Chapter 1053: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Ka-reureu-reuk–!!

Black flames burn up, scattering across the field. Heavy sounds exploded one after another.

Kkwang-! Ku-ung–!!!

Due to the air pressure, embers burst out, and from within that gap, the giant, Duryeong, continuously swung his axe.

Flames wrapped around the blade, creating a rough shape. Due to ignition, its strengthened size expanded its area.

Duryeong continuously uses his strength, as if to break everything, but…

The man standing in front was casually receiving such attacks from Duryeong.

Lightly dodging the axe, he opens his mouth.

“Duryeong.”

He tries calling the giant’s name, but Duryeong is too busy moving his body.

“Answer me, Duryeong.”

“Shut up-!”

“…….”

Duryeong ignores his words and strongly stomps the ground with his foot.

Ku-u-ung–!!

The ground area he stomped caves in.

It was proof that that much pressure had been applied, and using that strength, Duryeong swings his axe.

Ku-a-a-a-a—!!!

“Hmm.”

The black flame transforms into something like a bison’s face and charges towards the man.

Seeing that, the man sighs and spreads his wings. Feathers fall out from the spread wings.

Kwak.

He grabs the white feathers and transforms them into a spear.

“Such a useless act.”

Held in his hand, he swung the trident with all his might. Cutting through the wind, a white flash extends out and directly collides with the black flame.

This is a collision in name, but the result was overwhelming.

Kwa-ga-ga-k–!!

The white energy split apart the black flame.

“……!”

Duryeong’s eyes widen at the black flame casually disappearing. In that moment, the man charged towards Duryeong.

The man’s thin fingers reach above the thick neck.

He directly grabs and crushes Duryeong’s body to the ground.

Ku-ung—!!!

With the impact, Duryeong’s body is crushed spread-eagled onto the ground.

“Keu-euk!”

“Duryeong. What is the meaning of that appearance you have now?”

Unable to move, he ties Duryeong down and asks.

“What is that pathetic appearance?”

The man asks incredulously, but Duryeong only groans and cannot utter a reply.

“Kkeu-eu…”

“Does he not want to answer?” The man slightly nods his head and asks again.

“Answer me.”

Wu-wu-ung–!!

A vibration spreads.

It’s because he used the command.

Shackles flowed out from his mouth and wrapped around Duryeong’s body.

“If he won’t speak, I’ll just make him speak,” he thought, and did it, but…

“Keu-deu-deuk…”

“Huh?”

Duryeong, having received the command, endured it. It’s absurd.

“My own level has risen to the master’s level, so the command should work even on Duryeong.”

“Endured?”

“To endure this?”

“The fact that he’s enduring the command is unbelievable. This shouldn’t be something one can endure just by enduring.”

“This bastard…?”

“Just how is Duryeong enduring this?”

The man, with his eyes wide open, examines Duryeong’s body, but…

“Huh?”

Soon after, he realized. The energy from the command was not properly penetrating Duryeong.

“What the…”

The energy emanating from him is interfering with this.

“What is that black energy? It was an unpleasant energy just looking at it.”

The energy flowing out is blocking the command. That means only one thing.

That the energy possesses a level of power sufficient to block the command.

“It doesn’t seem like something Duryeong originally possessed.”

“That’s…”

“Ah, I see.”

The man realized. “I wondered where I’d seen it before.”

“It’s that guy’s.”

“The guy I fought in my own space. The energy the young dragon possessed was exactly like that.”

“The fact that Duryeong possesses that energy…”

“You stupid fool. Have you betrayed me?”

Kkuh…!

Duryeong reacted to those words, but couldn’t speak.

“To side with someone like that because you had nowhere else to go. I guess you really lack discernment.”

The man also had no intention of listening to Duryeong’s words.

“So that’s why he’s here.”

“You must be following that dragon’s orders. Aren’t you?”

“I knew that dragon had some connection to the Hwasan Sect. That’s probably why he was guarding this place.”

“You idiotic fool.”

“You, who were so obsessed with fighting and claimed to be loyal to the Master of Myriad Realms.”

“Are you really doing this for some paltry dragon? Even degenerating into that pathetic form?”

“How disappointing.”

The man distorted his face as he looked at Duryeong. “I thought he had some spirit, so I even helped him out occasionally.”

“I never thought he’d be this kind of person.”

He raises his trident.

“There’s no need to see any further.”

He infuses energy into the white spear tip and directly slashes down towards Duryeong’s head.

Swish-!!

Just as the spear tip was about to pierce Duryeong’s head,

Tang-!

“Hm?”

The spear tip fails to reach its target and is blocked.

It felt like a hard wall was blocking it, or like a rope had sprung out and tied the spear.

It was difficult to describe the exact feeling.

“Who’s there?”

Feeling that, the man looks up at the empty air.

His blue eyes gaze up at the sky. And there, someone floats, looking down at the man.

“It was so noisy outside that I came out to see. It seems something ridiculous is happening.”

A turtle’s face and shell. A beard that didn’t match the blunt staff.

And a being wearing white silk clothes embroidered with crimson.

“Oh my.”

Seeing him, the man purses his lips.

“I didn’t expect to see someone so distinguished here?”

Seeing someone he recognized, the man laughed.

“I see. No wonder. I was wondering who could have created this excellent barrier. It was you.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but it doesn’t sound pleasant.”

The turtle.

The Elder of Hwasan slowly descends from the air towards the man.

“…Hmm.”

The turtle, having confirmed the man’s appearance, lets out a quiet sigh.

“What a hideous sight… You seem to have crossed the line. Haven’t you?”

“Hideous? That’s not right.”

The man laughed.

“This is a more noble and great appearance than anyone else’s. Moreover, I believe you originally possessed it too.”

Yes, if it were someone else, perhaps. But that being shouldn’t deny this appearance.

“Nonsense.”

As if not wanting to hear more, the turtle shook its head.

“If one reached it through self-advancement or by being chosen, perhaps. But how can you call something inherited like a puppet ‘brilliant’? You know it too, don’t you?”

Swish.

The staff points towards the man. Its tip shimmers, and changes occur around them.

“That is fake. Don’t console yourself with a false level.”

“…….”

The man falls silent for a moment at the turtle’s resolute words.

However, a moment later…

Kkeu-deuk.

With the sound of him strongly clenching his teeth, three pairs of wings unfurl wide.

Chwa-a-ak–!!!

“Bullshit.”

As he widely unfurls his huge wings, a gust of wind sweeps through the shimmering space.

“False level? Why do you get to decide that?”

A distortion appeared on the man’s face.

“This is an opportunity granted by the heavens. It’s a stepping stone I obtained myself.”

Kkwak.

Gripping the trident that had emerged seemingly out of nowhere, the man shouted at the turtle.

“You seem to be comparing me to what you lost. Don’t be mistaken.”

“…….”

“I am different from you. Duryeong. Master of the vanished world.”

The turtle narrowed its eyes.

“Ghosts should act like ghosts and get lost in the abyss.”

Immediately after saying that,

Wu-wu-wu-wu-ung–!!!

The turtle’s staff began to vibrate lowly.

---

Swish–!!

I move frantically, piercing through the golden space. I don’t know how long it’s been since I entered this demonic mirror gate.

Subjectively, it felt like two shijin had passed, but I was still flying through the same place.

While flying for a long time, I looked back and asked.

“How much further do we have to go?”

When I asked in an urgent voice, Yarang showed me two fingers.

I don’t know what it means, but maybe it means we’re almost there? No, it really has to be.

Sighing, I increase my speed further.

‘Was it a mistake to come in just based on what I heard?’

I recklessly threw myself into the demonic mirror without any certainty. It was truly a reckless gamble, considering how urgent the situation was.

I don’t even know how long it will take, but was this the right choice?

I keep questioning myself, but it’s already too late.

‘I can’t turn back.’

Having already moved forward, there’s no turning back now.

‘Or maybe not? Would it be better to just tell them to let me out and run?’

It seems like the right thing to do according to common sense, but I hesitate and worry.

This baseless worry about whether I can trust Yarang.

Believing only that, I flew like crazy.

‘As for Cheonma…’

She was following me with an expressionless face. I don’t know if her speed was strangely reduced in this space, or if Yarang and Cheonma are simply stronger than I expected and can follow quickly.

It was also a situation too urgent to think about such things.

‘What’s going on?’

What on earth happened at Hwasan?

Why did the turtle say such things?

‘Please.’

I hope it’s nothing serious. Even if something serious did happen, I hope it can be stopped somehow.

As I flew on, wishing so,

Jiiing–!!

I see a light ahead.

Is that…

‘The exit?’

It seemed like it meant the end was near. Using even my remaining strength, I headed towards the light I saw ahead.

Tung-!

Piercing through the energy, it felt the same as when I first entered the demonic mirror gate.

The background changes, and the world comes into view.

“This place…”

My eyes widened at the changed scenery.

I know where this is.

‘It’s the Hwasan Sect.’

The entrance leading to the Hwasan Sect. It was the very place I used when coming and going from Yawoel.

“What the…!”

As I realized that, I lost my words.

It looked so different from the place I knew.