I lunged straight at Akbulhwi.

Pabababak!

I gauged his reaction speed.

It was sufficient to effortlessly block my Gae Gak Death Beam, which I had fired from an unseen angle.

A sneak attack wouldn’t work.

Naturally, Akbulhwi swung his sword to block my charge.

Suaaah!

The blade moved with tremendous speed.

I immediately planted my feet firmly into the ground to reduce my momentum and whipped my tail to deflect his sword.

Kaaaang!

I aimed for the guard of his sword.

“Sharp instincts you have,” he said.

The vivid colors of plum blossoms were clearly visible even to the naked eye.

While my scales could easily withstand ordinary blades, that sword aura was different.

Even with dragon scales, I’d undoubtedly be cut if struck by it.

No sooner had I deflected his attack than Akbulhwi closed in aggressively, as though he had never hesitated to face me.

Extending my claws, I coated them with a blue sword aura.

Kaaaang!

“You think an animal’s claws can match the grandeur of my blade?” he scoffed.

Kagagagak!

We locked in a contest of strength.

He was no pushover.

Up until now, most of my battles had been against opponents of similar size to me.

My combat style was tailored to fighting larger mystical beasts, so battling a smaller, human-sized opponent posed its own challenges.

Moreover, this man—despite being human—possessed power rivaling that of formidable mystical beasts. He wasn’t an opponent I could easily dismiss.

In raw strength, I had the advantage.

But his mastery of technique was unparalleled.

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Style he wielded was leagues beyond anything the Magnosaurus had demonstrated—a pure, unadulterated form of the art.

Even as we grappled, sharp sword auras targeted my neck.

Standing idly by was not an option.

Sssuup.

In my left hand, I gathered the essence of the bird.

In my right, the essence of the serpent.

As if the Bird King conjured a storm, I darted toward my foe with blistering speed, while the Serpent Queen’s destructive rays concentrated on a single point.

Kagagagak!

The essence-infused strike of Eungsa Saengsabak erupted.

“This… is entertaining!” Akbulhwi exclaimed, pushing back my claws with his sword.

Using just my hands wasn’t enough to deal with him.

Focusing inner energy into my feet, I stomped the ground forcefully.

Kwaaaang!

The explosive force of Gangryong Jinpok surged out, sending waves of qi through the earth.

Roots burst forth like dragons swimming through the ground, rushing to envelop him.

Suaaah!

Chooork!

“Urgh!”

Though he cut through the plants with his sword, he couldn’t entirely avoid my tail swipe, which struck him squarely.

Paaang!

However, it didn’t deal significant damage, as Akbulhwi quickly repositioned himself.

“Master!”

The martial artists fighting elsewhere shouted in unison.

“Wooooh!”
“Victory is ours!”

My allies, seeing I had landed a hit, erupted in cheers.

When leaders clash and gain the upper hand, it’s the most impactful move one can make on the battlefield.

“…Your movements are truly extraordinary. A giant lizard wielding human martial arts? How curious,” Akbulhwi remarked, brushing dust off his body.

“Your techniques resemble those of multiple grandmasters combined.”

He sounded almost impressed, clearly satisfied with our recent exchanges.

“You mimic human maneuvers only to suddenly attack with your tail. Facing such unpredictability, most opponents would fall.”

Standing still, Akbulhwi stared me down.

Paaaaah!

“This kind of strength…”

A violet aura enveloped his body.

“…cannot be underestimated.”

A faint scent of plum blossoms wafted through the air.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly.

His sword wasn’t just imbued with ordinary sword aura anymore.

“Come, face me,” he declared.

The violet energy converged, shaping itself into a massive blade.

It was a level I had not yet reached—Sword Manifestation.

He was now going all out.

I couldn’t expect the same openings as before.

…

I had intended to save this for Gongbok.

But it couldn’t be helped now.

Ice clashed with flames.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, and you’ve picked up some odd accessories,” Red Dragon said, eyeing Baekrang.

Keeng!
Kioooong!

Pus and Tus, clinging to Baekrang’s shoulders, waved their tiny hands in defiance, as if protesting Red Dragon’s audacity to insult them.

To Red Dragon, they were nothing more than peculiar spiders.

“Wow, seeing a mystical beast like this up close is incredible! Almost as amazing as Master Ko!” exclaimed Tang Soyeong, gripping Baekrang’s fur tightly.

Normally, she would have been reduced to ashes by Red Dragon’s heat. However, she was now wearing the pelt of the Fire Rat.

Combined with Baekrang’s icy energy, this allowed her to tease even a creature like Red Dragon.

Red Dragon unleashed a massive wave of fire in the shape of the character for "big."

Fwoooosh!

“Kyaaah!”

Tang Soyeong screamed as Baekrang deftly dodged the fiery assault.

Crack!

Baekrang skillfully used her ice to disrupt Red Dragon’s aim while steadily closing the distance.

Meanwhile, Red Dragon tried to maintain her distance, wary of being caught in her own betrayal if she stayed too close.

Still, she couldn’t make it obvious, so she had to fight seriously to some extent.

Kwaaaang!

Flames and frost collided, producing clouds of steam. Somehow, Red Dragon’s flames backfired, engulfing the martial artists of the Hwasan Sect.

“Argh! I’m on fire!”
“Oh dear, that was a mistake,” Red Dragon muttered nonchalantly.

She flapped her wings, momentarily taking to the skies, her body wreathed in flames.

Crack!

Blue frost rose to meet her fiery onslaught, intensifying its power.

Red Dragon smirked.

“You’ve certainly grown stronger.”

The difference between her and Baekrang used to be overwhelming.

In fact, Baekrang had suffered a crushing defeat at her hands before.

But now, Baekrang wasn’t backing down.

Since the Iron-Clad Dragon’s defeat, Ko Hui’s followers had grown stronger, especially in abilities tied to frost.

The icy energy flowing through everyone on the battlefield amplified Baekrang’s power, allowing her to match Red Dragon, even in her humanoid form.

Moreover, the interference from the Spider Sisters and Tang Soyeong’s poison further hindered Red Dragon’s movements.

Though these attacks couldn’t pierce her flames, they were enough to irritate her.

Red Dragon couldn’t help but acknowledge their efforts.

But she had a dilemma.

Her benefactor, Ko Hui—now the mystical beast Gomodo—was her reason for hesitation.

She knew the weight of possessing the Dragon Gate.

It meant endless slaughter and a descent into madness.

Though Ko Hui seemed fine now, the longer he held the Dragon Gate, the more it would consume him.

He needed someone to bear that burden for him—a weapon to face his challengers.

And Red Dragon believed only she could fulfill that role.

Yet now, seeing the strength of Ko Hui’s new followers, a glimmer of hope sparked.

Perhaps they could take her place.

But then, she muttered, “Three spiders? I can’t quite figure out his tastes.”

All females, but what did that matter?

“And what’s with the boy riding you, mutt?”

Baekrang tilted her head.

“A boy?”

Baekrang glanced over her shoulder at Tang Soyeong.

Tang Soyeong’s eyes darted around in confusion.

“Wait… is she talking about me?”

Her eyes narrowed.

“I’m not a boy!”

Her mystical aura formed a triangular expression as she glared at Red Dragon.

“Oh? Well, judging by your appearance, you look every bit like a man,” Red Dragon teased playfully.

“W-what? Y-you were looking at my chest just now…!” Tang Soyeong stammered.

Red Dragon couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…It would have been fun to spend more time with you,” she remarked, focusing her energy once more.

This was enough.

Now all that remained was to shake them off and unleash her most powerful attack on the Hwasan Sect.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Paaaaat!

But Baekrang wasn’t about to let her go.

Red Dragon, who had planned to deal with her lightly and strike the Hwasan Sect, found herself increasingly frustrated.

“…You’re persistent, aren’t you?”

This was the perfect moment to attack, but with Baekrang clinging to her, Red Dragon couldn’t execute her plan.

Raising her energy, she prepared to shake Baekrang off.

Fwoooosh!

A blazing flame engulfed Baekrang’s body.

“Kyahhh!”

Even with the Fire Rat’s pelt, Baekrang’s fur began to singe.

Despite the pain, Baekrang fixed her fierce gaze on Red Dragon.

“…You do realize I’m still fighting you in my human form, don’t you? Step aside before you get hurt worse,” Red Dragon warned as flames gathered around her lips once more.

Though they seemed evenly matched, Red Dragon had been holding back to avoid harming her deity’s followers.

But Baekrang didn’t back down.

“Since when did you care about my well-being? A surprising turn of events. Though I haven’t lived as long as you, I’ll outlast you yet!”

Kwaaaang!

A whirlwind mixed with frost surged forward.

“Really… This is getting tiresome!”

Red Dragon wrapped her entire body in flames, irritation spilling from her every word.

“Why are you so hell-bent on stopping me? You have no idea what’s at stake!”

“Hey, you idiot,” Baekrang retorted, cloaking herself in icy energy.

“You think I’m doing this because I like you?”

Suuuaaaak!

A fierce blizzard began to howl.

“I couldn’t care less if you die from that poison,” Baekrang shot back.

Her words struck like a sudden blow.

Could it be that she knew about the poison Red Dragon had consumed?

“That lizard said something, you know.”

Crack!

“He said he wouldn’t lose anyone. Not anymore.”

Red Dragon’s eyes widened.

She had made a similar vow, after losing her family to the Ice Dragon and Thunder Phoenix.

That promise had driven her to swallow the poison and now, to sacrifice her life.

But the one she served—her deity, who had melted her frozen heart—was different.

He was trying to save her, too.

Perhaps all of this was her fault.

“…My deity truly is too kindhearted,” she murmured.

One couldn’t hold onto everything.

To save her followers and herself was an impossible task.

Red Dragon focused her energy again.

She had only one course of action left:

Shake off Baekrang, pour all her strength into defeating Akbulhwi, and die in the process.

She wouldn’t be able to kill him outright, but at least she wouldn’t become a burden.

Fwoooosh!
Crack!

Flame and frost clashed once more.

Now that she was no longer holding back, Red Dragon had the upper hand.

“Kyaaaeng!”

But Pus’s web shot out from somewhere.

“Keeeeng!”

Tus released a cloud of poison, momentarily obscuring Red Dragon’s vision.

Against her overwhelming flames, the poison was ineffective.

Still, the distraction allowed Nephila’s sturdy web to extend toward her.

A decisive blow, or so it seemed.

But it lacked the power to make an impact.

The web merely touched her body, burning away immediately.

“Urgh!”

Yet, at the end of that web was a small figure clad in the Fire Rat’s pelt: Tang Soyeong.

Her strength wasn’t exceptional.

She wasn’t weak enough to be considered a third-rate martial artist, but she wasn’t strong enough to be called first-rate, either.

At best, she was second-rate.

And a second-rate martial artist couldn’t possibly deal meaningful damage to Red Dragon.

But was Tang Soyeong truly just a second-rate fighter?

Would the Tang Clan entrust a mere second-rate martial artist with their mystical beast?

Would the radicals expend so much effort to assassinate a second-rate martial artist?

Tang Soyeong was still an unbloomed flower.

Even so, she was the most beautiful and dangerous flower of the Tang Clan.

Her title as the Tang Clan’s flower wasn’t just due to her exceptional beauty—it stemmed from her abilities.

Beautiful flowers always have sharp thorns.

And the Tang Clan’s flower bore the most perilous thorns of all.

Clang.

A vial of poison shattered mid-air, and its contents seeped into Red Dragon’s body.

This was a deadly poison that not even the Tang Clan’s leader could control—a poison only Tang Soyeong could create.

A poison so potent it could purge even the most malevolent energy and render even the strongest helpless.

Thump.
Thump.

Red Dragon’s heart pounded erratically.

The poison tore through her, leaving her dazed.

Even the legendary Sword Queen, who was said to be immune to all poisons, couldn’t resist this poison.

Red Dragon couldn’t fight it.

Her heart burned as if it would explode, tears welled in her eyes, and an overwhelming longing to see someone consumed her.

At that moment, she realized the name of this poison.

The most lethal, irresistible poison.

And yet, the easiest to become addicted to.

It was… love.