Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 413

-Hiek, hek.

The fist-sized Nidhogg, panting tiredly, closed its eyes.

“……”

Ramang and Balak had already seen Nidhogg shrink in the village, but after witnessing its might just moments ago, they couldn’t hide their bewilderment at its current state.

“What’s wrong?”

Ramang asked, seeing Nidhogg looking unwell.

“After firing that thing so many times, it’d be stranger if it were fine.”

Nidhogg was indeed something that even Lee Ro-woon hadn’t anticipated.

What he had intended to create was a standard Bone Dragon, but instead, a monster that defied common sense and standards was born.

However, that didn’t mean it was without limits.

Its body was incomparably strong, but even so, there were limits.

-Master, I need to rest a bit.

Nidhogg approached Lee Ro-woon’s shoulder and quietly closed its eyes.

“I guess so…”

“If it could fire that endlessly…”

Just imagining Nidhogg being able to casually unleash flames that could burn World Trees sent shivers down Ramang and Balak’s spines.

No, what it had already shown was more than enough…

“It’ll take time to recover. It’s an annoying fellow, but it’s definitely useful.”

Giant and sturdy World Trees.

It was possible for Lee Ro-woon to destroy them with his power, but not as surely and simply as Nidhogg could.

“Until then, let’s rest.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare.”

Balak moved to prepare for rest.

As Elves who lived in harmony with nature and forests, they were certainly experts when it came to camping.

“At this rate, we’ll be able to purify the World Trees soon.”

Ramang said, her voice slightly excited.

With just two breaths, two World Trees had disappeared.

“Once Nidhogg recovers…”

Ramang was even using honorifics for Nidhogg now; if Nidhogg were awake, it would have been quite noisy.

‘It’s a relief.’

It was fortunate that it was asleep.

Lee Ro-woon looked at Ramang and said,

“Will it really be that easy?”

“Yes?”

“You’re certainly different from Larak.”

If it were Larak, the leader of the Elves, she would have said this:

-The hard part starts now.

Having lived for a long time and seen and felt much, she would have had the ability to face reality.

Swoosh.

Lee Ro-woon turned his gaze to look beyond.

“Can’t you see it?”

“……!”

The ashes created by the burnt World Trees filled the sky, looking like a fog.

“A World Tree is a massive source of energy.”

Lee Ro-woon, who could see through everything with the Emperor’s Ring, said.

In his eyes, he could see the immense energy lingering in the ashes.

Swoosh.

Anger appeared before Lee Ro-woon’s eyes.

When it resonated with a clear sword cry.

Whoosh!

Anger soon turned into Greed.

Wooong!

Towards Greed, which was emitting light.

Swish!

The ashes began to be sucked in.

“What… !”

Ramang stepped back, saying in the face of the storm-like wind.

Lee Ro-woon was already quietly holding his sword amidst the gray vortex of ash.

In the next moment, a thin line was drawn vertically through the vortex surrounding Lee Ro-woon.

The drawn line slowly created more cracks.

Crack!

It was as if it was breaking through a tightly wrapped shell.

Thud!

The shattered vortex of ash hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Lee Ro-woon, standing inside, seemed to have changed again from before.

“Can you see it?”

With brighter golden eyes, Lee Ro-woon pointed to the shell of ash that had fallen to the ground.

A shell that was obviously hard at a glance.

“Where do you think all of this is going?”

“Ah… !”

“They also know that they are being attacked.”

From Itran to Isir, the behavior of the corrupted ones had clearly changed.

“The next one, and…”

The final destination.

“It’ll be even different in Yggdrasil.”

Nidhogg’s mortal breath.

Lee Ro-woon’s immense power.

Even with those.

“This is by no means an easy fight.”

Don’t misunderstand.

Only then did Ramang seem to realize something, biting her lip and nodding.

“I will keep that in mind.”

This was the same context as what was happening on Earth.

Unless there was a major change, the Elf who would lead the next generation was Ramang.

If she felt that this fight to gain freedom was too easy, their future would be bleak.

“That’s why Larak sent you.”

“The campsite is ready.”

Lee Ro-woon nodded towards Balak, who had approached, and moved.

* * *

“Everyone, meditate and check your physical condition!”

Hundreds of fully armed warriors shouted as they stepped through the gate.

“Huuup!”

Their eyes were bloodshot from the rush of mana and magical energy, but the warriors soon regained their composure and steadied their breathing.

“Hoo.”

Though not completely, the warriors were getting used to the new air and energy of this place.

Then, a group of people appeared before them.

Their appearance was beyond the description of vagrants.

Tattered martial uniforms, chipped plum blossom swords, and wounds all over their bodies.

“Keuk.”

The one leading the group twisted his lips into a smile.

“Senior Brother, what on earth happened to you?”

A voice directed at Cheong In-woo.

A small stature, a pretty boy who wouldn’t look out of place as a woman.

However, he was well past his prime and a recognized powerhouse even within the Hwasan Sect.

“Is that you? In-gyeong?”

It was In-gyeong.

-Black Plum Blossom, In-gyeong.

Unlike his vacant-looking face, or his gentle and lovely appearance, he was known as a ruthless figure even within Hwasan.

Originally, In-gyeong’s background was that of a Black Plum and an Assassin.

He was a figure with a slightly different color than the swordsmen of Hwasan, protecting key figures, assassinating, and gathering information in the shadows of Hwasan.

Such a person was noticed by chance and became a Hwasan swordsman late in life.

He was.

“Oh my, are you all almost dead?”

A psychopath who had lost his humanity, that was what he was.

‘Sect Leader.’

Cheong In-woo thought, looking at In-gyeong.

He thought he would send a sure move.

“Senior Brother, say something.”

In-gyeong was definitely an unexpected move.

-I can’t control that guy either. Especially now.

Baek Jin had said separately.

“Is that all you see?”

Then, another voice intruded.

“Senior Brother.”

This time, Cheong In-woo greeted him with proper courtesy.

If asked who was the strongest among them, most would pick Cheong In-woo.

But some would mention a different name.

The one who was mentioned the most after Cheong In-woo was this person.

-Yellow Plum Blossom, Choi Woo.

It was Choi Woo.

“Anyway, In-gyeong is right.”

Choi Woo looked around and then looked at Cheong In-woo.

“What on earth happened to you all?”

Choi Woo’s eyes and voice seemed to be looking down on them.

“Where did all the resources and personnel go?”

At that sight, Cheong In-woo showed a deep smile.

“Are your eyes just for show? Can’t you see?”

“What?”

“You come in late and act like you’re something.”

Behind Cheong In-woo, the surviving survivors revealed themselves.

“Ahem.”

They were the ones who had been sent as scouts, and they were considered elites even within Hwasan.

But in just a few weeks, whatever had happened, their eyes were not at a level that could simply be called elite.

Beasts.

They were like the eyes of a beast driven to the edge.

“It’s a good thing we prepared all this, otherwise…”

Swoosh.

The ones standing behind Choi Woo and In-gyeong.

“Half of them would have died.”

“Your boasting is excessive.”

Choi Woo scolded Cheong In-woo.

“Anyway, is this all?”

Cheong In-woo said, looking at the Hwasan warriors still pouring in.

“What are you looking for?”

The Sect Leader must have prepared a proper move.

In-gyeong, who didn’t know that thought, or Choi Woo, who didn’t have a good relationship with Cheong In-woo, were enough to be considered hidden weapons targeting Cheong In-woo.

‘He’s like a snake.’

Cheong In-woo didn’t think Baek Jin’s move was just this much.

There must be something definite.

“This is all.”

That’s all.

‘He’s hiding something.’

There must be something hidden here that even Cheong In-woo’s senses couldn’t detect.

“Yes. I understand.”

“Everyone must be exhausted from crossing the gate, so we should rest a bit.”

The moment Choi Woo said as if telling them to guide him.

“What are you talking about?”

Cheong In-woo said as if he was dumbfounded.

“Hmm?”

“Draw your swords.”

In the distance.

“……!”

The energy that began to be felt.

“They’re coming.”

Since a few weeks ago, the Dark Elves’ attacks had been happening every few hours.

* * *

The third World Tree, Iniba, was burning.

Whoosh!

Nidhogg’s recovery took longer than expected.

It was only natural, having fired breaths that burned World Trees several times.

Also, the next World Tree to be burned would be even sturdier and stronger, so it needed time to gather more power.

-Kek.

As it fired several rough breaths, Iniba was engulfed in flames.

Nidhogg stopped breathing, which was no longer coming out, and closed its mouth.

-No more… impossible.

Lee Ro-woon could feel that its body had reached its limit.

“Useless.”

-To say that after seeing this…!

Thud!

Nidhogg, hit by Lee Ro-woon’s fist, closed its mouth with a disgruntled look.

“……”

Balak and Ramang had serious expressions.

The third World Tree was burning.

And.

Swish!

In the void, countless vortexes of ash were swirling.

“The last World Tree…”

Ramang spoke.

Ramang, with her eyes completely green.

“Yggdrasil will soon reveal itself.”

Yggdrasil was hiding its appearance and being protected by the power of several World Trees.

It was more accurate to think of the other World Trees as a barrier or a shield protecting Yggdrasil.

Since those World Trees had burned and disappeared, Yggdrasil was finally revealing itself.

“Yes.”

Lee Ro-woon said, grabbing Nidhogg’s fire and getting up.

“I can see it.”

Beyond the vortex of ash, a part where brilliant light was pouring out could be seen.

Unlike the other World Trees that were broken and withered.

“……”

A World Tree that was maintaining its original form to some extent.

“Ah…”

Balak even groaned, as if in awe at the sight.

For the Elves, a complete World Tree was like witnessing a god, giving them deep glory.

While they were rejoicing in joy, Lee Ro-woon could see its true nature.

-Elk and Cron.

The reason why the world was destroyed.

And the last remaining Elk was resisting corruption, but it was said to be corrupting.

If so, it meant that there was something that was corrupting him.

“Cron.”

That was the chaos.

It could be clearly felt from that World Tree.

-Ah…

Nidhogg’s eyes narrowed, and a heavy voice, not its usual vacant one, flowed out.

-It’s my father’s energy.

Now, the final destination had revealed itself.

Three Kings’ Disciple