Episode 211. The Black Panther’s Seal, Black Lacquer’s Aura (1)
Knock knock.
The sound of a campfire fills the cave.
Kundalit, who had been soothing his aching body, had long since fallen asleep. Rubin was waiting for the ‘Wind of the Tear’, Imakarum, while looking at the bonfire.
In fact, Rubin didn’t know anything about Rayubia’s hidden identity. However, he just didn’t know it ‘exactly’.
‘It doesn’t seem like an ordinary wolf.’
It was a brief encounter, but Rubin’s intuition was different. Since then, his deep suspicions about wolves have not been easily erased.
‘It is definitely a strange being.’
Of course, there is no certainty that this will happen. It is just a guess with a very small probability that it might happen.
But Rubin didn’t completely rule that out either. That’s why he sent Tina to Blaine’s side.
‘The Chosen One’ and the Divine Being.
Thanks to Oscar and Sellock, his perception of the world has expanded beyond comparison to his previous life. Unexplainable phenomena and unknown beings were certainly scattered throughout the world.
‘Is it perhaps a divine beast like Cellok?’
In terms of appearance alone, the wolf of Layubia was nothing special. It was just an ordinary wolf. It was different from the unique appearance of the blue-feathered griffon.
But I thought that this very reason might be pointing to the hidden danger of wolves.
I haven’t seen the wolf’s fighting prowess directly, but that doesn’t matter. The fact that Nerheim’s blood transfusion ability doesn’t work is enough to be suspicious.
‘If by any chance it is a divine being… … .’
Rubin thought about Cellok’s case. He knew a great deal about the Darkness and its clans.
Selok recognized Roinecrow in particular at a glance. Perhaps Roinecrow was the key medium through which the Shinsoos noticed the Amyeon Clan.
This is why Rubin instructed Tina to stay by Blane’s side in the guise of Roinekrow.
‘The Gods exist to protect the ‘chosen ones’. But the fact that there are two Roinecros means that there are two assassins lurking around.’
Even if Rubin doesn’t show up, he can still put pressure on Shinsoo.
-You seem deep in thought, Rubin.
Haneke approached Rubin casually. Rubin readily admitted.
‘I have a lot of worries.’
-Is it because of the fight with Imacarum?
‘No, that’s not it-‘
Another concern for Rubin.
That was exactly the truth about Rayubia. The possibility that the child was Pelchion’s daughter, or… Haneke’s great-granddaughter.
But it was still only a shallow guess. Rubin hid his worries.
‘I was engraving in my head the path that Cellok had shown me.’
-You mean the hidden blacksmith shop?
‘Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.’
The path that Selok had shown us. Its foundation was set 200 years ago. That was before the polar barrier was built, so it needed to be reinterpreted to some extent.
And the starting point was the eastern watchtower of the barrier.
According to Selok, ‘when you get there and the sun spreads its lowest temperature over the land, the next path will appear.’
“… … .”
Rubin took a moment to compile a list of equipment he wanted to commission from the blacksmith.
First, I was going to modify the sword I got from Rosenthaler into a dagger, and I was planning to use the remaining Grade 1 Magic Stone as a material to create a ‘Grade 1 Magic Stone Detector’.
-One more thing. I also need to ask him how to prevent the destruction of his inner world.
Rubin nodded at Haneke’s request.
-If he really survived the war between the kingdoms… he might be a transcendent being. He might know a proper method.
A day before, when Inakitu entered the inner world, Haneke hid himself and listened to their conversation.
So before the Chieftain left the inner world, I knew very well what diagnosis he had made.
Inakitu, who was caressing the land of the inner world, could easily determine the condition.
‘Luhan, just as you were worried, your insides are twisted. Maybe it’s because you yourself have revealed your inner world. It’s a place that should originally be hidden only to yourself. There will be upheaval soon.’
‘When do you think it will be?’
‘… About 3 years.’
He was given a terminal diagnosis, with only three years left before his inner world went out of control. This was much earlier than the demon’s diagnosis.
Haneke was visibly shaken by this. Three years were not enough for Rubin’s revenge to be completed.
Haneke wanted to find a solution as soon as possible and stabilize Rubin, whether it was by bringing along a blacksmith, a shaman, or someone else.
-Of course, this is a story about winning the fight that is about to unfold.
I was just about to get up from my seat, when I sensed something approaching me quickly in the wide-open dark space.
The ‘Wind of Trace’ splitting the grassland. It was far from a stealthy approach, as if its anger had reached its peak. It was overflowing with uncontrollable hostility.
‘Shall we begin?’
Rubin took steps to make the ‘Wind of the Tear’ even more ferocious.
He directed some of his smoke towards the sleeping Kundalit, causing his even breathing to stop for a moment.
I have no intention of killing you. I just want to put out this ‘Flame of Struggle’ for a moment, so that the ‘Wind of Struggle’ can run wild like a storm.
* * *
Suin Imakarum.
Because his entire body was covered in black fur, his figure seemed to have been erased in the night meadow. In the deepening darkness, only his eyes sparkled.
‘East and West.’
Imakarum, who had his nose pressed against the floor, noticed that the Imperial party had split into two groups. Among them, Kundalit’s taunta seemed to be headed toward the east.
He didn’t notice Tina transformed into Rayubia, so he had to hesitate for a moment between east and west.
To the west is the injured wolf of Rayubia, and to the east is Kundalit, who is under the intimidation of the imperialists.
‘I’m sorry to Rayubia, but no matter what, we have to save the chieftain first.’
The worries didn’t last long. The injured wolf was a problem for later.
Even if it is delayed and he dies in the end, it is still just the death of an animal. Even the death of his blood relative, the Demon Horse, would not make Imakarum hesitate now, but a wolf is just that.
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No matter what anyone says, Kundalit comes first.
Saaaaah.
How long had it been since he began galloping east again?
As they reached the eastern end of the barrier, two tied-up horses came into view. One of them was clearly Kundalit’s horse.
‘There! There’s a kundalit.’
Then, he began to imagine all sorts of horrible situations he might have experienced. With his ill feelings towards the imperial people added to the mix, his anger overflowed.
Swish.
He wanted to jump into that cave in the form of a water man, but Kundalit calmed his mind as much as possible. He released his water man and returned to human form.
His upper body was exposed, but since it was part of the culture of the Tohun people, I guess I could somehow get away with it.
Purr. Purr.
After patting the ox once, he bent down and entered the cave.
There was a small bonfire lit, and sitting in front of it was a young man with black hair and eyes.
‘Is that guy from the Empire? He was a green blob of blood?’
They had already met once in the ‘Valley Prison’, but at that time Rubin was wearing a mask. Furthermore, the feeling was very different from now, so Imakarum felt no commonality.
Rubin, on the other hand, was different.
‘So this is how we meet again.’
The face of the prisoner who was locked in the cell overlapped with the face of the person who was just entering.
As expected, Imakarum had returned to the meadow, and as expected, she had willingly shown herself for Kundalit.
“I, lack the instep… … .”
He’ll try to hide the fact that he’s an imakarum.
Rubin, who was smiling, held a bloody frost in one hand. As the sword poured out cold air and extinguished the campfire, Imacarum closed his mouth.
Psisit.
“You finally showed up.”
“… … ?”
“The Wind of the Tear, Imacalum, a first-class prisoner who escaped from the Imperial Prison.”
The cave was dark because the campfire was out. Even so, Rubin could clearly see Imakarum’s shocked face. Rubin got up and approached Imakarum.
And then he passed the stiff forehead and went out of the cave.
And then he looked back. Leaving behind words that would change the ‘wind of struggle’ into a ‘blind storm’.
“An innocent chieftain died trying to find you.”
“… … ?”
Imakarum doubted his own ears.
Does that mean Kundalit is dead? Surely not. Even if he is an imperial bastard, he wouldn’t kill someone so easily and arbitrarily.
Without even asking, Imakarum took trembling steps and approached Kundalit who was lying down.
“… … .”
Rubin watched the Imacallum inside the cave with emotionless eyes.
How long will it be before that guy runs at me?
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds… … .
Imakarum put his ear to Kundalit’s heart, unaware that Rubin’s darkness was clouding his hearing and clutching Kundalit’s fainted heart.
“No, that can’t be… … .”
Even though Imakarum didn’t feel any heartbeat, it seemed like he just wanted to deny the fact.
“You! You! How dare you use the flames of the battle!”
It only took 20 seconds for them to jump out of the cave and attack Rubin. It was a bit later than Rubin had expected.
‘Is the water lily flower yet?’
Rubin had been looking forward to the personification from the beginning, but unfortunately it seemed like it would have to be postponed for a while.
The moment he rushed in, Imacalum pulled out a blunt dagger and displayed a 5-star aura of striking power. He must have thought that this alone would be enough to cut off his neck in one breath.
“… … !”
However, Imacalum’s sword aimed for his neck was blocked in the middle. An unexpected flash of light appeared before his eyes.
Kwakwakwang!
Clash of the auras.
It was a black lacquer aura that blocked the aura of the wound.
The air around the two men who were locking swords grew hot and the pressure rose. The startled Tohunma began to buckle as he faced disaster.
“You… what is your identity?”
Are you dull, stupid, or just plain ignorant?
Brion Auror wrapped around the Blood Frost Sword. However, Imakarum did not react at all upon seeing Brion Auror.
“Looking at this aura, do you have nothing to say?”
“what?”
“I think it would be better to explain after the fight is over.”
Rubin ended the brief moment of peace created by the two swords clashing, then began a fierce attack to bring out the personification of Imakarum.
Buck! Buck! Buck!
“… … !”
Imakarum panicked at the unexpected flow and was focused on defense. However, he was only able to block half of it. Imakarum’s skin gradually became stained with blood.
‘As expected, the aura of the wound is dull. The attack technique is also poor.’
No matter how high the Aura’s level was, there was a clear difference in the level of swordsmanship that was its source.
Although he may only be a 4-star swordsman, Rubin’s Brion Auror is one of the best swordsmen in the Empire.
Furthermore, since Rubin’s swordsmanship was based on the swordsmanship of the Assassin’s Sword, it would not be wrong to say that it was the strongest swordsmanship the world had ever seen.
‘When will you reveal your true form, Imakarum!’
It wasn’t Aura or an attack technique. What Rubin was waiting for from Imakarum was a personification.
A temporary surge of inaction. The sense of battle is overlaid with the instincts of a beast, and the claws are filled with concentrated aura, a unique ability of the Tohun tribe.
Only by becoming a waterman can he achieve balance with Rubin. As Rubin, he will have to fight to that extent to expect to rise to 6 stars.
As expected, Imacallum was also considering the option of Suinhwa in her mind.
‘This monster… … !’
Now, inside the cave, Kundalit’s corpse was rotting away, and only the corpse of this monstrous empire could wash away his rage.
‘Kill him here. For the sake of the fight… …!’
Krrrrrr.
At the sound of the beast’s cries nearby, Rubin secretly slows down his attack.
Black hair spread from the bastard’s fingernails. The sight of his human body transforming into that of a black panther was impressive to Rubin as well.
Because it was my first time seeing a water personification in person, in both my past and present life.
‘… … !’
At that moment, I felt as if the dark illusion that had continued from my previous life was shaking. It felt as if my own five-star illusion was sprouting anew.
‘6 stars are waiting.’
I could be sure. The darkness was telling me that if I could defeat the black mark in front of me, a new realm would open up.
Kwaaaaah!
The whitening of the pupils, signaling the end of the water transformation. With the complete reversal of the whites and blacks, the giant black panther let out a long roar.
Looking into those eerie eyes, Rubin also began to assume his natural fighting stance.
“Come.”
The aura of black lacquer stirred and darkness burned.
