Wriggle, wriggle.

The Fox Marble slipped out of my fur.

It looked like nothing more than an ordinary crystal orb, but in reality, it was a powerful artifact of immense strength.

Considering the power the Iron-Clad Dragon had displayed after swallowing this artifact, it wasn’t hard to grasp its significance.

Wooong.

Of course, watching it dart around and rub against me, it seemed more like a playful child than a tool of great power.

"Looking at it like that, it really reminds me of a Yeouiju," Baekrang said, glancing between me and the Fox Marble.

If this truly were a Yeouiju, how wonderful would that be?

If I obtained a Yeouiju and ascended to the status of a true dragon, I wouldn’t have to worry about any of my current problems.

With overwhelming power, I could handle everything on my own.

"Why don’t you try talking to it? Who knows? Maybe it really will turn into a Yeouiju."

Wooong.

The Fox Marble trembled lightly.

"Honestly, they might not be so different. Just like an Imoogi creates a Yeouiju through rigorous training, the Fox Marble might just be the fox’s version of it," Baekrang mused.

The Fox Marble floated over and rubbed itself against Baekrang’s fur.

It seemed to have a particular fondness for the fur of Baekrang and me.

Considering it was an artifact originally created by a beast, this behavior was understandable.

"...It’s pretty cute," Baekrang admitted, swatting at the marble playfully with her paw. Then, as if a thought struck her, she said, "Hmm. Yeouiju. If we really got our hands on one, who knows what could happen?"

"Geck?"

"Not that it’s possible. After all, you’re way too young."

I had heard that creating a Yeouiju required hundreds, even thousands of years of cultivation.

Despite my current appearance, I was still a lizard that hadn’t even lived two full years.

Regardless of my strength, the Yeouiju felt like a distant dream.

"Still, just in case, I’ll share what I know about it," Baekrang offered.

Wooong.

"Yeoui (如意). It means ‘to fulfill one’s desires.’"

So that’s what the "Yeoui" in Yeouiju stood for.

"I’ve never seen one myself, but they say it allows a dragon to do whatever they wish, in accordance with their will."

Do whatever they wish.

I remembered that the "Yeoui" in the Yeoui Staff also carried the same meaning.

"That’s why it’s considered an artifact symbolizing dragons. Spirit beasts that undergo repeated metamorphosis will stop at nothing to create a Yeouiju. They believe it’s the key to becoming a true dragon."

Baekrang’s tail swayed slightly, while the Fox Marble burrowed deeper into her fur, as if enchanted by it.

"...Are you sure you didn’t lay this thing? Your scales are black, it’s dark in color, and it keeps going near your chest," Baekrang said suspiciously.

What does it burrowing near fur have to do with it being my child?

Also, why are your eyes wandering toward my crotch?

"No way... during that week..."

"Geck!"

What nonsense are you talking about?

"I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But still, you have to admit the resemblance—like a father and daughter."

Her expression turned strangely expectant, as if she were waiting for my reaction.

"Considering how much it likes my fur... maybe it thinks I’m its mother," Baekrang teased.

Paang!

The Fox Marble shot out from Baekrang’s fur.

Wooong!

It spun in the air as if yelling, "Don’t be ridiculous!"

"Alright, alright, I was just saying," Baekrang muttered, glancing at the marble with a somewhat hurt expression.

Wooong! Wooong!

The Fox Marble shook violently, clearly displeased by her words.

"What’s wrong with this thing now?" Baekrang asked.

"Geck geck."

"Wait... it doesn’t think you’re its father, does it?"

Baekrang’s expression turned serious, as if she were considering the possibility.

Please, enough with the strange assumptions.

"Come on, there’s no way. But seriously, a marble? Now you’re just taking things too far..."

Smack!

I lightly swatted Baekrang’s rump with my tail.

"Kyah!"

The sound she made was decidedly un-wolflike.

Rubbing her rump with her tail, Baekrang stood up with an indignant huff.

"You’ve really taken a liking to smacking my butt lately. No spirit beast enjoys that, you know?"

"Keeng?"

Pus raised its short arms, as if calling out to me.

"What’s up with that one now?" Baekrang muttered.

Good question.

"Hmm... the more I think about it, the more impressive it is. How did you manage to charm creatures of all species?"

I didn’t charm anyone.

"The thing that annoys me most is that look on your face—like you’ve done nothing wrong. They say dragons are lustful creatures, and you..."

Baekrang trailed off, alternating her gaze between me and the Fox Marble.

"...You know, we might be able to use this," she said thoughtfully.

Countless drills had been conducted, and every possible preparation had been made.

I had trained myself, formulated strategies for every scenario, and now the time had finally come.

"Kioooong..."
"Kieeeeng..."

Tus and Pus perched on Baekrang’s shoulders, their expressions resolute.

Tang Soyeong and Nephila were seated on her back as well.

Their role was the most critical of all: eliminating the Go Poison from the Red Dragon.

"Awooo..."
"Ilbu... dacheo..."

The wolves and the two-horned beasts exhaled heavily, signaling their readiness.

This battle would be unimaginably difficult.

Our goal wasn’t merely to fend off the enemy.

We aimed to annihilate them while ensuring the safety of every sect member.

It was an ambitious, almost arrogant objective—but it was also our purpose.

"...We’ll stick to the plan, but are you sure about this?" Baekrang asked, her eyes filled with worry.

Simply clashing forces head-on would likely result in our defeat.

Even if we managed to win by some miracle, the cost would be devastating.

Brute force wasn’t the answer.

But thanks to the past month of preparation, I had found a breakthrough.

I could sense the numerous intruders entering my territory.

They had dared to step into my domain, but leaving it would be impossible.

I turned to look at the members of my sect.

We could do this.

Even if we couldn’t, I’d make it possible.

I had only one thing to say to them.

"Geck geck!"

And with that, I charged toward the enemy.

The first step to a flawless victory was seizing the initiative.

*

Akbulhwi gazed at the mountain with bold eyes.

Before him lay a dense forest, filled with vegetation of a size that defied common sense.

"Ho... A forest that seems to symbolize nature itself. But this doesn’t quite match what you told me, does it?"

"Perhaps it grew in the meantime," the Red Dragon replied, glaring at him with open hostility.

Her teeth clenched tightly.

Having lost family members to the Ice Dragon and the Thunderbird, she had come to regard Irhwa as her younger sister.

To avoid ever losing someone precious again, she had resolved not to form any more bonds.

But Irhwa had broken through that resolve.

Her face, personality, and voice reminded the Red Dragon so much of her lost sister that she couldn’t help but treat her as family.

Yet what tore at her heart was the fact that standing on the opposite side of the scale was Gomodo, an irreplaceable benefactor.

To allow Irhwa to die, or to betray Gomodo—neither was a choice she could bear to make.

If saving Gomodo meant killing Irhwa, she would do it, even if it felt like tearing out her own heart.

But she knew that doing so wouldn’t change the outcome significantly.

If she had chosen to side with Gomodo and fought against Akbulhwi, it might have inflicted serious damage on the Hwasan Sect.

But she still wouldn’t have been able to overcome Akbulhwi.

Though only a minor member, he held a seat among the Ten Great Masters of the World and was the leader of the Hwasan Sect.

It was said that he stood on equal footing with her in power, and if they were to fight, the battle would be so fierce that the outcome couldn’t be predicted.

Furthermore, the Hwasan Sect swordsmen were surrounding her, and the mysterious Namgoong Yeon had also joined forces with Akbulhwi.

Even if she had fought with everything she had, she couldn’t have defeated Akbulhwi.

Even if she managed to take one of his arms, if she fell in the end, he would seize her Neidan.

Not even the Fire Dragon could defeat Akbulhwi if he consumed her Neidan.

So, wouldn’t it be better to choose Irhwa and at least ensure her own survival?

Choosing Gomodo would mean dying a pointless death, and it might even put Gomodo in greater danger.

…The Red Dragon had been led to think this way.

The old her would have charged in without a second thought.

She was the Red Dragon and the Fire Dragon, after all.

But after encountering the Ice Dragon, she had changed.

She began to consider what was the right course of action.

She learned to think beyond the present moment and consider the future.

And so she had made her decision.

To create a situation where she could deal the most devastating blow at the most critical moment.

Having consumed the Go Poison, betraying Akbulhwi would mean certain death.

So she would wait until the height of the battle to unleash all her power, sweeping through the enemy forces.

She would ensure Akbulhwi suffered fatal injuries.

That was her plan.

If Gomodo emerged victorious, the Hwasan Sect would naturally collapse.

Irhwa would no longer be under their control.

And by offering her Neidan to Gomodo, she could repay him in her own way for saving her life.

Though she knew Gomodo wouldn’t understand her actions, it was the only way he would accept her Neidan.

"Still, seeing the environment he’s created, at least it’s clear he hasn’t noticed your betrayal. Even if you wield all your strength... it will all burn to ashes under your flames," Akbulhwi said, smirking.

Trees were naturally meant to burn.

The breath of the Red Dragon would obliterate this entire forest.

As the Red Dragon stared at the vegetation, she felt both a sense of relief and concern.

Relief that Gomodo hadn’t remained idle for the past month and had fortified the area against intrusion.

Concern that she had no reason not to burn the forest to the ground.

She wondered if she should betray him sooner than planned.

Pababak!

From the thicket emerged a colossal spirit beast.

Its scales were black as the void, with two horns crowning its head.

Massive front claws, a long tail, and flowing white eyebrows swayed in the wind.

"Oh-ho, so this must be the spirit beast they call Gomodo," Akbulhwi remarked.

It was a creature of such beauty that it could only be described as breathtaking.

"It’s a bit smaller than I imagined, but no matter. Just look at that majesty. A beast like this..."

Suddenly, Akbulhwi’s expression changed.

From one of delight at facing such a powerful creature, his face shifted to one of realization, as though something was deeply wrong.

The Hwasan Sect swordsmen murmured among themselves.

"...A Yeouiju?"

It was one thing to see a lizard with horns or long, flowing white fur.

But the purple orb floating around the lizard was something incomprehensible.

"A dragon!"

Even with the goal of hunting spirit beasts, the sight of a dragon changed everything.

Dragons were sacred divine beasts, revered as godlike beings.

Killing beasts that resembled dragons was one thing, but killing an actual dragon was akin to pointing a blade at a god.

Both symbolically and realistically, it was unthinkable.

Several swordsmen with weaker mental fortitude trembled, their hands shaking.

If that truly was a dragon, they knew they stood no chance.

"Pull yourselves together!" Akbulhwi barked.

Though he had been momentarily startled, he quickly regained his composure.

It had to be a trick.

Though the creature radiated immense power, it couldn’t truly be a dragon.

"That thing is..."

But the creature’s goal was to exploit that brief moment of hesitation.

Ssssssuuuup.

Akbulhwi’s eyes widened as he saw Gomodo’s chest swell dramatically.

"Cover your ears!" Akbulhwi shouted urgently.

KWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

A deafening roar erupted, shaking the heavens and earth.

It was reminiscent of a lion’s roar, but deeper, more fearsome.

"Hhh... hhhhurgh!"

Though there were no visible injuries, several swordsmen dropped their weapons.

That roar was unmistakably the cry of a dragon.

Those who heard it were consumed by an inexplicable terror.

"Ugh! It’s using the Lion’s Roar!"
"No, this isn’t a Lion’s Roar. It’s a dragon’s...!"

Chaos erupted among the group.

Fighting a dragon had never been part of the plan.

Akbulhwi moved quickly to regain control of the situation.

The momentum was bad.

But he was an experienced swordsman.

No one knew better than he did what needed to be done at that moment.

"Focus, everyone! That thing..."

Before he could finish, Gomodo’s chest swelled again.

"It’s just a Lion’s Roar! It’s not a dragon’s cry! Plug your ears, and the effect will weaken!"

The Lion’s Roar was an acoustic attack that could be mitigated by simply covering one’s ears.

He yelled to reassure his men that the creature wasn’t truly a dragon.

But what erupted next was far beyond Akbulhwi’s expectations.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZOOOOOONG!

A beam of pure destruction shot forth, heralding the start of war.

It was none other than the Gae Gak Death Beam.