Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: A Strange Lucid Dream
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***
—A lucid dream.
The state of being aware that one is dreaming.
Cheon-seong had never once been aware that he was dreaming before.
Even when faced with situations that could only happen in a dream, or when unrealistic events unfolded, he had always been completely immersed in the moment.
And in truth, that wasn't so strange.
After all, countless people never realize they are dreaming.
However, for Cheon-seong, realizing he was in a dream for the first time was of a completely different nature.
It awakened a consciousness that was anything but simple.
And it gave him a sensation that was… indescribable.
…….
A vast forest is on fire.
Countless ancient trees and bushes were engulfed in imposing flames, shrouded in scorching heat. The heat, in turn, spewed forth again, endlessly expanding its domain as if flaunting its insatiable greed.
And in between.
“Kyaaahk!!”
“Help me!!”
“Gaaahk!”
…….
The screams of countless people echoed, painting the horrific scene in myriad shades. A scene of tragedy, layered over and over with terrible colors….
It was truly a scene of a massacre.
—!
—!!
Even as he leaped through space without rest, Cheon-seong's thoughts flickered in and out of existence.
“Hah…”
Even as he gasped for breath, the sight unfolding before his eyes was utterly alien.
That’s how he knew.
‘This is definitely not real.’
Strangely enough, he realized in an instant that this wasn't reality. Because there was no way he would suddenly be in a place like this.
Because there was no way a tragedy like this would happen.
It was sudden and incomprehensible.
The sight of a forest he’d never seen before engulfed in a great conflagration. The scene of a massacre where people he didn't even know were dying. Everything was foreign.
And yet… this tragic slaughter felt strangely familiar.
These scenes, of which I had never seen even a fragment… felt as natural to me as if I had experienced them countless times somewhere before.
So, my heart was not shaken.
*Splatter!*
Even now, as a man just a few steps away had his upper body torn off by the maw of a giant snake and died….
My mind remained strangely calm.
No.
‘Is this really calmness?’
The moment I had that thought, I was already crossing space and thrusting my spear.
*Stab!*
I instantly tore apart the head of the snake that had just ripped off and swallowed the man’s upper body. The sensation of flesh against my hand, the spectacular arc of the monster's blood.
Inside the snake’s split skin, the mangled flesh of the man who had just died starkly dominated my vision.
“…”
Even as I retrieved my spear, I had no time to feel relieved for having killed the monster.
*Whip!*
I immediately turned my head, taking in the numerous monsters that entered my field of view.
Amidst the forest where the inferno raged, monsters were swarming everywhere. And even now, countless people were being ravaged and killed by them.
I couldn't understand it even as I watched.
*Rip!*
*Splat!*
Human bodies were torn apart like paper. And the sight of them being so easily crushed was something I could never get used to.
“……”
And as my thoughts ceased, I was once again flinging myself toward another monster.
—!
—!
I had no idea how many monsters I had already killed. Yet, as I instinctively and unconsciously thrust my spear, a strangely greater force was applied.
The trajectory of the spear extending from my outstretched hand grew sharper.
It was clearly different from before.
The swiftly lunging spearhead was precisely striking the vital points of monster breeds I had never seen before, killing them instantly.
Each time, a spiral current erupted from the spear's tip, brilliantly dominating my vision. Only the flesh and blood of the slain monsters left their mark on me.
The metallic scent of blood tickling my nose made my head spin. And my entire body creaked, crying out its limits.
“……”
My vision was completely stained red with the blood of the countless monsters I had slain.
*Stab! Splatter!*
Yet, the gruesome sensation of piercing and crushing flesh was constantly transmitted through my fingertips. The more monsters I killed, dozens of them, the more proficient I became at killing them.
But…
*Clench.*
Even as I bit my lip, my clenched teeth seemed to tremble.
My gaze immediately shifted to the next monster, yet fury welled up within my blood-soaked vision.
Even as I continued to kill monsters, the number of people dying in my sight was far greater.
Even after clearing the area and heading deeper into the forest where screams could be heard, the result was the same.
*Step!*
Arriving in a space after parting the massive flames, I was met with an even more horrific tragedy.
“Guuuhk!”
“Kyaaaaaahk!!”
*Squish!*
The first thing that caught my eye was a massive red form. It was the size of a two-story building, with the fierce appearance of a savage dragon. I could see a lump of flesh crushed beneath its massive foreleg.
It was… a human arm.
The sight of white bone protruding from the torn wound was ghastly. And the surrounding area was the same.
The completely shattered and broken ancient trees, the crimson-stained vegetation—all of it was something that had once been human.
“……”
Seeing the even redder tragedy through my blood-tinted vision, I felt my breath catch in my throat.
My lips wouldn't open. My mouth trembled as if I had forgotten how to speak.
‘This one monster…’
Just how many people had it killed?
—!
As I raised my spear and explosively unleashed Asura’s Seven Spirals, I felt a wave of nausea.
And immediately after, as the red dragon noticed me and viciously opened its maw, I was already dashing across the ground.
—!!
The scene that flashed by in my rapidly moving vision was definitely not real. I was fully aware of that.
And yet, the scattered remains of what were once people struck my heart with a dreadful vividness.
Corpses missing arms and legs were among the more intact ones. Chests burst open, lower bodies crushed, disfigured faces twisted in horrific agony even in the moment of death.
The remnants of many people who had trembled in agony as they met their end were seared into my eyes.
That was why I couldn't even think of waking from this dream, or of escaping it.
It felt just like reality. I knew it couldn't be, but it felt so real that I couldn't possibly escape this dream.
I couldn't even wish to avoid it or for the dream to end.
…That felt all too natural.
‘How…’
How could I possibly wake from this dream now?
I had to kill them. Right now. The only thought in my head was that I had to somehow kill every monster in my sight.
*Step!*
As I reached the spear’s range, the spiral current that erupted along its shaft began to clear a path.
*Swoooosh!!*
A current of energy formed along the extended spear shaft.
But more than that, the terrifying trajectory of the giant foreleg swung by the red dragon captured my vision.
*Swoosh—!*
I barely managed to twist my body along the spiral current, narrowly avoiding the dragon’s foreleg, but the ensuing wind pressure violently swept over my entire body.
*Skid!!*
As I barely landed against the wind pressure, I narrowed my eyes.
‘I can kill it.’
The difference in power was obvious. But even so, that didn't stir any other emotion in me.
There was no fear.
Even if I die, I must kill it.
That was the only thought I had.
So, I had no hesitation in leaping forward again and thrusting my spear.
…….
What followed was a desperate struggle, a bloody battle.
*Boom! Boom…!*
The shockwaves of our clashing powers continuously spread through the air.
*Splatter—!*
And though blood flew endlessly, I didn't know whose it was.
The spearhead, which had pierced the dragon’s body countless times, grew dull and broke repeatedly.
*Stab!*
The spear managed to pierce a scale on the dragon’s foreleg, but it accomplished nothing more.
Instead, a heavy repulsive force struck my arm.
“—Guhk!”
…The pain was like hitting a solid wall with all my might. Biting my lip, I retrieved my spear and barely managed to create some distance.
This wasn't enough to properly break through. I lacked too much to pierce the red dragon's sturdy scales.
So, the more I thrust my spear, the more it felt like my hand and arm were breaking.
If you strike a solid wall with a force that cannot break it, only the one striking will crumble.
*Swoosh—!*
As the massive, menacingly swung tail narrowly brushed past me, I felt a pain as if my entire body had been directly hit by immense pressure again.
*Thwack!*
The wind struck me like a massive iron ingot. The pain was so staggering that I couldn't even breathe properly.
“—!”
*Splat! Drip!*
Even as I tumbled wretchedly across the ground, I couldn't close my eyes.
My vision was filled with horrific lumps of flesh and spreading pools of blood.
Just by being caught in the shockwave, I was forced to witness the blood and ghastly flesh strewn across the ground.
*Slide.*
And at the end of it, I barely managed to push myself up, but the hand I planted on the ground trembled so much it felt like it would give way.
“…Unleash.”
Without even realizing it, I was muttering blankly.
Whether it was possible to deploy Unleash or not didn't feel important at all.
As if I were not myself, I uttered the word 'Unleash,' and before my eyes, a miraculous change began to occur.