The Gap Between Heaven and Earth
However, accepting that one was the earth while another was the heavens was by no means an easy task. This was especially true for him, who had become the son of a Demon King overnight—which, in a broader sense, meant he inherited a Demon King's bloodline. Jang Yeong had always believed he was someone special. He believed that one day, he too would become a Demon King like his father, standing tall above the countless members of the Beast Race.
Boom! But now, the two clashing above shattered his vague confidence into pieces. Like an insect cowering to escape a predatory bird, his own figure looked utterly pathetic. He felt completely unworthy of ever becoming a Demon King in the future.
"Envoy, you do not need to worry so much." As Jang Yeong struggled to control his turbulent emotions, a cautious voice spoke from beside him. Turning his head, he saw a turtle blinking its eyes as it looked at him.
"The Dragon Lord seems furious, but he is actually holding back."
"Holding back?"
"Yes. If he had truly lost his temper, these waters would already be boiling hot. Had that happened, we wouldn't have escaped unscathed either."
Jang Yeong knew this turtle. Every time he visited the Black Flood Dragon, this creature had come out to greet him, and this time was no different. Furthermore, he noticed with surprise that this beast, which had once been completely ordinary aside from being slightly clever, had now become a Great Demon. Jang Yeong surmised that this turtle was the Black Flood Dragon's trusted confidant, and that its ascension to a Great Demon was largely thanks to the Black Flood Dragon's backing.
"Then that is a relief."
"A great relief indeed. As long as that lord from the Demon Court does not push things too far, the Dragon Lord will not take extreme measures."
"..." Jang Yeong's lips twitched. He immediately caught the turtle's implication. It was trying to make sure the blame for this fight fell squarely on Ha Yuseong. It was a shallow trick, but Jang Yeong remained silent. First, because it was about seventy percent true, and second, because he had no desire to defend Ha Yuseong. Despite his repeated advice and warnings, Ha Yuseong had completely ignored him. Why should he speak up for such a person?
He brought this on himself, so let him deal with the consequences.
Boom! Jang Yeong gritted his teeth and endured another shockwave. The wave of demonic power, a horrific mixture of murderous intent and searing heat, was so overwhelming that he failed to notice Hyeongu and several low-level water beasts quietly slipping behind his massive back to shield themselves.
Just as Yokai Fire flared across Jekyeong's entire body, a sinister murderous aura erupted from Ha Yuseong. This aura even began to take a faint, blurry shape—an apparition far more monstrous than Ha Yuseong, who at least possessed a somewhat human-like appearance.
Is that a Yaksha? Jekyeong recalled what Jang Yeong had said earlier to flatter Ha Yuseong when they introduced themselves. Had he called him a talented youth of the Demon Court who inherited the Yaksha bloodline and was favored by the Simjeon Demon King? Hearing those words had immediately made Jekyeong think of Jo Gang. Hadn't that fellow, with whom he had clashed before, also possessed the Yaksha bloodline? He had felt a flicker of curiosity at the time, but decided not to ask, wanting to avoid stirring up unnecessary trouble.
However, his opponent had other ideas. As soon as they finished introducing themselves, Ha Yuseong demanded to know about Jo Gang. When Jekyeong tried to smooth things over by calling it a minor misunderstanding, Ha Yuseong immediately began interrogating him about his recent visit to Gyeongwang Palace. His attitude and tone were like those of a superior addressing a criminal or a subordinate, and Jekyeong, unable to tolerate it any longer, let his temper flare.
Jang Yeong had hurriedly tried to intervene, but it was useless. Ha Yuseong was clearly looking for a fight, and Jekyeong had absolutely no intention of backing down. Thus, they clashed. Ha Yuseong launched the first strike, and Jekyeong countered without hesitation. The two fought fiercely, but neither could gain the upper hand.
Ha Yuseong was by far the strongest opponent Jekyeong had ever faced. Whether in raw strength, techniques, or combat experience, he was flawless in every aspect. Jekyeong surpassed him in physical durability and raw power, but that alone was not enough to subdue him. When Jekyeong unleashed the heat of his Origin Earth Fire to end the fight, his opponent countered by summoning a grotesque phantom made of pure murderous intent.
Splash! The water's surface surged violently as hundreds of chains made of water rose to bind him. Jekyeong snorted and shook his body, shattering the restraints. The demonic power infused into each chain was considerable, but they could not withstand his monstrous strength. Yet, even though they were easily destroyed, the chains had successfully hindered him for a split second. And that brief moment was precisely the opportunity Ha Yuseong had been waiting for.
"Go!" The phantom of murderous intent shrieked and lunged forward like a rabid dog unleashed. Jekyeong spat fire at it, but the phantom paid no heed. Charging straight through the flames, it collided heavily with Jekyeong.
A secret technique that directly assaults the target's soul, bypassing physical defenses.
"Ugh?!" There was no physical impact or pain as he had expected, but Jekyeong's mind suddenly went numb. Had he not sensed the anomaly and instantly focused his mental energy to resist, he might have lost consciousness on the spot.
What is this? As his mind grew hazy, both his Divine Sense and Spiritual Awareness were severed as if cut by a sharp blade. Even in his disoriented state, Jekyeong channeled his demonic power to the absolute limit and spewed fire. Instead of targeting the distant Ha Yuseong, he turned his entire surroundings into a sea of flames. It was a defensive measure to keep Ha Yuseong from seizing the opening to charge in.
"Ha! Impressive!" Ha Yuseong instantly realized Jekyeong's intention. He was amazed first that Jekyeong had endured his Soul-Piercing Spike, and second that he had shown such quick-witted adaptability even while disoriented.
He is certainly no ordinary beast. Whether that fellow was truly a Flood Dragon or not, he was clearly an extraordinary existence that could not be compared to ordinary Great Demons.
"Whew." Ha Yuseong exhaled heavily, feeling a strange sense of exhaustion. The Soul-Piercing Spike was a secret technique that directly assaulted the opponent's soul. While its effects were guaranteed, he rarely used it unless he was at least eighty percent certain of success. If the opponent had defenses prepared for their soul, the technique would likely yield little result, and the mental energy consumed to activate it was simply too immense.
"Suppress!" Ha Yuseong formed a hand seal with one hand and hurled his trident with the other. The trident flying above Jekyeong's head transformed into a brilliant blue light, pressing down heavily on the still-staggering Jekyeong.
A heavy binding technique that channels immense spiritual pressure to crush and immobilize the target.
"Argh!" This time, even Jekyeong could not hold back a scream. The formless light hammered him like a giant mallet, striking him again and again. With his mind already hazy, enduring this sudden onslaught of pain was incredibly difficult. Even when he tried to pull away, his body felt as heavy as if he were carrying a mountain, making it hard to move. Surely, another trick had been added to the mix.
How meticulous. Jekyeong gritted his teeth. If he couldn't pull away, his only option was to endure. He didn't believe his opponent could sustain such an attack indefinitely. Fortunately, the agonizing pain was gradually clearing his mind. If he could somehow hold out and seize an opportunity to counterattack, he could turn the tables. A terrifying murderous intent flickered in his pain-contorted eyes.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The bombardment of light continued relentlessly. To an onlooker, it appeared as though Ha Yuseong had seized complete victory and was utterly overwhelming Jekyeong—and indeed, that was the case. Yet, Ha Yuseong frowned. Looking at the Yokai Fire that still refused to die down, he vaguely sensed that something was going wrong.
He's still holding on? The torrent of light raining down had already grown noticeably dimmer compared to the beginning. It wasn't because he was holding back, but because his energy was actually running low. Having seized the opportunity, he had spared no strength. He had no intention of killing the Black Flood Dragon, but he knew that to break the beast's spirit, he couldn't afford to be half-hearted. Moreover, having confirmed that the creature's body was abnormally durable, he believed it could withstand his full power to some extent. However...
Isn't this a bit too much? When the beams of light finally ceased, a shadow fell over Ha Yuseong's already pale face. Through the dying embers of the flames, he saw the massive silhouette writhing, and he sensed a highly condensed murderous aura surging as if on the verge of exploding. His opponent was still standing. At the very least, his will to fight had not been broken.
"Fine!" Ha Yuseong's face contorted. He recalled his trident and bared his sharp teeth. "Let's see this through to the bitter end!"
Ha Yuseong charged at the Black Flood Dragon, which was just beginning to rise. The Black Flood Dragon, its eyes half-crazed, also lunged madly at Ha Yuseong. There were no flashy techniques. The Black Flood Dragon merely wrapped its body in flickering, dying embers of fire, while Ha Yuseong, having nearly exhausted his demonic power, faced the beast with nothing but his bare body and a single spear.
Crash! Boom! Ha Yuseong focused on dodging the ferocious fangs that could easily grind him to pieces, occasionally launching counterattacks. His spear accurately pierced the cracked and broken scales of the Black Flood Dragon, drawing blood. But the Black Flood Dragon was no fool to just take the hits. His weapon was not limited to his fangs; along with the Yokai Fire enveloping his body, his entire massive frame was a lethal weapon.
Thud! Swept up by the violent thrashing, Ha Yuseong swallowed a groan as he was pushed back. Brute! In terms of raw strength, he was no match for the Black Flood Dragon. He had known this from the start, but now that his demonic power was depleted, the disparity in strength felt even more pronounced.
I cannot go on like this. Ha Yuseong realized. Their battle was like that of a spear and a shield. If he could pierce his opponent, he would win, but if the fight dragged on in this stalemate, he would ultimately lose.
He has no intention... of stopping. Looking at the murderous glare in his opponent's eyes, it was clear the beast would not stop at some reasonable limit.
Then I have no choice. Panting heavily, Ha Yuseong raised his eyes with grim determination. The phantom of murderous intent, which had vanished, rose once more. However, this time it did not manifest as a separate entity but overlapped with him, as if they had become one.
"If you want to see this to the end, I will not run." The phantom of murderous intent grew smaller and fainter. Yet, its aura became even more ferocious, and the blood-red light in Ha Yuseong's eyes intensified. Gritting his teeth, a beastly growl escaped his throat.
The crazed Black Flood Dragon and the Yaksha clashed. It was too crude and savage to be called a battle between Great Demons. It looked like a death match between beasts driven purely by instinct—no, a struggle between feral Vicious Beasts.
"Stop, stop! Stop this at once!"