Ch.114Dragon King of the Four Seas

‘Does mana replace arrows?’

Seorin thought as she deflected the arrow of light flying toward her. Her opponent’s weapon was a bow. She had witnessed with her own eyes the moment they pulled back the bowstring. However, the arrow that should have been nocked was nowhere to be seen.

Clang-!

Another shot. Seorin frowned at the impact transmitted through her sword as she deflected the light arrow. Once or twice might be manageable, but continuously absorbing such impacts would damage her entire arm.

‘I need to end this in one go. Like last time.’

The moment she made her decision, her body moved. Before her advancing foot could touch the ground, a violent storm erupted, propelling her forward.

Whoosh-!

The Knight of the Starlight Longbow didn’t lower their bowstring. Watching Seorin approach, they shot arrows of light quickly and accurately. Three arrows were fired in succession.

While Seorin adjusted her trajectory to avoid the attacks, the knight also abandoned their position.

Though clearly the same reincarnator she had met before, they were using fighting techniques she hadn’t seen previously. It had been the same when they used her own body in the past, and when they used the body of Hakam, her tribal brother.

Perhaps the techniques available varied depending on which body they controlled? There was no trace of White Frost tribe martial arts in the knight’s movements. At that moment, a black curtain formed in front of Seorin, blocking the incoming light arrows.

Flora had joined the battle.

Fwoosh-!

As a faint light burst forth, a dark path unfurled before the airborne Seorin. Her eyes met Flora’s in midair. Immediately after, Seorin’s form dashed relentlessly along the black curtain.

Boom-!

Even without footing, Seorin could adjust her path through the wind. However, that speed couldn’t compare to directly running on solid ground.

The moment Seorin regained her speed—

“Damn it…!”

A faint curse escaped the lips of the Four Dragon King possessing the Knight of the Starlight Longbow. He was just getting accustomed to this new body. He retreated while firing arrows in succession.

Papapak-!

A scattered barrage of light flew without pattern. Rather than targeting Seorin, the attacks aimed to destroy the platform she was running on. The rapidly fired light arrows pierced through the black curtain.

However, the curtain reformed even faster. This time, it wasn’t a straight line. Dozens of small platforms extended irregularly around Seorin, reaching toward the Four Dragon King. Even now, more platforms continued to form.

Seorin’s previously straight path changed drastically. With platforms in all directions—up, down, left, and right—her potential routes became limitless.

The storm that had been moving in a straight line now changed directions repeatedly, moving from top to bottom, left to right, diagonally. The light arrows could no longer keep up with Seorin.

Tang-!

The moment Seorin stepped on the final platform, her form had already reached the Four Dragon King.

Their gazes met in midair. In what felt like slow motion, both moved simultaneously. The Four Dragon King pulled back the bowstring of the Starlight Longbow, while Seorin thrust forward with her hand wrapped in storm energy.

“This—!”

Ice Dragon-Heart Storm Strike.

The extending storm swallowed the starlight. Before the arrow could be released, the knight’s body was violently pushed back.

Crash-!

The expanding storm consumed part of the mausoleum. A massive coffin collapsed and display stands showcasing weapons shattered. All this happened within two breaths after Seorin’s charge. Due to the superhuman speed of the battle, Alberich and Tina, who had entered later, were slow to react.

“Huh… What on earth is…?”

“Ah! Everything’s collapsing!”

Seorin didn’t stop. Though she should have paused to recover her breath after using such a powerful technique, her small hands were already moving. A long, low breath maintained as cold air flowed out.

Seorin’s gaze surveyed the House of Solis weapons. Various weapons—swords, spears, bows—had fallen and were rolling on the floor due to the impact.

Swoosh-

Wind spread in concentric circles, seeping over the weapons. Immediately after, seven swords rose into the air.

At that moment, light flashed through the rising dust. The attack came simultaneously with recognition. Seorin reacted just as quickly.

Swish-!

One of the rapidly flying swords deflected the light’s trajectory. This scene repeated five times. The shockwaves from the collisions between swords and light arrows began to clear the dust. Within it appeared the Knight of the Starlight Longbow, wearing heavily dented armor.

“So you didn’t die.”

Perhaps because it was already a dead body?

Swallowing the rest of her words, she maintained a facade of calm. Her breathing remained quiet and low. She wanted nothing more than to take a deep breath of fresh air.

“I don’t understand why you keep interfering… Could it be you want your family’s body back? That barbarian’s body?”

The reincarnator’s words stirred waves of emotion in Seorin. However, she didn’t show it outwardly. The girl maintained a composed expression.

“Ho, ho… I see… How about a deal? I’ll return that body to you. In pristine condition… If you want, even alive and moving…”

“There’s no negotiation with enemies.”

Negotiating with a reincarnator was out of the question. As soon as Seorin finished speaking, one of the swords behind her shot forward, piercing the knight’s thigh.

Thunk-!

“Y-you…!”

He didn’t seem to feel much physical pain. He continued to move his feet slightly while assessing the situation. Seorin maintained a long breath disguised as a sigh and launched all the swords she had been controlling.

Clack-clack-clack-!

“Ugh, urrrgh…”

The seven flying swords bound the knight’s limbs. Despite having swords through his abdomen and heart, the knight’s body continued to move.

“Uncle…”

“Tina. That person is not your uncle. The reincarnator…”

Seorin deliberately ignored the conversation behind her. It must be painful to see a family member’s body revived and suffering.

“H-how did I… obtain this body… with Starlight weapons…”

While the Four Dragon King muttered dejectedly, Alberich slowly walked out from behind Seorin.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Didn’t I promise to help you? I may not know where his main body is, but I can at least deal a significant blow to his soul.”

A faint energy spread from Alberich’s body. Since the power he wielded wasn’t mana, it was impossible to gauge its strength. However, the Four Dragon King seemed to sense something.

“W-what? Why do I feel such an unpleasant energy from you…?”

“It’s been a while, Four Dragon King. If you were your former self, you would have immediately severed the possession by exploding the corpse…”

“You, you are…”

“You haven’t prepared anything, have you?”

Looking down at the Four Dragon King, Alberich pulled out a small symbol from between his chest. Even in a different world, it was the symbol of the god Elune, who granted him holy power.

“The hateful Elune’s…!”

“Oh Elune…”

Boom-!

The moment Alberich murmured, holy power surged up from the ground. It was a warm pillar of light that embraced everything. Unlike before, the Four Dragon King at its center screamed in agony.

“Arrrgh!”

“Know your sins. It is right that you, who laughed in the midst of pain, should writhe in pain yourself.”

“Gray Saint…! Alberich…! How are you…!”

Alberich and the Four Dragon King’s gazes intertwined within the light. Despite their changed appearances, they recognized each other. It was an ill-fated connection from another dimension in the past.

“Perhaps it was fate that brought me here as well.”

The Four Dragon King’s screams grew fainter. The knight’s body remained unchanged, but his voice and breathing altered as if he were on the verge of death.

The pillar of light disappeared after the knight’s movements completely stopped. When he hung limply without making a sound, the light pillar faded away.

“He escaped…”

Alberich said, opening his hand. A dark energy rippled slowly over a faint light. Alberich smiled.

“An unexpected harvest. I tore off a part of his soul…”

“What does that mean…?”

“I can do many things with it. For example… finding his location.”

Alberich placed the Four Dragon King’s soul fragment into Elune’s symbol. The once-white symbol immediately turned pitch black.

Watching this, Seorin turned around. The situation was more or less resolved. What remained was explaining the collapsed royal mausoleum and safely returning Tina, whom they had secretly brought along.

But there was no need to worry. After the Blue Wing members completed their mission, the imperial intelligence department would handle the aftermath.

“Let’s go back.”

As Seorin turned, a faint starlight followed behind her.