gained wasn't something to be used lightly.
I wasn't even confident I could control it properly, and.
'I need to get moving.'
Since there was a schedule I had to attend to before long. I couldn't spend more time.
I should have gone much earlier, but I had dragged on too long checking my firepower.
"I'll test this next time."
It was a shame, but I'd hold back.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I turned my head.
It was about time to go down.
'Come to think of it, did that guy get there safely?'
I recalled Ttolttori, who had been nearby until just now.
Since I was doing this all night, he said he'd go down on his own. Did he even know the way?
A brief worry flashed through my mind, but.
'He'll manage on his own.'
He wasn't a child, and since he was flying around just fine, he'd figure it out somehow.
Honestly, I was a bit uneasy, but I had too much to do to worry about this.
'Let's go.'
Any longer and I'd be late.
Recalling this, I hurriedly moved my steps.
My destination was the Murim Alliance.
******************
After flying for roughly half a shichen, I arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Normally, I should have arrived half that time earlier… but I ended up later than expected.
'What the hell… I shoot out with just a little force. I can't control myself.'
The moment I put even a little strength into my legs, I picked up speed.
Worried I might crash into a building if I was careless, I had to barely keep myself under control to get here.
And so I arrived at the Murim Alliance.
The moment I reached the entrance, someone appeared and sought me out.
"…We greet the Saint King."
"Nice to meet you."
The Alliance's personnel showed courtesy, as if they had been waiting.
Seeing this, I made a disgruntled expression.
'I still can't get used to that damn title.'
The word Saint King grated on me immensely.
"…He has been waiting. If it is alright, I shall escort you inside."
"If it's not alright, can I not go?"
"Pardon…?"
"It was a joke. Let us go."
"…"
The atmosphere was rather poor, so I thought I'd crack a joke, but seeing the martial artist's expression instantly sour, I immediately retracted it.
After that, I followed the guide and entered the Alliance.
I had been coming frequently these days, so the backdrop had already grown familiar.
As I was observing each part while walking.
"The Lord has been waiting since just now."
The one walking ahead suddenly spoke to me.
Hearing that, I sent my gaze over.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. He prepared in advance, expecting that the Saint King might arrive a little early."
"Surely he is busy; did he really need to go to such lengths?"
"Is it not a matter of basic courtesy?"
Upon hearing those words, I slightly narrowed my eyes.
It was a nagging tone.
I observed the man with narrowed eyes.
Since he was only walking forward, I couldn't see his expression.
Was I imagining it?
I passed it off thinking so at first.
"…Well, I suppose."
But.
"After all, our Lord is in the position of your senior, so waiting does not seem entirely comfortable for him."
"…"
"If he shows any sign of displeasure, I hope you, his junior the Saint King, might understand."
Hearing the continued words, I could be certain it wasn't my imagination.
'Already making trouble.'
I raised a finger and scratched my cheek.
'A battle of auras from the start, huh.'
Not only faulting me for being late.
'Senior this, junior that.' It was laughable how he was slipping those words into the conversation.
While the arrival time had been later than expected, it wasn't exactly late.
Strictly speaking, it meant I wasn't tardy.
'But this bastard keeps nitpicking me as if I were.'
I tilted my head and observed the martial artist.
Looking at the emblem on his back and the armband on his forearm, I could quickly guess which faction he belonged to.
Taking it all in, I spoke to the martial artist.
"By the way?"
"Yes?"
At my words, the man flinched and turned around. His expression clearly showed he thought he had misheard.
Of course, he hadn't misheard, and he had heard properly.
"Who said to wait?"
"What do you mean…"
"Anyone would think I begged him to wait for me."
The martial artist looked at me as if I were absurd. Perhaps because my reaction was unusual. As his emotions faltered, I could faintly glimpse his inner thoughts.
"If I were late, I'd keep my mouth shut. But I'm not late; I arrived right on time. Why do you keep nitpicking me?"
"Nitpicking? How could I do such a thing to the Saint King…"
"If this isn't nitpicking, what is? Is this how someone with great courtesy speaks? I don't think so."
I said with a smirk, and a crack formed in the martial artist's expression.
"I said today was fine, so I was being considerate and accommodating my schedule to his. But why the hell are you spewing this crap about senior and junior?"
In the process of aligning schedules, I had been told today was most convenient, and since I didn't see any problem, I had accommodated him.
Did this man not know that? No, he probably knew.
He was doing this despite knowing it.
Moreover.
"Mister."
"E-excuse me, mister?"
"You don't know who I am, do you?"
"…You are the Saint King."
"No. Not just the Saint King."
I smiled broadly and patted the man's shoulder as I spoke.
"I'm here to become a Lord, which makes me your superior, doesn't it? Or am I wrong?"
"…"
"Surely I'm right. No matter how I look at it…."
I openly looked him up and down as if scanning him.
"You're not my superior, are you?"
"…"
I spoke in a voice dripping with condescension.
"…Grit."
The moment he heard that, the sound of the man grinding his teeth reached me.
It seemed his pride had been thoroughly scratched, but as if I didn't care in the slightest, I continued.
"This is advice for your own good, mister. Whether someone put you up to it or not, don't pick a useless fight with me."
I didn't emit any energy or put any force into my words as I spoke.
Normally I would have, but if I did so now with my control off, my opponent might die.
"My temper isn't exactly pleasant. Make a wrong move, and you might end up crippled somewhere. Take care of your health."
Words of advice spoken with sincerity. Of those who had gotten entangled with me like this, how many were still breathing?
I had killed them all, so I couldn't even remember well.
So don't put on useless bravado. That was what I meant, but.
"Y-you…!"
The man, having heard my advice, finally seemed to have his anger reach the top of his head, and he unleashed killing intent.
Not good.
The schedule hadn't even properly started, and it looked like I'd have to dispose of a corpse.
Ah, of course.
'Not that I'd particularly mind.'
To me, it wasn't an event of great significance.
The man slowly raised his hand to grip his sword.
I watched quietly.
'Grab it.'
Grab your sword.
'And draw it.'
And draw it.
If I was going to raise hell from the first day, that much justification would suffice.
Just as I was watching the man with that expectation.
Clack.
The man finally gripped his sword.
And just as I was about to curl my lips upward at that.
"Vice Lord."
"…!"
'Tch.'
Unfortunately, the sight I hoped for did not come to pass.
Because an interloper had arrived.
'No. He didn't just arrive. He must have urgently run over.'
He had probably been watching everything anyway. It was right to see it as him intervening before an accident occurred.
The figure who appeared was looking at the martial artist and me with an extremely stiff expression.
"L-Lord."
"What are you doing right now?"
"T-that is…"
"Why ask when you were watching the whole time?"
I cut in, taking advantage of the flustered martial artist.
Hearing that, the figure shifted his gaze to me.
"Ah, my apologies. A soliloquy. My inner thoughts just slipped out."
I tried to explain myself sheepishly, but naturally, the figure's expression did not ease.
"Saint King."
To the voice calling me, I smiled broadly and offered a greeting.
"Long time no see, Senior Ilcheonggeom."
The figure was none other than the Blue Dragon Lord, Ilcheonggeom.
He was the one with whom I had agreed to meet today for the schedule.
And at the same time.
"You really raised your subordinate like shit, didn't you?"
He was also one of the 'four' I had come to the Murim Alliance to kill.