Chapter 627: Authority/Power (Authority/Power)

Greed.

The fundamental desire, an emotion everyone possesses.

While Shaolin, one of the Nine Sects, pursues freedom from such desires.

In my view, desire is the meaning of life, more important than anything else.

It’s what makes humans strive forward.

It’s what makes them fight to obtain something.

Be it the desire for possessions, the desire for fame, or even the desire for sex.

Whatever it may be.

It is ultimately desire.

I thought it was a primal aspect when thinking of humans.

So then.

‘Are dragons any different?’

Whether it was Hyeolgi or that woman named Yuseon.

They carried themselves as great beings, filled with arrogance.

But in my eyes, dragons were no different.

Rather, if anything, they were more honest about their desires, not beings free from them.

If that weren’t the case.

‘They wouldn’t grant such instinct-driven power.’

These were the thoughts that crossed my mind as I observed the unfolding scene.

Eudeudeudeuk—!!!

I focused my gaze on the chilling sound.

It’s black.

A world that seemed blue, yet was black, unfolded before my eyes.

‘How fascinating.’

Since it was my first time seeing it directly, it was a novel sight.

‘This is’

Power.

I felt a mix of emotions.

The Dragon Speech, or the superior regeneration I gained just by being a dragon.

Not a body close to perfection for a human, nor a broad and large vessel.

‘The real deal.’

This wasn’t a level of martial arts achievable through training.

Power gained purely from existence itself.

That was Power.

When I opened my eyes.

I naturally knew Power had permeated my body.

Yes, I naturally came to know.

That I possessed Power.

What kind of strength this Power held.

How I could use it.

What the conditions were.

I could understand most of it without having to use or experience it directly.

Until now, whenever I gained a power.

Unlike how I used to spend days repeatedly using it to grasp its information.

There was no power as convenient as this.

‘It’s truly unreasonable.’

I felt this situation was somewhat unreasonable.

The martial arts I had trained to death for years.

Even the energy I had chewed, swallowed, and meticulously built up.

It felt like all of that was being trampled upon just for being a dragon.

I felt that was truly unreasonable.

Perhaps that’s why?

The power created in resemblance to my greatest emotion, desire.

Is the reason my discomfort was projected onto it.

This power seemed made not for martial artists.

But solely for dragons to use.

Power resembles its owner. Maybe that’s why it’s like this.

I thought so.

Udeudeudeuk-!

Starting from my pierced heart, something shadow-like enveloped everything.

It enveloped the not-so-small room, blocking out all light.

Dark and murky.

Within it, a distinct emotion could be strongly felt.

Greed.

That is the name of my Power.

Ujeok-!

Udeudeuk-!

The sound of something being bitten and swallowed could be heard.

It was a truly unpleasant sound.

Kung-!

The heart pierced by Yuseon’s hand vibrates.

Dugeun-!

Despite being mangled, I could feel my heart beating soundly.

Are dragons okay even if their vital spots are blown off like this?

‘That can’t be.’

I chuckled at the thought.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem so.

Right now, it’s only because of this special situation.

Deudeudeuk-!!

The darkness, which had been consuming everything for a while.

Kkeueueuk.

As if it had finished its meal, it let out a rough burp.

From that point, cracks began to form in the space.

Ppeojeojeok–!!

The surrounding darkness was crushed and crumbled.

Seueueueue–!!

The darkness began to gradually get sucked towards my heart.

It took only a few seconds.

As the darkness that had surrounded me vanished in an instant.

Only then did I return to the original world.

However.

It wasn’t the same as before.

I turned my gaze to my arm.

Clearly, my shoulder had been blown off.

Yet my arm had returned to normal.

My pierced chest had also been restored to its original state.

It was the same situation as last time.

My damaged body returned to normal as the space collapsed.

I brushed off my chest and looked around.

I wasn’t surprised.

Because I had vaguely expected this would happen.

“Ugh…!”

Tududeuk-!

I shifted my gaze to the sound I heard.

There lay Yuseon, who had pierced my heart and had been overwhelming me until just now.

She was close enough to have gripped my neck.

She had been nearby even when enveloped in darkness.

Now, she was collapsed near the throne.

Even shedding a mouthful of blood.

“Gack… cough.”

Pudeudeuk-! Blood bursting from her mouth stained the floor.

Lifting herself with trembling arms, Yuseon looked at me.

Her gaze was filled with shock.

“…What…? What did you just do-!”

I didn’t wait for her to finish speaking.

I approached her and kicked towards Yuseon’s fallen face.

Ppaak-!

“Gack!”

Yuseon’s head shot up after being hit in the jaw.

Blood splattered from the impact.

Her long white hair flew up into the air along with it.

I grabbed it without hesitation.

Swinging her by the hair, I threw her backward.

Hwik-!

Kuung–!!

Yuseon’s body, thrown back, smashed into a massive pillar.

Wareureureu-!!

The debris fell and covered her body.

I lightly flicked my left hand.

Hwareuk-! Flames immediately wrapped around it.

I could feel it.

The heat, much hotter than before.

Roughly speaking, it felt like the firepower had increased by almost double.

Uuung-!

Flames gathered in my palm, attempting compression.

This too was the same.

The flames gathered more deeply and heavily than before.

I infused the flames with the will of the Wheel and spun them.

Giiiiiiing—!!!

Responding to the rotation, the rings of the Nine Flame Wheel Formation began to spin.

‘Flame Orb.’

I unleashed the instantly compressed Flame Orb with all my might.

The Flame Orb, flying rapidly towards Yuseon, hit the piled debris.

Ung-!

Along with a small vibration.

Kwaaaaaaa–!!!

It caused a tremendous explosion.

Kung—!!!

It swept across the wall, blasting apart a section of the palace.

Huuuuu-!!

Cold wind flowed in through the palace wall, now bearing a huge hole.

I looked outside through that hole.

Swaaaaa….

Outside, rain was falling endlessly.

Watching it, I moved my steps.

Tadak-!

Movement could be felt from the area filled with burning debris.

Tududeuk….

It was Yuseon.

She was barely managing to get up, clearing the debris piled on her body.

“Cough…”

Her appearance, getting up while bleeding, was truly disastrous.

I looked at her left hand.

A hand whose skin had burned and blackened.

‘Did she block it with that?’

It looked like she had sacrificed her hand to block the Flame Orb.

Yuseon, in her devastated state, looked at me with frosty eyes.

Then, she extended her relatively intact right hand towards me.

And then.

“Mang (Hope/Desire)…!”

As she spoke, her fingertips emitted light.

It seemed she was attempting something.

However.

Kwadeudeuk-!

“…!”

The black energy extending from my shadow swallowed her light once again.

Yuseon’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight, then she quickly scowled and glared at me.

“What…? What did you just do…!”

Her expression suggested she couldn’t comprehend the situation at all.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Surprised?”

“…What on earth did you do…!”

“You mean your Power isn’t working?”

“…!”

Yuseon’s eyes widened at my words, and she bit her lip.

It seemed I had hit the mark.

Looking at her, I scanned my surroundings.

I was observing the interior of the palace.

As I slowly moved my gaze, I soon saw it.

A corridor.

More precisely, the edge of the space that had been tainted by the black energy earlier.

Beyond it, a strange ripple was present.

‘To be precise….’

It would be correct to say that the space had returned to its original state in proportion to what the energy had consumed.

Recalling this, I looked back at Yuseon.

“There wasn’t just one or two strange things.”

“…”

The first thing that raised questions.

Was, naturally, the situation when I first met Yuseon.

After breaking through an unknown barrier.

It was suddenly claimed to be the garden where Woohyeok lived as a child.

Up to that point, it wasn’t a problem.

It could be a spell or formation, methods unknown to a brute like me.

What was important.

‘What I felt.’

My arm being torn off.

The state I was in after facing death, only to be saved by Yuseon’s mercy, or lack thereof.

It was like the domain used by the Dark King.

It was the same as his Power.

That wasn’t all.

“The people here seem to get lost easily inside the palace.”

I had barged into the Ice Palace without preamble just before.

In that case, a battle should naturally have occurred.

I was aware of that.

I hadn’t intended to break everything, but I had come expecting a fight.

‘It was fine up to the garden and the entrance.’

But the moment I stepped slightly into the main palace.

They couldn’t even properly recognize my presence.

It was a strange situation.

Was the whole group possessed by something? Or perhaps.

“Is the entire palace possessed by something?”

“…”

Yuseon did not answer.

The intensity in her glare only grew stronger.

Seeing this, I felt a sense of familiarity. The strangeness within the palace.

It was just like.

That thing hanging in the hideout.

“It feels similar to a spell.”

A different power from formations.

What was called a spell, making the hideout complex.

It resembled that.

Upon mentioning this.

“Ha.”

Yuseon burst into laughter as if it were absurd.

“Similar? You’re wrong.”

A subtle anger was mixed in her voice.

“In the first place, spells themselves are powers brought by dragons.”

“Hm?”

“It means they aren’t meant for humans to use.”

That’s another strange thing to hear.

I tilted my head and looked at Yuseon.

“Spells are powers brought by dragons?”

“…You truly know nothing, do you?”

“It’s you who’s strange for knowing. Anyone would think you’ve lived for hundreds of years.”

That becoming a dragon would grant much knowledge.

It wasn’t necessarily like that.

‘It doesn’t really matter anyway.’

The frustration of not knowing it didn’t bother me much anymore.

It’s like…

‘I feel like I’ll find out eventually.’

Even if I didn’t argue and get annoyed about it, I would find out soon enough.

Such thoughts crossed my mind.

Moreover.

‘The one who knows is right in front of me, isn’t he?’

The person who could give me lots of information was right before my eyes.

For that purpose.

“It would be nice if you’d associate with me a little longer.”

Saying that, I lunged towards Yuseon.

“…!”

As I rapidly closed the distance, Yuseon reacted.

Just then.

Udeudeuk-!

“Hm?”

Yuseon’s blackened arm suddenly regenerated.

Seeing that, I let out a slight exclamation of admiration.

‘Wow.’

What is that? Such regeneration.

‘Could that also be Power?’

Did she use that to heal my internal injuries?

I was curious. Whether it was possible to regenerate others’ bodies too.

Also.

‘Just how far can it regenerate?’

My interest was piqued.

It was strange to feel interested in this situation, but my emotions were quite honest.

Ppeojeojeok-!

The moment I got right in front of her, cold air erupted from Yuseon’s feet.

I slightly twisted my footwork.

Sharp ice shot out.

If I hadn’t dodged, my body would have been pierced.

At the same time, I turned my head.

Huuk-! Something passed by, brushing my cheek.

It was Yuseon’s fist.

Paang-!!

A sonic boom erupted in the air. It carried considerable energy.

Yuseon, who had looked exhausted moments ago, moved her body swiftly into a stance.

Her advancing footwork was solid.

Her waist, providing balance, and the way she moved her arms were precise and sharp.

‘Upper. And middle.’

Tuk-! Tuktuk-!

I deflected the attacks by meeting each move.

When Yuseon stepped half a step forward, I stepped half a step back.

Each time she threw a punch, I intercepted it before it could gain momentum.

My Mind’s Eye showed me all of Yuseon’s movements, so it was simple.

Kung-!Kung-kung–!! Kuung-!

Even the light friction of our hands colliding sent vibrations echoing.

Kuuung-!!

The building shook as if an earthquake had struck inside the palace.

Tung-! As I deflected her wrist, I met her outstretched fist with mine.

Ppeojeojeok-!

Energy burst forth, and I heard something crumbling near my ear.

I rolled my eyes to look at the source of the sound.

Frost coated the tips of our colliding fists.

‘Is this Ice Palace style?’

I had heard of it vaguely, but this was my first time actually clashing with it.

Tuk-! I wrapped my hand with heat and shook it, and the frost quickly disappeared.

Since I had already wrapped my hand in heat, I infused it with a bit more energy.

Uung-! Energy flowed down my shoulder and enveloped my entire right hand.

Simultaneously, Yuseon rapidly burrowed towards my body.

Fast.

The distance closed rapidly. It seemed she aimed to prevent me from gathering energy.

That’s a quick judgment.

However.

Sik.

I smiled seeing this.

“…!”

Seeing that, Yuseon’s eyes widened as if sensing something was amiss.

“Guijeong.”

Swiriririric-!

At my words, Guijeong immediately emerged from my left arm and bound Yuseon’s body.

“Damn…!”

It didn’t completely stop her movements.

Yuseon, despite her surprise, didn’t cease her attack.

Along with this, Banjjak-! Something flashed from Yuseon’s hand once again.

It seemed she had been aiming for something too.

However.

Kkadeuk-!

This time too, the shadow emerged and swallowed Yuseon’s light.

“Th-!”

Being bound by Guijeong created a brief opening.

I aimed for that opening.

My fist, wrapped in energy, seeped with fighting spirit.

Gathering it, I lightly threw a punch towards Yuseon’s chest.

Heart Fist.

My soul flowed towards the tip of my fist.

Despite the immense energy, the movement was simple.

Tung.

As if to prove it, a light sound erupted, but.

Uuung-!

Just because the movement was light didn’t mean the result was light.

“Guh…?!”

Yuseon let out a short groan.

Immediately after.

Gugugugugugu–!!! An immense vibration erupted from her body.

“Heeuuk!”

Tremendous fighting spirit burst forth along her back.

Kwaaaaaaa-!! The fighting spirit erupted with vibrations.

Caught in its wake, the corridor began to collapse.

Kwagagagang-!

Yuseon’s body didn’t fly off.

Because I had grabbed her by the hair to prevent her from flying away.

Teolseok-!

Slowly, one of Yuseon’s knees buckled.

She tried to hold on, but her collapsing body seemed unresponsive.

“Cough… Gack…”

A much larger amount of blood poured onto the floor than before.

Seeing this, I became certain.

I said to her in a blunt tone.

“You’re not that strong, are you?”

“…”

Yuseon’s body flinched upon hearing my words.

I wasn’t saying she was weak.

Yuseon was strong.

She was well past the Martial Realm, perhaps even stronger than I was a few days ago.

However.

It meant she wasn’t at the level to tear off my arm or grab my neck and subdue me like moments ago.

This implies.

“You can’t properly rampage unless it’s in a space you created?”

“…Hoo… huk…”

Yuseon didn’t answer, but.

The answer was already decided.

It seemed that unless it was the domain created by her Power.

She couldn’t manifest her full strength.

With that, she looked at me with a pained expression and said.

“…What on earth… did you do…? Why…”

“Ah.”

The reason her Power kept failing.

She seemed curious about that.

So, I decided to tell her.

“My Power, you see.”

About Power.

“It’s quite greedy, so it seems unable to tolerate others using their Powers.”

I told her with a smile.

“A Power that devours other Powers. That’s my Power.”

“…!”

Devouring a dragon’s Power. And ultimately stealing it.

For reference, I haven’t tried it because the conditions for stealing are a bit troublesome, but.

It meant it was possible nonetheless.

That was the nature of Greed.

Hearing this, Yuseon said with trembling eyes.

“That…! Such an impossible thing…! It can’t be…!”

Eating another dragon’s Power?

There’s no way such nonsense could exist.

Yuseon’s expression was exactly like that.

However.

“What if you don’t believe me?”

I had no intention of securing her belief.

Because I had pressing business left with her.

Ah, right.

‘I did have business.’

It was a fact I had momentarily forgotten while fighting intensely.

For now.

Kwak.

I grabbed Yuseon’s shoulder and tore it right off.

Ujijijik.

“Kkeueueueu!?”

I felt no hesitation.

Paak-!

“Kyaaaaaak!”

As her arm was torn off while she was alive, Yuseon screamed in pain.

Jjaak-!

It was a bit noisy, so I slapped her cheek.

“Keuk!”

My eyes, watching Yuseon’s head snap back, were filled with interest, separate from the noise.

I couldn’t help it.

Hwik-!

After tossing the torn-off arm aside carelessly.

I asked Yuseon.

“You were regenerating your body earlier.”

The unbelievable regeneration came to mind.

Thinking of this, I asked her.

“Can you regenerate something like this? Like the arm I tore off.”

“…!”

“How far does it go? Can you regenerate even if your kidney is removed? Or what about vital spots? Maybe those are impossible?”

I had forgotten the original point by now.

To my questions, asked out of curiosity.

For some reason, Yuseon’s eyes, looking at me, began to show fear.