Chapter 007. Hunt (3)
Dam Jeok-san drew up all the internal energy contained in his dantian.
VROOOM!!
The genuine qi of the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art raced along the meridians.
But unlike the grandiose start, the process ended quickly.
Because Dam Jeok-san didn't have much internal energy to draw up in the first place.
‘Is this the limit.’
Dam Jeok-san clicked his tongue briefly.
If only he had sufficient internal energy, he could have cut down even a Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake with a single sword strike.
‘Still, since I obtained the ability of Predation…….’
If it's in the North where monsters are literally swarming, he will be able to recover his old martial prowess before long.
And the ability of Predation will be of sufficient help in advancing to an untrodden realm.
It is basic that internal energy accumulates endlessly every time he eliminates a monster. Although he cannot expect luck every time, he might encounter an unexpected miraculous encounter like when he predated on the sword last time.
Of course, he would have to be very alert not to be devoured by that miraculous encounter in return.
‘Well, that’s something to worry about when the time comes.’
Dam Jeok-san shook off his thoughts and gripped his sword tightly.
Now he had to sharpen his senses acutely and engage in the fight with the mindset that he should not allow any carelessness.
Like a hunter waiting vigilantly for the most perfect opportunity.
Grrrrr―
The Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake wriggled its huge body and approached toward Dam Jeok-san.
Human flesh and fresh blood were dripping from its yellowish fangs, and every time its giant tail moved once, large trees snapped completely with a cracking sound.
Moreover, it was even emitting thick demonic energy to the point where it was hard to breathe.
Although it had wounds here and there, it was a majestic appearance that wouldn't be strange if an ordinary human fainted the moment they encountered it.
However, in Dam Jeok-san's eyes, who had a lot of experience dealing with monsters, it looked completely different.
Flesh stuck in the teeth of a snake-type monster, which prefers to swallow prey whole, is a sign that it is tired.
The fact that it couldn't control its body properly and was destroying the surroundings wildly was also the same.
The most decisive thing is the thick demonic energy making it hard to breathe.
Although it emitted powerful demonic energy at first, it wasn't to this extent.
This is proof that the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake is losing control over the demonic energy harbored within its body.
It was a result created by the hunting dogs of the Iron Blood Woo Clan burning their lives unsparingly.
Still, the opponent is a monster possessing vastly more power than Dam Jeok-san.
As expected.
Deep blue venom spewed out from the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's poison gland.
SPLAAASH!!
The sticky venom rushed toward Dam Jeok-san like a single spear.
A speed faster than expected.
However, Dam Jeok-san was already standing outside the trajectory where the poison was striking down.
Because he predicted the path of where the poison would fly through the Predator's Eye.
Hiss!
The ground where the poison was scattered helplessly soon had its grass burnt and the soil dried up. Truly terrifying toxicity.
But as if that was only a probing attack, the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake repeatedly shot venom toward Dam Jeok-san.
Each time, Dam Jeok-san evaded a step ahead every single time.
The moment the guy, judging that this wouldn't do, lowered its head and tried to engage in hand-to-hand combat with Dam Jeok-san―
Ta-at!!
He stomped his foot strongly and leaped into the air.
―!!
For a moment, an unusual glint dwelt in the only remaining eye of the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake.
The guy, seemingly thinking that Dam Jeok-san's feet leaving the ground was an opportunity, opened its maw wide and spewed out venom once again.
This time, an amount of poison incomparably larger than before was scattered into the air.
A level not strange to be called poison mist.
It seemed convinced that he couldn't dodge or block it.
“Is it as expected up to here.”
A carefree tone unsuitable for a desperate situation.
Before he knew it, a strand of wind dwelt in his sword. Sword wind realized by consuming more than half of the drawn-up internal energy.
The moment he swung the sword, the wind that was merely a single strand transformed into a violent gale.
WHOOOOSH!!
The sword wind Dam Jeok-san raised changed the direction of the scattering poison mist to the exact opposite.
The deep blue poison mist struck the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's face in an instant.
Sizzle!
Most of the venom couldn't go further than slightly scorching the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's scales.
But what Dam Jeok-san aimed for wasn't that part from the beginning.
The venom swept by the sword wind continued to stretch out and splashed onto the guy's only remaining eye.
―!!
The Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake, temporarily losing its sight, let out a scream.
Taking advantage of that opportunity, Dam Jeok-san stepped on the wide-open lower jaw and pierced his sword into the roof of its mouth.
And using that as a support, he leaped up lightly.
Then, as he kicked the sword hilt with his foot imbued with internal energy, the Sky Thunder dug in even deeper. The blade that pierced through the scales and came up. Dam Jeok-san, who pulled the sword back out, stood on the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's head with just a few leaps.
Roar!!
The Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake revealed a perplexed look and shook its head wildly, but it was not enough to shake off Dam Jeok-san.
As the guy's perplexity grew, demonic energy flowed out more vigorously into the air.
It was to the point where it was hard to distinguish whether what he was inhaling was air or demonic energy. A level where it wouldn't be strange for a martial artist with shallow internal energy to faint.
But Dam Jeok-san was different.
On the contrary, he felt more vitality circulating as the demonic energy became thicker.
The ability of Predation seemed specialized in exterminating monsters beyond what Dam Jeok-san thought.
He felt confident that he could throw a winning move now.
Thinking that this was the last, he poured all his internal energy into a single sword strike.
Cough―
Perhaps because he overexerted himself, fishy blood rose from his throat, but Dam Jeok-san ignored it and poured out internal energy even more violently.
“Let’s end it.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered so and plunged the sword honestly from top to bottom.
The moment the sword tip holding the squeezed internal energy touched the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's head―
A bright light covering the entire sword burst out.
Fwoosh!!
That light bloomed like a flower, and eventually blazed like a flame.
The blazing flame burned the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's scales and incinerated its bones.
“Sword Flame……!”
A low exclamation burst out from Gyeong-won's mouth, who was watching Dam Jeok-san's fight while holding the child.
Sword Flame is an art that shapes sword qi into the form of a blazing flame. Something only a few who look at the wall of super peak among peak masters can achieve.
Of course, Dam Jeok-san before losing his dantian could also use Sword Flame, but…….
“To think it is possible even now.”
Gyeong-won muttered in a voice mixed with admiration.
Is he really the man who lost everything as a martial artist until a few days ago? At this rate, the resolve to run anytime if Dam Jeok-san fell into danger is put to shame.
The brilliantly blazing flame of sword qi steadily burned away the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's life.
around the time that flame was slowly dying out.
“It’s over.”
Dam Jeok-san sensed that the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake had become as good as dead.
Since the hunt is over, it is time for the harvest.
A sensation as if something was wriggling up was felt from the sword that dug deep into the monster's head.
[Will you start Predation?]
Dam Jeok-san quietly nodded inwardly.
Then he felt an unknown, unprecedented energy wriggling in his body.
Something he didn't detect during the first Predation.
But now, having formed a dantian and his senses sharpened again, he could perceive it clearly.
Dam Jeok-san noticed that this was the fundamental force causing the phenomenon called ‘Predation’.
And the fact that he could control the phenomenon called Predation through this also came to mind very naturally.
As if he knew it originally.
Dam Jeok-san projected his will onto the unprecedented energy.
Predate, but the process must not be revealed externally.
According to his will, the unprecedented energy entwined the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake in a transparent state.
Crunch crunch―
He could clearly feel the unprecedented energy chewing and swallowing the demonic energy.
And that demonic energy poured into Dam Jeok-san's body.
The first thing felt the moment the demonic energy poured in was unfiltered thoughts.
The despair felt while being raised by the Iron Blood Woo Clan's hunting dogs. The liberation felt the moment it was released from there and slaughtered freely.
And the hatred and anger toward living humans unique to monsters.
However, such thoughts could not affect Dam Jeok-san significantly.
That was precisely.
Because the fear at the moment Dam Jeok-san took the guy's life was the biggest piece forming the guy's thoughts.
In other words, the guy's thoughts had already knelt once before Dam Jeok-san.
The grudge the thoughts vomited could no longer have any influence on Dam Jeok-san.
Because it was merely the dying scream of a loser.
Dam Jeok-san swallowed all the endlessly pouring demonic energy.
Immense energy was overflowing in the acupoints of his whole body as if he had taken spiritual medicine.
“Phew…….”
Dam Jeok-san exhaled a long breath and steadied his breathing.
The energy overflowing in the acupoints slowly flocked to the dantian.
The demonic energy ‘predated’ by the ability was no longer demonic energy but had transformed into genuine qi that Dam Jeok-san could handle.
Soon, a notification that Predation was complete brushed past Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
Although the ability itself didn't grow like before, Dam Jeok-san was not disappointed.
Because the genuine qi dwelling in his dantian was deeper than he thought.
‘At this level, it’s a level that would take a full half-year of accumulating merit even with the Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art.’
The Extreme Heaven Sovereign Destruction Art has a fast speed of accumulating qi, almost close to demonic arts, in exchange for a high risk of qi deviation.
So, it means internal energy of a level that would take almost 1 year to accumulate with the divine arts of orthodox sects was accumulated at once.
‘It is beyond imagination.’
With this amount of accumulated qi, he would be able to fight while maintaining sword qi for nearly a quarter of an hour.
With this, it can be said that he has the minimum qualifications to endure on the harsh front lines of the North.
Well, really minimal though.
Even this, how great is it? It is a much better situation than falling into the Northern front lines without a single handful of internal energy.
Moreover, as long as he has the ability of Predation.
The day when the absolute amount of accumulated qi, which has been his weakness, becomes his most powerful weapon is not far away.
Thinking so, Dam Jeok-san withdrew his sword and leaped lightly from the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's body.
The corpse of the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake, dried and twisted to the point where the outline of bones could be seen as the demonic energy was sucked out, also sprawled on the ground.
Dam Jeok-san, watching that scene, felt strength draining from his body.
He pierced his sword into the ground and forcibly fixed his staggering body.
“Young Master! Are you alright?”
Gyeong-won ran out with a startled look and asked.
“Yeah, no need to make a fuss.”
Dam Jeok-san said, spitting out a lump of black dead blood from his mouth.
“It’s just because I drew out excessive internal energy.”
His eyes, wiping the blood on his mouth, even looked somewhat relieved.
He raised sword wind with internal energy the size of a millet seed, and even ignited sword flame at the end.
If he hadn't sucked in demonic energy through the ability of Predation, he would have fainted right away.
Still, exhaustion was unavoidable. Dam Jeok-san was still catching his breath leaning his body on a single sword.
‘Still, I did it.’
Didn't he execute the monster and take its power.
And even saved the child trapped here.
Dam Jeok-san thought while looking at the girl sleeping soundly in Gyeong-won's arms.
Seeing that child made his heart uncomfortable for no reason.
If he hadn't overlooked the Iron Blood Woo Clan's evil deeds, he might have been able to save that child's family.
Although it is a meaningless assumption now.
Dam Jeok-san intended not to turn his eyes away from such responsibilities.
Dam Jeok-san's eyes, having glanced at the child, slowly headed far away.
All he can see is the pitch-black night sky.
No, it was the dusky sky where dawn was slowly beginning to break.
Nothing was visible there except for faint moonlight and clouds floating around it.
But Dam Jeok-san was certain.
The fact that his master, the Martial Sovereign, would be watching this place.
“Did you see?”
Even Dam Jeok-san, who asked so, did not know.
What kind of turbulence arose in the heart of the Martial Sovereign who watched this fight.