Chapter 92 – Placing the Accent (5)

When Se-min declared the Crane Wing Formation, the soldiers stopped what they were doing, stood up hesitantly, and turned their bodies toward Se-min and the unidentified man.

[…….]

Numerous soldiers surrounded the two.

[Is it your intention to show off your power to everyone?]

The man spoke. Every time he spoke, the growl characteristic of magic beasts leaked out.

Although it was hard to see because he was wearing a robe, he was definitely closer to a magic beast than a human.

[Quite a thought befitting a novice.]

The man emitted a black aura.

The momentum emanating from his body was insidious and powerful. Indeed, as they drew closer to Badurbarok, stronger guys were appearing.

Se-min carefully examined the man.

He had been in a bad mood ever since facing this man. It felt like something was caught in his chest.

Se-min struggled to find the origin of that ominous feeling, pointing Lupus at the man before his eyes.

“We think alike. That is indeed a novice-like behavior.”

[……?]

“Earlier, I deployed the Crane Wing Formation for my subordinate. Now is different.”

Se-min raised his hand that was not holding Lupus high into the sky.

“Entire army, attack this guy!”

[What…?]

“Surround this guy and beat him up to show our anger!”

When Se-min declared so, Kubar, Kaorak, and Shozen stepped forward first. Their momentum was terrifying. The man took a step back without realizing it.

However, Germanos and the knights were already occupying the rear. The man was trapped in an encirclement.

[Wait.]

“I do not do novice-like things. Because I am the Emperor.”

[How cowardly…]

“This is the true power of the Crane Wing Formation.”

Besides them, knights of repute and forces of gladiator origin came forward and surrounded him. There were also familiar faces seen in the gladiatorial arena.

Se-min nodded in satisfaction and then sent a signal.

Kubar threw a punch first. The man avoided Kubar’s attack and then swung the staff in his hand. Kubar took a hit and staggered. But in the meantime, Shozen swung his sword and slashed the man.

[Urgh!]

Indeed, there was no match for a group beating. Germanos’s sword energy struck him without rest. The knights launched a concentrated barrage, each in their own way.

One hand could not cope with many hands. In the end, he ended up in a position of being beaten continuously while curled up.

[You bastards!]

Then at some point, black current soared from his body. Se-min flinched for a moment. It was an energy that could make those surrounding the guy in danger if he was not careful.

Se-min pushed them back and stepped forward.

The guy was exuding a more dangerous aura than before.

[I was going to leave peacefully if you just handed over that guy.]

“Before that, what is Badurbarok thinking? Did you by any chance do something wrong to Badurbarok? Otherwise, there is no way he would send you to me alone.”

[You overrate yourself.]

“It’s not me.”

Se-min grinned.

“It is you who are overrating yourself.”

Aura boiled up from Se-min’s body.

Having witnessed Imuncazer’s phenomenal breath, he obtained a hint about a new realm of the Cosmic Flow. He was in a state of being anxious to test it himself. Se-min walked forward without hesitation.

Aura wavered from the man’s body again. Se-min furrowed his brows while lifting Lupus. For some reason, he felt a sense of déjà vu.

Se-min searched his memory. Had there been such a sight in the past? Avoiding the flying attacks, Se-min tilted his head.

However, there was no more time to think.

The man was definitely strong. He was stronger than Han Su-in or neck-and-neck. However, Se-min was now confident that he could suppress this level.

The attacks of the two clashed against each other.

It was fast enough that ordinary soldiers would not even be able to recognize what was happening.

Their figures became faint forms and flashed here and there. Every time they did, an ear-splitting sound of tearing air arose.

However, the chance of victory gradually tilted toward Se-min.

Se-min slashed one of his arms with his sword. Black blood erupted. However, the man, who possessed a body no different from a magic beast, created a new arm in an instant.

Se-min sneered.

“If I cut you in half the same way, do you become two?”

The man did not answer and rushed at Se-min. Se-min parried his attack. The two crossed path.

It was the moment Se-min was about to pursue him and deliver a strike.

“Your Majesty!”

Someone called him. When Se-min looked back, Han Su-in had untied the rope and was fleeing before he knew it.

“What?”

Se-min wanted to pursue Han Su-in, but the opponent in front of him did not let him go.

While he was distracted, the staff found Se-min’s gap and thrust in. Se-min avoided everything and heated up his aura further to load the power of the Cosmic Flow.

And he flew that power toward Han Su-in.

However, Han Su-in soared high into the sky, escaping Se-min’s attack radius. The knights who watched the fight between Se-min and the man ran pursuing Han Su-in, but when he swung his arm widely, they were all sprawled on the ground.

[Just you wait, Lee Se-min.]

Han Su-in’s voice echoed.

Clicking his tongue, Se-min turned his head toward the opponent he was facing. However, he was also already fleeing.

The encirclement was dismantled while pursuing Han Su-in, and in the meantime, the man could also escape from Se-min.

He ended up losing both of them in vain.

Se-min slung Lupus on his shoulder and stared at the backs of the two.

“We are sorry.”

Shozen approached and apologized. Se-min shook his head.

“No. I did not think that he could cut that rope.”

Biryu was examining the broken rope in his hand.

“How did this happen?”

“It was cut.”

“He shouldn’t be able to use power because of the rope?”

Biryu shrugged.

“The man from earlier might have shot sword energy while fighting Your Majesty.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

Se-min decided to look on the bright side. It was a relationship to meet again while fighting Badurbarok anyway. He could just capture and kill them then.

Se-min conveyed his intention to the soldiers through Biryu.

“It was an excellent Crane Wing Formation. Since we had a great victory today, everyone rest well. I, the Emperor, commend you all.”

Once again, the slogan of long live His Majesty the Emperor echoed among the soldiers. Se-min looked at them and nodded in satisfaction.

***

The campfire burned down.

Se-min reflected on the events of the day while looking at the flames.

After seeing that unidentified man who came to rescue Han Su-in, his chest remained uncomfortable. He wanted to find the reason but could hardly know.

“What are you doing?”

Kaorak came and sat down.

“Can you call the dragon we saw during the day again?”

“I won’t be able to call him again.”

“You called a human before, and today you call a dragon.”

Kaorak placed skewers on the campfire and began to roast them, though it was unknown where he obtained them. When Se-min reached out his hand, he shared one.

“Can you do more of that?”

“It probably won’t work in the future.”

Se-min to give help to Se-min were Ferzen and Imuncazer.

If he begged for help in a desperate crisis, one or two more might appear, but nothing was fixed.

In the first place, coming over to another dimension and using power itself consumes too many points. There were not many transcendents who possessed that many points.

“So it will be difficult in the future.”

Kaorak nodded with a bitter expression.

“If only we could use that breath just one more time…”

“Give up. You have Izergazin who is close to your race. Tell him to use his breath.”

“That guy is untrustworthy. His size is small, and if he could use that level of power, he wouldn’t have been hunted by you humans in the first place.”

“That is true.”

Although they were both dragons, their dimensions were different, and their achieved realms were different. Comparing the two was like comparing an ordinary human to a transcendent.

“How did you get such an ability?”

“Are you curious?”

“Isn’t that obvious? It was the same before, but today I was truly startled. Keekeekeek.”

Kaorak looked at the sky as if recalling the event of the day.

A dragon appeared up there and spewed a breath, and then the entire magic beasts that filled the earth vanished.

“If such an existence could continue to be with us, there would be a chance of winning this war too.”

“A chance of winning.”

Se-min looked at Kaorak. He originally worked under Badurbarok. He would be the one who knew best about Badurbarok and their army here.

Se-min asked Kaorak.

“Have you ever been to Badurbarok?”

“I didn’t see him. Only those in high positions could see him. I was not at that level.”

“Is he strong?”

“He is strong.”

Kaorak answered without hesitation.

“He is probably stronger than the dragon we saw during the day.”

Se-min stared at Kaorak. He wanted to refute Kaorak’s words, but thought it might be true.

If the fact that Badurbarok could invade dimensions was thanks to the Primordial Core of the former Heavenly Demon, who was his grandmaster, how did the guy obtain it?

The probability of harming the former Heavenly Demon and stealing it was the highest.

Crossing dimensions was impossible for other transcendents as well. Borrowing the power of the Transcendent Network to consume massive points and manifest temporarily was all they could do.

However, the Primordial Core allows free movement across dimensions. Having obtained the Primordial Core would correspond to obtaining that much strong power.

It was equivalent to someone strong enough to defeat a transcendent gaining that much more power.

“Emperor, you have not seen Badurbarok’s true power.”

“Kaorak’s voice grew low. He waved the skewer in his hand back and forth, then took a bite.

Se-min tried to do the same, but waited because the meat was undercooked. Gradually, the surface became scorched by the fire. A delicious smell arose.

“The magic beasts we saw during the day are merely a fraction.”

“Surely there aren’t that many more magic beasts?”

“There will be more.”

“Are you sure?”

“As far as I know, yes. More magic beasts might come over from his original dimension.”

At Kaorak’s words, Se-min furrowed his brows and chewed and swallowed the meat that was not even fully cooked. It was delicious even when undercooked.

Se-min said, waving his skewer.

“Did you see?”

“See what?”

“Me eating undercooked meat at once.”

“How barbaric.”

“That is not the important part. What is important is that it was sufficiently delicious even though I ate it undercooked.”

Se-min began to spout his nonsense philosophy.

“This meat represents us. We are in an undercooked state just like this meat. Compared to Badurbarok, that is. Nevertheless, the fact that it is very delicious is what’s important. Just as it doesn’t have to be fully cooked to be eaten, it means that even if we are a bit lacking, we can beat that Badurbarok bastard to death at once.”

“You win at nonsense.”

“I will win the fight too.”

Kaorak chuckled.

“Yes, we must win.”

Soon, Kubar, Shozen, and Biryu walked toward the campfire. They also held a skewer in their hands.

It was said that Kubar found and hunted some Kouds, then made them into skewers and distributed them.

Shozen said.

“It is said the goblins arrived first. Currently, they cleared the magic beasts and established a camp.”

“As expected of goblins. Orcs are slow as turtles.”

When Kaorak spoke while looking at Kubar, Kubar snorted.

“Quiet.”

Shozen continued.

“The other races will arrive soon too. We might be the last.”

“Good, good.”

Se-min’s face brightened.

Thinking of the other four races, his mind grew comfortable again.

Not to mention the goblins with the dragon, if the Elder Orc, the mysterious troll sage, the near-demigod ogres, and Gru joined forces, there was a chance of winning.

It was at that time.

“Your Majesty!”

A soldier ran over. After bowing politely, he continued.

“Badurbarok sent an envoy.”

“An envoy?”

“Yes. Shall we let him in?”

“What is that?”

Se-min rose from his seat. It was the first time Badurbarok did a diplomatic act such as sending an envoy to Se-min.

They did nothing but fight.

“Tell him to come. Is he alone?”

“Yes. He is alone.”

“Alright.”

The soldier ran back.

Everyone looked at each other.

“He said Badurbarok sent an envoy?”

“It is strange.”

Soon, the envoy appeared.

Seeing the opponent’s appearance, Se-min was lost for words.

For some reason, it made no sense for Badurbarok to send an envoy.

“Lord Badurbarok…”

The opponent was a human. Not a complete human, but half-transformed into a magic beast, with their smell coming from the limbs. However, she clearly possessed an appearance close to a human.

“He commanded me to propose peace to the human Emperor.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Those standing around looked back and forth between Se-min and the envoy. They seemed to doubt Badurbarok’s true intention at the sudden news. Some even wore tempted expressions.

However, Se-min hardened his expression.

This was by no means a story about peace.

“What is your name?”

“Do you mean my name?”

The magic beast that came as Badurbarok’s envoy answered with a smile.

“Lord Badurbarok gave me the name Bang Yu-bi.”

“And how long has it been since you were born?”

“That is probably…”

She counted on her fingers.

The time she mentioned was roughly after he became the Emperor. Did Badurbarok foresee it would turn out like this since then?

The half-human, half-beast appearance was identical to Bang Yu-bi. However, she could not be alive. While fighting the disaster-grade magic beast goblin, he personally buried and burned her corpse. The thick smell of that day still seemed to hover inside his nose.

Looking at the imitation of Bang Yu-bi standing before his eyes, Se-min placed his fingertip on Lupus’s handle.

“What did Badurbarok say?”

“He does not want war, so he asks to come and speak directly. He said that if I went, the Emperor would fully understand his meaning and be very pleased, but is that true?”

Only the face was the same; the tone or the expressions she made were different from the Bang Yu-bi he knew. The voice was clumsily similar.

Se-min nodded.

“Badurbarok must know my answer.”

“As expected.”

Whether she took it as a positive meaning, she smiled brightly.

However, the answer Se-min would give was the exact opposite of what she imagined. Badurbarok already knew that as well.

Lifting Lupus, Se-min thought.

Was there any need for him to execute this ending that everyone knew?

Rather, sending this woman back peacefully would be unpleasant for Badurbarok. He could also show off his leisure while demonstrating that he was not agitated.

Of course, this woman would be killed by Badurbarok.

“Ah, that Badurbarok bastard…”

While gripping Lupus, Se-min swept his hair with his other hand. The surroundings grew tense at Se-min’s irritated expression, which was rarely seen. The magic beast blinked without knowing anything.

Shozen approached behind Se-min and whispered in his ear.

“Is there any problem?”

“There is.”

This was a provocation, not peace.

Se-min knew that fact.

However, the others did not know what this envoy meant. Se-min recalled several cases of numbers. In the end, however, there was always only one thing he had to do.

“Badurbarok.”

Se-min spoke toward the magic beast.

The guy knowing Bang Yu-bi meant that Badurbarok could share the vision of the magic beasts. Otherwise, he could not know Bang Yu-bi’s face and create such an imitation.

If so, had he been watching Se-min since then?

Or was remembering Bang Yu-bi a coincidence?

It was unknown.

“I understand your meaning well.”

Se-min raised Lupus. A dark red aura formed on it. An intense killing intent that destroyed everything was contained within the harmony of Tai Chi Wisdom.

The woman, failing to understand Se-min’s words, tilted her head. Se-min took a step forward just like that.

“You will see soon. You son of a bitch.”

Saying so, he slashed the magic beast as it was.

The aura formed on his sword tore the magic beast’s body into shreds, shattering it into pieces beyond recognition. The magic beast, turned into a handful of blood, collapsed on the ground.

At Se-min’s decision, some opened their eyes wide as if surprised, and some nodded as if expected.

However, no one asked Se-min for the reason.

In any case, everyone knew inwardly. They could not negotiate with Badurbarok. He was that kind of existence.

Looking down at the remains of the magic beast, Se-min washed off the blood on Lupus with aura.

“So you provoke me like this, huh…”

Se-min grinned.

***

Leading his troops, Se-min arrived at the point where they agreed to merge with the other races.

It was a riverside.

A massive river split the land in half and flowed solemnly in between. Se-min stationed the troops in a suitable place nearby.

“You said the goblins arrived first?”

Not a hair of them could be seen.

“How did this happen?”

Se-min stared at Kaorak as if demanding an explanation. He protested.

“Why do you ask me when I was with you?”

“You are a goblin.”

“Do you think goblins do telepathy or something! Ask Biryu instead!”

“Look at this guy, passing it to Biryu.”

“It is not passing it on, but extremely common sense…”

Having teased Kaorak, Se-min asked Biryu again. Drawing a magic circle on the ground, Biryu was attempting to contact the goblin shaman again with his eyes closed.

“What did he say?”

“He says they will come soon.”

“Come?”

Se-min tilted his head.

At that time, someone spoke to Se-min.

“Can’t you see the goblins?”

It was Kila. She appeared beside Se-min and stared somewhere across the river.

“Can’t I see them?”

“Yes.”

“Is there something over there?”

Se-min also turned his gaze in the direction Kila was looking and strained his eyes.

There was nothing. Just land and a wide plain were spread out.

“You still have a long way to go.”

Kila spoke mockingly. Se-min, feeling competitive for some reason, raised his aura and enhanced his vision. Nothing in particular was seen.

Kila spoke.

“It is not done in that way. Goblins are geniuses of trickery.”

She gathered magic power and made a round circle. She placed it to Se-min’s eye. Se-min could see another world beyond the window she created.

Across the river, a camp was visible a short distance away.

“What is that?”

“The goblins hid their location.”

Se-min looked through the window and also with his own eyes, comparing the two.

It was a mysterious thing. It was the same scenery, but in the world seen through Kila’s magic, the goblins’ camp was visible, and the appearance of goblins coming out from there was also visible.

A dragon soared from within the camp.

“Even Badurbarok won’t be able to do anything about it.”

“True.”

The reason why the goblins who arrived first stayed without any trouble must be thanks to this kind of sorcery.

Soon, a dragon appeared.

He crossed over the veil of the goblin shamans into the world everyone could see.

He landed in front of Se-min. A goblin was sitting behind his neck. He landed on the ground by riding the dragon’s body in a familiar posture.

“Long time no see.”

“Ah, you are…”

Se-min recalled his name. He was Calondo, the gangster boss of the Blue Droplet Tribe, the rival group of the Sawtooth Gangsters.

“Calondo.”

“You remember.”

“Of course I forgot, but looking at your shoulder brings it to mind.”

In his faint memory, he recalled that a cat had been on his shoulder. It was larger now than before. The cat cried on his shoulder.

“And this dragon?”

Although the dragon was small compared to Imuncazer, it was definitely much larger than a human or a goblin.

When Se-min looked up at the dragon and nodded his head, the dragon also greeted him with a nod.

“This is Temujincar. My partner.”

“Oh, impressive.”

“It is nothing.”

The goblins trained dragoon riders who paired up with dragons. Perhaps because he was a former gangster boss, Calondo showed talent in battle and had become a dragoon rider.

“How did you cross over?”

“We crossed over riding the dragons.”

“Give us a ride too.”

“Dragons do not carry other races. We only obtained the privilege because we protected them for a long time.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Cross over on your own.”

“Isn’t that too harsh for an alliance?”

“It is not harsh, but unavoidable. We cannot help it either. Badurbarok is over there, so I hope you cross over by all means.”

“Ugh, alright. Give my regards to Calpacino.”

“Then I will be waiting. You probably won’t see us until you cross the river.”

Calondo glanced at Kaorak. Kaorak waved his hand. He nodded, then climbed back onto Temujincar in a skilled posture.

“Then I will be waiting. You probably won’t see us until you cross the river.”

Then he flew up leisurely. The dragon flapped its wings and crossed the river, then soon seeped into the invisible territory of the goblins. The dragon’s shape seen just now disappeared as if it were a mirage.

For some reason, that appearance was irritating, but there was nothing the goblins could do either.

“We must cross the river.”

Se-min stared at the river.

What should they do for this many troops to cross the river? It was not a small stream, but a large river that seemed to require boats to cross.

Se-min stroked his chin.

“Let’s hold a meeting.”

At Se-min’s call, all the figures who could be considered the leadership gathered.

The companions who were with Se-min, as well as the heads of each noble family, Germanos, Kila, and the commanders leading the soldiers put their heads together.

“It would be difficult to build a bridge, right?”

“Let’s build boats and cross continuously.”

“By teaching the soldiers to swim…”

Various methods came out. Se-min also voiced an opinion.

“If I cross over and beat up those dragon bastards, wouldn’t they carry us on their own?”

However, common-sensical people opposed it.

“The alliance relationship could be shaken, Your Majesty.”

“Currently, we must not cause friction among ourselves.”

“It is time to unite forces. Please restrain yourself.”

The nobles seriously opposed. The atmosphere was not one to say it was a joke. So Se-min just nodded with a grim expression.

“Hmm…”

Se-min closed his eyes.

In the end, the opinion of building rafts seemed the most reasonable. However, the forest to obtain lumber was too far. Doing so would take a few days.

“Everyone pack up your luggage, and prepare for a rapid march.”

“Pardon?”

“I will resolve it.”

Saying so, Se-min walked toward the river. Those who did not understand his meaning tilted their heads. However, Shozen, who had traveled with Se-min, understood his intention.

“I will have the soldiers prepare for a rapid march.”

Soon, everyone stood at the riverside.

Se-min took a deep breath. If he was not careful, it could cause immense damage. However, somehow it felt like he could do it.

He obtained a hint about a new realm of the Cosmic Flow after seeing Imuncazer’s breath.

“Everyone prepare.”

Se-min spoke in a low voice. The voice was not loud, but it was clearly transmitted to the entire force.

Se-min raised his aura. The energy of Tai Chi Wisdom rose from his body. Although dark red killing intent was mixed in, it implemented the harmony of all creation as always.

It shed a mysterious light while constructing the principles of the universe intended by Se-min one by one.

Eventually, Se-min swung his sword.

The river split, and the riverbed was revealed.

An intangible energy supported the river to the left and right.

“Now.”

Se-min said.

The soldiers began to run. Although they staggered due to the rough and uneven riverbed, they went toward the other side of the river at maximum speed.

If Se-min could not hold out here, the soldiers would be submerged as they were.

However, he had leisure. Se-min’s aura entangled with each other, forming a solid structure.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I must do at least this much to kill Badurbarok.”

What would it have been like if they were transcendents? They might have evaporated a river like this in an instant.

While chanting the formula of the Cosmic Flow, Se-min gradually drew out larger power.

It seemed like it wouldn’t work, but it did.

Since the universe was embedded, there were no limits. In the elevation of feeling like he could do anything, Se-min pushed the river water away further.

The path grew much larger.

The soldiers became able to run more.

Maintaining his aura, Se-min slung Lupus on his back. He had become completely used to it now. Standing beside him with arms crossed, Shozen watched the soldiers cross.

“I have grown more. How strong will I become? I am afraid of my own talent.”

Se-min muttered, then trod on the empty air using the Cloud-Ascending Steps to cross the river.

Now the soldiers’ gazes had changed to looks as if they were looking at a god. When Se-min walked the sky and reached across the river, the soldiers began to praise him.

Se-min raised his hand to calm them down.

“Now only the trolls and ogres need to come, right?”

It was at that time.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time. You’ve finally arrived.”

Someone spoke behind Se-min. Se-min turned around in surprise. His eyes widened.

Sagong was standing there.