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“…Fall back!”

The giant brothers retreated at the sound of my voice, forced out while enduring the pain.

“How wasteful. That last strike. Even I would have found it quite burdensome to allow a direct hit, so I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

As if the mythical monsters’ bloody battle from just moments ago was a lie, the Dragon’s words echoed quietly through a section of the forest that was already mostly cleared.

“I had no intention of killing you, but just an arm. I didn’t expect a mere insect to resist me in its own world.”

The Dragon spoke in an admiring voice, all traces of the rage from the bloody battle gone as if it were a lie.

But to me, it felt like nothing but mockery.

Clang-!

The True silver sword fell from my right hand as my grip loosened.

It was only natural. My right arm, which had unleashed the Later Heaven Four Styles, was twisted so grotesquely that it could no longer perform its original function.

The Later Heaven Four Styles, unleashed with all my heart and soul, had been perfect.

So perfect that I was arrogant enough to believe that even the Sect Leader of Jeomchang couldn’t execute it better, even if he were to perform it before my very eyes.

And befitting that arrogance, the unleashed Later Heaven Four Styles possessed enough power to pierce the golden body of the Dragon, which was like an iron wall.

But there was one thing.

Before the sequence of the Later Heaven Four Styles could be completed.

The Dragon, who had been screaming and raging, suddenly became calm and simply opened its mouth and uttered a single word.

“Distort.”

A single word from the Dragon, spoken without context.

The core within the Dragon’s neck, which I had examined with Probing All Forms, pulsed for a moment and spat out that one word.

It felt as if the world was being reorganized around the meaning of that one word.

As if obeying the Dragon’s command, the world encroached upon me.

A principle that transcended reason, one that even Probing All Forms could not fully grasp.

Some encroaching law seemed to seize control of my entire body.

The first to resist was the spirituality of my Upper Dantian.

And following the Upper Dantian’s command, the energies of my Middle and Lower Dantians also resisted fiercely.

The reason for our slight success in resisting was instinct.

It was thanks to some principle that could not be reasoned with by the mind or by theory.

However, my right arm alone, along with the unfolding Later Heaven Four Styles, was twisted, only piercing the membrane of the Dragon’s wing, not the Dragon’s core itself.

‘Word spirit…is it?’

I myself had created and used a martial arts technique similar to it, called Yeoyulryeong, but I couldn’t understand the principle behind what the Dragon had used.

That the rules of the world could be reorganized, even slightly, by a mere utterance?

‘…Not even a god could do that.’

“A mere insect is still a mere insect, but upon closer inspection, it’s one who has deviated from the flow of life. Insect, what is your name?”

I blocked out the intense pain and sensation transmitted from my right arm.

With my Internal energy already difficult to recover, I had no energy to spare to heal my right arm.

I had long since surpassed the level where I was restricted by the position of my hand.

As I extended my left arm, the broken hilt of the True silver sword floated up and was grasped in my left hand.

“I believe that was a question I asked first.”

It was a being that was already overwhelming with its physical prowess that dwarfed even giants, and its control over the surrounding Mana.

With the additional power it had revealed, the situation was desperately unfavorable, but my spirit remained unbroken as I pointed the sword at the Dragon.

“Is it the rule of you insects to answer a question before asking one? I have no need to follow that rule, but I like you.”

The Dragon spread its wings as if showing off and shouted.

“I am the only being of its kind on this planet. The ruler who looks down on all things from above. The perfecter of a self-completed species. I am Gal Dragon!”

The surrounding air stirred with the Dragon’s wing flaps and roar.

“…The seventh daughter of El-Prigion, the Mother Earth. El-Araya.”

I also replied with appropriate courtesy to the Dragon’s introduction.

But the Dragon laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“Hahaha! ‘God.’ How absurd. Do you worship the mother who bore you as a false idol? There are no gods on this planet. There are only omnipotent beings like me, who are infinitely close to god. A being who is revered as a god by the insects it created. How truly laughable.”

“…Do not insult my mother.”

“Now that I think about it, before I fell into my second slumber, I saw a giant tree with a similar aura to yours. It looked like a monkey, but indeed…was it an existence originating from her?”

The Dragon continued in a tone close to mockery.

“Lacking the strength of her own, she created insects to act as her agents? A truly clumsy being.”

As energy gathered in my left hand holding the True silver sword, the Dragon snorted and said.

“Enough, insect called Araya. You yourself realize that your strength, while impressive for an insect, cannot defeat me. Even your mother cannot defeat me.”

“At least the possibility isn’t zero.”

“As I said before, I like you. Become mine.”

The strength in my left hand holding the True silver sword suddenly vanished.

“…What?”

“I said, become mine.”

I hadn’t misheard.

I frowned and opened my mouth.

“…Are you suggesting I become your mate?”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.”

The Dragon laughed coarsely.

“Do not cross the line just because you think highly of yourself, Araya. You insects cannot conceive life on your own, you must mate, and because of your mortal fate, you must risk your lives to pass on the information of life to the future and prolong your existence.”

“I, on the other hand, am immortal for all eternity, and a completely self-sufficient being who does not need to seek answers from the outside. How could a mere insect be my mate?”

“When I say I want you, it simply means that I need you as one of the treasures I collect.”

“Rejoice. In all the long years I have lived, you are the only being, a mere insect, whose value I have felt as a treasure.”

I felt a surge of humiliation.

“…That’s insulting.”

“It’s not a bad offer for you. I will provide you with enough food and water so that you never go hungry. I will protect you from dangerous predators. If you crave companionship, I might even share a little affection. Aren’t all these things the lifelong aspirations of mortal beings? I mean to shoulder even your harsh mission. You can simply enjoy the remaining cycle of your life under my protection.”

“You’re impossible to reason with. It’s not worth considering.”

As I turned the blade of the True silver sword back towards the Dragon’s neck, the Dragon opened its mouth in a mocking tone.

“Now that I’ve enjoyed myself a little, you’re quite a mess.”

The energy of the Dragon’s core moved once more.

“I shall become complete.”

With those words, the surrounding world began to change, just as it had when the Later Heaven Four Styles had been twisted.

Some law that even Probing All Forms could not fully encompass dominated this entire space.

After an instant that felt like an eternity.

The wounds I had inflicted all over the Dragon’s body in the previous battle disappeared without a trace.

As if it had just appeared.

“…Were you holding back?”

“Was it a little fun? The feeling that you were putting up a good fight against me.”

As I stared at the Dragon, who was speaking as if it were enjoying itself, I tasted blood in my mouth.

I had unconsciously bitten my lip.

A strange and familiar emotion came with the unease.

Despair.

Araya Consciousness.

Haze.

I didn’t want to acknowledge that emotion, so I moved convulsively.

A movement that an ordinary human wouldn’t even be able to follow the afterimage of.

But the Dragon’s eyes accurately followed the direction I was moving in.

As my left body was tilted in that movement, the Dragon sighed with an indifferent expression and once again uttered an incantation.

“Your attacks will never reach me.”

Squeezing out the dwindling Internal energy, I unleashed the Later Heaven Four Styles with my left arm.

But the Dragon didn’t even try to dodge the deadly strike aimed at its neck.

“One who cannot build their own complete world can never defeat me.”

A compassionate voice, as if wanting to impart wisdom to a pitiful and foolish being.

The sword energy of the Later Heaven Four Styles stopped and wavered for a long time before disappearing in front of the Dragon’s neck, which it had sought to pierce.

“And that is eternally impossible for insignificant insects like you.”

Was it because my strength was exhausted?

Or was it for some other reason?

My left hand, which had been thrust out while executing the Later Heaven Four Styles, fell limply.

“Hmm. Is it because of your aesthetic form? I like your haughty expression from the beginning, but I also like your current expression.”

…Expression?

What kind of expression am I making now?

I wish I had a mirror.

I stared blankly at the Dragon.

The Dragon’s pupils contracted vertically, revealing a pleasant emotion.

And in the Dragon’s eyes, it saw a young Elf holding a sword clumsily, wearing a blank expression.

…Is that me?

I should be in the middle of a battle against the Winged Dragon right now.

If you hold the sword like that, even if your Internal energy control is excellent, the power won’t be properly transmitted.

Does she even intend to win? How foolish.

But even in a perfect state, can she defeat the Dragon before her?

Even if it’s the most exquisite divine skill, the attack itself doesn’t even reach?

No matter how much she struggles, she can’t win.

Honestly, wasn’t it amazing that she had fought this far?

At the age of only 17, she fought a Dragon, and in a short amount of time, she created a technique called Later Heaven Four Styles from nothing?

Isn’t that enough?

She already knows it well.

There are things in the world that can’t be helped no matter how hard you try.

Prigos, the other humans, the other creatures of this land, and the life of her previous life.

Everyone faces and accepts a certain amount of irrationality.

This life has been going well, but that time has simply come.

She can’t run away.

Even if she does run, the Dragon will deal with them and simply pursue her.

Where in the world could she go to escape the eyes of that Dragon?

Elven Road? Or the World’s Room?

She doesn’t know how much blood will be shed by others to save a young Elf who has been defeated in battle and has fled in disgrace.

Above all else.

If a master cannot protect their disciples, should a master be protected by their disciples?

I stared at the Dragon, who was enjoying a cruel game against my two giant disciples.

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

The Dragon’s body shook with a sudden, enormous roar that erupted out of nowhere.

The earth rumbled, the air burst, and I heard a deafening noise.

“Run! Master!”

The giant Silb jumped up and struck the Dragon’s head, then sat on the Dragon, pinning it down as he shouted.

But he couldn’t hold down the Dragon, which was already much larger than even the giants.

“Filthy remnants of a big monkey…!”

“Aaaaaaaack!”

“I will never let you die peacefully!”

The Dragon’s claws pierced through Silb’s shoulder like a skewer.

“Run…run…”

Even as his shoulder was pierced and lifted, causing the wound to gape open, Silb continued to mutter to run.

The Dragon, while lifting Silb, looked at Golb, who was looking for an opportunity to attack, and sneered.

“Kin? If you don’t get him back soon, he might die.”

“Aaaack!”

Silb screamed as the Dragon waved its hand.

Even with his brother’s pain, Golb didn’t charge, only biting his lip.

Golb’s eyes met mine for a moment.

There was no blame or resentment for the incompetent master who had lost the will to fight in the battle against the Dragon.

Golb looked at me for a brief moment and mouthed silently.

I will buy time. Please escape.

And then he charged towards the Dragon.

As I stared blankly at that sight, something welled up from within my withered heart.

How foolish, how long would the two of you last even if you stopped the Dragon?

Even if I did flee, the Dragon would simply deal with you and then pursue me.

Where in the world could I go to escape the eyes of that Dragon?

Elven Road? Or the World’s Room?

I don’t know how much blood will be shed by others to save a young Elf who has been defeated in battle and has fled in disgrace.

Above all else.

If a master cannot protect their disciples, should a master be protected by their disciples?

I stared at the Dragon, who was enjoying a cruel game against my two giant disciples.

‘Those who cannot construct their own complete world can never defeat me.’

Then I shall complete it for you.

You should have killed me just now.

I recalled a fragment of the flow I had perceived with Utmost Emptiness.

I imagined the Namgung Clan’s Emperor Sword Form, the Supreme Devil’s gait being passed down.

I recalled the clue to connect mind and space that I had felt manipulating the deus ex machina in the World’s Room.

Everything was crudely distorted, failing to become one properly.

If I took the time to mature it, it would be completed someday.

But I needed something to weave together right now, more than a future that might come someday.

The Upper Dantian’s function patched together the fragments of distorted inspiration like rags.

That was fine.

After all, I never truly desired anything perfect.

Araya Consciousness.

Hurry, hurry, in accordance with the law!

You wretched world.

Listen to me, not just the winged lizard.

“All things in the universe—submit in my name!”

The mantra filled with will echoed through the world.

Araya Consciousness, Intentional Genesis.

Everything is created by the mind, Araya-Origination.