Ch.229Chapter 229: Fog and Flames (3)

#

Time to work.

After putting my helmet back on—which I had removed to speak with those around me—and increasing the size of the flames enveloping my armor that I had momentarily subdued.

Whoosh-!!

This time, I swung my left arm toward where the floor was.

Fwoooosh-!!

As I swung my arm, crimson flames rose high, centered around the outside of the guest chamber.

If the flames I had raised earlier were meant to directly eliminate the bloodred mist that coveted the fighting spirit overflowing in this place…

The flames I’ve raised now are a barrier of fire built in preparation for when I leave, intended to cut off the source of the bloodred mist that still emanates undiminished energy from far away.

And it’s not just a barrier that would merely burn ordinary people’s skin—it’s a barrier made of purifying flames that incinerate everything created by twisted divinity.

Despite the atmospheric instability caused by the rising bloodred mist…

Seeing the flame barrier rise straight and unwavering even as the airflow throughout Hyeonseong was being disrupted, I felt reassured.

So before making my final plunge into that mist…

“Would you perhaps like to enter together? I have enough capacity to protect two people besides myself even within that mist, so I’m offering you the opportunity to bring someone you wish to protect.”

I tentatively suggested to the Moon Emperor’s guard, who must be the most anxious person present, that he enter with me, but…

“Though it was only for a brief moment, I felt to my bones how powerless I was against that mist. I don’t want to rush forward with only the desire to save His Majesty and end up becoming a burden to you.”

Hearing the guard’s polite refusal…

“Then… please relay what I asked earlier to the two people who will arrive later.”

I reminded the guard once more of what I had requested earlier, then turned my steps toward where the bloodred mist was.

“Though it’s extremely presumptuous to ask this of someone from another country, please take good care of His Majesty.”

I answered the guard’s earnest request from behind me by raising my right hand high and waving it.

As I moved forward…

Shaaaa…

I could see the crimson particles of the bloodred mist—which had already been severely punished by my flames yet still hadn’t come to its senses—continuing its futile flight toward this place.

It was like a moth to a flame, flying toward what it sought as ‘nourishment’ to increase the size of the mist beyond the barrier, disregarding even the purifying flame barrier.

“Hah…”

I struggled to suppress the bitter smile that escaped while I walked.

Yet even as that bitter smile emerged, I felt reassured.

From the mist’s irrational behavior, I could tell that it wasn’t currently being controlled at will by someone with intelligence.

[That means less work for us. We don’t need to worry about eliminating whoever might be controlling that mist.]

Since Fafnir, whose senses had become much sharper thanks to the manifestation of the Crimson Dragon Armor, had made such an assessment, there was no need for further hesitation.

Boom-!!

With the thunderous sound of my foot stomping the ground…

Fwoosh-!!

And the flames that grew in response…

[Burn it all away!!]

I moved forward, incinerating the impure energy as if to burst it apart.

All I needed to do was repeat this, nothing more.

#

The distance from the flame barrier I had set as a safe zone to the source of the bloodred mist was, by my estimation, less than a hundred paces.

Normally, without a hint of exaggeration, I could cover such a distance in a single breath.

But unlike when I first stepped toward the mist…

@#%!@$^@!

As time passed, the bloodred mist rushed at me with a wind-like sound resembling indescribable screams.

With such conditions, I couldn’t move at my usual speed while advancing step by step, raising crimson flames.

How could I possibly hurry when I had to repeatedly perform the simple but tedious task of cutting through the bloodred mist that spasmodically sprayed dark red particles at me as I advanced with my flames?

But while I wasn’t moving quickly, I could feel the mist’s energy weakening with each step I took.

Even with my eyes, I could confirm that the concentration of dark red particles that the mist spasmodically sprayed from its center was becoming thinner over time.

It dissipates so easily.

This untouchable disaster that, before my regression, would have been impossible to counter without the pure white fighting spirit emitted by the holy sword and the hero who wielded it…

Seeing it disappear upon contact with the warm crimson flames, just as formlessly as it had appeared, stirred strange emotions within me.

When I was living my wretched life, I was in no position to face the mist—I was under the protection of those who could somewhat respond to it.

During the time when my life was twisted, I was crushed by malice and, against my will, raised this mist to take innocent lives.

And now I’m eliminating this mist full of malice with my own hands and creating a path forward.

How could I not be joyful?

Thus, slowly but surely, with each careful step forward, I felt as if I was leaving footprints made of crimson flames that drove away the impure energy. After about 5 minutes of this…

The hundred paces that had remained to the source and center of the bloodred mist when I began purifying had now become less than ten steps.

[Not much left. Let’s go cut off the source inside.]

As Fafnir said, though there was no need to say it, we were almost there.

Just a little more and I could save the poor person who had been swept up in the whims of the twisted divinity’s possessor while doing nothing wrong.

And at the same time, I could land a blow against the demon god who was carelessly scattering his power in preparation for his revival. Just as strength was about to surge within me at this thought…

[Hmm!! …It’s coming!]

Hearing Fafnir’s warning in a low, heavy, cautious voice, I brought my consciousness back from my reflections to reality.

I could see that the mist, which had only been firing particles at me as a form of deterrence, had changed its strategy.

It was gathering. The dark red particles that had been spraying and burning away without leaving even smoke, let alone ash, upon contact with the flames, were now clumping together one by one and beginning to take form.

The entity that had been showing movements dependent on instinct rather than intelligence had properly recognized me not just as a target to deter but as a threat to its existence.

I had no intention of leaving it be either, so…

“Tsk!”

Clicking my tongue, I detached some of the flames rising from my armor and threw them at the point where the dark red particles were gathering, but…

[Oh? It dares to withstand my flames?]

As Fafnir’s voice, filled with playfulness and strange admiration, echoed in my head…

I could observe that the particles forming the mist didn’t disappear upon contact with the Crimson Dragon Armor’s flames but continued to form their shape.

Hiss, this won’t be easy.

I couldn’t help but furrow my brow behind my helmet.

Even though I had only thrown flames created with moderate output, seeing how the densely gathered particles forming the mist could withstand these purifying flames…

Unlike my initial judgment that I could resolve this situation without depleting my strength…

UOOOOOOOOOH!!!!

As the mist continued to gather, taking on a form reminiscent of a living creature and emitting a terrible roar, I realized I would have to make some sacrifices, which only made me frown more.

[Even so, you’re being dramatic for someone whose wounds heal without a trace as soon as you blink…]

‘Just because I can come back to life even with my heart pierced doesn’t mean I don’t feel the pain.’

[Well, when you put it that way, I have nothing more to say…]

Even while continuing this casual conversation with Fafnir, I tried to disperse the gradually forming mist by releasing flames with slowly increasing output, but…

The mist was taking shape faster than the flames could disperse it, and before long, it had transformed into a form that clearly resembled something.

[Uh…]

It was right then that Fafnir, who had been speaking playfully, let out a single sound of bewilderment.

I wanted to chide him for being out of place in this tense atmosphere, but…

“…Ugh.”

That would be hypocritical coming from me, who had let out an even more startled exclamation upon seeing the appearance of the entity born from the gathered dark red particles of the bloodred mist.

What exactly had formed from that mist to cause such shock?

While its size wasn’t particularly impressive…

It was so black that it made the night sky seem laughable, and it had a hard carapace that could rival dragon scales—a monster that was…

The shape of Behemoth, the tyrant also known as the land emperor that ruled the northern regions of the Central Continent.

Looking at each detail, it was clearly a Behemoth, but something seemed off about it, giving it a somewhat… cute appearance.

[…What is this?]

Fafnir’s voice, filled with utter bewilderment, echoed in my head.

I too was about to draw in a breath filled with similar sentiments, but…

As if it had no patience for my reactions…

“Kuooo… A mere human… Do you dare to interfere with my entertainment!!”

As soon as it took form, the Behemoth made of mist addressed me with a rather solemn voice.

Upon confirming that this was the voice of the second most detestable being from before my regression, I expelled my displeasure that had replaced my initial bewilderment.

“Ha… I had my suspicions when I felt the twisted divinity.”

After muttering to myself while looking up at the Behemoth that had threatened me…

“You, Adorator? What are you doing here?”

I called out the name of the culprit behind all this with a sharp voice.

While I had escaped the worst-case scenario—that the demon god Desire had awakened earlier than I thought and caused this situation…

It was still troublesome either way, since we were dealing with a being possessing twisted divinity, whether it was the worst or second worst.