Chapter 1201: Scorched World

Hwaaaaaaa–!!!

A flash bursts forth. An overwhelming heat fills the surroundings.

“Kkeuk!”

Do-cheol is pushed back. The wind pressure was unusual. It was an intensity difficult to endure.

“This guy…!”

What in the world did he do? It was a level I hadn’t felt until just now. Not only the concentration, but the concentrated pressure was on another level.

It was a light that made you want to close your eyelids instinctively, as if it would blind you just by looking.

This isn’t good.

‘How… such power.’

What is this power? It was a power I had never felt before.

‘Just what in the world…’

Has the world granted even this power to that guy? A nauseating emotion surged up to the back of his throat.

“Hoo-up!”

Do-cheol strained and shook off the pressure. No matter how strong it was, he could release this much.

With his body forcibly awakened like that, he looked ahead again. The light had already faded.

“…Damn.”

Seeing the revealed state, Do-cheol gritted his teeth. That sturdy iron gate…

“It’s breached.”

Because it was riddled with holes, sizzling as if boiling.

Something that couldn’t possibly be pierced by sheer energy. He thought it couldn’t be undone unless one knew the method of release.

‘This…’

Pierced with power? It was absurd.

Do-cheol gritted his teeth and charged in. He threw himself into the space Gu-cheol-un had breached. I have to stop him. He can’t touch the prey inside.

‘That, at least.’

I don’t care about anything else, but not that.

We can’t waste our last chance like this. Thinking so, he rushed to stop Gu-cheol-un.

‘What is it?’

As he lunged, Gu-cheol-un was standing beyond the iron gate. Even though he must have known Do-cheol was approaching from behind, Gu-cheol-un remained frozen, facing forward.

What is he doing?

Do-cheol’s gaze, which had been about to attack Gu-cheol-un, unconsciously turned forward. He met the same sight Gu-cheol-un was looking at.

At that moment,

“…Huh?”

Do-cheol’s body froze just the same. He couldn’t help it.

Baek Yangcheon, who should have been locked inside the cage, was now outside. And the egg they had fed with their energy was nowhere to be seen.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

At that moment, Gu-cheol-un called out to Baek Yangcheon.

At the call, Baek Yangcheon slowly turned his head.

As Baek Yangcheon turned his upper body, something was held in his hand.

‘What is it?’

Seeing this, Do-cheol narrowed his eyes.

It was a black mass.

Baek Yangcheon held the unidentifiable black mass with both hands.

As if.

It were something incredibly important.

* * *

“Blood Demon.”

As soon as I recognized its identity, I mentioned it.

“Kkulkulkul.”

A sickening laugh echoed. It was definitely his voice.

“So it has come to this.”

His reaction, as if he knew everything, made me contort my face.

“Were you watching everything?”

The ring stained red. It was the voice coming from there. That means…

‘Has he been watching everything until now?’

I spat out the words with that intention, but…

“No.”

The Blood Demon denied it.

However.

“One, even if that were the case, there wouldn’t be a problem. Wasn’t that what you expected and carried it around for?”

“……”

This was also true. I was curious how the Blood Demon of this world would act. And if he were watching, I wanted to confirm what he might do.

“Then what is this?”

To my question asking what this ring was, the Blood Demon replied.

“It was merely a means of contact. I gave you something valuable, so cherish it.”

“Stop talking such nonsense. You must have had a reason for appearing?”

“Hmph.”

As I reacted harshly, the Blood Demon let out a disappointed hum.

“What a boring person. It’s a shame… it was meant as a courtesy, you know.”

As he kept trying to spout nonsense, I attempted to take off the ring. Then.

“Won’t you listen to me? It’s a good opportunity.”

“Then explain properly. Don’t annoy me.”

I have no need for such trivial Q&A. I didn’t have time to waste.

“You have a fierce temper. You’re the one who damaged what I painstakingly prepared. Why are you getting so angry?”

“…What you prepared?”

Hearing that, my face contorted.

“As expected.”

Was it as I predicted?

“This mess is your doing too?”

The incidents that occurred at the Taoist temple. And the current situation… I thought it seemed similar to what the Blood Demon had done, but was it his doing as I suspected?

“What were you trying to do again?”

What scheme was he trying to pull off this time? I growled and asked.

“It’s an arrangement I willingly prepared.”

“Arrangement?”

“I merely prepared something precious over a long period.”

“…Precious? That?”

Was he referring to the purple egg? If so.

“This means this was your doing too.”

Naturally, it meant that egg was also the Blood Demon’s doing.

“What did you put there?”

What is this egg that Cheonma… Could it be harboring the demonic energy she possessed?

“It truly is precious.”

“So….”

I tried to ask again what that precious thing was, but…

“Because I tore off my very divinity and placed it there.”

“…What?”

The Blood Demon’s words made me freeze completely.

‘Divinity?’

The word ‘divinity’ popped up here. Hearing that, my breath hitched for a moment. I turned my gaze and looked at the purple egg.

“…You tore off your divinity?”

“To be precise, I placed the energy itself there. How about it? Doesn’t it sound noble now?”

“Stop spewing bullshit. I’m not talking to you just to hear that.”

I was holding back the urge to rip off the ring and throw it away. Tearing off the energy itself and placing it there… That statement reminded me of something I heard once.

‘The Blood Demon’s energy and body were cut and flowed into the sea.’

That’s what Cheol-yeong said. It was something I had been keeping in mind.

‘…Energy.’

Could the energy mentioned there be this? The energy Cheol-yeong cut and sealed? But that…

‘Resembles Cheonma’s energy?’

A chill ran down my spine.

“…Why did you make the Taoists handle your energy?”

“It hurts my feelings to hear you say ‘make me’. They acted of their own accord.”

“Bullshit.”

It wasn’t even funny.

“What were you trying to do? Why the energy?”

And that too.

“Were you raising it in Shanxi?”

“I merely timed it right. It was natural since there was a purpose. However.”

The Blood Demon paused briefly and spoke to me.

“I just didn’t expect Tae-cheon to betray me.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t trust him, so… I didn’t expect him to act so rashly.”

Tae-cheon. I recalled the guy I met last time.

‘Tae-cheon betrayed me?’

That was a strange statement. What relationship could Tae-cheon and the Blood Demon possibly have? And…

“…What are you doing now?”

Even now, I found myself pondering questions about the Blood Demon.

“Doing what?”

The Blood Demon reacted as if he knew nothing, but I didn’t believe him.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Giving me information with every question I asked. It was baffling.

“I’m telling you because you asked. What’s the problem?”

“Don’t give me that crap. Tell me your purpose straight.”

Grrrind.

I ground my teeth. There’s no way this guy would be this friendly to me. He’s a bizarre fellow whose thoughts I can’t fathom. And he’s telling me information straightforwardly?

‘Unless it’s all lies.’

I couldn’t believe it. There was no way I could believe it. That the energy was the Blood Demon’s divinity. And everything the Blood Demon had just said. Not just the Blood Demon from my world. I couldn’t trust the Blood Demon of this world either.

“What are you trying to do?”

Why tell me all that? As I asked.

“Kkulkulkul.”

The Blood Demon laughed. He laughed like that for a moment, then…

“You’re right. There’d be no need for this if I didn’t have a purpose.”

The Blood Demon…

“Nameless Dragon.”

He said to me.

“Do you have any interest in taking my place?”

“…What?”

I stared blankly at his words.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard correctly. I asked if you were interested in taking my place.”

“……”

Take his place?

“What are you talking about? Are you asking me to become the Dragon Emperor or something?”

“You understand well.”

“You’re talking utter crap.”

There was no greater nonsense than this.

“Why would I do that?”

He said the Blood Demon’s world had already perished. He was someone who crossed over from a vanished world, intending to become a disaster for this one.

“You’re trying to attempt some ridiculous thing on me. Get rid of those disgusting words.”

“It’s beneficial for you too. A dragon’s body. An unstable divinity. I know the world desires something from you. Don’t go that way.”

The Blood Demon continued.

“The world is something that discards anything for its desires. Your role is no different. Rather than getting caught up in fate and disappearing without your own will. This would be better. This would be a good offer for you.”

Getting caught up in fate.

That’s a damn curse. I’d heard it relentlessly since my regression.

“Take my hand.”

But.

“Fuck off.”

My answer to the Blood Demon was always the same.

Laughter burst out involuntarily. Judging by his words alone, it sounded like a grand offer, but… I knew all too well who was uttering them.

“I heard somewhere.”

It was from the person himself.

“Dragons are too arrogant. They apparently can’t stand having someone above them.”

Arrogant beings full of hostility. Dragons are especially hostile even towards their own kind. I was like that.

“So what are you offering me?”

The Blood Demon was like that too.

“What kind of bullshit is this? You asking to die?”

As I said with a smile.

“……”

The Blood Demon fell silent for a moment, then…

“Haha.”

He let out a laugh similar to mine and said.

“Well… it didn’t work. Then I can’t help it.”

Simultaneously with those words.

Swoooooosh-

“…!”

Suddenly, energy erupted from the ring. A red energy shot out, attempting to wrap around me.

No.

It tried to wrap around me, but…

CRUNCH-!

It failed.

“Huh?”

The Blood Demon uttered a single word. The iron cage across the way. Something shot out from the purple egg located there. A black energy was released, suddenly biting and swallowing the Blood Demon’s energy.

“…Eh?”

I widened my eyes as I grasped the situation. It wasn’t just the sudden burst of energy.

Thump-!

Thump-!

The vibration sound from the purple egg grew louder. For some reason, those vibrations seemed filled with rage.