Chapter 897

[“Grrrr…”]

A low growl, as if suppressing a cry, came from Kurung. The lingering remnants of energy filled the air.

A faint floral scent wafted around, accompanied by the sight of a crimson aurora and two moons.

Amidst this surreal scene, my eyes were fixed on one figure alone.

A woman standing barefoot, treading on the air as though it were solid ground.

Her white hair was so long it swept across the floor.

I couldn’t make out her figure clearly from this distance, but she didn’t seem particularly large.

Her skin was pale as snow, and her eyes were a vivid crimson, like flower petals floating in the sky or the aurora itself.

Even at a glance, she had an extraordinary appearance. Yet, what truly shocked me wasn’t her unusual looks.

“Mother…?”

The reason for my shock was that this being before me was unmistakably my mother.

At first, I doubted it.

The appearance didn’t align perfectly with the image etched in my memory.

Her hair and facial features bore some resemblance, but—

‘Those ears… and is that a tail?’

Instead of human ears, she had those of a beast.

And trailing from her waist was a bundle of fur the same color as her hair, lazily hanging down.

It was clear that, at the very least, she wasn’t human.

That doubt momentarily crossed my mind.

But still—

‘It’s her.’

No matter how much I looked, it was undeniably my mother.

“…What.”

Why had my mother appeared out of nowhere?

And more troubling, it seemed she had been the one to attack Kurung.

‘Why?’

What was going on?

I’d heard there was some connection between Kurung and my mother.

‘Wasn’t it said she’s the one who sent him to me?’

Was that a lie? If not, what reason could she possibly have to attack Kurung?

Or was Kurung not who I thought he was?

I couldn’t make sense of the situation. My mind raced with countless possibilities, each more perplexing than the last.

It was that strange.

But regardless—

‘Mother.’

With my mother standing before me, I couldn’t just stand idly by.

“Let me out of this thing, now.”

Thud!

I slammed my fist against the barrier in frustration, but it remained unscathed.

I frowned deeply.

‘What’s her intent?’

It was clear she wasn’t trying to harm me, but beyond that—

‘What does she want?’

Why had she restrained me like this?

[“Grrrrr…!”]

Kurung roared, rising to his feet. Each small movement he made shook the ground like an earthquake.

[“Abyss.”]

My mother addressed him, her voice resounding far and wide despite her small frame.

[“Why have you broken the rules?”]

[“GRAAAH—!”]

[“Even now, you can return to where you belong.”]

[“ROAAAR!”]

Despite her words, Kurung let out a ferocious roar, clearly showing he wouldn’t comply.

[“I see.”]

My mother moved her hand slightly, and in that instant—

Shhhhhh—!

The petals floating in the air began to dance and swirl. And then—

‘The sky…’

The aurora in the heavens began to writhe. Stars and clouds slowly converged.

‘This can’t be real.’

Boom! Boom-boom!

I could only gape at the phenomenon unfolding before me.

Nature itself was moving.

It wasn’t some martial technique. This was something far beyond anything I’d ever heard of.

[“You need to be taught a lesson.”]

[“GRRRRR—!”]

Kurung charged at my mother. His mist-like form took on the shape of a beast with a massive maw and razor-sharp fangs.

Combined with his immense size, he exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

[“How insolent.”]

But my mother simply waved her hand at him as she had before.

Crash! CRASH! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!

The gathered aurora struck Kurung directly. Crimson beams of light poured down from the sky.

Boom! Boom-boom-boom! Rumble—!

Each impact shook the ground violently.

I stood frozen, my jaw hanging open.

‘…This is, even compared to the Celestial Sovereign’s lightning—’

The power that had once swept away every crimson beast.

It wasn’t necessarily overwhelming by comparison, but it was undeniably superior.

This was a strength that defied reason.

[“ROAAAR!”]

Struck by the onslaught, Kurung let out a wild cry, and the barrier around me trembled.

I instinctively knew—this was the moment. If I struck now, I could break free.

But—

‘…’

Even knowing this, I didn’t move.

Why wasn’t I reaching out to shatter the barrier?

Even I couldn’t explain it.

‘…Something.’

Something felt off as I looked at my mother.

She was undoubtedly my mother, yet I had a strange sense that facing her now would be a mistake.

That hesitation held me back.

‘Why?’

She was right there.

The person I’d longed to see was standing right before me.

She had even protected and saved me just moments ago.

‘So why?’

Why was I hesitating to confront her?

As confusion clouded my thoughts—

[“How strange.”]

My mother’s voice carried a hint of doubt.

[“Are you toying with me, Abyss?”]

[“Grrr…”]

[“If not, then why are you sitting there so uselessly?”]

Whoosh.

The beams of light ceased. At the same time, something began to shift behind my mother.

‘…A tail.’

The bundle of fur unfurled, floating into the air.

Roughly three tails, each suffused with crimson energy, rose high into the sky.

[“Do you think I don’t know this isn’t your true form? You’re not even pretending to be weak convincingly. So then—”]

At that moment—

[“Is that the issue?”]

“…!”

My mother’s gaze turned toward me—or rather, toward the barrier encasing me.

Shiver.

A chill ran down my spine the moment our eyes met.

It was entirely different from facing Kurung earlier.

Thump.

Thump-thump!

Her gem-like crimson eyes.

Unlike before, they were languid and devoid of emotion.

Her gaze carried no discernible sentiment, but my body reacted instinctively, radiating a deep sense of unease.

[“Grrrr—!”]

The moment her attention turned my way, Kurung roared with hostility.

Rumble—! The ground quaked violently once more.

[“So I was right.”]

In response, my mother let out a soft chuckle.

[“Did you think you could deceive me? If so, you’ve made a mistake.”]

She extended her hand toward me.

[“Let’s see what you’re hiding, shall we?”]

Despite the gentle tone of her voice, the energy gathering at her fingertips was anything but benign.

This wasn’t good.

If this continued, I might truly die.

[“ROAAAAAR!”]

Kurung charged at my mother once more.

This time, however, it was different.

A much more violent and intense aura erupted in all directions.

[“Oh my.”]

My mother’s lips curved into a smile as she watched.

[“How curious.”]

She retracted the hand she had extended toward me and redirected it toward Kurung.

Boom!

Once again, beams of light erupted from all directions.

Thud!

My mother and Kurung resumed their battle, and suddenly, the barrier that had been in front of me disappeared.

Thud! Rumble—!

The heavens and earth trembled.

Just watching the clash between the two made my legs feel weak.

What kind of battle was this? I stared in astonishment, unsure of what to do.

-Run.

-Run.

-Run.

A voice echoed in my ears three times in succession.

‘Kurung?’

It felt like the voice was coming from him.

‘Run?’

Was that why the barrier disappeared? To give me a chance to escape?

But running from my mother? That sounded utterly ridiculous.

-Run. North.

“...”

If I had to run, it made sense to run from Kurung, not toward him.

Shouldn’t I go to my mother and tell her I was here instead?

“Hey.”

Ignoring logic, my body moved on instinct. I grabbed the wrist of the Heavenly Demon.

“Run.”

I had always trusted my instincts, and this time was no different.

“…!”

The Cheonma’s eyes widened as I gripped his wrist.

Using all my strength, I pulled him along and launched myself forward.

Our direction was north.

***************

Rumble—!

In the distance, a black mountain rolled and quaked violently.

The ground shook so intensely that the mountain collapsed in on itself.

[“Grrr… grrrrr…”]

Kurung groaned in pain, his cries echoing through the air.

My mother, who had been watching silently, erased her smile and waved her hand.

Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

The aurora’s light battered Kurung’s body repeatedly.

When enough time had passed and the light finally ceased, there was nothing left where he had been.

Not even the slightest trace.

[“Hmm.”]

Even at that sight, my mother showed no sign of surprise.

She had anticipated as much.

[“As expected, it was just a fragment.”]

Though its size was enormous, the divine power it wielded was pitifully weak.

It was no surprise she hadn’t believed it was the main body.

[“But why?”]

My mother tilted her head, puzzled.

Why had it gone to such lengths to stage this?

Even using a clone would have come at a cost. What purpose could it have served?

[“Was it just to distract me?”]

To draw her attention, even for a moment? But why?

As she pondered, my mother recalled the events from just moments ago.

[“Could that be the reason?”]

The Abyss had gone to such lengths because of something hidden within its divine power.

She remembered it clearly.

[“A dragon.”]

Two small dragons. One was faint, barely deserving the title of a dragon.

But the other—

[“Hmm…”]

What could she call it? It was certainly a dragon, but something about it didn’t quite fit.

And more troubling—

[“Familiar.”]

A familiar energy emanated from within.

It felt eerily similar to her own power.

Why? She couldn’t explain it.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter.

Whatever the case—

[“Dragons have no place on this land.”]

Those vile and arrogant beings didn’t belong here.

[“I thought I had dealt with them all… Strange.”]

For some reason, they had dared to set foot on her domain. But now that she had seen them, it was over.

[“Chief.”]

[“Yes, my lady.”]

At her call, a voice responded from the dimension behind her.

[“Send the children to deal with the dragons.”]

[“As you command.”]

At her order, the presence moved immediately.

While she would have preferred to deal with them herself, there were other matters that required her attention.

With that thought, my mother turned away.

Just as she was about to step through the torn dimension—

[...]

Something lingered in her mind.

One of the dragons that had briefly looked at her.

That strange being with a familiar aura.

It was certainly a dragon, yet it couldn’t simply be called one.

[“What is this?”]

Why couldn’t she shake its image from her mind?

She tilted her head for a moment before dismissing the thought.

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.

To her, it was just another existence that needed to be eradicated from this vast world.

As always.