Ch.406EP.83 – The Knight’s Compass Has No Needle (5)

Kugugugugung!

Ihan was shocked twice.

First, he was shocked by the overwhelming presence that suddenly appeared, and second, he was shocked that this presence was emanating from the Count’s body, whom he had thought was already dead.

Now he understood.

‘The Count was the [Core]!’

He had wondered why they sacrificed the Black Moon’s skilled members to save the Count, but now the reason was clear.

The Count was a medium connected to the demon—

No, he was likely the “host body” that contained the demon.

‘How did I miss this?!’

That must be why they were nurturing hellish demonic energy beneath the lord’s castle.

To gradually build power and grow.

…But if there was one thing those who raised the demon misunderstood…

Puhwaaaak!

It’s that demons never move according to human intentions.

Jjeojeojeojeojeok!

The Count’s body exploded, and countless tentacles spread out, devouring everything in their path.

The tentacles extended toward people, including the already dying clowns, indiscriminately consuming “life,” and furthermore—

Wagrajak!

Even devouring “souls.”

To think it would devour even those who summoned it….

But this was the natural progression.

The souls of evil people are said to be delicacies to demons.

Kudeudeuk, kudeuk!

The malice-filled souls and life force of the clowns fattened the demon’s body and accelerated its growth.

Beyond that, the residents of Florentia were also being consumed, though the tentacles seemed to extend selectively toward specific humans, as if being picky.

They were likely collaborators who had been working with the Black Moon.

At this rate, it would continue to fatten and grow in size.

Endlessly.

Seogeoek!

Ihan cut through the tentacles as he forged a path.

To destroy the creature’s still-incomplete core while he still could!

But…

Peogeoek! Peogeoek! Peogeoek!

“…You cowardly bastard!”

The tentacles were heading toward the children, and Ihan had to change direction to protect them.

Huwook!

The extreme Gungshintanyeong.

He instantly cut down the tentacles targeting the children with a speed rivaling the wind, and the next moment….

Kugugugugung!

—He had to witness the demon’s complete manifestation.

“…Ridiculously huge.”

Woong-!

The compass emitted the strongest vibration yet, and in response to the compass’s apparent warning signal, Ihan muttered:

“No need to signal, I know.”

That it’s dangerous.

* * *

The moment ‘it’ revealed itself, an earthquake occurred.

The ground shook so violently that it was difficult to see anyone standing properly, and while everyone was shocked…

“A, a dragon!!”

The problem was that there were still more shocking things to come.

[——.]

…It was a serpent with an overwhelming presence.

[Ha—.]

If one dared to compare, it boasted a massive size equivalent to a 50-story building, and its scales appeared to have a hardness reminiscent of armor.

Moreover, the scales were densely embedded with thorn-like protrusions similar to rose thorns, blue flames rose from its head, and smoke that looked dangerous just by looking at it was constantly emitted from the serpent’s mouth.

-Dragon (龍).

It evoked the image of a noble and absolute being positioned at the pinnacle of this world.

…Honestly, this serpent didn’t look particularly noble, but its appearance was as threatening as a dragon.

Sure enough.

[Hu, huhahahahaha!!]

Kururureung!

When the serpent opened its mouth and began to laugh, a thunderous sound like lightning shook heaven and earth.

Pusuk!

Many people began bleeding from their ears, but the serpent had no interest in what happened to these “insignificant creatures.”

[It’s been nearly 4,000 years! Ah, the air of the surface is still sweet!]

An extremely frivolous tone.

Of course, no one would have the luxury to care about that.

Chiiiiik…!

Every time the serpent opened its mouth, poisonous smoke spread out in a thick haze.

It was an extreme poison that dissolved people on contact, and people who instinctively felt fear tried to get up to escape, but.

[Not allowed.]

Kuuuungung……!!

As the serpent struck the ground with its tail causing earthquakes, those trying to escape staggered and began to fall.

As if showing that it had no intention of letting them escape.

[4,000 years. After a whole 4,000 years, I finally have a chance to feast, how could I give that up.]

Kuuung!

[Ah, I can feel it. The energy of my nemesis. The ‘White-Feathered Serpent’ still remains on earth, I see. This time I will overwhelm her and make her bear my child! Kuhahaha!!]

Its manner of speech was also vulgar.

It seemed as if it had gone completely insane, but this was unavoidable.

The serpent had been born less than 10 minutes ago.

And this meant…

Kwang!!

…that it was at its weakest.

Paaaaat!

[!!]

As soon as he confirmed the creature’s manifestation, Ihan leaped up using the air as a foothold, quickly approaching the serpent’s head.

Furthermore, Ihan drew his sword and gathered his strength with full force.

Kwareureung!

Concentrated flames that seemed like a mix of intense lightning and fire struck down as if an angry god of thunder was delivering divine punishment.

A light containing destruction.

– Geomgiseonggang.

The destructive light, also called Geomgang, blazed toward the serpent.

Kuuuung─!

When the sword energy struck the serpent’s head head-on, a sound like a great bell ringing was heard.

More precisely, it was like the sound of a great bell amplified twenty times, and the serpent…

Huwook!

[That hurts!]

It writhed, its eyes flashing fiercely.

“…Keuik!”

Due to the serpent’s massive size, Ihan staggered from the intense pressure and wind generated by its writhing.

‘What kind of size is this!’

Ihan was shocked that such a creature could exist, but…

Chwak, chwak, chwak!

“…What is that now?”

As if to teach him that the shocking events were just beginning, the serpent’s body began to split.

[I’ll kill you!]

[How dare you, mere food, be so impudent.]

[Kuhahaha! Freedom!]

…The four heads that had multiplied began to speak as if each had its own will, and Ihan narrowed his brow.

This was getting more absurd by the moment.

Wudeudeuk!

A sound like muscles being wrung out came from Ihan’s body.

He was giving his all, determined to crush at least one head, and in an instant, he shot himself like a bullet, his body enveloped in wind like a small typhoon.

– Unryongdaepalsik.

Among Ihan’s martial arts, this technique ranked within the top five in terms of power.

Its power once brought down a flying magic tower to the ground…!

Sure enough.

Kwajijik!

[Kraaak!]

The serpent’s scales were pierced, and it let out a pain-filled scream.

He had accomplished with his bare body what even the highly compressed energy of the sword light couldn’t do.

But he had only pierced the scales; the neck was still attached.

To create a more meaningful result, he needed to attack two or three more times…

Hwaryuk-.

“!?!!”

But as Ihan prepared for a second strike, he saw it.

Pajijik!

The intense heat that began to surge from their mouths.

It was an enormous heat reminiscent of a blast furnace, and those serpents were about to spew that fiery blaze.

‘Fire coming from the mouth of something that size? …It would burn down the entire city.’

His judgment was quick.

The flames from the serpent’s mouth would reduce everything to ashes.

It would destroy everything without mercy.

Only he, with his indestructible body, would survive.

If he acted selfishly, he could escape even now.

So a smart person would run away here, but…

Kung!

“-Damn, I want to live smartly.”

His body was already moving to block the flames.

Kuung, kuung-!

What pulsated was the life force throbbing in his heart.

Ihan’s fighting energy, which he had named Banyadeungryeok, moved to grant him the power of dharma to counter the demon, and flowers formed at his feet.

Hwak-.

What he needed at this moment was an enormously large flower.

A merciful flower that could deflect the flames trying to turn the ground into a sea of fire.

Hwiik.

Ihan leaped powerfully into the air as if showing off his footwork, and a serene flower bud began to form at his feet.

‘When Buddha was born, he walked nine steps, and lotus flowers bloomed in his footsteps-!’

– Yeondaeguphum.

The fresh lotus flower, containing more than 80% of Ihan’s fighting energy, adorned the sky like a shield kite and magnificently bloomed to fulfill its master’s will.

And so…

[Hwaryururururuk─!]

The hellfire that seemed to call forth the apocalypse collided with the lotus of Shakyamuni that had bloomed to protect the world.

-Ding.

[The power of Diamond Guardian (Lv8.5) is activated.]

-Resistance against Demon King-level demon (Lv.9) generated.

-Reverse Emanation Spirit World activated.

-Indestructible Diamond duration increased.

-Dharma power, Banyadeungryeok enhanced.

[New-Demon Hunter (Lv.5) is activated.]

+Begins linking with existing Spell Slayer (Lv.7).

+Begins linking with Saint’s Blessing (Lv.5).

-Ding.

New-[Servant of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Lv8.5)] is created.

·

·

·

-The power of the Poisonless Ghost King flows through you for approximately 10 minutes.