Chapter 199: …Wi… fe? (3)
Chapter 199: …Wi… fe? (3)
“Ugh…. Aaaargh!”
“Run!”
“Everyone, get back!”
Chaos erupted.
The young elves who had started the rebellion, as well as the Elven Knights, scrambled backward to protect themselves from the impending impact.
But Patrick…
Patrick, the target of the attack, didn’t budge an inch.
He remained still, his twin swords held in a reverse grip, preparing his stance.
“Whew….”
With a single breath, he settled his ki.
Then, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment, he began to execute the technique most suited for the situation.
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles.
Third Form.
Flash Dragon Strike, Modified.
Returning Heaven, Emerging Dragon.
Patrick began to spin at high speed where he stood.
Whirrrrrrrr!
It was different from the usual Flash Dragon Strike.
Normally, it was a single bolt of lightning that struck the enemy with blinding speed. That was Patrick’s Flash Dragon Strike.
But this was different.
Instead of lunging forward, Patrick spun in place, creating a spiral of sword-currents.
And the moment Yurahis’s attack touched the domain of those currents…
Rumble!
Something incredible happened.
Yurahis’s flames and storm were sucked into the spiral.
“Oh…. Ohhh….”
“My god….”
The watching elves were struck with awe.
The moment the destructive energy unleashed by Yurahis touched Patrick, it was absorbed as if water were soaking into the sand.
Not only were the elves behind him safe, but not even a single tree nearby was scorched by the storm of fire.
It was a divine feat of a realm they had never even imagined.
Those watching could only marvel in silence.
“So that… is the Double Dragon.”
Soon, the scorching storm of flames was completely absorbed into the spiral vortex.
“This is impossible.”
Seeing this, Yurahis wanted to deny the reality before his eyes.
Even with his long life, he had never seen such a sight.
To have his full-power attack simply absorbed by an opponent—he had never even imagined such a thing was possible.
But that human…
No, is he even human?
The fear of encountering the unknown existed even for elves.
In fact, it might be even greater for them. Just as a rational person is often more vulnerable to situations that defy their understanding.
“Ugh…. Uuuuh….”
As proof, Yurahis stumbled backward.
He was trying to flee, not knowing how to handle what was happening in front of him.
But it was a choice made far too late.
The spiral vortex, which had grown massive, finally finished absorbing all of Yurahis’s attack. And then…
“Release!”
With that short command, the spiral vortex that had been spinning in place changed direction and surged forward.
Boom! Rumble!
The Flash Dragon Strike, having fully absorbed the power of the high-level spirit unleashed by Yurahis, now resembled a ferocious fire dragon.
“Ah…. Aaaah….”
The moment it lunged toward him, the last emotions Yurahis felt were terror and despair.
He had provoked something that should never have been touched in the first place.
Paralyzed by fear, he dropped his weapon, clutched his head with both hands, and collapsed.
It was the typical behavior of a weakling consumed by terror. And then…
ROOOOOAR!
The ferocious fire dragon soared right over Yurahis’s head.
Whoosh!
Narrowly grazing Yurahis, the spiral dragon swerved its trajectory and ascended into the sky.
As the fire dragon vanished into the heavens, Patrick stood tall and imposing before the collapsed Yurahis. He spoke.
“Do you wish to continue?”
“Hic… Ugh….”
Yurahis couldn’t even answer.
He simply sat there, his mind blank, on the verge of fainting.
Patrick glanced at Yurahis, who had wet himself and lost consciousness, and then ignored him.
He looked around at the surroundings and asked:
“Who’s next?”
* * *
At Patrick’s question, none of the traditionalist warriors stepped forward.
They couldn’t.
A battle, by definition, requires two parties who both hope for victory.
It can only be established if there is at least a sliver of a chance to win.
But this…
What… what did I just see?
Swordsmanship? That was swordsmanship?
Is such a thing even possible with Aura?
It defied common sense.
Challenging that monster wasn’t a battle. It was simply suicide.
In truth, looking at it objectively, the traditionalist elves weren’t entirely without a chance.
If the Elven Knights of the traditionalist faction truly resolved to use their spirits, the destructive power they could produce would likely exceed that of the Caesar Kingdom’s regular army, which had once given Patrick trouble. However…
“Um….”
“…….”
Having lost their will to fight, they couldn’t even meet Patrick’s eyes.
They were completely overwhelmed.
What an Absolute Master must show on the battlefield is their overwhelming status, stripping the enemy of their will to fight.
Patrick had performed that role perfectly.
The problem was that he had performed it so perfectly that even his allies were dazed.
“Elione.”
“…Yes. Yes, Lord Patrick.”
“Secure the opposing side. Is there a way to neutralize them?”
“Yes. Yes, it is possible.”
“Good. And my companions should still be in the prison. Let them out later.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Patrick had broken out of the prison early because the situation was urgent.
He had told his other companions to wait inside.
According to the original plan, I thought they’d come get me once the rebellion started.
He hadn’t expected the elves to charge in on their own to take down the leadership.
“Whew….”
Many things had gone off-script.
But looking at the result, everything had worked out well.
With this, the young elves had toppled the Council of Elders. Therefore…
Finally, I can have a conversation about the future with the elves.
Patrick let out a small sigh of relief.
* * *
Strike while the iron is hot.
Row when the tide is in.
“The lesson of these sayings is that you should settle important matters quickly while things are still hectic.”
I don’t think that’s what they mean….
Regardless, Patrick decided to settle that important matter now.
The young rebel elves had defeated the traditionalists.
However, the victors weren’t exactly a structured force.
They had the goal of overturning the existing power, but they hadn’t thought about what came after.
So, for now, the traditionalist elders were all detained, and the elders of the opposing faction were made to step back into house arrest.
That was as far as it went.
In other words, the elves of Evergreen were currently in a state of anarchy with no established system.
Taking advantage of that gap, Patrick moved quickly to heal the World Tree.
“This way, Lord Patrick.”
Elione took on the role of guiding Patrick to the World Tree.
She led Patrick, a human, into the sacred land that even elves could not visit lightly.
“Hmm….”
Patrick watched Elione with intense focus.
They were currently in a thick, heavy fog where one couldn’t see an inch ahead.
His sense of direction was completely gone; he couldn’t tell north from south.
Is this a naturally occurring formation?
They existed occasionally in the Central Plains’ Martial World as well.
Spirit beasts or spiritual herbs would distort and twist the surroundings to prevent people from approaching.
This was likely something similar.
Force wouldn’t work in a place like this.
He had to stay sharp and follow the guide.
So, Patrick focused on the back of Elione, who was walking right in front of him.
Her long, shapely legs.
The beautiful curve of her hips.
A slender waist that looked like it could be spanned by a single hand.
The elegant line of her back, and so on.
Mmm, I must focus as much as possible.
Yes. This was a necessary focus.
Even if his wife from his past life appeared and asked what he was doing, he would have nothing to feel guilty about.
Thinking this to himself, he stared intently at Elione as he moved forward.
“Focus, focus again.”
What a bastard….
Regardless, the direction they were walking seemed correct. The further they went, the more clearly he could feel a massive amount of Natural Qi ahead.
It’s enormous.
Because Patrick was sensitive to energy, he could feel it even better.
In the direction he was heading, an unimaginably vast amount of Natural Qi was pooled.
It was an infinitely clear and refreshing energy, yet it possessed an absolute dignity, like facing a great mountain.
He was certain.
The World Tree would soon reveal itself. And then…
“We are here, Lord Patrick.”
“Ohhh….”
That certainty became reality.
Patrick marveled at the giant tree before him.
The tree, so massive it reminded him of a small mountain, was emitting a faint glow.
And the power felt from that tree was so great that even the great Patrick was impressed. He had felt this kind of power and presence only once recently.
Is it similar to that?
The thing called the Living Calamity in this world.
Though he hadn’t faced it directly and had only experienced a playback of a memory, its majesty had been terrifying.
And the World Tree before him possessed a presence that did not fall short of that.
“You’re saying this is dying?”
“Yes. It used to be much more magnificent.”
“Hah….”
Patrick let out a sigh.
Actually, he had an idea of how to heal the World Tree.
He thought he could restore its vitality by condensing a massive amount of Natural Qi, just as he had when he healed the branch. The problem was…
This thing is just too big.
The scale of the World Tree in person far exceeded Patrick’s expectations.
Even if he gathered and concentrated all the Natural Qi in this entire area, could he really restore it?
He didn’t know. He couldn’t even guess, let alone guarantee it.
How could he make a promise when he couldn’t even fathom the size of this being’s vessel?
Common sense dictated that he should take a step back here.
It was better to retreat and find another way than to fail at something that might not even work. However…
“Challenge!”
Would this man be called the Radiant Dragon Hero otherwise?
I’ll just try it, and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
With that thought, he approached the World Tree.
In fact, Elione, standing beside him, was more nervous than Patrick.
“Lord Patrick. Shall I help? If I join you like last time….”
“No. Just stay back for now. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Using Elione as a medium, like when he made the branch bloom, might be safer for Patrick.
But Elione could die if her life force was scraped to the bottom.
So, this time, he intended to try it alone without her. And above all…
I feel like it’s calling me for some reason.
Patrick knew.
The intuition of a master of his level was not something to be ignored.
Patrick approached the World Tree and placed his hand on it. And then…
“Shall we begin?”
He extended his ki, connecting his meridians to the life force of the World Tree. And then…
“Huh!? Lord Patrick!”
Elione gasped.
Light erupted from the branches of the World Tree and swallowed Patrick whole.
She hurriedly reached out to pull him back, but…
“Kyaaa!”
The moment her hand touched the light, she was repelled with a bang!
She was blown far back by a force so powerful that even she, an Elven Knight, was helpless against it.
“Ugh….”
She forced herself up and looked at the scene before her.
The World Tree was emitting light, gradually embracing Patrick.
It looked as if it were severing Patrick from the world to prevent any outside interference.
Elione, who was favored by the World Tree enough to receive a branch, realized it.
That this was the will of the World Tree.
“O World Tree? What is it you intend to do?”
No answer came.
* * *
“Wake up.”
“Ugh… Mmm….”
“Wake up, you useless drunk!”
“Huh!?”
Patrick forced his eyes open. Pressing his aching head with his hand, he muttered:
“Why are you waking me up? April.”
“A-April?”
“……?”
“What? That sounds like a girl’s name.”
Patrick’s eyes snapped wide open.
And as he regained his senses and looked at what was in front of him…
“I see how it is…. You’re drinking and even calling in foreign courtesans now? You’re playing around globally beyond the Central Plains, aren’t you?”
“…….”
“This man has lost his mind. Fine. Shall we start by having you take some Seven Steps Soul-Severing Poison? It’s great for hangovers.”
“…Wi… fe?”
“Yes, it’s your wife. And where did you meet this ‘Apri-whatever’ woman? Spill it, you bastard!”
The woman shaking him by the collar was a peerless beauty with black hair and exquisite features.
How could he ever forget?
She was the daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the First Flower of Sichuan, and the greatest physician in the Central Plains—the Divine Physician Saintess, Tang Su-yeon.
Though in the Jianghu, she was most famous for being the wife of the Radiant Dragon Hero.
That very woman was now right in front of him.
“How are you here?”
“What do you mean ‘how’? You went all out drinking with that brat Mu-jong yesterday. Don’t you even remember how you got home?”
“Yesterday? Ah, yesterday?”
Now that he thought about it, he remembered.
Peng Mu-jong had come to visit after a long time.
And since the guy said he was buying, they had rented out a whole nearby courtesan house and had a wild time, and then…
“I feel like I’m forgetting something important.”
“That ‘Apri-something’ woman?”
“Yeah, her.”
“…….”
“And I think there was an Isa… Isa-something too? My memory is a bit fuzzy.”
“D-Die….”
“Huh? Wife, what did you say?”
“I said die, you bastard!”
KABOOM!
The Divine Physician Saintess, Tang Su-yeon.
Her straight punch slammed directly into the face of the Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon, blasting him right out the door.
“I guess the Great Disciple is awake.”
“Seems so.”
It was a typical morning at the Twin Dragon Sect.