421 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

# Chapter 422: The Northern Hare - River Dragon (Part 3) A massive vessel capable of carrying hundreds at a time. Its shadow, reflected on the river, appeared even more immense. "Damn it." The curse slipped out instinctively the moment I saw it. Why the hell did it have to appear here? "What the hell is that...?" "Report to the master immediately!" "What on earth...!!" I wasn't the only one shocked—all those gathered were equally at a loss, their panic evident. Amidst the chaos of people flailing about without direction, I sent a telepathic message while glaring at Dangdeuk. - Is that thing what you prepared? "..." Dangdeuk remained silent, but his trembling eyes betrayed him. Though I suspected otherwise, I asked again for confirmation. - This is an order. Answer clearly. - I... don't know... anything about it. Dangdeuk claimed ignorance? Given the circumstances, I had assumed it to be something he'd prepared to capture the Poison King. Surprisingly, it seemed that was not the case. Then.... "What on earth is that all of a sudden..." Surely, it must have been lurking deep beneath the river. Despite its size, its slightest movement was visible above the water. Following its movements, blue demonic creatures swarmed as if to escort it. Seeing that, I became certain. That colossal entity was undoubtedly a red-grade demon. Though I had seen it in a previous life, unlike the fighting and biting green and blue demons, the red-grade demons have the characteristic of dominating lower-tier entities. Their inherent power is on par with a martial expert at the peak of the Flower Realm. Considering the traits of the creatures it leads, hunting such a beast would be challenging. Yet, that's not the only problem. Clenching my fist, I recalled a thought. 'Why now?' Why are these entities already starting to appear? 'It's not time yet.' The revival of red-grade monsters was supposed to occur after the Heavenly Demon descended. Around the time she claimed herself the Heavenly Demon and started making her true presence known on this land. That was the era of the forgotten revival of the red demons. "It's not time yet. Damn it...." How can such a creature be stirring up the waters so openly? Even more so. I glanced at the waists of the guards and swordsmen. The demonic seals they wore were calm without any sign of alert. This suggests that no demonic portal had opened nearby. Which meant. 'This thing isn’t a recent appearance.' It indicated that quite some time had passed since the appearance of a red-grade demonic portal. When? When did these red-grade demonic portals begin appearing? I couldn't tell. At least, word had not spread through the Central Plains. While I was analyzing the monster's condition with a furrowed brow. "What's going on here?" The Poison King appeared, beginning to evaluate the situation. Noticing the presence beneath the water, the Poison King's eyes widened. "What's that...?" "It seems like a red-grade demon." Those were my words to him. Hearing my words, the Poison King flinched, reacting intensely. The others around also began to display expressions close to horror. "Red-grade, you say...?" "Impossible...! A red-grade demon? That’s a tale from centuries ago!" "What on earth is So Yeom-Ra talking about?" The murmurs grew louder. Their reactions were understandable since the emergence of such a legendary grade was only recorded in history. Even amidst the chaos, my gaze remained fixed on the river. The sudden appearance of a red-grade demon was shocking, indeed. But first, assessing the situation was imperative. 'Of all places, above the river?' The more I assessed, the nastier the scenario became. This was one of the worst conditions for hunting. Limited range of movement and the heightened risk of danger made it the least favorable situation. 'It's not excessively dangerous, but....' I glance back at those gathered. My eyes fall on the locations of the Overlord of Conflicts and the Shadow King. The Overlord of Conflicts, showing surprise at the red demon's emergence, widened his eyes. The Shadow King, on the other hand, watched the situation with a hint of intrigue. 'We've plenty of power....' We had more than enough strength to hunt the red demon. With many peak martial experts and even several at the Flower Realm gathered, it shouldn't be difficult. However, the issue was. 'Now... it's an era unfamiliar with red-grade demons.' The period was one where methods for hunting red-grade demons were not known, only passed down through records. And that was the crux of the problem. For from the red-grade demons onward, a specific hunting method was necessary. Feeling a throbbing headache from the unexpected situation. Wooooouuhh—Wooooouh—!! Rumble— A massive sound echoed from the depths of the river as waves began to form above the once-calm waters. The waves were so fierce they tossed the giant vessel violently. "Hold on tight!" "Aah!" Though most were martial artists, holding their ground wasn't hard. Nonetheless, there were some who couldn’t manage, and. Those who failed to grasp onto anything fell off the swaying ship into the river. Normally, they would have easily emerged, but. The swarm of green and blue demons charging fiercely at their prey easily rendered the martial artists powerless. "Aaah-! Help... save me!" The limited space of the water suppressed their abilities. Rendering them immobile, they were easily reduced to mere prey for those of first-level martial prowess. Watching them being devoured swiftly, everyone’s senses sharpened. Being martial artists, they shifted away from fear, preparing for combat. Drawing swords, their internal qi surged. The qi emanating from their bodies blended into the atmosphere, forming a unified current. 'Damn it...!' Seeing that, I flinched. This is dangerous. I tried to cry out to stop them from gathering qi, but. Wooooouh—! It was too late. The beast, seemingly provoked, began to move beneath the water. With its movements, the waves intensified. Soon, its shadow darkened gradually, piercing through the river beside the massive vessel to reveal its form. Swooooosh—! As the enormous head rose above the water, the current churned violently, causing everyone on the increasingly rough-moving ship to hold their breath. The turbulent internal energies that had filled the air just moments ago now quietly dissipated as if they had never existed. Its size rivaled even the massive vessel they were on. A long, slender body adorned with rows of shimmering red scales. It flicked out a lengthy tongue from the tip of its snout as it scanned the ship with its eyes. Someone, their voice trembling, managed to speak. "...Snake...?" Indeed, the creature resembled a snake. Only, its size was unimaginably massive. --- A red-grade demon. The last recorded sighting was approximately four to five hundred years ago. Said to boast power and size incomparable to green or blue-grade demons. If white demons could transform plains into vast rivers or cause snowfall during summer, altering geography and impacting ecosystems— Then the red-grade, one tier below the white, possessed enough might to reign as the sovereign of an entire region. It was said that their presence alone was enough to forbid all but themselves from living or traveling there, so dreadful was their might. Such unbelievable records defied logic, being attributed to mere monsters. Upon encountering these records, the Poison King had assumed them to be exaggerated tales not to be taken seriously. With strength surpassing a first-tier martial artist, it wouldn't be surprising for them to treat green demons as toys, let alone blue ones. Even if they were one step higher, it was hard to believe there could be such a stark difference. After all, even if it had been true, it was a creature that had vanished into the folds of history, never to return. The Poison King had never perceived red-grade creatures as particularly threatening. This was a common sentiment shared by many across the Central Plains. A grade that was never supposed to reappear. Records, inflated and fanciful. That was all associated with red-grade demons. Yet now, the Poison King was forced to reconsider. "This is... unheard of." The records were not incorrect after all. "It's unimaginably huge..." Confronted with undeniable evidence right before him, how could his conclusion be any different? Ssssssonnnn— A snake. An incredibly enormous snake. The crimson-scaled serpent perfectly suited the title of red-grade demon, matching the size of the very ship they rode upon. With slitted, glowing yellow eyes, the demon surveyed the people on the deck. Under its gaze, those nearby began to tremble in terror. Most of them were martial artists below the first-tier, and some were so overwhelmed that they foamed at the mouth and lost consciousness. Witnessing this, the Poison King's brow furrowed deeply. 'Why on earth...!' The sudden appearance of a red-grade creature—what kind of calamity was this? And what exactly were the other demons gathering nearby? None of this boded well. Moreover, there was the demon's gaze. It was unmistakably clear to the Poison King that hunger lurked within its eyes. It undoubtedly saw them as nothing more than food. Realizing this, the Poison King shouted without hesitation. "Turn the ship around!" First and foremost, they needed to escape. The Poison King wasn't foolish enough to think standing motionless with such a beast before them was a viable plan. At the same time— Swish—! It was impossible the monster would allow them to simply turn the ship and leave. As soon as the vessel's stern shifted, the demon's eyes flashed as it charged. Seeing this, the Poison King leaped off the deck, rushing to intercept the creature. In his hand appeared a dagger. Raising his internal energy to its peak, the Poison King hurled the dagger at the demon without hesitation. The dagger, imbued with the power typical of the Flower Realm, streaked toward the demon’s forehead. Under normal circumstances, the Poison King's dagger—capable of piercing steel—would have struck true. Ting-! "...What?!" Yet, as it neared the demon, the dagger faltered, bouncing back helplessly. As if struck by an invisible barrier. Stunned by the unexpected, the Poison King paused in bemusement just as the demon shifted its trajectory towards him, mouth gaping wide to swallow him whole. At that moment. Someone grabbed the scruff of the Poison King's neck and threw him backward. Thanks to this, the Poison King narrowly escaped being consumed. "Wow, that's nuts! How is it so fast?" The one who had grabbed and thrown him was none other than Baekryeon Sword. The Poison King landed on the river surface, utilizing the foundational water-walking technique possible only for those who reached the Flower Realm. Beside him, Baekryeon Sword also arrived, exchanging a brief nod with the Poison King. "My thanks. You saved me." "No need for gratitude.... What was that just now? It seemed like your energy bounced off." "...It did." The Poison King frowned as he confirmed Baekryeon Sword's observation—the demon had indeed deflected his previous attack. To think it could repel such energy... how was that possible? As he struggled to comprehend the situation, another joined him on the river. Paduyeol, head of the Pega family and known as one of the Hundred Masters of the Central Plains, the Iron Fist of Martial Preservation joined them. "I’ll assist." The Poison King nodded in response. The three masters, all beyond the Flower Realm, stood aligned on the river. Meanwhile, the ship slowly began to veer off course. The demon, rather than pursuing the ship, now focused its attention on the trio standing before it. It, too, understood. Without eliminating the three, it could not turn its attention to the ship. This impression brought a question to the Poison King's mind. 'Could it be... the ship is its goal?' The thought that the demon's target might indeed be the ship fleetingly crossed his mind. But surely not. The Poison King shook his head. Whatever the sudden red-grade monster or otherwise, their immediate focus must remain on defending the ship. As the Poison King drew his blade and steadied his breath, Baekryeon Sword commented on the monstrous creature ahead. "Wow.... It's massive. Truly obscenely massive." Feeling her words slightly sapping his spirit, the Poison King agreed in his heart, despite himself. She wasn’t wrong. Compared to any monster he'd seen before, this creature boasted an incomprehensible size. What if such a creature were not confined to this river but roaming the land instead? And worse, what if there were several, not just one? The horrific thought made the Poison King grip his dagger tightly. The serpent was not launching an outright attack, seemingly testing the waters instead. Typically, creatures like this, driven solely by instinct, would have attacked with full force by now. Yet it seemed to be assessing the situation. And so was the Poison King. 'I must understand what just happened.' He recalled the moment his dagger was repelled. The dagger had been properly charged with internal energy, and its trajectory had been flawless. So why had his attack bounced back before reaching the demon? The reason eluded him. While pondering this, Baekryeon Sword swiftly swung her weapon, sending a wave of energy towards the serpent. It was a sudden strike. Whoosh—! The azure-hued energy shot towards the serpent intent on cleaving it, yet— Snap—! Just as with the Poison King's dagger, Baekryeon Sword's energy crumbled against an invisible barrier. "As expected... it's ineffective?" She muttered as if disappointed, but the sight left the Poison King shocked. "Baekryeon Sword...! What are you doing?!" "Why? I wanted to see if it worked. We can't just stand around doing nothing, can we?" At her matter-of-fact comment that they’d need to fight eventually, the Poison King had to rub his temples. Fortunately, the serpent merely flicked its tongue and continued its assessment, though being provoked might have led to a dangerous situation. Although startled by Baekryeon Sword's sudden action, it wasn't without gain. Thanks to her, he confirmed their attacks had no effect on the demon. With this revelation, the Poison King quickly sought a solution, and a thought flashed across his mind. Could it be... '...Are red-grade demons immune to attacks charged with internal energy?' A cold thought that inadvertently surfaced, he nervously swallowed. Though not recorded, it was a possibility to consider. The possibility that from red-grade onwards, internal energy-based attacks might not be effective. Even imagining it was terrifying. This scenario would not only diminish the martial value of harming monsters with internal energy but could also signal humanity's downfall by being unable to fend off such beasts. A mere speculation, yet a disturbingly plausible one. While the Poison King dry-swallowed, dwelling on these fears. The demon began to move. Shaaaa—! Just as the serpent bared its fangs, ready to lunge at the three martial artists. Whoosh—! Boom—! "!" Suddenly, a fierce lightning bolt struck the serpent’s head from somewhere. Crunch—! With a thunderous sound, the serpent's head jolted violently. Its trajectory was altered as it let out a pained scream and the massive head crashed into the river, sending water spraying high into the sky. The ascent of the water resembled rainfall. Witnessing this, the Poison King's eyes widened. Until then, he had clearly seen that energy attacks were ineffective, so what was that just now? Turning his astonished eyes behind him, the Poison King sought the martial artist who had just repelled the serpent. Upon identifying them, his response was incredulous. "What...? Why are those kids...?" Leaving the baffled Poison King, behind him, he noticed— Kyaaaa—! The demon, which had briefly retreated underwater, swiftly re-emerged and charged again. The three martial artists of the Flower Realm prepared to retaliate, but just then— "Four hand spans back from the left eye.” A calm voice spoke from behind, and immediately another presence leapt towards the serpent. No hesitation was shown. Three blades traced arcs in the air, diving towards the serpent. They struck just behind the serpent’s left eye, where the previous command had indicated, causing an energy explosion at the tip of the swords that reverberated with impact. Pang—! Shaaaaa—! Once more, the serpent’s head was jolted. The Poison King could clearly see it. A visible crack appeared in the invisible barrier enveloping the serpent when the strikes hit. What was different between them and the ones before? Even as the question lingered, the voice continued. “Thrust from five hand spans below the chin, upwards.” No hesitation followed the command. The sword, enveloped in golden energy, slipped under the serpent, unleashing an attack. Bang—! Once again. The serpent’s jaw was knocked back forcefully. Crack! The transparent veil around the serpent showed a slight fracture. A faint gap was perceptible. “Wu Hyuk.” A brief call sufficed. The handsome warrior immediately raised his sword and, with agility, sent his energy streaking through the created gap. Finally, an attack that bypassed the previously impenetrable defenses skimmed the serpent’s hide, wounding it. Splurt—! The serpent's neck opened with a wound, spilling turquoise blood into the river. Kyaaaa—! Unsettled by its injury, the serpent wailed and distanced itself slightly. It coiled defensively, seemingly wary. Faced with this sudden unfolding, the Poison King stood with his jaw agape. The ones who had just pummeled the serpent, retreating as it coiled, landed gracefully back on the river. Splosh. The three martial artists came to stand on the river where a lone youth had already been. It was he who had issued the orders. Noticing him, the Poison King murmured softly. “So Yeom-Ra?” Upon hearing his name, Guhyangcheon’s brows twitched slightly, as if displeased. But that was secondary. Who were these warriors who had just bent the serpent to their will? Even as someone of the Flower Realm, he had been deliberating on a course of action. Yet these juniors, presumably only reaching culmination, had handled the serpent with apparent ease. The Sword Maiden of Namgung, the Heir of Swordmaster, and the Hidden Dragon of Wudang stood around So Yeom-Ra with swords sheathed, as if awaiting further commands. The distinct colors of energy wrapped around their blades created a formidable presence. Even more perplexing, how were those who hadn't reached the Flower Realm standing on the water? The Poison King found himself utterly unable to comprehend the reality before him. At that moment, So Yeom-Ra, standing at the center, turned to the Poison King and his group to speak. "From now on, I will take command." "...What? Young Master Goo, what are you suddenly saying...?" "I won't entertain objections. If you're not satisfied, keep quiet and just don't interfere." The Poison King was about to retort to Guhyangcheon’s words but had to shut his mouth. Ssss—! He sensed the monster's motion and knew it was not a time for argument. He felt the massive writhing beneath the river's surface. Guhyangcheon, perceiving the same, addressed those around him. "Prepare." Srring. At his brief directive, the three martial artists sharply heightened their auras. They stood poised like well-trained swordsmen. While the trio’s readiness was impressive enough, there was something enigmatic about how easily Guhyangcheon issued his commands to them. The Poison King couldn't help but question the unidentifiable sense of authority he felt emanating from Guhyangcheon.