Fwaaaaaa–!!!
A blinding flash erupts. An overwhelming heat fills the surroundings.
"Guh!"
Do-cheol is pushed back. The blast of air is intense—so strong it's hard to endure.
"You bastard…!"
What the hell did he just do? This power wasn't something he had sensed before. Not only was the concentration different, but the pressure bundled within was on another level.
It was a light so blinding that it forced his eyelids shut without realizing it.
Not good.
'How does he have this kind of power?'
What is this power? He'd never felt anything like it before.
'What kind of world is this…?'
How could that bastard be allowed this kind of strength? The emotions bubbling up felt like they would explode out of his throat.
"Huuuup!"
Do-cheol steadied himself and shook off the atmospheric pressure. No matter how strong it was, he could still shake off at least this much.
With his forcibly awakened body, he looked ahead again. The light had already faded.
"…Damn it."
Do-cheol grit his teeth at the scene before him. The solid iron gate—
"It's pierced."
It was sizzling, with a hole melted through it.
No ordinary force could have broken it. Unless someone knew the specific unlocking technique, it shouldn't have been possible.
'This…'
He broke through it with brute force? It was absurd.
Clenching his teeth, Do-cheol dove in. He hurled his body toward the space Gu Cheol-woon had broken through. He had to stop him. He couldn't let him get to what was inside.
'That, at least…'
Even if everything else failed, he couldn't allow that.
He couldn't let their last chance be lost like this. Thinking that, he rushed to block Gu Cheol-woon, but—
'What…?'
As he threw himself forward, he saw Gu Cheol-woon standing beyond the iron gate. Even though he must've known Do-cheol was approaching from behind, Gu Cheol-woon remained motionless, staring straight ahead.
What's he doing?
Do-cheol, who had been about to attack Gu Cheol-woon, unconsciously followed his gaze.
At that moment—
"…Huh?"
Do-cheol also froze. He couldn't help it.
Baek Yang-cheon, who should've been locked behind bars, was outside. And the egg they had been feeding with their own energy—was nowhere to be seen.
"Baek Yang-cheon."
At that moment, Gu Cheol-woon called out.
At the sound of his name, Baek Yang-cheon slowly turned his head.
In his hand was something.
'What is that?'
Do-cheol narrowed his eyes.
It was a black mass.
An unknown, black mass that Baek Yang-cheon held in both hands.
As if…
It was something incredibly important.
Sumi*
"Blood Demon."
As soon as he realized what it was, he spoke the name.
Creeeak.
An unpleasant laugh rang out. The voice was unmistakably his.
"So, it has come to this in the end."
He sounded as if he'd expected this all along. I scowled.
"You've been watching this whole time?"
The voice came from the red-tinted ring. So that meant—
He'd been watching everything up to now? I asked with that intention.
"That's not it," the Blood Demon denied.
But—
"Still, even if I had, it wouldn't have mattered. Isn't that why you carried it around, expecting this?"
"…."
Even that was irritating. He spoke as if evaluating the world of taste.
"What is this, then?"
What's this ring? I asked, and the Blood Demon replied:
"It's merely a tool for communication. I gave you something valuable, so treat it with care."
"Cut the crap. You must have a reason for appearing now."
"Hmm."
As I responded harshly, the Blood Demon let out a disappointed sigh.
"You're no fun. That's a shame… I meant it as a courtesy."
He kept spouting nonsense, so I tried to take off the ring. Then—
"Are you sure you want to ignore me? This is a rare opportunity."
"Then explain properly. Don't waste my time with this garbage."
I didn't have time for his worthless riddles.
"Such a temper. You're the one who damaged something I prepared so carefully. Why are you the one angry?"
"…You prepared it?"
My face twisted at that.
'I knew it.' Just as I thought.
"You did this, didn't you?"
Everything that happened in the Dao, and now this… Somehow, it felt like the Blood Demon's doing.
"What are you trying to pull this time?"
Growling, I asked.
"A meticulously prepared arrangement."
"Arrangement?"
"I merely prepared something precious over a long time."
"…Precious? That thing?" He must be referring to the violet egg.
"So that was your doing too." Of course. The egg was also his creation.
"What did you put in it?"
What exactly was in that egg that held the demonic energy of Cheonma?
"Something truly precious."
"So…"
I was about to ask again.
"I placed a piece of my divine essence in it."
"…What?"
I froze at the Blood Demon's words.
'Divine essence?'
He said it like it was nothing. Hearing that made my breath catch.
I turned my gaze to the violet egg.
"…You tore off your divine essence?"
"To be precise, I placed my energy itself within. So? Doesn't it sound noble now?"
"Don't talk crap. I didn't start this conversation to listen to this nonsense."
I held back the urge to rip off the ring and toss it.
He put his very energy into it? That reminded me of something I'd heard before.
'The Blood Demon's energy and flesh were torn apart and scattered into the mortal realm.'
That's what Cheol-yeong said. I'd been thinking about that for a while now.
'Energy.'
Could this be that energy? The one Cheol-yeong sealed away?
But then—
'It resembles the energy of Cheonma?' A chill ran down my spine.
"…Why did you have the Dao cultivate your energy?"
"Cultivate? That's harsh. They acted of their own will."
"Bullshit."
What a joke.
"What were you trying to do? Why that energy?" And—
"Were you growing it in Sanseo?"
"I merely timed things well. I had a goal, that's all. But…"
The Blood Demon fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"I didn't expect Taecheon to betray me."
"…What?"
"I never trusted him, but I didn't expect him to act so rashly."
Taecheon. I remembered the one I'd met before.
Taecheon betrayed him?
That made no sense. What kind of relationship did they have? And—
"…What are you doing now?" I finally voiced my doubts about the Blood Demon.
"What?"
He responded as if clueless, but I didn't believe him.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Giving me all this information—it didn't make sense.
"You asked, so I answered. What's the problem?"
"Don't play dumb. What's your real motive? Spit it out."
Gritting my teeth, I glared. There was no way this bastard was doing this out of goodwill.
He's a mysterious creature whose intentions are impossible to guess. And now he's giving me information straight?
Unless it was all lies…
I couldn't trust him. Not the divine essence, not anything he said.
Whether it was the Blood Demon from my world or this one—I couldn't trust either.
"What are you trying to do?"
Why are you telling me all this?
When I asked—
Creeeak.
The Blood Demon laughed again. Then, he said:
"You're right. There's no point unless I have a motive."
Then—
"Oh nameless dragon," he said to me.
"Would you consider succeeding my place?"
"…What?"
I was stunned.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard correctly. Would you consider taking my place?"
"…"
Take your place?
"What the hell are you talking about? You want me to become the Dragon Emperor or something?"
"You understand well."
"What a load of crap." It was absolute nonsense.
"Why would I do that?"
The Blood Demon's world had already collapsed. He came here to be a calamity.
"And now you're trying to pass on some ridiculous title to me? Spare me."
"It's a good deal for you too. The body of a dragon. An unstable divine essence. You know the world has expectations for you. Don't follow that path."
He continued:
"The world sacrifices anything for what it wants. Your role is no different. Rather than disappear without choice, swept up in fate—this is better. Consider it a generous offer."
Caught up in fate.
That cursed phrase—I'd heard it endlessly since I returned.
"Take my hand." But—
"Screw you."
My answer to the Blood Demon was always the same.
I laughed. His words sounded grand, but—
I knew exactly who was saying them.
"I heard once…"
From none other than him:
"Dragons are so arrogant, they can't stand anyone above them."
Arrogant and filled with hostility.
Dragons, especially to their own kind, were full of animosity.
I was that way.
"And now you want to pass something on to me?" So was the Blood Demon.
"What kind of joke is this? You trying to die?"
Smiling, I said—
"…"
The Blood Demon went silent for a moment.
"Ha ha."
Then he laughed, a laugh much like mine.
"So… it didn't work. Then I suppose I have no choice."
At that moment—
Fsshhh–!!
"…!"
A red aura erupted from my trousers. No—
It tried to wrap around me.
Crack–!
But it failed.
"Huh?"
The Blood Demon uttered in surprise.
From the violet egg behind the bars—
Something shot out.
Black energy burst forth and suddenly devoured the Blood Demon's energy.
"…What?"
As I tried to make sense of the situation, my eyes widened.
The sudden energy burst was one thing—but then—
Thump–!
Thump–!
The violet egg began to vibrate louder.
That vibration—somehow, it felt furious.