Chapter 163

〈Chapter 163〉 Part 1, Chapter 8, Section 23

I truly thought it was fortunate.

I had worried what might happen if the Chaos Dragon got hold of the corpse of the god, but it turned out I did well to intercept and wait midway.

Krooo—–!!

The chaos bellows. The monster composed solely of a spiritual body is growing larger, standing on all fours right in the middle of the Yangtze River.

“Hmm, quite impressive.”

Though the Black Flame Dragon is already among the large monsters, the berserk Chaos has grown to an astonishing length of nearly 100 meters. This beast before me now is unleashing all its abilities as an SS-Rank monster, meaning it’s at a compatibility rate of 99%.

I deliberately triggered its berserk state.

Just like how Seoyea’s Rusalka – the water elemental spirit – focused her power into the Light Blade which I used to trigger its berserk state, ultimately awakening the spirit requires suppressing such a burst.

“So, from here on out it’s a raid.”

For now, this will be a solo raid, but I have no intention of fighting alone.

“Do you think I’m crazy enough to fight alone?”

A berserk high-ranking monster is a threat to humanity, so all heroes will gather regardless of nationality, race, gender, or religion. Hunting monsters is humanity’s responsibility.

Kyaahh!!

The Chaos Dragon roared and scattered magic power around. It seems to be warning me while also searching for a host to possess, though I’ve already confirmed there are no suitable psychics nearby.

“Are you confused because there are no hosts?”

The problem is that since the Chaos Dragon’s skill is ‘possession,’ any half-hearted psychic who steps forward risks having their body taken over by the Chaos Dragon. Just like how Gale Guest was so easily possessed, we want to avoid heroes turning against each other.

My monsters are too strong to bring along just yet.

“Then I’ll wait until you arrive.”

If the damage can be reduced to half, then two people dealing damage would suffice. Until my awakened spirits arrive, I need to keep the Chaos pinned down here in the Yangtze River.

Sssss!!!

The Chaos opens its mouth and roars. A massive amount of magic power radiates toward me, and I fold my wings to evade.

Pashh.

Even grazing the breath attack tore off part of my wing. Without restoring it, I quickly plummeted toward the ground, clenching my fists. My falling punch, aided by gravitational acceleration, was aimed straight at the Chaos’ nose.

“You’re nothing more than a big monster if you don’t move.”

Ka—ang!

My flame-infused fist struck the Chaos’ snout. Its head was forced downward, and I drove my nails into the spot I had hit.

Hwarrek!

Flames erupted from the tips of my nails. The direct internal release of flames made the Chaos violently shake its head, trying to throw me off.

“Guh!”

Its strength is incredible – with just a thrash, it almost hurled my body into the riverbank. But I can still endure for now. As I struggle to hold on as long as possible, I continue blasting flames onto the Chaos’ snout.

Sssss!!!

Apparently, the Chaos has decided it won’t tolerate this anymore, and it completely destroyed its own snout. The burning portion of its spiritual body disappeared, leaving me floating in midair.

Kyaahh!

The Chaos opened its mouth toward me. Like swatting away an annoying fly, it had already gathered its breath attack, and without time to dodge, I took a direct hit.

Kagagagagang!

The hastily erected protective barrier of magic power deflected the breath attack, but it couldn’t withstand the power and soon cracked. If this continues, I’ll be swept away by the breath attack. I made my decision.

“I won’t lose in a magic power duel!”

Stretching both hands forward, I unleashed magic power. Just before hitting the river, I fully extended my wings behind me to stabilize myself in the air. The blue magic power streaming forward clashed with the gray magic power of the breath attack, beginning a power struggle.

Kyaahh!!

The Chaos extended its legs forward, adding more force to the breath attack. Already at a disadvantage starting the magic power battle, I can’t easily win this tug-of-war.

It might be possible if I take a lot of time, but right now, a swift resolution is the correct answer. Seizing the brief moment when the breath attack weakens, I quickly ducked my body downward.

Toward the water.

Huh?!

The Chaos seems surprised that I jumped into the water myself. Even though I vaporized part of the Yangtze River to set up the battlefield, there’s still a significant flow of water that hasn’t evaporated.

Pashh—!!

The fiery wings touched the Yangtze River, creating a massive cloud of steam. Since I buried my wings in the water, they are no longer useful, so I discarded them myself.

“But it doesn’t matter.”

By diving underwater, the breath attack split the river and struck the cliffs instead, boring a hole through a mountain peak several hundred meters tall with its weakened attack.

“This tunnel construction project is going to be spectacular!”

I marveled anew at the destructive power of the breath attack. Indeed, it’s not called the dragon’s desperate move and ultimate technique for nothing.

“But as long as I avoid the direct hit, that’s all that matters!”

Leaping out of the water, I ran toward the ground. The muddy earth is hardening and drying under the small sun I suspended in the sky.

Phak, phak, phak!

With three running starts, I reached close to the Chaos. Though the Chaos retracted its body and bared its sharp teeth, I had already kicked off the ground and leaped high, sharpening my claws. The Chaos swung its forelimbs to intercept me.

Saeaek-!

At an abnormal speed, the Chaos tried to throw me off. Its attack was much faster than my jump. The physical capabilities of the spiritual-bodied Chaos far exceed those of ordinary monsters. If I stay like this, I’ll be struck by its forelimb any second.

“You should have dodged, foolish thing.”

But that was exactly my plan. I spun my body in mid-air and spread my arms wide.

Kwa—-ang!!

“Ugh!”

It feels like being hit by a train. My whole body aches terribly, but I can endure this level of pain. I drove my claws into the Chaos’ forelimb.

Huh?!

The Chaos abandoned its attack and showed clear signs of confusion at the bug-like creature clinging to its forelimb. As the pain subsided, before the Chaos could shake its limb, I climbed upward like a climber, extending my hand toward its body.

Kwad, kwad.

The more the Chaos roared, the more my claws tore and shredded its skin. Magic power began to flow out from the wounds I created, and I inserted my hand inside, directly emitting flames.

Hwarrrlek!

Blue flames surged in the joint of its forelimb. As the Chaos became increasingly alarmed by one of its forelimbs being consumed by flames, it rushed forward, plunging its foot into the water.

“Ugh!”

I submerged in the Yangtze River. Despite the heat from my body and the flames inside the Chaos causing the river to boil over, the damage inflicted on me was severe. It’s difficult to use my strength effectively underwater.

“Damn!”

But I must endure. If the Yangtze River is an obstacle, I’ll evaporate the entire river if necessary, continuing my ascent while clinging tightly to the Chaos’ body.

Kwad. Kwad.

Every time the Chaos splashed water, water seeped into my armor. It felt like being scorched by lightning, painful and uncomfortable.

Still, I managed to reach my destination. Below the Chaos’ neck – a distinct area with a different density of magic power, clearly the Chaos’ weakness. I gently tapped the circular weakness, barely large enough to fit a basketball.

Sssss!!

The Chaos started thrashing wildly, coughing as if determined not to let me enter. It exerted every effort to knock me off, even emitting magic power.

Ddhaahh!!

I pried open the Chaos’ skin with both hands. The thin horizontal tear was just wide enough for my hand to barely fit, but the Chaos wouldn’t give me time to widen it.

Sssss!!

The Chaos’ neck elongated snake-like and twisted, intending to bite me off directly. If I miss this chance, the weakness will close.

Thus, this is my only opportunity. I extended the hand inserted into the weakness to widen the space, then stabbed with my other hand.

Into my own chest.

“Hmph…!”

Though it was essentially self-harm, I can endure this much to play my joker card for awakening the spirit. I pulled out the blue orb stored next to my heart.

“Hoo, hmm.”

The membrane wrapped in magic power burned away in the flames, leaving the black-gray core in my palm. It’s my most treasured core, a monster, and a trustworthy companion who knows almost everything about me.

“I entrust you with this!”

I inserted the core into the Chaos Dragon’s body, reviving it. Within the spiritual body of the Chaos, a woman with flowing black-gray hair and a mask smiled at me.

“Cheon Gaeul!”

“Don’t worry.”

Cheon Gaeul was smiling beneath her mask.

“I’ll find him and bring him back to his senses quickly.”

Kwad.

The Chaos bit into my body. Its sharp teeth pierced through the gaps in my armor, and magic power leaked out from various parts of my body.

Sssss!!

The Chaos, biting me, violently shook its head, throwing me into the river. Water entered through the holes in my armor, causing fresh pain.

“Hahaha.”

Despite this, I couldn’t help but laugh. I tilted my head as I surfaced from the water.

“You’re finished already.”

Although the berserk Chaos must still be subdued, the coiled-up Illusion Dragon within must also be suppressed.

While I restrain the Chaos from the outside, Cheon Gaeul must reform the Illusion Dragon inside. In the original story, another heroine fulfilled this role, but now it’s Cheon Gaeul’s task.

The joker card for defeating the Chaos Dragon.

To everyone, including Yun Yuhwa, Seok Harang, and all the senior members of the Blue Wind Sect, I kept Cheon Gaeul hidden in my heart. Inside the Chaos’ body, Cheon Gaeul will locate and persuade the Illusion Dragon.

As much as I’d like to go in myself, the truth is that subduing the rampaging Chaos alone is somewhat challenging.

“That’s why I called you. You.”

Ddhaa.

It started raining. The steam from the evaporated Yangtze River rose to form clouds, obscuring the small sun hanging in the sky with dark clouds.

Darkness once again enveloped the Yangtze River, and the Chaos emerged from the rising water, attempting to bite me.

Huh?!

But the flow of the Yangtze River restrained the Chaos. Like living snakes, the flowing currents wrapped around the Chaos’ body, pinning it underwater.

Ggororrok.

The Chaos thrashed its head and wriggled its body, trying to escape the enormous current of the Yangtze River and the control of the psychic-spirit combination.

“Looks like you’re completely worn out. Don’t worry?”

From within the clouds, a white butterfly fluttered down. The silver-haired woman handed me a white umbrella made of magic power, and I transformed into human form to recover briefly, holding the umbrella.

“…This is actually quite a bargain.”

“Never seen you this messed up. Ugh.”

Seok Harang grimaced at the tattered state of my body. My entire body was torn, and there were ugly bite marks resembling dog bites on my waist.

“It’ll all heal in a minute, so don’t worry.”

“Then that’s good… Ah, this.”

Seok Harang pulled a black orb from her pocket. I took the Black Flame Dragon’s core and placed it in my pocket.

“Now the people of New Seoul can rest easy, right?”

“Not really. An SS-Rank monster died. So, how do you plan to clean up after your Black Flame Dragon’s rampage in China?”

“I’ll hold a press conference later. Claim that I was kidnapped by Mo Taegyeong and imprisoned in Beijing.”

“…Tch. Fine. Asking was stupid. So, are we just keeping this guy tied up like this?”

“Yes.”

The Chaos was completely submerged in the rising river. The raindrops falling from the sky eventually returned to the river, but each drop transformed into a spear of rain, piercing the Chaos’ back.

“If Phantom succeeds in subduing the Illusion Dragon, that makes three spirits, right?”

“Smooth if it goes smoothly, troublesome if it gets troublesome. Just waiting, huh?”

“Yes. As for you.”

I covered Seok Harang’s shoulder with the umbrella and patted her shoulder.

“Trust me. Keep going.”

Before Seok Harang could say anything, I spread my wings and flew along the river. Now that the temporary measures for dealing with the fleeing Chaos Dragon are complete, it’s time to eliminate another source of unrest.

“To think I’d accept a challenge again like this.”

I stopped flying when I judged the distance was sufficient. Standing on the river surface with both feet, I crossed my arms and waited calmly for the challenger to approach.

Monster.

Xiao Lin.

Fortunately, he stopped in front of me, carrying a large coffin on his back.

“Halt!”

I shouted at Xiao Lin.

“I am the guardian of the river, Pi Nick! Identify yourself!”

“…Chaos Dragon’s monster, Xiao Lin.”

That response was sufficient. I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.

“Do you have a pass?”

“There’s none.”

Xiao Lin drew his weapon. The Crescent Blade he used during Unjang’s time was nowhere to be found; he merely assumed the stance of gripping a Crescent Blade with his hand.

“If you don’t have a pass!”

I leaped off the river.

“Hand over the god’s corpse and leave!”

“That’s impossible.”

Xiao Lin swung his hand. Though there was nothing in his hand, it seemed as if he were wielding a Crescent Blade.

Kaang.

My fist stopped mid-air. More accurately, it was blocked by Xiao Lin’s invisible weapon.

“Indeed. Finally, it seems you’ve realized.”

“…It’s merely a shallow understanding gained by abandoning Unjang.”

Flash.

Xiao Lin confidently pointed an invisible weapon at me.

“Still, it seems to be a pretty good technique.”

“…An invisible weapon? That’s cheating!”

“What difference does it make?”

Xiao Lin lowered his arm and shouted.

“All that matters is winning!”

“That’s true!”

Magic power clashed again.