Chapter 631: Nine. And Three. (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 631: Nine. And Three. (3)
It was Woo Hyuk.
Woo Hyuk, who had been encased in the ice crystal until just a moment ago, was now holding my hand, his eyes wide open.
Only, something was different.
His long hair had turned snow-white.
And his eyes were now stained a deep, piercing blue.
The moment I saw them, I understood the situation.
“You bastard…”
The person holding me wasn't Woo Hyuk.
It was the third pureblood—Mang.
Seeing my bewildered expression, Mang grinned.
“What a wonderful expression.”
The face was clearly Woo Hyuk's, but the smile was completely different.
“Just a little more.”
His voice was thick with regret.
“…If I’d had just a little more time, I could have taken control completely.”
An edge was creeping into his voice.
“…To think you'd interfere at such a crucial moment.”
I felt the pressure on my captured hand increase.
“No matter. This should be enough. Since you're a kinsman I haven't seen in a long time, I was planning to show you some mercy, but…”
The corners of his lips curled up.
“Since it has come to this, it might be for the best to correct this distortion ahead of time. Now, experience death at the hands of your dear friend's own body—”
CRACK—!
“Gah!”
Mang's head snapped back from the impact of my free fist.
Seeing that, I swung again and again.
BAM—! THUD—! BAM! BAM—! CRACK—!
I relentlessly smashed my fist into his face as if trying to shatter it.
The distance was short, making it easy to land every strike.
Just as I continued my assault, striking hard enough to make the very space around us tremble…
“You…! Damned bastard…!”
Mang, who had been taking the beating, released my hand and unleashed his energy.
FWOOSH—!!
A blast of Ice Qi erupted, aimed directly at my chest. Reluctantly, I had to pull back and create distance.
Pat, pat.
I put some space between us and brushed the frost from my clothes.
“Ptui…!”
Mang spat on the floor. The glob was thick with blood.
He stared at me with a look of utter disbelief.
“You truly are insane,” he spat. “Do you not recognize this body?”
“Do I look blind? I can see it perfectly well.”
It was Woo Hyuk's body. How could I not know? It was impossible to mistake.
Whether his hair was white or his eyes were blue.
One look was enough to tell it was Woo Hyuk's body.
‘Mang is just wearing it like a mask.’
My nonchalant reply made Mang's expression sour even more.
“Surely, you came here to save this body.”
“That's right.”
I did. I definitely did. Though I'd forgotten that for a moment.
“And yet, you attacked without a moment's hesitation. Do you not care what happens to this vessel?”
At his question, I tilted my head.
“What's the problem with that?”
“What?”
I couldn't understand his point.
To be precise, I found it difficult to grasp the intent behind his question.
“Why should I hesitate to beat you up?”
Just because he's wearing Woo Hyuk's skin? What reason did I have to hesitate?
“You're going to fight me, aren't you?”
“...”
See? He couldn't even deny it.
“So what, am I supposed to just stand here and take a fucking beating? You're a more selfish bastard than I thought.”
“No, that's not what I—”
“Or did you think I'd hesitate because he's my friend? Are you my friend?”
“…Hah.”
“You're not.”
I didn't know about the body, but he certainly wasn't my friend.
Besides.
“I’ve been itching to hit him anyway. That bastard stabbed me in the gut.”
Even if it wasn't Mang, I was planning to beat the crap out of Woo Hyuk after he got his body back.
This actually worked out better.
This way…
“I can vent my anger at the same time.”
With those words, I accelerated toward him.
BOOM—! The ground crumbled as my body shot forward.
Fwoosh.
Wreathed in flames, I charged straight at him.
I lashed out with my foot.
Fiery Fangs of the Beast.
FWOOSH—!
KRAKOOOOM—!!
The flames that erupted from the tip of my foot changed shape as they engulfed him.
It was a martial art originally meant to be used with the fists, but once you mastered it, it didn't matter which part of the body you used.
WHOOOOSH—!!!
The rapidly expanding flames gradually took on a new form.
It resembled a dragon.
Seeing this, Mang frowned and raised a hand.
SHAAAA—!
Ice Qi burst from his fingertips, forming a defensive wall.
KRAAACK—! The flames scattered as they hit the barrier. In that same instant, I appeared behind Mang.
The flames were a feint from the start.
The moment Mang created his wall, I had already circled around him.
And then.
‘Heart Fist.’
I imbued my fist with my will and thrust it forward.
RUMBLE—!! A formless energy shot out, tearing up the ground as it went.
If this had been the original Woo Hyuk's body, the blow would have crushed him on the spot, but…
“…You're an impatient one.”
“…!”
Right after throwing the Heart Fist, I instinctively took a step back.
In that moment.
SLASH—!
Blood splattered.
A shallow cut appeared on my chest.
‘That was close.’
If I hadn't taken that step back, I would have been sliced open.
I was injured, but it wasn't a fatal wound.
I circulated my Qi slightly and looked at Mang.
He was now holding a sword.
I had to admit, I was a little surprised.
“That… was that your power?”
A sharp sword made of ice.
He wasn't wearing armor, but this was the same martial art Yuseon had used.
That was definitely…
‘I thought it wasn't an Authority?’
How could he use it so casually?
In response to my unspoken question, he gave a slight smile.
“What's so strange about it? In the first place, the abilities used by the bloodline of the Northern Sea all originated from me.”
“…Hm?”
The Ice Art of the Northern Sea came from Mang? Seeing my reaction, he continued.
“Did you not find it strange?”
Mang, wearing Woo Hyuk's face, asked me.
“Why that incompetent apostle tried so clumsily to wield a sword.”
The question I'd had during my fight with Yuseon.
I recalled how Yuseon, who was clearly a close-combat martial artist, had insisted on fighting with a sword.
“It's simple. His power was attuned to me.”
“…So because you use a sword, his power just happened to take the form of a sword. Is that what you mean?”
“Ninth. You were originally a trivial race. Have you never once found it strange?”
“Hm?”
Swish—!
Mang swung the sword a few times as he continued to speak.
“Creating flames. Summoning ice or calling down thunder. Do you truly believe these are things a human can achieve on their own?”
“What?”
Mang's words momentarily broke my concentration.
At that moment.
SWISH—!
“!”
Seeing Mang's movement, I quickly ducked my head.
A sharp presence grazed the space above my head.
SHIIIIING—!! A loud noise echoed from behind me.
It was the sound of something being sliced.
I frowned and moved my hands.
Flames rapidly gathered in my palm.
After forming a Flaming Sphere, I hurled it at him with all my might, as if throwing a ball.
WHOOSH—! The Flaming Sphere shot toward him.
Just before the sphere reached him and exploded…
SLICE—!
Mang swung his sword and cut the Flaming Sphere in two.
The bisected sphere flew past Mang toward the wall.
KABOOOOM—!!
It hit the wall and erupted in a massive explosion.
Swish.
After his maneuver, Mang gave the sword a few practice swings before casually resting it on his shoulder.
For some reason, his expression was full of dissatisfaction.
“…As I thought, that last moment wasn't enough. This body doesn't move as I wish.”
His discomfort was palpable. Looking at him, I asked.
“What was that you said just now?”
“Hm?”
“About how it's not something humans can do.”
Mang laughed at my question.
“It's not a particularly surprising statement, is it?”
“It's an incredibly surprising statement to me.”
“Hmm, yes. For you, I suppose it would be. However.”
As he spoke, Mang took the sword from his shoulder and aimed it at me.
“Why should I have to tell you?”
“…Haha.”
I let out a burst of admiration at his mocking words.
“You're really good at pissing people off.”
“I'm glad to see things are going as I hoped.”
“Why'd you take a perfectly fine kid and turn him into this? Did you get the landlord's permission?”
“This body, you mean? Hmm, it's a vessel I quite like. But more than anything, I was most pleased by the fact that it's a Fragment of the Dragon Emperor.”
“…A fragment?”
I'd heard that term before.
A Fragment of the Dragon Emperor.
What could that mean?
“Don't you worry. Once I find my original body, I intend to let this one go.”
“It's been hundreds of years. Where are you going to find your body?”
“Why wouldn't I be able to find it?”
Tap, tap. As he spoke, Mang nudged a piece of debris on the floor.
It was a shard from the shattered ice crystal.
“Inside this, you see. I had stored my Qi.”
“…!”
“It was the last of my energy after my battle with the Dragon Emperor, so it took quite a long time to replenish, but there you have it.”
The life force that the bloodline of the Northern Sea had poured out to fend off the severe cold of the past…
Did all of it go into replenishing his energy?
‘Wait. If that's the case…’
A thought struck me, and I immediately voiced it.
“…If your Qi was here, then your body must be…”
“Oh. You're quick on the uptake, as expected.”
Mang responded as if he were proud of me.
“My body is contained within the other ice crystal.”
“But I definitely didn't see anything…?”
“The form is unimportant. All that matters is the fact that it is there.”
Was he telling the truth or lying?
That question wouldn't last long.
Because I had already seen it myself.
‘The egg and the heart.’
I knew that the ice crystal was imbued with a tremendous amount of energy, enough to bring those images to mind.
And inside it was none other than his body?
“Even this is unsatisfactory. It doesn't even come close to the energy I originally possessed. But that's fine.”
He looked at me and said.
“Once I reclaim my body, I should be able to fill this deficit. And then.”
I could see killing intent gathering at the tip of his aimed sword.
“I'll be able to devour that somewhat incompetent Dragon Emperor as well.”
It seemed his rage toward the Dragon Emperor—or was it the Blood Demon?—was genuine.