Chapter 448

Chapter 448
## Chapter 448

The Yellow Dragon’s Orb (3)

A radiant golden creature with twinkling eyes locked onto mine, tilting its head in an adorable gesture.

“Chwiit.”

Gently, I untangled its slender form from around my leg and gathered it up into both palms.

Because it was a newborn, its scales possessed a faint, misty gleam, its mane and limbs were still undeveloped, and the protrusion on its brow resembled a minor bump more than an actual horn.

Its physical state appeared vastly inadequate for a true dragon, yet the understated majesty it radiated clearly signaled that it was the very definition of the supernatural.

“Alright, how exactly did you manage to get here?”

[Chwiing!]

Hwiryong let out a puppy-like yip that completely contradicted its serpentine appearance, swishing its tail and brushing its tongue against my face.

Through our spiritual bond, I intuitively grasped the meaning behind its actions.

“…You were just curious, so you made an attempt? And it actually worked?”

[Kyurur—!]

“Ha, incredible. I never anticipated something like this could happen.”

The infant golden dragon inspected the everyday furniture with curiosity.

I looked down at Hwiryong with a bewildered expression, sensing the profound tether and intimacy binding us together.

‘The mundane world has never been a hospitable environment for creatures like dragons that depend on supernatural mysteries. There is only one loophole.’

Manifesting transiently in this domain through the summons of Awakeners, who exist outside the normal restrictions of this reality.

Granted, as I have noted on numerous occasions, the art of summoning entities from other realms had long since faded into obsolescence.

No matter how elevated a summoner’s status might be in an alternate realm, the moment they stepped back onto Earth—where the suppression was far more severe than in other dimensions—they inevitably plummeted into mediocrity.

‘Yet my circumstances are unconventional. It appears the system classifies it as my personal summon. Most likely because its birth was facilitated by the 「Yellow Dragon’s Jewel」.’

If it counts as my summon, traits like 『Dimensional Barrier Mitigation』 would take effect, rendering this entire situation completely logical.

To Hwiryong, because Horus was an extension of me and I was an extension of Horus, the distinction didn’t truly matter either way.

Naturally, mentally processing the fact that this little creature was currently sitting right in front of me was a separate matter entirely.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped me as I observed Earth’s version of Hwiryong blinking up at me with absolute innocence.

Meanwhile, the infant golden dragon back in the Kanghwan Realm was resting peacefully within the embrace of Horus.

‘Without a doubt, my 「Avatar」 trait is influencing this development. No matter how inherently miraculous dragons are, it is impossible for a newborn to possess such a technique natively.’

Minuscule entities existing simultaneously on Earth and within the Kanghwan Realm.

Of course, they weren’t executing a flawless mirror image of my specific ability mechanics.

If anything, it was a restricted, lesser variation of 「Avatar」.

‘The entity remaining in the Kanghwan Realm is definitely the primary vessel. The one that materialized on Earth just now… is it projecting that fundamental form straight into this domain?’

Who else could possibly analyze this with greater expertise than me?

Benefiting from the perception naturally sharpened as my 「Avatar」 trait underwent continuous evolution, it required very little time to decipher the mechanics.

‘Only a single form can be projected via this method. Furthermore, its operational range is constrained.’

The primary divergence from my own power was that Hwiryong’s technique carried various supplementary restrictions.

If Hesperon, the keeper of the 「Chains of the Blood Oath」, managed to grow stronger down the road and summoned it from another location, that might change things—but for the time being, this minor materialization was the absolute limit of its capabilities.

That wasn’t the only drawback either.

The instant the projection occurred, the primary body situated in the Kanghwan Realm entered a state of slumber, leaving it entirely exposed. Any trauma inflicted upon the connected form would be mirrored onto the main body, alongside other liabilities.

It was drastically distinct from my own 「Avatar」 technique, which permitted the primary body and the duplicates to function as entirely separate, sovereign consciousnesses.

‘Then again, Hwiryong’s primary body is nestled securely in the center of the Golden Turtle Island headquarters, so there is no immediate threat there.’

Furthermore, the projected form could terminate its materialization at a moment’s notice, meaning that in a crisis, it could simply vanish.

Much like the way I had bypassed numerous perils using ‘summon release’.

“You are quite bold, aren’t you? Having the sheer nerve to try it out on a whim just because it felt possible.”

[Pihihiit—! Kyak kyak!]

“…Yes, yes. Well done, you did great.”

A chuckle slipped past my lips as I patted Hwiryong’s head while it radiated absolute delight from the compliment.

On this occasion, I had been caught off guard, permitting an unannounced arrival, but given that I held ultimate authority over this bond, it wouldn’t happen a second time without my consent.

[Kyaaang! Kyak!]

“Alright, alright. Is this the activity you wanted to experience?”

Since it had already made the journey here, there was no harm in putting my tasks on hold for a brief window to entertain this little creature.

I draped the attention-seeking, infantile Hwiryong around my neck like a warm wrap and led it through my home, offering it a variety of treats.

‘Warm. It possesses the silhouette of a reptile, yet it isn’t cold-blooded—it actually generates body heat.’

This massive dwelling, which had been occupied solely by myself until this point, suddenly contained a visitor, evoking sentiments I hadn’t realized were lingering within me.

All at once, an urge I assumed had grown completely dormant began to surface.

“…Wow, I truly believed I was past these feelings.”

Was I actually experiencing loneliness?

Operating through multiple bodies meant I engaged in several times the social interaction of an ordinary person, leading me to assume I was perfectly fine—but it seemed superficial interactions weren’t enough to completely fill the void.

‘Perhaps to Taesan… No, absolutely not. This is no time to indulge in sentimentality.’

We were right at the genesis of an all-out war against the Reverse Heaven Society.

I could not afford to establish vulnerabilities when I remained blind to the specific Awakeners they might deploy or the strategies they might set in motion.

Carelessly making contact right now could easily expose my companion to far greater peril.

‘It is perfectly fine. I am backed by an abundance of capable individuals fighting alongside me to oppose them. Once this conflict is resolved… ‘

I cleared my thoughts with a firm shake of my head and looked down at Hwiryong, softly running my hand along its form.

Our window of time together on Earth had been brief, but I couldn’t permit it to remain in this realm indefinitely.

“Very well, have you had your fill of amusement? It is time to return. The residents over there are waiting for you to awaken.”

[Kyuuung…]

“Come now, you can return to visit another time. This isn’t a one-time event.”

[Kyak!]

Hwiryong had only resided on Earth for a handful of hours.

Yet within the accelerated timeline of the Kanghwan Realm, an entire twenty-four hours had already slipped away.

Given that dragons were naturally inclined to prolonged sleep, the duration itself wasn’t bizarre, but for the denizens of Golden Turtle Island who were organizing a grand celebration for the newborn golden dragon, the absence must have been a letdown.

Shhh—

Intuiting my intentions, the youthful dragon gave a small nod as its physical form commenced dissolving into mist.

The lingering warmth slowly ebbed away.

Right before the connection severed entirely.

Thud—

Its tiny brow, smaller than the span of my knuckles, pressed gently against mine.

And following that brief second.

I was once again left entirely by myself in the center of the massive parlor, just like always.

“………”

The residence felt considerably vaster than it typically did.

I remained motionless, staring out at the space where an icy stillness had reassumed control, as though the lively commotion from moments ago had been nothing more than an illusion.

“Ha! A mere hatchling acting so brazenly…”

A breathless laugh escaped my lips.

The irony was that this minor interaction had actually granted me a genuine sense of solace.

Is this the underlying reason people choose to keep animal companions?

“…Then again, this place does feel a bit vacant given its dimensions. Perhaps I ought to bring in a few creatures as a pastime.”

An animal with a sharp intellect akin to that little one would be ideal.

I quickly organized my priorities and evaluated the status of my other operations.

Categorizing the items seized from the vaults of the Heavenly Demon Divine Church had concluded quite some time ago.

Ranging from legendary armaments imbued with extraordinary attributes and remnants of beasts, to components harvested from elite entities, and even a substantial collection of spiritual spheres.

We possessed a more than satisfactory volume of assets capable of being transmuted into raw power.

‘It remains a disappointment that we failed to secure an untainted golden dragon spiritual sphere.’

That outcome was simply unavoidable.

There was no logical reason the Demon Church would permit such a legendary asset to sit neglected for decades.

Those spiritual spheres, corrupted by human experimentation and malevolent practices, had discarded their primal state long ago, turning into nothing more than condensed reservoirs of dark energy.

‘Furthermore, that mastermind Tam, the Heavenly Mechanism Demon Immortal who operates as their strategist, would never have left such items unexploited.’

At any rate, the required power was locked in, though regrettably, we were unable to launch the subsequent hatching ceremony right away.

The primary hurdle regarding the Azure Dragon centered on power accumulation, which was why I addressed it first—but naturally, a ceremony of that magnitude demanded far more preparation.

‘Advancing too aggressively could put an immense strain on stabilizing the pocket reality. It cannot be helped; we require an extended window to mitigate the structural toll.’

Perhaps because my brief interlude with Hwiryong had cleared my mind.

I finally recognized that I had been proceeding with far too much impatience.

It was undoubtedly the consequence of anxiety accumulating imperceptibly from trading blows with that terrifying adversary, the Reverse Heaven Society.

The deeper I investigated their operations, and the more intelligence I gathered, the more massive the presence of their commander appeared.

An absolute entity capable of literally reshaping the globe and dismantling Earth’s established systems, yet maintaining absolute authority over them, supervising every move.

‘If not for whatever hidden variable forces them to operate from the darkness, the globe would have fallen under the dominion of the Reverse Heaven Society long ago.’

That specific restriction was highly likely the core reason their commander is prevented from utilizing their full capabilities out in the open.

A constraint that extended beyond their personal capability, impacting the very infrastructure established beneath them.

‘And as the days march forward, that locking mechanism is bound to deteriorate.’

That reality explained why they traveled across realities, systematically destroying civilizations.

We were required to conclude this conflict prior to their commander completely shattering those bonds.

It was undeniable that the prospect of confronting Earth’s impending deity weighed heavily on my mind, and if matters escalated to that threshold, I lacked the assurance that Korea—my primary stronghold—would emerge without devastating losses.

‘Possessing the 「Dragon Lair」 means I can establish a sanctuary anywhere… but every piece of progress I have orchestrated would be reduced to ash.’

The entire territory of Korea would transform into a war zone.

Atomic ordnance launched from China converting the terrain into a burning wasteland, and the second we neutralize those threats, we enter an unmitigated war against the Reverse Heaven Society.

I seriously doubted an individual orchestrating the eradication of more than half of the global population held any regard for a mere tens of millions of lives.

“Hoo, it makes perfect sense that I am feeling pressed for time.”

However, looking objectively at the data collected up to this point, that critical juncture was not immediately upon us. We had a window of at least several years.

Just as the old proverb warns, ‘haste leads to failure’—it was far wiser to counter them deliberately and methodically rather than rushing forward and ruining the execution.

“To begin with, there is the coordinated coercion pressing in on us from every angle. Our capable allies are managing the situation effectively for now, but…”

Howard Industries, which achieved prominence by distributing enchanted implements across the globe; Blood Alliances and vampire syndicates spanning multiple territories, utilizing the popular figure Licorice as their public representative; alongside the recent political maneuvers targeting Korea directly.

‘Undoubtedly the handiwork of the Reverse Heaven Society.’

They had abstained from deploying direct physical violence up to this point, but it was far from a minor issue. The sheer disparity in resources made the pressure inevitable.

‘Even so, it remains within our power to handle. That is precisely why we restructured our information channels and unified our assets.’

Therefore, what asset did I require above all else right now? To avoid constantly reacting to their moves, to completely disrupt the playing field, to secure a broader window of time—what was the indispensable element?

“Information. Regarding the Commander of the Reverse Heaven Society. Along with their precise objectives.”

The discoveries we had made up to this point were merely superficial. For definitive countermeasures, to disrupt their operations before they materialize, comprehending the intricate web of cause and effect was our utmost priority.

And as fortune would have it.

An ideal mechanism had just concluded its final preparations.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

⚙ OMINOUS VOICE ⚙

[The core principles and convictions of those who dedicate themselves to monumental transformations are invariably exposed through their historical actions.] [I shall completely lay them bare. The path you have walked up to this moment.]

The suffocating aura that blanketed the pitch-black space vanished within a fraction of a second.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

This specific world had met its demise.

Fiends traversed the open terrain without opposition, while the remnants of the human race took refuge in subterranean spaces to evade them.

The scattered survivors engaged in lethal conflicts with one another over dwindling assets, focusing exclusively on theft, stripped of any lingering desire to fight back against the fiends.

The courageous figures who once dared to imagine the unattainable and fought for it had all been cast down into an abyss of suffering.

“Kuhuk! I-I will never grant you forgiveness… I will absolutely… take your life, Rapua…!”

Within this realm, perishing while being tormented by fiends was treated as an unpreventable catastrophe, akin to natural disasters.

Peers would merely offer condolences for your misfortune, never contemplating taking up arms to seek retribution against the perpetrator. Such an endeavor was fundamentally unachievable from the start.

“Haa, haa… Fiends, fiends! If only I could forge an alliance with a fiendish entity superior to the one he allied with…!”

However, if a member of your own species was the architect of that misery, the dynamic shifted entirely.

If the inferno that consumed everything you cherished was an intentional act of destruction, then the individual holding the torch was your true adversary!

The complication was that this particular individual commanded authority from an unassailable position as the absolute master of this decimated landscape.

A Demon Contractor.

A traitor to the human race, a subservient tool who traded their entire existence to the fiends.

Yet guaranteed material excess and prestige throughout their earthly existence, they amounted to little more than playthings for malevolent entities—demon contractors.

“Exalted Sovereign, Supreme Entity. I surrender my spirit and my physical form. I beg of you… satisfy this agonizing desire for retribution…”

Consequently, a multitude of individuals desired to join the ranks of demon contractors.

The fate awaiting them beyond the grave was of minimal importance relative to their current circumstances—there was nothing unusual about that perspective!

The young man carrying out the invocation in this location operated under that exact ideology, executing the process to transition into one. Fighting through immense adversity to uncover the ritual instructions, and lavishly consuming precious components.

Yet securing an alliance as a demon contractor was by no means a simple feat.

The explanation behind this difficulty was elementary.

The process was far more entertaining for the fiends that way.

The specific instructions this young man had acquired happened to be one of the deceptive counterfeits distributed by the fiends purely for their own amusement. An agonizingly grueling, completely futile exercise in frustration.

Had he possessed even a minuscule inkling of natural affinity for contracting, perhaps a microscopic window of success might have existed—but regrettably, he was entirely devoid of such potential.

Wooooong—

As a consequence.

The event currently unfolding was undeniably irregular.

A heavy darkness began to pool directly over the sacrificial platform the young man had meticulously constructed. A mist resembling a bottomless chasm started to take physical shape.

“Ooooh! Boundless Sovereign of Fiends! Hearken to my invocation—!”

Yet the young man, possessing zero fundamental lore until his recent focus on basic survival, was completely oblivious to the abnormality. He simply celebrated the anticipated reaction, crying out with intense devotion.

⚙ DEMONIC VOICE ⚙

[Boundless Sovereign of Fiends…? Where did you happen upon such a pathetic title?]

In that exact instant, a chilling voice echoed from the center of the altar. An all-consuming aura, as though the malice of the entire universe had been compressed into a single point, filled the air.

⚙ DEMONIC VOICE ⚙

[Kekeke, I am the sovereign of the departed souls, the ruler over passing.]

Sinking under a suffocating weight that threatened to tear his spirit to pieces through mere proximity, the youth breathed in heavy, jagged gasps. He fought desperately to maintain his grip on reality, but he had reached his absolute threshold.

As his awareness began to slip away into the dark.

A terrifying declaration reached his ears from a distance.

⚙ IDENTITY REVEALED ⚙

[I am Hannibal Strauss.]