Chapter 499: Side Story 19 Baek Sang-ah’s Melancholy

The Age of Antiquity—no, even further back than that.

A time when humanity had yet to bloom into civilization, still crawling at the bottom of the hierarchical ladder.

An era so ancient that beings capable of twisting the flow of rivers and altering the climate were so numerous they might trip over one another.

Even in that era, often referred to as the Mythic Era, Eungnyong had already made a name as one of the most powerful Divine Beasts, looking down upon all creation.

The ferocity of Gunggi, the chaos of Disorder, the insidiousness of Do’ol, and even the cruelty of Docheol…

None of the Four Atrocities could so much as reach Eungnyong in his prime.

And yet—even Eungnyong could not match the grandeur of two beings hailed as True Gods.

At some point, Eungnyong’s goal had shifted to surpassing those two.

Of course, he never expressed such thoughts outwardly.

Partially because those two dwelled in a sacred realm untouchable by lesser beings—but more than anything, the one who governed the heavens never forgave those who opposed them.

“Have you come, my friend?”

—…What is that form?

Floating in the sky, Eungnyong blinked at the sight of a small, frail-looking being gazing up at him.

The one he had come to meet should’ve been a Titan—a god among gods, dwelling closer to the stars than any other. Certainly not something this insignificant, smaller than an insect.

With displeasure clouding his face, Eungnyong scrutinized the being on the ground.

—If I’m not mistaken… isn’t that the human vermin race?

“Quite right. Human. A female one, at that.”

—…Your tastes are peculiar. Are all gods like this?

For a supreme god to take the form of the lowliest race—and to specify its gender, no less.

Eungnyong couldn’t understand the other’s preferences at all.

The other simply chuckled.

“Don’t be like that. One day… this race will seize the hegemony of the world.”

Flinch!

Eungnyong’s aura abruptly hardened.

He could not ignore such a statement—especially knowing well that these kinds of offhanded prophecies were almost always absolute.

—Even if it’s far into the future, is that really plausible?

“Heh, what can we do if that’s the future I’ve seen?”

—Nonsense! Aren’t you the ones who hold the power to weave the threads of that future?! A future so unacceptable that even Heavenly Evil would reject it—shouldn’t you be able to change it at will?

Despite Eungnyong’s reprimand, the being in the form of a human female—Jiseong, the Earth Saint—only smiled gently.

“Every age changes eventually, Eungnyong.”

The dominant race of this world would change.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

After all, they were speaking of a distant future—by then, the Divine Beasts, himself included, would likely have ascended to the Higher Realm.

“Well, it’s a far-off concern. But for someone like you, who dreams of ascension, it might become a rather serious issue.”

—……

“For the sake of your efforts, let me offer one piece of advice.”

Jiseong’s expression turned meaningful.

“Don’t get too attached. Obsession is bad for your skin, you know.”

A tone that seemed to say: “It’s easier if you just give up.”

As if she were offering advice, expecting him to eventually lose.

Eungnyong didn’t take kindly to that.

—…That would be the same as abandoning who I am.

“Is that so?”

—What you’re describing… I can’t easily picture it, but regardless, my purpose will not change.

Memories from a distant past—so far gone even a Divine Beast like him could barely recall them.

In those memories, Eungnyong reaffirmed his conviction as though brainwashing himself.

—I will struggle to the very end. For myself, and for all of us.

How?

Even as his throat was pierced, Eungnyong still couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

This was his domain. Unlike the false domains clumsily erected by mortals using Qi and intent, this was a True Temple of All Gods—where he could wield the entirety of his divine power!

Staring into Eungnyong’s bloodshot eyes, So Cheon let out a twisted grin.

“They say somewhere on a dragon’s nape is a scale grown in reverse. Wonder if I hit it just right?”

“You… how…?”

So Cheon gave no answer, only twisting the blade in deeper.

“Of course, I can’t take you down that easily. But the blow should’ve landed properly, no?”

Furious, Eungnyong lashed out.

Flash!

BOOOOOM!

A massive claw summoned by Eungnyong crashed down toward So Cheon.

As the ground where So Cheon had stood moments before was obliterated, Baek Sang-ah screamed.

“S-So Cheon!”

Thud!

The legs she barely managed to stand on gave out.

There was something off about that claw.

It carved away space itself—silently, without warning or aftershock.

Even if the ambush had succeeded, So Cheon had been gravely wounded. There was no way he could’ve dodged that last strike.

“N-no… So Cheon… So Cheon!”

Just as Baek Sang-ah cried out his name in desperation—

“You called?”

“…?!”

A playful voice rang out from behind her.

Baek Sang-ah could only echo the words Eungnyong had spoken moments before, dumbfounded.

“…How?”

His body may have been tattered, but his Qi hadn’t faded.

So Cheon had clearly been struck by Eungnyong’s attack and disappeared without a trace.

Yet here he was, as if the entire thing had been a prank—standing behind her, having deceived all her senses.

With a wry smile, So Cheon stood beside her.

“You’re the one who’s worse off. Why are you worrying about me?”

“……”

To her dazed face, So Cheon offered his hand.

“Can you stand?”

“…Somehow.”

Regaining her senses, Baek Sang-ah took his outstretched hand.

Squeeze!

Their palms pressed together.

‘……Huh?’

In that instant, an emotion too vast to describe erupted from within her.

‘It’s… warm.’

The energy of the Phoenix had also been warm, but this was fundamentally different.

Never before had warmth reached her so closely and so deeply.

‘Why? Why is this…?’

Even as she stood up, Baek Sang-ah was confused, unable to understand the source of this emotion.

Whether it was swordsmanship or anything else—once a martial artist surpassed the Flower Realm, they rarely felt strong emotions beyond the path of martiality they pursued.

And the further one climbed toward ascension, the more the heart transformed, becoming indifferent to ordinary emotions.

Yet this fluttering emotion—it was like she was a novice again, holding a sword for the first time…

“…Unbelievable.”

Even as So Cheon helped Baek Sang-ah up, Eungnyong did not make another move.

He only held his throat and glared at So Cheon in a state of extreme alert.

“For a mere human to cross through Void Between Realities…”

“Void Between Realities?”

Eungnyong spoke to the puzzled Baek Sang-ah.

“Void Between Realities is an absolute space that denies the entry of life. No—it can’t even be called ‘space’ to begin with.”

With a look that seemed to behold something incomprehensible, Eungnyong stared intently at So Cheon.

“To be able to open the gate to Void Between Realities, and even escape into it… Not even Jin Yeomyung could do such a thing. Just how was that possible?”

So Cheon tilted his head.

“No idea.”

“…What?”

“I heard from Myeong that there’s a place called Void Between Realities or whatever… but this is actually my first time pulling it off.”

“……”

“I just… did it, you know?”

The response was so absurd, Eungnyong’s mouth hung open slightly.

But So Cheon had some justification, too.

An absolute, invincible evasion that could even avoid techniques on the level of Divine Sorcery.

If he’d been able to use it from the start, Baek Sang-ah wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.

He’d only heard from Jin Yeomyung—as a comrade and close friend—that there existed such a dangerous space.

The fact that he could open it and even use it with Ten Thousand Phase Tai Chi was nothing more than a comedic miracle produced by that fickle thing called ‘chance.’

“So this era’s anomaly wasn’t just that man.”

“Huh?”

“No matter. It changes nothing.”

Flash!

Eungnyong’s body began to transform.

Shedding his human shell, he returned to his original form as a dragon.

There was no failed transformation like with a Yeonggwi.

Calmly—and in the blink of an eye—Eungnyong became a golden dragon, spreading across the sky.

His body spanned over ten jang.

“…Hmm.”

So Cheon looked at Eungnyong with a strange expression.

“…Smaller than I expected.”

“……”

Though she said nothing, Baek Sang-ah silently agreed.

Ten jang was by no means small, but beasts that size had swarmed near Taesan in the late days of the great war.

Of course, in terms of power, there was no comparison—but for a commander of spirits unleashing full strength…

—Naturally. This form isn’t even one-hundredth the size of my former prime.

At his peak, Eungnyong may not have rivaled Heavenly Evil or Jiseong in scale, but even a mere twist of his body could erase a human city without a trace.

Compared to that, his current state was indeed a pitiful remnant of his former self.

—But worry not. At the very least, my power and authority are near what they once were.

Eungnyong opened his mouth wide.

—Like so.

“Move, my lady!”

The moment she glimpsed a dazzling Yeouiju glowing inside Eungnyong’s jaws—

So Cheon’s instincts screamed in alarm.

‘Damn it!’

There was no way someone as utterly drained as Baek Sang-ah could handle that.

He wanted to escape with her into Void Between Realities, but the technique wasn’t so conveniently usable.

A single mistake and Baek Sang-ah’s very existence might be devoured by Void Between Realities and erased.

Maybe once he was more proficient… but right now…!

Squeeze!

Suddenly, Baek Sang-ah buried her face into So Cheon’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“My lady?!”

Such a fierce act of affection was… quite delightful—but now was hardly the time to enjoy it.

‘I’ll just have to do something…!’

The beam that Gunggi once fired from his mouth—this was similar, yet different.

This was the true origin—the pinnacle. A type of Divine Sorcery imbued with overwhelming authority.

Then it happened.

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, crimson wings like burning fire unfurled behind Baek Sang-ah.

—…!!

The enormous wings gently enveloped both Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon’s forms.

—Phoenix! Even now—!!

Eungnyong roared in fury.

He’d found it odd that the energy he could absorb had been so sparse—only to be blindsided like this yet again!

BOOOOM!

Eungnyong’s breath attack crashed down upon Baek Sang-ah and So Cheon.

It pierced the place where the Phoenix had been reborn and traced a destructive, straight line toward the distance.

But—

Eungnyong’s strike, which he had believed capable of overwhelming even Jin Yeomyung’s Underworld Net Sword, was nullified—by the betrayal of the comrade who once sought his peace.

As scorching white flames melted everything indiscriminately around them,

Baek Sang-ah, still cradled in So Cheon’s arms, looked up.

“I’ll try to hold this side off, somehow. So…”

She gazed up at So Cheon with a slightly weary face.

“You’ll finish it… right?”

So Cheon understood exactly what she meant.

Far in the distance—hidden subtly behind Eungnyong’s massive head—his inner nape.

There, embedded, was a small black dagger that So Cheon had driven in.

His role was to use that dagger to completely split open Eungnyong’s reverse scale, which was already half-torn.

To that question, So Cheon countered with one of his own.

“If I make it back alive, will you marry me?”

Baek Sang-ah let out a hollow laugh.

“Someone once said… that making such remarks in a situation like this is no different than signing your own death sentence…”

She had already intended to, once this was over.

So Cheon knew that, too—yet bringing it up now was likely his way of expressing his resolve.

So, those words weren’t some self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Well, fine. Let’s get married.”

Her finger touched the corner of So Cheon’s lips.

It would’ve been fitting to share a kiss in this moment, but there was no way Eungnyong would just stand by and watch that.

“I’ll be back soon.”

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