Chapter 733: Falling Dragon (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 733: Falling Dragon (5)
He manifested the Descent of the Golden Buddha once more.
Enveloped in the ethereal armor, the Heavenly Dragon breathed in ragged, heavy gasps.
“Ugh… pant… pant…”
The armor, once brilliant and divine, had long since lost its majestic luster. Whether from the aftermath of the explosion or the sheer intensity of the duel, the technique was barely holding its shape. It was a form maintained solely by desperate will to block the coming onslaught.
“Ugh…”
Having suddenly expended a massive amount of internal Qi, the Heavenly Dragon staggered. Even so, he did not release the Descent of the Golden Buddha.
Not yet. The attack wasn't over.
Fwoooosh—!!!
Flames poured down like a collapsing sun. The Heavenly Dragon raised both arms to shield himself from the blaze.
Krrrrr—!!
“Gaaaaaaah!!”
The impact was raw and direct. He could only just manage to stave off the incinerating heat. Blood flowing from his sword wounds soaked through his uniform. His right hand was definitely broken.
It hurt. It hurt more than anything he had ever felt. Had he ever been this wounded in his entire life?
Probably not.
“Haaaaaaah!!!”
Unable to withstand the pressure of the flames any longer, he was forced to one knee. The encroaching fire showed no sign of relenting. He had clearly seen the man pour out his power for dozens of seconds just moments ago—where was all this energy still coming from?
‘…Did he say… that was only half of it…?’
Thinking about it now, it was enough to make him scoff in disbelief. Did that mean the remaining half was this much?
‘Just what… are you…?’
What was his true identity? He was worlds apart from the man the Heavenly Dragon had seen at the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. Normally, time should flow the same for all humans.
‘Was your time different from mine?’
Did I walk while he ran? Or did I run while he flew?
I don't know. Now, I don't know anything anymore.
“Ghhhaaaa... Uwaaaaaaah!!”
He endured, letting out a fierce, primal cry. That was all he could do.
I can't win.
He had known that the moment he saw him. And so, the Heavenly Dragon thought:
‘So what?’
Isn't this something I knew before we even started?
No. Back then, I at least had hope. I thought that maybe I could reach him through my own efforts. Maybe the goal I admired wasn't so far away anymore. I thought that if I fought him, I might even win.
But now that I've actually fought him, I understand. He wasn't standing in the same place as me. If he seemed to be in front of me, it was only because he had already lapped me on a long, distant road.
I can't catch him, and I can't reach him. If he doesn't choose to look at me, I can't even see him.
That was the difference between Gu Yangcheon and the Heavenly Dragon.
Realizing this, the Heavenly Dragon asked himself again.
‘So what?’
Does that… become a reason for me to give up?
“Iyaaaaaaaaah—!!!”
No.
‘Not at all.’
Kwaaaaaa—!!
The Descent of the Golden Buddha emitted a brilliant, blinding light. His heavy, ironclad conviction seeped into the armor. Not only was its form restored, but it began to grow even more solid, reinforced by his sheer desperation.
“Huh, you motherfucker?”
Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon, who was in the middle of spewing flames, let out a gasp of pure disbelief. The Descent of the Golden Buddha had begun to glow with a new intensity.
“Look at that crazy bastard.”
The Heavenly Dragon’s mindscape had stabilized. The incomplete martial art became complete, and the solidified armor was no longer just blocking the assault—it was pushing it back.
‘Getting stronger mid-fight? How absurd.’
After getting beaten so thoroughly, where did he find this enlightenment? The Heavenly Dragon’s reserves of internal Qi hadn’t increased. If anything, they should have been depleted. How could he have any left after using it up like that?
This was simply…
‘He started using it more efficiently.’
He was eliminating the waste and converting every scrap of essence into power. It really made me laugh in disbelief.
‘That bastard Seong Yul should see this and learn from it.’
This was a position where anyone else would have given up long ago. In a situation where he should be drowning in despair, the Heavenly Dragon's spirit only grew firmer.
I will overcome.
That was the only intent emanating from him.
‘This is why I hate these genius bastards.’
They learn one thing and immediately apply ten. I don't like it. I'm busy enough just trying to apply the one thing I learn. I definitely don't like it, but…
…strangely, a smile crept onto my face.
Stomp.
I pushed off with my feet. The flames didn't stop. I leaped forward, closing the distance in an instant.
“…!”
The Heavenly Dragon flinched and raised both arms, but I was already right in front of him.
Woong! The flames died down, and heat immediately gathered in my foot.
Blazing Wheel Kick.
A fierce, flaming kick struck the Heavenly Dragon's arm directly. His right arm, to be precise.
Crack! Thud!
The attack crushed the armor of the Descent of the Golden Buddha and broke through.
“…Knghhhh!”
The arm he had used to block was, of all things, his already broken one. The Heavenly Dragon let out a low groan. Of course, the attack had been aimed there. But—
Grab!
“Huh?”
The Heavenly Dragon suddenly grabbed my ankle with his left arm.
Sizzzzzzle—!!
“Haaaaah!!”
His hand was burning in the flames. Despite the excruciating pain, the Heavenly Dragon didn't let go. He screamed, but held onto my ankle with a vice-like grip.
Fwoooosh—!!
“Wow, this bastard… really.”
With his broken right arm, he unleashed the Hundred Steps Divine Fist at point-blank range.
Seeing this, I laughed heartily.
“I like it.”
Kwaaaang—!!
The Heavenly Dragon's desperation slammed into my chest.
Kugugugung—!!!
Taking a direct hit, I was sent flying through the air.
“Hah!”
Even as he watched me fly, the Heavenly Dragon didn't stop. He threw his fists with everything he had left.
Boom! Boom-boom! K-k-k-boom—!!!
A barrage of Hundred Steps Divine Fists flew from a distance, hammering the arena.
“Hah! Hah hah!”
With sweat and blood pouring down his face, the Heavenly Dragon didn't stop.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!!
His internal Qi drained violently with each strike. His legs were trembling. His dantian was at its absolute limit, and his crushed bones screamed warnings that moving any more would be disastrous.
Any more, and he might die. There might not be a next time.
It didn't matter.
‘It doesn't matter.’
Even if he died here, he would do what he had to do. With that thought, the Heavenly Dragon didn't stop, but...
Stumble!
“…!!”
Perhaps due to the accumulated fatigue, his legs finally gave out, forcing his assault to a halt.
“Keoheok…”
He barely managed to steady himself, but a wave of dizziness made him stagger.
“Pant… pant…”
Even breathing was agony. He could feel saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth, but the Heavenly Dragon didn't bother to wipe it away. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, piercing through the dust cloud of debris.
The Heavenly Dragon stared only at that spot. He didn't harbor any petty thoughts that it might be over after such a beating. He hadn't won yet. He knew it.
Then, as if to prove him right—
“Ptooey.”
My voice came from within the dust cloud. Before long, the haze cleared.
“That fucking hurt.”
I appeared, looking slightly tired. I had a wound of my own—blood trickling from my chest—but…
…after checking my condition, the Heavenly Dragon’s face fell.
‘…Nothing's changed?’
He had definitely felt the impact. It seemed most of the Hundred Steps Divine Fists he'd thrown had landed, yet I only looked a little winded, with no other visible issues.
‘Is he truly a monster…?’
Maybe he wasn't human. What kind of body did he have to make that possible? Now, doubts about my very existence began to surface in his mind.
“Hey.”
“…!”
I called out to him.
“I'm telling you in advance.”
At the same time, I extended my hand slightly downwards.
“Dodge this one, okay?”
He didn't ask what I meant.
“...Grit.”
Slowly, something began to coalesce in my hand. Block it. The Heavenly Dragon's instincts were screaming at him, but he couldn't move. His legs refused to obey.
Fwoosh... Fwoooosh—!!
A blue orb, just like before. He wondered if I was going to use that again, but… as it gradually changed shape, the Heavenly Dragon's heart began to pound violently.
Dangerous.
That survival instinct hammered at his entire body, but he still didn't move.
Finally, the orb shifted. I was now grasping a spear-like shape forged of pure, compressed flames.
“...”
It was dangerous at a glance. He could feel the heat contained in the spear even from across the arena. He could see the very space around it distorting.
I have to run. That thing is no joke.
Get away now.
The last shred of his reason screamed in his ear.
Ssk.
Even as he heard it, the Heavenly Dragon raised his fists.
Clang!
He enveloped himself in the Descent of the Golden Buddha once more.
“...”
“...”
We exchanged glances in silence. No more warnings or words were needed.
“Hup!”
I hurled the spear at the Heavenly Dragon with all my might.
Shweeeeeeeeee—!!!!
The spear flew toward him, letting out a high-pitched, tearing sound. The spinning tip, adding lethal rotation to its speed, made contact with his armor.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!!
A tremendous roar shook the foundations of the Alliance.
“Gnnnnnnnnnnn—!!!”
K-d-d-d-d…!
Under the sheer pressure, his feet slid back, carving furrows into the ground.
“Hnnnnngh... Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Crack.
The armor was slowly breaking apart. At this rate, it would be pierced through. This nameless martial art was, just as I had warned, not something that could simply be blocked.
So what should he do?
‘I have to deflect it.’
Change the angle. It was impossible to stop it head-on, so he had to take that force and redirect its trajectory.
“Gnnnh…!!”
It wasn't a question of whether he could or not. He had to.
Immediately, the Heavenly Dragon focused his remaining Qi into his injured right arm. The armor's power gathered at a single point, reinforcing its defense. He created a hardness that could withstand the spear for even a fraction of a second longer.
After that—
“Hnngh…”
He slightly shifted his right arm into position, then… gathering his final dregs of Qi into his left arm, he struck his own right arm.
Smack—!!
The impact twisted the angle of his limb.
Kiiing! Shyaaaaaaaa—!!!
The spear's trajectory was forced aside by the slanted angle, and it shot toward the sky. The spear flew swiftly, and a moment later…
KWAAAAAANG—!!!
…it exploded in mid-air, creating a blast incomparable to anything before it.
“Pant… pant…”
The Heavenly Dragon trembled as he looked up at the sky.
I did it.
“I blocked it…?”
I… I…
“I blocked i—!!”
Whoosh.
“Huh?”
Did something just pass by—?
KWAAAANG—!!
“Keoheok!?!”
Caught in an explosion that erupted from directly behind him, the Heavenly Dragon's body was thrown to the ground. Stunned by the sudden impact, he looked behind him.
“…What…”
He couldn't utter a word at the sight. The arena had been utterly wrecked by the previous explosion. What in the world had just happened?
As the Heavenly Dragon wore a dumbfounded expression…
“Why are you jumping to conclusions?”
My voice came from in front of him. The Heavenly Dragon creakily managed to turn his head. And there…
“You'd think you saved the world just by blocking one shot.”
…I stood, holding a spear identical to the last one, looking down at him.
“...”
With dazed eyes, the Heavenly Dragon stared at the spear.
“There's still one shot left,” I said. “Well? Wanna try again?”
“…Heh heh…”
Staring blankly at the flame spear, the Heavenly Dragon muttered.
“…Bull… shit.”
It was the first time he had ever cursed in his life.
Do it again? That?
“...”
After thousands of thoughts raced through his mind in the span of a few seconds, the Heavenly Dragon looked at me and spoke.
“I… concede.”
It was impossible to go on. The Heavenly Dragon sighed deeply, admitting defeat. As if waiting for that moment, the judge shouted.
“The, the Gu Clan of Shanxi…. Gu… Yangcheon is the v-vic…tor…!”
A short while after my victory was confirmed.
—Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!!
Cheers erupted from every corner of the Alliance.
—Waaaaaaaaah—!!!
—Lesser King of Hell! Lesser King of Hell! Lesser King of Hell!—
It was surely the loudest roar since the martial arts tournament began.