Chapter 267
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 267.
Fellia, one of the executives of the Black Shadow and a Dragonkin, was finishing up her destruction work in her room.
The task of destroying the temple. She carefully wove her magic.
“Dragon Slayer. A detestable power……”
This temple was a place that served the Dragon Slayer.
At first, Fellia thought the order to destroy this temple was ridiculous.
They were beings of immense power—why would they need to be so wary of something as insignificant as the power of the Dragon Slayer?
“I was wrong.”
But upon arriving here and experiencing the temple firsthand, her thoughts changed.
The ominous energy flowing through the temple.
The power of the Dragon Slayer, sealed yet seemingly ready to kill her at any moment.
“This must be eradicated.”
With that conviction, she prepared the magic to destroy the temple, a spell she had spent a long time perfecting.
Just then, a voice reached her.
—It’s been a while, Fellia.
It was a communication spell.
As the magic circle activated, a dark shadow formed in the air.
A shadow with no visible face, only a discernible silhouette, spoke.
“Master.”
He was the Master of the Black Shadow.
A man shrouded in mystery. The one who founded this organization, who served the Evil Dragon.
And the one who turned Fellia and others into Dragonkin.
—How are the preparations coming along?
“Yes, Master. Everything is proceeding as planned. This detestable temple, which once stood in the way of our lord, will surely be—”
Fellia’s eyes gleamed.
“Destroyed. Even if it costs me everything, I will make sure of it.”
—Good, proceed as such. And…….
Normally, the conversation would have ended there. But this time, it seemed the Master had more to say.
He turned his back.
—Dante has gone missing.
“Dante, you say? That frivolous… no, my apologies. The area he was responsible for was near the Magic Tower……”
—Indeed. The Magic Tower did suffer damage. But the plan failed.
“You mean……”
Fellia frowned.
—A variable has appeared. And it is likely the family head of the Sword Saint’s family.
“That bloodstained brat?”
—To us, he may be nothing more than a bloodstained brat, but… well.
The Master spoke coldly.
—He doesn’t seem like someone we can simply dismiss as a brat. We must be cautious.
“Yes, understood.”
The Sword Saint’s family and the Magic Tower.
Both were places the Black Shadow had invested considerable effort into. They had supported Yoo Tae-rang and Harun, and the fruits of their labor were within reach.
—If you encounter him… do not let him live. Kill him without fail.
“I will do so. Then, what about Dante?”
—I will handle that myself.
The Master’s figure grew faint.
—This concludes our communication. Report once the destruction is complete.
“Yes.”
The communication spell ceased.
Left alone, Fellia stopped weaving her magic and sank into thought.
‘That Dante…….’
Missing at the Magic Tower.
Either dead or captured. Either way, it was hard to believe.
As a Dragonkin, he possessed power surpassing even an S-rank Hunter.
“Fool.”
Fellia clicked her tongue.
She had always disliked his frivolous nature. To think he would disappoint her like this.
She was about to resume her work when the door opened.
“P-Fellia! The Lizardmen you mentioned have appeared!”
“The Lizardmen?”
“Yes, Lizardmen who aren’t under our control have emerged from all directions. The Black Shadow members on patrol were……”
“All dead, I assume. Useless.”
Fellia pondered briefly.
This wasn’t the first time the Lizardmen had attacked.
They had launched multiple assaults in their efforts to free their kin.
She didn’t consider it a major concern.
KWA-BOOM!
“Ugh!”
But the sudden explosion shattered her complacency.
“What was that?! This explosion!”
“I-I don’t know! It came from nearby… I’ll check right away!”
“Tch, incompetent fools. Forget it!”
Fellia cast a spell.
A watery portal formed in the air, reflecting the scene outside.
What she saw was the temple.
“……!”
And the unbelievable sight that greeted her eyes left Fellia stunned.
“What in the world is happening……?!”
* * *
This swamp was surrounded by marshes.
The temple was no exception. The deep marshes around it made it a natural fortress.
‘Not to mention the defensive installations.’
Magical cannons and devices were hidden all around.
And there were plenty of enemies.
“Human, there are too many of them.”
“Wait a moment.”
On the other hand, their numbers were pitifully small.
Yoo Baek-jun and the two Elves—that was all they had.
“Isn’t our number too small?”
“It can’t be helped. Any more and we’d be too cumbersome.”
“That’s true, but… ugh……”
Yoo Baek-jun observed the situation while waiting near the temple.
Soon, the temple’s defenders began to move.
“You go west! We’ll head east! Follow me!”
“Damn it, what’s going on everywhere?!”
The Black Shadow members, having received a distress signal, were scrambling into action.
They led the Lizardmen and Naga guarding the temple to support their allies fighting outside.
‘The temple’s defenses have weakened.’
A significant number of the temple’s guards had left. Still, there were plenty left, but this was manageable.
Yoo Baek-jun flicked his fingers.
“Alright, move.”
At his command, something began to stir from the depths of the swamp.
Drowners.
The creatures groaned as they swam through the marsh.
—Groooan…….
—Uuuugh…….
Drowners had no distinctive features.
They were just bloated, swollen monster corpses.
But they had one unique trait.
‘They can move silently underwater.’
Without arousing suspicion.
The Drowners, having swum through the deep swamp, gathered around the temple.
Though not undead summoned by Yoo Baek-jun, his trait— Successor of the Death King allowed him to control them.
“Human, they’re ready.”
“Good.”
Then, using spirits, he concealed the Drowners’ presence.
With the spirits’ aid, the Drowners moved swiftly and stealthily.
“Damn it! Where did these crazy Lizardmen get undead from?!”
“Kill them if you can’t capture them! Only the High Priest and the War Chief need to be taken alive!”
“Release all the dominated Lizardmen! They can’t kill their own kind. Use them as shields!”
In an instant, the Drowners reached the feet of the Black Shadow members.
At that moment, Yoo Baek-jun unleashed the Death King’s power to its limit.
He commanded:
“Self-destruct.”
And in that instant—
KWA-BOOM!
“GAAAH!”
A massive explosion erupted.
BOOM!
The earth shook from the deafening blast. The Drowners, submerged in the deepest parts of the swamp, detonated.
The death energy condensed within their bodies erupted, creating the explosion.
“Guh—! Cough!”
“Ugh… uuugh……”
The explosion engulfed the Black Shadow members conversing above the water.
The blast physically ravaged their bodies while death energy seeped into their wounds.
“AAAH!”
“Th-the wounds…!”
In moments, their injuries began to rot.
An effect of the corpse explosions bestowed by Noel and the Necromancers.
BOOM!
KABOOM!
Explosions erupted incessantly around the temple.
The resulting waves of water obscured visibility.
“Let’s go. Just follow me!”
“Y-yes!”
“Ugh… is this really okay……?”
Yoo Baek-jun didn’t miss the opportunity and charged forward.
The two Elves followed closely.
“AAAH!”
“Something’s underfoot…!”
At first, the enemies didn’t even notice Yoo Baek-jun’s presence.
The towering waves of water blocked their vision.
“That’s… hey! Look over there!”
“Enemies!”
By the time they realized, it was too late.
Yoo Baek-jun activated his skill.
“Petals… AAAH!”
“M-my magic!”
‘Plum Blossom Fragrance Across Ten Thousand miles’ and ‘Blood Mist Absorption.’
Petal-like blades and a blood-red mist filled the air.
The swirling petals mercilessly cut down the enemies, while the crimson mist drained their magic entirely.
“The enemy has broken through!”
“Kill him first! Send the slaves!”
The Black Shadow surrounded Yoo Baek-jun and sent Lizardmen and Naga at him.
Those skills were unusual.
They intended to weaken Yoo Baek-jun by sending monsters first.
“Hsssss…….”
The monsters approached.
He could have wiped them all out with ‘Plum Blossom Fragrance Across Ten Thousand miles’ and ‘Blood Mist Absorption.’
But Yoo Baek-jun didn’t. Instead, he withdrew his skills.
“What? Why did he stop…?”
The Black Shadow members were puzzled as the monsters closed in.
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at the monsters surrounding him.
“High Priest!”
Then, he deployed the Absolute Shield.
An Absolute Shield expanded around him instantly, protecting both him and the monsters.
“O Spirit of the Forest!”
With all eyes on him, Yoo Baek-jun looked up at the sky.
RUMBLE—!
Mystical spirits floated above.
A thunder-wreathed reindeer and a storm-engulfed bird.
Light radiated from their bodies.
KWA-BOOM!
“GAHH!”
Fierce lightning and hail began pouring from the sky.
Like rain, the lightning strikes hammered the ground, and the freezing hail mercilessly swept through the enemies.
“It’s shamanic magic!”
“The damage… gah!”
The spells targeted the area around Yoo Baek-jun with precision.
Though the magic fell upon him as well, it couldn’t harm him.
“Wh-what is that…?!”
The unyielding shield protected him.
Even the Lizardmen and Naga who had approached to attack him were spared.
Only the Black Shadow members, standing apart from him, suffered.
“Brethren! This is our last chance! Let us reclaim what was taken from them!”
The High Priest and Lizardmen emerged from all directions.
They had hidden themselves, using the chaos to approach the temple.
“Fight bravely!”
The battle began.
Lizardmen shamans invoked shamanic magic with the power of spirits.
Spells to strengthen their allies. Lizardmen warriors roared as they charged.
“Tch, these… madmen!”
“Go ahead!”
The High Priest shouted to Yoo Baek-jun.
Yoo Baek-jun clenched his fist, knocking out the monsters surrounding him.
“Don’t overextend yourselves! Just hold out until the agreed time and retreat!”
“If we can!”
Yoo Baek-jun grabbed Delowin and Baimar under his arms and used Flash step.
With a tremendous shockwave, he vanished into the temple in an instant.
“No! Stop him! Don’t let him get inside!”
“Lady Fellia…!”
—GROWL!
The beast spirits pounced on the pursuing Black Shadow members.
The charging Lizardmen blocked their path.
And the battle unfolded.
“Good, we’re in.”
While the Lizardmen fought, Yoo Baek-jun entered the temple.
Inside, Black Shadow members stood guard, but they were no match for him.
In moments, Yoo Baek-jun reached the door leading to the temple’s inner sanctum.
“Clay, make a wall!”
“Nyx, water surge.”
He sealed the passage with a wall of mud.
Then, he froze the ensuing water surge with Frozen Soul Palm.
“It won’t hold for long, but it should buy enough time.”
Yoo Baek-jun stood before the door.
The door to the inner sanctum was tightly shut—likely unopened for decades, if not centuries.
HUMM—!
Now was the time to open it.
Yoo Baek-jun took out the temple’s key and raised it high.
The spherical key glowed. The door responded with a light of its own.
And moments later—
CREAK—!
With a thunderous sound, the massive door opened.
“Huuu.”
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled deeply.
“Let’s go.”
The long-sealed inner sanctum welcomed him.