Chapter 439
Chapter 439
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 439
Chapter Title: Black Dragon Society (1)
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‘Kuh, I can’t resist it.’
Black Shadow gritted his teeth.
He never could have imagined things turning out like this.
Far from shaking Blood Alliance—the rulers of Korea’s underworld as planned and creating an opening, he’d been turned against them instead, ending up in this pathetic state!
Who could have guessed he’d personally guide Phantom, the master of Blood Alliance, straight to the Black Dragon Society’s secret stronghold?
‘The concentration of blood infused during my turning into a vampire wasn’t that high. So why? Why can’t I defy the compulsion!’
The vast quantity of Purified Blood Essence that Heinz 2nd had used on him had mostly been consumed breaking through his resistance.
Meaning only a small amount had actually gone into reshaping Black Shadow’s body and binding him with the blood pact.
In truth, his current rank as a vampire wasn’t particularly high.
By Outerica’s standards, he’d barely escaped Lesser Blood to reach Pureblood, and even by Earth’s metrics, he hovered around level 4 or 5.
Considering his combat prowess had reached the pinnacle of the Profound Realm, he should have been equal to an 8th-level vampire. As a martial artist, Black Shadow’s core identity should have overwhelmed the vampiric transformation.
But reality was the opposite.
For some reason, he couldn’t ignore the blood pact at all and had no choice but to obey the commands of the one who’d done this to him.
With utmost sincerity and full effort, without any tricks.
“Kuhk!”
“Ugh, Black Shadow! Why are you...!”
“This aura... Don’t tell me you’ve become a vampire? How could a Profound Realm master...?”
And that led to the current scene.
The secret stronghold thrown into chaos by a sudden betrayal from one of their own.
As an assassin, he was an oddity in the Black Dragon Society where martial artists dominated, but in terms of skill alone, he ranked right below the leader, the Black Dragon Lord.
Thanks to his profession, he knew the formations and traps in the base inside out. And until moments ago, he’d known his former comrades’ quirks and weaknesses better than they did themselves.
So when he set out to ‘target’ them in earnest...
Caaaang!
“What is this, Black Shadow?!”
“...Blazing Lotus Sword.”
Those without even the bare minimum qualifications to face him now were helpless, collapsing one after another.
The silver lining—if it could be called that—was that he’d had no intent to kill from the start, so they’d recover after some rest.
Black Shadow let out a small sigh.
A young woman clashing her fiery red sword—blazing like flames—against his scythe and shouting defiantly.
She was a Black Dragon Society martial artist who’d also reached the Profound Realm, just like him.
“Calm down, Blazing Lotus Sword. You know what state Black Shadow’s in right now, don’t you?”
“This makes no sense. Black Shadow, on the verge of Transcendence, overcome by blood corruption and turned into a vampire? How is that even possible?”
“Indeed, even if Phantom is a transcendent vampire...”
A group of martial artists followed, surrounding the two.
A middle-aged man in green robes wielding a crescent blade, a slim man in hip-hop attire gripping dual swords, a sharp-featured middle-aged woman draped in luxury brands, and far off, a muscular man aiming a massive bow.
All were Profound Realm masters who’d been holding the crumbling Black Dragon Society together.
“What about Asura Fist King? Is he alright?”
“No threat to his life. He’s poisoned, but the guy’s so tough he’ll shake it off on his own.”
“...I see.”
At the middle-aged man’s answer with the crescent blade, Blazing Lotus Sword exhaled and slowly retreated.
She’d reached the Profound Realm too, but she lacked confidence to face Black Shadow one-on-one.
No matter that he specialized in assassination—even among Profound Realm experts, skill gaps existed.
‘But the five of us together!’
Truth be told, they didn’t even need all five.
Unless Black Shadow kept up his specialty of stealth attacks—which he couldn’t now that he was fully exposed—two would be enough for certain victory.
The seven of them—those five, Black Shadow, and Asura Fist King who’d fallen first to the on-duty assault—were known as the Seven Dragons of the Black Dragon Society.
Yet they’d all mobilized not to kill, but to capture Black Shadow alive.
There might be a way to restore him, after all.
The lack of fatalities so far fueled that hope.
“Surrender quietly, Black Shadow. We’ll find a way to bring you back. It’s for the best...”
“You think talking’ll work? If it did, he wouldn’t have trashed the place.”
The dual-sword wielder cut off the mild-mannered middle-aged man, stepping forward boldly.
“It’s come to this—time to settle it with strength! Beat him till he can’t resist, tie him up tight, and lock him away!”
“Mm.”
“Heh, not wrong. With Black Shadow turned, our Korea op’s probably blown. Secure him till the Black Dragon Lord returns.”
The luxury-clad matron nodded in agreement.
Black Shadow’s failure meant the Black Dragon Lord’s separate relocation plan was on hold too.
They’d already contacted him; he wouldn’t take long to return.
Their task was clear.
“...Fine. No need for more chaos. Let’s end this quickly.”
With those words, the crescent blade sliced the air, aimed straight ahead.
“Tch, don’t like ganging up, but no choice.”
The sharp dual swords and the flickering flame-red blade followed suit.
Needles from the luxury bag gleamed menacingly between her fingers.
But Black Shadow showed no reaction despite all the weapons trained on him.
Not out of disdain.
There was simply no reason for him to step forward anymore.
He closed his eyes gently.
And then.
“Hmm, so the leader’s away, as expected? Timing’s off, it seems.”
In an instant—the air froze.
A third voice, laced with immense pressure.
The Profound Realm masters flinched and whirled toward the source.
There he stood.
Wearing a pristine white opera mask, scanning them one by one... the culprit behind the Black Dragon Society’s turmoil.
‘When?’
‘How?’
No one knew.
When had he arrived? How had he fooled all their senses?
And why hadn’t they noticed that blood-chilling, skin-crawling presence until now!
Thud!
Then, amid their rigid tension, a heavy figure dropped between them.
No one there didn’t recognize him.
“Bow Ghost...!”
The unconscious, limp muscular man.
One of their Seven Dragons, who’d been aiming his bow from the rear until seconds ago.
Even if his specialty was archery, for a Profound Realm expert to be taken down without a sound!
‘No—more than that, we didn’t notice until he was already down...?’
A chill raced up their spines.
And instinctively, they realized.
The figure standing there was different from any transcendent they’d faced before.
Not just higher level.
Something more fundamental... his very existence on another plane...
“Hmm, you all look fairly competent.”
Heinz 2nd murmured casually, appraising the frozen group.
Even as they teetered on the edge of panic, afraid to act rashly!
But Heinz hadn’t left everything to Black Shadow and lurked with Existence Denial for nothing.
To judge their worth and best use, this was most efficient.
‘Would be trouble if they fled amid the commotion.’
No matter it was a remote Chinese outpost, it still fell under Heaven’s Mandate Society territory.
No point drawing attention before deciding how to use the Black Dragon Society.
‘...Still, turning them all into vampires would be too inefficient.’
He glanced at Black Shadow.
On Earth, separate from turning humans, raising a vampire’s rank guzzled massive Purified Blood Essence.
That’s why Black Shadow stalled at his level.
‘If it were easy, I’d have raised not just Jin Solran but all of Heterosis to level 8.’
When personal cultivation outpaced bloodline power, the pact weakened—but that was no issue for him.
As Sacred Blood, plus skills like Blood Sovereign and Subordinate Domination, covered it.
‘Still, too low purity might hinder control, so some investment’s needed.’
But more would be waste.
Having built internal energy and martial principles to their realm, deeper vampiric depth wouldn’t drastically boost combat power.
‘Might even weaken if balance tips.’
Black Shadow suited vampirism as an assassin, but the others? Different story.
So how to efficiently command them...
Kaaaaang—!
A deafening clash shattered his thoughts.
The crescent blade, infused with aura and swung full force at Heinz’s neck, blocked by a single finger, echoing through the space.
The ambush didn’t end there.
Shiiik—
A dozen needles streaked toward vitals like lightning.
Three swords pierced for gaps in his unguarded form.
Destructive aura blazed with thick killing intent, ripping the air.
“Oh? Impressive.”
Heinz nodded slowly.
“Eh?”
“Cough!”
“W-what...!”
Then, as if time had skipped, he smirked down at the writhing figures who didn’t even know why they’d collapsed.
Admirable spirit resisting despite the gap, but at their level—short of Mind Sword—how could they touch him?
‘These guys are higher caliber than I thought. Breaking my pressure for a surprise attack? More than their aura suggests.’
He eyed the fallen with intrigue.
They’d only failed against Heinz; objectively, they surpassed average Profound Realm masters.
Not just from unique skills or system effects—something deeper.
‘Come to think of it, Black Shadow too. Trading blows with Hari at peak Profound Realm, even briefly...’
Stroking his chin, he concluded.
Too valuable to discard.
‘The Black Dragon Society survived over twenty years in Heaven’s Mandate territory.’
There’d be a reason.
Including why martial world returnees kept supporting them, even amid relocation pressures.
‘Smells like a big catch.’
Heinz grinned at Black Shadow, who averted his gaze.
Seems the newbie vampire hid quite a bit.
Expected risk forcing loyalty, but it still stung.
‘Hope I meet the Black Dragon Lord soon.’
This connection would help him greatly.
Not just as mutual foes of Heaven’s Mandate, but...
To surpass the wall his other self faced.
***
“Ha Gongzi? Are you alright?”
A cautious woman’s voice reached his ears as he pondered.
Ha Seung-hoon—Hugo—snapped out of it with a grin.
“Ah, just something came to mind. I’m fine, Miss Zhuge.”
“...D-did I interrupt? Like an epiphany moment or...”
“Nothing like that, no worries. Just thinking where to head next now this is wrapped up.”
“Phew, good. I panicked after calling you. Heard you’re supposed to wait quietly then, but I’ve never traveled with others like this...”
Zhuge Hyemi sighed in relief, chattering brightly, her hair—bleached white in patches from the world restoration ritual—like she’d gotten highlights.
“Hey! Why sneak off alone? I was busting my butt sweating!”
Then a girl with her hair in a practical ponytail squeezed between them.
A vibrant late teen with a healthy glow, sparkling eyes full of mischief.
“Sorry, Soran.”
“Heehee, apology accepted! But you know what that means?”
“Huhu, got it.”
“Seriously, how’d you travel without sis? Life’s so much better with proper baths!”
Hugo chuckled at Namgung Soran hugging the youthful-looking Zhuge Hyemi and babbling.
Indeed, with free dragon arts conjuring water at will, Zhuge Hyemi had become indispensable for many reasons.
Without her, even he’d have wandered looking like a beggar.
‘Though I didn’t expect this either.’
He sighed softly, watching the two lost in their world.