Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 230

The Three Kings’ Disciple (231)

230

Krim Vladimir.

One of the Empire’s great five Dukes, his alias was the Duke of Massacre.

The Vladimir family’s symbol was blood and flesh.

Their cruelty had been passed down since the family’s inception.

Also, the Vladimir family had something special.

-They were one of the oldest families in the Empire.

Throughout the long history of the Damian Empire.

The Empire’s ducal families had changed several times.

The Vladimir family was one of the few that had survived those changes.

Also.

-It is said that the Dukes of the Vladimir family have always used only one name….

-Krim.

There were many other unique things.

Whenever a new Duke of the Vladimir family appeared, it was always after the previous Duke had died.

Although it was natural for the family’s children to learn aristocratic politics and build numerous relationships from a young age, the heir could not leave the estate until they inherited the title of Duke.

Even so.

-They were well-versed in perfect etiquette, skilled in politics, and knowledgeable about the Empire’s affairs.

Their education was so excellent that all the Vladimir Dukes possessed great abilities.

Therefore, rumors about the Vladimir family had always existed.

-Actually, there is only one Duke of the Vladimir family.

A ducal family where only one person continues the lineage, not through generations.

-Actually, the Vladimir Duke is….

Therefore.

-A dragon, they say.

There was even a story that the Vladimir Duke was one of the guardian dragons who devoted themselves to the Empire.

However, no one knew the truth of those rumors.

No, only the Emperor would know.

Even amidst such rampant rumors, the Vladimir family had been well-maintained.

Whoosh!

The rumors were somewhat true.

-Krim Vladimir.

He was not a dragon.

Even though the guardian dragons had made a pact with the Empire to protect them, excessive interference in the human realm was forbidden.

Also, no matter how much of a guardian dragon he was, he could not stain his hands with so much blood for the Empire.

However, one thing.

-That is your name.

The fact that only one Vladimir Duke existed was true.

He had lived as the Empire’s dog, collared for that long time.

That was why Krim had lived, changing his personality and appearance with each generation.

The reason was simple.

‘To survive.’

A boring life.

He had tried his best to overcome it.

Even so, what had not changed was.

-Slaughter.

That was what the Vladimir family did to survive, to overcome boredom.

At the same time, it was to fulfill the purpose for which he was created.

Krim Vladimir.

He was.

-A homunculus [an artificially created human].

A created human.

For a long time that could not be measured.

There was only one thing he desired.

“You….”

Freedom.

“The Emperor… isn’t it?”

Vladimir’s fingernails had grazed Irohan’s cheek.

* * *

A created human, a homunculus.

Although the Empire had forbidden black magic for generations, in reality, the Empire was the one that was researching black magic more diligently than anyone else.

The sole Empire, Damian.

The sole Emperor.

Within that absolute power, many Emperors did not let go of their interest in black magic.

It was a natural thing to do if one had that much power.

-Immortality.

Even the great first Emperor of Damian, Siegfried, had met his death.

After that, there were Emperors who were praised as great, though not as much as Siegfried, but they too met their deaths.

The power of the guardian dragons could not avoid death, and even a completed circle [a concept of enlightenment or perfection] could not be free from death.

What is a monarch?

What is dominion?

In the end, death could not be ruled, and they could not dominate death.

That was why the Empire did not stop its research into black magic.

Krim was a product of that process.

A created human.

And a human who had been modified as needed.

What was born within the taboos that humans should not commit was.

“You… aren’t you the Emperor?”

It was Krim Vladimir.

“How….”

Krim’s pupils trembled.

His years of living as the Empire’s dog were almost equal to the Empire’s history.

He had seen countless superhumans who surpassed humans, and he thought there was nothing he had not seen among the inhuman.

It was a first for him.

“The ring of a monarch?”

A human who was not of the imperial family possessed the ring of a monarch.

This power.

It was a power he could not possibly not know.

Because it was the Empire’s damned collar that he hated so much.

“How did you do it!”

Various emotions flickered in Krim’s eyes.

This was what Krim had wanted so much.

“How….”

Implanting unstable mana into Count Petus was also part of his research to find a way to escape the ring of a monarch.

“How did you do it….”

Regret, anger, jealousy.

Krim’s eyes, which had been trembling with various emotions, found their center.

Thwack!

The cold sensation of steel piercing through his back.

“You will never know the answer.”

Count Petus’s sword, stained with his red aura, had pierced through his back and protruded out of his neck.

“Duke of Massacre, you will die today.”

“I….”

The corners of Krim’s mouth curled up.

“Die?”

A sneer.

He had been pierced simultaneously in the heart and neck, fatal weak points that no human could avoid.

It was a move that Petus had waited for and aimed at while Irohan was distracting Krim.

“Yes. How wonderful would that be.”

“……!”

The sword was pushed out.

Krim’s recovery was stronger than Petus’s attack.

“Please. Will you kill me? Count Petus.”

He stood there unharmed, looking at Petus.

“You were a homunculus.”

Krim’s eyes twitched at the voice he heard.

“What….”

“Are the other Dukes like you?”

“You…!”

“Or….”

Whoosh!

The red energy pouring out of Krim exploded again.

“Certainly. It was a good thing I came here today.”

Krim’s short red hair began to grow longer.

His flickering red eyes.

“I killed that crow for nothing. If I had known it was like this, I would have treated him very well.”

Krim’s skin began to shine like a diamond.

“Haa. It’s been a while.”

Krim clenched and unclenched his fists, letting out a heated breath.

Irohan and Petus stood before him.

Whoosh.

Petus’s transformation also began.

“It’s truly complete, isn’t it?”

Krim smacked his lips again as he looked at Petus.

“Finally….”

His entire face flushed with excitement.

“Finally, it’s the day I find the answer.”

Boom!

An explosion was heard from outside.

This energy was.

Smirk.

He could even feel the energy of those damned paladins.

“Rondo.”

Thud.

Krim’s knight drew his sword and plunged it into the floor.

Swish.

Hamaye had already drawn his sword and stood in front of Rondo.

“Except for Petus and this fake Emperor, you can kill them all.”

Thud.

Krim’s knight plunged his sword again.

And.

“Hamaye!”

The moment Petus’s command was given.

A red light flickered.

“Petus, my first completed work is not you.”

The first completed work that Krim had completed over a long period of time was.

“Rondo. He’s the first.”

“Count…nim….”

Hamaye, he collapses.

“Please… take revenge….”

His body splits and collapses.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

He lost again.

Count Petus’s energy exploded out like a volcano.

And.

Clang!

He collided with Rondo.

“Now it’s just you and me left. Fake Emperor.”

Irohan and Petus stood facing each other.

* * *

From the beginning, he had no intention of making Count Petus and the Duke of Massacre clash.

Although Petus had grown rapidly, he would not yet be able to fully control his power.

-There is a story that the Duke of Massacre is an ancient being.

Based on the information from the crows, he had a rough idea.

Still, it was quite fascinating.

‘Homunculus.’

The Duke of Massacre he faced was a created human.

Something called the masterpiece of alchemy and black magic.

A being born beyond the taboos of humans.

Whoosh.

Also, he seemed to know what the base was.

“How filthy.”

Irohan could see Krim’s essence.

A being that was mixed up and could not be called clean.

“Can you see it?”

Krim smiles.

“Yes.”

His figure swells.

No, it felt like it was swelling.

His circle [a representation of one’s power or spiritual state] was resonating and continuously emitting his power.

“I am a filthy being.”

How many beings had he devoured?

How many beings were mixed with him?

Beyond the hundreds, beyond the thousands, at some point, Krim had forgotten to count.

Those he had killed.

Smirk.

All of that could be said to be mixed with him.

“It’s a unique power.”

Krim said to Irohan, who was standing languidly.

“It’s clearly the ring of a monarch, but the power of domination feels weak?”

Krim was gauging Irohan.

“What on earth is it?”

Irohan was someone that even Krim, who had lived for so long, could not understand.

That was why.

“I’ll….”

Krim’s figure disappeared into the ground.

“Have to eat you.”

His voice echoed from behind Irohan.

Clang!

His fingernails, tearing through space, grazed Irohan’s shoulder.

“Tch.”

Krim’s face contorted in annoyance.

He was sure he had torn it.

Swoosh.

Irohan had already dodged and was near one of the walls.

“This power is different from a circle?”

Mana could be felt.

However, what was felt within it was.

“Amazing. Did you even learn the martial arts of the Silver?”

It was inner energy.

Whoosh.

Red aura blades surged from Krim’s fingernails.

They split into five.

Clang!

Once again, they tore through space.

Clang!

The wall behind Irohan was torn away, and light poured in.

“No matter how much I devour, I could never learn martial arts.”

Krim had also stood on the battlefield with the Silver [a legendary group of warriors].

He had devoured countless martial artists there, mixing their existence with his, but he could not gain their inner energy or martial arts.

Of course.

Whoosh!

He could imitate them.

Krim’s body rotated.

The aura blades emanating from his fingernails took on different energies.

-Shaolin [a famous Buddhist monastery known for its martial arts].

The Shaolin’s palm techniques.

-Kunlun [a mountain range associated with Taoist practices and martial arts].

The Kunlun’s Cloud Dragon Great Eight Styles.

-Peng [a family known for their martial arts].

The Peng family’s Five Tiger Single Blade.

They were different forms, different techniques, and they were martial arts that could only exert their full power when used with different weapons.

However, the aura blades that surged from Krim’s fingertips had transformed into forms suitable for each martial art.

Whoosh!

They combined into one and aimed at Irohan.

“Amazing.”

The form of an aura blade was not something that could be changed so easily.

An aura blade was ultimately about adding and amplifying, not about creating something new.

However, Krim was creating new forms of aura blades using everything he had absorbed as fuel.

Just as Krim was gauging Irohan, Irohan was also gauging Krim.

This one.

“Was he called the Ultimate Master?”

He was at the realm of Silver, the realm of life and death.