Chapter 633: Flaming Sphere Holy Spear (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 633: Flaming Sphere Holy Spear (2)
The first time I had an inkling of this idea was right after my duel with the White Heavenly Sword, during a brief conversation with my father.
He had told me to figure out what “rotation” meant in the Gu Flame Wheel Art, rather than focusing solely on compression.
What did the character for wheel, ryun (輪), truly signify?
Furthermore, what was the inherent meaning of the Gu Flame Wheel Art itself?
I had lived an entire lifetime thinking it was purely a flame art designed for conjuring fire. That life was over, and this was my second. With that one piece of advice from my father, a different world began to take shape in my mind.
Perhaps.
Perhaps the Gu Flame Wheel Art wasn't simply about creating flames. Perhaps its true focus was on the rapid rotation of those flames.
What if it wasn't about forming a ring of fire to radiate heat from within? What if the flames were merely a byproduct—a bonus that came from spinning that ring at extreme speeds?
Once the focus of my thoughts shifted, my entire approach to practicing and expressing the martial art changed.
Rotation. Hence, the wheel.
With that thought as my starting point, I moved forward one step at a time. I tried to manifest flames that rotated with greater intensity rather than just emitting a massive blaze. No matter which of the Gu Clan’s martial arts I used, I focused on the rotation within the technique.
I lived like that for several years.
The idea finally struck me while I was training to use the Flaming Sphere with greater intensity. The Flaming Sphere sat in my hand, compressed and rotating. I stared at it for a moment, then tossed it into the air.
KABOOM—!
Watching the Flaming Sphere explode mid-air, I was struck by a strange sensation. There was a difference between the Flaming Sphere my father threw and the one I created. It wasn't just a simple matter of raw power. There was a definite, fundamental difference in my father's execution.
Part of it was the gap in our realms, but there was also likely a difference in the rate of rotation.
‘Hmm.’
The compression I learned from Elder Shin, and the rotation of the Flaming Sphere. Staring at the orb, a new experiment came to mind.
A fundamental question.
The Flaming Sphere was a martial art designed with an explosion in mind, and its power increased with more rotation. Its simple spherical shape made it easy to throw.
And here… here, I formed a hypothesis.
A martial art thrown with even more rotation. Its spherical shape made that easy, but what if…
‘What if I make the shape a little sharper? And add even more powerful rotation?’
Wouldn't that alone be able to generate immense destructive power?
That was the thought. It was a crazy idea.
The Flaming Sphere was already a complete martial art, and a highly difficult one at that. The fact that the prerequisite for using it was the Fusion Realm said it all. You had to compress heat and keep it constantly rotating, which required incredibly delicate Qi control just to maintain the form.
That was why it took the simplest shape: a sphere. Just maintaining that was a struggle.
But to not only alter its shape for this purpose but also add more rotation? There was no way the Flaming Sphere could withstand that. It was obvious that if I tried, the heat inside would explode from the recoil.
How did I know this in such detail?
I wish I didn't.
KWAAAAAAA—!!
‘Y-Young Master—!!’
‘KYAAAAK—!’
Fuck.
I barely survived. That would be the only way to put it.
The reason for my failure was trying to forcibly change the shape of the Flaming Sphere. The technique, which held immense firepower and spun based on countless rotations, couldn't endure being twisted. It exploded.
Thanks to that, the arm I used to cast it was engulfed in flames, the skin burning away. My body, which took the full brunt of the explosion, had its organs and bones shattered.
What if I didn't have the body of a dragon? What if the Immortal Healer hadn't been at the Gu Clan at the time? It was an ending I didn't much care to imagine.
By the time my incredible regenerative abilities had barely returned my body to normal…
[You crazy bastard.]
That was what the Dishonored Venerable said when he saw me.
[I knew you were crazy, but have you finally lost your mind completely?]
[…]
I had nothing to say, even as the Dishonored Venerable spat his words at me with pure exasperation.
[You dare to recklessly modify a martial art? A supreme-level technique at that? You might as well have just said you wanted to die!]
His chilling rebuke made me lower my already downcast head even further.
[I didn't know it would turn out like this….]
[Does it make any sense for someone of your level to not know? It would look better if you just called yourself an idiot.]
The excuse I managed to utter was immediately shot down. For someone who had reached the Fusion Realm to not know how dangerous this was… that alone was embarrassing enough.
No, honestly, I did know. I knew it was a dangerous act. I knew what kind of disaster it could cause. But I tried it anyway. That was probably why the Dishonored Venerable was so angry.
[This wasn't a typical modification; you tried to change the very framework. Did you truly not know how serious that was?]
[…Ugh.]
There was the Blazing Wheel, which created a large flame around the body. Using that to cast the Blazing Wheel Transformation was a modified martial art, but it wasn't that difficult since it was just a slight application within a similar framework.
But what I had tried to do was far more problematic because I tried to change the form itself. The martial art rebelled and exploded. The explosion was so intense, I really almost died.
[It was beyond what you could handle. Even if you were betting your life on it, you crossed the line.]
[…Yes.]
I nodded like a sinner. To think I almost died while training, of all things. I had so much to do; such a death would have been truly senseless.
Right, I shouldn't try that a second time. Just as I was about to think that…
[However.]
The Dishonored Venerable looked at me and spoke.
[I don't think the attempt itself was bad.]
[…Pardon?]
His words made me tilt my head. After nagging me to death, he says it wasn't bad?
[It might be something worth trying. It's just that your level was far too low to handle it.]
[…Are you saying it's worth a shot once my realm is higher?]
[That, I do not know. I'm not an expert in that martial art. Ask your father for the specifics.]
[Ah, Father is a bit….]
I had already been scolded to within an inch of my life by him before the Dishonored Venerable got to me. I had never seen my father that angry since my regression. I was so scared I almost pissed myself. If Lady Mi hadn't appeared and stopped him just as his voice was about to rise, I really might have.
At my words, the Dishonored Venerable looked at me as if I were the most pathetic thing in the world.
[I won't tell you not to do it. I'm telling you to be careful.]
[…You won't stop me even though I might die trying?]
[If you were the type to stop just because someone told you to, you wouldn't have tried such a thing in the first place.]
He had a point there.
[And if you were that kind of person, it would be no fun, and I wouldn't have bothered to teach you. Besides.]
The Dishonored Venerable let out a smirk.
[A martial artist grows by nearly dying while practicing their arts.]
‘I don't think I need that kind of terrifying growth,’ the thought crossed my mind, but I didn't say it out loud.
After saying that with a smile, the Dishonored Venerable's expression turned serious again.
[One thing. For this martial art, at least, do not attempt it again until you have reached the realm of the Mind’s Eye.]
I nodded silently at his warning. This was a warning from the Dishonored Venerable, a man who would usually tell me to go for it. His words meant that I shouldn't even try until I reached that specific level.
[If you die before then, wouldn't it be a waste of a life?]
I couldn't help but be moved by his words. Was he worried about my life? Right, he might beat me all the time, but a master is still a master. Thinking that, I was about to offer some uncharacteristic flattery when…
[There's still a mountain of martial arts you have yet to learn, after all.]
[…]
My expression crumpled at the Dishonored Venerable's next words. Something about that sounded strange.
[Um, Elder.]
[What is it.]
[I'm just asking, just in case.]
I asked the Dishonored Venerable with a suspicious look.
[Your anger earlier. Was it perhaps not because I got hurt, but because if I get hurt, I can't learn martial arts?]
It felt less like he was scolding me for getting hurt and more like he was angry because if I got hurt, I couldn't learn his martial arts.
[What nonsense is that?]
At the Dishonored Venerable's incredulous reply, I let out a sigh of relief. Right, no matter how crazy he was, for his own disciple to get hurt, the martial arts couldn't be more important…
[Of course I'm angry that you can't learn martial arts if you get hurt. Do you have any idea how many things I still have left to teach you?]
[…]
[So take good care of your body. You still have a long way to g—]
For fuck's sake. That was the day the last speck of respect I had for the Dishonored Venerable was utterly shattered.
Anyway, to get to the point.
Fwoosh—!
Most of what the Dishonored Venerable had said back then was true. If you want to modify a supreme technique like the Flaming Sphere, you must at least reach the domain of the Mind’s Eye.
I thought I finally understood what he meant. The moment I entered this domain, I could see things that were previously invisible.
Wooooong—!
An incredible heat gathered in my eyes. I felt pain, but elation rose before it.
I can see it. The countless lines of energy emanating from the Flaming Sphere. The flow of my own internal energy, poured into creating this small orb. The ceaseless rotation that maintains this shape.
I am seeing the martial art. Not just using it, but seeing it.
An attempt I had never made before became possible the moment my eyes were opened and my body could feel it. This is a first—a moment where I've been so amazed while looking at a martial art. And to be surprised while looking at my own technique, one I had used countless times.
‘This is incredible.’
The martial art known as the Flaming Sphere was far more difficult than I had ever imagined. And complex. To use the Flaming Sphere, one must reach the Fusion Realm. I finally understood the reason for that with certainty.
Until now, I just thought that was the condition. But digging deeper, the reason wasn't so simple. The Flaming Sphere consumes a lot of internal energy, but not so much that it's impossible to use.
So why was the Fusion Realm the standard? It was because you needed a body that could withstand the Flaming Sphere. And you needed the level of Qi control to condense and rotate it. The benchmark for that was the Fusion Realm. You could only use it once you reached that level.
‘And I tried to just use it without going through that.’
Back when I was at the perfected Peak Realm. That was when I kept trying to use the Flaming Sphere, only to suffer from the recoil again and again.
‘…It was half-forced.’
Looking back now, it was completely forced. I was only able to use it at all because of my experience from my past life. But it was as crude as it gets. Understanding it now made that even clearer.
‘I see.’
Realizations piled up, one after another. Martial arts are about understanding. It's not just about using internal energy and circulating your arts; it's about understanding why you can use them. What kind of power this is. You have to understand it, piece by piece.
My heart resonated with this realization. The slowly building vibration shattered a subtle wall that had been inside me.
Crumble.
I felt the sensation of debris falling away within me.
‘An epiphany in the middle of a fight. How absurd.’
To think that something I had wished for so often would come at a moment when I was fighting for my life. It was a funny thing. And also…
‘A fortunate one.’
A strange sense of gratitude washed over me. For an ugly bastard, it was a clean emotion.
I waved my hand.
FWOOOSH—!!!
The rotation of the Flaming Sphere intensified. But it wasn't a conscious thought of making the rotation stronger. I made the flow of my internal energy denser. I changed my approach. That subtle difference brought about more change than I could have imagined.
FWHAAAA—!
The surrounding air was pulled toward the Flaming Sphere. As it seeped into a fixed space, it mingled with my heat, and flames erupted. The problem was, the flames being sucked in were stronger than I expected.
My legs almost gave out. I endure. If I let go now…
‘I'll die.’
I'll really die. The pressure gathering in the Flaming Sphere was immense. It wasn't just adding more Qi. It was spinning much, much faster.
In truth, the Flaming Sphere was already complete. And even stronger. I could end this just by throwing it at him as is, but… end it here? Not a chance.
‘I can't be satisfied with that.’
This wasn't what I was attempting to do. I thought as I watched the madly spinning Flaming Sphere. If I change the framework now, the rotating structure will distort and explode. So I have to control all this complex internal energy and change it slowly.
But even if I do it slowly, the question is whether I can withstand it right now. Don't get drunk on enlightenment; look at this objectively. Am I capable of withstanding this?
‘I'm not.’
Just thinking about it made my head throb. So what do I do? If I can't move it while it's bound, what's the plan? Do I give up or just let it explode?
‘Hmm.’
If I had to choose, it would be the latter. There is no giving up. I swore to live that kind of life. Now is the time to make it happen. Besides.
‘Let it explode, huh.’
That didn't sound like a bad idea. If changing the shape while maintaining the rotation is impossible… then let it go and let it explode. But. Create a mold, and inside it…
With that thought, I clenched my fist around the Flaming Sphere.
CRUNCH—!
KWAAAAAAA—!!
The Flaming Sphere burst, releasing an incredible amount of heat. Fortunately, I didn't feel any damage. On the outside, that is.
‘Ugh.’
My insides, having taken the shock, were screaming. But I could bear it. The energy I felt in my hand was enough to endure the pain.
“This is…” I muttered, looking down at my right hand. “Not half bad, actually.”
In my hand was a spear, wreathed in flames. A spear created by modifying the Flaming Sphere. Its name is… hmm.
‘Something simple.’
The Flaming Sphere Holy Spear.
That should work. A long rod with a simple, sharp tip. An immense amount of flame was rotating in that shape. Overwhelming heat and overwhelming energy. I could feel its tremendous explosive power just by looking at it.
And what's more…
‘This is still incomplete.’
My level was insufficient, so I couldn't achieve its perfect form. Since I couldn't control the rotation to create the shape, I made a mold.
‘With my Mind’s Eye.’
Like using the Heart Fist, I used my soul as a frame and poured the flames inside. It would be more accurate to say I was forcibly controlling something that was trying to explode. In a way, it was just an elongated Flaming Sphere with added rotational force.
But that alone could possess incredible power. As proof…
Drip… drip, drip.
While I was attempting to create the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear, my chest had been slashed by an attack he had swung in a hurry, and blood was soaking my front.
Crack-crack—!
Ice formed on the sword wound, causing secondary damage.
‘Hurts like a bitch.’
I had tried my best to avoid getting hit, knowing this would happen. But it was unavoidable if I wanted to attempt the technique. Thanks to that, I succeeded, though.
“…You bastard…!”
I heard Mang's voice. He was staring at me, his handsome face filled with utter shock.
“What… is that. What in the world have you created?”
“This?”
I didn't make any move to show him. It was a bit difficult to move while holding it. I had to be careful not to let it explode by mistake.
“Can't you tell by looking? It's a spear.”
“…Ha.”
Tension appeared on his face. Was this thing that threatening?
‘Isn't it pretty similar to his?’
The spear he was holding was also made of condensed Ice Qi. I didn't think he needed to be so surprised by mine. Ah, of course.
‘I didn't make this to swing or stab with.’
If I did something like that, I wouldn't be able to maintain it, and it would explode and kill me. The one and only reason I went to the trouble of changing it into the shape of a spear was this.
Swoosh.
I lowered my stance. I slightly raised the hand holding the spear and pulled it back.
“…!”
Seeing that, he flinched and tried to move. It seemed he realized what I was about to do. That's right. The reason I specifically chose the shape of a spear… the reason I packed so much more rotation into it… it was all for this.
To throw it a little faster. And a little harder.
I named it the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear, but…
‘Its reason for existence is to be thrown.’
Pierce through quickly. So that nothing remains.
GRIIIIIP—!!
I centered myself and focused all my strength into my right hand. And I spoke.
“Dodge if you can.”
“Wha—?”
With that warning, I threw the spear I was holding straight at him.
SHWIIICK—!
For a brief moment, there was the sound of the spear cutting through the wind as it shot forward. The next moment…
Tuk—! I retrieved the Mind’s Eye vessel that had been encasing the flames.
In that instant…
Woong—! The air distorted, and…
KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!!!!
The explosion was immense, far beyond what a small spear should have been capable of.
Fwoooosh—.
The wind pressure from the blast made me stagger. That's how powerful it was.
C-C-CRACK—!!
I heard the sound of ice shattering and debris settling. After a few moments, the smoke cleared.
‘Wow.’
I let out a gasp of admiration. A massive, spiral-shaped hole had been punched through the ice crystal structure. The walls were melting from the residual heat, gradually collapsing. It was a chilling sight.
‘…Stronger than I thought.’
It was on a level that couldn't even be compared to a standard Flaming Sphere. It seemed I had created something truly absurd.
‘The problem is…’
I shifted my gaze away from the destruction.
‘Where did he go?’
I couldn't see Mang. It didn't seem like he had been hit directly. It wasn't an easy attack to dodge, so where could he have gone?
Just as the question arose…
Swoosh.
I felt a presence and spun around.
STAB—!!
“…!”
Something sharp pierced my stomach. I looked down to see Mang. He had closed the distance and plunged a sword into my gut. I grimaced at the sensation of tearing flesh.
“That was astonishing,” Mang said, his voice tight. “It was a display of power that made me hesitate for a moment. To think you could make me flee so disgracefully.”
I studied him. Except for the arm currently stabbing me, his left arm was gone. It seemed he hadn't been able to dodge completely.
“A great power, indeed. However,” a smug smile returned to his face, “if you cannot hit your target, is it not ultimately meaningless?”
“...”
I nodded slowly. “You're right.”
“…Hm?” He looked confused by my calm admission.
“You're right,” I repeated. If you can't hit your target, it's meaningless. Even I knew that was the technique's biggest flaw. It had a long casting time and required immense focus; if it missed, the opening it left was fatal.
“But.”
GRIP.
I reached down and grabbed his hand—the one holding the sword buried in my stomach.
“…!?”
“As long as I can create a situation where I can hit you, it doesn't matter, does it?”
“…You bastard!?” Mang's eyes shook violently. “Don't tell me…!”
He finally realized my intention. If I couldn't hit him from a distance, I just had to create a situation where he couldn't move. And he had fallen for it beautifully.
I smiled back at him, blood trickling from my mouth. “You should have aimed for the neck. Why stab the stomach?”
Dragons are arrogant by birth. That must be why he felt the need to give me that mocking smile. That's why he went out of his way to approach me and stab me where he thought it would hurt most without killing me instantly.
Of course, if he had aimed for my neck, I wouldn't have let him get this close.
I tightened my grip on his hand, anchoring him to me. “Got you.”
“Ghk—!”
CLANG—!
The sword in my stomach shifted. He was trying to wrench it out, sending flares of agony through my nerves, but I bore it. This was getting ridiculous—how many times had I been stabbed in the gut lately?
Crack-crack.
I could feel the cold from the blade beginning to freeze my internal organs. I suppressed it with raw heat. Watching the frost creep across my skin, I made a cold calculation.
‘About seven seconds.’
That was the limit of what I could endure. A very short time.
However, it was more than enough.
FWHAAAK—!
I immediately wreathed my free hand in flames. Having done it once, I was faster this time.
KUUUUUUUU—!!
I began manifesting the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear while still impaled. My hand trembled. Was twice in a row my limit?
“Let go! I said, let go now!” Mang shouted, his composure shattering. “You bastard! Do you not care what happens to this body?!”
Was he trying to threaten me with Woo Hyuk's body? It was laughable.
“That's his problem.”
“…!”
“And,” my smile twisted into a fierce scowl, “that bastard would curse me the fuck out later if I didn't stab him here.”
If I had tried to protect him in some half-assed way and lost the fight, he would have never let me hear the end of it. If the roles were reversed, he would have done the same to me.
I gripped the spear.
“P-Please—!” Mang stammered, his expression crumbling.
But I was done listening to his barking. I took the spear and plunged it straight into his abdomen, right alongside the sword he had used on me.
STAB—!
And then.
KUUUUUAAAA—!
The explosion swept over everything.