Chapter 443

Chapter 443
## Chapter 443

### Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero (1)

Deep within a tranquil chamber built in the traditional Eastern style, Ha Seung-hoon—the man who went by the name of Hugo in this world—maintained a rhythmic, measured breath. His eyes remained shut as he immersed himself in profound meditation.

A tempest of concepts pulled from a myriad of martial paths swirled violently inside his mind, perpetually dismantling and reconstructing the combat styles he had spent his life perfecting.

‘This is truly astonishing.’

As the chaotic thoughts finally began to organize into a structured pattern, he stabilized his breathing and allowed a quiet gasp of amazement to escape his lips.

‘In some respects, this serves as the ultimate remedy for my current predicament.’

Gathering the turbulent waves of esoteric wisdom into a manageable focus, he slowly let his eyelids part. He felt a burning desire to analyze every fragment of this information and master it right away, yet the overwhelming mass of combative knowledge reverberating through his thoughts rendered such a feat impossible.

Furthermore, his personal comprehension of martial techniques was strictly limited to what “Ha Seung-hoon” understood on a surface level. This new material, by contrast, was so immensely sophisticated that even days of relentless, unceasing concentration would fail to make a meaningful dent in it.

“The Black Dragon Secret Manual…”

This was the token of absolute fealty that Heinz 2nd had extracted—or rather, accepted as a grand offering—from the Black Dragon Lord, the supreme master who commanded the Black Dragon Society. It was a compendium bold enough to assert that it contained the core principles of every martial art across the multiverse.

To call it a “manual,” however, was somewhat misleading, as it possessed no physical pages. It lacked any material presence whatsoever. Instead, it was a pure transmission of raw information, made possible by a specialized technique that allowed the Black Dragon Lord to log and systematize every form of combat he had ever encountered.

‘That individual is certainly no common entity. Then again, achieving monumental accomplishments back on Earth and seizing such extraordinary rights speaks volumes about his caliber.’

The title he carried was none other than 「Reverse Heaven One」. A being who stood in direct opposition to the decrees of the cosmos—certainly not a person one could approach lightly.

‘He was the former regional commander of the Honcheon Society’s sector, a place crawling with obscured masters. The supreme leader would never appoint an ordinary warrior to a critical position of that magnitude. During the initial phases, conquering the Chinese territories was the absolute priority, which elevated that specific command to the highest tier.’

This “Black Dragon Secret Manual” was essentially the culmination of the Lord’s lifelong realizations, recorded since his return to Earth and polished without intermission for more than twenty years. It stood as undeniable proof that he had never abandoned his studies into the martial path—even after securing the 「Reverse Heaven One」 privilege through unyielding determination, fleeing from the grasp of the Honcheon Society, and entirely masking his tracks from the world.

‘These are not simple notations regarding the combat styles of a few random realms. It functions as an extensive research chronicle—detailing everything from his mental discipline and grueling exertions to attain the Transcendent Realm, to the elements he deemed essential to breach the Mythic Realm that lies beyond. It truly makes one marvel at how he gathered such an abundance of lore while constantly evading the watchful eyes of the Society.’

He had been informed of the general methods used. The Lord had routinely bartered insights with various individuals who had returned from a multitude of martial worlds. The moment he sensed even a hint of an unfamiliar style, he would pursue it ruthlessly, regardless of its baseline power level.

The strategies employed? He recognized no boundaries. He would offer immense fortunes, undertake highly perilous assignments, or even trade portions of his own sect’s archives; when faced with unyielding resistance, he considered physical coercion a perfectly acceptable alternative.

‘He systematically recruited exceptional individuals into the Black Dragon Society using those exact tactics. And for a person so utterly consumed by a hunger for advancement, a desperate craving for undiscovered lore was bound to happen.’

No prodigy can leap over thousands of years of accumulated history entirely on their own. The martial arts represent the pinnacle of hidden truths, forged over generations by a literal army of brilliant minds. The Lord had merely collected, organized, and modified that magnificent legacy to serve his own progression—he was far from inventing these principles out of nothing.

‘Even so, that accomplishment alone is more than enough to establish him as a grandmaster of the highest order.’

Predictably, the fruits of his research were not meant for casual practitioners. Once a warrior progressed past the foundational stages, everything relied upon the reality of the cosmos-defying 「Reverse Heaven One」 state. The manual contained intricately twisted theories born from opposing elements—any standard martial artist who attempted to mimic such concepts without understanding them would inevitably trigger a violent disruption of their internal energy and face complete destruction.

‘But that danger does not apply to me.’

A quiet smirk crossed his face as he gradually stood up. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed through the energy pathways across his physical frame, but he paid it no mind. The Lord operated via the heaven-shattering properties of the 「Reverse Heaven One」. He, on the other hand, commanded the power of the 「Savior」, an existence that completely disregarded every limitation imposed by this reality.

*Wooong—*

The chaotic internal energy within his body rapidly quieted into absolute stillness. Along with that stabilization, the unusual martial laws that ran completely counter to the natural logic of this Kanghwan Realm began to slowly implant themselves deep within his being.

‘The integration is still in its infancy and requires refinement… ‘

Now that the correct trajectory and methodology had been identified, the only remaining obstacle was the passage of time. Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, he pushed the heavy door open and stepped outside into the open air.

‘When an obstacle presents itself, the only option is to break through it.’

The brilliant glare of the sun immediately struck his eyes. His early morning contemplation had lasted far longer than intended—the sun had already claimed the center of the sky, drenching the surroundings in a radiant glow. The perpetual darkness that once loomed had vanished entirely; overhead, the sky expanded in an unblemished, brilliant shade of azure.

“Ah! Big brother! You’ve finally finished?”

Namgung Soran, who was sitting on her heels in the courtyard just outside the entrance, turned her head around with a bright, welcoming smile. She held a lengthy stalk of wild dogtail grass in her hand, idly waving it back and forth through the air.

During her momentary distraction,

*–Nyaang!*

*–Nyaak!*

“Ah! I lost it!”

The two small entities huddled right in front of her, completely locked onto the shifting tip of the grass, pounced forward with incredible speed and clamped their jaws down upon it. Purring loudly in celebration of their success, they began to chew on the stem with their tiny teeth—behaving exactly like conquerors displaying their hard-earned loot.

To any ordinary observer, they appeared to be nothing more than standard kittens. However, no ordinary domestic feline possessed a physical form composed entirely of blazing fire or shifting shadows.

“Lady Namgung, I trust you have managed to find some proper rest?”

“Oh, please don’t start with that formal talk again. Relax a bit, big brother—I am clearly the younger one here.”

“Hahaha, we can work our way up to that gradually. And where is Lady Zhuge…?”

“Big sister hurried off quite a while ago to question the local spiritualists. She was practically bursting with anticipation.”

“Ah, that is entirely understandable. The methods practiced here represent one of the twin peaks of mystical arts, serving as a direct counterpart to the heritage of the Zhuge clan.”

She carelessly tossed the ruined blade of grass aside, pulled out a completely fresh stalk, and recommenced her rhythmic movements. The small supernatural felines instantly dropped back into a low, predatory stance.

Naturally, the supernatural beings residing within this territory far outnumbered those two little creatures.

“Seriously, this location… calling it an ‘alternate realm’ doesn’t even do it justice. Saying it feels like a fairy tale completely misses the mark.”

Namgung Soran stared out at the scenery, her mouth hanging open in sheer amazement. Past the boundary of the designated visitor quarters, supernatural entities moved about completely unrestricted. Some possessed the heads of wild beasts set upon humanoid bodies; others were completely amorphous shapes lacking even a single human characteristic—yet all of them were conversing animatedly and living without a care in the world.

“This area serves as their external gateway, a protective transition zone. The younger, less experienced entities utilize this space to gradually familiarize themselves with the wider world.”

The Mosan Sect, located within the eastern territories of Jiangsu. This was the primary destination of their current expedition; a central gathering point for supernatural forces that had been fully revealed to them following the ultimate conclusion of the Demonic Cult crisis.

“Sigh, actual supernatural creatures. I only ever read about them in childhood stories—seeing this in person feels totally surreal.”

“Please ensure you maintain proper decorum around them, as you well know. A single misunderstanding at this juncture could easily dismantle the fragile truce we currently share.”

“I know, I know! I’m being incredibly careful—there’s no need to worry.”

Minor indiscretions? They were largely overlooked. The immense military reputation achieved by the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero during the war had earned them the status of esteemed visitors; the hospitality offered by the residents was entirely authentic.

‘Even so, it remains paramount that we avoid any unnecessary altercations. The objectives that brought me here demand absolute stability.’

The grand journey of Ha Seung-hoon was driven by two distinct goals. His primary directive was to eliminate the reckless factions who sought to stir up chaos, thereby stabilizing the foundation of the world. His secondary objective was to hone his personal capabilities to finally shatter the barrier holding him back from the Transcendent Realm.

His current presence at the Mosan Sect was directly linked to the latter goal.

‘The supernatural methodologies I briefly witnessed through Mok In-gwang in the past might provide the exact breakthrough needed to bypass this developmental wall.’

The unexpected acquisition of the Black Dragon materials was an incredible advantage, but having multiple pathways available was always the superior strategy. It permitted careful selection and synthesis—ultimately yielding far greater results.

‘The prestige I carry as a hero on Golden Crow Isle should easily allow me to engage in mutual training exhibitions… ‘

Regrettably, destiny refused to cooperate.

A sudden shadow lunged through the air toward them, collapsing violently right at his feet. It was a female warrior, her complexion completely drained of color, with dark crimson blood leaking from the corners of her lips. She was recognized instantly as one of the hidden protectors assigned to watch over Zhuge Hyemi.

“Gr-… Great champion! A catastrophe has occurred! The young mistress…!”

It was a stark reminder: he had foolishly overlooked the reality that hidden dangers persist in every corner of the world.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Possessing a massive physical structure that easily exceeded five meters in height, the entity exhibited the bipedal build of a monstrous tiger, a long, twisting tail, and a mouth devoid of lips that revealed razor-sharp fangs intermingled with protruding boar tusks. Its eyes burned with the unsettling glow of emerald spiritual fire.

“Lord Do-ol! That individual is a protected visitor of the Mosan Sect! If you proceed… guk!”

“Grrrng—Hold your tongue! How dare an insignificant ant attempt to lecture me?!”

Do-ol, radiating a crushing aura that perfectly matched his monstrous, predatory form, casually backhanded the solitary spiritualist into the distance, completely filled with arrogance. He held the completely paralyzed, wide-eyed form of Zhuge Hyemi securely within one of his massive, clawed hands.

‘An absolute jackpot! A true descendant of the dragon lineage right here—and one of the highest possible quality!’

This entity was Do-ol. He was a powerful supernatural being who had previously aligned himself against Golden Crow Isle; however, the destructive crusade of the Demonic Cult had claimed the lives of his fellow “Four Evils” brethren, forcing him to seek protection under the very shadow of the Crow—a humiliating sanctuary for a defeated warrior.

Even with his status significantly reduced, very few individuals possessed the courage to challenge his raw strength. The heavy casualties sustained during the Crow’s recent conflicts meant that a powerhouse of his caliber was welcomed with open arms. True to his reputation, he had performed exceptionally well against the forces of the Cult, carving out a distinct position for himself.

That was, until peace was finally established.

Following the grand finale of the conflict, he had transformed into nothing more than an unproductive burden. His inherently malicious nature made him entirely unsuited for a peaceful era; he consistently instigated conflicts without stopping. During the heights of chaos, his volatile behavior could be overlooked—he possessed clear utility, and there was no internal resentment to manage.

But now? He was a complete and utter hazard to stability. The high leadership of the organization was already considering options to bind and seal him permanently.

Do-ol’s predatory instincts, sharpened through an entire lifetime of conflict, easily detected this shift in political winds.

‘Do they honestly believe I will allow myself to be contained without a fight?!’

Attempting a solo escape from the territory was a highly dangerous proposition. While he undoubtedly possessed the raw power to crush Transcendent entities, an overwhelming swarm of opponents could still subdue him. Stumbling directly upon the chosen champion of the Dragon God, a foundational figure in the restoration of the world, was an unparalleled stroke of luck.

‘A true dragon descendant: the essential catalyst for the world’s salvation. If I incinerate such a magnificent entity as a ritual offering…!’

It was hardly surprising that his twisted thought process perfectly mirrored that of the fanatical Cultists. The murderous intent of a true predator resurfaced within him as he tightened his grip around Hyemi and launched himself into the air.

He felt a powerful urge to consume her right then and there, but to maximize the spiritual benefits, a specific ritual was required—even a basic version would suffice for his purposes.

“Gruk gruk—! Absolute sovereignty is within my grasp! Let them try to pursue my shadow until the end of time!”

The raw vitality of a great supernatural entity was terrifying; his massive physical bulk did absolutely nothing to slow down his blinding sprint through the dense foliage of the forest. He moved with the untraceable speed of a phantom panther targeting a throat-strike.

‘Securing a dragon descendant as well, is that so? The past indignities I suffered demand a bloody retribution against all of Crow-kind… ‘

The ultimate cost of his overwhelming arrogance?

*Shiiik—*

A sudden silhouette cut through the air toward him—arriving just a single moment too late.

‘Oh? Impressive reflexes!’

However, it was an insignificant effort. Caught out of rhythm, the interloper was forced to react to his pre-existing momentum; the difference in raw capability was as vast as a canyon.

*Paaaat—!*

In that precise fraction of a second, a pre-arranged blast of golden radiance erupted directly from the fist that was currently pinning the girl. The darkness of a shadow-infused drake was instantly torn apart; simultaneously, an empty, concussive strike slammed into the exact same location.

“What?”

Do-ol blinked in utter bewilderment, staring down at his completely empty hand. He slowly scanned his immediate surroundings. The target had completely disappeared. She had been extracted seamlessly.

“Insolent trash!”

As a Transcendent being, his heightened perceptions instantly blanketed the entirety of the woodland, immediately locking onto the trail of the retreating prize. He traced it directly to the residual energy left behind by the individual who had created the diversion.

[Kraaaaaah—!]

His roar of absolute fury generated a localized hurricane; violent tremors rippled through the surrounding mountain peaks. His attempt at a stealthy abduction had been completely ruined. He needed to bring this to a swift conclusion before the elite forces of the Crow could assemble.

With his lethal intentions firmly set, an explosive sound shattered the air—

*Kwaaaang—!*

Moving at hypersonic velocities, the colossal beast completely obliterated everything in its path as it tore a straight line toward its fleeing quarry.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

‘Ugh, of all the times for my abilities to enter a recovery period, it has to be right now.’

Ha Seung-hoon, holding the form of Hyemi securely against his chest, continued his rapid retreat through the terrain—his face twisted in a deep frown. Who could have possibly predicted that an incident like this would transpire within the supposedly secure confines of the Mosan Sect?

Suddenly, he brought himself to a complete halt. He pivoted on his heel. His weapon cleared its sheath in a single fluid motion.

Attempting to outrun this opponent was entirely pointless.

*Kwaang!*

[Perish, insignificant parasite!]

The monstrous creature that had been carving a path of destruction through the forest materialized immediately in front of him, its massive, razor-sharp claw already striking downward.