Chapter 306
Chapter 306
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 306
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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“Lord Shinyo! Over here, please!”
“Right here! Look this way!”
“It’s Lord Taeyul! Lord Taeyul!”
“Over there! Check out that majestic figure!”
This was the main avenue of Chapa, one of the mid-sized cities in the great eastern empire of Khan.
Shinyo and Taeyul were riding through on horseback. The forces following their command were already quite substantial.
They hadn’t started out with this many troops. It had all changed because of the war with the ghosts.
Most of the Dragon Warriors, who had been fiercely competing in the Dragon Struggle, trembled at the power of the ghost legions. Many who had boldly stepped forward fell to those merciless blades and withdrew from the Dragon Struggle in droves.
Even Shinyo and Taeyul found it overwhelming, as localized battles erupted across a vast expanse.
“…….”
Taeyul’s horse passed by the citizens.
Clop clop…
Someone blocked his path and shouted.
“You heartless bastard! You’ve got no blood, no tears!”
“Drag him away!”
“You… you gave up on them! Our families in Tochang…”
“…….”
“You should’ve died there! You! Taeyul!”
“Drag him out! Hurry!”
Clop…
Clop…
Shinyo spurred his horse to pull up right beside Taeyul’s.
“Don’t let it shake you.”
“It’s fine. He’s not wrong.”
“But… wasn’t that guy in Tochang?”
“…….”
“…Yaksha.”
Ghosts were born with power superior to humans, but that was an individual trait, not a collective one.
Humans knew how to cooperate, and they revered that solid strength.
The ghosts, who appeared from all directions at random to inflict damage, initially held the advantage against Khan. But as the war escalated nationwide, the tide quickly turned in Khan’s favor.
The turning point came when the rescue operation at Ghost Island—where Seolhong, Chiu, Kang Seol, and Jin Ryeo had supposedly sacrificed themselves—ended in a half-victory.
At the time, Taeyul had been overjoyed to see the rescued citizens, but when Seolhong and the others didn’t appear, he ignored everyone’s pleas and hastily assembled a search party, mourning their deaths deeply.
In the end, Taeyul couldn’t find them.
Yet this played a major role in the war between Khan and the ghosts.
The image of them sacrificing their lives to save imperial citizens reminded everyone how Khan had become a great empire.
It was through the sacrifices of many heroes.
They had built stone walls by stepping on their corpses.
Erasing the traces left by the evil dragons, they had forged an empire.
The deaths of Seolhong and Chiu, two Dragon Warriors, elevated them to revered status. They had proven with their lives their devotion to the imperial people, so no one doubted their noble hearts. But that didn’t bring back those who had met their end.
It was around the Ghost Island rescue that the Dragon Warriors began coordinating on a large scale.
Pushing aside the Dragon Struggle’s outcomes, both Dragon Warriors and the central army fought with desperate resolve to drive the ghosts from the land.
Their strategies grew bolder and more ferocious.
Countless deaths and rivers of blood followed.
But they couldn’t stop.
They had already steeled themselves for death.
Desperate resolve.
A human branded with it becomes an entirely different being. The results were worlds apart from before, when ghosts rampaged using fear as their weapon.
Khan’s latent power revealed itself everywhere.
From the Ironclad Legion to the hidden powerhouses of the Shadow Veil, they emerged one after another to aid Khan.
Thanks to this, mighty Dragon Warriors like Taeyul and Shinyo attracted throngs of talent. They ended up stronger than before the ghost war.
Yet even they, sweeping the ghosts away in triumph, had an opponent they didn’t want to face.
Yaksha.
The absolute powerhouse who created unstable rifts allowing ghosts to invade the mortal realm.
Unfortunately, even powerhouses like Taeyul and Shinyo had no means to confront him.
Dragon Warriors and central army generals who charged in boldly all had their heads severed by Yaksha.
He had appeared during the Tochang operation too.
That’s why Taeyul had no choice but to withdraw.
He couldn’t throw his forces into the fire like moths to a flame against Yaksha.
He had to step up only when he had a sure plan and defenses in place.
“You! You killed them! Don’t act so righteous, you shameless bastard…”
“Take him away! Gag him!”
“…….”
Because of this, many began cursing Taeyul’s cowardice. It was unavoidable.
Whether scorning his cowardice for abandoning the fight against Yaksha or his foolishness for risking all his troops, Taeyul was bound to face criticism no matter the choice.
It was his fate.
Dragon Warriors were beings who had to endure both flower petals and shit flung at them.
“No matter what reason you give, it’s all just excuses.”
“…Wouldn’t it be better to give your heart some leeway? Right now, I’m more worried about you crumbling than the Dragon Struggle.”
“…I may have already crumbled when I lost Seolhong.”
“…Brother.”
Taeyul gazed up at the sky with hazy eyes.
“Such a small child. Yet his eyes clearly held the people of Khan.”
“…Do you miss Seolhong that much?”
Seolhong had lost his life aiding Taeyul’s efforts.
For Taeyul, who always walked the straight path, it was an indelible wound.
He might have to carry this yoke for life.
“I don’t deserve to mourn him.”
“Everyone believes in us. If Yaksha shows an opening, we’ll take his head alongside the Supreme General…”
Shinyo spoke without conviction.
Yaksha’s prowess was immeasurable.
Even the Supreme General’s second-in-command, the Upper General, might not fell him.
Moreover, with their heavy responsibilities, they couldn’t endlessly pursue just Yaksha…
“And… I plan to visit my master this time.”
“…Your master?”
“Yes. Maybe he’ll give me a way to navigate this crisis.”
“I see. That could work…”
Clop…
Clop…
Taeyul rode on with a hardened face, pushing through the crowd.
His back view looked tormented.
* * *
“Ready?”
Do Yeoksi stretched and yawned, as Chiu stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Seolhong and replied.
Whoosh…
Chiu, who could change forms, reverted from wolf to human.
“Of course! Who’s today’s opponent?”
Thud…
Thud thud…
Sagu Hon and Chil Gwi Hon.
Members of the Twelve Ghost Souls, they stood before Seolhong and Chiu.
Since returning from Mansang, Do Yeoksi had relentlessly aided Seolhong and Chiu’s training.
This was part of it.
Sagu Hon headed for Chiu, Chil Gwi Hon for Seolhong.
“Heh heh… Unlike the previous ones, we won’t be so kind.”
“They all said that.”
Do Yeoksi glanced up at the sky for a moment…
“Achoo!”
He sneezed.
Rub rub…
Wiping his nose, Do Yeoksi said.
“Then, begin.”
Flash-! Flash-!
Contrary to the lackluster declaration, the battle unfolded intensely.
They split the wasteland in two to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with each other mid-fight.
Chiu struck first.
“Hup-!”
[Chiu uses Whirlwind.]
[Wind proportional to weapon attack power shoots forward and returns.]
[Damage greatly increases on return.]
[Damage reduces by a fixed ratio per enemy hit.]
[Damage can reduce by up to 70%.]
Fwoooosh-!
Fwoooosh-!
Two dragon twisters launched from Chiu’s arms. A reaction akin to a palm strike.
Fwoosh-!
Sagu Hon ignited one twister and spun his body to evade the returning wind.
“Tch…”
“Suppress the spread. Gwanggwi and Maegu won’t be touched by half-hearted blasts like that. Or fill every space with your wind if you’re confident.”
“…Suppress the spread.”
“Good call.”
Chiu used a martial art infusing qi into wind. At Dragon Warrior level, he had no equals, but meeting Kang Seol had unraveled everything.
In a world he didn’t know, mountains of foes his power couldn’t touch.
Only then did Chiu realize his flaw: reliance on wide-area attacks left him weak in one-on-one.
Like a storm posing less threat to man than a single spear.
Whoooosh…
Fwoooosh-!
This time, Chiu condensed a solid burst of wind.
“Much better movement!”
“Quit fooling around!”
“Keuk keuk…”
The same unfolded for Seolhong.
Clang-!
Claaaang-!
Chil Gwi Hon wielded a long whip sword against Seolhong.
“Do you feel fear?”
“…….”
“Strange. I can sense your emotions.”
Clanggg…
Whip-!
The whip sword coiled around her blade.
Thud!
Seolhong deflected it and launched another sword into the air.
Whoooosh…
[Seolhong uses Sword Song: Karma.]
[Swords can be suspended in midair for offense and defense.]
[Suspended blades continuously lose durability and exert 80% of weapon attack power.]
“Too slow! Makes me yawn!”
“Urgh…”
“Your heart is frail compared to your power… Why?”
Slurp…
Chil Gwi Hon flicked out a snake-like tongue.
“Isn’t that… not your power?”
“Eek!”
Whip-!
[Seolhong uses Sword Song: Drill.]
[Suspended blades swarm the foe at once.]
[Evasion triggers one additional attack.]
[Additional attack speed increases by 50%.]
Pew pew pew-!
“Keuk keuk…”
Chil Gwi Hon shook, and the swords missed.
Swish-!
Fwoooosh-!
But the pursuing blades barely grazed him.
“Humans fear death. Why?”
“What’re you saying?”
“Is it unbearable to become worthless, to lose control of the era? So foolish, so foolish.”
Screeech…
The whip sword twisted into coils and…
Fwoooosh-!
Shot toward Seolhong.
“Eut…”
[Seolhong uses Sword Song: Iron Wall.]
[Blades move to defend en masse.]
[Gains defense proportional to weapon attack power; block chance up to 90%.]
Craaaaaack-!
The whip sword dug into the wall but was halted.
“Isn’t it laughable? You’ve never controlled the era even for a moment. You’re just swept along in its massive flow.”
“…You talk too much.”
Fwooom…
Seolhong’s aura shifted.
[Seolhong uses Sword Song: Buttonhole.]
[Blades pair with designated partners.]
[Foes between take 400% weapon attack power damage.]
“Such!”
Pew pew pew pew-!
“Grraaah…”
Chil Gwi Hon writhed to evade but stared at his right arm, pierced despite it all.
“Sloppy. You know how tough Gwanggwi skin is…”
Ziiiiing-!
An ear-splitting whoosh.
Pssshhhhh…
Chil Gwi Hon turned to see Sagu Hon shoved back. Traces of blocking Chiu’s attack.
“Enough. That’s it for today.”
Crunch crunch…
Do Yeoksi waved, and the wrecked surroundings restored perfectly.
“Whoa… spooky.”
Chiu marveled.
“I am a ghost.”
“Oh, right!”
“Keuk keuk… Hye-myeong’s gift won’t let you rest. Your growth is rapid.”
“Yeah?”
“But Gwanggwi and Maegu aren’t easy.”
“Can’t you handle them?”
“Approaching Yaksha, ghost-eater, as a ghost among ghosts would be folly. If he steals my power, it’s catastrophe. Watching you is partly why.”
“But why stop just now…?”
“Seems the talk’s done.”
Slide…
Do Yeoksi looked toward Hawon’s house.
* * *
While the “training” battle raged outside, Hawon and Kang Seol were conversing.
“How have you been?”
“Wandering the continent to shatter the blocking wall.”
“…Ah.”
Kang Seol sensed profound changes in Hawon. His aura had transformed greatly, and messages called him a powerful ally.
“Did you achieve your goal?”
“…….”
Hawon smiled faintly in reply.
Kang Seol felt it was yes.
They conversed on various topics.
Then, unable to hold back, Kang Seol asked the key question.
“So, did you find a way to awaken Bitan?”
“I did… but it’s not usable right now. Mareung already clashed with Yaksha once and lost some power to him. That’s what makes Yaksha terrifying.”
“So… Bitan can’t awaken yet?”
“That’s the answer from Mansang, for now.”
Kang Seol frowned.
‘Bitan…’
Her refusal to wake deepened his worries.
But then Hawon offered some relief.
“That said, it’s not hopeless.”
“As expected… What’s the method?”
Slide…
Hawon pushed a book forward.
“This is…”
“Part of the books from Mansang. Records by my master, Orgo.”
“Orgo!”
“Full of experimental works. Some even implemented…”
Kang Seol tilted his head.
“But weren’t they all scrapped… Ah…”
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
Why Kang Seol stopped.
Because some works hadn’t been scrapped.
No, precisely, some couldn’t be.
‘Works whose whereabouts are unknown.’
And among them…
“There’s an item made to counter ghost soldiers like Yaksha. Called Dohyang. I’ve seen its power myself.”
He knew.
Dohyang’s might.
And how it could help this crisis. But Kang Seol hadn’t recalled it immediately.
‘Dohyang’s… whereabouts are lost, right?’
The crucial issue remained.
“…Where is it?”
“By any chance…”
Hawon said awkwardly.
“Do you know of the Lesser Heavenly Realm?”
“…Lesser Heavenly Realm?”
Rattle-!
The door burst open as Jin Ryeo barged in.
“…Jin Ryeo?”
“T-The Lesser Heavenly Realm? There?”
“Lady Jin Ryeo, you know of Lesser Heaven?”
Hawon asked, and Jin Ryeo blinked.
“Th-that… where Shinyo’s dragon master lives…”
“You know it well.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
All three just blinked.
Kang Seol spoke up.
“Hawon, just to check… surely the item’s whereabouts…”
Nod.
Hawon said.
“Dohyang is with him now.”
“…….”
“We head to the Lesser Heavenly Realm.”