Chapter 627: Power. (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 627: Power. (4)
Desire.
A fundamental craving, an emotion every living being possesses.
Shaolin, one of the Ten Sect Alliance, may claim to seek liberation from such worldly desires. But in my view, desire is a more vital purpose in life than anything else.
It is the drive that pushes humanity forward. The will to fight for and obtain something. Be it materialism, the thirst for fame, or even lust—whatever it may be, it is all, in the end, desire.
I considered it a primal, inseparable part of being human.
So then.
‘Would a dragon be any different?’
Whether it was Hyeolgi or that wench, Yuseon, they were both steeped in arrogance, holding themselves up as transcendent beings. But from what I could see, dragons were no different. In fact, if anything, they were more honest about their cravings; they were certainly not beings free from them.
If that weren't the case…
‘There’s no way they’d grant a power so faithful to instinct.’
This thought occurred to me as I watched the scene unfold.
Grrrriiiind—!
I focused my gaze on the brutal sound.
Black.
A world that seemed blue, yet also pitch black, spread out before my eyes.
‘How strange.’
It was my first time seeing it in person, and it was a novel sight.
‘So this is…’
…a Power.
A surge of conflicting emotions washed over me. This wasn't like the Dragon’s Word, or the incredible regenerative ability I'd gained simply by being a dragon. It wasn't just the near-perfect physique or the vast vessel I now possessed.
‘This is the real deal.’
This wasn't a level of martial attainment that a martial artist could achieve through training. It was a force gained purely from one's existence itself.
That was a Power.
When I opened my eyes, I naturally understood that the Power had seeped into my body. Yes, you just know. You know that you possess a Power. You know what kind of strength it holds, how it can be used, and what its conditions are.
I could understand almost everything about it without having to test it or experience it firsthand. Until now, whenever I gained a new technique, I had to practice it repeatedly for days to master it. There was no power more convenient than this.
‘How unfair.’
I felt a pang of resentment.
The martial arts I'd honed for ages, as if my life depended on it. The Qi I had chewed, swallowed, and painstakingly accumulated. It felt like all of that was being trampled upon by the single, inherent fact of being a ‘Dragon’.
It felt truly unfair.
Was that why? Was that why this power, created in the image of my greatest desire, was overlaid with my own discomfort? This felt less like a tool to use against martial artists and more like a power designed solely to be used against dragons.
A Power resembles its master. Perhaps that's why it manifested this way.
Cruuunch-!
Starting from my pierced heart, something like a shadow began enveloping everything. It wrapped around the entire room—which was by no means small—letting in no light. It was dark and murky.
Within it, I could feel a distinct emotion.
Avarice.
That is the name of my Power.
Chomp-!
Crunch-!
I could hear the sound of something being bitten and swallowed. It was a deeply unpleasant sound.
Thump-!
The heart that Yuseon's hand had pierced vibrated.
Throb-!
Even though it had been shattered, I could feel my heart beating normally again. Are dragons really fine even when a vital spot is destroyed like this?
‘No way.’
I let out a dry laugh at the thought. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be the case. This was just a special situation.
Grrrind—!!
The darkness that had been devouring its surroundings for a while…
Guuuuh.
…finally seemed to finish its meal and let out a rough belch. With that, cracks began to form in the space around us.
Craaaack—!!
The surrounding darkness crumbled and shattered.
Swoooosh—!!
The shadows began to be sucked back toward my heart. It didn't take more than a few seconds. As the darkness that had enveloped the area vanished, I returned to the world as it was.
However, it wasn't the same as before.
I looked down at my arm. My shoulder had clearly been blown off, but my arm was back to normal. My pierced chest had also been restored to its original state.
It was the same situation as last time. My broken body returned to normal as the space collapsed. I dusted off my chest and looked around. I wasn't surprised; I had a vague idea that this would happen.
“Ugh…!”
Spat-!
I shifted my gaze toward the sound. There, Yuseon—the one who had pierced my heart and overwhelmed me until just a moment ago—had collapsed.
We had been close enough for her to grab my neck, and we were still close when we were engulfed in darkness. But now she was sprawled near the throne, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
“Keuk… Cough.”
Splat-! Blood burst from her lips, staining the floor. Pushing herself up with trembling arms, Yuseon looked at me, her gaze filled with pure astonishment.
“…What…? Just now, what did you—!”
I didn't wait for her to finish. I walked right up and kicked the fallen Yuseon square in the face.
Craack-!
“Gah!”
Yuseon's head snapped back from the blow to her jaw, splattering blood. Her long white hair flew up into the air, and I grabbed it without hesitation. I swung her by the hair and threw her backward.
Whoosh-!
Craaash—!!
Yuseon's body shattered a massive stone pillar.
Ruuuumble—!!
Debris rained down, burying her. I lightly shook my left hand.
Fwoosh-! Flames immediately wrapped around it.
I could feel it. The heat was much more intense than before. Roughly speaking, in terms of pure firepower, it felt like it had nearly doubled.
Wooooong-!
Flames gathered in my palm as I compressed them. This, too, was different. The flames gathered more densely and heavily than ever before. I infused the intent of the Ring (輪) into the flames, forcing them into a violent rotation.
Giiiiiiing—!!!
Responding to the rotation, the rings of the Gu Flame Wheel Art began to spin.
‘Flaming Sphere.’
I threw the instantly compressed Flaming Sphere with all my might. It flew swiftly toward Yuseon and struck the pile of debris.
Voom-!
With a small vibration…
KABOOOOOM—!!!
…it caused a tremendous explosion.
BOOM—!!!
The blast swept across the wall, blowing a massive hole in the palace.
Whoooosh—!!
A cold wind blew in through the gap. I looked outside through the ruin.
Shwaaaaaa….
Outside, the rain was falling endlessly. Watching it, I started walking.
Crackle-!
I felt movement from the burning debris.
Rumble….
It was Yuseon. She was pushing away the stones piled on her body, barely managing to stand.
“Cough….”
She was a complete mess, rising while drenched in blood. I looked at her left hand. The skin was burned away, charred black.
‘Did she block it with that?’
It seemed she had sacrificed one hand to block the Flaming Sphere. Yuseon, in her wretched state, looked at me with a frosty glare and held out her relatively unharmed right hand.
And then.
“Oblivion…!”
As she uttered the word, the tip of her finger emitted a blinding light. She was trying to trigger something.
But.
Chomp-!
“…!”
A black aura extending from my shadow once again devoured her light. Yuseon's eyes widened in surprise, her face contorting as she glared at me.
“What…! What did you just do…!”
Her expression was one of complete disbelief. Seeing that, I let a small smile grace my lips.
“Surprised?”
“…Just what did you do to…!”
“To make your Power fail?”
“…!”
Yuseon's eyes widened before she bit her lip. It seemed I was right. I looked away from her and surveyed the palace interior. As I slowly moved my gaze, it wasn't long before I saw it.
The corridor. To be precise, the border of the space that had been stained by the black aura earlier. Beyond it, a strange ripple was cast.
‘To be precise… the area devoured by my aura has returned to normal.’
With that thought, I looked back at Yuseon.
“There were more than a few strange things.”
“...”
The first time I felt doubt was when I first met Yuseon. I had broken through some unknown barrier to get inside, and suddenly, she claimed it was the garden where Woo Hyuk spent his childhood. That part didn't matter—it could have been a method I didn't understand, whether it was sorcery or a formation.
The important thing was…
‘…what I felt.’
When my arm was torn off, and when I was on the verge of death, saved by Yuseon's "mercy." It was just like the Territory the Dark King used. It was like his Power.
That wasn't all.
“The people here… they couldn't seem to find their way around the palace.”
I had barged into the Ice Palace without warning. A battle should have naturally broken out. I was aware of that. I didn't plan on breaking everything, but I came expecting a fight.
‘The garden and the entrance were fine.’
But as soon as I set foot in the main palace, the guards couldn't even properly perceive my presence. It was a strange situation. Were they all possessed? Or…
“Is the entire palace covered in something?”
“...”
Yuseon didn't answer. The intensity of her glare only increased. Seeing this, the sense of incongruity in the palace felt familiar. It was just like…
…that thing they said was cast on the hideout.
“It feels similar to sorcery.”
A power different from formations. The thing called sorcery that made the hideout a labyrinth. It resembled that.
When I mentioned this…
“Ha.”
Yuseon burst out laughing as if it were absurd.
“Similar? You're wrong.”
A subtle anger was laced in her voice.
“In the first place, sorcery itself is a power brought by dragons.”
“Hmm?”
“I'm saying it's not something humans should be using.”
Now, this was interesting. I tilted my head and looked at Yuseon.
“Sorcery is a power brought by dragons?”
“…You. You really don't know anything, do you?”
“You're the strange one for knowing. Anyone would think you've lived for hundreds of years.”
Even if they said I'd learn many things by becoming a dragon, that wasn't entirely the case yet.
‘It doesn't really matter, though.’
The frustration of not knowing didn't bother me much anymore. How should I put it… I felt like I'd find out eventually anyway. Even if I didn't stress over it, the truth would surface.
Also.
‘There's someone who knows right in front of me, isn't there?’
The one who would give me all the information I needed was right before my eyes. For that to happen…
“I'd like you to play with me a little longer.”
I lunged at Yuseon as I spoke.
“…!”
Yuseon reacted as I rapidly closed the distance.
Just then.
Cruunch-!
“Hmm?”
Yuseon's charred black arm suddenly regenerated. I let out a small sound of admiration.
‘Wow.’
What was that? That level of regeneration…
‘Is that also a Power?’
Did she heal my internal injuries with that? I was curious. Was it possible to regenerate someone else's body?
Also.
‘I wonder just how much it can regenerate.’
My interest was piqued. It was strange to feel this in such a situation, but my emotions were brutally honest.
Craaack-!
The moment I got in front of her, Ice Qi burst from her feet. I slightly twisted my footwork. Sharp ice shot out; if I hadn't dodged, my body would have been pierced.
At the same time, I turned my head.
Whoosh-! Something grazed past my cheek. It was Yuseon's fist.
Paaang-!!
The sound of it tearing through the air exploded. A considerable amount of Qi. Yuseon, who had looked exhausted just moments ago, moved swiftly into a stance. Her advancing steps were firm, her core was stable, and her arm movements were precise and fierce.
‘Upper body. And middle body.’
Thwack-! Thwack, thwack-!
I met each of her movements, deflecting her attacks. When Yuseon took half a step forward, I took half a step back. Every time she threw a punch, I cut it off before the movement could gain momentum. The Mind’s Eye was showing me all of Yuseon's movements, so it was a simple task.
Thump-! Thump-thump—!! Thooom-!
Despite it being just a light friction of hands meeting, vibrations rang out.
Ruuuumble—!!
The building shook as if an earthquake had struck the palace.
Thwack-! I knocked her wrist aside and met her incoming fist with my own.
Craaack-!
Qi exploded, and I heard something shattering by my ear. I rolled my eyes to look at the source. Frost had formed on our clashed fists.
‘So this is Ice Art.’
I'd heard of it, but this was the first time I'd actually faced it.
Flick-! I wrapped my hand in heat and flicked it, and the frost vanished instantly. Since I'd already gathered heat, I added a bit more Qi.
Voom-! Qi traveled down my shoulder and enveloped my entire right hand. At the same time, Yuseon quickly dug into my space.
Fast.
The distance closed rapidly. It seemed she was aiming for the moment I was gathering Qi. A quick judgment.
However.
Smirk.
I smiled at this.
“…!”
Seeing that, Yuseon's eyes widened as if she sensed something, but…
“Solar Light.”
Shriiiik-!
At my word, Solar Light shot out from my left arm and bound Yuseon's body.
“This…!”
It didn't completely stop her movements. Yuseon, though surprised, didn't stop her attack. Along with this, Flash-! another light burst from Yuseon's hand. It seemed she was aiming for something too.
However.
Chomp-!
Once again, the shadow shot out and devoured Yuseon's light.
“This…!”
Being bound by Solar Light created a momentary opening. I aimed for it. Combat Qi seeped into my Qi-wrapped fist. I gathered it and lightly extended my fist toward Yuseon's chest.
Heart Fist.
My soul flowed through the tip of my fist. Unlike the immense Qi, the movement was simple.
Thud.
As if to prove it, an infinitely light sound burst out.
Vroooom-!
But just because the movement was light didn't mean the result was.
“Ugh…!?”
Yuseon let out a short groan. Immediately after.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!!!!
A tremendous vibration erupted from her body.
“Huuuugh!!”
An immense amount of Combat Qi burst from her back.
KABOOOOM-!! The Combat Qi exploded with a vibration, and the corridor began to collapse in its wake.
CRUMBLE-CRASH-!
Yuseon's body didn't go flying because I had grabbed her hair to keep her in place.
Thud-!
Slowly, one of Yuseon's knees gave way. She tried to hold on, but her crumbling body wouldn't listen.
“Cough… Keuk…..”
A much larger amount of blood than before poured onto the floor. Seeing this, I was certain. I spoke to her in a blunt tone.
“You're not that strong, are you?”
“...”
Hearing my words, Yuseon's body flinched. I wasn't saying she was weak. Yuseon was strong—she was far beyond the Fusion Realm and might have even been stronger than I was a few days ago.
But.
It meant she wasn't at a level where she could do things like tear off my arm or subdue me by grabbing my neck, like she did before. In other words.
“You can't run wild unless you're in a space you created?”
“…Huu… Hah….”
Yuseon didn't answer, but the answer was already clear. It seemed that without the Territory created by her Power, she couldn't maintain the form of a truly transcendent being.
She looked at me with a pain-filled expression and spoke.
“…Just… what did you do…? Why….”
“Ah.”
The reason her Power kept failing. It seemed she was curious about that. So, I decided to tell her.
“My Power…”
I leaned in.
“It's so greedy, it seems it can't tolerate others using their Powers.”
I told her with a smile.
“A Power that catches and swallows other Powers. That's my Power.”
“…!”
It devours a dragon's Power. And in the end, it steals it. For the record, the conditions for stealing it are a bit of a hassle, so I haven't tried yet. But it meant it was possible.
That's the kind of thing Avarice was.
Hearing this, Yuseon said with trembling eyes.
“That…! How can something so absurd exist…! It can't be…!”
It eats another dragon's Power? There's no way something so ridiculous could exist.
Yuseon's expression said exactly that. However.
“What are you going to do if you can't believe it?”
I had no intention of catering to her beliefs. I had urgent business left with her.
Ah, right.
‘I did have business.’
A fact I'd momentarily forgotten while fighting my heart out. For now.
Grip.
I grabbed Yuseon's shoulder and ripped it right off.
Riiip.
“Kkeueueu!?”
There was no hesitation.
Tear-!
“Kyaaaaaak!”
Yuseon screamed in agony as her arm was torn off while she was still alive.
Slap-!
It was a bit loud, so I slapped her across the cheek.
“Guk!”
As I watched Yuseon's head whip to the side, my eyes were filled with clinical interest. I couldn't help it.
Toss-!
I casually tossed the arm I'd torn off aside and asked her.
“You were regenerating your body just now.”
I recalled that absurd regenerative power. Thinking of it, I asked her.
“Can you regenerate something like this? A torn-off limb, I mean. What's the limit? Can you regenerate even if I pull out a kidney? Or what about a vital spot? Would that be impossible?”
I had already forgotten my original point. At my curious questions, fear began to creep into Yuseon's eyes as she looked at me.