Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Sang-hyeok immediately reached out with his right hand.
Tap.
His palm touched the center of the Throne Mark engraved on Tokyo Golden Dragon's chest.
VMMMM!
Beneath his palm, the mark flared hot.
[You have made contact with the center of the Throne Mark.]
[You have confirmed a pattern identical to the first seal placed on <Seal Key of the Demonic Dragon Treasury>.]
[Recording the seal pattern.]
"...!"
The moment Tokyo Golden Dragon's eyes flew wide at Sang-hyeok's action.
FLASH!
Golden light burst from the mark on his chest.
Sang-hyeok did not resist the force pushing against him and stepped back.
Tap-tap.
Sang-hyeok stopped after two steps.
Tokyo Golden Dragon stumbled back several more steps, clutching his chest.
"What did you do?"
"There was something I needed to confirm."
At that moment.
Click.
A small metallic sound rang only in Sang-hyeok's ears.
At the same time, an inventory window visible only to Sang-hyeok opened before his eyes.
The dark-red key resting in a storage slot expanded before his eyes.
A crack began to form in one of the black rings wrapped around the key.
Crack.
The moment the crack spread across the entire ring.
Snap.
The black ring split in two and fell away.
[You have confirmed the first seal pattern.]
[The first seal placed on <Seal Key of the Demonic Dragon Treasury> has been released.]
[The dormant guiding function awakens.]
[Searching for an entrance to the <Demonic Dragon Treasury> currently accessible from the tower.]
The moment he confirmed the same pattern on the Throne Mark, the key's first seal came undone.
The treasury's location was not immediately revealed.
Still, the awakened guiding function had begun searching for the entrance, so the next clue would surface before long.
[Searching for an entrance]
'So the Apocalypse Demonic Dragon and the Celestial Seats were connected.'
Sang-hyeok's eyes narrowed.
He had never imagined there might be a link between the Demonic Dragon and the Celestial Seats.
Of course, he could not conclude that yet, so he needed to learn more about what was happening.
Sang-hyeok closed the notification and looked at Tokyo Golden Dragon.
The man was furious.
His face was visibly flushed.
"How dare you..."
Tokyo Golden Dragon clutched the mark on his chest.
"You dare touch the mark bestowed by True Dragon?"
VMMMM!
The Throne Mark blazed with dazzling golden light.
Two golden forelegs reappeared, and above them rose the massive head of a dragon.
He had deployed <Golden Dragon Projection> at full power.
The fully manifested golden dragon filled half of the narrow gorge.
An overwhelming pressure settled over the gorge.
Yet even before it, Sang-hyeok remained composed.
'It still won't change anything.'
Even if the bastard's golden dragon filled this entire gorge, erasing it all with <Erasure> would be enough.
"Kongo, maintain formation."
At that moment, Tokyo Golden Dragon gave orders to the remaining three team members.
"Ryuga and Kagura, keep attacking the other three."
The three faithfully followed Tokyo Golden Dragon's words.
Twang—! BOOM!
Ryuga's arrow lodged in Blocking Again Today's shield.
Kagura's golden mana bolt exploded right on top of it.
The impact shook Blocking Again Today's body hard.
Still, he did not let go of his cracked shield.
"Undisclosed! We'll hold this side, so don't worry about us and just focus on him!"
Sang-hyeok gave a short nod at those words.
At the same time, Tokyo Golden Dragon thrust both arms forward.
"Crush him."
Graaah!
The golden dragon roared and lunged at Sang-hyeok.
But Sang-hyeok did not retreat. Instead, he pushed forward and caught the right foreleg head-on.
'<Erasure>.'
Hsssss!
There was no anomaly.
From the point where his palm touched, the golden claws and foreleg rapidly vanished.
Sang-hyeok drove his body through the opening.
Immediately, the left foreleg slammed down where Sang-hyeok had just been standing.
BOOOOM!
It struck the ground with tremendous force, generating a massive shockwave.
The golden dragon's forelegs carried immense destructive power.
Even within that shockwave, Sang-hyeok's stance did not waver.
It was thanks to <Collapse Walker’s Boots>.
'<Erasure>.'
Sang-hyeok used <Erasure> on the left foreleg without hesitation.
FSSSSSH!
The second foreleg also evaporated and vanished just the same.
Graaah!
Then the golden dragon, having lost both forelegs, opened its jaws.
From within its gaping maw, golden flames poured out as if exploding.
FWOOSH—!
The flames filled the narrow gorge and swallowed Sang-hyeok.
"Undisclosed!"
Arrow Prices Went Up Again screamed.
But Sang-hyeok kept walking forward even within the flames.
The black energy of <Erasure> extending from his right hand erased the pouring golden flames on contact.
Maintaining <Erasure>, Sang-hyeok drove in beneath the golden dragon's jaw.
Tap!
He kicked off the ground and shot up beneath the massive head.
Soon Sang-hyeok's right hand pressed against the golden dragon's lower jaw.
"Erasure."
Hssssss—!
The golden dragon's sharp teeth and jaw, engulfed by the energy of <Erasure>, evaporated on the spot.
Then the black energy swallowed the entire head.
The golden dragon's roar cut off midway.
The massive form that had filled the gorge scattered into golden dust and vanished.
A sigh escaped even from behind Kongo's barrier.
"All of that..."
Ryuga stared at the empty air, having forgotten even to draw his bowstring.
Kagura, too, stood frozen with the staff still raised.
What had just vanished was not merely a single attack.
The core Authority that had led the True Dragon Society undefeated until now had been erased by Sang-hyeok's hand.
"My golden dragon..."
Tokyo Golden Dragon's voice trembled.
"What the hell did you do?"
Sang-hyeok did not answer.
He simply lowered his right hand, still wreathed in black energy, slowly.
His teammates watching the scene could not hide their shock.
Who could have imagined that anyone could erase a golden dragon created by the power of a Celestial Seat with a mere touch?
As they witnessed a sight they could not believe even with their own eyes, one figure came to mind.
"Wait..."
Arrow Prices Went Up Again's eyes flew wide.
"An Authority that absurd... could it be Impossible One?"
Heal Is Off Cooldown also stared at Sang-hyeok with a shocked expression.
"You really were Impossible One?"
Tokyo Golden Dragon's expression twisted.
"Impossible One..."
Tokyo Golden Dragon knew that name well.
The Korean rookie who had recently set even the Japanese PlayerNet ablaze.
Still, he had underestimated Impossible One.
No matter how remarkable the records, in the end Impossible One was just a Korean rookie.
He had thought Impossible One was not someone to be compared with himself, who bore the mark of the Sixteenth Celestial Seat <True Dragon>.
Until they clashed directly.
But only after seeing the golden dragon erased on contact did he realize.
Impossible One was not simply a player with outstanding low-floor records.
Impossible One was someone who possessed an Authority beyond the bounds of common sense as he knew it.
Tokyo Golden Dragon gritted his teeth and placed his hand on the Throne Mark on his chest.
"Still, this isn't over."
VMMMM!
The Throne Mark on his chest blazed with intense golden light once more.
This time, he did not summon the golden dragon outward.
Golden claws layered over both of Tokyo Golden Dragon's arms, and the remaining golden light covered his entire body like armor.
He had overlaid the <Golden Dragon Projection> he had spread outward onto his own body.
Compressed mana seethed as if about to overflow from his entire body.
Crack!
As the compressed mana surged, the ground beneath his feet split.
Tokyo Golden Dragon lowered his stance.
His two eyes, dyed gold, locked onto Sang-hyeok.
The next moment.
BOOM!
Tokyo Golden Dragon kicked off the ground and closed the distance to Sang-hyeok in an instant.
Whoosh!
A fist wrapped in golden claws flew toward Sang-hyeok's face.
But Sang-hyeok did not dodge it. He met it head-on with his right hand wreathed in <Erasure>.
Hssss!
The black energy wrapping Sang-hyeok's right hand and the golden claws collided head-on.
This time, the claws had the golden dragon's power compressed into them.
But <Erasure> paid it no mind and rapidly erased the golden claws from the tips.
The moment the last golden light vanished, the <Erasure> wrapping his right hand scattered as well.
But Sang-hyeok did not withdraw his hand.
Thud.
He seized Tokyo Golden Dragon's bare fist, revealed from within the golden claws.
BOOOOM!
A shockwave erupted between the locked fist and palm.
Red dirt sprayed in all directions, but Sang-hyeok was not pushed back a single step.
"What...?"
Tokyo Golden Dragon tried to pull his captured fist free.
But Sang-hyeok's hand did not budge.
The same Lv.20.
Yet Sang-hyeok's body had been strengthened along with <Heart of the Apocalypse Demonic Dragon> every time his level rose.
Even Tokyo Golden Dragon, clad in the Throne Mark's power over his entire body, could not push Sang-hyeok back with pure strength.
Sang-hyeok did not miss the moment Tokyo Golden Dragon faltered. He twisted the captured fist and pulled.
"Guh!"
As Tokyo Golden Dragon was dragged off balance, Sang-hyeok drove a knee into his solar plexus.
Crunch!
"Ghk!"
The moment his upper body folded, Sang-hyeok released the fist he had been holding.
He placed his freed right hand on Tokyo Golden Dragon's back.
"It's over."
Hssssss!!
The black energy of <Erasure> spreading from beneath his right hand swallowed Tokyo Golden Dragon's entire body.
Pshhhhh...
Tokyo Golden Dragon became a handful of black sand and scattered on the spot.
[Tokyo Golden Dragon's death has been confirmed.]
[Tokyo Golden Dragon is eliminated.]
"T-Team leader!"
"Y-You idiot...! This is impossible...!"
Kongo, Ryuga, and Kagura let out sharp cries.
Taking down opponents who came out from behind the shield had always been Tokyo Golden Dragon's role.
Opponents who could not withstand Kongo's barrier and the ranged attacks and rushed out were finished by Tokyo Golden Dragon in close combat.
That had been the True Dragon Society's winning formula.
But this time, that formula had turned completely on its head.
Tokyo Golden Dragon, who had regarded Sang-hyeok as prey, was overwhelmed head-on and erased.
Blocking Again Today also watched the sight from beyond his cracked shield.
When Sang-hyeok had stepped out alone from behind the shield, he had thought they had fallen into the True Dragon Society's trap.
But that was not the case.
The strongest person on this battlefield had been Sang-hyeok from the start.
Arrow Prices Went Up Again swallowed hard.
"It really... was Impossible One."
* * *
At the same time.
The Iron Rookie League spectator channel.
Even before the match began, people had been arguing over the identity of the Black Mask.
[Korea/Lv.24] Set Three Alarms : They used Undisclosed as their public name and even wore the Black Mask. This time it's really Impossible One!
[Korea/Lv.28] ChickenBeforeTheMatch : That's the third time today you've said the same thing lol. Not believing it until I see the fight.
[Japan/Lv.48] ScatteringCherryBlossoms : The opponent is the True Dragon Society, so it'll be settled soon. A fake won't last long.
[China/Lv.68] Beijing Swordsman : We'll know from watching their movements.
However, judging from the early match alone, the skeptics seemed to be right.
The Republic of Korea team was blocked by Kongo's barrier and could not advance a single step.
The player wearing the Black Mask also stayed behind Blocking Again Today's shield and barely moved.
[Current viewers: 5,033]
[Korea/Lv.28] ChickenBeforeTheMatch : Tch. Not this time either. I'm out first, gg.
[Korea/Lv.24] Set Three Alarms : It's barely started! Just wait a little longer!
[Korea/Lv.36] Always Reads the Rules : The opponent is the True Dragon Society. It's too early to judge from the first exchange.
[Korea/Lv.28] ChickenBeforeTheMatch : Not worth my time lol. Call me back if it's real.
[Current viewers: 4,529]
[Current viewers: 4,281]
People who regarded the Black Mask as just another imitator left the spectator channel one by one.
Then.
The Black Mask, who had stayed behind the shield the whole time, stepped forward alone.
As if he had been waiting, Tokyo Golden Dragon charged with the golden dragon layered over his body.
The moment the massive golden foreleg descended over the Black Mask's head.
Hssss!
The golden dragon's foreleg vanished without a trace.
The messages that had been rising without pause stopped all at once.
And just now.
The Black Mask had erased the fully manifested golden dragon head-on, then caught even Tokyo Golden Dragon's final attack with one hand.
The Black Mask then scattered Tokyo Golden Dragon's body into black sand, giving the True Dragon Society its first elimination.
[Korea/Lv.24] Set Three Alarms : It's real!!! This time it's really Impossible One!
[Korea/Lv.36] Always Reads the Rules : What's going on right now? Why did the golden dragon disappear?
[Japan/Lv.55] Tsukikage : Tokyo Golden Dragon's <Golden Dragon Projection> was completely erased. Is that even a possible Authority?
[Korea/Lv.42] Soju in Rice Soup : Whoa, what the hell, it erases whatever they touch. Is that the same power that smashed the Indestructible Guardian in the tutorial??????
[Current viewers: 12,906]
News that Impossible One had appeared in their first Rookie League match spread quickly across PlayerNet.
Even the people who had left the channel moments ago began hurrying back.
[Korea/Lv.28] ChickenBeforeTheMatch : No, what the hell! It was real???? Why did I leave!! Someone who clipped that scene, upload it fast!
[Korea/Lv.33] Newbie Protection Squad : I ran over after seeing PlayerNet. Is it true they erased the whole golden dragon?
[Japan/Lv.48] ScatteringCherryBlossoms : The link has spread to the Japanese channel too. People keep flooding in.
[Current viewers: 19,442]
[Current viewers: 32,817]
[Current viewers: 51,306]
Impossible One's first public battle.
That fact alone was driving the viewer count up at a terrifying rate even now.
And for the people who had come in late, the spectator channel was flooded with clips showing the moment Tokyo Golden Dragon's fist was caught in one hand and the moment his body scattered into black sand.
[Korea/Lv.33] Newbie Protection Squad : Tokyo Golden Dragon lost in close combat too?
[USA/Lv.61] IronJack : He didn't lose. He was never a match from the start.
[China/Lv.68] Beijing Swordsman : Hard to believe they're Level 20.
[Japan/Lv.31] Gyudon : Tokyo Golden Dragon, who bears a Celestial Seat's mark, so one-sidedly...
[Korea/Lv.24] Set Three Alarms : To finally see Impossible One's battle with my own eyes...! Ahh! I'm so moved!!
The people seeing Impossible One's battle firsthand for the first time shuddered.
Physical abilities hard to believe for the same Lv.20, and an Authority that erased everything he touched.
The power of Impossible One, which they had only encountered through records, far surpassed even their expectations.
* * *
Red-Rock Gorge.
Nothing remained where Tokyo Golden Dragon had stood.
[South Korea Remaining: 4/4]
[Japan remaining: 3/4]
Kongo, Ryuga, and Kagura could not move for a while.
They seemed unable to accept the fact that Tokyo Golden Dragon, the one they had trusted most, had been overwhelmed one-sidedly and eliminated first.
"Maintain formation!"
Kongo, the first to regain his senses, gritted his teeth and slammed his shield into the ground.
BOOM!
The golden barrier blocked the gorge once more.
Ryuga and Kagura also hastily retreated behind it and readied themselves for battle.
But it was different from before.
There was no longer a golden dragon to block incoming attacks.
Nor was there a Tokyo Golden Dragon to deal with enemies who came out from behind the barrier.
Sang-hyeok walked toward the remaining three.
Blocking Again Today adjusted his grip on his cracked shield.
"What do we do this time?"
Black energy rose from Sang-hyeok's right hand again.
"Wait there. I'll clean up the rest and be right back."
The right hand that had just erased the entire golden dragon now turned toward Kongo's barrier.