Chapter 1186: Scorched World.

If you ask me how I can do it. I would answer that I don’t know.

Since I woke up.

Since the moment I realized I had gained the Master’s power.

It was like a sensation that suddenly bloomed within my body.

Yes, if you were to put it that way. Authority.

It’s not much different from the authority I obtained when I became a dragon. I can just do it.

As if wings that didn’t exist appeared, allowing me to spread them naturally.

Even though it was a sensation I felt for the first time and something I’d never felt in my life, it felt as if I had always been able to use it. My body knew how to handle it.

I remember what Gu Seong-yeol said.

‘How could you not know?’

I don’t know something I should naturally know.

I recognized his gaze, the one that looked at me strangely for not knowing. So that’s why. That’s why…….

‘That’s what those eyes were like.’

Now that I’ve gotten used to it, I understand.

‘It’s strange not to know.’

Because if you know it, you can’t possibly not know it.

That’s why Gu Seong-yeol looked at me strangely.

Kkeugeugigigig-!

It started with my heart.

The bound energy moves on its own. Although the start was my will, it was different from then on. The energy seemed to have its own will, wrapping around my entire body and reaching the danjeon in an instant.

Heat rises to my head. It felt like light was perceived not through my eyes, but from my head.

It fills my entire body as if air were expanding. The energy fills me tightly, as if about to burst. Was this the same energy that was only fist-sized? It was this enormous.

Even with this much energy contained in my body, there’s no stuffiness. Rather, I feel refreshed and comfortable.

An unfamiliar sensation, as if I might float up, settled into my body.

It feels like I could soar right now if I wanted to.

The bound, tangled, and intertwined energies felt as if they had always been inside me, woven together like thin threads, naturally.

“Sssseuuu.”

The breath I exhaled.

That was the starting point.

Hwaaaaaaaaah–!!!

Flames ignited on my body. Not hot enough to burn everything around, but a calm, quiet ember.

The flames were white flames. The white flames enveloped my body.

At that moment.

Kwadeudeudeuk-!!!

The authority within my body reacted. It’s Tam. It burst forth and mixed with the white flames.

Dugun, dugun.

Matching the pulsing sound, my energy and Tam wrapped around my body. However, they didn’t combine, as if they were water and oil.

If this continues…

Keureureung.

“……!”

I slightly opened my eyes. It’s a sensation I’ve felt before. This is…

‘In Man-gye.’

The fight with Taecheon. It was the unpleasant feeling I felt then. Filled with tempered fighting spirit. It was an instinct that similarly possessed the Master’s rank.

My inner self blocks it, as if saying I shouldn’t be swallowed up like that again.

It felt like I shouldn’t be consumed like that. So I forcibly block it.

But.

Keureureureung-!!

‘Damn it.’

As if the energy couldn’t be stopped, it continuously tore at the white flames and Tam.

As if asserting its superiority over them.

‘What was it called?’

Was this energy called divinity?

The Master’s power. It kept surging up and interfering. No, rather than interfering, it seemed intent on devouring everything itself, causing chaos.

‘Should I not have done this?’

I tried it because I thought I could. It’s problematic if it turns out like this.

I can’t control it. If it becomes like this, is this just an extension of the same old thing?

Just as anxiety began to rise.

“Stay still.”

“……!”

Along with a gentle voice, a touch was felt.

A hand gently wrapping warmly around my neck.

‘……Mother?’

It was Mother’s voice. It was definitely her voice, but…

‘She’s not here.’

Mother is nowhere to be found.

What could have happened?

I was puzzled, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Perhaps thanks to the voice and touch I felt, the divinity that was trying to devour me calmed down,

And instead mixed with the white flames and authority.

Energies that seemed like they could never combine did so.

Tung.

A small vibration spread from within.

The pent-up heat burst forth.

And just like that, my world changed.

---

“…….”

Above the shimmering lake. White flames formed a circle. A circle created as if warning others not to come close.

Gu Seon saw it. Taecheon, wearing her face, distorted his expression.

What is it?

What should I call that created circle? After pondering for a moment, he reached a conclusion.

“A cocoon.”

Yes, that is a cocoon. A membrane wrapping itself to newly conceive.

There is no time to think or ponder.

Pik-!

Taecheon plucked his own feather, turning it into a sword. Then he changed its form from a sword to a spear.

While creating the energy, he felt incompetence within.

“The vessel is a mess.”

The limits of the vessel to be used as an Apostle were clear. Pushing too hard and delving deep was likely one of the causes.

“It will catch the Gatekeeper’s eye.”

There isn’t much time. That was the reason I chose this lifeform in the first place.

A body mixed with non-human elements. It was difficult to consider it a complete human. It could contain the Master even briefly, but its power wasn’t that strong.

Taecheon knew this body. It was the clan of the Gatekeeper he spoke of.

The origin of the Gatekeeper, or a failure who couldn’t become one.

Taecheon’s judgment of her was precisely that, but…

“Nevertheless, the Gatekeeper is coming.”

By breaking neutrality, he would feel the strain on his karma. Even if he erected a barrier using divinity, this time wouldn’t last long.

Originally, he hadn’t intended to take this long.

If he had just taken what he came for and disappeared, neither the Gatekeeper nor the Dragon Emperor would have noticed.

“Something strange has gotten involved.”

A Master I’ve never seen before was here of all places.

What could that be? Judging by its existence, it’s a Master who recently ascended in rank.

But.

“How did you get here?”

How could such a being be here? This place was the domain of the Blood Demon and the Gatekeeper. More precisely, it’s a world where one cannot appear without the Gatekeeper’s permission, yet that being appeared, which means…

“It was originally a being in this world.”

Or it’s the world’s mischief.

Kkwak-!

There are many questions, but now is not the time to ponder them. That cocoon was dangerous. Even if I don’t know what it intends to do, I cannot leave it as it is.

Taecheon thrusts directly with a spear imbued with his utmost power.

Kuwaaaaaah—!!!

The lake churns. Although the Apostle’s vessel is weak and its power frail, it still contained rank.

It’s just a minor Master anyway. He judged that this much would be sufficient.

Thus, the spear tip shot towards the cocoon,

Just as it was about to pierce it.

Hwaaa-!

The flames parted.

Kwak-!

Simultaneously, the spear stopped.

“Huh.”

Taecheon’s eyes widened.

What he had judged to be white flames spread out in both directions like unfolding wings. Soon after, Taecheon could see they weren’t wings.

Those were tails. Six tails. Six tails with abundant white fur swayed behind its back.

The being that reappeared grabbed Taecheon’s spear nonchalantly and stopped it.

“……You bastard.”

Upon confirming this, Taecheon’s face contorted. It wasn’t because his attack was blocked.

The form of the being currently visible to his eyes.

He knew it far too well.

That is definitely…

“What’s your connection to Man-gye?”

The Master of Man-gye.

It was the rank she possessed.

“Is it a being sent by Man-gye? No. This rank…”

Man-gye itself.

Not a concept like an Apostle or a lesser Master, it was her inherent rank.

One who possessed power distinctly different from other Masters.

The end of all life.

Be it a Master or anything else. They head towards Man-gye under her mercy.

The vast mass of life cultivated that way was Man-gye, and the Master there was a Master of a different rank, possessing a vessel capable of handling it.

That overwhelming superiority could be felt from the being before him.

“…….”

The being looks at the spear he’s gripping.

Its appearance wasn’t just the tails; it had changed significantly from its original form.

Its hair had turned pure white, and its light-blue eyes held a crimson aura.

The proof of its rank was there.

“You bastard…!”

The moment Taecheon saw it and tried to move.

Pasak.

“……!”

His head droops. It’s hot. Something brushed past. Looking down at his upper body upon sensing something strange…

“Oh dear.”

Crimson flames entwined with white had touched Taecheon.

It was a very small flame.

But.

Hwaaaaaaaaah—!!!

The flame spread in an instant, enveloping Taecheon’s body.

“Keeeeeueueueueue–“

Taecheon screamed.

It was painful. Not just the pain of his body burning, but this was…

“My divinity…!”

It felt like his divinity itself was burning away.

The energy and rank used for the descent burned in the flames and disappeared.

“Kkeuk……. You bastard…….”

Taecheon struggled to move. Likewise, the being also moved.

With a light step, its form disappeared,

And reappeared in front of Taecheon.

He couldn’t move.

Kwak-!

“Kkuek!?”

The being grabbed him by the neck.

He stiffened under the descending gaze. He wasn’t scared. It was the overwhelming difference in aura, like being crushed.

His soul reacted involuntarily to the wall that came from it.

This means…

“……This aura…”

Does it mean it’s higher than my own rank?

“Impossible-!”

How could someone who just recently ascended in rank be higher than me? I can’t believe it.

“…….”

However, even if Taecheon couldn’t believe it, reality didn’t change.

The crimson gaze looked down at him.

The being then conjured flames in its hand.

Hwareureuk.

A purple flame appeared at its fingertips. Dangerous.

That is dangerous.

Although it only descended as a vessel, I knew I mustn’t touch it.

So I tried to escape somehow, but my stiffened body wouldn’t allow it.

Finally, just as the flame was about to reach Taecheon,

Pak.

Suddenly, the flames burst. Both the flames burning me and the flames the being held.

Before I could even question what was happening,

Chalbak-

The being holding me seemed to lose strength and knelt down.

Its transformed state returned to normal.

“What?”

What is happening? Although I couldn’t understand, Taecheon moved before anything else.

“……Kkeuk.”

Despite his trampled pride, his choice was escape.

Escape this place. That’s all he thought about.

Hwaaaaaaaaah–!!!

Breaking free from the vessel’s body, he soared into the upper sky. Along with the surrounding barrier, Taecheon’s presence vanished.

Gu Seon’s body, now devoid of Taecheon, wobbled and fell into the lake.

Similarly, Gu Yangcheon’s body, as it slowly sank into the lake,

Chalbak.

Someone landed on the lake’s surface.

“…….”

With light, graceful steps, she approached the two figures. As the woman approached and looked down at them,

Jjiririt.

For some reason, the sound of crackling lightning was heard.