Haidel (5)
Enhancing the dragon legacies' authorities. It would greatly bolster Kim Jehyun's power.
Dragon's Wrath (SS) alone was one of the strongest attacks in his arsenal.
—Hmm, but I wouldn't recommend enhancing all the authorities before the match.
"What? Why?"
Kim Jehyun shot back at Alkasha's words.
He had planned to strengthen every dragon authority before the match to secure an even more decisive victory.
Alkasha's advice dashed those expectations.
—If the goal is simply to enhance all authorities, you could probably do it before the match. However, I recommend spacing them out—strengthen them one by one, allowing each to fully settle into your body first.
"Is there a reason for that?"
—Yes, to increase the odds of obtaining superior authorities.
Alkasha explained it this way:
When enhancing inherited dragon legacies, it didn't always yield top-tier authorities. You might get something like the previous Dragon's Wrath (SS), an S-grade or higher pinnacle authority, but more often, it would be a lower grade.
To minimize the risk of drawing the lowest-grade authorities exponentially, you needed to master one before acquiring the next.
—If you end up with an F-grade authority... it would be a tremendous loss. Rare as it is, dragons who drew F-grade authorities lingered at the bottom of the hierarchy.
"I see. In that case, no choice then."
Kim Jehyun nodded in acceptance.
There was no need to rush and strengthen everything if it carried that risk.
Truth be told, pushing for full enhancement had just been insurance anyway.
"I'll enhance one now, then do them one at a time as the moment arrives—aiming for all S-grade or better."
—Hah, you've been lucky so far, but all S-grade or higher? Dream on. Even Arkanios himself couldn't achieve that. Not all his authorities exceeded S-grade.
Alkasha was dumbfounded by Jehyun's ambition.
But a fleeting thought crossed its mind.
—But if that actually happened... it would mean you possess the potential to surpass Arkanios....
Alkasha shook its head.
No way that could happen.
—If by some miracle it did, then perhaps entrusting the dragons' fate to you wouldn't be so far-fetched.
Alkasha muttered so softly that Jehyun couldn't hear.
* * *
In a room thick with dark energy, a bald man flashed sharp eyes.
"That bastard's back?"
"Yes, and he's applied for a Superhuman Duel against our clan."
"Hah... what a reckless fool."
Kang Sihu fiddled with the black orb in his hand, murmuring chillingly.
"Accept it."
"The Superhuman Duel... sir?"
"Yeah. Because of that punk's mouth, our clan's eating shit from every direction, right?"
"Well...."
Lee Hyunwoo wore an apologetic expression.
The Black Snake Clan had issued belated clarifications on Jehyun's claims, but the fire was already raging too fiercely to extinguish. Their explanations only drew more backlash for even bothering to respond.
"So, accept the Superhuman Duel this time. I don't know what that madman's banking on... but without the Tower Master, you think I'd lose? Clan leader duel? Ridiculous. I could handle it alone. Four or ten, whatever—tell them we'll take them all on."
Kang Sihu spat the words in disbelief.
His guts were swollen, but legitimately so.
He had no idea where the kid had hidden for nearly two years, but unless Jehyun had reached 8th Circle, there was no way he could win.
No way he thinks that attack back then actually worked on me, right?
When Jehyun had hit him with Dragon's Wrath, even Kang Sihu's hand had trembled from the shock.
If the kid mistook that for a real hit, it was a massive miscalculation.
He planned to show Jehyun exactly what 8th Circle power entailed.
And now, this power is fully mastered.
The mysterious power from the man called VIP.
Thanks to it, he'd shattered the once-imposing wall of 8th Circle.
There had been side effects at first. When he'd faced Jehyun, he'd only just reached 8th Circle and couldn't wield it perfectly.
But not anymore.
Endless confidence surged in Kang Sihu's eyes.
Contrary to public opinion, he now believed he could even take on the Tower Master.
Shaaa.
Kang Sihu smiled at the purple energy rippling from his right hand.
Mastering it had advanced his 8th Circle realm even further.
And besides...
Purple energy flickered briefly in his pupils before vanishing.
Through the purple energy, he'd gained his unique trait: Darkness.
It stole the opponent's vision—from seconds to minutes.
In the heat of battle, even seconds without sight meant death.
Minutes? Unthinkable.
"Then we'll accept the Superhuman Duel."
Lee Hyunwoo bowed and left the room.
Kang Sihu grinned and rose, pulling a book from the desk drawer....
Rumble.
One wall slid open, revealing a vast space.
There, several elves hung limply, limbs bound.
Kang Sihu approached the blond elf on the far left.
"Hey, Haidel. Heard the news? That brat Kim Jehyun came back alive after all."
Haidel's vacant eyes flickered faintly with life at the words.
He laboriously lifted his head to glare at Kang Sihu.
"Kukuku, that glare's been a while. The punk challenged me to get you back. Isn't it hilarious? Like throwing an egg at a rock."
"...That lord... is not... for the likes of you... to judge...."
Haidel rasped through his cracked voice.
Kang Sihu chuckled and replied.
"Amazing, really. A human so devotedly followed by elves. That other elf threw herself to protect him too.... Anyway, this'll be fun. I'm curious what face you'll make when I bring his head."
Kang Sihu let out a sinister laugh, then grabbed a syringe from the table and jabbed it into Haidel's arm.
Poke.
Haidel's arm was already riddled with needle marks.
Undeterred, the needle plunged in, drawing out a flood of blood.
"...Ugh."
Haidel let out a faint groan.
Kang Sihu gazed at the extracted blood with feverish eyes.
This, he would never yield.
Thanks to this blood, he'd fully tamed the purple energy.
Capturing a high elf was fortune beyond measure.
"You're mine forever. I won't give you to anyone."
Madness gleamed in Kang Sihu's eyes.
* * *
The day the Black Snake Clan accepted the Superhuman Duel, the superhuman community exploded.
Interest initially focused on the elves' participation, but soon shifted: Could Jehyun really win? Could he surpass Kang Sihu?
With all eyes on it, the day of the Superhuman Duel arrived.
* * *
"Whoa, look at the crowd. Insane."
A man who arrived at the Superhuman Duel arena two hours early muttered to himself.
The stands were already packed and buzzing.
He scanned for an empty seat, claimed it gratefully—better than nothing, as prime spots were long gone.
Soon, the arena seating tens of thousands filled to capacity.
"Greetings. I'm Han Sangdeok of the Arang Clan, hosting today's Superhuman Duel."
The neutral Arang Clan, sizable and reputable, handled proceedings.
He had good instincts—kept intros brief, knowing everyone craved the action.
"Ooh! Arang Clan's killing it!"
"Go Han Sangdeok!"
The crowd's fervor drew a grin from Han Sangdeok.
"Before we begin, let's check the matchup!"
With that, the massive screen at the 12 o'clock position lit up with today's lineup.
"Ooooh."
The crowd buzzed with anticipation at the lineup, especially White Team's—elves, the enigmatic race, truly competing in a Superhuman Duel.
As the duel began and both teams took the stage, the crowd's excitement peaked.
The elves' beauty overwhelmed the vast arena in an instant.
Worth calling them the race of beauty.
No easy feat to command such presence through looks alone.
Thanks to his Dragon Eye granting aesthetic immunity, Jehyun was unaffected—but ordinary folk lost their minds.
Even Han Sangdeok of Arang Clan, smoothly hosting until now, gawked slack-jawed at Sharze and the other two elves.
"Ah! Fighters, please greet each other."
Snapping to at the radio cue, he resumed, but his dazed face was already broadcast, amusing viewers.
No one blamed him—everyone empathized.
"Now, first match begins! All but the fighters, to the waiting rooms!"
First bout: Lee Harim vs. Sharze.
Their matchup commenced.