Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 416

“We will buy time.” It was a voice filled with a resolute will, prepared to die. Balak and Ramang instinctively knew that the reason they were born and survived under Elk’s grace was for this very moment. “I believe Elk gave us life for this very moment,” Balak said, gripping his wooden bow and dagger. “You truly have the power to save us. To leave even a small mark on your path…” “It is an honor. This is our guidance,” Ramang added. Looking at the charging Dark Elves, they seemed ready to throw away their lives. To them, “Why would you do that?” Lee Ro-woon asked in a languid voice. “What… What?” Balak was taken aback. “This is naturally our…!” “As it’s the Elves’ matter, we must play some role!” Ramang shouted, flustered. “If we delay any further, Elk will be completely corrupted! Then, even you…!” However, Lee Ro-woon showed no intention of backing down. Lee Ro-woon stepped in front of them. “Sorry, but from here on, I also need guidance.” He was serious. Even with the power of the Emperor’s Ring, Yggdrasil was trying its best to reject Lee Ro-woon. And now, having reached the heart of the beast. Zzzt. Lee Ro-woon’s magic sense was a mess. Magic power was being concentrated on Lee Ro-woon, disrupting his senses. “I need guidance, so why are you trying to back out?” Lee Ro-woon needed Ramang. “But….” They needed to buy time. “Then, I will remain alone.” “Balak!” “This is how it should have been. But being alone… I won’t last long.” Balak smiled calmly. “Balak….” Ramang bit his lip, seemingly moved by Balak’s words. “What nonsense are you two spouting since a while ago?” Lee Ro-woon said, annoyed. “How long do you think you can hold out?” Compared to the corrupted ones, Elk’s children were definitely strong. Especially Balak, considered a warrior among warriors, was skilled enough to handle dozens of corrupted ones alone. But that was it. Tatatat! The number of corrupted ones swarming in like a pack of dogs now exceeded ten thousand. Even if Balak blocked the entrance and fought to the death, he would only last about ten minutes at best. “Value your lives a little.” It was the moment Lee Ro-woon stretched out his hand. Woong. The magic power began to resonate. “Hiss!” Ramang and Balak gasped at the ominous and eerie magic power. A black door opened behind Lee Ro-woon. From there. Thud. It was the moment something stepped out. Kooong! Balak and Ramang felt as if they were cut off from the world. The immense and ominous energy was so overwhelming that they almost lost consciousness and fainted. In front of them, two more beings appeared. “……?” Who are you? They wanted to ask, but no words came out. Even though they were not comparable to Nidhogg…. “Block the path. Make sure nothing approaches me.” The two combined seemed to be at a similar level to Nidhogg. Creak. A voice like scraping metal. Ramang seemed to recognize their identities. “Undead!” Immortal beings that no longer existed in the destroyed world, only remaining in past records. Among them. “To be precise, an Arch Lich and….” The strongest of them all. “A Dark Knight.” Lee Ro-woon turned around. Behind him, the Arch Lich, reborn in Jegalsinjae’s body, took off his hood and held a longsword. Next to him, the Dark Knight, who was once the Plum Blossom Sword, Mu-jeong, emitted a black aura and held the Plum Blossom Sword. “Isn’t a Lich supposed to use magic…” And in the next moment. Swish! Everything in front of them was cut down. The charging corrupted ones and even the flesh of Yggdrasil lining the path. “Wasn’t it?” Everything was split and began to collapse. “Mine is a bit different.” Lee Ro-woon said. He began to move forward. Lee Ro-woon was right. “…….” Neither Ramang nor Balak needed to risk their lives. No, their lives were…. Kukwakwakwang! Meaningless. * * * The blood that spread from under Lee Ro-woon’s feet like a red spiderweb ensnared the charging corrupted ones. Although Lee Ro-woon’s two undead were thoroughly holding the rear, there was no way to deal with the corrupted ones appearing from deeper within. The bound corrupted ones. As they struggled in the sticky blood spiderwebs. “Blood Burst.” Lee Ro-woon’s voice echoed. Kwakwakwang! The blood spiderwebs exploded simultaneously, turning the area into a mass of blood. “Moving.” There was no time to admire the scene forever. He moved forward. At this moment, Lee Ro-woon was having a rather satisfying time. ‘Good.’ His martial arts, the Blood Demon Divine Art and the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, were the foundation of his martial arts and abilities. However, the Martial King did not teach him any forms or techniques for their application. -It is formless. He taught that way because he felt that reaching a formless state made all forms useless. Accordingly, Lee Ro-woon also used formless martial arts. However. ‘It’s a matter of efficiency.’ Having a form and technique was overwhelmingly efficient. It was easy to respond, and the flow of energy was fast. It was useless for Lee Ro-woon, but. ‘It needs to be passed on.’ If he were to leave behind what he had learned, he felt that some degree of systematization was necessary. Something he couldn’t do because he didn’t have time and there were no suitable opponents. “Blood Chains.” He was doing it now against the corrupted ones. Sharply transformed blood blades flew out, cutting through the corrupted ones. Lee Ro-woon continued to move forward through the path that was opened. Gradually…. “It’s decreasing.” The number of charging corrupted ones was decreasing. Since the corrupted ones were not being created every moment, the number of enemies decreased as much as Lee Ro-woon defeated them. Also. “We’re getting closer.” As they approached the heart of Yggdrasil, the extremely compressed magic power made it impossible for the corrupted ones to exist. Woong. If it weren’t for the holy flames that Lee Ro-woon had placed on them, Balak and Ramang would have suffocated and burst from the pressure, like humans sinking into the deep sea. Thud. Now, no more enemies appeared. Thump! Instead, they entered a peculiar space that pulsed like a human heart. “This place is….” This was the place they had arrived at after navigating the maze-like paths with Ramang’s guidance. “It’s the heart and core of Yggdrasil.” This was the heart of Yggdrasil. “But I don’t see anything,” Balak said, puzzled. If this was the heart of Yggdrasil, Elk and Cron, who was confronting him, should have been present. However, all they could see were the grotesquely pulsating tree trunks. Nowhere was Elk or Cron to be seen. “Not yet.” Ramang stepped forward and said. “Because it hasn’t revealed its true form.” Ramang stepped forward, her eyes glowing green. “Aaaah.” Along with Ramang, who seemed to be saying something, a song echoed. Power was imbued in her voice. Thump! Thump! Thump! She was communicating with Yggdrasil. Kukukuku! Vibrations shook the surroundings. Everyone was blinded by a bright light for a moment, except for Lee Ro-woon. Even in that light, Lee Ro-woon stood firm, looking ahead. -Welcome. Along with the voice, a bright, ethereal spirit revealed itself. Larger than a human, surrounded by a bright light, anyone who saw it would say this. “Ah…! Elk!” A god. Balak seemed to have lost his reason at the dazzling radiance and was already kneeling. However, Lee Ro-woon and Ramang were different. Crunch. A chilling sound came from Ramang’s mouth. -What are you doing? Unlike the voice directed at Lee Ro-woon, Elk’s voice towards Ramang was fierce and harsh, like a storm. -Not showing respect. Thud. In the end, Ramang, unable to overcome Elk’s power, knelt and bowed her head. However, Ramang struggled to turn her head towards Lee Ro-woon and said. “You….” One syllable, one syllable, a voice that echoed with difficulty. “Too….” Tears were falling from Ramang’s eyes. “It’s too late.” It was too late. Those words were the signal. Fwaaaah-! Once again, a radiance burst from Elk’s body, which had revealed its form. However, that radiance was not as holy and beautiful as before. A deep, dark black. Yet, it was a mixture of many things…. -Welcome, my father. Chaos. * * * Elk, who had appeared as a bright, ethereal spirit, was now standing on the ground. Also, his form, which had been surrounded by white light, was turning black, darker and darker, and beginning to take shape. It was like rewinding the process of a human being broken down into molecules. The organs, blood vessels, heart were created, and muscles and skin were added. And when the form was finally completed. Kwaang! A pillar of light shot up above it, creating a large hole in Yggdrasil. Wheeing! A fierce wind was blowing through the hole. The scene outside the hole was a black vortex swirling. If anyone had seen Elk’s previous form and thought he was a god, anyone who saw what was happening outside now would say. “The, the end….” The end had finally arrived. Balak’s eyes were already rolled back. His right arm was turning black. Because they were Elves connected to Yggdrasil, even if not as directly as Ramang and Rarak. “Ah, aaaaaaack!” Those who had barely been holding on were finally beginning to fall. Ramang’s case was even more severe. As a member of the High Elf lineage directly connected to Yggdrasil. “Kkyaaaaaaack!” She was already half-blackened, like a spreading stain, and even one of her eyes had turned black. This was. “So, is that still a god?” Lee Ro-woon could easily tell that it was caused by the corruption of Elk, who was called their god. Tung. Lee Ro-woon flicked his finger as he watched the scene. The holy flames that had been spread to protect Balak and Ramang began to emit an even brighter light. As the holy flames spread and settled on Balak and Ramang. “Kkyaaaaaaaaaack!” “Aaaaaaaack!” They were screaming even louder. Elk, who had been quietly watching the scene, finally opened his mouth. -Did you sever the connection? What Lee Ro-woon had done was. “Huk… Huk….” He had burned away the connection points to Yggdrasil that were linked to Balak and Ramang with the holy flames. As if Elk’s words were correct, Ramang and Balak were driving out the black energy and returning to normal. “Why am I….” Lee Ro-woon now looked at Elk and said. “Why am I your father?”