Chapter 758: Hero Appears.

Swish-!

Boom–!!

The sounds of explosions bursting one after another.

The heat filling the surroundings made it hard to breathe.

Fwoosh-!!

Blue flames surged, and the fire soared.

Pouring out all my strength, I continuously hurled the Holy Spear.

“Hooook!”

One more.

Swish–!!

The Holy Spear flew in and hit the target. I immediately released the Core Energy and detonated it.

Fwoooooosh–!!

Along with the roar, the air pressure spread in all directions.

“…Kkuh…!”

“Ugh!”

Those with lower cultivation levels couldn’t withstand it and were swept away.

Perhaps because it was thrown with full power, the original ground had already collapsed disastrously.

However.

‘Do I need to use two more?’

My expression was still not good.

Six shots already.

Even after throwing them to my limit, I still had to fire a few more times.

It was at a point where such thoughts naturally arose.

Gulp.

Remembering, I chewed and swallowed another Poison Pill.

It hurt my stomach to use the few remaining ones like this, but there was no choice.

‘The Poison King will handle it, I guess.’

Since he said he almost succeeded in making the Poison Pills, let’s just consider this an investment.

Otherwise, I felt like I’d die from stomach pain first.

‘…Damn it, how much would this sell for.’

Maybe slightly more expensive than Ten-Thousand Year Iron?

It would be enough to buy a decent residence in the middle of Hanam.

‘Shit….’

Calculating it made my stomach hurt even more.

I was already annoyed from eating one earlier, and this was the second one.

‘Hoo….’

Calming my burning insides, I narrowed my eyes.

Even though it was a waste, I had to think rationally for now.

Right, what’s the point of money if you’re dead? It’s useless then.

‘I have to survive first.’

Recalling my goal, I circulated my internal energy.

Smoke was thick from the continuous explosions, making it hard to see ahead.

Yet, I could tell. Nothing had gone as I’d wished.

Fwoosh–!!

I created air pressure to clear the smoke.

Then, in the now clear view, the target became clearly visible.

Tududuk.

The white mass I first saw.

Something pure white, still emitting threads.

Perhaps from the impact of the Holy Spear, it had some cracks, but it wasn’t completely destroyed.

‘…Tsk.’

Seeing this, I clicked my tongue briefly.

I had expected a little, but as expected, it was as expected.

‘Even if it looks like that, it’s still White-Grade, right?’

White-Grade monster.

Commonly known as a Dragon.

A remnant of the past, said to have been sealed in Hanam.

It seemed that was indeed it.

It must be.

‘That’s why the damage is only going into the Mindscape, I guess.’

Seeing the cracked part, I was convinced.

The damage must have occurred because I mixed in Mindscape energy.

The problem was.

‘Is that all?’

This too was less damage than expected.

The cracks were clear, but only just that much.

It was extremely ambiguous to call it a definite impact.

‘Even though I poured my full strength into it.’

Unlike during the sparring match, this Holy Spear was fired with all my might.

Moreover, during the Martial Arts Festival, I only used it twice moderately against the Divine Dragon, meaning the power level is incomparable to then.

Look.

“…Is this the So-Yeomra…?”

“It’s too much, no matter how you look at it. This is even worse than the rumors…”

Martial artists who had appeared nearby were astonished, witnessing the power of the Holy Spear.

Judging by their clothes, they were martial artists from famous sects.

‘There’s the Hua-san Sect. Are those guys from Kunlun?’

I see some from the Nine Sects and followers of Shaolin too.

I catch glimpses of members from renowned families too, but there are more sect members than them.

The number of people is in the dozens.

Seeing the traces of battle on them, it seems they were fending off attacks until just now.

And in the midst of that, they came here sensing the energy?

‘They’ve got guts.’

Instead of running, they charged right into the center.

I have to admit, they have spirit.

I quickly memorized their faces.

My intention was to spare them if I ever had to kill them later.

So, starting now.

“Listen carefully.”

“What?”

“…Huk!”

As I spoke, channeling my internal energy, the amplified voice echoed all around.

I made it as loud as possible so everyone could hear.

“From now on, those who cannot wield Mindscape (心想) should withdraw.”

A brief warning I uttered.

The reactions to my words were quite intense.

“Mindscape?”

“If it’s Mindscape… doesn’t that mean something like Sword-Mind Unity?”

For a sect, it’s Elder-level. Perhaps only the Sect Leader level could barely reach it.

To imbue one’s Mindscape into martial arts.

It’s something possible only when one’s lifelong profound enlightenment and supreme realm combine.

“You say withdraw if you can’t wield it… which means.”

“You mean you can wield it…?”

Can So-Yeomra wield that?

Reactions flew back, seemingly surprised about this.

Is that more important than why I mentioned Mindscape?

Martial artists were truly incomprehensible beings.

“That’s not what’s important right now. If you can’t use it, it won’t be much help anyway, so withdraw if you can’t use it.”

The preceding situation was more important to me than those reactions.

This is a characteristic discovered by the Battle God.

White-Grade monsters cannot be damaged without the power of Mindscape.

What a fucking ridiculous and absurd characteristic this is.

‘Elder-level from renowned families and prestigious sects. At least that level is required to meet the condition.’

It was just too much.

No matter how I looked at it, it was a shitty condition.

‘What can I do.’

If they tell me to jump, I jump.

Complaining about the situation won’t change anything.

‘Hoo.’

I just sighed and started warming up.

At the same time, I looked sideways and spoke.

“You go too.”

“…”

“Seriously, you never listen. Where do you think you are coming to?”

As I said that, frowning, Namgung Bi-ah flinched slightly.

And why is she wearing my clothes?

“I definitely told you this morning. Just stay put quietly. Why don’t you listen?”

“…”

There was no answer.

She just stared at me blankly, as usual.

The emotions in her eyes were worry and a bit of anger.

Emotions I wouldn’t have recognized a few years ago, but now I could somewhat see them.

“Did you come here knowing what that is?”

“…What is that…?”

“…Hm?”

“…I don’t know what it is….”

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes shifted slightly.

At first glance, it looked like a frown.

“But… why do only you know…?”

“…”

Why do you know something most people don’t?

As she asked that, my mouth was shut for a moment.

Her eyes trembled.

Did she see?

She probably figured it out.

“That’s…”

“…”

Just as I hesitated, unable to think of what to say.

“…You don’t have to say it…. Instead…”

Sreung.

Namgung Bi-ah had already drawn her sword.

“…Don’t say anything about this either…”

“…”

I won’t ask, so don’t nag me either.

It was a perfect tactic.

‘Damn it.’

Since when did she become so smart?

I wondered if she was always this good with words.

As I was left speechless and unable to say anything.

“My niece is right. Yes. Everything she says is right.”

A middle-aged man appeared, chuckling from somewhere.

He had a handsome appearance with silvery-white hair.

“…Goe-seon.”

Mu-dang Goe-seon Namgung Hyung.

He was Woo-hyeok’s teacher.

As I looked at him, Namgung Hyung quickly gestured and said.

“Let me say this beforehand, I just followed along to stop her. But my niece is quite stubborn. Hohoho.”

Yeah, right.

It was a flimsy excuse.

‘I couldn’t stop this guy.’

I didn’t expect him to come in the first place.

‘I stopped Woo-hyeok easily though.’

That Woo-hyeok fellow is currently holed up in his residence.

Since he’s clearly a demon, I could stop him with an order.

To be precise, rather than giving an order, I maximized his awareness that he should just stay put in his residence for the sake of protecting the Young Princess.

Thus, one by one.

I tried to prevent the people around me from coming here.

I definitely tried.

“Just trying won’t stop it, you know.”

There were more presences felt behind Namgung Bi-ah.

“Do you know you’re really mean, Young Master?”

Tang Soyeol, looking quite annoyed.

And.

“Knowing you’d be like this, you told me to stay put? That’s not something I can listen to.”

Even Wi Seol-ah, who had bandages wrapped around her chest.

Seeing Wi Seol-ah especially made me think of many things.

“Even if others can come, you shouldn’t have.”

It was Wi Seol-ah, who had been bedridden after her sparring match with the Divine Dragon.

It was said she needed repeated rest due to severe external and internal injuries.

I spoke as if I were angry, but.

“…How could I just lie there?”

Wi Seol-ah smiled, looking at me.

“I couldn’t just do that.”

‘I’m going crazy.’

I wanted to tell them all to get lost right now.

To get lost and not interfere.

I wanted to yell at them, curse them, and tell them to leave immediately, but.

Woowoowoong.

“…Fuck.”

I didn’t even have the leeway to attempt such persuasion.

I immediately turned my head and put strength into my body.

Swooooo.

“What, what is that?”

“…Threads…?”

Everyone around widened their eyes.

The white mass.

It was because the threads emanating from something presumed to be an egg had finally formed a shape.

Layer by layer, connecting lines.

The shape being completed looked like…

‘Butterfly Wings (蝶翼)…?’

Butterfly wings.

It had an appearance that could be seen as such.

The size wasn’t that large.

However, relative to the size of the egg, it was somewhat large.

Confirming that, I put my mind to work.

‘Did I fail to capture it right from the start?’

Seeing it had progressed that far, it seemed so.

But I wasn’t disappointed.

‘I figured it would turn out that way anyway.’

Because I didn’t believe things would resolve so easily.

Clunk.

Whirlyric-!!

The rings of the Nine Flame Wheel Technique, hung on my heart, spun rapidly.

Raising the heat drastically, my body began to activate.

‘I need more time to figure it out.’

What kind of creature is that?

I lack the time to confirm this.

However.

‘Things like that… I’ll figure them out while fighting.’

Now was the time to charge.

Kkuuk-!

Hwarururuk–!!

Just before leaping, enveloping my body in blue flames.

I looked at the women watching me.

What should I say?

Should I tell them to just watch because it’s dangerous?

No.

They weren’t the type to listen even if I said that.

Should I tell them to be careful or not to die?

They’d just let it in one ear and out the other anyway.

Then should I tell them to run if it gets dangerous during the fight?

No, they wouldn’t listen to that either.

If so.

“I won’t say it twice, so listen carefully.”

There was only one thing left.

“If you think you won’t be helpful to me, withdraw. In fact, that would be the most helpful thing you could do.”

“…!”

“….”

“…Eut.”

The moment they heard my words, the expressions of the three contorted simultaneously.

I know it might hurt them.

But this was the most proper method.

Immediately after speaking the words.

Boom-!!

I increased my speed, stomping as if to crush the ground.

‘If it doesn’t work from afar, then up close.’

The distance closed in an instant.

Hwarururuk-! Feeling the speed, I created a Holy Spear in my hand.

It was a martial art created for throwing spears, but in terms of destructive power, this would be better.

Afterward, gripping the completed Holy Spear with both hands, I thrust it with all my might.

Just before the spear tip touched the mass.

Kwaak-!

“…Huh!?”

The mass moved, an arm stretched out, and abruptly grabbed the Holy Spear.

Yes, it was a hand.

Something closer to a beast’s paw than a human hand.

Such a hand emerged and blocked the spear.

Seeing that, I relaxed my strength.

My judgment was swift.

As I let go of the spear I was holding, I pulled my body back.

I detonated the Holy Spear right there.

Kuuuuung—!!!

An explosion occurred, and the shockwave erupted, but.

‘What is it?’

Standing far away, watching the scene, I wore a puzzled expression.

Tududuk.

Whether the explosion was absorbed by the hand that grabbed the spear, it was breaking apart, and fragments were falling.

Up to that point, it was fine.

But.

‘What is that?’

Swoooooo….

My eyes were fixed not on the hand, but on the mass.

Tuk.

Tuk-tuk.

Moving past the hand.

The mass itself was changing.

Starting with the first arm that stretched out, both arms were formed.

Passing the torso, two legs and a tail.

And finally, the head.

The something that took form staggered and stood up on its two legs.

How should I even describe that?

It walks on two legs, so I thought it might be human, but.

Looking at the shape of its limbs and its tail, it wasn’t.

Furthermore, with butterfly wings on its back, its face was….

‘…The face of a mountain goat.’

Goats or mountain goats.

It had the head of a beast from that category.

Its size, as I mentioned earlier, was around nine feet tall.

It was quite large for a human, but too small to be called a Dragon or a monster.

‘It’s different from the Dragons I’ve seen.’

They were so large I thought maybe a hill was moving.

What on earth is this thing?

I couldn’t know.

However.

Jureureuk.

Wiping away the cold sweat, I recalled.

Judging by the sensation that naturally arose in my body, one thing was certain.

‘…It’s dangerous.’

That thing is an extremely dangerous existence.

I observed it, filled with caution.

[…]

The creature that just got up moved its head, looking around.

It looked at its own arm, then began examining the people around one by one.

As it looked around like that, it wasn’t long before its eyes met mine.

“…”

[…]

It wasn’t a long eye contact.

It wouldn’t even last a second if measured by time.

That was enough.

“Everyone.”

The time to grasp what that thing would do next.

That alone was enough.

“…Prepare for battle.”

The moment I spoke, channeling my internal energy.

[Ah.]

The creature let out a short sound, and then.

[Aaaaaaaaaaa–!!!]

It let out a roar.

It was a roar filled with killing intent.

“Uwaaak…”

“My, my ears…!”

Due to the sudden situation, everyone covered their ears with their hands.

Just hearing the sound shook the internal energy within my body.

With this, the people around must have known too.

That it was definitely not a benevolent creature.

That it was the one we had to fight.

‘…Damn.’

The corners of my mouth turned up.

I could tell just by feeling the killing intent.

I don’t see a good chance of winning.

It’s the same as when I faced the mindless White-Grade monster before.

If it were about hunting it, it seems impossible right now.

As the tension rose, I recalled my objective.

‘It’s okay.’

It should be okay.

It would be dangerous if I intended to hunt it.

But that wasn’t what I needed to do to it right now.

‘I just need to endure.’

If I couldn’t capture it early on, this is the second plan.

Endure against it.

Somehow enduring until the very end, that was my second plan.

I wasn’t the one who was going to hunt it.