Chapter 465: Screw Off (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 465: Screw Off (3)
Kyaaaa-!
Its massive maw gaped wide as it lunged straight for me.
Slam-!
It smashed into the wall behind me, pulverizing it completely. I barely managed to dodge, my left arm flailing uselessly.
Moving underwater was a serious handicap.
Tsk…
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
My disabled left arm was a problem, but there was an even bigger issue.
[Succumb to me!]
The bastard’s booming voice kept echoing inside my skull. Was it trying to shatter my mind?
What a hassle.
The physical pain was bad enough, but this mental assault was pushing me to the brink.
What the hell is this thing?
Given its bizarre, monstrous appearance, I wouldn’t be surprised by anything else it could do. But I was more confused about its origin.
It was a serpentine creature covered in blue scales, gigantic, with fangs that looked lethally sharp. How could something so monstrous even exist? Its arrogance was as foul as its appearance.
Yet, for some reason, it felt… familiar.
Swish-!
“…!”
I sensed a presence from my left and threw my arms up instinctively.
Slam-!
The bastard’s attack landed the moment I raised my guard.
“Ugh!”
Its tail slammed into me with crushing force, sending me flying.
Smash-!
The impact was so violent I almost forgot I was underwater. I was hurled backward at incredible speed, crashing into a wall.
Damn, it’s strong.
The situation was so laughably bad I couldn’t help but smirk. Nothing was going my way.
My left arm was practically useless after the bite, and I couldn’t properly channel my Qi. Had my vessel shattered? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t as weak as a normal person, but I was a far cry from my usual capabilities.
And in this state, I had to face that thing.
What a fucking joke.
It couldn’t get any worse.
I twisted my body sharply.
Crack-!
The bastard’s claw stabbed into the spot where I’d just been standing. I tried to create some distance, but it was hopeless. My arm throbbed with pain—had the bones shattered?
It doesn’t feel like it, though.
Without a Qi barrier, my defenses were pitiful. Blocking its attacks was suicide; I had to evade everything.
Smash-!
But that was impossible. Another blow sent me flying again.
Ugh.
The impact rattled my organs. I’d protected my head, but my already injured arm was in worse shape. Shit, the pain was excruciating. I fought to stay conscious, desperately trying to steady my body.
Kwak-!
Before I could recover, the creature’s arm shot out and pinned me to the ground.
Slam-!
The force shook the entire area. Bubbles erupted from the impact, and I bit my lip as I felt my bones crack.
[You inferior creature.]
[I, a superior being, showed you generosity, yet you failed to acknowledge your place.]
[Did you truly believe you could win? A mere mortal who lives but a few years?]
“God fucking damn it, can’t you speak like a normal person?” The grating voice in my head was driving me insane.
Crack-! I tried to break free, willing to snap my own bones if necessary, but I had no strength left.
[Cease your pointless struggles. There is no hope for you. Succumb—]
“Succumb to you?”
[Yes.]
A smirk spread across my face at its response. It had repeated this mantra so many times. It was a superior being, it wanted my body, and I would find peace. Since I couldn’t win anyway, I should just give up. I’d heard it so often I was starting to get confused.
“Why do you keep asking for my body?”
[I shall say it again, I—]
“You could just take it, you dumbass.”
[…]
The bastard froze at my words. Seeing its reaction, my smile widened.
I wasn’t an idiot. I’d known from the very first exchange that winning in my current state was impossible. It was obvious, especially now, pinned and helpless. The bastard knew it too—it could devour me right here if it wanted.
Yet.
“Why do you keep asking for it?”
Hearing its pleas so many times had made me realize something. I stared into its uninjured eye.
“You… you can’t take it from me, can you?”
[Krrrr…]
“You need me to give it to you, right?”
No answer came. Only a low, guttural growl. But that was answer enough.
The difference in our power was clear. The bastard coveted my body, but it couldn’t seize it by force—that’s why it kept begging. Moreover, it was clearly holding back to keep me alive…
“You can’t kill me, and you can’t take it by force. Am I right?”
I was becoming convinced the bastard couldn’t seriously harm me. Was I certain? Of course not. But I was getting there.
Its reaction told me everything. It scowled monstrously, its breathing grew heavier, but even in its rage, it did nothing. It couldn’t afford to kill me. All it could do was mentally torture me and pin me down just short of knocking me out.
Sure, it might have some trick up its sleeve. But why would it bother hiding it? If it did, there had to be a reason. And because of what I’d just said, I felt its grip loosen slightly.
I shifted my body. Escape was still impossible, but I managed to wrench my arm free. The problem was, what could I do now?
…I figured out its intent.
Knowing its desire didn’t change the fact that I was powerless here. To end this, I still had to defeat this thing.
But how?
How would I know that? If I had the answer, I wouldn’t be struggling.
The only certainty was that I wasn’t going to die here. To overcome this, I needed to think, because physically defeating that monster was impossible.
It would’ve been nice if my Qi worked, at least.
But I felt completely empty inside. No chance.
Dammit. What a total mess.
As I struggled, my hand brushed against the creature’s body.
Then,
Woong-!
“…!”
[…Krygh!]*
Something dug into me. At the same time, the bastard swung its arm and hurled me away.
Swoosh-!
I was sent flying through the water. Same as before, but this time, I didn’t hit a wall.
Tap.
I twisted in mid-flow and landed safely on my feet. I immediately checked my condition.
…My Qi is back?
A small amount of Qi had been restored within me. Feeling that familiar sensation, I smirked.
“Oh, so that’s how it is.”
[Krrrrr…!]
My body was at its absolute limit, on the verge of collapse, but I also felt a strange refreshment. It was a tiny amount, but I stared at the bastard, feeling the Qi circulating within me.
I’d wondered why it felt so familiar, even though we’d never met.
“I was really confused, but it’s you.”
I finally understood the bastard’s identity.
It was none other than…
“Blood Qi.”
The energy radiating from the creature was Blood Qi. That’s why it felt so familiar.
I didn’t know why it had taken on this monstrous form.
[Krrrrgh-]
But it was undeniable—the monster was the Blood Qi itself.
I spoke to the bastard as it growled at me with a deep scowl. “You’ve been asleep all this time. Why are you causing trouble now?”
It was the very Qi the Blood Demon had planted inside my body. Unbelievably powerful to use, but the recoil was devastating. I’d avoided using it precisely because it came from the Blood Demon.
Why was it acting up now after being dormant for so long?
“What do you want?”
[Do not mistake the situation.]
“What?”
[You only achieved Shedding thanks to my existence. It is only right that I claim this body.]
I frowned at its words. I Shedded thanks to it?
Shedding. The Blood Demon had mentioned that word before. It sounded like it involved ceasing to be human. What happens when a person fully Sheds? Do they become a so-called superior being, above humans?
The term ‘superior being’ itself bothered me.
Seeing my repeated frowns, the bastard continued, displeased.
[You have no right to become a Dragon. You lowly being.]*
Dragon.
The word struck me.
Dragon, huh…
It reminded me of a monster I’d seen in the past. Long body like a snake, but with limbs and sharp fangs. Gigantic. Its appearance was identical to the dragons of legend, which was strange.
The term ‘Dragon’ in the current Central Plains…
White Demons.
It was a general term for all the White Demons that had emerged through the White Gates of Demons.