Chapter 295.
Swoosh—
As Hanbit took a step forward, the Executors recoiled.
Their gazes were fixed on their comrade slammed against the wall.
“Why are you so quiet? You looked like you were about to destroy this entire street.”
“…….”
Despite such provocation, the Executors did not lunge. They
were clearly wary of the black and white heat haze emanating from Hanbit.
Until now, there had likely been almost no one to challenge them, the strongest race in the Otherworld.
Moreover, the sight of a human blowing away a 3rd-tier Dragon was bound to be bewildering.
'It is indeed a strange sensation.'
Hanbit sensed a distinct change in his body.
An unfamiliar flow resonating in his heart, or perhaps even deeper.
The sensation of something mixing inside him was hot, yet it did not feel awkward.
Unlike when he used the Witch’s Afterglow, the rising black and white heat haze was an all-too-familiar sensation.
To think that such a change would occur even though it was merely a prelude to awakening.
Naturally, he became curious about what the outcome would be once he achieved his full awakening.
“Ugh…….”
Just then, the executioner who had been slammed against the wall groaned and rose to his feet.
His eyes held clear rage and humiliation.
A faint name tag flickered above his head.
[Third-Rank Dragon Kantoma]
“How dare… a mere human…”
Kantoma, the dragon who had staggered to his feet, gritted his teeth.
The black and white energy that had flickered in his chest where he had been kicked had vanished.
However, as if the aftereffects lingered, parts of his body were trembling.
“Kill them all.”
“Huh?”
“What did you say?”
The other executioners questioned the voice that had escaped like a groan.
At that, the staggering Kantoma let out a loud scream as if spitting it out.
“These bastards, and the Fifth-Rank ones in the streets—they are all traitors! Execute them!”
“Th-that’s right!”
“They are traitors to the Heavenly Dragon!”
“Catch them all!”
Responding to his ferocity, the executioners quickly tried to leave the place and head out into the street.
They looked as if they were hastily trying to escape.
For guys who thought they held such high positions, they were utterly pathetic. *Thump
! *
Hanbit kicked off his leg and charged at the men heading toward the window.
Then, twisting his body in mid-air, he slammed his leg down.
*Smack!*
“Cough!”
A heavy sensation shot through the heel embedded in the crown of his head.
One executioner, struck squarely, buckled his knee and collapsed to the ground.
*Whoosh!
* Using his back as a springboard, Hanbit continued his movement toward the man heading toward the window sill.
“Ugh!”
The executioner, who had tried to spread his wings and fly away, realized it was already too late.
Changing his mind, he quickly clasped his hands together.
*Kiiing!*
As the magic circle was drawn, a red barrier appeared, enveloping the dragons.
The man who had succeeded in creating the shield let out a laugh of relief.
The human in front of him was frozen in place.
“Ha, haha! I don’t know what power you brought, but you won’t be able to break this. I am the one among the dragons who can use barrier magic…” *
Whoosh!*
Before the words could even be finished, Hanbit's sword was swung. A
black-and-white afterimage flickered along the trajectory.
The sharp blade sliced through the red barrier with such smoothness.
Swish—!
“…Huh?”
The Executor’s eyes widened at the unexpected situation.
The Dragon Clan’s barrier, created by the power of souls.
It had split open like a sheet of paper.
“The barrier… broke?”
Whoosh—!
In an instant, a fist flew into the Executor’s field of vision just as he was speaking.
Naturally, he had no presence of mind to react.
Bang—!
“Ouch!” The Dragon Clan member
, struck squarely
in the face, slammed into the ground. A black-and-white aura was slowly rising from the twitching face.
'Something is off.'
Hanbit tilted his head, clenching and unclenching his fist.
The enemies had fallen far too easily.
He couldn't tell if the 3rd-tier Dragon Clan was weaker than he had thought, or if he himself had become too strong.
It was too serious to simply attribute it to a difference in experience.
“Damn it!”
Thump—!
Just then, another executioner who had not yet taken action rushed toward Belua.
His intention was to take the girl hostage.
However, Hanbit had already detected the move.
Whoosh!
He threw the sword he had switched to.
Flying rapidly in a straight line, the sword instantly pierced the executioner's shoulder.
"Aaaargh!"
The dragon let out a scream as the blade pierced its thick skin.
Its reaction suggested it was the first time it had ever felt such pain.
*Thwack!
* Hanbit kicked off his leg and charged toward the enemy.
“Ugh!”
The panicked Executioner, awakening his survival instinct, thrust his sword with his unharmed arm. *
Whoosh !*
An intimidating force, shrouded in a red aura, shook the air.
However, to Hanbit, that attack was all too predictable.
*Whoosh!*
He dodged the blade by turning his head to the side and burrowed into the enemy’s embrace.
Then, he brought his knee straight up toward the creature’s jaw.
*Smack!*
“Cough!”
The dragon’s head snapped sharply backward from the tremendous impact.
*Thud—*
The last remaining Executioner collapsed to the floor.
Now, the only one left was Kantoma, who had ordered the execution of everyone.
“You… what on earth are you?” Kantoma, who had witnessed the horrific scene of
his three comrades who had been defeated before they could even escape the window sill,
asked, looking at this human who defied common sense.
Hanbit shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“You’re no longer an ordinary human. No, would it be faster to say you’re the Dragon King’s nephew?”
“…What?”
Kantoma’s expression became even more confused at the abrupt reply.
After a moment of bewilderment, he glared at the old man and Belua.
Then, placing his hand on his chest, he spoke.
“You are spouting insane nonsense. Whatever you are, I cannot let an intruder and a traitor live.”
Whoosh—!
Along with a voice filled with determination, red flames shot up from Kantoma’s body.
The wave of mana surging at the center was dangerous at first glance.
“We must stop it!”
Just as the anxiety had been felt, the old man’s urgent voice rang out.
Hanbit straightened his sword and was about to charge straight toward Kantoma.
It was then.
“Stop.”
Boom—!
A voice overlaid with a fierce roar that shook the sky.
Suddenly, a woman of the Dragon Clan had appeared behind Kantoma.
The silver armor visible beneath her black cloak gleamed brilliantly.
“How dare you attempt to destroy His Majesty’s people and territory.”
Ssss—
she whispered quietly, extinguishing the rising flames with her hand.
A name tag flickered above her head.
[Tier 2 Dragon Lepin]
“…Judge Lepin?”
Kantoma, having raised his head, widened his eyes in surprise.
Startled as if struck on the head, he quickly lowered his stance.
“Wh-how did you get here…?”
“Is there any reason why I cannot go where you can?”
“…No. I apologize.”
At the freezing, cold voice, Kantoma lowered his posture even further.
Judge Lepin looked at the fallen executioners and said,
“Collect them and return to the castle.”
“Huh? But those intruders and traitors… Ugh!”
Crunch—!
Kantoma’s voice, filled with injustice, was instantly cut short.
An invisible force was tightening its grip on his throat.
“You could not accept defeat and, swept up in your emotions, used a taboo. Are you not a traitor for attempting to use the power bestowed by His Majesty to harm Him?”
“That… thing…”
“I give you my final command. Take those people and return to the castle. I will assign punishment separately.”
“I… understand.”
*Swoosh*—
As Kantoma barely managed to nod, the restraints constricting his neck were released.
“Cough!”
Barely able to exhale, he moved his body and grabbed the other executioners.
His retreating figure, dragging his comrades out the door, was pathetic.
*Flap*—!
Kantoma spread his large wings and vanished.
Judge Repin, who hadn't even looked at him, suddenly found himself standing a few steps ahead of Hanbit.
But then.
*Thud*—!
Suddenly, she knelt down and lowered her stance.
“…?” As Hanbit
looked puzzled by this unexpected action, Repin spoke in a serious voice.
“I apologize for the executioners’ rudeness. I am an unworthy being, incapable of even sensing royal blood, so please show me some magnanimity.” Her
supremely polite demeanor naturally made one straighten their posture.
Hanbit, who had been observing the hostility, scratched his cheek.
“No, it is nothing. I reacted a bit too harshly because you showed signs of attempting to destroy the city.”
“Shamefully, it was my duty. Thank you for preventing the senseless destruction of Dracones.”
Having delivered a solemn greeting, Repin slowly raised her head.
Her gaze fell upon the old man inside.
Belua, who had been covering her head, watched this conversation blankly.
“You have resolved the situation. Thank you.”
“…….”
Repin fell silent at the sight of the old man rising to his feet and bowing.
After briefly lowering her gaze, she quietly opened her mouth.
“If you had accepted the orders given by His Majesty, you would not have suffered this humiliation.”
“…That is not my role to accept.”
A brief, incomprehensible exchange.
She seemed to be an acquaintance, but there was no opportunity to ask a question.
With a quick swipe,
Repin turned his head back to Hanbit.
“His Majesty is waiting. Will you come with me?”
“…It seems you already know who I am.”
“The barrier is like a part of His Majesty’s body. It is usually impossible for it to be damaged.”
The answer delivered using the barrier was easy to understand.
Why hadn't he let her go immediately, even after realizing Hanbit had entered?
Was it bewilderment at the appearance of the son of a brother he thought was dead?
Or was it an intention to gauge the caliber of such a figure?
At the moment, he couldn't quite pinpoint anything.
Ultimately, it was a story he would only know once he met her.
“Let’s go straight.”
“Understood.”
Upon receiving an immediate answer, Repin nodded and stood up.
Her gaze shifted to the old man.
“I hope you will join us as well.”
“…Understood. However, I would prefer it if we could travel on foot.”
“Let it be. I will guide you right away.”
As if it were not a difficult request, Repin nodded and stepped out the door.
“Belua, go back home.”
“Huh? Uh…”
Belua snapped back to reality at the old man’s words and answered in a daze.
It looked like it would take a little time for her to collect her thoughts.
“Let us go too.”
With a stomp,
the two stepped outside and followed Repin out into the street.
Watching their retreating figures, Hanbit glanced at the old man and asked,
“I haven’t told you my name yet. My name is Kang Hanbit. I use the alias ‘Black Dragon,’ just like my father.”
“…What a strange coincidence. Still, names are important, so I will remember your name, Lord Kang Hanbit. That is a very unique pronunciation.”
“You don’t have to use honorifics. Please speak to me casually, just like before.”
“I will do so when it is just the two of us. However, in this city, Hanbit, you are a Dragon of the First Rank. It would be best for you to know your position.”
“…Understood.”
Hanbit nodded at the earnest advice.
After regaining his composure for a moment, he looked up at the old man’s head.
Unlike other Dragons, there was no name tag visible there.
“May I ask for your name?”
“I left my name behind on that battlefield back then. Perhaps I left a part of my soul behind.”
“…….”
The old man’s nonchalant words were not merely for show.
If there was no name visible in the system, something must have truly gone wrong.
Unable to find the words to say, Hanbit quietly followed Lepin.
“This is the place.”
Advancing under the gaze of countless Dragons, the three arrived before a castle soaring high into the sky.
A step ahead, a barrier of mixed colors was rippling.
The intense energy, felt even from afar, was powerful enough to twist the surroundings.
“This is a considerably dangerous barrier designed to filter out unauthorized intruders. Should I report this to His Majesty…?”
*Swoosh*
—Repin, who had been continuing his explanation, could not finish.
The barrier that had been flickering in front of Hanbit had split open.
“…It’s open?”
“…….”
Unlike when entering Dracones, the barrier here opened wide, as if welcoming Hanbit.
It was impossible to tell whether it was due to a premonition of awakening or the unique blood and soul.
“This is quite peculiar.”
The old man stroked his chin, expressing his wonder.
Beside him, Repin, who had been speechless, composed his expression.
“For now… I will escort you inside.”
