Chapter 632: Flame Jade Sacred Spear (Flame Jade Sacred Spear)

So, while I was listening to Mang’s rage.

He brought up the topic with me.

“Hani, I’ll ask you one last time.”

“What?”

“Do you intend to join me?”

Hearing that, I had to let out a hollow laugh.

Persuasion, even after getting this far.

It was absurd.

While I thought he was quite persistent, seeing him act like that, I realized.

‘It means he needs me that much.’

More precisely, my powers.

The power to consume the dragon’s power to block it.

The strength to swallow and seize it.

That must be what he needs.

“This is your last chance. I have no intention of showing you mercy anymore.”

“Hmm.”

Pretending to ponder, I lightly stroked my chin.

I told him.

“I have one more thing to ask.”

Pointing at him with my fingertip, I asked.

“You said you’d let that guy go once you got your body back. After you let him go, will he be alive and well?”

“Hmm?”

Hearing my question, Mang tilted his head.

“It seems you need that piece or whatever. After you take it off, that guy. Can he survive?”

“Aha.”

Once I added a little more explanation, Mang nodded as if he finally understood.

“The blessing will continue.”

“A blessing?”

“Yes, a blessing for having helped me and met their end.”

So, that means…

He’s twisting the meaning of ‘dying’ to suit his own damn needs.

“There’s no blessing quite like this….”

Mang, who was about to continue speaking, suddenly paused.

“I see.”

He said, as if realizing something.

“You’re going to refuse this time too, aren’t you.”

Perhaps having gotten to know me a little through our few conversations, he figured out the situation.

Damn it, that guy was quick-witted too.

“…”

“…”

Silence began.

That was the signal.

Koong.

Chwaaaahk-!

He and I rapidly closed the distance between us.

Wiing-!

My Clairvoyance activated again.

I could see threads made of energy emanating from his body.

Watching that, I turned my head.

Shwiik-!

The sword grazed my hair.

Jjejeok-!

The severed strands of hair froze.

The attack followed up.

I spun my body quickly to let the sword slide past.

Putting strength into that rotation, I aimed for his waist with my leg.

Kwaang-!

A rough sound erupted.

The attack wasn’t successful.

Because my leg hit ice formed in mid-air, its power was greatly reduced.

My movement was thrown off balance due to the blocked attack.

Mang, not about to let this chance slip by, slashed his sword down.

If it continued like this, I’d be cut down.

Seeing that, I flicked my middle finger slightly.

An ember shot from my fingertip and flew towards the blade.

Ting-!

“…!”

It was a minor move, but it deflected the sword’s trajectory.

Kwak-!

Thanks to that, the sword struck the floor instead of my head.

I immediately regained my balance and threw a punch.

Hwaahk-!

‘Two-A-Pa-Cheon-Mu.’

Second Form (二式).

Two-Bi-Ui-Cheon-Gwon.

A sharp gust of wind poured towards Mang.

Kwang-!

This time too, a barrier formed in mid-air blocked it.

Udeuk-!

The attack broke through the barrier and continued forward.

“…!”

Mang’s eyes widened at the shattering barrier.

An unorthodox movement.

Two-A-Pa-Cheon-Mu unleashes its power based on perfect movements.

Because of that, its power should be somewhat reduced.

‘But that doesn’t mean it’s weak.’

The fist, wrapped in the gust, struck Mang’s abdomen forcefully.

The problem was.

Koong-!

“Keuk!”

That the impact also hit my stomach.

Kwaaang-!!!

Waves erupted, and we were flung apart.

Koong-! Wareureu-!

My body slammed into the wall and fell amidst the debris.

It wasn’t a major impact, so I could brush myself off and get up.

However.

‘He kicked me even in that state?’

Despite taking Two-A-Pa-Cheon-Mu, he kicked me and pushed me away.

In this unbelievable situation, I observed him.

“Khluck. Ptoo.”

Mang coughed dryly, spat out blood, and scowled.

He seemed to be in considerable pain, clutching his abdomen with his hand, but…

Uwoong.

I could see his upper body gradually healing.

Seeing that…

‘It seems he can use that power too.’

Then it seems he can use the others as well.

He isn’t using his other powers in the fight.

Perhaps he’s being conscious of my powers.

This is tricky.

Even setting that aside.

‘It doesn’t seem like I can defeat him easily.’

His power is mediocre, but

My speed has the upper hand. However, the difference is slight.

It seems like a fairly even match, but.

The biggest problem here is.

‘My body is getting slower and slower.’

The fact that my body is gradually slowing down.

It’s not like I’m tired.

My energy had dropped significantly, but not enough to feel lacking.

So what could this be?

Just as I was checking the anomaly in my body.

“…How laughable.”

He spoke.

“To think I can’t even properly kill you. Normally, I would have swallowed you whole and still had room for more.”

Listening to him, I relaxed my shoulders slightly.

“Then stop tucking your tail and run.”

“I can’t do that. Since the outcome of the fight is already decided, how could I possibly run away?”

At my words, he smirked again.

It was a truly repulsive smile.

Just then.

“You must be feeling it, right? How your body is gradually refusing to obey you.”

“…”

Hearing Mang’s words, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

As expected, was this strangeness his doing? How did he manage it?

‘It’s not poison.’

Ever since reaching Immunity to All Poisons, poison wouldn’t have been able to invade my body.

If not poison, then what?

As I looked at Mang with a questioning expression.

He provided the answer.

“Dragons, you see. They usually don’t leave their lairs. Do you know why?”

“Why, is it because you get stronger here?”

“No.”

He casually pointed at the ground with his hand.

“It’s not that I get stronger by being here, but that other dragons become weaker.”

“…Oh.”

I was slightly impressed hearing that.

This was another interesting piece of information.

“While this place might be insignificant, it is my lair. If a little more time passes… you’ll probably slow down like a crawling snail. There’s no way you can defeat me here.”

“Hmm.”

I was already getting annoyed with my sluggish body.

‘This is troublesome.’

This was quite problematic.

To think there would be a geographical issue.

Moreover.

‘His constant regeneration is also bothersome.’

If it goes on like this, just as he said, the fight will drag on, putting me at a disadvantage.

It’s good that he’s not using his powers, but…

‘My own powers aren’t exactly useful right now either.’

Stealing them has troublesome conditions.

It wasn’t something I could do right now.

So, the only remaining move now is…

‘Finish this as quickly as possible.’

That’s the only way.

How should I do that?

Just as I was pondering for a moment.

“Why, are you finally considering my offer-.”

“Ah.”

Fortunately, I remembered there was a way.

I didn’t know if it would work, but there was one thing I could try.

‘Should I try it?’

I hadn’t taken it out, remembering Pae-jon’s warning never to use it.

Pae-jon told me that unless it entered the realm of imagination,

I should never use it.

The first time I tried it, I almost died when my insides, and my whole body, burst apart from using it.

Since then, I had only attempted it in thought, never actually doing it.

That thing.

It felt like the perfect time to use it now.

After a brief moment of consideration.

Seuk.

I slightly extended my right hand into the air.

Hwareureuk–!!

The Flame Jade gathered at my fingertips.

“Hmm?”

Mang’s expression showed confusion upon seeing that.

However, it quickly turned into a sneer.

He must have thought I was trying something from before, perhaps the technique I used earlier.

Right, I’d used Flame Jade so often.

And he blocked it with a single sword strike earlier, so it would seem strange.

But.

“Still thinking of struggling? Even if you try… Hmm?”

His mouth, about to taunt, stopped.

Mang’s eyes widened like saucers.

Hwareureureuk.

The Flame Jade that had gathered began to spin faster, for some reason.

I too focused all my attention on my palm.

Hwaaaaaaaa—-!!!

It was much faster than its usual rotational force. So fast that…

Hwiwiiik-!

The surrounding cold air was drawn towards the Flame Jade, getting sucked in.

Just then.

Hwareureureureureuk.

The drawn-in cold air caught fire.

It transformed into flames and seeped into the Flame Jade.

Rotation and compression.

And the Flame Jade, thoroughly imbued with heat, began to glow intensely.

“…You bastard! What are you trying to do right now!”

Seeing this, Mang hastily swung his sword from a distance.

Shwiik–!!

Perhaps not knowing what it was, he seemed to have sent out sword energy to stop my actions.

His assessment was spot on, but…

He was also wrong.

Chwaaahk—!!

Blood splattered profusely.

The sword energy had hit my chest directly.

An attack incomparable to the graze earlier.

Simultaneously, jjejeok-! Ice formed on the cut wound.

It was a critical wound, in its own way, but…

Through it all, I didn’t release the Flame Jade.

Thanks to that.

‘It’s done.’

The technique hadn’t failed.

Only then did I…

Kwak-!

Grabbed the completed Flame Jade without hesitation.

At that moment.

Kwaaaaaaaa—-!!!

The gathered flames exploded, and heat swallowed the space.

---

“Kkeuk-!”

Mang thrust his sword out to block the erupting heat.

The heat wasn’t aggressive. It didn’t seem intended as an attack.

It was simply…

‘Hot.’

Just hot, and hotter still.

The heat, meeting the cold air, emitted steam.

In the completely obscured vision.

Mang scowled deeply.

Clearly, all the heat had dissipated, yet for some reason, the space felt significantly warmer.

‘What on earth did he do…’

As Mang took a defensive stance and stared straight ahead.

Hwiik-! Hwaahk-!

In an instant.

Wind blew, clearing away the steam.

Mang’s face filled with shock as he looked upon the spot where the steam had cleared.

“…!”

There.

Gu Yangcheon, ice still lingering on his chest from the sword wound.

“Not bad, considering.”

Something blazing with blue flames.

In other words…

Judging solely by its shape.

‘A spear…?’

He stood holding a long spear crafted from flame.