Evil Dragon Pafnir (2)
BOOM!!KABOOM!!! The entire swamp shuddered under a surge of overwhelming mana. Bubbling green flames twisted into dozens of pillars, pounding the ground relentlessly. Magic circles bloomed in the sky above, spawning spears of pure magic that rained down at blinding speed.
All of it was chantless casting—no warnings, no incantations. It was nothing short of a natural disaster at the epicenter.
Choi Siwoo, racing forward like the wind, thought to himself,
'Not easy.'
Namgung Ryun had been right. Even weakened, an ancient dragon was still an ancient dragon. The infamous Evil Dragon Pafnir, master of curses and poison, was no pushover.
'But still...'
She was nothing compared to the foes he'd faced before.
Whoosh!
"Kyaaaaak!"
Vanishing like a streak of lightning, Choi Siwoo flicked the blood from his blade with casual ease. Pafnir collapsed to her knees behind him, shrieking in agony. Her severed right arm floated in the air before splattering into the filthy swamp, twitching in spasms.
"Incredible."
Namgung Ryun, who had watched the entire scene unfold, let out a low murmur of admiration.
Choi Siwoo—she'd known he was strong. The news had been buzzing about him nonstop, and he'd effortlessly crushed veterans like Kang Him-chan and Ye Dong-tak, proving his talent and skill beyond doubt.
'And even in her deranged state, he sliced through the Wind Dragon I created like it was nothing.'
But she never dreamed he'd be this strong.
Pafnir's spells were at least A-rank; anything less couldn't even cope. Coping was one thing, though. Having endured the green flame pillars on the ground and the homing colorless spears from above firsthand, she knew full well how nightmarish it was to break through them.
'And yet...'
He'd charged at top speed and lopped off her arm in one stroke.
One might think, 'He just powered through with sheer quickness, right?' But that was knowing one side and ignoring the other.
He'd precisely countered every incoming spell mid-charge, slicing them away as if they never existed. Without countless experiences, profound understanding of power, and enlightenment, it was utterly impossible.
Namgung Ryun instinctively grasped it: Choi Siwoo had definitely fought masters of the demonic arts surpassing even Pafnir. There was no other explanation for such a feat.
"Grrraaaah!!"
Pafnir bellowed toward the sky, glaring at Choi Siwoo with murderous intent. An ominous energy rippled across her body.
"You filthy male!!! I was even thinking of bearing your young myself, since you're so pretty!"
Her words made him grimace involuntarily.
"Sorry, furry, but bestiality's not my thing. No matter how cute you are."
"Shut your mouth!!!"
Enraged, Pafnir swung her remaining arm through the air.
Krummmble!
A herd of earth golems charged forth amid earth-shaking vibrations.
Evil Dragon Pafnir uses 5th Circle Earth Pillar.
Ancient dragon magic! Power and efficiency greatly enhanced!
A display of the earth's fury. But as circular sword qi rippled out, the golems shattered instantly. For her magic, it felt underwhelming—until the successive tremors revealed her true intent.
'A feint.'
Rummmble!
A cracked cliff face erupted upward like a mountain. It loomed like a natural fortress, casting a massive shadow with imposing majesty.
'Earthquake...'
An 8th Circle spell, usable only by archmages. Typically used to upheave enemy lines and disrupt footing, but judging by the form, Pafnir aimed to secure stable ground.
'Or is that really all?'
Arrogant as she was, centuries of cunning wouldn't vanish. As Choi Siwoo pondered, Pafnir at the peak gathered immense mana. Her arms, now regenerated, wove a complex magic circle, unleashing calamity upon the swamp.
"Insolent worm!! Die!!!"
BOOM!
A giant arm of flame smashed into the ground. The heat was so intense that part of the swamp bubbled and evaporated on impact.
Moments later, amid the dissipating smoke, Pafnir's unseen form left her bewildered. Where? Where the hell was he?!
Her eyes darted frantically. She expanded her senses, feeling urgency for the first time in her reign as an ancient dragon.
"...!"
In an instant, she glanced downward at the presence beneath her. There was Choi Siwoo, scaling the cliff at unbelievable speed. Blue mana enveloped his legs, granting heroic strength that propelled him upward faster than on flat ground—as if defying gravity.
Pafnir inwardly broke into a cold sweat.
'Wh-what kind of monster...'
Her shock was brief; in a blink, he kicked off the wall and leaped. They faced off nose-to-nose.
Crack!
Choi Siwoo exhaled sharply, pulling his sword arm back like a drawn bowstring. Taut muscles unleashed monstrous power.
"...?!"
A sinister smile crept across Pafnir's lips, as if she'd hooked him. He racked his brain at full throttle to decipher her intent.
'No way...?'
"You figured it out, but too late!"
Cackling wildly, Pafnir snapped her fingers.
Crunch!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the rising cliff, purple liquid oozing from within. Collapse accelerated, a massive wave crashing toward Choi Siwoo.
"Ahahaha!!!"
Soaring upward, Pafnir watched him swept away, certain of victory. It wasn't mere liquid—this was the poison sea, forged from her innate ancient dragon venom, laced with every curse she knew. A sea of death.
"I prepared it during Earthquake! I knew you'd come close!"
A double trap, assuming he'd avoid the skies. Brilliant judgment, proof her age brought more than wrinkles. But she didn't know.
"...?!"
That to him, poison and curses meant nothing.
Irelua's Blessing (Lv.35) has activated.
All damage and effects from magic, evil, and poison attributes reduced by 65%.
"......"
Swept into the waves, Choi Siwoo closed his eyes calmly, sensing the invading poison. Even diminished by the blessing, leaving it unchecked would hinder the fight.
'Hoo...'
He contemplated his body. He rotated and compressed the poison piercing his skin, guiding the navy-blue orb to his lower dantian.
A suicidal act to any onlooker. From afar, Namgung Ryun heard a shrill scream—but ignored it. She trusted his certainty.
He opened his meridians, creating space. Circulated it. The lethal toxin fused into his two lower dantians, gradually splitting apart—like yin and yang coexisting.
Soon, the devouring poison became his nourishment.
▶ Circulation successful. About 70% of the energy converted to mana.
'Not bad.'
A fine first attempt. Amid the receding poison waves, Pafnir stared in shock as Choi Siwoo rose unscathed.
"Im-impossible!"
Her gaze shifted to his shoulder—a radiant pink pattern glowing brilliantly. Overwhelming holy power that chilled her to the bone. And behind him, a pink-haired woman shimmering into view.
No doubt.
"Th-that's a god's mark. You're... an apostle?!"
Choi Siwoo, staring silently at the sky, leveled his sword.
"I've been feeling it for a while now... you're too chatty."
"...What?"
Aiming precisely, he poured his heart realm into the blade. He supplemented the lacking power with Behemoth's Pupil. Violet energy faintly swirled at the tip.
"I said, you talk too fucking much."
BOOM!
Like a cannon shot, a massive hole exploded through Pafnir's body in an instant.
"...Guhk?"
Unable to comprehend, she looked down trembling. Her cleanly carved torso gushed blood, refusing to regenerate.
"Wh-what...?"
Choi Siwoo watched her plummet, casually shaking his hand. The weapon vibrated faintly. Cecilia's beloved sword endured it; anything else would have shattered.
'Even in this incomplete form, it's straining this much.'
A heart sword reshaped into a sword orb and fired—a makeshift technique from his imperfect mastery of the heart realm.
Though unfinished, its power and speed were staggeringly superior. The insane mana cost was manageable thanks to expanding his vessel via the Yin-Yang Pill.
Sensing the need for refinement, he eyed Pafnir staggering to her feet. Her lips moved. Her bloodshot eyes burned with unyielding ferocity.
'Finally using it?'
Just then, her roar echoed.
"I acknowledge you, human male. I salute your strength. Consider it an honor to witness what I reveal now!"
A colossal power surged around her. Two pairs of bat wings sprouted from her back. Scales spread across her body, ballooning her size.
Thud!
Choi Siwoo looked up at the earth-shaking footfall. A grotesque dragon over 20 meters tall glared down at him.
—Behold it clearly! And tell no one! My true form! The might of the great dragon!!!
Wings flapping, Pafnir ascended against the fading twilight, gazing down with arrogant eyes. The dignity of a born ruler emanated from her. A massive roar reverberated.
Ominous energy swirled in her maw. Curses and poisons compressed and condensed.
'Dragon's Breath.'
As she prepared a divine authority-like technique, Choi Siwoo bowed low.
▶ Familiar, huh.
'Yeah.'
Stance. Power waves. And finally, clash.
He'd endured it endlessly in his past life, this life, and likely the next. That's why Choi Siwoo felt no fear. He'd always won, no matter the moment.
▶...? No-face lost, though.
'Kay. Please don't jinx it.'
He closed his eyes. Bubbling sounds filled the air. From the depths of his heart, he forcibly summoned the raging flames. His body heated under immense pressure. He recalled countless killing blows leading to victory, channeling them into forward momentum. Condensed it into one. Ignited his will.
Like burning logs, mana like a vast ocean boiled forth. The heat turned to cold.
BOOM!
His two lower dantians thrummed. Extreme yang and extreme yin circulated, forming harmony.
Opposing energies swirled around Choi Siwoo like a vortex.
Namgung Ryun, watching from afar, gaped in disbelief.
Crack.
Something twisted. Skin tore under unbearable force, bones snapping audibly. He ignored it. Focused only on the strike ahead, cleaving the foe beyond.
'Now...!'
BOOM!
He stomped his dragon-step. Every ounce of his body poured beyond limits into this blow. He faced the 'dragon's breath' descending from the heavens.
All power unified, Choi Siwoo swung.
Darker purple sword qi rippled out. At its edge, black waves of 'nothingness authority' flickered.
Swordsman's Zenith (Lv.50) has activated.
!!!!!!
A colossal flash engulfed the swamp. The vortex whipped up a typhoon, obliterating everything except Namgung Ryun's cage.
Rummmble.
Smoke swirled with the heavy thud of crashing mass.
THUD!
Choi Siwoo stared ahead silently. Beyond his gaze, Pafnir lay bisected, a massive hunk of meat embracing cold death.