Chapter 213

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 213: Father and Son (2)

Inside the Sand Prison Vault.

Joo Hayun swallowed dryly, watching the scene unfold before her eyes.

“An Incarnate Form...?”

The Incarnate Form—the pinnacle state only those of pure bloodline can attain.

Even in Hyukcheon’s long history, those who had reached it could be counted on one hand.

And now, Kwon Hyuk had gained that tremendous power.

“Is that… really an Incarnate Form?”

Yet she couldn’t help but doubt her own eyes.

Kwon Seonwoo’s Incarnate Form was flawless—like a dragon from a painting.

But Kwon Hyuk’s… was not.

Its fangs jutted out at odd angles. There were more patches of bare red flesh than scales.

So unsightly that it made her question if it was even a dragon at all.

“...It’s starting.”

The two dragons lunged at each other. The shockwave forced Joo Hayun to shield her face.

The two dragons collided.

They slammed into each other with their bodies, raked claws across each other’s flesh.

Even the smallest movements stirred storms and quaked the earth. It was as though two natural disasters had taken form and were now clashing.

—Hahaha! A battle between Incarnate Forms truly is something else, isn’t it, Father?!

Unlike Kwon Seonwoo, whose entire body was covered in thick scales, Kwon Hyuk’s body was largely exposed. Which meant every blow left far greater damage.

Yet he laughed like it was the time of his life.

—You talk too much.

—Forgive me! It’s just… been so long since I’ve played with you like this, I forgot how old I am!

Kwon Hyuk swung his tail, slamming it into Seonwoo’s head.

Seonwoo took the blow head-on, then immediately grabbed Hyuk by the head and drove it into the ground.

The resulting impact shattered the terrain.

—Kuhahaha!

Even Kwon Hyuk seemed affected—blood burst from his nose.

—As expected, you’re strong. Even with the same Incarnate Form, experience makes the difference!

Yet even as he bled, he never lost his smile.

Seonwoo stared down at his son and said—

—Surrender, Hyuk.

—What are you talking about? This is only the beginning! I can still—

—I don’t want to kill you.

Those words froze Kwon Hyuk. He stared, speechless.

—It’s not too late. Surrender now, and I’ll spare your life.

—Why are you saying this now? You’re not someone who forgives their enemies.

—You are... my son.

There was a slight tremble in Seonwoo’s voice.

—I don’t want to kill you. So please—

Suddenly, Kwon Hyuk’s tail lashed out and struck Seonwoo in the torso, staggering him.

In that opening, Hyuk broke free from Seonwoo’s grasp and swiped at his father’s head with a foreclaw.

Seonwoo staggered back, groaning.

—Ha! Son? Now you’re calling me your son? You really have gone senile. There’s no other reason you’d suddenly want to play daddy!

Kwon Hyuk laughed dryly. But his eyes gleamed with murderous rage.

—Do you remember what you told me on my seventh birthday? “Don’t think being the eldest means you’re safe! If you want to be acknowledged as my successor, prove your worth! If you can’t, then even as my child, I’ll discard you!”

He charged forward, unleashing a storm of attacks.

—And you acted on it too! Every time I fell short of your standards, you called me pathetic—treated me with contempt! You paraded around more gifted bloodline heirs to compare me to! Demoted my rank whenever I failed a mission!

Each strike landed brutally. Seonwoo staggered with every hit. Blood splattered. Scales tore off.

—But I endured! I trained until my limbs shattered! I endured ruptured organs during missions!

Strangely, Seonwoo never blocked a single strike. He took them all.

—I could even bear that! That’s how Hyukcheon has always operated. That’s how the direct bloodline has always been! But do you know what I truly couldn’t endure? The fact that you—who demanded so much from me, who threw away your love as a father—did not do the same to Cheon!

Hyuk’s foreclaw struck Seonwoo’s jaw, knocking him to the ground.

—All those expectations—where did they go? Why did you forget? What made me different from Cheon?!

Blood trickled from Seonwoo’s lips as he slowly rose to his feet.

—Say it! Tell me, damn it!

—It... it was my fault.

—Your fault?

Hyuk’s eyes widened. Then he broke into a deranged laugh.

—Father! How much further do you intend to fall?! The head of Hyukcheon—the man everyone feared—what happened to you?!

His laughter faded, leaving only cold disinterest.

—Whatever. I didn’t come here to hear apologies anyway.

Hyuk looked up at the sky, smiling with his fangs bared.

—I came to kill you and seize all of Hyukcheon for myself.

—...I’m sorry.

—Please stop. The more you apologize, the more pathetic you look.

—I’m sorry... that I didn’t understand your pain.

Seonwoo looked at Hyuk with fading strength in his eyes.

—I didn’t realize how furious you must’ve been. How disappointed you felt.

—It’s too late now.

—And I’m sorry... that I didn’t help you let go of your hatred.

Seonwoo’s fading aura began to surge back to life.

—If I can’t stop you… then I’ll have to kill you here. That’s the only way to make things right.

Strength returned to his trembling limbs. Malice lit up his dying gaze.

—Hahah! Now that’s more like it. That’s the head of Hyukcheon I remember!

Kwon Hyuk grinned with satisfaction. He raised his claws, facing Seonwoo head-on.

The two dragons stood off once more—tense, poised to strike each other’s vital points.

—Oh, Father. I forgot to mention one thing.

Then, Kwon Hyuk spoke again.

—I was the one who killed Cheon.

Seonwoo’s murderous aura evaporated. He stared blankly at Hyuk.

—Remember when you went to see him and his wife in secret after Hanul was born? I timed it perfectly—got rid of all your watchers and took care of him.

—You...

—Took some effort to hide it from you. But in the end, looks like I pulled it off.

—You bastard!!!

Seonwoo erupted in rage. His concentration shattered.

In that brief lapse—just a sliver of an opening—

Kwon Hyuk lunged.

And sank his fangs deep into his father’s throat.

* * *

Kwon Hanul wiped his face with the palm of his hand.

He was too shaken to think straight.

“What about the other units? What about Director Kwon Myung-woo and Lady Kwon Mi?”

“Well… we don’t have any confirmed information yet…”

“It’s fine. Please, just tell me what you know.”

“As far as I’ve heard… the area where those two were located was also attacked.”

“…What?”

Hanul’s eyes widened in disbelief. Devon Weeps quickly added—

“B-but fortunately, I heard both of them are safe. It’s just… because of the assault, they had to overexert themselves. Their injuries got worse, and now they’re in no condition to move.”

Hanul ground his teeth.

‘I didn’t think Kwon Hyuk would go this far…’

“The elite troops headed for the main house… but all contact was lost.”

Kwon Hyuk had concentrated his entire force at the main estate. No ordinary unit could handle that.

With Myung-woo and Kwon Mi immobilized by their injuries, there was only one person left who could suppress this rebellion.

Hanul grabbed his gear and walked out of the facility.

Devon Weeps hurried after him in a panic.

“L-Lord Hanul! Please wait! We haven’t prepared a vehicle yet! If you could just wait a moment—”

“That’s unnecessary,” Hanul cut him off. “If I take that, I’ll be too late.”

“W-what? Then how are you going to—?”

Suddenly, a powerful surge of magical energy swept in from the distance.

Hanul looked to the sky. Something glinted before it plummeted to the earth.

A thunderous explosion ripped through the air. The glacier shattered, and shards of ice launched skyward, obscuring the view.

“Aaaaaah!”

Devon screamed in shock.

“E-enemy attack! We’re under attack! Lord Hanul, quick—back inside the facility—”

Unlike Devon, who was clearly terrified, Hanul remained calm. In fact, he even looked… pleased.

“Didn’t think they’d arrive this fast.”

Three figures emerged from the crater.

“Hanul!”

“Captain! Where’ve you been all this time?”

“It’s been a while.”

Kwon Hudon, Mei Hong, and Gael Garcia rushed to his side, chattering nonstop.

“Gael I can understand, but Hudon, Mei Hong—how are you two here? Weren’t you with Granduncle when his location was attacked?”

“Oh, you already know? Uncle Hyuk—no, that traitor—he launched a joint assault with Aeon’s mages.”

“They were tougher than expected. Even the Hyukcheon Corps took damage, and Lord Myung-woo had to overexert himself…”

Hudon and Mei Hong let out heavy sighs.

“But Granduncle pulled me and Hong aside and told us not to waste time there. He told us to come help you.”

“He said he was leaving everything in your hands, Captain.”

Hanul gave a small, bitter smile. Hearing that only made his shoulders feel heavier.

“I joined up with these two the moment I heard what happened.”

“Did Lord Kwon Biryuk send you?”

“I promised him I’d return. That was enough.”

A very Gael Garcia kind of answer.

Hanul looked over the three. Their growth was remarkable—so much so that it was hard to believe it had only been a month.

“You’ve all gotten strong. You’ve worked hard.”

At that, tears welled up in Kwon Hudon’s eyes.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Hanul asked, confused, but Hudon just kept tearing up. Mei Hong let out a sigh.

“Ah, don’t mind him. Lord Myung-woo said he needed to fix Hudon’s attitude and drilled him one-on-one… Let’s just say it wasn’t training—more like punishment.”

Hanul looked at Hudon with a face full of sympathy.

If the boy was trembling like that, he must have been through hell.

“We rushed here to help you, Captain… but are you sure we’ll be of any use?” Mei Hong asked anxiously. Hanul nodded.

“Why do you ask?”

“We only trained for a month… and we’re not that much stronger…”

Mei Hong trailed off.

“Honestly, I’m worried we’ll only hold you back…”

Hudon and Gael both looked somber, clearly sharing the sentiment.

Hanul smiled.

“That’s a strange question.”

“Strange? I was being serious…”

“The reason I decided to form a squad in the first place was because I needed people I could call my own.”

Back then, he had been surrounded by enemies. There was no one he could trust.

“And the ones who answered my call… were all of you. If you don’t help me, then who will?”

At those words, the three of them smiled again.

“Then let’s head out.”

“Ah—wait, Hanul! Can we rest for just a bit…?”

“Yeah, we’re pretty worn out after running all this way…”

“Sorry, but I’m exhausted too.”

They all looked drained.

In truth, it’s faster for Hunters to move on foot than use vehicles—though it tires them out quickly. That’s why most avoid it.

Clearly, these three had pushed themselves to the limit to reach Hanul as quickly as possible.

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll recover on the way.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Hanul unleashed his mana.

It spread outward like a hemispheric dome, radiating in all directions.

In that instant, the world went still. Even the blizzard vanished.

Everyone was stunned. But the three from the Dark Shade Unit were downright speechless.

“H-Hanul? How… how are you doing this…?”

“I’ve never seen mana this dense…”

“Captain… you’ve become a real monster.”

Just the release of mana had completely dominated the surrounding environment.

It wasn’t just overwhelming—it was terrifying.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“W-wait! Do we have to hold onto something?!”

“No need.”

“You’re heading straight to the main house?” Mei Hong asked.

Hanul shook his head.

“We’re going to the workshop first.”

The three exchanged puzzled looks.

“There’s something I need to pick up.”

As he spoke, Hanul stomped the ground.

A gust began to spiral upward from the earth, sweeping the four of them off the ground.

[Black Dragon Ascension Art: Advanced Form]

[Imperial Technique — Soaring Dragon Rides the Clouds]

The storm swallowed them whole and launched them skyward.

A streak of lightning split the sky.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]