Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 476

Tales of Nangsungan – Part 2, Episode 185

The Land of the North.

In that peaceful land, a stag rested quietly.

The stag’s antlers and fur were entirely gray, and its eyes were blue, lending it an oddly sacred aura.

A markedly different appearance than before.

This stag was none other than Hwadam, the master of the North.

Rustle.

Hwadam opened his eyes.

[So, I wasn’t dreaming. After all these years, his voice has finally reached me…]

Muttering to himself, Hwadam pondered the familiar voice he had heard in his head and summoned his insectoids.

[The key to becoming the true master is to seize the Great Catastrophe Tree. I have led you as the master of the North for a long time, but now I intend to relinquish my title.]

Buzzing, buzzing.

Hwadam, looking down at the thousands of assembled insectoids, declared:

[I, Hwadam, will relinquish my position as master of the North and become the master of the Great Catastrophe Tree. I will claim the Great Catastrophe Tree, which no one has been able to conquer for the past ten thousand years, fulfill the will of heaven, and bring peace to this land!]

Woo-oh-oh-oh-oh!!

[The master of the West is dead. The master of the South avoids conflict. All that remains is the master of the East!]

Thud!

Hwadam slammed the ground.

[Those who share my will shall go to the East. I will not accept objections. The path ahead of us leads either to death or to victory!]

Thud! Thud! Thud!!

Woo-oh-oh-oh-oh!!

The land of the North trembles.

Hwadam leaps forward.

He jumps up and heads east in one breath, and the forest path splits to the left and right, clearing a way for him.

Following that path, the insectoids surge forward, causing a vibration like an earthquake.

‘He’s changed a lot.’

It’s hard to believe that he is the same boy who once lacked power and had no choice but to transform into a demon.

Of course, for the first hundred years or so, he only avoided fighting and ran away.

Then, he accidentally obtained the blood and flesh of the Moonlit Night Beast, grew stronger through several battles, and transformed into what he is now.

All Hwadam needed to change was a small opportunity and experience.

And a shift in mindset.

Now, anyone would see him as a powerful insectoid and the dignified master of the North.

That’s how they would perceive him.

Ten thousand years.

The passage of ten thousand years turned a naive boy into this formidable being.

Cheonbeom once again realized the immensity of time and watched him.

“How is Bireong?”

“Now we have to leave it to fate. All we can do is offer a little advice. The rest is up to them.”

Hwadam has the advantage in numbers.

But Bireong is stronger.

Cheonbeom was also curious about what would happen.

“It’s the first time they’ve fought since their brief encounter three thousand years ago.”

There’s a story that Hwadam accidentally met Bireong three thousand years ago, fought, and barely managed to escape with his life.

It was a one-on-one fight back then, so it’s a little different now, but it’s impossible to predict how the situation will unfold.

“It has begun.”

Hwadam’s silver fur and horns, leading the charge, entered the land of the East.

Unlike the North, the land of the East did not yield to Hwadam.

[I have received a revelation from the heavens. It was a revelation to kill you, drink your blood, and become the master of the Great Catastrophe Tree. Is that also your purpose?]

As soon as he set foot on the land of the East, Bireong’s voice suddenly pierced Hwadam’s mind.

[It is.]

A huge shadow fell in front of the affirmative Hwadam.

The appearance of a massive insectoid with the body of a snake and the wings of a bat. The master of the East.

It was Bireong.

[I don’t think you can stab me to death with that small body and weak horns. Or are you planning to confront me with an unorganized army of those who lowered their tails and ran away from here and there? Foolish. The difference in power is clear. Why are you taking a step towards death?]

Despite the scathing assessment, Hwadam silently took a step forward.

[Over the past years, I have experienced death countless times. But even so, I wanted to live and have survived until now. So, once again, I want to live.]

[Nonsense.]

[I am fighting to live.]

Kugugugugung.

The trees fall as Bireong moves.

His long, torn, large eyeballs fixate on Hwadam.

[You can survive by running away like the fugitives gathered in the North. But fighting to live? I can’t understand it. It’s not like you’re drawing your opponent into a trap and fighting from an advantageous position; is rushing in without any strategy a way to live?]

[Master of the East. You must not underestimate me yet.]

[Nonsense.]

Thud!

The war began.

Hwadam’s eyes, as he ran, kicking off the ground, were dyed silver, and the sky immediately darkened, and the moonlight intensified.

Under the moonlight, the dark shadow writhed strangely.

[Ridiculous!]

Black tentacles erupted from the shadow and wrapped around Bireong’s body.

But when Bireong raised his scales and shook his body, the tentacles were torn off at once, and when he spread his wings wide and flew into the sky, the rushing insectoids were helpless, like dogs chasing chickens.

Kurrrr!!

At the same time, the sky filled with dark clouds, and thunder and lightning roared wildly.

Bireong opened his mouth wide to the sky, and lightning struck there.

Bireong’s mouth, filled with blue lightning, flickered, and then spat it out at Hwadam in an instant.

Kwagwang!!

Kwaaaaaang!!

The lightning emitted from Bireong’s mouth struck down like a whip, exploding the ground and blasting the entire forest.

The insectoids of the North were startled and staggered at the unexpectedly powerful lightning. They were frightened by the strength that far surpassed theirs.

Hwadam swallowed dry saliva at the sight of Bireong, who had become stronger than he was three thousand years ago.

But he couldn’t just stand still. The battle had already begun, and if he backed down, all the insectoids in the North would be frightened and would lose their will to fight.

Kooong!

When he stamped the ground with his hooves, the vegetation in the entire forest withered at once.

Unlike the vegetation that withered as if it had been deprived of its vitality, Hwadam was filled with strength.

Silver particles swirled around Hwadam, and power surged through him.

Hwadam kicked off the ground immediately.

Kwang!!

Bireong staggered when he was rammed with Hwadam’s horns.

[Keuk! Presumptuous!]

Staggering, Bireong knocked Hwadam away with his tail and flew into the sky.

Soon, thunder roared wildly, and thunder permeated Bireong’s body.

Blue lightning climbed all over his body, shooting lightning in all directions.

Kwang, Kwaaaang!!

The insectoids were all busy running away from the powerful lightning, and in the meantime, heavy rain poured down from the sky.

As the entire area was soaked in heavy rain, most of the insectoids were electrocuted and trembled from a single lightning strike.

Hwadam despaired.

The difference in power was too great.

Numerous insectoids died from a few of his lightning strikes, and he summoned rainwater to maximize his divine power.

The numerical superiority was long gone, and the difference in power was clear, so Hwadam gritted his teeth in vain.

Kugugugugung.

Dark sky.

Bireong’s huge body was clearly visible whenever blue thunder raged.

He swallows the insectoids and tears their limbs apart by striking them with lightning.

The victory had already been decided a long time ago.

[Where are you, master of the North!]

Bireong shouted boldly and scattered lightning.

Hwadam stood up, trembling on his powerless legs, and emitted silver energy.

The energy absorbed the vitality of the vegetation again, bringing warmth to Hwadam.

If there is only fresh vegetation, he can absorb it at any time to heal his body and boost his vitality.

Hwadam’s ability is like that.

With this ability, he made the land of the North barren, but he gradually grew stronger, and that’s how Hwadam became who he is today.

‘Power is lacking.’

But it doesn’t seem possible now.

He believed that he could win if he fought persistently, healed, and repeated the process.

But now the difference in power is too clear.

No more hope remained for Hwadam.

Hwadam looked around.

The vegetation, which had become crumbly due to his ability, crumbled and disappeared just by touching it slightly.

It was like seeing his future.

Hope vanished.

“It seems like the victory or defeat has been roughly decided.”

Yeja said with a bright smile.

Donlang’s Ulang failed.

But not Bireong.

Bireong of the East had been in the East for the past years, accumulating and cultivating his strength, and enjoying contemplation.

He did not enjoy wasting his power, and he achieved his training and was reborn as such a powerful insectoid.

Yeja looked at Bireong with affectionate eyes as if he were his alter ego.

“The use of power should be like that. You shouldn’t waste it carelessly, and you should show it completely when the time comes.”

That’s not wrong.

“The game is not over yet.”

But that’s not right either.

The game is not over yet.

Hwadam was still alive.

“Isn’t it over already? You brought all the thousands of insectoids from the North, but who is in the lead now?”

It was Bireong.

“Does Cheonsuseon still see a chance of winning for the stag named Hwadam?”

Beom saved his words.

In his view, it is safe to say that the victory has already tilted towards Bireong.

But.

“I can see it, but I don’t know if Hwadam will also.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since a guy who should have died is still alive, I’m still not going to let go of the string.”

Cheonbeom’s lips smacked.

He must be giving advice to Hwadam.

Yeja dismissed it as his last struggle and also gave advice to Bireong.

-Take his blood and flesh and become the master of the Great Catastrophe Tree. Then I will call you under a new sky.

Bireong’s energy became even stronger when he heard Yeja’s words.

Kwagwagwang! Kwareung!

He struck down a few more lightning bolts.

Hwadam barely avoided them, but his whole body was covered in wounds.

The silver fur was blackened, and one horn was broken, and red blood was seeping out.

The victory or defeat had been decided.

Kwaaaaang!!

Thud! Kooong!

Once again, lightning struck down, and Hwadam rolled on the ground due to the impact.

Rustle.

The surrounding vegetation crumbled.

Hwadam, who had absorbed the vitality of the vegetation once again, barely raised his body.

He trembled on all fours like a newborn animal.

Bireong frowned at the sight of the truly persistent guy.

But soon he opened his eyes wide because he had come right in front of the Great Catastrophe Tree while chasing Hwadam.

[Is this the place?]

The place that all the insectoids here wanted.

The place where the Great Catastrophe Tree is located.

Bireong of the East was overwhelmed.

Soon, the Great Catastrophe Tree will be his, and if that happens, he will be able to follow the one who promised him a new sky.

A new sky.

A new world awaited him.

[So, die.]

Kwaaang!!

Once again, lightning struck down.

Now Bireong was also running out of strength.

He had to cut off his breath as soon as possible and end this war.

Swoosh.

In the place where the lightning struck, a silver deer was blackened and collapsed.

Bireong was moved that the end of this long battle was finally marked.

It was then.

Whoo-oong.

The color of the blue grass fades.

The center of the Great Catastrophe Tree cracked and split in half!

The entire area turned gray, lost its vitality, and silver energy raged.

[The Great Catastrophe Tree is!!]

The huge Great Catastrophe Tree split and crumbled, and a silver deer floated above it, craving all the vitality around it.

Blinding silver light occupies the world and sucks up all the vitality under the sky.

“This can’t be!”

At the same time as Yeja’s voice of embarrassment, Cheonbeom’s hand moved urgently.

Swoosh, Kooooong!!

The entire forest, Hwadam, and Bireong, which were taken out of the Gongjeong River [Likely a spatial or dimensional boundary], revealed their appearance.

Kurrrr! Kurrrr!!

In an instant, the sky darkens.

“This is….”

Cheonbeom saw the heavenly thunder falling from the hole in the sky full of dark clouds, the figure of the dazzlingly shining deer, and Bireong screaming.

It was a heavenly tribulation [A trial or ordeal sent by the heavens, often involving extreme challenges and tests of worthiness].