〈Episode 629〉 Nine. And three.
Phew-!
The hallway was filled with cold air.
Thud thud! The sound of the palace collapsing was heard in the aftermath of a fierce fight.
The silence was clear, but within it a tiny sound was echoing.
Stop.
At some point, the sound stopped.
The silence has arrived.
Suddenly all sound stopped.
I didn’t even feel the cold air that was rushing in.
I wasn’t embarrassed by this.
I just sit still and look at the woman I’m holding in my hand.
From the corner of the mouth where black blood was flowing out.
Even the whites of the eyes were exposed while fainting.
It was already clear that he had lost consciousness.
[How did you know?]
She was talking to me.
What’s unusual is that it’s not the voice of a woman who was originally considered beautiful.
The point is that a thick man’s voice is being heard.
I heard the voice and chuckled.
“Oh, yeah. Nice to meet you too.”
[…]
The guy is silent for a moment at my greeting.
His expression was frozen so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
I didn’t care about that.
A few seconds pass.
[I’ll ask again.]
The guy asks me again.
[The ninth pureblood.] [How did you know I was in the body of an apostle? I asked.]
‘Hmm.’
I frowned slightly after hearing that.
There are already two pieces of information in that short statement.
apostle.
The ninth pureblood.
I had to forcefully reduce the corners of my mouth that were about to go up.
Then he said to him:
“Apostle… Is this girl your apostle?”
[haha-.]
The guy lets out a short laugh.
[I know you’re not surprised, but you’re trying to make a funny play.]
Oh, I got caught.
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okay.
I wasn’t particularly surprised by what he said.
I’ve been through so many things in my life that I wasn’t surprised by something like this.
What’s more,
This was even more so because it was something I had expected.
‘Sadoni, I didn’t know what the nine was.’
All I expected was that there was something inside Yuseon’s body.
I had an inkling that it had something to do with ice.
Any other information was unknown.
[Are you not going to answer my question?]
I nodded my head after hearing that.
You have a really bad temper.
“It wasn’t really a huge question.”
Even if you say it was expected, it wasn’t that hard to figure out.
It was for a purely simple reason.
That would be the case.
“This year.”
The wire is.
“It’s not a topic.”
Too weak to be a dragon.
[subject?]
“Yeah. That was off topic.”
It’s not my place to say this, but Yooseon has too many shortcomings to be called a dragon.
That was the first doubt.
I wouldn’t have known this before.
I’ve matched it a few times. This is something I realized while fighting.
I don’t know what principle and effect this power has.
The wire that used the power was strong.
It’s just that the level is so different compared to when it wasn’t there.
‘… It’s not that bad.’
It wasn’t that strong.
Oh, of course.
Considering his age, it would be an incredible level. But it simply means ‘compared to me’.
It’s true that she’s reached Hwagyeong, but if you substitute that for Yong, it’s a mean level.
If you don’t have any power, you’re no different from a normal drone.
It’s a bit odd to treat Hwagyeong as a normal unmanned vehicle. Anyway, that’s what happened.
It’s a bit too weak to be called a dragon.
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I was just convinced of the battle.
‘It’s too much to be a dragon.’
It is true that Yooseon has outstanding talents as a human being.
It didn’t seem like it had the potential to be a dragon in and of itself.
So I thought about it.
What happened that made Yooseon become a dragon?
The reason why he became a dragon by going over the wall.
and.
Even though I call myself a pureblood. The reason why Yooseon is not a pureblood.
I wanted to know that.
Wiggle.
When greed swallowed up the guy’s power for a moment.
It was only then that I noticed one thing.
‘There’s something inside.’
The wire holds something.
Like me.
What could it be?
I wonder what it contains.
What is it that makes it so fine and yet so clear?
Here’s what we can be sure of.
‘That’s what made this guy a dragon.’
That was the point.
Given that confidence, I didn’t have to worry about it for too long.
Because I already noticed a familiar vibe due to the exploration.
It was not like any other place, and there was no way I wouldn’t have known what I had just felt.
Ice essence.
Yuseon felt the energy of the iceberg.
This is not strange.
To begin with, the Ice Palace’s bloodline itself uses the Ice Palace.
It is only natural that the ice crystal has a smoky aura.
As the princess said.
‘Since the bloodline carries the curse of ice, it is only natural that they have energy.’
The feeling that Yooseon felt was different from that.
It was much more twisted.
It felt much darker.
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What could it be?
That’s what I was so curious about.
“It’s refreshing to meet you like this.”
[…her.]
Fortunately, I was able to meet him after coming out a little(?) strong.
“What should I call you? Bingjeong? Is that okay?”
[… I don’t really care about titles. That’s not the point.]
Jeez-!
“…!”
Kwaaaaahh …
An ice pick shoots out through the ground.
I was able to quickly back away and barely avoid it.
Kuk kuk kuk-!
The rising awl pierces the ceiling and creates a barrier.
“What is this?”
[I think we’re too close to talk.]
Knock knock.
The flesh of the person who spoke gradually changes.
The twisted body was being forcibly regenerated.
Torn skin comes back to life.
Broken bones are mended.
It was a truly wild sight.
[Nice to meet you, ninth. I am the third pureblood.]
Woodduck.
Even the sunken upper body was completely restored.
[They say it’s called ‘Mang (望)’.]
‘net.’
Hearing his words, I remembered the times when Yooseon used his powers.
-net…!
I’m sure he said something when he used his power.
I guess that was its name.
There.
‘The third pureblood.’
In addition to calling me ninth, it means that you have given me a ranking.
“Are you saying there are seven more besides you?”
Even if we exclude Yooseon, who is not a pureblood.
This could mean that there are more things called purebloods.
To that question, the guy named Mang would answer.
[There was. Long ago.]
The answer came in the past tense with an affirmative response.
It was a long time ago.
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“You mean not now?”
[haha.]
Mang lets out a short laugh.
[None. Except for one guy… No, now there are two.]
If it increases by two, it means one person is missing.
Who could that one be?
There.
‘There were eight purebloods. Seven disappeared and only one remained.’
The situation seems to be something like that.
Let’s leave aside the old circumstances. These things weren’t important now.
The guy who is confronting me right now and saying that I’m screwed.
this guy.
‘It’s not a blood horse.’
The guy wasn’t a blood horse.
I could tell because I had encountered a blood demon even for a moment.
At first glance, the energy seems similar, but something is different.
What’s the problem with this?
‘They said that the ice crystals were left behind by the blood demon.’
The solvent they were talking about, in my opinion, was a blood demon.
He said that the cold spell began when he placed icebergs in the North Sea.
But.
If this guy isn’t really a blood demon.
‘What is this again?’
It couldn’t have been a more bizarre situation.
“What are you? What the hell are you doing in that woman’s body? And what is a pureblood?”
The ninth pureblood.
In a situation where I don’t even know what a dragon is, what is a pureblood?
‘The princess said that it was a dragon that broke the bowl by itself and climbed up.’
It was a truly ambiguous statement.
Because it was said that only eight people other than me had gone through this process.
To a question with that meaning.
[This is strange. It’s the ninth. You’re mistaken.]
The net speaks to me.
[How can you expect me to answer that?]
He said he had no intention of answering the question.
Hearing that, I found myself laughing without realizing it.
“You have a really prickly personality. Could you please tell me something?”
[Do you think I am kind to you?]
“Since you’re a pureblood or something, you could help each other out if you’re in the same situation.”
He spits out his words and examines the ice in front of him.
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Can you break it?
I was just thinking about giving it a try.
at that time.
[The same. That’s ridiculous.]
The net continues to speak to me.
There was an unknown coldness in that voice.
[You are a distortion. You are something other than what should have existed in the first place.]
He frowned at Mang’s words.
You’re saying that it’s something that shouldn’t exist?
“What does that mean?”
[From the beginning, we were supposed to be eight. This was the rule set by the world.]
There should have been eight in the first place.
That’s like a rule? It was incomprehensible.
“If you say so, seven have already fallen behind. It must have been filled up to the extent that it fell behind.”
[under.]
Mang bursts into laughter as if he finds my answer ridiculous.
[The fact that you don’t understand this is proof that you are twisted.]
This time there was no answer.
Rather than answering, he stood up and threw a punch.
A fist filled with speculation slammed into the barrier.
BAM-! CRACK!
As the fist struck the barrier, cracks appeared in the wall and debris flew out.
At this level, it would break if you hit it four or five times.
[… How violent.]
“Keep talking. I’ll do what I have to do.”
It’s not a threat.
I was thinking that this was something I really had to do.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
He asked, clenching his fist once more.
“If you don’t plan on telling me what I am, then just shut up.”
I didn’t feel frustrated or annoyed like before, asking why they didn’t tell me.
If you’re not going to tell me, then leave me alone.
“I’ll figure it out for you.”
Even if it was a bit cruel and violent.
I’ll do whatever you want.
Kuuung—!!
The barrier shakes violently.
The fist went in deeper and the crack became darker.
One more time.
Let’s hit it a little harder this time.
I’m judging it that way and trying to be a little more serious.
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[Stop.]
I looked at the guy while maintaining my movements at the words Mang spat out.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
Are you finally thinking of telling me? I looked at him, nodding my head.
[…Stop this useless behavior. We don’t have to do this.]
“No answer yet.”
He swung his fist at the insignificant words.
Kuaang–!!!
A larger vibration than before spread through the hallway.
I take a sidelong glance at the fluttering debris.
‘Don’t fight back.’
Even after doing this, there is no counterattack.
What does this mean?
Does that mean it’s not worth it?
or not.
‘Is this a situation where you can’t fight back?’
That could be the case.
‘Anything.’
Once you hit it, you’ll know.
This time, I touched the soul to use the heart right.
Swish-!
Feeling an uncomfortable vibration in my soul, I was about to slam the barrier again.
[…we are like enemies.]
Stop.
Only after hearing the words of the net was he able to stop his movements.
“Keep talking. I’m listening.”
[…]
Of course, the energy had to be maintained. It had to be prepared to be destroyed at any time.
[…You, don’t plan on dealing with the solvent, do you?]
That’s an interesting statement.
That means, the solvent is not himself.
It means that he knows that I am leaving Cheonma to face the Blood Demon.
It was also a subtle hint that his enemy was also a blood demon.
If the dragon is truly a blood demon.
I asked, trying hard to hide it.
“Dragon? He said he left you here. What’s your relationship?”
[…]
Be silent.
I moved my elbow slightly while looking at it.
[The reason why the number of purebloods went from eight to seven is because of that guy.]
“oh.”
It was only then that the valuable information emerged.
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The reason why the number of dragons called purebloods has decreased.
Is that because of the blood horse?
“Explain. What do you mean?”
[The guy preyed on other purebloods for his own greed.]
Frowned. That’s what I mean.
‘So you’re saying that the blood horse is also one of the purebloods?’
The first disaster that appeared in the Central Plains.
A guy who has been hiding in the Murim Alliance for centuries, plotting something.
Also, another dragon that had planted blood in me was the Blood Demon.
He.
‘You killed and ate other purebloods?’
The will of the guy named Mang was planted here.
Why would that be?
‘That’s not the heart of the dragon.’
Not only is it filled with a majestic energy.
I felt a power so strong that I couldn’t tell what was inside.
It is essentially different from the power of the Blood Horse.
Then whose energy is this?
The doubts I felt when I touched the ice crystals were answered when I saw the net.
‘It was all this guy’s power.’
What was inside the ice was the energy of a being called Mang.
I don’t know why the Blood Demon threw it here, but I’m sure it wasn’t his energy.
He asked, judging by this.
“Why did you think we were enemies?”
[It’s a simple thing…]
The guy said.
[The Dragon, intending to eat all purebloods, will come looking for you as well. The Dragon is your enemy as well.]
As you said, the reason was very simple.
One, it was also a word that made one’s ears faintly tilt.
“Why? Why does he prey on other purebloods?”
Dragons are arrogant beings. They say that they become hostile when they see other species.
Honey, maybe it’s natural for them to hit each other.
It seems that this guy only referred to ‘pure-blooded’.
It was clear that there was something else going on.
[It’s to gain strength. In order to achieve what he wants… he’ll need strength.]
“What does that guy want?”
[…I can’t say.]
Kwaaang-!
[…!!]
The barrier crumbles with a single punch.
Now one.
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Just one hit and the entire wall will collapse.
“Then keep your mouth shut.”
[Truly, it is incredibly rough.]
“It’s because my life hasn’t been smooth. I’m a bit impatient.”
[We clearly said that there was no need to fight like this…!]
“If you want to act like we’re on your side, you should at least inform us properly. If you do this, it’ll only lead to a fight.”
It’s getting tiresome to say the least.
If you’re not going to do it, it’s best to get rid of it quickly.
‘And by the way.’
I looked at that guy named Mang and thought.
‘This guy doesn’t seem very trustworthy either.’
That’s why I don’t obsess over the information he spits out, even though I’m listening to it.
It’s not bad to hear information about the Blood Horse.
Ninth or third, it’s not bad to hear a little about purebloods.
but.
‘It’s disgusting.’
If he was really that desperate, he would have said something, but he wasn’t like that.
I don’t feel like he’s trying to persuade me, but it’s not that strong.
I think there’s something up their sleeve.
As I feel that, I feel like the interest I had is cooling off.
‘bothered.’
I’m sick of it.
It’s like repeating this kind of pointless question.
So I wanted to keep it simple.
Yeah, that’s the simplest way.
“If you keep fighting, you’ll probably end up saying something right.”
They harass you until you spit out the words.
Then most of the problems would be solved.
Phew-!
Then, he wraps his fist around his energy and tries to deliver the final blow.
[What a disobedient guy.]
Kkwaddeuk–!!
“…!”
I quickly jumped backwards in the sudden gust of wind.
It was incredibly cold.
It’s incomparable to what Yuseon used to emit.
After putting some distance between us, I looked at the guy.
[I am interested in you, just as you are.]
A net of Yooseon’s body looks at me and begins to speak.
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[A pureblood born against the rules. And the power to consume authority. How could I not be interested?]
“I guess I’m a bit unusual?”
[It’s not that unusual. It’s a power that goes far beyond reason. It’s like… .]
A net shaped like a wire points its fingertips at me.
[Don’t you think I chose you as the one who will block the solvent?]
The power to deal with other dragons, not humans.
The meaning behind it was so clear that it almost made me laugh.
If it really is what he says, then it is.
‘What do you wish for?’
What does this world want from me?
The blood horse that was a disaster to the world.
If the guy survives and tries to express himself again.
The world should be cheering for that.
[I will grab that bastard’s neck, tear it off, and swallow it.] [Not only did he eat me, but he trampled my heart and left me here. I will catch him somehow and punish him.]
There was anger in Mang’s words.
[Honey, I can share the same purpose with you. That means we can help each other achieve our goals.]
“You say I’m against the rules. Can we still do this?”
[Even so, it doesn’t make any difference that you are pureblood.]
The guy changes the gesture he was making while pointing at me.
It looked like he was reaching out his hand.
[Ninth. Join hands with me. In this way, you can overcome the dragon.]
“hmm.”
He made a slightly worried expression.
Should we do it together?
“How can you be with me when you’re sealed in ice?”
He asked as if he had a question. Then.
[The dragon made one mistake when he left me.]
The net tells me not to worry about it.
“What is it?”
[I sealed the pieces of my body and energy into the ice crystal. But he probably didn’t know.] [That there are always plenty of opportunities to recover energy.]
He frowned after hearing Mang’s words.
The bastard’s body and spirit are separated and sealed. I realized this after hearing this.
‘so.’
Was that the reason why I felt such an enormous energy from the iceberg?
Also. I’ve heard this before.
A past hero I once met. That was Shaolin’s Cheolyeong.
‘It was said that the Blood Demon’s five senses were torn apart and its body and energy were sealed.’
It feels quite similar to that.
Could this really be a coincidence?
‘Maybe so, maybe not.’
It could simply be a resemblance.
This could also be related to something else.
But now something else bothered me, and it was a big one.
I looked at the net and asked.
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“They said that the ice crystal in the palace would block the bitter cold. They said that the other half would cause the bitter cold.”
That’s what I heard from the princess.
It was said that the icebergs, each of which is divided, have opposing roles, and that the princess sacrifices her life force to maintain them.
At this time.
That guy said he spent some time recovering his energy.
It sounded quite annoying.
“Is that, by any chance, what you intended?”
[Hmm?]
Mang tilts his head at the question.
[That’s a strange thing to say.]
It seemed like he was asking something strange.
[Of course. It is necessary to recover energy.]
“…”
After hearing the answer, his expression disappeared.
What I mean is, the extreme cold caused by the iceberg.
In order to block the bitter cold, the Ice Palace’s bloodline was sucking the life force out of them in the past.
That’s what he meant.
[That was the biggest mistake he made.]
The net is smiling.
[Perhaps, once I had filled up all my energy, I intended to take it to swallow. But I didn’t know that I would be sealed myself. Thanks to that, I was able to buy time to recover.] [There isn’t much time left. I will be resurrected. So, join hands with me and defeat that bastard… .]
“it’s okay.”
[hmm?]
He shook his head.
That’s enough listening.
[nine….]
“Now that I’ve heard everything, it’s okay. I didn’t really plan on doing it together in the first place.”
After hearing the general situation, I feel a little more certain.
“I guess that’s because he’s such a shitty guy. I hate him even more. Get out.”
[under.]
Mang lets out a hollow laugh.
[Really, I have to come out here…!]
Mang, who was about to speak, stops.
[What are you… trying to do now?]
Perhaps it was because he confirmed my actions.
Whoosh whoosh–!!
The heat is gathering around me.
I was creating a halo over my hand and rotating it repeatedly toward the target.
However, the direction I am looking is not a net of wired bodies.
It’s a bare ground.
No, it’s not like there’s nothing.
Far, far below the earth, an enormous energy was felt.
That’s probably the place.
Where there is ice.
[no way-!]
The net reacts roughly as if it has noticed something.
I heard that and looked at the guy with a sly smile.
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“I’m going to meet you now.”
He threw the jade wrapped in heat onto the ground.
Kwaaaaaaaahh …
The explosion created a huge hole in the ground.
