Chapter 319: Dragons' War (1)
Chapter 319. Dragons' War (1)
Burning pavilions.
Dying people.
It took only a few minutes for the once splendid capital to fall into ruin.
"Screams of terror and cries for help filled the air as people desperately sought escape amidst the chaos.
But within the perfectly sealed city of Luoyang, there was no way out.
It was to become a massive tomb.
"What... what has happened here?"
Even the Martial Alliance was in a state of emergency.
Even though Luoyang was protected against external enemies by various barriers and formations,
the massive spatial transportation formation that now unfolded in the sky seemed to mock it all, expanding even more.
And then, from the sky...
Amidst thunderous lightning, corpse-soldiers covered in blood plummeted to earth.
Boom and crash!
"Eeek! Keek!"
Having seen continuous victories, the Martial Alliance's warriors and Taoists had pushed the front lines further up, leaving Luoyang itself empty as a deserted house.
This blow to the heart of the city was set to cause immeasurable damage.
Of course, there were still a considerable number of masters above the peak level left, but...
"What's that? Those white corpse-soldiers?"
"Could it be..."
"Yes, no doubt about it. That's the one we were informed about!"
Paekryung, the White Spirit.
The strongest corpse-soldier of the Heavenly Demon Church that had dealt with Jong Mu-Ryang of the Unmurim in a single blow.
Facing such a formidable foe in a desperate situation, where one could not even guess the limit of their power...
Silence reigned as footsteps not weighed by gravity moved onwards.
From a white hand, nails even whiter grew out with a whoosh!
Swish!
Representatives from each faction drew their swords.
But in that moment...
Whoosh!
"...Huh?"
The image of the White Spirit vanished.
Its leaping movements too fast for the eye to follow.
"Be cautious!"
Even as they raised their warning shouts and prepared their defenses, the neck of the elder from the Gongdong Faction had already been severed.
Swish! Swoosh...!
A long spray of blood fountained from the severed neck.
"This is... impossible."
"Void Air!"
This wasn't simply about being fast.
It was an overwhelming speed that one could only realize after being hit.
"Scatter!"
Ha Ryuhwa executed the first movement of the Meihua Shipigeom—the Plum Flower Twelve Sword Technique.
Plum blossoms scattered in the air, and sword blades began to dance.
Clang clang clang!
Sword and nails clashed, sparking a dazzling display of fire.
But...
"Argh!"
A sharp groan escaped Ha Ryuhwa's lips.
It was too much to handle.
Each hit wasn't just fast but also laced with terrifying energy.
Thud thud thud!
"Aack!"
Another ally fell victim.
And so...
"Kuhhk."
"Aaahh!"
The weaker members of the Martial Alliance fell to their deaths one by one.
They had not imagined that a mere corpse-soldier could be this strong.
At this rate...
It wouldn't take long to fall.
***
All in the bamboo forest looked on as Luoyang burned.
The shocking turn of events had rendered them speechless.
"We've been thoroughly outmaneuvered. Just look at that dumbfounded expression on your face—it's almost enough to relieve the festering frustration filled within me from all the times you've thwarted me. Ah! And don't bother with pointless actions; it's too late to go try to help now."
A satisfied smirk formed at Sima Ja's lips.
It was indeed too late.
Against thousands of corpse-soldiers, there was nothing an individual could do.
"Besides, you and your kind should be worrying about yourselves, not about those currently in that city."
[The directional deity 'Blue Dragon' initiates the 'Unique Holy Incantation'!]
"Krooooar!"
From the giant blue dragon's maw, a congregation of multicolored lights began to condense.
One need not state what it was—an aurora of breath, using the ambient energy in the air, a little different from the dragons of the West yet equal in devastating power.
1 second, 2 seconds... 3 seconds.
The condensed magic sphere grew larger amidst its ultimate charge.
Jinhyuk's gaze shifted backward.
'Even if Cheonma regains internal energy, he'd need to perform energy circulation to refine it.'
Not to mention, Cheonma's body was not yet completed to freely utilize the heavenly demonic energy.
The master and Chuhyeon Saeyeong had also drained their energy in the previous sparring session.
Everything seemed to favor Sima Ja.
It was likely all part of his carefully laid plans.
"You've struggled hard to get this far. Now, die."
As Sima Ja pointed forward, the end came.
Boom boom boom!
The atmosphere, fomented with rain and wind, exploded towards a single point.
The air itself turned into blades, devastating everything in its path—
Anything it touched.
Nothing could stand before this blast, akin to a natural disaster.
But right at that moment,
Amwang and Chuhyeon Saeyeong stepped forward.
"I was actually getting bored of fighting only humans. They say you're a dragon? I'm curious to see just how strong you are!"
"Is there anyone as battle-hungry as you? Even seeing that, you still want to fight?"
Black Heavenly Demon Energy and Chuhyeon Sword Technique soared at their peak.
At the same time...
"I really should've stayed out of this and eaten more meat buns!"
Ellis hurled a massive spear crafted from blood.
Wooosh!
The three skills merged into one.
Kaboom!
As they collided with the breath, everything turned white, and the earth-shattering blow engulfed them.
* * *
When the view cleared up, much had changed.
What once was a mountain was no longer there.
Instead, behind the bamboo forest, a massive crater bared open.
Scorched trails in the clouds left by the breath showed just how ludicrous the collision had been.
"Krrgh..."
"Uugh."
Amwang and Chuhyeon Saeyeong had drained their energies to the last drop blocking the breath, following their duel.
"Owww..."
Ellis had also pushed herself too hard.
"Hoh. Despite facing such petrifying power of a dragon, there you stand. Truly worthy of being from the Heavenly Demon Church. Your other beings also possess power beyond that of mere humans," Sima Ja praised earnestly.
How could one not acknowledge those who withstood the dragon's might?
But that was all.
Merely blocking one attack was far from enough.
Sima Ja's gaze shifted in one direction—there stood a majestic figure.
"Kakakaka! It is such a pleasing sight to see the great Cheonma on his feet. It appears you have recovered about half of your strength."
"In half a day more, you wouldn't have dared set foot here."
In just half a day, the circulation of Qi would have finished, allowing the absorption of his full internal power—
If only there was half a day more.
"Indeed, that might be the case. Even with the Blue Dragon at my disposal, had you been at your peak, I could never have undertaken such a dare. But for the moment, it would be proper to applaud my stratagem that calculated that half day, no?"
Koo-koo-koo!
The weather churned once more as menacing clouds gathered around the Blue Dragon, heralding an imminent storm.
For the Blue Dragon, who controlled the weather, there was no such thing as 'running out of magic'.
The entire natural world was the source of its power,
Meaning, it could technically unleash Breath attacks without limit.
"Let's see you kneel. Who knows? With a merciful heart, I might just spare your life."
"Kneel to you?"
"Isn't your life more important than your pride?"
"It seems you've grown quite talkative. Enough chatter—come at me."
Cheonma reached out calmly.
[Heavenly Demon Power...]
Even if he descended into madness,
Even if he died a miserable death, spitting blood from twisted energy,
He had no intention of ever kneeling before his enemy.
He would rather fight and fall.
He would stand and fall as Cheonma, to the very end.
But just then...
"Mind if I interrupt while you're having fun?"
Jinhyuk interrupted.
"Wait for your turn. After I kill Cheonma, I will, of course, choke the life out of you next."
Sima Ja drew a line.
Jinhyuk was not his primary concern for now.
But his next words made Sima Ja's eyebrows furrow in disbelief.
"I was already aware that you were going to cast a formation using corpse-soldiers."
"Empty boasting! Crying over spilled milk changes nothing."
Sima Ja gestured triumphantly towards Luoyang.
With the city transforming into an inferno, his smirk grew wider.
"Take a good look. This outcome proves who has the upper hand, don't you see?"
"No, you should watch closely."
Jinhyuk raised his right hand to the sky.
A flame spouted from his fingertips, piercing the barrier high above.
Boom!
The explosion of the flame formed a rune about 10 meters large in the sky.
"You must be desperate, looking for fireworks before you die."
Sima Ja snorted disdainfully.
It seemed like a signal had been sent.
But the distance was too vast for the elite factions from the Martial Alliance to reach Luoyang.
He had everything plotted out regarding their movements.
However, at that very moment, something unexpected happened.
Pwooooo!
The deep sound of a horn sounded, out of place in the world of martial artists.
"This is... surely not?"
Sima Ja hurriedly turned his head westward.
From the west, a tremendous energy rose, matching the signal from Luoyang's western plains as countless torches ignited in unison amidst a dense fog. One by one they appeared, quickly multiplying into dozens, then into thousands.
Dum dum dum dum!
A thunderous roar followed, shaking the very foundation of the earth.
The empire's banners flew as heavily armored cavalry clad in full plate armor closed the distance to the capital at a swift pace.
"We thought we'd die getting here within a week. Fortunately, it seems we haven't arrived too late."
Grand Sword Master Abraham was seen at the front, with Penheimmer alongside.
"Undead monsters are said to be numerous, so be careful. Our mages can't provide support as they're using cloaking magic because of the many cavalry present."
"Are you concerned for me?"
"Well, with Sir Abraham and Sword Masters at the helm, no amount of undead will prove a threat."
Then...
"Hm?"
A powerful presence caught Abraham's attention.
A pure white corpse-soldier with alabaster skin.
The nails, having slaughtered countless lives already, were soaked bloody red, nearly black.
"I'll handle that one."
[Abraham activates 'Aura Blade'!]
A blue-white aura extended over 2 meters from the sword as Abraham spurred his horse straight ahead.
Boom!
With increasing acceleration, it seemed almost as if a bullet was slicing across the battlefield.
***
"This... is impossible."
Sima Ja's pupils quaked.
It was a strategy accounting for all possible variables.
How could this be happening?
He couldn't fathom why an enemy empire would come to aid the martial world with their presence here.
Despite his denial, the reality unfolding before his very eyes could not be faked.
The heavily armored cavalry swept away the corpse-soldiers and reclaimed the city—this was an undeniable reality.
"Quite early to be surprised... I haven't yet shown my trump card."
Jinhyuk opened his spatial inventory.
Zzzt!
A violet spark emerged from the rift.
The Dragon-Slaying Sword 'Balmung'.
A relic of Siegfried from myths that slayed a dragon...
...had finally manifested.
Even at a glance, it was an extraordinary divine weapon.
"Kroar!"
The Blue Dragon screamed in fear, instinctively aware of Balmung's threatening nature.
"Sshk!"
Sima Ja attempted to send the dragon above into the sky.
No matter how strong the sword was, if the dragon attacked from high above, it would be useless.
Time for another Breath to turn everything to ashes!
Woosh!
As the Blue Dragon stationed in the heavens gathered rain and cloud.
But once again, Sima Ja had overlooked one detail.
That he wasn't the only one in possession of a dragon.
"Come forth."
Jinhyuk channeled magic into his bracelet.
[You've used 'Returner's Bracelet'!]
[The second ability of the bracelet is activated!]
[Connecting dimensions...]
A returner who traveled across dimensions and returned.
And in doing so, created a link between dimensions.
This was the legacy of that returner.
Wooosh!
From beyond, a pure white force emerged.
[Ancient Being '???' appears!]
The clouds split apart.
From beyond the gate appeared...
"Kroooooar!"
A being beyond comprehension and natural laws.