Chapter 634: White (White)

Tududuk-!

Debris crumbled, and the smell of burning filled the air everywhere.

The walls were melting under the pressure of the heat, and where had all the pervasive cold gone?

Only an unknown heat filled the space.

“Cough.”

In the ruined space.

I pushed through the debris and barely managed to get up.

“Ptooey.”

As I spat out the pooled blood and raised my upper body.

Jikkeun-!

“Tsk…”

I had to frown at the pain felt in my upper body.

Not only were my ribs broken, but my abdomen felt strange every time I moved.

The part pierced by the sword, as well as the part slashed across my chest, were also problems.

“Shibal.”

Moreover, coldness filled my body.

It felt like it had penetrated very deep inside.

I immediately circulated my internal energy.

Sseueue.

As warmth spread through my body, it felt slightly better.

I walked, kicking away the debris.

I had been swept up by the explosion, pushed, and slammed into the wall.

I think I lost consciousness for a moment then.

At most, a few seconds.

“Hoo.”

I walked, catching my breath appropriately.

‘I almost got screwed.’

If I hadn’t blocked the impact with my internal energy, my insides would have been turned upside down.

Having wrecked my body so often, I’ve learned a thing or two about preserving it.

I don’t know about preserving it. Maybe it’s more like a way to get hurt less.

I brushed myself off and moved forward.

“And why is there so much smoke?”

I infused my internal energy into my hand and waved it slightly.

Whooook-! The smoke cleared with the breeze.

I finally gained a clear view and continued walking toward my destination.

The wall, holed through blankly.

The debris inside was sizzling and bubbling, resembling lava.

And beneath it.

“…Gasp…Gahk…”

Mang was lying there.

And not just that, but with a hole punched through his abdomen.

Observing it, I approached the guy.

Seeing the torn-off arm and the pierced abdomen, I nodded.

‘Regeneration is slow.’

The arm hadn’t grown back yet, and neither had the abdomen.

Recalling his regeneration, I thought he’d heal wounds like that easily.

‘Looks like regeneration isn’t always smooth.’

Maybe there’s a limit, or perhaps a set number of times?

“Kuh….”

The guy groaned and vomited blood.

Seeing him like that in Woohyuk’s body gave off a rather strange feeling.

“You okay?”

I asked the guy.

I asked knowing full well he wasn’t okay.

In response, the guy sent his gaze toward me.

“Hh…Hh…Damn it all…”

Mang chuckled with a darkening expression.

“…To think things would get tangled up like this…”

Every time he spoke, blood flowed.

Seeing that he still wasn’t regenerating, it seemed like there was a problem.

Of course, I kept my energy sense active amidst all this.

Because I couldn’t be sure if this was just a smokescreen.

“You’re just a newborn blood clot… To think you’d interfere this much.”

At those words, I clicked my tongue and said.

“Just so you don’t misunderstand, I didn’t exactly intend to interfere.”

If the people around me hadn’t gotten involved in this, I wouldn’t have particularly intervened.

In the first place, let alone getting involved, I wouldn’t have had any reason to come to the Northern Sea.

So, I just have one question.

‘What happened to this guy in his past life?’

He clearly said himself that resurrection was imminent, so something should have happened back in the past life I existed in.

‘There wasn’t really any such information.’

Perhaps because it concerned the Northern Sea, nothing much came to mind.

That means.

‘He either resurrected and was lying low, waiting for the right time.’

Or, he failed to resurrect.

Or perhaps.

‘Like this time, someone else prevented his resurrection.’

One of the three.

Which one could it be? It was impossible to know right now.

“What did you say? The third time?”

“…Yes. I…”

“No, actually, I’m not really curious about whether it’s this or something else…”

“…”

It was obvious the conversation would drag on.

I didn’t have the luxury of time to wait for that.

Not for me. But for him.

So, I decided to simply ask about the most important thing first.

“What is Yongje? That guy. What does he really do?”

Straight to the point.

At the question I blurted out, Mang’s gaze turned to me.

A past villain who caused a bloodbath.

The first calamity to befall this world, and a guy still lingering, plotting something.

I asked Mang about him.

“…Hahaha…”

Mang chuckled at such a question.

“…How truly cold-blooded.”

“Huh?”

“Even though my close friend’s body is dying like this. You come now asking about that?”

At those words, my brow furrowed deeply.

“Stop talking nonsense. Just tell me whether you’ll answer or not.”

“…If I answer, will you spare me?”

“Hmm? Maybe if you beg for your life while talking, I might consider it.”

“Kukuku…”

Every time he laughed, blood continued to flow from his upper body.

I secretly observed him closely.

‘He must be nearing his limit. Seeing as he still hasn’t regenerated.’

I felt confident that it wasn’t that he wasn’t regenerating, but that he couldn’t.

As I was observing Mang with that thought in mind.

“Do you want to hear the answer?”

“Oh? You’re going to answer-“

“Ptooey-!”

He spat bloody saliva, so I turned my head to dodge.

I swung my fist right then.

Kwang-!

“Gack!”

“Oops.”

Seeing Mang’s head snap back, I realized my mistake.

I hadn’t intended to hit him anymore, but I slipped up.

I immediately retracted my hand and said to the guy, laced with annoyance.

“If you weren’t going to answer, fine. Why spit like a filthy pig?”

I hit him without meaning to.

“…Hoo…Heehee.”

Mang laughed even after taking a punch.

Did I hit him too hard? He looked a bit out of his mind.

“…Do you think you’ve won?”

“Hm?”

“Ninth… You don’t realize the huge mistake you’ve made.”

“What did I do?”

“…With this choice… you will ultimately be defeated by Yongje and devoured…. You can never defeat him.”

Hearing that, I smirked and said.

“Like you?”

“…”

At my casually spoken words, Mang’s mouth shut for a moment.

A brief silence passed, but it didn’t last long.

“Yes, like me…”

His meek admission looked somewhat pathetic.

“Do you think you, left alone, can defeat him?”

“Why? Because you’re not here?”

“The other purebloods were uselessly devoured by him. Born alone, what can a young you do? No, it’s impossible.”

Hearing that, I stroked my chin with my hand.

“You, ultimately…”

“So. What’s the conclusion?”

I cut him off.

The conversation seemed to be heading in a strange direction, so I felt the need to steer it back.

“Because you failed, you think I will too? Is that what you’re saying?”

“It’s not that simple a story…”

“No, fuck. It’s obviously that story.”

Honestly, what arrogant bastards.

Whenever I tried to have a conversation, it just wouldn’t progress.

“I get that you’re angry from getting beaten up back then. If you were too weak and lost, just shut up. What is this pathetic display?”

“…Huh?”

“Huh my ass.”

Sigh.

A sigh escaped me.

I wasn’t holding onto him just to have this kind of conversation. If he wasn’t going to answer properly anyway, it would be faster to just get rid of him.

‘It’s a problem if the body dies like this.’

Mang’s body. More precisely, Woohyuk’s body would truly die if left like this.

Therefore, that couldn’t happen.

So, I needed to wrap things up soon. I looked at the guy and asked.

“How do you know if I’ll win or lose against Yongje? You lost to me too.”

“…!”

As I spoke slightly provocatively, Mang’s expression crumpled.

“You faced me, inhabiting this insignificant body. Do you truly think you were victorious?”

“Insignificant or whatever. You lost right now.”

“Ha…!”

At my words, Mang wore an incredulous expression and said.

“Although I was defeated in this fight…”

As he uttered those words like an excuse, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Gotcha.’

That statement was important.

Boogeul.

I felt a sensation from my toes.

This was a sign that the condition had been met.

Feeling the sensation, I immediately repeated inwardly.

‘Devour it.’

“That’s how you can defeat Yongje…!?”

Mang, mid-sentence, suddenly shut his mouth.

Hwaaaak–!

It was because black energy erupted from my toes toward him.

“Kuk!”

Mang, instantly covered in energy, tried to struggle here and there with his injured body, but fortunately, the energy seemed much tougher than I expected.

“You-! What are you trying to do…!”

Udeuk.

“…Kkeuk!”

I heard something crunching near my ear.

It was definitely a sound from within the energy.

Starting with that one sound.

Udeuk-!! Udeudeuk-! Ujeok-!

Along with the continuous sounds of chewing and swallowing.

“Kkeueuaaaaa!”

Mang began to scream within the energy.

“Kkeueu…euhaaaak!”

It was a disturbingly loud scream.

It seemed excruciatingly painful, and as Mang let out a full-blown scream, I had to frown deeply while watching him.

It wasn’t because I sympathized with his pain or felt sorry for him.

The problem was the sensation I felt within my body the more he screamed.

Sseueueue—

The black energy extending from my toes.

Something was seeping into my body along the path of Tam.

It was ambiguous to call it energy.

Yet, it was also unclear to deny it.

Should I call it memory?

Or perhaps thought.

If not even that, perhaps the soul itself?

An indescribable sensation traveled along the path to my heart, merging with the soul residing within.

‘What a disgusting feeling.’

It feels like I’m taking something I shouldn’t.

Guilt? No, it’s not that.

It’s just an inexplicable discomfort.

However, thanks to that.

‘So this is the power.’

I could clearly feel that this was the sensation of Tam stealing powers.

Yes, stealing powers.

I was currently devouring Mang’s power.

Udeuk. Kkadeudeuk-

“Kkeuheu…uaaaaaa…!”

This was something I couldn’t do during the fight.

If you ask how I could do it now.

‘Because he admitted defeat.’

Tam’s condition for stealing powers.

Admitting defeat to me.

And speaking it aloud.

It was thanks to fulfilling those conditions.

‘What a damn lousy condition.’

Winning the fight is one thing. But I have to make him admit it and say it out loud.

It couldn’t be a more disgustingly bizarre condition.

‘Is it because he wants to be acknowledged as the winner somehow?’

It sounds like a childish and pathetic sentiment, but considering the power resembles my emotions, it’s a plausible theory.

“Heeuua… No… Noooo…!! Don’t take… my things…!”

Mang, consumed by greed, spat it out desperately, but I had no intention of stopping the meal.

And so, for a long time.

After chewing and swallowing for yet another long while.

Jjeopjjeop- Gulp. Kkeueuk….

Tam seemed to have finished his meal satisfactorily, letting out a burp.

Seureureuk.

Afterward, Tam returned into the shadows.

“Hoo.”

Only after Greed returned could I finally exhale too.

At the same time, I felt full.

That thought crossed my mind, even though it wasn’t me who ate.

Feeling this, I looked straight ahead.

“Kke…eu…eo…”

Mang was gasping for breath, his face pale as white.

Seeing that, I let out a slight smile.

“So this is what it was. I wondered what was happening.”

“…You… my… things…”

Mang reached out to me with trembling hands.

“Give… give it back…. My… power… Hand it over…”

To his desperate plea, I swatted away the hand he extended.

Tak-

I just casually swatted it, but his hand fluttered and fell.

“Give back what? It’s mine now.”

“No… It’s… mine…”

“Yes, it was yours.”

It certainly was originally, but.

“But not anymore, right?”

Now it was mine.

“How dare…!”

At my words, Mang’s face contorted fiercely, as if in rage.

It posed no real threat.

Since I had no further business with him, I spoke curtly to the guy.

“I got everything I needed. Now get lost.”

“Heeu… Kkeu…!”

Mang moved as if trying to resist somehow, but his body was already ruined.

There was no way it could be threatening, and from my perspective, the guy didn’t have much time left.

I could feel it as I stole the power.

That the moment I stole this, even that time would come to an end.

As proof of that.

“It’s… unbearable…”

The vitality was gradually disappearing from his eyes.

What remained behind was it resentment towards me?

“I… will curse… you…. I will curse…”

Ttuk.

The guy, mid-curse, stiffened like stone and stopped moving.

A pureblood dragon met a miserable death.

It wasn’t a particularly moving death.

“…”

I placed my hand on his chest.

‘He’s not dead yet.’

He was breathing, albeit very shallowly, and his heart was beating.

This was thanks to stabbing the spear while narrowly missing the vital points.

In other words, Mang, who had been coveting Woohyuk’s body, was gone.

What remained was Woohyuk.

However, this situation wasn’t exactly comfortable either.

‘If it continues like this, he’ll die.’

Perhaps it was because I absorbed Mang’s energy within the Ice Crystal.

Woohyuk’s body had also changed, similar to my own body.

But due to the severe injuries, there were many problems.

‘…Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue briefly inwardly.

This much was roughly within my expectations.

Furthermore, the original plan was to steal Mang’s power and heal Woohyuk’s body.

“This looks like a bit of a fucked situation.”

There was an unexpected problem.

I had stolen two powers, and the moment I obtained them, I learned what they were.

‘…I can’t save this guy with this.’

The power related to regeneration was completely different from my expectations.

Just like Yuseon healed my internal injuries. Even if that was originally possible.

As I feel it now, it’s impossible from my side.

Increase my body’s regeneration.

Using this, it’s possible to regenerate a severed arm instantly like Yuseon did, but.

‘I can’t heal others.’

The second power Mang possessed.

The power of ‘Regeneration’. That was its condition.

‘…Is it normally like this?’

Seeing what Yuseon did, it doesn’t seem like it’s always like this.

Why did this problem arise?

…Could it be?

‘As the power transfers… does its performance weaken?’

The thought that it might be so crossed my mind.

Perhaps it’s impossible to steal it completely, and its effectiveness decreases during the digestion process?

It’s a plausible theory, but.

The problem is.

‘Realizing this in the current situation…’

…is meaningless.

‘What should I do?’

Should I just let Woohyuk die like this?

Even if I took him to the hideout right now, Woohyuk would die on the way.

Even if I managed to get him there luckily, could I even treat him there?

If he’s already in this state, even a god couldn’t save him.

“…”

So what should I do? What on earth should I do?

As thoughts surfaced, I had to grit my teeth.

‘Fuck, it seemed like I could save him just fine originally. Now it gets nerfed like this?’

Dramatically increase the possessor’s regeneration.

This was exactly what I wanted, but now….

“Huh?”

I paused as a thought occurred.

Suddenly, something came to mind.

‘Increase the owner’s regeneration…?’

Thinking about the condition, I recalled a certain situation.

Not too long ago.

Memories of the Heavenly Demon, who was now in a past life.

More precisely, not the era itself, but the memories from when she was creating the Mind Demons.

‘Why does this have to surface right now.’

Those who became Mind Demons under her touch had certain characteristics.

Including the robust bodies obtained through corruption, they received one specific power.

‘Demonic Arts.’

Not only did it enhance their original martial arts,

but some received peculiar abilities that couldn’t even be called martial arts.

The Mind Demons called this process a ‘baptism’.

I recalled receiving the Demonic Heaven Absorption technique from the Heavenly Demon, and the commonalities with this situation overlapped.

‘…It’s similar.’

The strengthening of the body upon becoming a Mind Demon resembled the state of a Dragon-human.

And the abilities received through the baptism, for some reason, resembled powers.

Even if the level differed somewhat.

Could this really be a coincidence?

I don’t know.

Whether it was a coincidence or not didn’t matter.

‘Perhaps.’

It might just be possible.

That thought occurred to me.

Sseueu-

My blue eyes gradually became tinged with purple.

The demonic energy, summoned after a long time, sluggishly dominated my body.

I gathered the demonic energy above the hand placed on Woohyuk’s upper body.

Before scattering it all at once.

“…”

Looking at Woohyuk, whose eyes were closed, I hesitated for a moment.

Not if this failed, but if it succeeded.

When you open your eyes,

‘Will you resent me?’

Because of that, I hesitated briefly, but when I weighed this thought against Woohyuk’s death.

The answer was simple, as expected.

‘Save you.’

That was the only correct answer for me right now.

Hwaaak-

The demonic energy burrowed into Woohyuk’s body.