Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 16

Rowoon was sitting comfortably on the sofa, while on the floor…

“Kuh-heut.”

“Ahem.”

“…….”

Han Do-baek, Kang Han-cheol, and Kang Eun-ha were kneeling respectfully.

It wasn’t that Rowoon had intentionally made them sit like that.

‘How could we possibly be at the same level as the Blood Demon?’

They had asked and begged to sit like that.

“Ahem.”

Kang Han-cheol quietly raised his head and looked at Rowoon’s face, the Blood Demon.

He had felt it during the commotion at the main gate earlier, but seeing it now, it was even more certain.

‘He has grown.’

Just a little over a week.

Rowoon had grown again.

When they first met, he could at least somewhat read Rowoon, but now, even with him right in front of his eyes, he couldn’t properly grasp Rowoon.

“Perhaps…”

Kang Han-cheol spoke, as if gathering courage.

“Has the Blood Demon reached the realm of Talma?”

Talma, beyond Geukma, or in the righteous sects, the realm of Hyeon-gyeong. [These are martial arts cultivation stages.]

For players, it meant the realm of a high-ranker who had surpassed level 200.

“Not yet.”

Rowoon said.

“The reason you can’t read me is because of the power of the divine skill, not because I’ve reached the next realm.”

It was the truth, without a single lie.

The power of the Blood Demon Divine Art, especially the power of True Blood, was special.

It was the stage of completely controlling the blood flowing within the body, and at the same time, completely controlling the inner energy mixed in the blood.

That was why Rowoon had already reached the stage of Banbakgwijin, which other martial artists could only achieve at the level of Hyeon-gyeong or Talma. [Banbakgwijin is a high-level martial arts technique.]

“However, given the Blood Demon’s rapid progress, it is judged that you will soon reach the realm of Talma.”

“Hmm.”

Rowoon wasn’t particularly interested in Talma or anything beyond it.

He was someone who had already reached the end.

What he was doing now was just repeating what he had done in the past.

It was just that the speed was incomparable to the past.

In the past, it had taken him almost thirty years of life-and-death effort, combined with heavenly luck and opportunities, to reach his current level.

But now, he had caught up to that level in less than a month.

As time passed, he would naturally become stronger.

‘To a place where no one else can reach.’

So, there was no need to rush.

“However…”

This time, it was Han Do-baek.

“The current Blood Demon has already reached the realm of Talma. Also, the First Elder, who can be said to be the current Blood Demon’s closest aide, is also at the realm of Talma.”

Han Do-baek had decided to bet everything on the new vessel, Rowoon.

But it wasn’t a choice made because it guaranteed victory.

“There are a total of six elders in the Blood Cult, and there are the Right Protector and the Left Protector. Among them…”

The Left Protector, the Third Elder, and the Divine Maiden were here.

“There will be no more who will side with the new Blood Demon.”

Han Do-baek had clearly seen the deep Blood Demon energy that Rowoon possessed.

A Blood Demon energy that was comparable to the current Blood Demon, it was proof of the Blood Demon Divine Art that Rowoon had spoken of.

“You cannot subjugate them with just Blood Demon energy. Even if a true Blood Demon Divine Art exists…”

“They wouldn’t want to lose the power structure they gained by pledging allegiance to the current Blood Demon.”

Although the Blood Cult was a religion, its color had faded over time.

The laws were still absolute, but now, a special situation not found in those laws had occurred.

Two Blood Demons.

The elders would not cause unnecessary conflict and lose the power they held.

Han Do-baek’s recognition of Rowoon as the Blood Demon was largely due to the influence of Kang Han-cheol and Kang Eun-ha, not just because of legitimacy.

“Is there any power left in the Blood Cult?”

“It is the wicked heart of humans that they do not want to let go of even the smallest power.”

Neither Kang Han-cheol nor Kang Eun-ha contradicted Han Do-baek’s words.

They also knew.

That there were no more forces to be incorporated on their side.

“There’s only one way.”

Kang Eun-ha said, her eyes shining.

“The Blood Demon’s progress is faster than we thought. We need to quickly reach the realm of Talma and have you face the current Blood Demon.”

That made sense.

“If the Blood Demon defeats the current Blood Demon, even the elders will have no choice but to accept the new Blood Demon according to the laws.”

It was the correct theory, the most rational method in the current situation, without a single flaw.

However, there were a few problems.

“I don’t know how long it will take to reach Talma.”

“That…!”

“Even if I complete True Blood, I might not reach Talma. Well, I might soon. I don’t know.”

What he was currently completing was not a finished product, but a component.

The fact that he could get close to Talma with just one component was already a great feat.

“And Left Protector, tell me. Is the Divine Maiden’s plan possible?”

At Rowoon’s words, as if he already knew everything, Kang Han-cheol lowered his head and spoke.

“Kuh-heuk! It was a fatal mistake of the lower cult. We thought the Fourth Elder was likely to defect, so we contacted him…”

The elder Kang Han-cheol had contacted was not just Han Do-baek.

He had also contacted the Fourth Elder, who did not have a good relationship with the current Blood Demon and had great ambitions, and leaked information about the new Blood Demon.

“But the Fourth Elder has completely become the current Blood Demon’s man. Recently, the current Blood Demon accepted a marriage proposal with the Fourth Elder’s child.”

It was Han Do-baek’s words.

The reason was that Left Protector Kang Han-cheol was focusing all his efforts on the affairs of Earth, and was late in finding out what had happened in the main cult.

That was why Han Do-baek thought that trouble would soon occur, and came here to try to eliminate Rowoon.

“Then…”

Kang Eun-ha’s face turned pale.

There was no way.

In the end, whether it worked or not, they had no choice but to face it head-on, prepared for death.

“There is a way.”

But Rowoon said, raising the corners of his mouth.

“The current Blood Demon. Let’s just catch him.”

“Yes?”

* * *

One day, a great change occurred on Earth.

Blue, shimmering dimensional gates appeared.

But at the same time, something else also appeared.

‘Dungeons.’

Dungeons were different from gates.

They were not shimmering dimensional gates, but took the form of buildings or doors.

For example, a form like a tower.

Or a form like a large wooden door.

It was also said that they sometimes appeared in unusual forms, such as windows or wardrobes.

If you pass through a gate, you fall into an unknown land where monsters exist.

If you pass through a dungeon?

‘There’s another world.’

That was the invasion of the world.

Gate breaks, where the magic power within the gates was saturated and exploded after being left unattended for a long time.

The result was the release of monsters existing within the gates.

But dungeons were different from that.

‘From the moment a dungeon appears, entry and exit from the inside and outside are free.’

There was one important thing to consider here.

‘That they come from the inside.’

At first, the existence of dungeons was not even known.

Unlike gates, which emitted magic power immediately upon appearance and were easily felt, dungeons appeared naturally, blending into everyday buildings.

The world learned of the existence of dungeons at the moment when civilization was about to be devastated by gate breaks that occurred everywhere.

‘Transcendent beings.’

Martial artists, who were only seen in martial arts novels, appeared in droves and defeated monsters.

Knights and mages, who were only seen in fantasy novels, appeared and subjugated monsters.

Also, at the same time, demons from myths, different from monsters, appeared and fought against martial artists and knights.

‘Invasion of the world.’

Without even knowing it, the humans of Earth were mixed with worlds they had only imagined.

Humanity was saved by them.

It was late, but transcendent beings called players appeared among the humans of Earth, but they were no match for the inhabitants of the invaded worlds who had existed for countless years and fought against unknown beings.

In the end, Earth had to be interfered with by new worlds.

‘Eun in the Asian sphere.’

‘Einheart in the Western sphere.’

They divided the Earth and exerted their influence.

The inhabitants of the invaded worlds said that it was just to protect the humans of Earth and for coexistence, but there were no fools who did not know the truth.

‘Domination.’

Earth had become nothing more than their colony.

“Blood Demon, you were originally a player, right?”

At Kang Eun-ha’s words, Rowoon nodded.

“Have you ever been to Eun?”

Rowoon thought for a moment and nodded.

“Once.”

He had set foot in Eun just once.

“It must have been difficult for an Earth resident to step into the world of Eun, but may I ask where it was?”

But Rowoon walked without answering.

As he had said, Rowoon had set foot in the world of Eun once.

But in return, his comrades had betrayed him, and he had become a slave of the Hwasan Guild, branded as a comrade killer.

Kang Eun-ha changed the subject, sensing Rowoon’s slightly subdued mood.

“Currently, the main activities of the Blood Cult are concentrated in South Korea.”

It was perhaps natural that many forces of Eun had taken root in Asia, but it was also strange that huge forces had taken root in this small country.

The Hwasan Guild, one of the three major guilds in South Korea, had also taken root in South Korea, and the backers of the other two guilds were also forces from Eun.

Not the vast China, nor an island in Southeast Asia.

Not even the Eurasian continent, where the conflict between Eun and Einheart was the most severe.

The reason why the huge forces of Eun had taken root in this small country, South Korea, was inevitable.

‘Because the door opened here.’

Even if it was a disaster for South Korea, there was no choice.

“The main base of the Blood Cult…”

Kang Eun-ha said, stopping.

Kang Han-cheol, Han Do-baek, the Dark Blood Unit members, and the Black Sword Unit were already standing there, fully prepared.

“It’s because the entrance to the Blood King’s Castle opened here in Namyangju.”

Not only the three major forces of South Korea, but even the Blood Cult.

It seemed that the name ‘Fire Peninsula’ was not given to this land of South Korea for no reason.

Namyangju, specifically, a corner of the Bukhan River.

The center of the river, which could only be entered after passing through a specially made structure and stepping on several formations.

There.

Guung.

A plain-looking iron door was located.

“When the door opened, we first swallowed the Kangha Group and bought this area. We also hid this place by borrowing the power of the Blood Cult’s proud absolute formation and, shamefully, items and magic.”

That was why the Blood Cult had been able to remain undetected until now.

There were more complex things involved, and the Blood Cult had made efforts to hide this place, but Kang Eun-ha did not explain them in detail.

“I can say with certainty.”

She said to Rowoon with a slightly serious face.

“You are the only resident of Earth who has arrived here.”

“You must have recruited residents of Earth?”

“What they are allowed is the Blood Cult of Earth, not the Blood Cult of Eun.”

Psh.

Rowoon smiled at those words.

That was how the residents of Eun thought of the residents of Earth.

Uncivilized people who could not even create a dantian. [A dantian is an energy center in the body.]

Idiots who could not understand the deep mysteries of martial arts and martial studies.

Savages who could only become stronger by killing things one by one.

Kang Eun-ha took the lead, and Kang Han-cheol and Han Do-baek stood beside her.

Red mist emanated from Kang Eun-ha’s body as she grabbed the iron door.

Kang Eun-ha’s eyes turned dark.

‘That’s the key.’

And the large sword that Kang Eun-ha always carried began to resonate with the iron door.

Koo-oong!

A huge reverberation occurred, which could hardly be called just an iron door.

Kkiiiiiik-!

From the opening door, a thick crimson light began to pour out.

“Welcome. Blood Demon.”

The Blood Cult, considered an outsider even in Eun, to its main base, the Blood King’s Castle.