Chapter 1247: Scorched World

Kugugugung-!!!

A massive vibration enveloped the cave.

In the continuously shaking space, the young man, Tang Cheongi the Poison Dragon, gritted his teeth.

A dreadful killing intent permeated the surroundings.

‘Damn it-.’

Fine breaths escaped between his tightly clenched teeth. The unstable sensation perfectly conveyed his state of mind.

“It’s an Apostle……! An Apostle has appeared!”

“Damn it……! Why……!”

They had managed to hold out without being discovered until now. It was a sudden attack.

Kugugeugeung-!!!

Kyaaaaaaa-!!!

Noise echoed. The roars of monsters could be heard filling the air from afar.

“Block them-! We have to hold them back!”

Kwang-!

The battle began. Warriors unleashed their energy and engaged in combat. Matching their numbers, the monsters were seen pushing their way in.

Swiik-!

Tang Cheongi drew a dagger. The quickly thrown dagger pierced the monster’s brow.

Kyaak-!

The monster, hit in a vital spot, collapsed. That was only one, though. Tang Cheongi put strength into his legs and charged.

He intended to block the monsters, but.

‘Why?’

Questions kept rising in his head.

How did they get discovered? They had been doing so well. This sudden attack didn’t make sense.

However.

‘No way.’

It wasn’t that the reason wasn’t visible, just that he couldn’t understand it.

‘Is it him?’

That guy.

Baek Yangcheon, whom his sister brought.

That trash who claimed to be human but turned out to be an Apostle.

That guy surfaced in Tang Cheongi’s mind.

‘It’s him.’

It was clear. The attack happened when that guy appeared. If that was the case, there was only one person to blame.

‘Damn it all. I wondered why he went along so easily.’

Was this what it was for? Did he intend even this?

‘You sucker.’

Tang Cheongi cursed himself.

‘I should have killed him after all.’

He should have killed him instead of imprisoning him. He should have dealt with him the moment he saw him.

His sister said that even if they tried to kill him, they wouldn’t be able to.

‘Even so.’

He shouldn’t have just stood there foolishly. He should have done something.

He shouldn’t have given even a shred of misplaced trust in this disgusting situation.

“Poison Dragon!”

A warrior’s shout was heard. Tang Cheongi turned his eyes and moved his body.

Swiik-!!

With a sharp sound, his dagger cut through the air once more.

Papapapapak-!!!

Daggers were embedded in the monsters consecutively.

Perhaps because they had to push their way into the cave, the monsters were quite small.

This meant that since they were small, there would be more of them pushing in.

Kyaaaaaaa-!!!

“Kkuaak!”

As expected, the warriors began to fall to the sheer number of monsters pouring in like a tide.

Seeing that, Tang Cheongi urgently tried to move to save a warrior.

Swiiiiik—!!!

Faster than that, a flash pierced through first. A flash of light green drew a single slash, and then.

Charyureureuk-!!!

It began slicing through the monsters in an instant. It was truly a fleeting moment. Dozens of monsters were slaughtered, and monster blood scattered everywhere.

Seeing that, Tang Cheongi quietly whispered.

“Noonim……”

At his whispered words, the flash stopped. Its identity was Poison Phoenix, gripping a dagger.

The sight of her scanning the surroundings with chilling eyes made even the warriors accompanying her falter.

Hwirik.

As she spun the dagger once and gripped it, green-colored energy wrapped around her body.

“……”

Seeing that, Tang Cheongi swallowed a groan. She was still strong. No, perhaps she had become even stronger.

As expected, her talent was incomparable to his own.

Such a person.

‘Why.’

Why did she fall for that strange guy and cause this mess? Resentment surged within Tang Cheongi.

“……What happened?”

Poison Phoenix asked.

“An Apostle attacked us.”

“……You mean now?”

He continued speaking while dealing with monsters.

“It’s a mystery how they knew. They didn’t bother groups with more numbers and came straight for us……”

As the warrior uttered that he couldn’t understand it at all, Tang Cheongi finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“It’s because of him.”

All eyes turned to Tang Cheongi at his voice.

“That guy we captured. It’s obvious he summoned them……!”

“If you mean him……”

“Noonim. What on earth did you trust to bring that guy in?”

Arrows of resentment were poured onto Poison Phoenix.

“He was an Apostle. Not even human, an Apostle. Thanks to you bringing him in without properly assessing him, this mess has happened. Are you satisfied now?”

“……”

Poison Phoenix looked at Tang Cheongi without saying anything. Her gaze was always intimidating, and it was the same now.

Tang Cheongi couldn’t back down.

“If these people die, it will all be your fault, Noonim.”

“……Poison Dragon!”

“That’s……”

Everyone’s eyes widened. They seemed surprised by Tang Cheongi’s strong words, but they didn’t deny them.

And then. Not long after, Poison Phoenix opened her closed lips after looking at Tang Cheongi.

“Cheongi-ya.”

At the call, which sounded affectionate yet not quite, just as Tang Cheongi was about to grit his teeth.

Kwaaaaaa-!!!

Immense killing intent spread from the other side of the cave. The warriors who saw this flinched.

Because the identity of such killing intent was already decided.

“Apostle……”

“It’s an Apostle.”

A being who abandoned humanity and became a monster.

It was the aura of one who had fallen after abandoning their convictions.

“Found you.”

At the low voice, goosebumps rose on Tang Cheongi’s back.

Kwadeudeuk.

Someone appeared, breaking through the cave. Their physique was no different from a normal human, but their appearance was entirely different.

Horns growing from the forehead. Pupils torn like a beast’s.

Even the skin, somehow artificial.

“So you were here.”

Seeing the one who appeared, Tang Cheongi contorted his face.

“……Apostle.”

It was the Apostle’s appearance.

“It took quite a while to find you.”

The monstrous being laughed, splitting the corners of its mouth.

“My master will be pleased. Since I’ve finally found you.”

He pointed at someone with his fingertip. Poison Phoenix stood there.

Poison Phoenix, who was pointed at, narrowed her brow.

“It’s been a while, Poison Phoenix.”

“……”

Poison Phoenix did not reply. She merely gripped her dagger tighter.

“Are your thoughts still the same? By now, you should be ready to defect?”

“Shut up.”

Swiiii-!!

Green energy swirled around Poison Phoenix’s body.

“How did you find this place?”

“I merely told them the path shown by my master’s eyes and ears.”

Eyes and ears.

At those words, Tang Cheongi thought of Baek Yangcheon. Was it really him after all?

“Stop running now and come to us.”

“You spew disgusting words. I told you I wouldn’t go last time too?”

At Poison Phoenix’s firm words, the Apostle said with a laugh.

“If you come, I’ll spare the others.”

“……”

Hearing that, Poison Phoenix flinched slightly.

Seeing her reaction, the Apostle chuckled.

“You know, don’t you? That if things continue like this, the others will all die anyway. Because of you.”

“……”

Hearing the words, Poison Phoenix’s eyes trembled. The Apostle, seeming to enjoy her reaction, was about to say more, but.

“Don’t talk bullshit!”

Kwang-!!

Tang Cheongi charged towards him.

“Cheongi-ya-!”

Poison Phoenix urgently called out to Tang Cheongi, but his body was already charging at the Apostle.

“Do you think Noonim would fall for scum like you guys?!”

“……Hmm……”

Tang Cheongi unleashed a secret technique of the Tang family and gripped his dagger.

He intended to infuse it with poison and strike, but.

Tak-!

“Kkeueuk?!”

His wrist was caught by the Apostle. Then, his knee slammed into the Apostle’s abdomen.

“Kkeok-!”

Kwaang-!

Before he could even finish groaning, Tang Cheongi’s body was slammed into the cave wall.

“……How dare this lowly creature.”

At the contemptuous gaze, the Apostle clicked his tongue briefly.

“It’s utterly disgusting how you interfere without knowing your place. Fine.”

The Apostle gathered energy in his hand.

Then, the energy changed shape, becoming sharp, and.

“I’ll have to crush someone like him to make that woman listen.”

Pik-!!

With a short sound, it was shot towards Tang Cheongi.

“Cheongi-ya……!”

Poison Phoenix flew in urgently. She quickly flew over and shielded Tang Cheongi.

The moment the tip was about to pierce Poison Phoenix.

“Oof, what a mess.”

With a voice full of malice.

Kwak.

Someone appeared and caught the fired attack.

It was just before reaching Poison Phoenix.

“……Hm?”

The Apostle narrowed his eyes, looking at the one who appeared.

Perhaps because he blocked the attack barehanded, blood was flowing from his palm, but not a trace of pain was visible on the young man’s face.

Pasak.

The solidified energy he grabbed crumbled into dust.

Perhaps because of that, a faint, blooming smile on the young man stood out.

“It’s so noisy, I can’t sleep. It’s really irritating.”

“……You…?”

Seeing him, the Apostle’s eyes widened.

Could it be.

“……You baaaaastard—!!!”

Kuuuuuuk-!!!

“Huh?”

The Apostle yelled and unleashed killing intent. Seeing that, the young man. Gu Yangcheon tilted his head. Why is that guy acting like this all of a sudden?

“Hahahahaha-!!! You… I finally get to see you—!”

“……What?”

Why is he acting like that?

The guy with horns on his head suddenly screamed ferociously. He was taken aback.

Just as Gu Yangcheon was watching that, narrowing his eyes.

“Oh.”

He looked at the Apostle’s face and realized something.

“You.”

The face looked familiar. Despite the strange appearance, he had definitely seen him before. And very recently at that.

From these people’s perspective, it was a year ago.

But for Gu Yangcheon, it was the guy he’d seen just moments before.

That guy, the Apostle. His name was definitely.

Ah, right.

“Chu Yeongyeon.”

A martial artist belonging to the Divine Dragon Corps, specializing in combat.

It was that guy who got beaten up by him and even wet himself.