Chapter 138

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 138: Monarch (1)

Everyone who witnessed the scene was stunned.

The bloodline of Blaga, the vassals, even the members of the Black Aura.

Who was Kwon Chan-seong?

A direct descendant of the Hyukcheon clan, and the designated heir after the current successor.

It wasn’t just about his prestigious lineage. The genius and skill that Kwon Chan-seong possessed were exceptional, even among the purebloods of the Hyukcheon.

His name had already spread across the globe—there was no one who didn’t know it. Universally recognized as one of the true Absolutes.

And yet… that very Kwon Chan-seong...

That Kwon Chan-seong was bowing his head to the ground.

“What the... hell is this...?”

A string of curses slipped out. They came from none other than Kwon Chan-seong himself.

He was grinding his teeth, using every last ounce of strength he had to lift himself from the ground.

This was a body he had trained for over twenty years. A body he had honed with utmost dedication—one that had never once failed to meet his expectations.

But now, that same body was obeying someone else’s command.

“…Cousin. May I ask just one thing?”

In the end, Kwon Chan-seong had no choice but to give up—for now. Instead, he posed a question to Kwon Hanul.

“Is this… the power of the Vassal Bloodline?”

—It is.

Kwon Hanul answered without resistance. Things had already come this far. What point was there in hiding it?

“So, you really do possess more than just the Black Dragon Bloodline.”

Originally, one could only possess a single bloodline. Cases of holding two or more were extremely rare. And those who did… never lived long.

Even so, Kwon Chan-seong accepted Hanul’s words without much resistance. Because he had already suspected it.

“No wonder… I thought you suddenly grew stronger earlier.”

When struck head-on, Kwon Hanul had exhausted all of his stamina and mana—he was on the verge of defeat.

But suddenly, he recovered completely—and not only that, he fought Kwon Chan-seong on even ground.

In that moment, Kwon Chan-seong had sensed a power that did not belong to the Black Dragon Bloodline.

“But still, cousin…there’s one thing I can’t wrap my head around.”

Kwon Chan-seong’s voice began to tremble with rising anger.

“Why… am I, of all people, bowing to the power of the Vassal Bloodline?”

He could accept that Hanul had multiple bloodlines. But this situation was something else entirely.

The power of the Vassal Bloodline was strong, yes—but notoriously difficult to use. It worked well on regular people, but not against seasoned Hunters.

Let alone someone like Kwon Chan-seong, a top-tier Hunter who stood on a whole different level.

And yet, Hanul was commanding him using the “Command” authority—said to be second only to “Domination” in difficulty among the Vassal Bloodline’s powers?

“Answer me now! I asked you a question!”

At last, unable to endure the humiliation, Kwon Chan-seong burst out in fury.

—You’re noisy.

But Hanul’s new command silenced him instantly.

—Of course it doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t even be possible.

Hanul calmly admitted the truth. As a bearer of the Vassal Bloodline, he knew better than anyone.

Using the Vassal Blood to create illusions or manipulate the five senses was one thing. But issuing a command to someone like Kwon Chan-seong? Impossible.

Even with True Vassal Bloodline it should have been beyond reach.

—But that’s only assuming you were at full strength.

Hanul’s voice sharpened.

—Kwon Chan-seong, let me ask you something. Did you really think you could ignore the power of the Vassal Bloodline in that worn-out body of yours?

He had fought two opponents:

Catalina Blaga, the de facto head of the Blaga family and another Absolute, and Kwon Hanul himself—armed with True Vassal Blood.

Though both had been defeated, they had drained Kwon Chan-seong’s stamina and mana and left him covered in injuries.

—How arrogant. Unbelievably arrogant.

Hanul clicked his tongue with clear disdain.

—More importantly… do you even realize what kind of power I’m using right now?

The Vassal Blood Hanul possessed was the True version.

And more than that—its source was the Vampire Lord’s Half-Incarnation.

At this very moment—and possibly on the entire planet—there was no illusionist stronger than Kwon Hanul.

—If you don’t know, shut your mouth. Don’t get cocky.

Hanul began walking forward slowly. With each step, wings shimmered behind him like a mirage.

He raised his foot and pressed it firmly on Kwon Chan-seong’s head.

—Right now, you’re nothing more than an insect I could crush underfoot.

And then—

A massive surge of mana burst from Kwon Chan-seong. So powerful, it pushed Hanul back.

Kwon Chan-seong slowly raised his head. His neck must have been sore—he gently rubbed around it with his hand.

“That was close…”

Floating around him were small orbs— Dragon Pearl— the beads that had once blocked Damcheon’s dragon strike.

“Cousin, I understand being thrilled that you gained the upper hand… but don’t you think you let your guard down too much? Giving me time to activate this ability?”

Dragon Pearl.

Though it was a power of the Black Dragon Bloodline, even Hanul didn’t know exactly what it did.

This ability was the final trump card of the Black Dragon Bloodline. Few among the Hyukcheon clan had ever achieved full synchronization with it.

As a result, its nature remained largely unknown—even within the clan.

All that was speculated was that it required cooldown between uses and had the ability to nullify enemy attacks.

“Well then, cousin… I’ll make sure to return the humiliation I suffered—with interest.”

Kwon Chan-seong launched himself forward, cloaked in Dragon Aura.

Like a beast pouncing, he aimed a knife-hand strike directly at Hanul’s heart. It was a simple thrust—but it carried monstrous power.

“No, don’t…!”

Catalina Blaga cried out in alarm. The Vassal Bloodline had formidable mental interference abilities, but its physical prowess was inferior.

And right now, Hanul had pushed the Vassal Bloodline to its absolute limit. There was no way he could block that blow.

Or so she thought.

—Kneel.

A booming voice rang out. The ground trembled.

Before Hanul, who still stood tall—

Kwon Chan-seong had dropped to his knees.

“What… is this…?”

Kwon Chan-seong’s eyes widened in disbelief. Hanul looked down at him and spoke.

—I warned you.

Hanul slowly clenched his fist.

—Don’t act so arrogant.

And with that, his fist smashed into Kwon Chan-seong’s face.

* * *

‘Nothing special.’

As the fist flew toward him, Kwon Chan-seong thought to himself.

Slow.

The force behind the punch was unimpressive—far weaker than when he had used the power of Black Dragon Bloodline.

Of course it is.

He was using a considerable level of mental domination. It was only natural that his physical prowess wouldn’t be exceptional on top of that.

“Hit me all you want.”

Kwon Chan-seong’s body had long since reached a higher realm. His mana circulated on its own, shielding his body. A punch of that level? He could take it all day.

So, he was confident.

At least, until the fist actually hit his face.

"Keurgh!"

A scream burst out of him. His body was thrown back violently. Kwon Chan-seong touched his face in disbelief.

The bridge of his nose had completely collapsed. And worse—cracks had spread across the entire facial bone structure. Blood poured from his nose like a broken faucet.

"H-How...?"

—You're asking something obvious.

Kwon Hanul casually shook off his fist and said,

—When the master strikes, should a dog bare its fangs?

In the very moment his fist moved, Kwon Hanul issued a new command— To drop all of Kwon Chan-seong’s physical defenses.

"...Truly infuriating."

Just then, the Dragon Pearl glowed. The spell that had shackled Kwon Chan-seong dissolved.

His body vanished—and reappeared behind Kwon Hanul in an instant.

Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Techniques — Upper Form

Annihilation Style: Absolute Severance

Kwon Chan-seong brought his hand down in a blade strike. A black arc slashed toward Kwon Hanul.

—Stop.

But the moment Kwon Hanul spoke, all the dragon-imbued martial energy scattered.

Kwon Hanul turned, and simultaneously, drove a kick into Kwon Chan-seong’s side.

"Kuk!"

Once again, with all his defenses stripped, Kwon Chan-seong absorbed the full brunt of the attack.

Kwon Hanul’s shin dug deep into his ribs. The sound of bone shattering was unmistakable.

Clutching his side, Kwon Chan-seong staggered back. Blood trickled from his mouth.

His organs had taken damage.

"How are you using the power of Vassal Bloodline with the Dragon Pearl still active?!" Kwon Chan-seong screamed in agony.

In truth, the Dragon Pearl was functioning properly. His own commands were still breaking through as they should.

The real problem was that the commands were still taking effect.

Every time Kwon Hanul spoke, Kwon Chan-seong’s body obeyed.

—A difference in class.

Kwon Hanul muttered, as if bothered by the whole thing.

Kwon Chan-seong’s face contorted.

"How dare the spawn of a traitor speak of class in front of me?!"

—Haven’t heard that one in a while.

"Shut up!"

With a roar of rage, Kwon Chan-seong charged.

But Kwon Hanul vanished before he could reach him.

"What?"

He hadn't just disappeared visually— Even his senses couldn’t pick him up.

"What kind of trick...?"

Then it hit him.

A blow landed clean on his abdomen.

"Guh!"

His innards twisted violently. A mouthful of blood burst from his lips.

Only then did he see— Kwon Hanul’s fist buried in his stomach.

—That one's for when I first came to the clan and you picked a fight.

Kwon Hanul vanished again. Kwon Chan-seong spun, searching frantically.

Then his head jerked violently to the side.

Kwon Hanul had reappeared and kicked him in the skull.

—That’s for stirring up shit in my debut dungeon.

Once again, Kwon Hanul disappeared—

Then swept his legs out from under him, knocking him to the ground.

"...No way."

That’s when Kwon Chan-seong realized.

It wasn’t that Hanul was too fast to detect.

He was manipulating Chan-seong’s perception with the Vassal Bloodline—blocking sight, sound, and sense.

"This... is insane..."

Thanks to the Dragon Pearl, the control spells were quickly dispelled— But it didn’t matter.

The Dragon Pearl couldn’t completely block the initial command.

That tiny opening was all Kwon Hanul needed to attack.

—This one's for conspiring with Catalina Blaga to have me killed.

His hand sliced down on Chan-seong’s collarbone—

It shattered like brittle sticks.

—This one's for picking fights with me every time we met in the clan.

—This one’s for chasing me all the way to House Blaga to try and kill me.

—And this one's for killing my blood bounds.

Even as the blows rained down, Kwon Chan-seong couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded.

He’d held onto all that?

All those grudges?

But he couldn’t laugh.

The relentless attacks from every direction were too fierce.

And worst of all— Before Kwon Hanul, Chan-seong was as defenseless as a naked man in a battlefield.

His bones cracked and shattered. Muscles tore.

Joints bent the wrong way, then broke.

How long had it gone on?

Eventually, Kwon Hanul’s assault came to a stop.

"Kuh...!"

Kwon Chan-seong collapsed, coughing blood.

His body was a shredded mess—no better than a rag.

"Is it... finally over?" He gasped, barely managing to get the words out.

Every bone broken. Every muscle torn.

—Not yet.

Kwon Hanul reached out and seized him by the head.

"Little cousin... You trying to dominate me now? Don’t bother. Just kill me already,” Kwon Chan-seong sneered.

Among all the abilities of the Vassal Bloodline, domination was the hardest to wield.

Even in this pitiful state, he had no intention of submitting.

—I don’t plan to.

Kwon Hanul’s voice was firm.

To dominate meant to crush a person’s spirit entirely.

It was far more difficult than most imagined.

"Then just kill me already!"

Even now, he didn’t beg for his life.

It was fitting for someone with the name Kwon Chan-seong.

But Kwon Hanul had no intention of granting him a quick death.

—Death isn’t enough.

Kwon Chan-seong chuckled.

He cackled as he said, "What, going to torture me now? How petty..."

—I’m going to destroy your mind.

Kwon Chan-seong’s eyes widened.

What... did he just say?

—From now on, you’ll live as a hollow shell. A complete idiot with no sense of self.

His pupils shook violently.

That Kwon Chan-seong—

The once-feared Kwon Chan-seong—

Would become nothing more than a clueless fool.

It was a fate more horrifying and humiliating than death.

"You... you bastard...!" Kwon Chan-seong cursed, reaching with his only usable arm to grab Hanul’s wrist.

"Stop talking and just kill me! Kill me, damn it!"

—I told you already.

Kwon Hanul activated the power of the Vassal Bloodline.

—Death isn’t enough.

A massive surge of energy concentrated at Kwon Chan-seong’s head.

And then—

A scream tore through the air.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]