Chapter 896

[Rooooaaaarrrrr!!!]

The roar was deafening, so powerful it felt as though it slammed directly into my ears, despite the considerable distance between us.

It wasn’t just a simple roar; there was something embedded within it.

Not only did it send tingling sensations across my skin, but it also went deeper…

It resonates within me.

The vibrations reached into my very soul, shaking it to its core.

What is this…?

I frowned at the unfamiliar sensation, but at the same time, I felt a strange sense of familiarity as I gazed at the creature.

While reason screamed for me to run, instinct urged me to get closer.

That thing…

It was a massive, overwhelming entity I had never seen before.

Yet, I had felt it somewhere.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say I’d experienced its presence.

Kurung…?

That strange beast that had shared my body for years.

The one that constantly whined about being hungry, demanding to be fed.

It had finally quieted down once I began feeding it demonic energy regularly. Now, however, it was no longer with me.

The reason?

It said it had to go.

One day, while I was training as usual, the creature that always growled and grumbled suddenly declared it needed to leave for a while.

I didn’t think much of it at the time. Where could a thing stuck to me even go? Yet, it disappeared that day and hadn’t returned since.

What’s more—

Noya left with it.

That’s why Shin Noya wasn’t with me anymore.

Noya had gone along with Kurung, at my request, for reasons I deemed necessary.

But now—

I thought it was taking too long to return.

They had promised to be back within six months or a year at most, but far more time had passed.

I had started worrying about them, even if only faintly.

Why is Kurung…?

Why was it here?

Was it really Kurung in the first place?

I knew the beast had a tangible form, but I’d never seen it before, so I couldn’t be certain.

What should I do…?

The massive form was shrouded in darkness, its body like an incomprehensible mass of smoke.

Just looking at it felt like I was being drawn into it. My pounding heart screamed danger.

[Rooooaaaaaarrrrr!!!!]

The beast’s roar reverberated through the air, shaking everything around it.

“…”

Whether it was Kurung or not, the logical thing to do was run.

But—

The problem is…

If it was Kurung—

Kurung was tied to my mother.

The beast was deeply connected to her. If I could confirm that this was Kurung, perhaps I could learn more about where I was, and even ask about other things.

Is it worth the risk?

If it wasn’t Kurung, it would spell disaster.

Even if it was Kurung, there was no guarantee it would be on my side.

Kurung had never been entirely trustworthy, after all.

As I wrestled with my instincts and reason, a hand suddenly gripped my wrist.

It was Cheonma.

“Let’s go.”

“…What?”

“There.”

She pointed toward the roaring beast.

“Are you insane? That thing is clearly dangerous. Why would we go toward it?”

“You want to go.”

“…”

How did she know? Was it that obvious on my face?

“Let’s go.”

She continued pointing as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Ugh…”

I hesitated for a moment, but my body was honest.

I was already gathering energy to leap forward.

“…Fine. Let’s see what happens.”

It was better to confirm things than to run away blindly.

Steeling myself, I ignited flames and leaped forward.

******

Closing the distance wasn’t particularly difficult.

Even though my body had moved into an unfamiliar space, my strength hadn’t diminished.

More than that—

It feels light.

My body was significantly lighter. I hadn’t noticed it while climbing the trees earlier, but now, as I moved, it became clear.

I felt at least half as light as usual.

It’s not like my cultivation level increased…

What could explain this difference? The only reason I could think of was the air in this place.

The air is saturated with qi.

That must be it.

The qi-rich air heightened my body’s functions, making my movements far more fluid.

…What is this place?

Where was I? What kind of place could have an atmosphere like this?

And more importantly—

Who sent me here?

Who had thrown me into this strange place?

And more curiously—

Who sent me here with her?

Whoever it was, what could their intentions possibly be?

[Rooooarrrrr!!!!]

Before I could dwell on it further, another roar shook the air.

It was much closer this time.

I stopped in my tracks.

Ha.

A dry laugh escaped my lips.

It’s this big?

From afar, the sheer size of the beast hadn’t fully registered. Now, up close, its enormity hit me.

This is insane.

The thing was massive.

It dwarfed even the nearby mountains, making them seem small in comparison.

[Grrraaaaaarrrrr!!!]

Its deafening cry made me grimace.

The ground trembled with each roar as it howled into the sky, shaking the very terrain.

From the lower ground, I looked up at the creature.

“…Is it really Kurung?”

Was this beast truly Kurung? Even up close, I couldn’t be certain.

If it was—what then?

Should I try talking to it?

Should I greet it, perhaps?

I had come to confirm its identity, but what now?

What do I do?

As I hesitated—

Shiver!

“…!”

A chill ran down my spine. I tilted my head upward.

Damn it.

My body froze.

The beast, which had been staring at the sky moments ago, was now looking directly at me.

Its piercing violet gaze locked onto mine.

Though its form was shrouded in smoke, those eyes were vivid, unmistakable.

It was staring at me.

A crushing weight bore down on me, my heart pounding as if it might burst.

Whoooosh!

Its presence invaded my senses.

It was overwhelming. My body trembled, a primal fear screaming that I was staring at something I shouldn’t.

In that moment, I understood instinctively.

I’m going to die.

If this beast bore hostility toward me, there would be no battle—just instant annihilation.

Should I run?

No—there wasn’t even time to consider it.

Whooooosh!!!

“…Damn it!”

Black smoke erupted from the ground, rising rapidly.

Before I realized it, the smoke had encircled both Cheonma and me.

Shit.

Was it attacking? I hadn’t expected it to be this fast.

I knew I shouldn’t have come.

I should have kept my distance. Now, I was in serious trouble.

Tensing my body, I ignited flames and lashed out at the encroaching smoke.

Kwooooom—!!!

The azure flame erupted, unleashing a shockwave that rippled outward. I was startled.

“The output has increased.”

Not only did my body feel lighter, but my strength seemed to have amplified as well.

However—

“Even so, it’s useless.”

I could tell just by striking the barrier. It didn’t even leave a scratch. Damn it.

My mind raced, knowing there was no time to hesitate. I immediately prepared to use the White Flame, focusing my heart's energy.

Wooooooong—!!!

The Nine Flames Firewheel spun rapidly. At the same time, the azure flame began to fade.

Whoosh! In an instant, the flame transformed into a brilliant white.

I swung it toward the barrier again, ready to strike—

“Stop.”

Cheonma grabbed my wrist once more.

Ssszzzt—!!!

“…Ahhh!”

Her hand touched the White Flame, and she let out a suppressed groan.

“What are you doing!”

Startled, I extinguished the flame and pulled her hand toward me.

Her skin where it had touched the White Flame was seared.

“Are you insane? Why the hell would you grab me when I’m using fire?”

I yelled angrily, and Cheonma widened her eyes in surprise.

Realizing I had been holding her hand, I quickly let go.

“Don’t touch me without permission.”

“Okay.”

Her response sounded oddly cheerful, leaving me dumbfounded.

She just got burned, and she’s pleased about it?

“But you still can’t do that.”

Cheonma stopped me again, and I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her.

“What do you mean, ‘can’t’? What, are we just going to stand here and die?”

“We won’t die.”

“Like hell we won’t—just look at this thing—”

“It has no killing intent.”

“…What?”

Her words made me pause.

Now that she mentions it…

I looked up at the creature again.

Through the translucent barrier, I could see it staring at us.

It doesn’t have killing intent.

It was just… watching us. The barrier remained, but it hadn’t done anything else.

What does this mean?

Even without killing intent, it didn’t change the fact that this thing wasn’t human.

It wasn’t even a demonic beast. It was something far greater, an existence so distant it felt wrong to call it a creature.

Still—

…

I glanced at Cheonma briefly before extinguishing the flame.

I wanted to see what would happen.

[Grrrr….]

The creature let out a low growl.

What was that?

It sounded almost like it was… crying?

I squinted, trying to make sense of it.

[Grrr… ga….]

“…Huh?”

The growling began to shift, like it was attempting to form words.

I perked up my ears, focusing intently.

[…ga… ya….]

[…go… ya….]

“Speak clearly if you’re going to talk!”

Frustrated, I shouted. The sound grew slightly more distinct.

[…Here is….]

The words were audible now.

Was this really Kurung? If so, was this a gesture of goodwill?

Just as I was considering this—

Crreeeeeeek—!!!

The sound of something tearing through the air reached my ears.

[Grrrrrr—!!!]

Kurung raised its massive head abruptly, its colossal body shifting. The sheer movement caused another tremor to ripple through the area.

I turned my gaze.

What now?

The unsettling noise came from the sky. There, a growing rift was forming.

“Magyeong Gate?”

It looked similar to the Magyeong Gate, but its size was entirely different.

“Why is it so ridiculously big?”

The rift was as large as a mountain.

Moreover, the color wasn’t one I recognized.

It wasn’t any of the usual shades like green or blue.

It was a soft, radiant crimson, so beautiful it almost seemed to emit the scent of flowers.

“Wait, a floral scent?”

The realization hit me.

This scent…

“I’ve smelled this before.”

Not long ago, before I ended up in this wretched place. Back when the Blood Demon attacked, I had sensed the same floral scent.

Could it be—

“Oh no…”

Kwoooom—!!!

“What?”

Light erupted from the rift, piercing straight through Kurung.

[Aaaaaargh—!!!]

Kurung let out a pained howl as I widened my eyes in shock.

What the hell just happened?

As the question formed in my mind, I heard a voice.

[How strange.]

I froze.

[For someone who went through so much trouble to hide, you’re standing here so boldly.]

The soft, elegant voice made me instinctively turn my gaze.

It was the same voice that had once cradled me, stroked my hair, and spoken gently to me.

[I suppose you’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?]

Someone emerged from the rift that had unleashed the blinding light.

Barefoot, they stepped gracefully across the void.

The figure, wearing a calm expression, stared leisurely at Kurung.

The size difference was staggering.

Kurung, towering over mountains, dwarfed the figure who appeared completely human in form.

And yet—

Thump. Thump.

Like when I first saw Kurung, an overwhelming, distant presence radiated from this figure.

The woman’s languid eyes gazed at the writhing Kurung, full of calm yet undeniable authority.

[Isn’t that right?]

To my astonishment, she spoke to the creature.

[Abyss.]

She was my mother.