Realizing the bastard’s true identity, I belatedly understood.
Why this bastard had appeared out of nowhere.
And why, after meeting him, I had become unable to use the fire arts.
‘So it was you.’
The Nine Flames Wheel Art. The Gu family’s heart method that allowed me to wield flames.
That was what this bastard was.
I didn’t know why this bastard wore the face of my past life, or why he was suddenly spewing this nonsense at me, but what mattered was that I had figured out his identity.
“…Keuk….”
I grabbed the arm of the bastard choking my neck.
I had blasted him with vast qi several times over, yet not a hint of fatigue could be felt from him.
Of course. Because if it was qi itself, it wasn’t something that could be worn down.
“…You were fine all this time, so why the hell are you acting up now?”
I spoke, trying somehow to find an opening.
“Did I do something wrong? I treated you well.”
Even if I hadn’t cherished him dearly, I had treated him as indispensable. Yet now he was trying to backstab me so late in the game. I couldn’t help but be furious.
To my irritated protest, the bastard spoke.
[I should have told you.]
Crunch.
“Keuk.”
The force against my neck grew stronger.
[This is the proof of qualification.]
Proof of what? Just what qualification?
And.
“…If I can’t prove it, you’re going to use my body?”
As I spoke with pursed lips, the bastard made the same expression as me.
[If you lack the qualification, it is only natural that I take it.]
“This is straight-up highway robbery, you bastard.”
How had I lived all this time for him to just take it as he pleased? It was terribly unfair.
[If you hate that, then prove it. Prove that you have the qualification to ignite the flames.]
What was I supposed to do? I rolled my eyes as I listened. My strength had already drained away completely.
With my neck seized, I could barely muster any force.
Proof of qualification. The situation was too underhanded to accomplish something I didn’t even understand.
‘How can I prove anything when you’ve blocked my flames?’
If you’re going to do this, we need to be on equal footing. You tell me to prove I can ignite flames, yet you make it so I can’t use them?
It was absurd.
Hwarururuk--!! Heat radiated from before me.
The bastard had wrapped his hand in flames.
Just like last time. That hand had pierced my heart.
Back then, I had nearly succumbed to fire deviation the moment I regained consciousness from death’s door.
What would happen this time?
The bastard had said there wouldn’t be a second time.
So did that mean he would actually steal my body this time?
The possibility was high. I could feel it in my bones. That this might really be the last chance.
‘I need to find a way.’
I had to escape somehow. This was no time to be tied up here worrying about qualifications or proofs.
Brute force wouldn’t work. This meant I had to use my wits, but.
‘…I don’t see one.’
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t see a way out. At this rate, things were truly dangerous.
Hwarureuk! The heat in his hand was growing stronger. Though I still had qi remaining, I knew that even if I unleashed a protective barrier, I couldn’t block that.
‘Fuck.’
My face scrunched up involuntarily. Yet, just as I continued racking my brains without giving up,
[...]
The bastard, who had been watching me silently, continued.
[In the end, your vessel was only capable of this much. I had held a modicum of expectation, but as expected, you are insignificant.]
I didn’t respond to his words. Bit by bit, I drew qi up from my heart.
I aimed for the opening when he attacked. That was the only option available to me now.
Just as I focused all my nerves on that single moment,
[Blame your own inadequacy and wither away.]
Sswik. His shoulder moved. I narrowed my eyes. Was this it? I focused my ki sense to a single point.
However.
[Once I take your body, I will start by eliminating the useless bitches around you.]
Tuk.
At those words, my ki sense blurred.
“…What?”
I asked again, though there was no way I had misheard. Because my head had gone ice-cold.
“What did you just say?”
The pain in my neck ceased. My stiffening joints returned to normal. Kkwak-!! I put strength into my hand holding his arm, as if to tear it off.
“What. Did you just say. You bastard.”
Paaaaah--!!!
The killing intent released from my heart spread in all directions. Amidst the killing intent bursting like fog, the bastard looked at me and spoke.
[Is it that you cannot understand, or that you do not wish to acknowledge it?]
The stronger my killing intent grew, the clearer the bastard’s purple eyes became.
[The women around you serve no purpose being by your side. You merely keep them there to relieve your useless guilt. It is nothing more than meaningless atonement. You must know this?]
“…So? You’re going to kill them all once you take my body?”
[Hahaha.]
The bastard laughed. And quite innocently at that.
[There is no need to go that far.]
“What?”
[Because it is already in progress.]
“…!”
My eyes widened at his words. Already in progress?
My breath quickened at the sickening sensation.
Uuuuuung---!!!
The massive white pearl floating in the air began to vibrate.
Something that had been glowing motionlessly was now moving, but I paid it no heed.
[Now, die.]
The flames moved. They flew toward me, intent on piercing my heart.
Kwak-!
Before the fingertips reached my chest, I grabbed the bastard’s arm.
[Hm?]
The bastard tilted his head at this unexpected turn.
I was no different.
I caught it.
The flames were hot enough to burn my hand, but I could endure it. Holding it in place wasn’t difficult either.
What the hell was happening all of a sudden? I couldn’t understand it, but.
Rather than trying to figure it out, I simply exerted force.
Udeudeuk--!!!
I grabbed the flame-wreathed arm and twisted it.
It twisted and was flung away. At the same time, I also grabbed the arm holding my neck and tore it clean off.
Jjijijik.
Though his brute force was considerable, I could tear it off without difficulty.
[...]
One arm twisted, one arm torn away.
The bastard, confirming this, looked me over with a strange expression, then.
[…A futile effort.]
He looked not at me, but in another direction and spoke quietly.
I wondered where he was looking. It bothered me, but I didn’t care.
“Hwuuu….”
Strangely, power was boiling up within me.
Where was the starting point? It seemed like the middle dantian, yet also the lower dantian.
Or perhaps, somewhere even higher?
My awareness was hazy.
The pain had subsided long ago.
Just what was going on?
Uuuuuung---!!!!!
At the sound of vibrations, I looked up at the empty air. The pearl that had been floating there was now trembling much more violently.
And. The more intense that trembling grew.
Huuuuu---!!!
I could feel the power rising within my body growing stronger.
‘So that’s it.’
That was it. The source of this unknown power flowing through me now. It was definitely flowing in from there.
Then, just what was that?
Why was it suddenly giving me power? That itself, not to mention the entire situation, was a mystery.
It was full of inexplicable events, but at least one thing I knew here was.
“I promise.”
Crouching my upper body, I spoke to the bastard.
“I will definitely kill you, at the very least.”
Rather than finding the cause of this power, using it took priority.
Kung-!! I smashed the ground and shot forward.
I charged in quickly. In an instant, I was right in his face.
I twisted my waist. Every joint in my body was charged with immense force.
With both arms destroyed, he wouldn’t be able to defend properly. Thinking so, I aimed straight for his chest, but.
Hwaruk-!!
Flames burst from the bastard’s both arms, and his destroyed arms immediately regenerated.
The bastard raised his arms just like that and blocked the attack.
Kuuuung--!!!
My qi exploded. The impact sent the bastard staggering backward.
It was different from before. The bastard who had never budged an inch was pushed back this time.
Thus, I thought.
‘Was that a feint? Or the real thing?’
I didn’t rule out the possibility of a feint. But.
‘Even so, there is only one answer.’
Even if that was a feint, retreating wasn’t an option. I kept closing the distance.
My strength had definitely increased. My speed had doubled, and my brute force was substantial as well.
Kuuuuu---!!
I caught a glimpse of flames. The bastard, while being sent flying, was cupping both hands to build up flames.
Seeing that, I stuck to him even faster.
I threw a punch with the Flame Prison. It was the Heart Fist.
Jjeok-!
My strike impacted his incomplete Flame Prison. At that moment.
Kwaaaaah---!!!
An enormous explosion erupted, and flames shot up in every direction. Hot. The heat was as intense as before, but it wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t endure it.
[Ha.]
The bastard let out a hollow laugh at my somewhat crude method.
[To think you would use that disgusting energy so willingly. Have you no shame?]
Disgusting energy. The bastard seemed to know exactly what this power of mine was.
I raised the corner of my lips.
“You said you’ve watched everything.”
[What?]
“If you’ve watched me all this time, you should know.”
I twisted my waist and kicked out hard.
The bastard crossed his arms in defense.
“I don’t care about that stuff.”
Dirty power, or whatever the hell. I don’t care about that.
What matters is whether it helps me right now or not. Only that.
Whether it was the righteous path or the demonic path, those who fought to the death were all the same to me in the end.
‘If it helps me, that’s justice.’
What other justice could there be? That was the justice I believed in.
Kwaaa--!! Black flames burst forth. Rather than dodging into the air, I evaded sideways even though it was harder.
Aerial combat was dangerous. I had to fight on the ground as much as possible.
The problem was, that bastard knew it too.
Hwaak--!!
Sure enough, the bastard soared into the air.
His figure rising while scattering black flames was still as repulsive as ever.
Should I strike with the Heart Fist? Logically, that would be the most efficient, but.
‘Just because my strength has increased doesn’t mean it has become the solution.’
This unknown power couldn’t solve everything.
My intrinsic power seemed strengthened, but the rate of qi recovery wasn’t that great.
‘If it comes to this.’
As always, I reached the same conclusion.
‘I need flames.’
If only I had that, I wouldn’t have to worry about such things.
‘Tch.’
I couldn’t ignite flames. To think that alone would make things so difficult.
‘What should I do?’
It wasn’t something I could ignite just because I wanted to. If that bastard was truly the fire art that had resided in my body, then without his permission, the flames….
“…Huh?”
I stopped mid-thought and widened my eyes.
A strange feeling brushed through my mind.
It felt as if lightning had struck from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
[…Revolting.]
The bastard spoke.
[Your actions under the pretense of atonement. The way you still struggle, unable to forget that time. It is all revolting.]
Listening to his voice, I looked into the bastard’s eyes.
Right now, I cannot use flames. Why can’t I use them?
Because he won’t permit it?
Ba-dump!
The more I added to the thought, the more my heart raced.
Hwarururuk--!!! Massive flames spread from the bastard’s body.
They felt far more intense and massive than when he had created dozens of Flame Prisons.
[You, who want to collapse right now yet force yourself to endure. You, who think of others rather than yourself in your final moments. All of it is revolting.]
The black flames heated endlessly. Watching them, I steadied my breath.
Right. Why hadn’t I thought of it?
[Hand it over. If you are going to use it like this, hand over that flesh. I shall burn the world in your stead.]
The bastard finished speaking and swept his hand downward.
At that.
Kwaaaaah---!!!
Flames filling the sky poured down upon me.
“...”
It was as if the heavens were collapsing.
Intense. And vast.
At a glance, it was a sight to fear, but strangely, I wasn’t afraid.
Why?
When I thought about it, it was only natural.
How could I fear my own flames?
“...”
Sswik. I reached out toward the falling flames.
There was no change.
The flames kept pouring down and swallowed me whole.
Chiiiiik-! My body burned.
The flames seemed intent on leaving not even bones behind, chewing through every corner of my body, but.
I didn’t think of this as purely pain.
My skin was burning. Even as I was aware of this, I caressed the flames.
[…What are you doing?]
The bastard furrowed his brows, as if unable to understand my actions.
But I didn’t stop.
‘In the end, this too is qi.’
If you think about it, the flames the bastard was firing were also qi.
Moreover, it was the fire art I had originally used.
Which meant.
‘It is more familiar than any other qi.’
It was a power I couldn’t possibly not know. Put differently,
‘I just have to steal it.’
Since it had originally been mine, it meant this was all too easy to handle.
Hwaaaaaah---!!!!
Why had I been so certain I had no flames?
This too was a flame right now.
Hwarurururururuk---!!!
When I caressed the energy, they struggled as if unwilling to be tamed.
I didn’t care.
Kkwak-!
I clenched the energy and pulled it straight in.
“…If you don’t want to die.”
As the old saying goes, the whip is medicine for a brat who won’t listen.
“Stop struggling and obey.”
Uuuung.
I let out a low voice and gradually reined in the energy.
In the meantime, my body was already a mess from the heat.
I ignored the pain that crept up.
Kyaaaaah--!!!
And so, I seized every last flame that thrashed in its final struggle.
In that instant.
Kuuuuuuuuu--!!!! The black flames that had surged to devour me twisted direction in an instant.
Shiiiiiiii---!!!!!
They gathered at my fingertips according to my will.
Compressing and rotating. In the fleeting moments that flowed by, a form was completed.
It was the Flame Prison Spear.
I had crafted it from black flames, yet what was completed was crimson flame.
It then shifted into azure flame—a color I hadn’t seen in a long time.
Even so.
‘I hadn’t even overlaid it with a mental image.’
I didn’t need the power that should have originally been used to maintain its form.
The flames truly moved according to my will.
Right, my original flames had always felt like this.
Should I say the sensation was moving? No, it wasn’t that.
They were simply warm.
[...]
The spear, created after I had stolen all his flames.
The bastard’s expression as he looked at it was strangely calm. What kind of expression was that? I couldn’t understand it.
I threw the spear at the bastard who stood still.
And the spear pierced straight through his chest.