TL Notes:

Hello, everyone! In this chapter, new names of Yangcheon's martial techniques are introduced. I hope you’ll enjoy them.

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Rumble—!!!

Blue flames erupted in all directions, sweeping through the building.

The mixture of shockwaves and internal energy sent powerful forces crashing into the surroundings, burning and even melting the building.

Thud—!

Debris fell, and I rolled my eyes, channeling my strength into my hands.

I hadn't killed it.

Perhaps because I narrowed the range and focused my firepower? There was no sensation.

I found the presence. One.

‘Too many.’

There were excessively many presences around, making it difficult to detect them clearly.

That’s why it took time.

It was impossible to do in an instant, but the gap was enough for me to act.

Whoosh—!

Something pierced through the flames, burrowing deep.

I twisted my body to dodge.

I had intended to burn it, but seeing its energy, it wasn't strong enough to set it aflame.

I hadn't caught it. Immediately, I gathered my energy in my hand. Flames erupted instantly, reshaping the energy.

Flame Spear. A blue spear glimmered.

I detonated the embers and hurled the spear in the direction of the attack.

Kuaaah—!!

A tremendous sound erupted as a flash of light streaked through.

Kuwuung—!!!

The explosion echoed beyond the flames.

The spear exploded.

Once again, it hadn't hit.

‘What is this?’

I furrowed my brow. With confusion, I collected the scattered flames.

Whirrrrr—!!!

The flames, swirling around, were sucked back into my hand. As the blue flame was swept away, my vision cleared.

It had become a battlefield. Nearby buildings had disappeared, leaving only scorched earth and charred remains.

And amidst that chaotic scene, something remained.

‘...That.’

Upon confirming it, my face twisted.

It was what I had checked earlier inside the building.

A shriveled human form encased in crystal.

The shape of the human was preserved in the crystal, and all the presences around me were emanating from there.

As I confirmed it, I stretched out my left hand.

Whaaaaa—!!!!

Flames erupted, pushing the building to the side.

In an instant, one side of the building crumbled, leaving behind the crystals I had been staring at.

Even the blue flames didn't melt them. The firepower was enough to send the building flying, yet those crystals were unharmed.

‘There’s more than one.’

The crystals that emerged weren't few.

There was at least one in each building, and some had multiple.

‘The presence is coming from there.’

The strange presences I had been sensing in this space until now.

It was all coming from those crystals.

Why were these presences coming from the crystals? And they weren't just ordinary presences.

‘They're alive.’

Life energy could be felt coming from the amethyst crystals, as if they were alive.

Thud—! Thud—!

I listened carefully and could hear a heartbeat. This meant...

‘They’re alive.’

It meant that all those entities inside the crystals were alive.

"Hmm."

Having confirmed this, I turned my gaze. Looking up into the air, something was floating in the distance.

There was dust rising from the ashen sky, making the area look even more disheveled.

At the center, a man with black wings spread out was looking down at me.

His long, ashen hair hung down, and he wore a black battle cloak.

His expressionless face, with skin so pale it lacked even the faintest color of blood, stared at me.

As our gazes met, he opened his mouth.

"Impatient, aren't you? We haven't even exchanged greetings yet."

"..."

"I was planning to talk slowly, but it seems like you don't want to."

Swoosh.

In response to his words, I swung my hand.

The ring of flames morphed into a whip and lashed out.

Whooosh—!! Pahng—!

As the attack flew towards him, he also moved his hand. In an instant, a spear appeared in his hand, swatting the whip aside.

Embers exploded.

During that moment, I observed the spear in his hand.

‘A trident?’

A black trident. It looked like it was made of energy, judging by the shimmering shape.

As I squinted to assess it, he hurled the trident at me.

Whoosh—!!

Kuwuuuung—!!!

I barely dodged it. The trident struck the ground and exploded.

Black energy surged from it.

It exploded, flying into the air with heat radiating from it.

I watched him with a glare as the sizzling ground was left behind.

"I have one question."

"Hmm?"

He tilted his head at my question.

"What is it?"

"That. Did you do it?"

I gestured towards the crystals scattered across the ground.

"Ah, that?"

He smiled in response to my question.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"What?"

"It's an immortal beauty that can never be broken."

"..."

Upon hearing his words, I raised my energy.

The presence and life force poured from every direction. I felt the sensation piercing my skin and steadied my breath.

"Why?"

"Do I have to explain? It's not like we're on those kinds of terms. And to be fair..."

Whoooosh.

A spear once again manifested at the tip of his finger.

"I think it's more appropriate for me to ask you."

"That's true."

Whoosh.

As I spoke, I channeled my strength.

"But, judging by the situation, I don't think either of us will answer."

Flames erupted, enveloping my body.

The blue flames wrapped ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) around me once, and then it turned into black energy.

"Then we'll make each other answer. I like that."

I condensed my fighting spirit. I created a ring behind me and spun it madly.

The ring, now formed of demonic energy, shook violently.

Kiiiiing—!!

The speed reached its extreme, causing friction in the air.

Energy surged into my hands. The air tore apart, shimmering.

The Cheonma Divine Art was unleashed.

Zzzt.

CRACKLE—!!!

The bones of my entire body vibrate. The pain is incomparable to when I used Tua Pacheonmu.

Tua Pacheonmu is based on the stimulation of blood vessels, and the energy itself is rooted in pain, so it doesn’t directly affect the body, but...

‘This really hurts.’

The Cheonma Divine Art directly impacts the body.

The friction is so intense that my entire bones are ringing, and the sharp, tearing pain feels like my skin is being ripped apart.

‘This is tough.’

Just maintaining it is already an absurdly difficult task. Even if I manage to keep it up, the pain is overwhelming.

I created this, but it really feels like madness.

‘If I weren't in a dragon's body, I wouldn’t be able to handle this.’

Even with my transcendence, it’s this difficult.

I wonder how I can even use this.

‘What else can I do?’

I have to endure.

Just like always.

Boom—!!!

The vibration exploded, and energy gathered in my hand.

I contained it and pressed it tightly into my fist, increasing the speed.

Pah—!!

A burst of energy erupted from my back, propelling me forward.

I charged at him.

He swung his trident and flapped his wings. He came at me fiercely.

Whiiish—!

The trident moved, and energy followed, creating a green aura.

As the spear cut through the air, the black energy clung to it. The size of it was no joke.

The energy was strong too.

I tilted slightly to avoid it.

Whoooosh—!!!

The energy passed by my body.

Kuaaaaaaaaaa—!!!!

There was a loud explosion behind me, accompanied by a shockwave. I didn’t bother to inspect it. Just the amount of vibration and energy was enough to gauge its power.

It was good that I didn’t block it.

Could I have blocked it? Maybe, but...

‘It would’ve been a hassle to dig through it.’

If I wasn’t going to take a hit, I would have to reduce its speed.

Then, I had to let go of some of it.

As the speed decreased, the power likely lost some of its intensity, but still, I managed to get closer.

That was enough.

Cheonma Divine Art.

I pushed forward, closing the distance and plunging into his face.

Cheonma’s Single Fist.

Chaos exploded from my fist.

Kiaaaaaaaaa—!!!!

The scream of energy overwhelmed him.

It tore through the air, as if the energy had manifested the shape of a scream. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It felt like the energy was showing the sensation of shuddering from pain.

The power, even I have to admit, was truly incredible.

‘Damn it.’

The reaction was the same as last time.

‘It didn’t hit.’

There was no sensation in my hand.

Whoosh—!

I lowered my head.

Swoosh—!

The trident passed just above my head. I immediately put power into the ring.

Thunk—!

Flames erupted, and the trident fell to the ground. It landed with a loud crash.

Kua—!

Debris flew. There was no time for a roll or a counter.

I condensed flames into my hand.

I then covered it with chaos.

Cheonma Soul Flame.

And then...

Kuwuuung—!!!

I raised my foot and slammed it down. The pressure burst into the sky.

Cheonma Royal Step.

I intertwined my legs with fighting spirit and Cheonma Divine Art.

I borrowed from the shape of the Emperor’s sword technique. I combined the fighting spirit and sword energy to restrict movement, just as the will behind it would dictate.

I released the energy and stared at the sky.

He was still looking down at me, with not a single scratch on his body.

He was wearing his battle cloak, so his expression was hidden, but I could tell he was smiling.

‘What is this?’

Why didn’t it hit?

I was right in front of him, and I clearly landed the attack, yet it didn’t land. What’s going on?

I narrowed my eyes.

‘Is it his power?’

This is strange. I clearly struck from point-blank range and landed a solid hit, but it didn’t reach him. Something’s off.

And he’s smiling?

‘Is he mocking me?’

Is he toying with me?

At that thought, I withdrew the energy I had been building.

If it doesn’t work, there’s no point in shooting it out.

‘It doesn’t seem like a power ability.’

If it were, I would have known.

Tam should have responded first. But Tam stayed still.

‘Hmm.’

What should I do?

For a brief moment, I pondered.

"Mm."

I slightly squinted my eyes.

It wasn’t a power ability, nor was it something I could immediately comprehend.

Then...

‘There’s only one thing left.’

I recalled the thought and focused my eyes.

Shiman activated.

I poured all my energy into it. My eyes were filled with so much energy that the scenery before me shifted.

This whole area was some sort of sorcery, so naturally, what I saw was strange.

‘I see it.’

There was something around him.

‘That’s it.’

It was sorcery. I don’t know what kind, but...

‘If it’s sorcery...’

Then it’s a different story.

A smile appeared on my lips as I moved my hand.

My hand stretched out into the air. His expression subtly changed when he saw this.

At that moment...

Creak—!!

I grabbed something among the strange sensations before me.

At that moment...

Kuwuung—!!

"......!?"

His body shook violently.

I was certain.

‘This bastard.’

I think I can catch him.