Quite some time had passed since the Large Soldiers entered the mines.
Although the miners had been rescued a long time ago, people still gathered around the Sodoong Mine, waiting for any news.
“Th-the lift is moving again!”
“Are you sure something didn’t go wrong with it again?”
“I’m sure! Something’s coming up!”
Even the mine owner, Seong Chi waited in anticipation alongside the rescued miners for the lift to reach the surface.
How many nights and days had they waited for this moment?
Bang Jae, a Dragon’s Flower, waited in anticipation with the archivists assigned to this trial, all longingly staring at the mine’s entrance.
Seol Hong must not die here.
It would be a waste for someone like her to die in a place like this. This sentiment also extended to Seol, her Dragon’s Stone, and close companion.However, Bang Jae and the archivists also knew how dire the situation was. With Phantom, a powerful evil spirit, revived, this was beyond the capabilities of a single individual.
“Has the Great Shaman not arrived yet?”
“It hasn’t been long since they departed from Hong Yeon, so it will take quite a while for them to arrive in Tumaku…”
"Tch! If Seol Hong's words are true, then Phantom will soon be unleashed onto the world. How can you be so calm?!"
As Bang Jae and his subordinate continued their conversation, the entrance to the mine grew even noisier.
“They’re coming! They’re coming up!”
Clunk…
Clunk…
Several Large Soldiers emerged from the darkness, walking out of the exit. The scene was quite grand, as several of them marched out together.
However, everyone was looking for the Large Soldier with Seol Hong in it.
If this miracle ended with her death, the citizens of Tumaku would lose their faith in the future.
“Over there!”
“Lady Seol Hong is alive!”
“There’s someone else in the cockpit too!”
“It’s Lady Seol Hong’s Dragon’s Stone! He’s alive too?!”
Fsssss…
As the cockpit opened, Seol and Seol Hong stepped out.
Seol Hong's face was covered in coal from repeatedly exiting and reentering the mine. Seol's face was equally dirty, but Seol Hong's tears had left black smears and tear marks all over hers.
Painters, having gathered after hearing the news, raised their tools. Daoists also readied themselves to capture the scene. Everyone waited in anticipation, brush in hand, to draw the decisive moment.
A few seconds later, the moment they had been waiting for finally arrived.
With a thud, Seong Chi, the mine's owner, fell to the floor. He gave a deep bow, ensuring his forehead kissed the ground in an attempt to show his sincerity.
“I will forever think of this as a blessing that the gods gave us, after pitying us poor moles. Sincerely, thank you so much.”
“Seong Chi.”
“You have worked so hard, Lady Seol Hong. I will never forget what you have done for us, for as long as I live.”
“Yeah! Lady Seol Hong!”
“Lady Seol Hong! Please look over here!”
Seol Hong had lived her life without ever receiving love from anyone.
When she left the Dragon Palace, not a single person wished her goodbye.
In fact, she herself might have believed that it was normal for people not to care for her.
“Here! Over here!”
“You’re back!”
“Thank the heavens! Really, ahhh…”
Countless people surrounded her now. It was a sight that her former self could have never imagined.
“Seol Hong!”
“Elder Brother Bang Jae.”
“What happened? I can tell that your Dragon’s Stone is fine, but… there’s a more important matter at hand, right?”
Bang Jae prayed that he would be able to uncover the truth through Seol Hong.
“Ph-Phantom… What happened to him? Is he…”
“He was defeated.”
“...What?”
“Phantom… was defeated.”
It wasn’t like Phantom would have died a natural death.
Bang Jae looked at Seol Hong before glancing at Seol.
“Don’t tell me… it’s what I think it is… right?”
“......”
Seol Hong then explained the truth to him. There wasn’t a need to hide anything, after all.
“Phantom caused the unnatural ghost energy at Sodoong Mine. Now that he is dead, the ghost energy has decreased to a level where miners can enter without protective clothing.”
“Seol Hong… really? Did Phantom really die? Did he die to you and your Dragon’s Stone…”
The archivist shook their head after approaching them.
“By the time we arrived, the situation was already over.”
Which meant that Seol had defeated Phantom alone. It was a massive bombshell to drop.
Bang Jae quickly turned back after returning to his expressionless face.
“I’m sure the archivists will uncover the details. Good work, Seol Hong.”
“Thank you, Elder Brother.”
“Go get some rest.”
“Thank you.”
A few days later, rumors about Phantom spread from Tumaku to the neighboring regions and eventually throughout the entire Khan Empire.
However, after hearing those rumors, people trembled in fear instead of celebrating. Phantom was supposed to be sealed away, and his unsealing was something that should never have happened.
After all, this essentially meant that the legendary Hwagmu could also be unsealed.
The Great Shaman dispatched by the Khan Empire eventually arrived at the Sodoong Mine, and after examining the traces of battle, they had this to say:
- Phantom really did return.
However, that wasn’t all.
- Additionally, Phantom was defeated as well.
Accompanied by a drawing of Seong Chi bowing to Seol Hong, her face covered in coal, with countless Large Soldiers behind them, and the Great Shaman’s words, the miracle in Tumaku spread across the Khan Empire.
* * *
“You called, Your Majesty?”
“...Come in, Dal Yeong.”
In the dead of night, Hong Cheon, the Dragon Emperor, summoned a man dressed in distinctive attire.
Though his clothes were similar to those of the Dragon Emperor's other vassals, the tightly wrapped blindfold around his eyes set him apart from such.
Dal Yeong was a member of the Soul Eyes Tribe.
The Soul Eyes Tribe, with its unique and deep history in the Khan Empire, had produced many individuals who had left their mark on history.
The members of the Soul Eyes Tribe lost their sight after their coming-of-age ceremony.
And it wasn’t a metaphor either, they really did lose their sight.
However, they received a special ability in exchange. This power is also why the Soul Eyes Tribe is deeply rooted in the Khan Empire’s history.
“Were you watching the sky, Your Majesty?”
“I was. I may not be as capable as you, but I can at least pretend.”
Dal Yeong was capable of reading the stars.
In exchange for their sight, they could interpret the energies of the sky.
It was also because of this ability that the Khan Empire created the position of astrologer.
“But I couldn’t tell at all,” said Hong Cheon. “That’s why I asked for you.”
“I shall read it immediately.”
Dal Yeong then stood side by side with the Dragon Emperor, observing the sky.
Though he was blind, he still could see.
“So, what does the sky foretell?”
“It is not good.”
“How straightforward.”
“The large star’s energy has declined. It wasn’t this bad even just a few days ago, either…”
“I’m sure you know it as well, that star is my star,” said Hong Cheon.
“......”
“Yes… I see.”
“There have been instances of your energy temporarily decreasing many times before, Your Majesty. I’m sure that due to your recent health…”
"It is not a matter of my health. It is natural for land stripped of all its nutrients to become a wasteland. Though I never thought the day would come when I would say you cannot defy the heavens, it is true."
The Dragon Emperor then looked at Dal Yeong.
“I am withering.”
“...Haven’t you overcome everything before, Your Majesty?”
“What I overcame was just a simple wave, not the entire ocean. Have you… heard of the phrase, the ‘power of the era’?
“I remember an elder of my tribe saying that before, yes.”
“The power of the era... I call that the 'era’s might.' I believe that those who have created massive changes to the continent all possessed this power. How does an era change? Though a tiger can become the king of a mountain and reach the pinnacle of beasts, it still cannot change the era.”
The Dragon Emperor sighed before continuing.
“A new era has always been ushered into this land by a beast with reason, humans. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that all humans are capable of changing an era. But new waves always need a new source—a new source for the waves.”
Dal Yeong soon realized the reason for the Dragon Emperor’s recent actions.
“Then was the Dragon War… perhaps…”
“It was, I was preparing for the next era. I was searching for a child capable of preventing the Khan Empire from being washed away by the waves. Cracks have formed throughout Pandea, and I’m sure that Phantom’s revival was one of such small cracks.”
“But you are still alive and well, Your Majesty. How could the Dragon’s Flowers…”
“I am old and weak. How could I still be fine after living for over 300 years? I am broken,” said Hong Cheon bitterly. “Recently, I’ve felt a fog in my head. And it doesn’t seem like a symptom of old age, either. This is probably…”
“The Dragon’s Blood!”
“Yes. It seems that Hwagmu’s blood might have extended my lifespan but stolen an easy death. Haha... Bang Hyu.”
Fwooosh…
Bang Hyu stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself.
“Yes, I am ready for your command, Your Majesty.”
“Invite the Dragon’s Flowers active in the Dragon War to the Dragon Palace. Invite them not as my children… but as guests who have made Khan better.”
“Yes, I shall prepare a grand audience. However, I also worry that there may be conflicts between them, Your Majesty.”
“No need to intervene if there is. Those who aren’t able to handle even such simple problems won’t be able to achieve anything at all.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
* * *
Bubble bubble…
Bubbles surfaced in the steaming water.
“You really were able to recover.”
“I told you, didn’t I?!” shouted Chi Woo. “The Lang Tribe’s body is different from a human's! We can heal in an instant. What do you think, huh?! Hahaha!”
Chi Woo then stole a glance at Seol.
“Ha… Ha… Shit…”
Though Seol was not a member of the Lang Tribe, his body was spotless, as if the difficult fight he had just endured was a lie.
In fact, no one would suspect from his appearance that he had fought Phantom.
“Thank you, Chi Woo.”
“...Hmph.”
“Where’s Bang Jae?”
“Maybe he doesn’t like warm water? That’s probably why he’s so cold, right? A man should know how to enjoy hot springs like this.”
Seol and Chi Woo both relaxed their bodies in the open-air bath.
Due to Phantom’s revival, the Dragon War had been temporarily halted. The archivists instructed them to rest here until further notice.
“Argh… hot.”
“Haah…”
Seol couldn’t help but chuckle after hearing Chi Woo sigh like an old man.
‘Well, I guess it’s been a while for me as well?’
As Seol slowly eased into the hot spring, his mind began to grow hazy.
Bubble bubble…
Seol noticed the water bubbling around him.
[Abwhuwuu…]
Splash…
Agony then popped up from the water.
“...What are you doing?”
[Three minutes! I lasted three minutes!]
“...that’s incredible.”
Though Seol said that to be nice, there was another person here as well.
“What the hell?! Someone as small as you lasted a whole three minutes underwater?”
[I’m pretty big for an Agony, I’ll have you know!]
“Are there more Agonys…?”
[Nope, Agony is just me. That’s why I can also set the averages to just myself.]
It was ridiculous logic.
However, it was also Chi Woo.
“Hm, I see. So you aren’t that small, huh? But I’m the king of holding my breath underwater! Three minutes? I can last for five!”
[Try it if you can! I’ll also update my record!]
Splash…
Seol let out a sigh as the two began their breath-holding contest.
He still had yet to check the items he acquired from this Adventure. While one of the reasons was being called here and there because of Phantom, it was also because he was allowed a moment to rest.
‘Still, I should check them before the next trial.’
If Seol were at the beginning of the Dragon Trial, he would have set everything aside to check on them immediately. Back then, he had only himself and needed to do anything to become quickly stronger.
‘But not anymore.’
Drip…
Seol hung his hand outside of the spring and looked into the distance.
He still couldn’t believe that he defeated Phantom alone.
He then wondered if he had ever been through so much pain. Even though he had already died once, the battle with Phantom was much more painful.
‘I’ve gained a lot, though.’
Though Seol had yet to confirm all of his rewards, they were insignificant compared to what he had already earned.
‘I can’t believe I unlocked two Exceptional Skills…’
Seol had awakened both Asura’s Sixth Sense and Darklight.
Asura’s Sixth Sense was just another way of saying that Seol now had extrasensory perception.
It almost felt as if his skin had spread out like a massive parasol.
And whatever entered his senses, it felt as though Seol could read every detail about them.
Would anyone be able to ambush him after entering his domain?
Seol shook his head.
There was a reason why the passive skill had been deemed to be an Exceptional Skill.
He had also gained Darklight, an attack skill.
While Night Sea was a skill that struck a large radius all at once, Darklight worked through that opening to deliver a powerful attack. Darklight had also already proven its power by being able to deal the final blow to Phantom.
With these two skills, Seol had changed directions entirely. He was no longer a summoner incapable of summoning, he was now a summoner who was also good at summoning.
- I can’t believe someone who couldn’t do anything without his summons grew this much!
- He’s punching everything now!
- Seriously, it feels like watching a living legend, lol
- Karen, Ur, Jamad, I miss you…
- Huh? Who?
Seol then exited the hot spring, leaving the two still underwater to themselves.
Though Seol had stepped out to enjoy the night air, the cool breeze flowed through his clothes.
Still, he felt a bit... stuffy.
It was peaceful, yet something continued to worry him.
As Seol pondered for a while, searching for the right way to describe his feelings, he eventually nodded in understanding.
‘It’s because they haven’t returned yet.’
Seol still felt empty with his summons missing.
And it wasn’t as if Karuna could do everything on his own.
“I’m disappointed, Ur… did I expect too much from you?”
And at that exact moment, a voice popped into Seol’s head.
- Hey.
“...What?”
It wasn’t Karuna’s voice.
- Hey.
“...Ur?”
- Can you hear me?
It was undoubtedly Ur.
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