The Strange Dragon
Red Dragon Island and Blue Dragon Island. Unlike Gold Dragon Island—whose mainland and masters had been utterly shattered while defending against the mighty foreign invaders that had once sunk White Dragon Island—or Black Dragon Island, which had maintained a veil of secrecy from the very beginning, the might of these two islands was widely renowned.
White Dragon Island had seen all its neighboring islands sink, turning the region into a lawless wasteland, and its very name had been changed from the White Dragon Sea to the Dongheo Sea. Meanwhile, Gold Dragon Island, having fought to the death against external foes just as fiercely as White Dragon Island, had been forced to relinquish its throne as the undisputed sovereign of the Five Dragon Seas.
One man's misfortune is another's fortune. Taking advantage of their rivals' stumble, two islands expanded their influence faster than anyone else. The descendants of the Red Dragon and the Blue Dragon capitalized brilliantly on the unprecedented weakness and chaos gripping the Five Dragon Seas.
Normally, Gold Dragon Island occupied the central, largest, and most resource-rich territory of the Five Dragon Seas. But the rivals had encroached upon their lands so relentlessly that the nautical charts had to be completely redrawn. A map that once boasted clean, perfectly balanced borders now resembled an apple with its sides greedily hollowed out, all because the Red and Blue Dragons had gnawed away at central Gold Dragon Island.
Yet, Gold Dragon Island was a historic powerhouse that had once boasted supreme dominance. Even after clashing with an external calamity in the legendary realm of Johwa (Creation), their foundation was not entirely broken. Gritting their teeth, they bided their time, waiting for a chance to reclaim their glory.
They maintained ties with the now-deceased former Lord of White Dragon Island and demanded that the secretive Black Dragon Island join the fray. Flinging open vaults accumulated over generations, they recruited external masters. Perhaps crisis truly bred opportunity, or perhaps the Gold Dragon itself was watching over them, for several figures worthy of being called heroes began to emerge from their ranks.
Watching Gold Dragon Island stir and roar back to life, Red Dragon Island and Blue Dragon Island grew uneasy. Though currently diminished, Gold Dragon Island's past glory had once cast a shadow over the entire Five Dragon Seas, and many elders still remembered that terrifying majesty.
They had believed that after their Lord and top masters were wiped out by a monster of the Johwa realm, Gold Dragon Island would never recover from such devastating wounds. But lo and behold, as if proving that the throne was not held by mere luck, their rate of recovery was nothing short of alarming.
While the Red and Blue Dragons still held the upper hand for now, Black Dragon Island was reportedly preparing to make its move. To make matters worse, several great sects that had previously severed ties were now warily testing the waters, making frequent contact with Gold Dragon Island.
Unfortunately, unlike those great sects who were only now trying to curry favor, Blue Dragon Island and Red Dragon Island had already crossed the point of no return. An arrow loosed from the bow cannot be recalled, even by the archer who shot it. All that remained was a desperate, bloody struggle. They were waiting for an event—or an entity—that would put a definitive end to Gold Dragon Island once and for all.
And now, the rumors and traces of the legendary Ilwon Island were the perfect catalyst to ignite their desperation. Since the information presented as proof was incredibly precise, how could they not covet it?
"Vice Island Lord. The eastern defensive line has been completely breached. We have slain one Samgeuk master, and the other has retreated with fatal wounds."
"Excellent. It seems we will breach the perimeter before those Blue Dragon bastards. However, do not rush in first. Simply prevent the enemy from reconstructing their defenses."
"Understood."
Jeok Hong-gyun, the Vice Island Lord of Red Dragon Island, stroked the red scales on his chin. He gazed upon the massive altar—the enemies who had turned the legendary Taegwi into a mere boiling pot—and muttered quietly under his breath.
"No matter how fallen they are, to destroy White Dragon Island and reduce the sacred beast Taegwi to such a state... Bringing twenty Samgeuk masters was certainly not an overreaction."
He had expected the enemy to be formidable, but this level of power surely surpassed most great sects. Ten identified Samgeuk masters, such high-level barriers, and so many magical artifacts of war?
If they had possessed more Samgeuk masters and a powerhouse on par with an Island Lord, they would have been a truly terrifying force.
"But they lack a true apex powerhouse."
Most of them were merely masters of the First or Second Pole. Even among the Samgeuk masters, there was no one who possessed the overwhelming might of an Island Lord—someone who could easily force even a Samgeuk master to yield three moves.
"The western defensive line has just been breached, Vice Island Lord!"
"The Vice Lord of Blue Dragon Island must be getting impatient. Very well. Let us press them from both sides simultaneously. Even if it is not Ilwon Island, they must possess something of equal value."
"Yes, sir!"
Bwooooo—
Conch horns blared, and countless warships began their advance. The formations, barriers, and defensive lines set up around the perimeter had long since been shattered.
"We have finally cornered them."
Pressing forward relentlessly, they soon forced the enemy's remaining ships to cluster tightly around the massive turtle altar, forming a desperate defensive wall.
"Is that woman conducting that bizarre ritual? Wait... Cheong Ya-hui?"
Why was the most cherished daughter of the Merchant Coalition's leader there? No, more importantly, that ritual...
Could I ever hope to replicate that?
The sheer scale of it was mind-boggling. Even with the vast experience and knowledge of the Red Dragon Island's Vice Lord, he could only marvel at it in sheer awe—and that awe quickly birthed a creeping sense of dread.
Such an absurd sacrificial ritual. Could even the Lord of Blue Dragon Island, a master of rituals himself, perform something like this? No, unless one had reached the legendary realm of Johwa...
"Damn it."
Just then, warships bearing the sacred blue flags and dragon figureheads of Blue Dragon Island came into view. It was the Vice Lord of Blue Dragon Island, who had undoubtedly received the same orders from his own master. His expression was no different from Jeok Hong-gyun's.
In fact, his face was contorted in a grimace that transcended shock and bordered on despair. Perhaps because he was well-versed in rituals and spells, unlike Jeok Hong-gyun, the Blue Dragon Vice Lord saw something invisible to others. His gaze sank into a cold, heavy silence.
"Vice Lord of Blue Dragon!"
"Is that you? How... how is that possible?"
"You are far more knowledgeable in these matters than I am. What in the world is that?!"
"I... I don't know either. How many layers of secret arts and karma are woven into that sacrifice? Can a mere mortal even perform such a feat? This goes beyond an offering to the heavens or an idol; it is a decree laid upon the world itself..."
"Enough! I get that it's incredible, but do we need to stop it?"
Both Vice Lords' faces fell. They had been given immense support for this mission; there was no way they could simply retreat empty-handed. They had to salvage something, if only to save face.
They were terrified of the incomprehensible ritual unfolding before them, but they feared the wrath of their respective Island Lords even more. The Island Lords were different. They were closer to dragons than anyone else, inheriting their wisdom and power. Even to these Vice Lords, who had reached the absolute peak of Samgeuk, their masters were figures of absolute terror.
In the end, a greater terror conquered their immediate fear.
"Let us attempt to negotiate first. If they show no sign of cooperation, we strike immediately."
"Agreed. If we can complete the mission without shedding blood, our Lords will be pleased."
Sssssss—
The warships glided through the water. Their advance ground to a halt when a bizarre entity materialized at the boundary of the sea. It was a grotesque creature—a single, twitching eyeball with bat-like wings. Though its appearance was deeply unsettling, the two Vice Lords masked their disgust and spoke.
"Are you willing to speak?"
"If you wish."
"This voice... Cheong Ya-hui. But this is far beyond the level of mere Qi Circulation (Ungi). And she is the one presiding over that ritual."
"Correct. If you have something to say, spit it out. I am listening."
Her tone was absurdly calm given the circumstances. Stroking his white beard, the Blue Dragon Vice Lord asked sharply,
"You do not seem to understand who holds the upper hand here. You have been pushed back to the very edge. What grounds do you have to be so arrogant?"
"If you truly believed I was the weaker party, you wouldn't even be negotiating. You, with the blood of the Blue Dragon flowing through you... you seem well-versed in spells and rituals. Tell me, how much can you see?"
"Ten percent. With my abilities, that is the absolute limit of what I can decipher."
"Impressive. A mere Samgeuk insect managed to decipher ten percent? Is it because you possess a dragon's factor?"
"Are you... a 'senior'?"
Senior. There was only one kind of existence that a Samgeuk master would address as a senior: a master of the Johwa realm. And whenever a Johwa senior appeared in the Five Dragon Seas, they invariably brought storms of blood and ruin.
"Who knows? Think of it however you like. I am certainly older than you, so I am at least your senior in life."
"Hand over the information regarding Ilwon Island."
"Even if I handed it over right now, would you believe it? If I gave it to you on the condition that you withdraw, would you actually leave?"
"..."
"If you had any intention of talking, you would have sent an envoy first. The moment you launched a surprise attack on our defensive lines, your decision was already made. You were simply intimidated by my unexpected presence, which led you to babble this nonsense."
"...Hmph."
"Well? Now that your panic has subsided, does reality finally come into focus? What do you think you should do now?"
"First, we crush the Blue Dragon bastards, and then we monopolize all the information on Ilwon Island!"
"Vice Lord of Red Dragon! You've been bewitched!"
"Fufu. Play amongst yourselves for now. I am rather busy cleaning up my own house."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Who am I? Quite a philosophical question. But I had to decide right now. Who was I?
Was I the White Dragon, a majestic being born of the heavens and nurtured by the world? Or was I a pathetic creature crawling on the dirt beneath the White Dragon, who looked down on all creation with supreme nobility?
...I remembered my childhood. Not from my days as a young Dokkaebi, but from somewhere even deeper. A memory that only surfaced after crossing the boundary of a past life—a memory that was now trivial and incredibly faint.
I had been someone's assistant. I couldn't remember the name or face of the person I served. But the reason I took on that secretary job—which was practically no different from being a servant—was crystal clear.
Back then, I was born into an environment and with a level of talent that guaranteed I could never rise to greatness. Lacking any unique color or brilliance of my own, my only option was to bask in the reflected light of someone else.
I possessed ambition. Not just physical desires like lust or greed, but a deeper yearning to ascend to greater heights and become something grand. However, as an orphan with no talent to back up my aspirations, I had resolutely abandoned those dreams.
If I serve someone great, I might never be truly special, but I will shine the brightest among the ordinary. He who touches pitch shall be defiled—or in my case, standing beside greatness meant I could feed on the crumbs of their light. That was enough.
Once I looked up and gave up on climbing, my primal desires awakened. It was around then that I turned to cheap pleasures, keeping a cigarette in my mouth and women in my bed. Actually, wait. Am I not still living surrounded by women? Old habits die hard. It's terrifying how a habit formed at three lasts until eighty.
Nice. That tone was perfect. Totally Gang Hayun. Who knew digging up useless old memories would be so effective at a time like this?
The more I thought about it, the more pathetic and miserable my past self seemed compared to who I was now. Facing those buried memories made me feel like absolute shit! But right now, I welcomed that shame. This embarrassment, this self-loathing—it was the ultimate proof that I was still me.
And... if I didn't remind myself of who I was, I felt like I would be swallowed whole at any second.
Time flowed. No, I wasn't even sure if it was time that was passing. Perhaps what I was letting drift away wasn't time, but my very past.
Huddled like this, I found myself wanting to discard my wretched, insect-like past in favor of immediate glory and light. The urge to ascend as a dragon surged within me, threatening to take over. And so, I reached out toward the brilliant light.
Rip, crackle.
Scales and feathers began to cover my hands. The more I looked up, the more my body felt like it was no longer my own. Yet, it was incredibly warm and exhilarating. Just a little further...
As I rose to touch the heavens, a sudden, blinding flash of light made me blink. When I opened my eyes, I saw my hands. Feathery, scaled hands that did not belong to me.
Hmm. Hands like these won't be popular with the ladies. Besides, if I try to have sex in a body like this, I'll either get rejected outright or end up hurting them. On top of that, if I get them pregnant in this state, is my kid going to be born covered in feathers and scales?
And what if... what if, by some horrible stroke of luck, my wives lay eggs instead of giving birth to babies...?
'Aaaargh!!! Fuck no!!!!!!!'
Rip! Tear!
Thrashing as if I had touched something filthy, I violently tore away the feathers and scales sprouting from my flesh. Fuck, even if I was a degenerate who would happily fuck a mermaid, I drew the line at that.
Dragons were cool. Super cool. But imagining my wives laying eggs, and some scaly, feathery thing popping out and calling me daddy? That was absolutely, unconditionally unacceptable. No fucking way. The absolute limit of what I would tolerate was a dragon-human hybrid (Gwaeryong). Anything beyond that was out of the question.
So stop getting seduced like a little bitch and take control, you idiot.
Whoosh!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Senior!"
"I have eyes."
Ryeo-ah silently caught a trident flying toward her and rammed it straight into an enemy's stomach.
"Aaargh!"
The merman soldier collapsed, his entrails spilling onto the deck. But a relentless barrage of bombardments and fresh troops immediately filled the gap. The situation had deteriorated into a desperate melee right on the deck.
Now that the enemy had breached their final sanctuary—the ark that served as their ship—only two options remained: kill or be killed. Every member of the Gang family fought with desperate fury, but the cold reality of the world was not merciful enough to reward mere effort.
Standing atop a mountain of corpses, both friend and foe, the survivors huddled in a tight circle, backs pressed against one another. They glared at Ryeo-ah, who was still calmly conducting the ritual, and screamed,
"Hey!! We're all going to fucking die, you crazy bitch! If you're going to act like some grand senior, do something!"
"I am working as hard as I can. In all my long life, the times I have focused this intensely on anything can be counted on one hand."
"Fuck... Don't just work hard, do it right, you bitch...!"
The Blue and Red Dragons pressed their assault.
"Shatter the ship and drag them into the sea. They aren't aquatic creatures; that alone will neutralize them."
"Agreed."
Crash!
The hull of the ship ruptured, and the vessel began to tilt violently. A few tried to flee to save their skins, but they were instantly pulverized by the overwhelming barrage of attacks. Seeing a fleeing comrade torn into dozens of pieces right before their eyes, the remaining Dokkaebi gave up on escape and retreated back inside the barrier Ryeo-ah had erected, bracing themselves for death.
"If we die, what will happen to Master?"
"He'll... probably die with us. That jerk. We fought those bastards for days just to protect him, and he couldn't even show his face at the end."
"He bound my life to the Demonic Cult, and I chose to become his woman that day. If I'm going to die anyway, I'll take at least one of those bastards down with me."
"If death is inevitable, we must accept it. But we'll make them pay dearly first."
As the ship collapsed, they began to fall. Yet, in that final moment, they charged toward the half-dragon humanoid raining down fire from the sky. Noticing their approach, the Red Dragon opened its maw, unleashing a torrent of scorching flames.
It was a blaze unleashed by a being at the absolute peak of Samgeuk. Surely, some of them would perish, while a few survivors might manage to close the distance, land a few desperate blows, and die alongside their foe. Yet, they charged forward without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, their vision went pitch black. What? Am I dead? Is this why I can't see anything? So anticlimactic... But that thought lasted only a fraction of a second. They quickly realized that the darkness blocking their path actually possessed a physical form.
It was a pair of wings, draped in feathers of pitch-black metal. The jagged, dark gold feathers bristled like sharp blades, coarse and brutal.
Drip.
A few drops of foul blood splattered against the black scales. Following the skeletal frame of the feathered wings, their eyes naturally drifted upward. When they saw what was dangling at the end, they all fell into a stunned silence.
"Urgh... cough..."
The Red Dragon groaned, his abdomen impaled clean through by a set of pitch-black claws.