Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 182

The Three Kings’ Disciple (183)

182

A massive explosion erupted, and a ring of fire encircled the star.

“Huuup!”

Namgoong Chun inhaled sharply, bracing for the worst. Lee Ro-woon extended his hand and ignited the Sacred Flame.

The Sacred Flame barrier, fueled by the inner energy he’d recovered slightly thanks to the Azure Sky Limitless Sword Formation, bloomed into existence.

Kwaaaaah!

It blocked the shockwaves from the distant explosion.

Lee Ro-woon clenched his fist, and the barrier vanished.

Shweeeeeek!

The star, once proudly floating, was now plummeting.

It was an attack that had squeezed every last bit of power from the Ring of the Emperor. It was clear the attack had landed squarely.

“Are you talking about a Guardian Dragon?”

Namgoong Chun asked, already familiar with the concept of a Guardian Dragon. Seeing Lee Ro-woon’s reaction, he found his answer and spoke, his voice tense as he watched the falling star.

“If that’s the case…”

The star continued to fall.

“There’s no way it would end like this.”

Lee Ro-woon interrupted Namgoong Chun, seeing the star stop its descent.

“But we can buy some time.”

Even a Guardian Dragon couldn’t be perfect.

The Guardian Dragon, which was clearly the Zhuge Clan’s objective.

‘The Zhuge Clan used Balrog as a pretext.’

Transcendent beings like the Guardian Dragon couldn’t cross dimensions without a cost.

Without a contract or a valid reason to intervene, they couldn’t simply cross the dimensional gate.

It was similar to how the hermits of the Hidden World had emerged due to Balrog’s appearance.

‘It must be the same for that one too.’

The Zhuge Clan had created a justification by summoning Balrog, and then they summoned the Guardian Dragon.

But even Balrog wasn’t perfect.

“Restrictions.”

The Guardian Dragon summoned by the Zhuge Clan must have limitations.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been pierced by the still-imperfect Fire King’s Long Spear and fallen so humiliatingly.

“We’ll leave the battlefield before those restrictions are completely lifted.”

Escape. That was Lee Ro-woon’s decision.

Kkwaak.

Namgoong Chun and the other martial artists shook their heads at Lee Ro-woon’s words.

For proud martial artists, running away was not an easy thing to consider.

“The first time is hard, not the second.”

Lee Yong-jin’s words made them turn their heads.

“We already ran once, didn’t we?”

Lee Yong-jin was the first to turn his back and get into position.

“Let’s live first.”

“That’s right. Everyone already ran from the Mazu [a powerful demonic entity], and the Guardian Dragon is no less of an opponent.”

Namgoong Mu-jin also turned around.

One by one, the martial artists turned their backs to the enemy.

“But it won’t be easy.”

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, the martial artists raised their swords.

Kwaang!

A massive explosion erupted before their eyes.

Wheeeeeeeeng!

A whirlwind of flames blocked their path.

“Fire Wall… !”

The sight of the 7th Circle magic, Fire Wall, made them look towards Mo Yong-hu.

He had already cast Fire Wall once in the Mo Yong Clan’s territory.

“It’s not me!”

Mo Yong-hu shouted in panic.

Kwang! Kwaang! Kwang!

Explosions erupted.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeng!

Not just one or two, but dozens of fire barriers were trapping everyone.

It was beyond what Mo Yong-hu could do alone.

“How…”

Those who appeared between the fire barriers.

He muttered softly as he looked at them.

“The Zhuge Clan…?”

The Zhuge Clan’s martial artists reached out their hands.

Streams of magic power flowed from their hands, maintaining the Fire Wall.

***

The magic emanating from the Zhuge Clan’s hands wasn’t limited to Fire Wall.

“Wind Storm… !”

They were also deploying 7th Circle magic.

If Mo Yong-hu and the members of the Mo Yong Clan hadn’t quickly reacted and cast their own magic, the Zhuge Clan’s sudden attack would have disrupted their formation.

“How…”

But what was surprising wasn’t the high-circle magic itself.

“The Zhuge Clan!”

It was the fact that the Zhuge Clan was casting magic.

It was assumed that there was a secret alliance between the Zhuge Clan and Einheart [a powerful magic organization], given that they had summoned the Guardian Dragon.

That’s why they had assumed it was Einheart mages casting the magic.

“How can you use magic!”

It wasn’t the Einheart mages, but the Zhuge Clan’s martial artists who were casting the magic.

“Doesn’t the head of the Mo Yong Clan also use it?”

A man walked forward, protected by the Zhuge Clan’s martial artists.

A sharp-looking middle-aged man spoke.

“Why can’t the Zhuge Clan use it?”

Mo Yong-hu.

“So, you thought the Zhuge Clan was inferior to the Mo Yong Clan?”

“That’s not what…”

Namgoong Mu-jin tried to speak angrily, but the middle-aged man’s cold gaze pierced him.

“We can do what you can do.”

His expression was blank, but a deep sense of anger was palpable.

“The Five Great Clans have always been like that.”

He spoke mockingly, as if taunting the martial artists trapped in the fire barrier and storm.

“They say the Zhuge Clan are not martial artists, always rejecting and pushing us away. They reach out when they need us, but they don’t acknowledge that we are martial artists like them.”

Then, on his face.

“Is that enough?”

A smile spread.

“Now that we use magic, you’ll say we’re not martial artists.”

“Zhuge Hye.”

Namgoong Chun called out to the middle-aged man.

Zhuge Hye.

-He is the head of the Zhuge Clan.

He was the current head of the Zhuge Clan.

“Namgoong Chun.”

Zhuge Hye also called out to Namgoong Chun.

A deep emotion, hard to describe, appeared on his face.

“We are leaving the Five Great Clans today.”

Following the Mo Yong Clan, the second departure.

“And we will leave the Assembly.”

“Why…”

“Because we’re tired of this childish fight.”

They could feel the star that had stopped behind them writhing.

“Useless factional fights, what are we in them? I and the Zhuge Clan can no longer tolerate such treatment.”

“……”

“But I will still say thank you.”

His eyes were on Namgoong Chun.

“Thanks to you, we know how to handle the Guardian Dragon.”

“……!”

“Could it be!”

Zhuge Hye’s words made it clear.

“It was you.”

The ones who summoned the Partisan [a powerful demonic entity] to Japan.

They were the Zhuge Clan.

“Yes, that was the contract and the experiment.”

Zhuge Hye took another step forward.

Thud!

A shock like a non-human being stepping on the ground.

Thud thud thud.

As if the flow of gravity had changed, the broken fragments began to float into the air.

“And Mo Yong-hu, I also thank you. Thanks to you, we proved that a martial artist can gain the power of a dragon through a contract.”

“You…”

The Zhuge Clan.

They summoned the Partisan and conducted some kind of experiment with Mo Yong-hu.

“But most of all, I must thank you.”

Now, Zhuge Hye’s gaze turned to Lee Ro-woon.

“Mazu.”

A deep sense of favor was felt on his cold face.

“Everything was possible thanks to you.”

“What are you…”

Someone’s question was heard, but.

“I see.”

Lee Ro-woon understood.

“So? Is it just to express your gratitude?”

“Of course not.”

Zhuge Hye said, stretching out both hands.

“I will accept you.”

“These… crazy bastards…”

Kang Eun-ha spoke in an angry voice, but Lee Ro-woon raised his hand to stop her.

“Tell me.”

“The world’s order, the laws, the factions will change.”

“Continue.”

“Eun and Einheart, everyone is only paying attention to those two. But everyone knows.”

Another force.

“Gehenna.”

“……”

“The order will be reorganized. If you take my hand now, you can have a big voice in the new order as a representative of Eun with our Zhuge Clan…”

“Puh…”

Zhuge Hye’s eyes twitched at the sound.

“Puhahaha.”

Eventually, Lee Ro-woon burst out laughing.

“That was fun, Zhuge.”

Lee Ro-woon said, not removing the smile from his lips, as if he was genuinely laughing.

“But in the end, you don’t know what I am either.”

“Mazu. You are highly valued…”

“If you knew me properly.”

Kkwaak.

“You wouldn’t have said anything about representing Eun.”

“………”

“I am.”

Lee Ro-woon moved forward.

The reason he had been listening to this useless chatter was to ease his internal injuries and recharge a bit of his strength.

Well, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t interested.

“The master of Eun.”

They don’t know about him.

“And the master of Einheart as well.”

Kang Eun-ha, remembering the words he had said by his side, said with a smile.

“Gehenna.”

Ha Se-min’s small mutter.

“That also belongs to Jincheon [Lee Ro-woon’s faction].”

They shouldn’t dare to mention only Eun.

“If you had offered me the king of that force that you say will be reorganized, I might have accepted it since I was annoyed. But a representative of Eun, that’s too presumptuous, isn’t it?”

“What nonsense are you…”

“Get lost.”

Shweeeeeek-!

With a massive roar, Lee Ro-woon’s Namgoong Mu-hun was swung horizontally.

And the condensed mana, the Aura Blade, poured out.

Kwakwakwakwang!

It swept through the area, creating a massive explosion.

Jing.

A small resonance was heard.

“The opportunity is over.”

Zhuge Hye said, glaring at Lee Ro-woon with his disheveled hair.

“Now, face him.”

It wasn’t just Lee Ro-woon who had been buying time.

-These monkey bastards-!

The Zhuge Clan was the same.

The moment Lee Ro-woon turned his head at the rough sound coming from behind.

Kwajik!

A small hole appeared in Lee Ro-woon’s shoulder.

* * *

-Uwaaaaaaaak!

A voice filled with rage.

-How dare! How dare!

It couldn’t be identified as any specific language, but it was heard in each person’s most familiar language.

-How dare a monkey bastard!

It was a language that transcended race and body.

Kwaang!

It was a Dragon Word.

The fallen star was enveloped in a burst of light and changed its form.

Kuuuung!

Everyone lost their balance and staggered at the massive pressure that crushed the space.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Everything shook at the rough steps that were coming forward.

What appeared was a noble wolf.

A wolf with golden fur bristling, its massive body overwhelming everything.

-You dare!

The wolf’s jaws opened, and a small bead formed.

Kwaaaang!

What was shot out became a straight laser, piercing Lee Ro-woon’s instep once again.

They tried to approach Lee Ro-woon, calling out to him, but no voice came out, and their feet wouldn’t move.

An indescribable fear and a massive presence.

“Th… Th… This…”

There were those who were familiar with this power.

The Mo Yong Clan.

They were terrified once again.

This power was none other than the power that had almost destroyed the Mo Yong Clan.

“Gu, Guardian Dragon…”

It was the power of the Guardian Dragon.

Twitch.

The approaching wolf stopped.

-I can feel a familiar power from these monkey bastards.

The already sharp eyes became even narrower, and a voice was emitted.

-The power of that filthy ice bastard.

The corners of the wolf’s mouth began to twist.

-It’s obvious how it happened, but it’s interesting.

The wolf came closer.

-Is it your doing?

The wolf looked down at Lee Ro-woon right in front of him.

Lee Ro-woon was barely maintaining his posture, using Namgoong Mu-hun as a cane.

-Well, I’m curious, but it doesn’t matter. You’re just monkey bastards anyway.

The jaws opened once again.

-Just die.

A small golden bead was seen forming.

This time, the golden bead was not aimed at the shoulder or instep.

Lee Ro-woon’s forehead.

When the light that had begun to gather with a subtle heat was about to pierce Lee Ro-woon directly.

“Blood Demon… !”

A voice intruded.

“Nim…”

Kang Eun-ha blocked Lee Ro-woon’s path.

A large hole had appeared in her chest.

-Hmph.