[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter 202: The Absolute (1)
Kwon Junyeol and the Hyukcheon Corps withdrew from the scene, carrying Kwon Myung-woo with them.
Even as her original target, Kwon Myung-woo, disappeared before her eyes, Mei Xiao couldn’t move.
Because Kwon Hanul… was far too much of a threat.
"I was wondering how the Flowing Blade died. Now I see for myself."
Mei Xiao observed Hanul closely as she spoke.
"To think you’ve grown this strong in such a short time… That man was right—there’s a power in you that surpasses human intellect."
"That man? You mean Azeth Hermes? While we're at it, let me ask just one thing—how did you end up siding with Aeon?"
"Shouldn’t you be more concerned about surviving right now than asking questions like that?"
Mei Xiao gave a wry smile in response to Hanul’s inquiry.
"No matter how I look at it, you're awfully arrogant. Saying you’ll take the two of us on at once? Don’t you agree?"
"Yeah, you cocky little bastard."
The reply came from behind Mei Xiao.
The Dragon Slayer, who had been knocked back by Hanul’s strike to the solar plexus, was rising to his feet.
"Damn, this is humiliating."
He grumbled as he brushed the dust from his clothes.
Despite being struck square in the solar plexus, he seemed completely unshaken. As if the blow hadn’t even fazed him.
"You should’ve been more careful. Hanul’s not someone we can afford to underestimate anymore."
"At worst, he’s just a cat that managed a scratch."
With a snort, the Dragon Slayer stepped up beside Mei Xiao.
"Listen up, you worm of Hyukcheon. I’m going to tear you apart with my own hands."
His aura exploded outward. In that instant, Hanul felt like a block of iron was pressing down on him.
You have entered the influence of Red Dragon Star!
All attributes reduced by 30%!
Health and mana are weakened!
This was a world apart from what Hanul had experienced back during the Babel raid.
Now that the Dragon Slayer had unleashed Red Dragon Star with full killing intent, it suppressed all of Hanul’s power.
"Oh my… Maybe I won’t even have to step in after all?"
Mei Xiao adjusted her longsword. Aura began to rise from the blade.
Crimson aura flared up like wildfire, reaching all the way to the ceiling. Despite the intensity of the flame-like energy, Mei Xiao herself was composed and steady—
In fact, she grew more serene by the second.
Not wild. Not domineering.
Her presence began to fade—so much so that, despite standing right there, it felt as though she might vanish at any moment.
"An honor, really… to have both of you fight me at once."
Hanul looked calmly at the two of them.
One was the natural enemy of Black Dragon Bloodline—the Dragon Slayer.
The other was the master assassin, leader of the Assassins Guild—Mei Xiao.
To have to dodge Mei Xiao’s sword while his senses were dulled by Red Dragon Star?
There could be no worse situation.
"If you two are so eager to welcome me, I suppose I shouldn’t stay still either."
Hanul summoned his mana. Activating the power of Black Dragon Bloodline, he muttered:
A black storm surged to life.
Mana swirled like a typhoon.
The air it expelled swept away the surrounding rubble.
When the storm finally ripped apart, something emerged from within.
A body covered in sharp scales.
A tail swinging behind it.
Horns protruding from its head, and a third eye opening in the center of its forehead.
The moment they saw it, both Mei Xiao and the Dragon Slayer realized—
Though it resembled a human form, it was not human.
It was something far higher on the hierarchy of existence.
The instant the Half-Dragon revealed itself, the mood shifted entirely.
The auras of Mei Xiao and the Dragon Slayer, which had filled the battlefield, were swept away.
The presence of the dragon filled the void.
"So this is the power of True Blood that caused such a stir across the world… finally, I get to witness it with my own eyes."
To avenge herself on the Hyukcheon clan, Mei Xiao had studied every piece of information she could gather.
And what she had paid the most attention to was the True Blood power Hanul wielded.
A power that temporarily granted the strength of a dragon.
With that ability, Hanul had defeated those far superior to him in raw skill and power.
Even Mei Xiao had to express her admiration. The power Hanul now wielded was astonishing.
"But you haven’t forgotten who’s here, have you?"
Even if Hanul wielded the might of a dragon, they had the Dragon Slayer on their side.
His dragon-slaying ability should’ve been able to counter True Blood…
"…Hey, what’s wrong?"
Suddenly, Mei Xiao noticed something strange about the Dragon Slayer’s face.
Shock. Dismay. Denial.
His expression was stiff with raw, negative emotion.
"This… this can’t be happening…"
"H-How… How is my power… Why is Red Dragon Star fleeing from you?!"
Mei Xiao likely couldn’t see it—but Hanul and the Dragon Slayer could.
"This isn’t possible…"
At that moment, Hanul moved.
A bolt of black lightning streaked forward and slammed into the Dragon Slayer with a kick to the solar plexus.
Once again, he was launched back.
In that brief gap in his awareness—
Mei Xiao, without any sound or motion, swung her longsword toward Hanul’s neck.
But Hanul moved first, as if he had foreseen it.
He drove a fist straight into her abdomen.
The pain wasn’t like a punch—it was like being struck by a cannonball.
Mei Xiao’s body went flying.
She stabbed her sword into the ground to barely stop herself.
Hot blood surged up from within her. She coughed up a mouthful of crimson.
—Blood Flame Blade... You told me to think about how I’d survive this, didn’t you?
Hanul’s voice echoed in her mind as he stared her down.
—I’ll return that advice to you. You’re the one who should start figuring out how to survive me.
Hearing that, Mei Xiao couldn’t help it—
Before anger, a dry laugh slipped from her lips.
She had always been the strong one.
She had never once heard those words in her life.
To think she’d hear them from some kid.
Worse still, she had no rebuttal.
"The bloodline of Hyukcheon… You people are truly insufferable. Arrogant enough to make me want to rip your tongues out."
But her pride wouldn’t let her back down.
Mei Xiao drew her sword from the ground again. Straightening her grip, she said, "Let’s see how you handle me for real this time."
One of the walls exploded.
Hanul and Mei Xiao turned toward the blast in shock.
But it wasn’t just the explosion. The mana that erupted with it turned into a raging storm.
Debris caught in the wave disintegrated on contact.
"Mei Xiao! Stay out of this!"
From within the chaos, the Dragon Slayer roared in fury.
"That cursed bastard is mine to kill!"
His expression was twisted with rage.
A wounded beast is dangerous.
But more dangerous still is one whose pride has been shattered.
That’s exactly what the Dragon Slayer was now.
He’d underestimated Kwon Myung-woo, assuming his powers gave him the upper hand.
He was overwhelmed. Barely escaped by dodging, fleeing.
Only thanks to Mei Xiao had he lived.
That alone had shattered his pride.
And now, anger was seeping through the cracks, threatening to consume him.
If being struck by Hyukcheon’s strongest had made his blood boil—
"You dare lay your hands on me?"
Then being hit by this brat was intolerable.
"I’ll split your skull and spine right now!"
And in the same damn spot—twice?
"Don’t you move a muscle!"
The Dragon Slayer summoned a massive iron club from subspace.
He lunged forward, swinging the weapon straight down toward Hanul’s head.
Hanul dodged backward. The club smashed into the ground, pulverizing the floor and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Through the dust, the Dragon Slayer emerged, swinging his club wildly at Hanul.
—Fine. Just as you want, then.
Suddenly, Hanul leapt forward instead of retreating.
He met the Dragon Slayer’s sideways swing with a punch of his own and shattered the club.
Stunned, the Dragon Slayer didn’t even have time to react before Hanul drove two punches into his ribs.
As he doubled over in pain, Hanul launched an upward kick and smashed his face.
His enormous body flew skyward.
Hanul moved in to finish him but Mei Xiao appeared behind him and thrust her blade toward his heart.
Hanul’s tail lashed out, deflecting the strike.
In the same motion, he spun and struck with his elbow.
"So that tail’s not just for show!"
Mei Xiao bent back to avoid the blow. She recovered her sword and slashed at him again.
Even in his Half-Dragon state, Mei Xiao’s aura was nothing to scoff at.
Hanul twisted and evaded her sword, striking whenever he saw an opening.
Sword slashes tore through the air, and punches shot out like bullets, slicing through empty space.
As their exchanges continued, Mei Xiao felt something… off.
Hanul’s movements were changing— as if he were reading her attacks in advance.
Before she could finish her thought, Hanul dashed in.
He slammed her sword to the ground with his elbow— then struck her chest with an open palm.
The blow resounded like a thunderclap. The force struck her heart directly.
Mei Xiao screamed, flying backward. This time, she couldn’t stay upright.
She collapsed to the ground, groaning.
Suddenly, a scream rang out.
It was the Dragon Slayer, regaining consciousness after being knocked out by Hanul’s uppercut.
Mei Xiao, the Blood Flame Blade. The Dragon Slayer.
Two Absolutes— now groaning in the dirt after attacking him together.
No one in the world would believe this if they hadn’t seen it.
And in front of that unbelievable sight, Hanul spoke in a low voice:
“Surely… this isn’t the end, is it?”
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]