When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 203
Chapter 203
“Give you my Spirit Orb?”
“Yes. A Divine Beast’s Spirit Orb might be able to break the Corrupt Dragon’s hold on me.”
“How can I trust you? What if you’re just trying to steal my spiritual power?”
The First Consort glanced at the ice barrier. She couldn't see what was happening outside, but the deafening roars continued.
‘It seems he’s struggling…’
A cruel glint flickered in her eyes, a flicker of hope amidst her fear of Baek Giha. There could only be one reason why this man, this Baek Clan warrior, would be so desperate.
‘He’s running out of time, that Lady of the House he’s with might be in danger.’
It was a completely wrong assumption, but how could she know?
She simply assumed that his desperation stemmed from Sehwa losing against the Corrupt Dragon.
And that made her feel confident.
‘How can you trust me? What choice do you have? If you don’t hurry, she’ll die out there!’
She feigned fear, but her eyes gleamed with cunning.
‘If I stall for time, and the situation outside worsens, he’ll be desperate. Then he'll give me anything I want!’
She put on a pitiful expression. “You know how much I want to die. What good is spiritual power to me now?” She closed her eyes tightly.
“I want to tell you everything, if only I could…”
Her voice trembled as she pleaded, “Please, help me break free from this restriction. I swear, I’ll cooperate with you, I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Anything?”
“!”
“You’ll do anything? Then I’ll trust you.”
“O-Of course! I’ll lick your feet if you want! I’ll lure the Corrupt Dragon here if you want, I’ll do anything—”
“I don’t need any of that.”
Baek Giha let go of her chin and stood up, looking down at her, his eyes cold and sharp, a clear, bright blue, like the finest jade, a white aura shimmering around his broad shoulders. The First Consort, momentarily captivated by his overwhelming presence, his breathtaking beauty, forgot her fear, her pain.
“Become my vassal.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Or did I tear your ears off already?”
‘What?!’
She was stunned by the unexpected suggestion.
Baek Giha didn’t wait for her answer, his hand, filled with a white spiritual energy, reaching towards her, as if he hadn’t even considered her opinion in the first place.
“N-No! Don’t!” she cried, scrambling back.
“What do you mean ‘no’? I’m giving you what you want! Does it have to be in the form of a Spirit Orb? As long as I give you spiritual power, that’s all that matters, right?”
“B-But… I’m already bound to the Corrupt Dragon! If two Divine Beasts’ powers mix, I might not be able to endure it—!”
“Isn’t that what you wanted? You should be happy if you die.”
“But what if I don’t die?! What if I have to suffer for eternity?!”
“I don’t care.”
“Baek Giha!”
“You’re not worthy of uttering my name.”
The sounds of battle continued beyond the ice barrier. It was Sehwa, pushing the Corrupt Dragon back. He was running out of time.
He grabbed the First Consort by the collar as she tried to back away.
“What if this doesn’t break the restriction?! What then?!”
“You said you needed a Divine Beast’s spiritual power, strong enough to overcome the Corrupt Dragon’s, didn’t you? Don't worry,” he smiled cruelly, pulling her closer, “I’ll keep pouring my spiritual power into you until either the Corrupt Dragon’s hold on you is broken, or your body explodes.”
“Aaaargh!”
The First Consort screamed as she felt his hand on her forehead.
It was then.
“Clan Head! You don’t have to do this! Clan Head Baek!”
“!”
Youngchae came scrambling up the hill, shouting.
He might not have heard anyone else, but he couldn't ignore Sehwa’s precious maid.
Baek Giha, who had been about to kill the First Consort, paused.
And her words were strange. Not "Don’t do this," but "You don’t have to do this?"
Youngchae reached the top of the hill, breathless, and pulled something wrapped in cloth from her robe. She unwrapped it, revealing a five-colored Orb.
It was a Divine Beast’s Spirit Orb.
Sehwa’s Spirit Orb.
“Use this, Clan Head Baek,” she said.
“......”
Baek Giha stared at her, confused.
‘Use her Spirit Orb on this woman?’
The spiritual power this woman absorbed might be transferred to the Corrupt Dragon.
If it were anyone else, he would have suspected their motives and killed them on the spot.
‘But this maid would never do anything to harm Sehwa.’
It wasn’t because he trusted Youngchae, it was because Sehwa trusted her.
And as expected…
Youngchae, seeing the First Consort staring at the five-colored Orb, nodded reassuringly at Baek Giha.
Baek Giha let go of the First Consort and stepped back, Youngchae taking his place.
The First Consort, her eyes fixed on the Orb, asked, “C-Can I really absorb this?”
“Of course.”
“Really?”
“Here. Take it.”
Youngchae placed the Orb, still wrapped in the handkerchief, in the First Consort's hand.
The First Consort stared at it, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Didn't you hear me? We don’t have time. If you’re not going to use it, give it back,” Youngchae said, reaching for the Orb.
“N-No! I will!”
Startled, the First Consort clutched the Orb tightly.
She had asked for it, but she hadn't expected to actually receive such a powerful Spirit Orb.
Even just holding it in her hand, she could feel its immense power, as if she were holding the heart of a Divine Beast.
‘It’s real… A Divine Beast’s Spirit Orb… And such power! This might be enough to break the restriction!’
The method she had discovered to break the Corrupt Dragon’s hold on his anchors was simple.
The anchor just had to possess greater power than the dragon, even for a moment.
That alone would sever the connection.
‘I can break free from the curse…’
Could she finally end this miserable existence…?
‘Wait…’
She hesitated.
…If she broke free from the Corrupt Dragon…
‘…would there be any reason for me to die?’
A thought struck her, her eyes gleaming.
If she absorbed this Spirit Orb, which was undoubtedly from a Divine Beast, a Spirit Orb filled with such immense power…
‘…could I become a Divine Beast?’
…Oh my god.
The thought made her heart pound, her breath quicken, her mouth go dry.
Of course, she wanted to die.
But that was only because she was the Corrupt Dragon's anchor, forced to endure his curse, his endless pain.
‘Would I still want to die if I wasn't in pain?’
And if she could not only break free from the curse but also become a Divine Beast…
…a being more powerful than the Corrupt Dragon…
‘Then I’ll kill everyone who has ever harmed me, and I’ll live in eternal bliss!’
Unable to contain her excitement, she swallowed the Spirit Orb whole.
It began to shrink rapidly as she absorbed its power.
‘Foolish mortals, giving me such a treasure…’
A cruel smile touched her lips.
Whoosh!
A five-colored aura swirled around her, her face glowing with exhilaration as her power grew.
Baek Giha watched her, his eyes narrowed, then turned to Youngchae, who was looking at the First Consort with a satisfied smile.
“Then take this.”
It had been after Youngchae had pleaded with Sehwa to let her join the vanguard.
Sehwa had handed her something wrapped in a handkerchief.
“What is this, my lady?”
“My Spirit Orb.”
“What?! No! I can’t accept this!”
Youngchae shook her head, her eyes wide with surprise. How could she accept such a precious gift when her lady needed it to fight the Corrupt Dragon?
Sehwa smiled and shook her head.
“It’s not for you. Give it to the First Consort.”
“What?”
“Make it seem natural, as if you dropped it, so she can pick it up or steal it. You understand?”
“But why? Why would you give her such a precious thing?”
“I’ve been thinking…”
Sehwa rolled the Spirit Orb in Youngchae’s hand with her finger.
“Everyone who’s been affected by my five-colored spiritual power… something’s been off about them.”
“…What do you mean, off?”
“The Fifth Consort died, and the Mystic Ruler’s body, which housed Ju Kyunghyun's soul, was also mangled, despite their access to the best medicine. So I have a theory.”
Her eyes, dark and intense beneath her long lashes, gleamed.
“It’s like something is being fixed, whether it's a wound, pain, or something else. So I was wondering, what if we use this power to completely fix the First Consort's body, since she’s connected to the Corrupt Dragon?”
Her lips curved into a playful smile.
“And since she’s connected to him, this power will surely flow into him as well. I’m curious to see what effect it’ll have on him. Aren't you, Youngchae?”
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