Chapter 233: Shadow
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 233: Shadow
How on earth could a human body leave such a sword mark?
Logically, it was impossible.
Judging by the depression in the ground, he must have swung the sword with his feet planted firmly on the earth.
If he had jumped into the air, it would make sense for the mark to be at that height, but he had swung the sword while on the ground.
So how did it reach that high?
I might have understood if the sword had been impossibly long.
But that wasn't the case.
The sword mark was far too short.
Even though I had reached the Peak Realm, deciphering what the Heavenly Demon left behind was an incredibly difficult task.
Still, I had to cram as much of it into my head as possible.
Just as I'd gained enlightenment on being the sole honored one, I might have a sudden realization at any moment.
As I stared at it for a long while, Chodo murmured quietly.
“A peculiar mark, wouldn't you say? It's just a sword mark, yet it holds a strangely ominous aura. It's one thing for a spirit beast like us, but for a human to leave such a trace… What's even more astonishing is that it was carved with a pure sword strike, without using Sword Flux or an Aura Sphere.”
An Aura Sphere is a technique where Sword Flux is compressed into a round, orb-like shape, allowing it to be fired from a distance.
For someone like the Heavenly Demon, who was at or above the Profound Realm, it would be a skill he could use with his eyes closed. Yet, this mural was said to have been carved purely with swordsmanship.
“If the Heavenly Demon had used Sword Flux or an Aura Sphere, do you think this mural would still be intact?”
Hearing it put that way, it made sense.
Someone on the Heavenly Demon's level could literally display the martial prowess to shatter mountains.
Gongbok's prowess alone was enough to grind my domain to dust; the Heavenly Demon, who was stronger than the True Dragon, would be more than capable of it.
…Thinking about it that way made the mark on the wall seem even more miraculous.
“This mark cannot be called human. The Heavenly Demon learned the movements of a spirit beast in a human body, so perhaps it's only natural.”
It was a movement that couldn't be considered human.
Hadn't it been said that the Heavenly Demon was the disciple of a spirit beast called the Tyrant Dragon?
He must have imitated its movements.
“And I believe that is why he surpassed my father. Because he was a human who mimicked the movements of a spirit beast.”
Comparing spirit beasts and humans, spirit beasts have a significant advantage.
A human body cannot pierce a spirit beast's tough defenses, while their claws can tear through human flesh with ease.
However, as both grow stronger, the scales tip in favor of the humans.
Once they awaken to Sword Aura and Sword Flux, they can penetrate a spirit beast's defenses.
Just as I broke through Gongbok's defense.
Moreover, humans have the advantage when it comes to attaining enlightenment.
Spirit beasts must awaken to each of the Five Elements one by one and achieve harmony to reach the state of Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit and Five Qi Returning to Origin. Humans, on the other hand, are like beings who gather the Five Elements little by little just by living.
Thus, they can achieve enlightenment with less effort than spirit beasts.
So, what about the Heavenly Demon?
He was undoubtedly human.
And yet, he mimicked the movements of a spirit beast, so he could be said to possess the prowess of one.
The strength of a spirit beast.
The enlightenment of a human.
He must have surpassed the True Dragon because he possessed both.
“The reason some spirit beasts take human form is likely similar.”
Most of the spirit beasts I'd met had taken human form.
Honestly, I'd had my doubts.
I thought that unless their situation was like mine, there was no reason for them to take human form.
They were born and raised as non-humans, so their original forms should have felt more natural.
In fact, even spirit beasts who could take human form often preferred their original appearances. Thinking back to our first encounters, I had met almost all of them in their true forms, with few exceptions.
Of course, whenever I happened to see their human forms, I'd start purring and grinning like an idiot, so they started spending more time in human form for my sake.
The prime example was the Snake Queen.
When she had Swish-Swish with her, she had definitely threatened me in her true form, but as soon as she noticed I couldn't take my eyes off her internal energy pouches, didn't she immediately switch to her human form and stay that way?
It was a truly dirty trick.
I wonder if the Snake Queen is the real reason my habits got so bad.
I don't think I was so obsessed before that.
Not that it's a bad thing, though.
In a way, my enlightenment that shattered the 'bigger is better' mindset was something I gained thanks to the Snake Queen.
…I should prepare a gift for her next time I visit.
“Of course, not all spirit beasts who live in human form know the story of the Heavenly Demon and the True Dragon. It is a tale known only to the Nine Sons of the Dragon and some of the ancient spirit beasts.”
That's right.
Training in human form can make you stronger!
If this were true, or at least if spirit beasts believed it to be, the Snake Queen would have tried to turn me human by any means necessary.
But she didn't. Instead, she sent me to old Compy to learn miniaturization.
Of course, humanization probably isn't something that can be taught, but it would have been worth a try.
The Snake Queen probably just thinks of humanization as a convenient way to utilize space… and as a way to grow lumps of fat that a certain suspicious lizard is very fond of.
“Now, humanization can be called an instinct for spirit beasts.”
That's what that Gaechalgoatal guy said when he tried to win me over.
He said taking human form was a spirit beast's instinct.
At the time, I thought he was just spouting nonsense to tempt me, but now it seems he might have been right.
“…These days, some spirit beasts take human form simply for space utilization, but that too stems from instinct.”
The Red Dragon is a good example of this.
From our very first meeting, she showed me her human form, not her spirit beast one.
The reason was that the lava hot spring on Mount Hua wasn't large enough to contain her true form.
So there are those who insist on their human form for reasons like space utilization.
“Many spirit beasts have lived in human bodies, but an exceptional case like the Heavenly Demon has never occurred again. There is bound to be a difference. It's the difference between a human in a human body imitating a spirit beast, and a spirit beast merely mimicking a human's body.”
The Heavenly Demon was a human with a human body.
Such a being imitated the movements of a spirit beast.
A spirit beast's humanization is different.
They aren't mimicking human thoughts and actions; they have only imitated the physical body.
Of course, it's not without its advantages.
Seeing the Snake Queen use swordsmanship and the Iron Head Dragon use martial arts shows there's a clear difference compared to spirit beasts who haven't learned human techniques.
But the situation is that no out-of-the-ordinary being like the Heavenly Demon has appeared.
…Wait, what about me?
No matter what anyone says, my body is that of a spirit beast.
And not just any ordinary spirit beast.
I'm a mid-tier dragonkin and a descendant of the great Gomodo.
But my mind is human.
I have the body of a spirit beast, but my mind hasn't changed.
I think like a human and act like a human.
Could this be why my growth rate has been abnormally fast?
The status window helps, but it's not normal for a gecko to reach such a realm in just over a year.
Perhaps, like the Heavenly Demon, I might one day be able to surpass the previous Gomodo and the True Dragon.
I looked once more at the sword mark left by the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon was a being similar to me, yet different.
Since this was what he left behind, it might hold the key to the next realm.
Thump.
My heart began to beat faster.
And at the same time, an immense pain shot through my eyes.
I thought I heard Chodo say something in a worried tone, but her voice no longer reached my ears.
The mural I was looking at began to waver.
Chodo and Gongbok had vanished without a trace, and even the thick grass all around was gone.
It was an unfamiliar scene, as if I had been transported to another space all by myself.
Yet, there was one familiar thing: the mural I had been staring at.
No, it couldn't be called a mural.
This was before the Heavenly Demon's sword mark was carved, so it was just a giant rock.
A black shadow in the shape of a human stood before me.
I knew at once who he was and what he was about to do.
What I was seeing now were the movements of the Heavenly Demon.
…I must be able to see this sight thanks to gaining the Dragon Eye.
It felt hazy, like I was dreaming.
But I couldn't let my mind wander.
I had to remember every single one of those movements.
Ssssp.
The black shadow seemed to take a deep breath.
And then it stomped its foot.
KUUUUUNG!
The earth rumbled and the sky shattered.
Yin and Yang. And the Five Elements gathered in harmony at the tip of his sword.
It was an overwhelming power whose limits I couldn't even begin to fathom.
A natural, fluid movement followed.
The movements of a spirit beast, performed by a human body.
I could finally see the sword art the Heavenly Demon had left for future generations.
KAGAGAK!
But his sword did not strike.
The Heavenly Demon had stopped his sword mid-swing.
But why?
Was this, too, part of the technique?
No, that wasn't it.
The Heavenly Demon turned around and stared right at me.
Thump.
My heart pounded wildly.
It was only natural.
Because the black shadow was looking at me and grinning.
As if it was aware of me.
The ominous, truly ominous figure stretched its mouth into a wide gash and slowly approached me.
What in the world is that thing?
Is that really the being known as the Heavenly Demon?
I couldn't bear it.
If the True Dragon fought against something like that, could it be that he was actually the good one?
How could anyone let such a heinous thing be?
Even I would have thought that such a being must be destroyed.
…Then what about Gomodo?
Why did he stand against the True Dragon?
If they were trying to eliminate a creature like that, they should have cooperated.
I was so confused.
What am I seeing?
What kind of being was the Heavenly Demon, and what kind of being was the True Dragon?
And what about the previous Gomodo?
—To think one with the Dragon Eye would be fooled by something like this.
A familiar voice rang out.
Hearing that voice, the black shadow froze.
—It wasn't even left by the True Dragon himself, but by some insignificant creature of a lower class.
—You have no right to blame him. If even you were fooled this easily, how could anyone else not have trusted him?
“Gurgle… Gack!”
The black shadow that had been pretending to be the Heavenly Demon was now acting clearly terrified.
“Guuuhp….”
It covered its mouth with its hands, trying not to even make a sound.
As if it had seen its greatest fear, a foul-smelling black liquid oozed from its entire body.
Who could this evil being possibly be afraid of?
—It is vexing that you did not take my hand, but if you fall for such a childish prank, my reputation will be in tatters.
A being I never expected to appear in this situation, one I felt strangely happy to see.
—Begone, you specter of the past.
It was the Heart Demon.