When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 199
Chapter 199
Baek Jeseong was a skilled warrior who had become a Commander of a Thousand at a young age.
He had only experienced the battlefield during the latter half of the Ten-Year War, but…
By then, the Ju Clan had already suffered repeated defeats.
Thanks to Baek Giha’s overwhelming power, the Six Clans’ alliance had suffered few casualties, their advance southward, across the Central River, swift and unstoppable, their morale soaring.
Every warrior was eager to prove themselves, to earn glory in battle.
But Baek Jeseong’s rapid rise through the ranks, becoming a Commander at such a young age, was due to his exceptionally competitive spirit, a daring that bordered on recklessness.
He was fearless in battle.
Even though the Divine Beast protected the Six Clans’ warriors, Baek Giha couldn’t be everywhere at once.
So, the warriors sometimes had to undertake dangerous missions to secure victory, and Baek Jeseong was always the first to volunteer, leading the charge. His position as Commander was a testament to his courage, his willingness to risk his life.
This time too, Baek Jeseong had been the first to volunteer for the vanguard.
Even after suffering that horrific nightmare caused by the Corrupt Dragon, he had been the first to rush out of the Baek Clan’s ice barrier, taking his position beside his Clan Head.
“......”
‘…What… is that? A dragon?’
But even Baek Jeseong, fearless as he was, froze when he first saw the Corrupt Dragon across the river.
The sinister aura emanating from the creature, the stench of decay, the dark red fluid dripping from its body, corroding the earth…
He swallowed nervously, his hands trembling.
He had seen a Divine Beast before, a giant white tiger with piercing blue eyes.
But this Corrupt Dragon was completely different from their White Tiger.
It wasn’t just about the sheer size of its power.
It wasn’t just about its rotting, decaying body.
While their White Tiger was fierce in battle, it never abandoned its principles, never killed unnecessarily. But this Corrupt Dragon…
‘…He’s unpredictable.’
He could sense the creature's ruthlessness, its willingness to do anything, to use any means necessary, to achieve its goals.
A murderous intent, a cold, calculating malice, shone in its bloodshot eyes.
For the first time, Baek Jeseong, who had never retreated from battle, instinctively stepped back.
But before he could even process his fear…
A clear, ringing voice cut through the air. “Well, judging by your appearance, I suppose you’re the one who wants to beg for his life.”
‘What?! Who…?!’
“Your own tongue is still wagging quite well. Why shouldn’t I be able to do the same?”
‘!’
Her words, bold and fearless, sent a chill down his spine, his earlier fear replaced by shock.
He turned stiffly, his body rigid, and saw a young woman, dressed in a bright red robe, completely unsuitable for the battlefield, smiling brightly.
‘Oh my god…’
Countless rumors about this young lady circulated within the Baek Clan.
But they were all so outlandish and unbelievable that he had dismissed them as mere gossip.
That she could shoot arrows with uncanny accuracy from any position on horseback, taking down multiple enemies with each shot… that she possessed healing powers that could bring the dead back to life… that she could even transform into the White Tiger Divine Beast…
The only thing that seemed certain was their Clan Head’s unusual devotion to her.
So, most of the warriors had dismissed the rumors, thinking, ‘They must be exaggerating to appease the clan members, who might object to a young lady from a rival clan becoming our Lady of the House.’
Of course, they had all sensed that she possessed unusual power, her beauty captivating, her aura strong, but…
…she was so young, having only recently transformed, and no one in the Mystic Realm could wield multiple spiritual powers as the rumors claimed, her purported abilities rivaling even those of Clan Heads.
And even setting aside the absurd notion of a Ju Clan young lady transforming into a White Tiger…
‘If she could really transform into a Divine Beast, wouldn’t they announce it to the entire Mystic Realm? Why all the secrecy?’
So, they hadn't believed the rumors.
Some of the warriors had even been displeased when she joined the vanguard, her bright red robe a jarring sight amidst their battle gear, her confident demeanor, as if she were their commander, irking them.
‘I hope she doesn’t scream or faint when the fighting starts.’
It was a common sentiment among the warriors, including Baek Jeseong, so at this moment…
“So please, show me what you can do. Stop with the empty threats, the repeated defeats, the same old promises. I'm getting bored.”
‘!’
He wanted to gag her, to tie her up and throw her over the barrier.
‘How dare she speak to the Corrupt Dragon like that, relying on our Clan Head?!’
It was at that moment.
The Corrupt Dragon, seemingly sharing Baek Jeseong’s sentiments, roared, a dark, sinister aura erupting from its body, the air crackling with malice.
The earth shook, a blinding light engulfing everything, and then, a massive pillar of fire, far larger than the one before, shot towards them.
‘Damn it!’
This was unavoidable.
Even if his Clan Head blocked it, the impact would be so great that he might not be able to defend against a second attack.
KABOOM!!!!!
A deafening roar echoed through the air as the pillar of fire struck its target.
‘To die like this, without even firing a single arrow… how frustrating…’ Baek Jeseong closed his eyes tightly, covering his ears with his hands, his body trembling. ‘But… why don’t I feel anything? Did I die instantly?’
There wasn't even a shockwave.
Did the Corrupt Dragon hold back at the last moment? That was the only explanation.
As he waited for the pain that never came, he cautiously opened his eyes.
“!”
And what he saw was beyond anything he could have imagined.
A long, red robe, like a blooming flower, billowed in the air.
Its owner, leaping through the air, was smiling, unafraid, as she faced the massive inferno.
A slender branch in her hand deflected the giant fireball, which shone like a fallen sun.
She twirled the branch effortlessly, as if it weighed nothing, and the blinding light vanished, black smoke billowing outwards.
“Is that all?” she asked.
—Y-You…!
“It’s a little different from the Human Realm, isn't it? While you were busy draining the life force of the Ju Clan like a parasite, I was comfortably absorbing the gift your Mystic Ruler gave me.”
‘…’
Baek Jeseong blinked, rubbing his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
But the scene before him didn't change.
A powerful spiritual energy erupted from the young woman’s smiling face.
And the branch in her hand blazed with power, like a garden in full bloom.
“Stop playing games and show me what you can really do,” she taunted the Corrupt Dragon. “You came all the way here to kill me, and all you can do is this? How disappointing.”
—J-Ju Sehwa—!!
“You might not be very bright, but I’m impressed you still remember my name.”
The Corrupt Dragon didn't answer. He simply spread his wings.
And with that, his massive body shot towards them at an incredible speed.
The young woman also moved, swift as an arrow.
KABOOM—!!
She deflected the Corrupt Dragon’s attack effortlessly and then gripped the branch in her hand. Despite its slender form, the branch bent like a bow in her hand, and a red arrow, formed of pure spiritual power, appeared.
Twang—!
The arrow flew towards the Corrupt Dragon’s one remaining eye with a thunderous roar.
The black dragon twisted its body, narrowly avoiding the arrow.
But then, Sehwa, wielding the branch like a sword, struck at his forehead.
KABOOM!!!
—!!!
Whoosh!
Countless red sparks, like blooming flowers, erupted in the air around them, then shot towards the Corrupt Dragon, aiming for his eye, his flesh, his scales.
A torrent of red spiritual power, like a heavy downpour, rained down on him.
Kaboom! Bang! Bang!! Kaboom!!
The sky seemed to be tearing apart.
A deafening roar, far more intense than before, echoed through the air.
But Baek Jeseong didn’t close his eyes or cover his ears this time.
He could only stare, mesmerized, at the young woman in the red robe, her movements a blur, his fear forgotten.
A single word escaped his lips, a soft gasp of wonder, “…Wow…”
He finally understood why their Clan Head had been so devoted to her, why there were so many outlandish rumors about her.
And he wasn’t the only one.
The other warriors who had emerged from the barrier with him were also staring, their faces mirroring his awe, the same word escaping their lips, “…Wow…”
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