Chapter 264: Passing as Non-human
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: Passing as Non-human
“Gasp… To think there’s another user of the Ice-White Divine Art…”
A colossal dragon of ice danced wildly.
The two captains had been neutralized before they could even lift a finger, leaving only the leader to continue his desperate struggle.
His power was no match for Baek Seol-hwa, but his efforts weren't entirely fruitless.
After all, he had forced Baek Seol-hwa to use her innate power, compelling her to drop her Disguise Art.
“And for that person to be… the Priestess of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Even our faction had never heard such information…”
The Black Cloud Faction was a group that collected elixirs, but they also dabbled in gathering scattered intelligence.
Being located on the outskirts of the 100,000 Great Mountains, they naturally collected information on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
That was how he knew of the cult’s Priestess, but he had no way of knowing she was a master of disguise or that her constitution was the same as the Ice Palace Lord’s.
“If I had known we were up against someone of this caliber… I would have used a different method.”
CRUNCH!
The leader of the Black Cloud Faction brushed the frost settling on his body.
Baek Seol-hwa paid his words no mind.
What did it matter if her identity was revealed?
The leader wasn't going to leave this place alive anyway.
And even if he did, there was nothing he could do with the information he’d learned here.
In fact, if he told the Ice Palace Lord about this, she would take care of it for him.
“You know it’s too late for regrets, don’t you?”
“Kugh… You truly are a monster. To so easily withstand a combined attack from an equal and two Peak Realm masters.”
Seol-hwa scoffed at his words.
An equal?
The gap between the entry and middle stages of the Transformation Realm was far more vast than the gap between the Peak and Transformation Realms.
“But, Priestess of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult… you do not know the true power of the Black Cloud Faction.”
His tone had changed.
His opponent had shifted from a mysterious spy to the Priestess of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I’m sure. You must have something hidden up your sleeve, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have dared to establish a base in the 100,000 Great Mountains.”
Baek Seol-hwa had been wondering all along.
How could a group of this level establish a foothold in the 100,000 Great Mountains?
Although they had one Transformation Realm master, this was not a land where a single warrior at the entry stage of the Transformation Realm could run rampant.
It wasn't just because of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Even if one were to assume the cult didn't exist, the fact that the 100,000 Great Mountains were a dangerous land remained unchanged.
It was a place where a passing snake could possess the power of a Transformation Realm master, and a strange, dancing black-and-white lizard held a similar level of strength.
Countless such spirit beasts existed here.
Even if they could defeat the minor ones, this was by no means a place where they could throw their weight around with such meager strength.
They must have survived here because they had a hidden card.
And knowing this, Seol-hwa gave them no time to play their trump card.
CRACKLE!
Two ice dragons coiled around each other and flew toward the warriors of the Black Cloud Faction.
At the same time, the leader pulled a long object from his robes.
Fwoosh.
An object radiating intense fire energy.
The moment Seol-hwa saw it, she changed the ice dragons’ direction.
She had immediately recognized that what the leader threw was a Thunderclap Bomb.
An ordinary Thunderclap Bomb would be fine even if she took a few hits, but there was no telling what would happen if it was one they had saved as a trump card.
Trying to tank it without confirming its power was the worst possible move.
Therefore, Seol-hwa’s judgment could be called a textbook response.
KABOOOM!
The Thunderclap Bomb exploded with a deafening roar.
However, the bomb the leader had thrown was so pathetic it couldn't even shatter a single ice dragon.
SCREEEEECH!
Its true value wasn't its destructive power.
An intense flash of light and a piercing sound.
What the leader had thrown was a flashbang.
It was modified to buy a few moments of time, no matter what kind of spirit beast they encountered.
But what could they possibly do with just a little bought time?
They couldn't melt the ice created by the Ice-White Divine Art in that short span, making escape impossible.
“Everyone, swallow the Dragon Pills!”
At the leader’s command, the fallen warriors shakily pulled out pieces of Dragon Pills from their pouches.
Gulp.
The brief moment bought by the flashbang was just enough time for the Black Cloud Faction’s warriors to swallow the Dragon Pills.
CRACK.
“GAAAAAAAH!”
Seol-hwa’s face contorted.
As the Priestess, she felt an unsettling energy from the pills they had swallowed.
A dreadful aura, as if she could hear the screams of spirit beasts and animals from here.
It was similar to a spirit beast’s inner core, but something was different.
A pill made by grinding up living spirit beasts.
An artificially created inner core.
That was the true nature of the Dragon Pill.
And that was the true power of the Black Cloud Faction.
CR-CR-CRACK!
“GAAAAAAAAH!”
Those who swallowed the pills screamed.
Their bodies swelled, and an energy like a dark shadow began to ooze out.
“Hahahahaha! How is it, Priestess! This is His grace!”
The leader laughed maniacally as he watched his men transform.
This Dragon Pill, a special gift he had received this time, was far more effective than the last one.
To think it had this much power even when they took just a piece.
He hadn't taken his yet, but he felt he could take down that woman with his subordinates alone.
“Black Cloud Faction, you’ve crossed the line.”
“A line? What line are you talking about? And… how long will you look at us with those eyes?”
Drool dripped from the mouths of the warriors writhing in pain.
Seeing this, Seol-hwa couldn't help but frown.
It was a hideously gruesome sight.
The beings before her could no longer be called human.
A warrior with the head of a bear.
A warrior with the claws of a tiger.
One had his lower body transformed into that of a wolf, while another’s body grew massive as ram’s horns sprouted from his head.
She could feel an energy that was incomparably stronger than before.
It was because the vengeful spirits of the spirit beasts had infiltrated their bodies, pushing their power to its absolute limit.
The sacrificed spirit beasts didn't care what happened to the bodies’ owners; they simply desired destruction.
Seol-hwa staggered.
It was partly because their power itself had grown, but also because of the nature of the Dragon Pills they had swallowed.
She couldn't help but feel the grudges of the spirit beasts directly.
Especially as the Priestess of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, her body was several times more sensitive than others.
The pain, anger, and resentment of the sacrificed spirit beasts.
All sorts of negative sensations began to interfere with Seol-hwa’s everything.
*
I stared at the warriors, who wore expressions of disbelief.
It had been a combined attack from all three, but their swords had simply bounced off, leaving them utterly bewildered.
And I was just as bewildered.
Wait, didn't you say you were at the Peak Realm?
I wondered if I had misunderstood, but they were called captains or something, so these three had to be the Peak Realm warriors of the Black Cloud Faction.
But this was the result?
I had thought I wouldn't be cut deeply.
I knew the extent of my own Dragon Scales’ durability.
However, I hadn't expected there to be not even a single scratch.
What in the world has happened to my body?
At this level of toughness, I felt I was approaching the level of Gongbok from back then.
A body that couldn't be pierced by sword energy no matter how hard one tried—a body truly deserving of the term ‘Adamantine Body’.
Besides, I hadn't even used Gigantification yet. If I used my full power, I could probably surpass even Gongbok’s tough defense.
My attack power had surpassed his long ago.
…Maybe it’s because I’ve been munching on a lot of elixirs lately, but my physical defense seems to have gotten incredibly strong.
At this rate, unless they brought a Transformation Realm warrior, they wouldn't be able to lay a single scratch on me.
Well, I did withstand Ak Bulhwi’s sword, so why would I be hurt by an attack from a mere three Peak Realm masters?
“Impossible…”
There’s a saying that three can take on one.
Even if there’s a one-stage difference in realm, if about three gather, they can face one warrior from the higher stage.
But that must depend on the opponent.
If the attacks themselves don't work, it doesn't matter how many of them gather; they won't be able to take me down.
They might have a chance if they bypassed my scales and attacked from a different angle, but with my Myriad Poisons Immunity, poison doesn't work well on me either.
Then again, I possess three Dragon Gates, something that’s hard enough to obtain even one of, so perhaps this level of strength is to be expected.
The spirit beasts I hang out with are exceptionally strong, and my goal is my Master, so my standards have just gotten higher. I’m probably not an ordinary spirit beast myself at this point.
Besides, most of the elixirs I’ve eaten are stored in my tail without being digested. If I were to use all of that, I could unleash even greater power than I have now.
Of course, I have no intention of ever using it and plan to give it all to my Master.
“H-How can you have such power…!”
And this power alone is more than enough to handle this situation.
Crackle!
Blue lightning gathered in my left hand.
I could just crush them with my hand, but that would be too gruesome a sight.
It would be better to just fry them with lightning.
If they’re lucky, they might even survive.
Just as I was about to swing my lightning-infused left hand…
KABOOOOOM!
A tremendous flash of light and an explosion shook the entire building.
Rumble!
What, do they carry bombs around?
But for a bomb, the force doesn't seem that strong.
Ah, it’s not a bomb, it’s a flashbang.
I guess it makes sense to have at least one escape plan.
With that thought, I opened my closed eyes.
“Everyone! Swallow the Dragon Pills!”
At the captain’s shout, the warriors, who had been lost in a sense of powerlessness, pulled something white from their robes and put it in their mouths.
Swallow what?
Dragon Pills?
That’s a Dragon Pill?
Is it something like an elixir?
I should have searched the clothes of those guys from before.
I didn't want to rummage through some guys' clothes, so I just left them.
But they can't possibly turn this situation around just by swallowing a single elixir.
CR-CRACK.
Although, it was a bit strange to see their bodies swell up and transform into something that wasn't human, but a beast.
“This overflowing power…!”
“Kuhahak!”
Whether they were drunk on their newfound power or the effects of the Dragon Pill were just that potent, they were all drooling.
I could certainly tell that their energy had been amplified tremendously.
Of course, I could also tell right away that it wasn't a normal elixir.
It was obviously the type that boosts power for a short period at the cost of harming the body.
“With this, even that dragon…!”
“That’s right! Kehehehet! Dragon! We have surpassed you!”
The captains raised their swords once more.
SHING!
FWOOSH!
It wasn't sword flux, but I could see an amount of sword energy gushing out that was incomparable to before.
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
And this time, it wasn't just the captains; the other warriors also raised their respective weapons, showing off their sword energy.
“Surrender quietly!”
One of the captains shouted as he charged.
Was he the White Wind captain?
His clothes are white, so I guess so.
“We have transcended humanity! No, we who are different from the human species from our very source…”
I think I have a rough idea of how that Dragon Pill is made.
The way their power skyrocketed just from eating one of those…
So, you’re saying you’ve been disqualified as humans, right?
KABOOOM!
I swung my foreleg and crushed the guy charging at me.
“Wh-What…!”
Congratulations. You’ve all passed as non-human.
“Grrrrr…”
I guess this means I don’t have to hold back anymore.