Chapter 444: Heavenly Dragon Sword Saint (2)

Ha Seung-hoon frowned as he saw the familiar yokai right in front of him. He had picked a fight with Harley during his visit to Geumo Island, and now he was causing trouble openly in Mount Mo's territory! This was unacceptable, especially with the current emphasis on unity for the world's reconstruction.

'I'd love to call Harley right now and have him crush this guy, but…'

He imbued Jegal Hye-mi with internal energy and tossed her backwards. At the same time, he tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, and a hot aura surged from his hand. The aura, taking the form of a fire dragon, coiled around the blade, rapidly growing in size.

Whoosh—! Boom!

The fiery aura, imbued with tremendous power through 「Empty Spirit Body」. It engulfed the great yokai charging at him.

"[You bastard! How dare a lowly insect like you—!]"

Even with the difference in their levels, an attack using 「Heavenly Dragon Divine Art」 couldn't be underestimated. After all, it was a martial art learned through the Dragon God's blessing, one of the best in all of Ganghwan. Thanks to it, he had even managed to cut off an arm of the Demonic Sword Demon Lord, a master of the Profound Realm, even though it was during a fight with the Sword Saint.

"[You think you're all that because of a little praise? This level of skill is nothing to me!]"

But that was all it was. Such an attack could momentarily stop Dool's advance, but it couldn't inflict fatal damage on a great yokai like him.

"[Roooooar——!]"

A deafening roar, like thunder, unleashed a torrent of energy, tearing apart the fiery aura that was burning his massive body. Ha Seung-hoon's lips twisted as he glanced at the embers scattering and disappearing.

'Incredible aura resistance, and regenerative abilities that instantly heal any damage… This guy's like a lesser version of Harley.'

Dool was a combat-type great yokai who had also been active during the final battle. Although he had been crushed by Harley, who was superior to him in every aspect, his pure combat power wasn't something to be scoffed at. He was even more troublesome than human masters of the Profound Realm due to his overwhelming resilience and size.

'He's not an opponent I can handle at my current level, still in the Transcendental Realm. If we clash head-on, I won't last long. But…'

He tightened his grip on his sword and glared ahead. Hadn't he just realized it recently? It was foolish to seek comfort while desiring true strength.

'Especially if I want to overcome the wall through martial arts.'

This was a challenge for him. Not to bypass the wall using the characteristics of 「Avatar」 and avoid the side effects, but to truly reach transcendence by refining himself through cultivation. Considering that most of his enormously increased mental strength stat was being consumed in maintaining the levels of his avatars, this was a necessity, not a choice.

Whoosh—

As if to encourage his resolve…

…he felt the energy he had sensed once before permeate his body. The power that only one being in this world could properly wield.

'The Dragon God's divine power?'

He glanced back and smirked. In this desperate situation, his body was invigorated. In contrast, his mind calmed down, and he became acutely aware of his surroundings. His condition was perfect. The verses of the 'Black Dragon Secret Manual,' still unrefined and dormant deep within him, began to stir, asserting their presence.

"Sigh, good. With this much…"

He didn't have time to catch his breath. A ferocious hand, tearing through the air, swiped at him. Swift, Illusory, Mutable. His body, like a flower petal in the wind, soared upwards, using Dool's arm as a stepping stone. The wind dragon swirling at his feet concentrated at the tip of his sword.

Slash—

But his sharp sword strike only left a long scratch on the great yokai's neck. Even that completely regenerated in an instant. Only a small amount of blood oozing from the cut indicated that an attack had landed.

"[You insect!]"

But that was enough to enrage Dool. A lowly human, whom he had disregarded, had dared to injure him! How could he let this go?

"[I will kill you!]"

His pride wounded, he no longer cared about the Dragon's Child. He forgot his original plan to quickly achieve his objective and escape, unleashing his rage. Solely to tear this insignificant human to shreds.

Boom!

"Cough!"

Ha Seung-hoon's body crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater, grazed by Dool's lightning-fast fingers. If he hadn't surrounded himself with an earth dragon to disperse the impact, it wouldn't have ended like this.

But there was no time to breathe.

Rumble—

Dool stomped on the spot he had just barely evaded. The cracked ground crumbled, triggering a massive landslide that swept through the surroundings.

Amidst the deafening roar of the collapsing mountain, a series of explosions echoed.

"Young Master Ha…!"

Jegal Hye-mi, who had escaped using magic, bit her lip and looked towards the source of the tremors as the aftershocks of the clashing auras relentlessly bombarded her.

'Should I have just stayed put? Young Master Ha is in danger because I asked for help…'

It was all thanks to her Dragon's Magic that Ha Seung-hoon was able to reach her in time. Using her experience of being kidnapped and imprisoned by the Demonic Cult, she had calmly completed the Telepathic Communication spell and relayed her location in real time.

'If only I were more capable. Then I could have escaped on my own without asking for help!'

But even though Dool was a combat-type, he was still a great yokai. Secret communication was one thing, but a high-level spell like teleportation wouldn't work so easily, would it? Even earlier, if it weren't for the timely surprise attack that distracted Dool, she wouldn't have been able to escape his grasp.

Rumble—!

Another powerful aftershock surged from the epicenter of the landslide. Various colored dragons soared from the center, illuminating the surroundings. Each one possessed enough destructive power to obliterate a mountain peak, but unfortunately, they were being destroyed and scattered as soon as they appeared.

'What I can do now is…'

Jegal Hye-mi closed her eyes tightly, clasping her hands together. She, who had no other skills besides magic, would only be a hindrance in that fight. The best she could do now was to pray and support him with blessings.

'Geumo Island won't stay still with a yokai causing such a commotion. If he can just hold out until the dragons I saw before arrive!'

Then, her eyes widened as she felt a sudden drain on her power through her connection with Ha Seung-hoon. He had been hit, his body embedded in the cliff, debris raining down.

'No!'

The blessing had absorbed a significant portion of the impact, so he wasn't completely incapacitated. She knew that, but she couldn't help but feel her heart clench as she watched him.

"If I just… surrendered to that yokai…"

He couldn't defeat the great yokai in his current state. He wouldn't last long at this rate. So, rather than losing his life resisting, it would be better for her to follow the yokai and wait for Geumo Island to rescue them…

"Heh, I wouldn't recommend that."

Then, a stranger's voice cut through her thoughts.

"That guy would rather devour you immediately than risk losing his offering again."

"Huh?!"

Startled, she turned around with a wary gaze. A middle-aged man stood a few steps away, arms crossed, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere. He was calmly watching the epicenter of the battle, even as her gaze fell upon him.

'I didn't sense his presence. Who is he?'

Despite the situation, she didn't let down her guard. She should have been able to sense even the slightest presence of anyone approaching, even a master of the Transcendental Realm.

"…Impressive. The Heavenly Dragon Sword Saint, was it? I heard he's still in his twenties, yet he's already facing the wall."

He muttered softly. Although his voice was calm, Jegal Hye-mi could sense the clear jealousy beneath it. Her wariness intensified.

"Tsk, tsk—this guy still hasn't overcome his worldly desires."

"Ugh!"

As another voice echoed, the man who had appeared earlier clutched his head.

"This damned old man…!"

"Oh dear, judging by the way you speak to your master, you still have a long way to go."

"Ugh—!"

Jegal Hye-mi looked at the newly arrived figure with bewildered eyes. An old man with a long beard, dressed in worn-out robes, exuding an otherworldly aura. He merely smiled kindly and stroked his beard, yet the man continued to writhe in pain, gritting his teeth.

"Don't worry, child. That young man won't fall so easily."

Noticing her gaze, the old man smiled gently and nodded slowly.

"By the way, that's truly remarkable. How is that even possible? He's completely defying the laws of this world."

Then, he looked back at the battle and exclaimed in admiration. Wonder and curiosity flickered in his wrinkled eyes.

"Ugh, what are you talking about? It's impressive that he's at that level at his age, but…"

"Hahaha, this foolish disciple can't see even with his eyes open."

The man clutching his head and frowning replied curtly, but the old man continued to exclaim, his gaze fixed on the fight. He could clearly see it. The various martial principles, not of this world, intertwined and forming a single system, emanating from the young Heavenly Dragon Sword Saint. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been able to last this long against a great yokai.

Although the old man was clearly of a higher realm, he couldn't grasp the principles behind it even as he watched. Attacks that should have been unstoppable were being subtly deflected, and counterattacks that should have been ineffective were piercing the thick hide. The movements enveloped in dragon aura far surpassed common sense, and the swordsmanship was beyond his comprehension.

'And his growth is abnormally fast. It's not something that can be dismissed as mere talent. Is he using life-or-death battles as nourishment?'

He was being pushed back only because he was overwhelmingly outnumbered in terms of absolute power. In fact, considering the difference in their capabilities, it was a miracle he was even holding out. And the one who felt this most acutely wasn't the old man watching from the sidelines, but Dool himself, who was facing him directly.

"That's why he's so fixated on that young man."

The old man clicked his tongue and looked at Dool, his expression ferocious. At first glance, he seemed filled with rage, but he could sense a faint fear in his eyes. Something incomprehensible, despite having exchanged blows several times, and still continuing to do so. Moreover, it was growing stronger with time, so it was natural for him to be frantic, trying to crush it before it fully bloomed. He knew what would happen if that incomprehensible power fully blossomed.

"I'd like to wait a bit longer for the young man's sake, but I think this is my limit."

The old man looked at Ha Seung-hoon, who was in a precarious situation. No matter how he endured and sought growth through unknown methods, there was a limit. Dool was a great yokai infamous even in Geumo Island. If more time passed, that talent would be crushed before it could fully bloom, just as Dool intended.

"Disciple, go and assist him. It wouldn't be right for a senior like you to stand by while that young man is working so hard, would it? A life-or-death battle with a great yokai isn't an opportunity that comes often."

"…Are you crazy, old man? You want me to fight Dool when I haven't even overcome the wall yet? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Oh dear! This boy again!"

"Ugh! Fine! Fine! Damn it! I must be crazy to go to that old man myself!"

In the end, the middle-aged man had no choice but to head towards the battlefield. Jegal Hye-mi, who had been quietly observing the situation, followed him with gleaming eyes. It was clear that these people were also hostile towards the great yokai. That meant…

'They're from Mount Mo… no, from above.'

Catching her breath, she cautiously addressed the old man still standing beside her.

"Greetings, elder. I am Jegal Hye-mi of the Hubei Jegal Clan. Are you perhaps from Geumo Island?"

"Oh?"

Mount Mo was practically the main gate of Geumo Island. It wasn't strange for pursuers to arrive so quickly after the incident in their territory.

"Haha, you're a sharp child. It's true that I'm from Geumo Island. I happened to be nearby because of my disciple and grasped the situation."

However, he wasn't going to stand by after witnessing the problem, he said, his eyes gleaming as he slowly stroked his beard. As she swallowed hard at the pressure emanating from him, he continued,

"It's been a while since I've used my name, so I don't have a title to give you. Well, if I were to introduce myself using the title Geumo Island calls me…"

Jegal Hye-mi blinked her wide eyes. As the daughter of the Jegal Clan, who, besides Mount Mo, had the most detailed information on yokai, she knew what the title he uttered signified.

Rakshasa King.

One of the leaders of Geumo Island, on par with the Five Dragons, smiled gently at the Dragon's Child.

"Damn it! What the hell is going on?!"

Ha Seung-hoon's eyes flashed as he saw the man suddenly join the fight. He had been about to call for backup, thinking he was reaching his limit, when the man joined the fray.

'Mok In-gwang?'

A welcome face he had forgotten about since Harley left Ganghwan. Of course, the situation didn't change drastically just because he joined. Mok In-gwang, now called the Nine Lights Demon, was still a martial artist at the peak of the Transcendental Realm, not having overcome the wall of the Profound Realm yet. But it was true that his arrival gave him some breathing room. It gave him a chance to compose himself.

"Argh! This damned old man! I'm dying! I'm really dying!"

Moreover, judging by his words, his master seemed to be nearby as well.

'The yokai who taught him the Light Emperor's Heart Technique?'

The yokai who had taught Mok In-gwang, an orphan suffering from uncontrollable madness, a mental cultivation technique to control his frenzy. It seemed he had finally found him and formed a master-disciple relationship after the increased interaction with Geumo Island following the war.

'I'd forgotten about him, but he seems to be doing well.'

He hadn't been able to pay much attention to him due to being busy, but he couldn't help but feel glad to see his former subordinate doing well.

"Damn it! Damn! That old man, I'll kill him someday!"

Although it seemed his madness, which had subsided after Harley's special physical therapy, had relapsed…

At the same time, in the illusory realm.

The Yellow Dragon—Horus—who had been ready to cross dimensions at any moment, curled up again.