Episode 419
The reckless Luan.
Idiot Luan.
Badnikker’s crippled Luan… … .
That little brat once had a dream he longed for.
The childish and shameful dream was to defeat the Demon King together with the Iron Blood Knight.
I had that dream dozens of times, even when I was a mercenary, because I wanted it so desperately.
How empty it feels when you wake up from a dream.
Well, the people next to me weren’t Iron Blood soldiers, but low-level, insignificant mercenary bastards…
Because what I was fighting wasn’t the Demon King, but a mere monster.
But what a coincidence, my once insignificant dream has become reality.
Even in the South where I had that dream.
I and Cheolhyeolgong simultaneously closed the distance between us and the cult leader.
My tactic was to aim for the leader’s front, while Delak aimed for the rear. We didn’t really match up, but we reached the leader at the same time, and at that moment, the guy moved his hand again.
The moment the pale hands revealed under the dark sleeves made a diamond-like rhombus, an opaque curtain appeared around the leader.
I’ve seen this guy build a barrier around himself many times, but this one felt different.
It’s a special, I guess.
Kaang!
That was actually the case.
Delak’s sword, which had previously easily torn through the leader’s shield, was properly blocked this time.
I was standing in front, and I exchanged glances with the leader, and somehow I could guess what this unpleasant guy was thinking.
‘Are you trying to kill time?’
You cowardly little bastard… … .
Of course, another way to phrase this insult would be – you’re being very strategic.
Just as I had figured out the leader’s intentions, the leader also seemed to have realized my condition.
The last flame left by Vulcan had a time limit, and even at this moment, the flame was quickly consumed and going out.
That means it gets weaker as time goes by.
So, from the leader who avoided direct combat, I felt that he had a sinister judgment to just blow his nose without doing anything.
‘but…….’
It seemed like the leader, who had entered a defensive state, had limitations.
Instead of gaining extreme defense, you feel like you’re unable to move?
And if the opponent was standing still, I could also take my time preparing for the first meal.
I breathed calmly and focused my attention on the Vulcan flames swirling throughout my body.
This flame is temporary, and after today’s battle, it will disappear from me without a trace… … .
Still, the feeling of being surrounded by the flames of this divine being was special, and I thought that it would definitely be of help to me someday.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaah-!
Is there anything in this world that is easier to mix with than fire?
The moment the energy drawn from the dantian transformed into fire, Vulcan’s flames responded and burned even more fiercely.
At some point, the line between the internal energy raised and the flames of Vulcan became blurred.
I threw a pistol at the leader.
Baekilsik, the 9th Invitation Ceremony.
A life of a snake.
This ritual, which had the meaning of nine snakes born from the sun, was more than the last ritual, which could be said to be the secret of the Baekilsik if only considering the amount of energy consumed.
Now, thanks to Vulcan’s dragon armor, it is possible to use it without difficulty.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Even I, who was accustomed to salt, was experiencing the flames for the first time as they exploded towards the leader.
Originally, the nine-headed snake-like shape of the fist was a refreshing attack that targeted the enemy’s vital points at the same time.
Could it be because of Vulcan’s influence?
The life I had saved had a magnificent appearance, as if the sun had turned into a dragon.
It had nine heads on one body, which reminded me of the Hydra, a monster from mythology.
It also seemed as if Vulcan, who had already disappeared, had returned once again to pressure the cult leader.
Wow, wow, wow!
The moment the snake’s head struck the leader’s shield five times, the once opaque shield, which had been incredibly strong, collapsed.
Then the remaining four snakes rushed forward and bit the leader’s limbs one by one.
It was a moment when I had to land a decisive blow, but I was so overcome with weakness that I couldn’t even continue my attacks.
Luckily, I wasn’t the only one fighting this damned enemy.
Delak, who was waiting for an opportunity, swung his sword again and cut the leader’s body in half.
Phew!
It felt visually and audibly different from the attacks so far.
Until now, when cutting down the leader, it only sounded like cutting a piece of cloth, but this time, it really sounded like blood and flesh were being cut.
In fact, an excessive amount of smoke poured out from between the gaps in the blade.
Could that smoke be the blood that makes up the cult leader?
[hmm…….]
The body of the cult leader who had been crying quickly returned to its original state, and the opaque membrane also formed again.
I realized that the leader’s physique had become somewhat smaller than before.
‘It works.’
It was the first victory I saw in a situation where there was no answer, but my expression would not be bright.
This is because the fire dragon armor that had just surrounded his entire body has faded significantly.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
‘I feel like I might be able to use it one more time.’
But will it really be possible to take down the cult leader with just that one opportunity?
To be honest, it was hard to be sure.
Above all, the moment I thought that it didn’t seem like he would continue to maintain a defensive stance.
I suddenly felt dizzy and staggered.
‘What is this… … .’
For a moment I thought it was a side effect of the 100-day meal, but it felt a little different.
I frowned and looked inside, and saw that energy that was not mine was coursing through my body.
It’s not a musical instrument.
‘poison?’
When on earth? Only then did I see the leader. I could see a faint air current flowing out from under this guy’s large, thick clothes.
This sinister little bastard was pretending to focus only on defense, while steadily laying the groundwork.
Although breathing stopped immediately, the amount of venom that had already penetrated the body was considerable.
If it had been a musical instrument instead of poison, I, who had mastered the Amcheonwolhyanggeuk, would have been able to respond to it to some extent… … .
How on earth did this poison come about? It made even my body, which is usually able to fight off even the most severe poisons with its immune system, tremble.
‘My father…….’
I checked Delak’s complexion, but fortunately, there was no significant change in the gentleman’s expression.
Do I possess a protection that allows me to resist poison? Or is it simply because my physical toughness surpasses mine?
Anyway, as the poison slowly ate away at my body, the Hwa-ryong-gap, which was affected by my physical condition, also began to shake uneasily.
The moment I thought that if things continued like this, the flame might go out… … .
The leader changed the shape of his hand.
A pose where both palms are joined together.
What happened when you put your hands together earlier?
‘Scattered like fog?’
Are you trying to run away?
It is an effective tactic against an already addicted enemy.
If you just waste time, you’ll die on your own.
Besides, from the beginning, the cult leader didn’t seem to have any intention of confronting us head-on.
The moment I, slightly impatient, reflexively tried to raise my internal energy, I sensed something eerie in the realm of instinct.
I felt a strange sense of oppression from the sky, but I jumped up from that spot and dodged into the air.
Kwaaaaaaaang-!
At that moment, a giant hand appeared, destroying the rooftop floor.
It was a half-decayed hand that looked even more hideous than the skeletal hand seen earlier.
This hand looked like countless hands, big and small, joined together, and one of them stretched out and grabbed my ankle.
I felt a sense of foreboding somehow.
It felt similar to when you tried to avoid Tangtata’s tongue swarm and got your ankle grabbed.
At the same time, I felt as if the instrument and the poison were directly invading my body.
If it weren’t for the Hwa-ryong-gap, my right foot would have rotted away blackly long ago and would have had to be amputated.
The hand grabbed me and pulled me in.
The aftereffects of the 100th day meal, the symptoms of addiction, and the pulling force were so great that I had no choice but to be dragged along helplessly.
Bam! Bam! Bam… … !
How far are you going to take it?
I fell lower and lower, destroying several floors of the tower.
Is this what it feels like to be dragged away by a water ghost?
When I had destroyed about twenty floors, my body recovered somewhat and I burned the hand that had caught me.
Only then was I able to stop falling.
“Coolook.”
The field coughed and looked around.
The tower that the cult leader had rebuilt seemed to be only made to look nice on the outside; the inside was completely empty.
First of all, it was far from the punishment cell I remembered.
Still, there were things like broken furniture here and there.
I stumbled for a moment and sat down on the chair whose back was broken.
‘…I have to go again.’
My eyes felt heavy and my body felt weak. I had a weak thought that I wanted to close my eyes for just 10 minutes.
The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for me, but I also thought that if things continued like this, it would only become a hindrance.
I waited for a while for my body to recover, and also killed the momentum of the Hwalong Armor as much as possible.
And then I looked up and saw the hole I had made as I fell was quickly being repaired.
It’s as if the tower itself is a living organism that heals itself.
The moment I turned my eyes away from that strangely awkward scene, I felt a sudden noise behind me.
I reflexively took a stance, and then my spirits suddenly gave out.
Because it was Delak who emerged from the shadows.
“Are you okay?”
“So-so. But is it okay for you to come here like this? What about the leader?”
“I’m focusing on defense and evasion. It’s embarrassing, but it’s hard for me to deal with it alone.”
I nodded at Delak’s words.
“That’s possible. Even though he doesn’t look like he’s in good shape, he’s a being that has been reborn as a demon lord. What can I do on my own when such a guy just runs away or blocks me?”
I didn’t really intend to comfort her, but as I spoke, my tone became like that.
Delak’s expression didn’t change much, but he seemed agitated for some reason.
I opened my mouth, taking a deep breath.
“One more time is possible.”
“what?”
“I can break that cult leader’s barrier just like before. That’s the last thing I can do. Then it’s up to my father to do it.”
“Are you thinking of using that technique again?”
“That’s right.”
“How is your body doing now?”
For a moment, I was speechless.
I guess you could say he’s an iron-blooded man.
I think I realized my body’s condition.
“Are you planning to die?”
“… … .”
“That can’t be done. Let’s switch roles. I’ll show you how to remove the leader’s barrier.”
“Can you definitely get rid of it? I know that my father has mastered various swordsmanship techniques. However, each warrior has their own tendencies, and my father’s tendencies, as far as I can tell, are far from destructive.”
I said, looking at Delak.
“I have to do it. It would be most efficient for me to break the barrier and for my father to cut off the leader’s head.”
“… … .”
Delak closed his mouth.
Kuung, kuung… … .
A vibration was felt outside the tower.
The leader is probably worried about our surprise attack right now. He won’t move right away, but he’s not stupid.
It won’t be long before we resume movement.
Maybe they’ll try to tear down this whole tower.
In any case, it is correct to see the current situation as being unfavorable to us.
And in a fight, it’s usually the one on the losing side who has to take the gamble.
While I was thinking about this and that, Delak said something rather strange.
“…Are you planning to die in front of me again?”
“I beg your pardon?”
I looked at Delak with somewhat surprised eyes.
The man seemed more surprised by his own words than anything else.
“No… … . Wait. This is, my memory-.”
Delak, who was momentarily confused, sighed.
“… Am I strange? Am I not worthy of being the head of a great family? Do I feel like I am different from the Delak you remembered?”
“… … .”
“Is this an unusual thought for an iron-blooded man?”
Looking at Delak’s unstable appearance, my heart, on the other hand, became calm.
I said with a somewhat relieved mind.
“Do you know the word ‘true tragedy’?”
“what?”
“A terrible sadness. That’s what they say when a child dies before their parents. As they say, parents can’t bury their children in the ground.”
Delak’s expression became strange.
It seemed like he didn’t understand what I was trying to say.
Actually, I did the same.
I don’t know what I want to say now.
I opened my mouth, paying the utmost attention to putting sincerity into every word.
“I think a hero is not a wise man. He is not a strong man, and certainly not a brave man. A hero is someone who can endure a little better than ordinary people. That’s what we are. We can overcome sorrow.”
But the Luan Badnicker of the past couldn’t do that.
He gave up on life without being able to overcome his mother’s death. So, at that time, Luan was not qualified to be a hero.
How about now?
“How many people will be involved in the southern part of the southern part of the country.”
“… … .”
“We always understand that anyone, at any time, can die. And we are prepared for that. When we see our comrades sacrifice, we know that one day that role may come to us.”
There’s nothing special about it.
Then, this time, it was my turn.
I saw Delak.
If he had been an iron-blooded man in the past, he would have been persuading this man in a way that would have been impossible… … .
Looking at Delak’s expression, I thought that my words were not entirely useless.
That’s fine.
I said with a grin, thinking that Delak’s expression was getting too serious.
“But don’t worry. I don’t want to die right now, and I’m not going to gamble without losing. Isn’t there still one last resort for Luan?”
I smiled and found two glasses buried in the rubble of the tower.
Then a thought occurred to me that had no meaning in the current situation.
It was a somewhat strange idea, but I immediately took action because I thought my head was not in its right place.
He swept the sand into broken glasses and offered one to Delak.
“Cheers to a better world.”
“… … .”
Delak hesitated for a moment and then picked up the glass.
Since the gentleman didn’t say anything even after holding the glass, I insisted on saying it once more.
“Cheers.”