Chapter 1044: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Ziiiiiing—!!!

Vibrations could be felt from all directions. Crystals floating on the floor. They were the main culprits emitting life energy around here, and the ones making me feel strange about the presence.

Those crystals were vibrating like crazy.

It wasn’t just one. Just the ones visible around me now numbered in the dozens, but recalling the numbers caught by my senses… The total number was probably absurdly high.

I didn’t know what those crystals meant. But I knew they felt terribly ominous.

And with those crystals vibrating like that…

‘What’s going on?’

What had happened? I scrunched up my face, watching the vibrating crystals.

The vibrations grew stronger. What had started as a faint tremor was now shaking the entire ground.

‘Tsk.’

There was no time to figure it out. If it’s like this, there’s only one option.

Whoosh-!

I heated up my body.

Immediately, I spun my rings, embracing the heat.

Kuaaang-!!

I charged straight at the guy. I didn’t know what he was trying to do.

‘First, I’ll kill him.’

Deal with him quickly so he doesn’t cause more trouble. That was my objective as I charged.

Kwadeuk-!

Reaching right in front of the guy, I twisted my waist.

Flames gathered in my fist, my heart pounding.

Gu-yeom-geuk-tae-san-o-hyeong.

Flames manifested at the tip of my fist, strengthening its form. I imbued the ultimate intent with imagery and shot it straight at the guy.

Kwadeudeuk–!!!

A disaster-like flame erupted, but…

Kwaaaaaaah–!!

“……!”

The flames ultimately failed to reach the guy. The wings that sprouted from his halved upper body blocked the flames.

‘Huh.’

I gasped in astonishment. My eyes rolled. While the wings blocked me, his body was rapidly regenerating. The speed was comparable to how the Boss ascended to immortality using his divine power.

So, was it divine power?

I scrunched my eyes and activated ‘Tam’, but…

‘No.’

Tam didn’t react. Meaning it wasn’t divine power.

Then, was it simple regeneration? At that speed?

‘Ah, this is bad.’

Things got complicated. My intuition told me so.

Kwaaaaaa–!!!

I increased the firepower, but it was still blocked. This isn’t even funny. What is this now?

‘Sssshh-.’

I exhaled softly, emitting energy. If flames wouldn’t work…

Keeeeeeng–!!!

Without stopping the flame emission, I coiled energy in my other hand. Friction occurred. I accumulated chaos. Creating the ‘Cheonma Honok’, I thrust it forward.

Kwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

A deafening sound erupted. My energy depleted by over 30% in an instant. Using them simultaneously was incredibly inefficient, but I had no choice now.

‘Break that thing.’

With only that intention, I launched the assault, but…

Kwagagagak.

It didn’t break through.

‘Damn it.’

Why is it so tough? It’s ridiculous. My energy kept draining, yet it didn’t even get a scratch.

‘What is this, wings made of steel?’

No, that’s not it. If it were steel, it wouldn’t have been a problem. I could have just melted it.

‘This is…’

It wasn’t steel, yet it was damn tough. Some kind of energy, maybe ‘Ganggi’, surrounded it, preventing any proper attacks from landing. I tried desperately to break through it, but time passed. Eventually, the guy’s body completely regenerated.

At that moment.

Kwak-!

“Tsk!”

The guy’s wings moved, charging at me. I quickly moved back, creating distance.

A gust of wind immediately blew.

Huuwoosh–!!!

Dry soil rose and took shape, transforming into a massive vortex. When the gust finally soared into the sky and disappeared…

“Hehehe.”

His figure reappeared along with a low chuckle. His body had fully regenerated, and he had returned to a form I’d never seen before.

‘……What is that now.’

There were quite a few changes for him to have simply returned. The first change that caught my eye was his wings. A pair had been added to the originally single pair of black wings, making it two pairs in total.

And.

‘His energy.’

I couldn’t feel any energy from the guy. What is it? What happened? I watched him warily, but then…

“What a shame.”

He spoke, looking at me.

“At best, ten years. No, if I had just five more years, it would have been perfect. I never expected a meddler like you to show up.”

“What do you mean?”

“My Master said.”

Chwarak.

The guy drew his trident once more.

“Even if something unexpected happens, if someone tries to stop you, trample them and move past. That is what he said.”

Ziiiiiing—!!!

The ground shook. The vibrations intensified. To the point I thought it might collapse.

However, the problem was…

‘The vibrations aren’t the problem.’

I needed to consider why these vibrations were spreading. That’s what I had to focus on. The moment I thought of this…

Kwaaaaaaaaah—-!!!

The vibrations escalated, and finally, energy erupted from the crystals. Energy fitting their blue glow flowed out from the crystals. The flowing energy soon became enough to obscure the sky.

‘What I saw wasn’t everything.’

I had expected it, but it seemed there was something within those crystals.

Kung-!

I planted my feet firmly. Whatever was happening, I couldn’t just let it be. I leaped forward to stop the situation. While increasing my speed, I used my energy to cast a martial art.

Cheongcheon (Azure Sky).

I cast my domain. Using Azure Flames, I completed the blue sky. Above that.

Hwaryunseong (Fire Wheel Star).

I cast another ultimate technique. As soon as Hwaryunseong formed in the air, a sensation spread through my body. Even though it was daytime, my body transformed, taking on the characteristics of ‘Wolya’ (Moonlit Night). My body was powerfully enhanced.

Simultaneously.

‘Changcheon.’

Kku-uk-!!!

I cast Changcheon from Tuapa Cheonmu, overloading my body once more. My body became twice as strong as usual. I channeled all the physical enhancements I had learned into my body. The strain on my body was somewhat offset by the Wolya physique. At this level, I could maintain it for about a short while. Enough to maintain it for that duration.

Hwarureureuk—!!!

Channeling the heat from my entire body, I charged straight at the guy. Adding speed to the heat of the flames. Like a falling meteor, I slammed my body directly into him.

Kuwaaaaaaaah—-!!!

The impact exploded. I attacked him with a strength that even I thought was powerful, but…

‘What?’

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the scene unfolding.

Hwarureuk-!!

Despite slamming into him with all my energy, surprisingly, he was taking me head-on without any issue. Energy clashed fiercely with energy. A barrier formed by his energy pushed back my energy.

Chijijijik–!!!

Friction occurred. The ground shook like waves. As the immense energies clashed, even the air distorted. It was astonishing even for me. He blocked this?

‘This is absurd.’

I contorted my face. I immediately withdrew the flames from my body. And then.

‘Pacheon.’

I recalled the flames and converted them into the energy of Tuapa. I channeled the swirling gray energy straight back at the guy, but…

Chwarik-!

The guy spread his wings and…

Kwagagagak—!!!

“……!”

He shot countless feathers at me. Seeing that, instead of immediately using Pacheon, I detonated it.

Kwaaaaaaah–!!

An explosion occurred, engulfing the feathers. Blocking the attack, I threw myself into the explosion.

‘I can’t let him get away.’

Thinking so, I pushed through the heat and reached out. My aim was to grab the guy by the neck, but…

“This is amusing.”

What I heard was the guy’s voice mixed with laughter, and…

“Stop.”

“……!”

Then came a resonance. Hearing that sound, my body stiffened rigidly. My body felt frozen, as if turned to stone. To be precise, it wasn’t my physical body that froze.

This is…

‘My soul has frozen.’

The sensation of my soul, somewhere within my body, stopping dead in its tracks. It was an unpleasant feeling I’d never experienced before, but I knew exactly what this was.

‘Command.’

This is a Command. The rules and laws rooted deep within the myriad worlds. The command of the soul, said to be usable only by Generals or higher. The power to make those with a lower soul rank unconditionally obey. That power was directed at me.

Which means…

‘This bastard…’

Is he truly of a higher rank than me? How?

As I was churning thoughts I couldn’t comprehend…

Kuuuuuuu–!!!

The energy from the crystals filling the sky moved all at once. Cheongcheon subsided, replaced by a gray sky, and the accumulated energy there began to spin. A massive vortex filled the sky.

It felt ominous. That energy, brimming with life force, felt incredibly ill-omened. As I wondered what to do in this unexpected situation…

“Even in this situation, your gaze is elsewhere.”

Chwaaaak–!!!

“–!”

Blood spurted from my body. The guy had sliced me with his trident.

Tududuk,

The spurting blood stained the floor.

“Kkuh….”

I let out a groan and clutched my upper body.

“Huh.”

Seeing that, the guy let out a surprised breath.

“To break free from a Command in that state? You’re quite something.”

If I had stayed still, I would have died. By straining with all my might, I broke free from the restraint and managed to create distance.

Chiiik.

Steam escaped from my body. Thanks to the Wolya physique immediately starting its recovery.

“Ah, this…”

Looking at me, the guy lamented regretfully.

“It seems it’s because you’re not yet accustomed to the vessel…”

Guuuuuung.

At the guy’s words, the energy rising in the sky moved.

“However, I cannot simply discard the generosity bestowed by my Master.”

The distance from where his voice came instantly closed. The guy, who had been far away, was suddenly in front of me.

‘Crazy.’

I gritted my teeth. My body hadn’t finished recovering yet. I thought I had to dodge, but my movements were sluggish. Just as the tip of the trident was coming down, about to touch my head…

Keeeeeeng–!!!

Something tore through space from behind me and flew in.

Kuwaaaaaah–!!!

White energy attacked the guy.

“Kkuh…?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the guy failed to strike and was pushed back.

Hududuk.

The trident he was holding instantly turned to dust. At this, the guy contorted his face, looking behind me with an expression twisted like an evil spirit.

“How did you get here…?”

At his words, I turned around and saw…

“……You?”

A woman holding a sword had appeared behind me. A faint white energy emanated from the tip of her sword, and she wore a black mask. Within it, golden eyes flickered. As I stared at her, my eyes widening…

“……Yarang.”

The guy murmured the woman’s name, which was different from what I expected.