Chapter 638: White Night (White Night)

Kuaaaa–!!!

Breaking through the rough roar, I throw myself forward.

Despite its massive build, like a hill had taken root, its body is far quicker.

Kkeudeudeuk!

The fingertips that slammed down into the floor dig into the ground.

The ground is scraped away by its sharp claws, as if slicing through tofu.

Barely dodging this, I approach the fiend.

My target is the wrist that slammed down.

Since it’s right in front of me, I twist my waist and swing my fist hard.

Kuung!

My fist directly impacts the monster’s wrist.

A rough sound erupts, and the fiend’s hand is knocked away.

However.

Kreu-!

‘Tch.’

Judging by its reaction, it doesn’t seem too shocked.

The attack definitely landed.

It just bounced off; I couldn’t break it or land a proper blow.

Kyaaaaa!!

Perhaps angered by getting hit, the fiend immediately charges at me.

It’s a bit intimidating when such a huge guy suddenly charges, though.

Even so, I observed the fiend.

‘Seeing how it just charges headlessly, does it have any reason?’

It has no self-awareness.

If that were Mang’s body, I thought it would at least show some reaction.

Looking at it now, it’s truly no different from a beast.

Hwareureuk!!

Seeing the charging fiend, I raised my energy.

Raising the heat as if to burn everything, I immediately unleash flames.

Hwaaahwak!!

Kyaaa–!!

As if unconcerned by the flames clinging to its body, the fiend doesn’t stop and charges at me.

Jjeok!

Just as the fiend was about to charge, opening its huge maw at me.

Hwik! Kwaang!

Kreuaraak-!!

The fiend’s head was flung sideways, its body shaking.

Paejon blocked the attack by smashing the fiend’s noggin.

“Ho ho.”

Watching the staggering fiend, Paejon chuckled.

“Quite a tough one, aren’t you.”

It seems Paejon felt it too.

“You’re covered in something unknown.”

“Seems so.”

Just like the crimson monster.

This one also seems to be clad in something on its body.

That’s probably why attacks aren’t landing properly.

The problem is.

‘I can’t see it.’

While I could see even the slightest weakness on the crimson monster, I couldn’t see anything like that on this one.

‘What kind of bastard is this?’

Kwadeudeuk!

Debris flies around due to its rampaging.

Without a moment’s rest, I dodge and observe the fiend.

‘The method?’

What’s the way to take it down?

I had to keep trying to find it.

If the barrier blocks all attacks, exerting more strength is a loss.

Eventually, I’ll just get tired first and get eaten.

Kyaaaaa–!!

I frowned at the chilling energy.

‘A Hundred-Rank monster.’

They say its very existence is a disaster, and its destructive power lives up to that.

‘If that’s Mang’s main body.’

Can I simply label this a Hundred-Rank monster?’

And in the first place.

“Is its main body like that?”

Was the true flesh of the one called Mang in such a form?’

But even so, looking at it, no matter how I see it.

“It’s a monster….”

The third pure-blooded dragon.

That was the title Mang used when introducing itself.

It claimed to be a dragon like me, yet.

‘That thing isn’t even a monster, it’s….’

Swiiik!!

I twisted my body away from the incoming claws.

Chwak!

I couldn’t dodge them all, and my upper body was slightly scratched.

My battle uniform tore, and pain arrived.

‘Tsk.’

Perhaps because it was already wounded from a sword, the pain was severe.

My body’s speed noticeably slowed.

Kureureu!

The fiend, as if not wanting to miss this chance, quickly swings its hand again.

Just as its claws came right before my face.

Hwaak!

Someone appeared and blocked the fiend’s claws for me.

Kkigigik!!

The sound of a blade being scraped is heard.

The one who intervened smoothly deflected the claws.

Pang!

Releasing sword energy, they lightly pushed the claws aside.

Seeing that, my eyes widened.

“I shall join you.”

A giant with black hair and brown eyes.

A master of the Hua Jing realm who had been guarding the gate towards the Palace Lord.

It was the Black Lion.

Just as I was slightly flustered by his appearance.

Another person appeared and helped me, who was staggering, down to the ground.

“Are you alright?”

“…You.”

This time it was Seongyul.

“I am sorry. Helping with the evacuation took some time.”

I was wondering where he went anyway. It seems he was busy evacuating people first.

‘…Well, look at this guy?’

To think that the man called a murderer, or Sword Demon, in his past life would evacuate people and then come all the way back here.

“If you were going to evacuate them, why didn’t you just go with them? What are you doing here?”

When I asked why he came back instead of just running away while he was at it.

Seongyul replied with his characteristic blank expression.

“Because Gongja is here.”

“This guy’s crazy.”

Hearing that, I answered without hesitation.

Since when has he been loyal to me?’

We haven’t known each other long. It was a rather absurd statement.

“Didn’t you say you would give me a reason to live? Until then, you must not die.”

“When did I ever say that?”

I never said anything like that.

I just told him that if he was going to throw his life away anyway, he should die after being used by me.

‘This lunatic understands things however it’s convenient for him.’

I managed to suppress the urge to sigh and got back up.

“Who’s that old man?”

“Well. I don’t know.”

Seongyul shook his head, as if they hadn’t discussed it.

‘The guy who’s supposed to protect the Palace Lord is joining in to beat that thing?’

Or perhaps, did he not hear the situation Paejon mentioned yet?

It doesn’t seem likely that the one closest to the Palace Lord wouldn’t know this.

Then, did Paejon lie?

Given that old man’s personality, it’s possible, but.

‘Looking at his expression, that doesn’t seem to be the case.’

Looking at the expression of the Black Lion, who gripped his sword.

It didn’t seem like he was fighting without knowing.

He looked grim, and incredibly sad.

Yet, he held his sword.

I don’t know what happened, but.

It seems Paejon’s words are roughly correct.

‘Mang’s body has swallowed the Palace Lord.’

It might not be the case, but it’s hard to think deeply about it right now.

Kureureuuaaa!!

The fiend turned its head again and started looking this way.

Kyaaaaa!!

It charges.

Just as I was thinking of dodging and making a plan.

-Relax your feet. Channel your internal energy to your back.

Instinctively, I raised my energy at the telepathic message.

Internal energy gathers on my back.

At that moment.

Pang!

“Gk!?”

A strong impact pushed my body, sending me flying out rapidly.

It was a sudden situation, but I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist.

I approached the monster at tremendous speed.

Before it could open its mouth, I struck it with a fist imbued with fighting spirit.

Ppaaak!

Keureuk!!

Just as the fiend, hit in the face, faltered and stopped moving.

“Well done.”

The very person who kicked my back.

Paejon stepped on my shoulder, which was floating in mid-air, and soared up.

He instantly headed for the fiend’s crown, spread all his fingers as if aiming, and targeted its head.

Just like that.

Using his fingers as a guide, he quickly clenched them into a fist and drove it in.

Kwaang!

Kyaaaaaaa!!!

The destructive power was extraordinary compared to the simple, short movement; the fiend staggered more than from any previous attack.

It was then I could see.

Jjeok!

The fiend’s protective barrier cracking slightly, creating an opening.

An opening.

A barely created gap.

I thought I shouldn’t miss it, but it was already too late to turn my body.

What should I do? As I was pondering that.

Swiiik-!!

Something flies towards me.

“My apologies.”

It was Seongyul.

What was he sorry for? As the question briefly crossed my mind.

Kkuuk-!

“You bas-.”

He casually stepped on my body like Paejon did and floated even higher.

Quickly spinning his body to increase speed, he brought down the sword he held directly into the gap.

Kwak-!

Kyaaaaaa-!!

Cut by the sword imbued with internal energy, the fiend writhed in pain.

Since Paejon and Seongyul were floating in the air, it was the perfect situation to be hit by the fiend’s attack.

Seeing that, I channeled energy into my hands, wrapped it around the two men’s bodies, and pulled them straight towards me.

Hwaak-!

As the two escaped, the fiend’s tail passed through the space they occupied.

It was a close call.

Unable to even perform a proper landing, I fell to the ground and immediately got up to assess the situation.

Kureureureu…!

Amidst the monster’s growling. Drip-! Blue blood flowed from between its eyes.

It meant the attack had succeeded.

However.

‘It’s not deep.’

Considering the attack succeeded, the damage isn’t significant.

Seueu.

Even the protective barrier I barely pierced finished regenerating in an instant.

‘This is driving me nuts.’

Seeing this, I broke out in a slight sweat.

Its speed is fast and its power is considerable, but not to the point where I can’t dodge it.

Meaning, fighting it isn’t difficult, but.

‘Ultimately, I can’t finish it.’

It means I can’t kill the fiend as long as I can’t deal with that barrier.

‘Are all Hundred-Rank monsters like this?’

I don’t know if it’s just this one, or if other Hundred-Rank monsters are like this too.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I should have asked Master Noya earlier.’

Since Master Shin Noya had a record of dealing with a Hundred-Rank monster single-handedly.

He could have helped me with this, but.

This is just complaining.

Who would have expected a Hundred-Rank monster to show up anyway?

“Hoo…”

Just as I let out a deep sigh in this unfavorable situation.

“Hmm.”

Paejon, who was beside me, wore a thoughtful expression.

After pondering for a few seconds like that.

“Disciple.”

“Yes.”

“Can you use your ‘Simsang’ right now?”

“Huh?”

I questioned Paejon’s words.

If he means Simsang…

“‘Simgwon’?”

“…?”

Hearing that, Paejon’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Don’t tell me you named it that?”

“No, well. If there’s ‘Simgeom’, couldn’t there be ‘Simgwon’ too?”

“Hmm. Right, that doesn’t matter, so. Can you use it?”

‘Try using Simgwon on that fiend.’ I nodded at Paejon’s question.

“I can use it about two more times.”

“Try it.”

As soon as the command was given, I channeled power into my soul without hesitation.

Simsang wraps around my hand.

I unleashed it directly at the monster.

The energy bursting from my fist headed straight for the monster.

Huuk-! Kwaang-!!

Kreuuaaa–!!!

The fiend, hit by the energy, shook violently.

Watching that, I opened my eyes.

“What the?”

The monster’s reaction after being hit by Simgwon is strange.

It seemed unfazed when I hit it with energy-wrapped fists.

But it reacts so strongly to Simgwon, used relatively lightly?’

Moreover.

‘The barrier broke too.’

It was a much larger hole than when Paejon hit it.

“Hmm…. As expected.”

Paejon, seeing this, nodded as if he had expected it.

“This seems to work.”

At Paejon’s words, I immediately looked at him.

No way.

“Are you saying that barrier only breaks when hit with Simsang?”

“When I mixed it in slightly earlier, it felt different. So, I tested it, and it seems that’s the case.”

Ho ho.

Hearing that, I let out a hollow laugh.

‘To break the barrier, I have to reach the realm of Simsang?’

‘Fucking hell, seriously.’

It couldn’t be anything other than ridiculously difficult.

But, at least I found a way.

“Then, we just need to use that to break it. Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Where else? Shouldn’t we catch that thing?”

“Right. How, exactly?”

“Huh?”

I don’t quite understand the conversation.

If we just found a method, shouldn’t we just use it?’

As I was thinking that.

“Disciple, besides you, who else do you think can do this here?”

“…!”

Paejon’s words made me realize the problem.

I looked around.

Seongyul, who was on guard, was at the perfected peak, and the Black Lion was also a martial artist of the Hua Jing realm, but neither seemed to have reached the Simsang.

“Then, Elder…”

“What I did earlier was the limit. My vessel hasn’t been built yet.”

Damn it.

That means.

I’m the only one here who can break the barrier using Simgwon.

‘…It’s reached its limit.’

I wasn’t in great shape either.

Having just fought Mang, my energy was running low, and Simgwon isn’t a power you can use many times to begin with.

Although I found a method in the recent situation, I only had one Simgwon left to use.

“Fuck.”

The situation was getting worse.

As I had to reconsider how to overcome this.

“Five minutes at most.”

Paejon said, taking a step forward.

“I think I can hold out that long.”

“Elder?”

“Gather the children and open the passage.”

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about right now?”

What is he saying?

I blurted out rough words without realizing it, but Paejon’s expression was calm.

“Unfortunately. It’s because you can’t die here.”

“Earlier you said you don’t teach how to run away, so what is this now?”

“Can’t we just call it a strategic retreat?”

“Seriously, stop talking nonsense.”

“Heh heh.”

Paejon chuckled.

“Still, I am part of a righteous sect, you know.”

Though I’ve never seen him live that way.

Paejon did belong to a righteous sect.

“It feels quite unpleasant to have young juniors die here.”

“So? Are you going to die in our place? We won’t die.”

“Hmm. Isn’t it nice, being a bit like a teacher?”

“Why are you suddenly acting nice? It’s creepy.”

I growled, but Paejon’s reaction didn’t change.

Does he mean it?

‘He said he wanted to see the end of martial arts. What is he doing now?’

I was dumbfounded. I wondered why he was acting like this.

Kkaddeuk.

I ground my teeth.

The fact that Paejon reacted like this after only a few exchanges.

Was something I couldn’t accept.

Paejon shouldn’t bend his will and retreat here.

At least, Paejon shouldn’t do that.

“…Don’t make me laugh.”

Paejon dying in a place like this?

To save me?

Bullshit.

Hwareureuk-!!

I wrapped my hand in flames, constructing the ‘Yeomok’.

I added rotation and compression to it.

“Oho.”

Paejon’s eyes lit up upon seeing the martial art.

An interested gaze for someone who was just saying he’d die in my place.

“Did you finally succeed?”

“…”

I didn’t answer.

After focusing all my attention on my hand, I took a breath and spoke to Paejon.

“Thirty seconds. Please hold on.”

I thought I could perform the technique in that amount of time.

At my concise words, Paejon chuckled.

“Honestly, that guy’s stubbornness never changes.”

I changed the shape of the rotating Yeomok.

I overlaid the vessel of Simsang onto the gradually elongating flames.

The power of Simsang works?’

Then, this should work too.

I covered it with the vessel, which also served as Simsang, so the flames wouldn’t scatter.

That was the purpose, but this too is ultimately a martial art of Simsang.

Judging by its performance, it wouldn’t be strange to say it was made specifically to deal with Hundred-Rank monsters.

I break the protective barrier with Simsang and inject flames into it.

While I was safely solidifying this.

Kuaaaa-!!

Paejon was already grappling with the monster.

Seongyul moved beside him as if assisting, and the Black Lion was also handling things solo.

They seemed to be handling it without issue, but.

It’s visible that they are gradually being pushed back.

That barrier was the problem, after all.

Kiiing–!!

I felt a reaction at my fingertips.

Thirty seconds had already passed; the ‘Yeomok Seongchang’ was complete.

“Hoooo…”

I let out a deep breath.

It’s the largest and densest Seongchang I’ve ever created.

I had poured all my strength into it, so it had to be.

Looking at the completed Seongchang, I thought.

This should be enough. With this, I should be able to kill the fiend.

Kkuuk.

I extended one leg.

Right after assuming a stance to throw the spear.

“Going.”

I said, tensing my shoulders.

It was a very quiet whisper, but it would have been heard clearly by martial artists of that level.

As if to prove it.

The three fighting the monster were pushed back by it.

At the same time, I threw the spear I was holding with all my might.

Kuaaaaaa–!!

The thrown spear, flying rotationally,

Kreu-…!

Directly impacted the monster’s protective barrier.

Kwadeudeuk-! As expected, the Simsang surrounding the Seongchang crushed the fiend’s vessel.

As a hole formed in the barrier, the Seongchang pierced through it and penetrated the fiend’s flesh.

Kyaaaaa–!!

Hwareureuk–!! Kwaaaa!!

The Seongchang embedded in its body then exploded, engulfed in flames.

It worked.

Seeing the monster engulfed in flames, I was filled with elation.

However.

Kyaaaaaaa—!!!

I soon had to frown.

The flames surrounding its body quickly scattered as the fiend struggled.

After the flames dispersed.

“…Fuck.”

Its skin was scorched by the flames, but it wasn’t significant damage.

Its body was indeed deeply pierced, but I could see it regenerating gradually.

I aimed for a vital spot. And it hit directly, yet.

The fiend merely gasped slightly. It remained steadfast.

“Fuck. Seriously.”

Does that even make sense? How the hell am I supposed to catch that thing?

Should I really run away?

In this dog-like situation, I gnashed my teeth.

So I didn’t notice.

Sabak.

Someone approaching from behind.

“Not bad.”

“…!”

My body froze at the voice I heard.

It was heavy. Deep, and even deeper, a weighty voice.

It was a voice that absolutely shouldn’t exist in this chilling meadow.

My tired knees buckled as I turned my head.

Someone passed by my side.

In that gap.

Rustle, I felt a large hand brush through my hair.

I didn’t even question who it was.

If I had any question, it was only why that person was suddenly here.

“Fath–?”

I tried to call out to the person in a surprised voice.

Swik-.

A brief gust of hot wind blew.

Kuuung—!

A massive vibration spread.

When I looked back in the direction of the vibration.

“…!”

Keureureuk…

The Hundred-Rank monster that wouldn’t fall no matter how much we fought.

Keok…!

With half its body blown off, it was slowly collapsing.