The four Elders of the Flying Dragon Clan faced off against the Branch Manager of Mortu Nocturn.
Although it was a four-to-one battle, the Elders were the ones being pushed back.
“Urgh…”
While there was a difference in skill, the compatibility of their powers played a larger role.
The Mortu Nocturn Branch Manager utilized a hybrid style that combined dark mana, black magic, and demonic arts.
It was an evil energy so foul that a normal living being would suffer damage just by looking at it.
Naturally, even for those at the Elder level, facing such energy was no easy feat.
If not for his prior injuries, he might have overwhelmed the Elders entirely!
“Heh… You’re holding out well. *Ptui!*”
The Branch Manager gave a fishy smile and spat blood-stained saliva onto the ground.
Before arriving here, he had faced enemies from the Red Magic Tower and the Dragon Knights, and the injuries he sustained then continued to hold him back.
If not for that, he would have seized victory long ago.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter. It will be decided soon anyway.’
Due to the nature of their positions, the Elders of the Flying Dragon Clan often traveled alone.
As masters who boasted Peak Realm skills, they rarely had the opportunity to fight alongside experts of a similar level.
Consequently, there were gaps in their coordinated attacks, and as the battle dragged on, the Branch Manager identified those weaknesses.
Before long, when a gap appeared once more, he lunged into it.
*Whoosh!*
*Clang!*
“Kh!?”
Just before he could strike the weak point, Lee Tae-sung’s sword flew in.
It was the Fast Sword Style of the Red Cloud Seven Forms.
Normally, the Branch Manager would have laughed it off, parried, and counterattacked, but the energy contained within that strike made it impossible to underestimate.
“…Where did this insect come from!”
“Well done!”
The Branch Manager and Dam Ho-pung shouted with completely opposite expressions.
Even in a four-to-one battle, the moment even one person was injured, the scales of balance would tip.
They had been walking a tightrope, and just now, that balance had nearly collapsed due to a single mistake.
“You, come see me as soon as this is over!”
“Shut up! I told you not to touch my brother!”
The other Elders also realized what Lee Tae-sung had just done and sent him looks of praise.
However, they found it mysterious how someone at the level of a First-class Member could force the Branch Manager back.
The Elders did not miss this opportunity.
A single opening was enough.
From then on, they performed more organic coordinated attacks and gradually drove the Branch Manager into a corner.
They slowly adapted to the dark-attribute hybrid style he unleashed, and as his injuries worsened, the Branch Manager’s defeat became certain.
‘Damn it… I should have finished it earlier…’
The Branch Manager gritted his teeth.
Failing to capitalize on that earlier opportunity was a devastating blow.
He glared at Lee Tae-sung with burning eyes.
The boy was now lurking behind the Elders like a cheeky opportunist, waiting for another chance.
‘I will take that fellow down with me no matter what!’
Seeing that irritating brat, he didn’t want to die alone.
*Thud! Thud!*
*Bam!*
The Branch Manager charged toward Lee Tae-sung, taking the Elders’ attacks directly with his body.
“This madman! A mutual destruction move!?”
“Brother! It’s dangerous!”
The Elders were startled, but Lee Tae-sung himself was focused with terrifying intensity.
In a crisis, people show one of two reactions: they either freeze up, or they find a solution with a cold-headedness not seen in normal times.
Lee Tae-sung was the latter.
He didn’t even have time to complain about why the man was targeting him.
In a moment that felt like an eternity, he channeled the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art and unleashed the Heavenly Net Flame Hand.
An eerie energy and white flames intertwined as they spread out.
“It’s useless! Our energies are polar opposites, but you can’t stop me with such weak power!”
The Branch Manager’s output was at least dozens of times greater than Lee Tae-sung’s.
Thus, he simply crushed him with sheer volume.
The flames of the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art were swallowed by the dark energy.
However, the white flames, which seemed on the verge of disappearing, suddenly flared up even brighter.
The greatest in the world.
The Absolute Ruler of the East Continent.
The hybrid style created by the Flame Emperor refused to be suppressed by any energy.
*Ding!*
**[The proficiency of Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art has increased]**
**[The skill level of Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art has increased]**
**[Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv. 4) -> Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv. 5)]**
In a state of total immersion, the proficiency of the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art soared, and it manifested through the Heavenly Net Flame Hand—another of the Flame Emperor’s martial arts.
A tremendous force dwelled in the palm strike Lee Tae-sung extended as if possessed.
It was a blow wrapped in flames that dripped like magma.
*Ding!*
**[The proficiency of Heavenly Net Flame Hand has increased]**
**[The skill level of Heavenly Net Flame Hand has increased]**
**[Heavenly Net Flame Hand (Lv. 4) -> Heavenly Net Flame Hand (Lv. 5)]**
**[Heavenly Net Flame Hand (Lv. 5) -> Heavenly Net Flame Hand (Lv. 6)]**
*Crack!*
Thanks to the explosive growth and manifestation, Lee Tae-sung managed to hold his ground against the Branch Manager’s attack for a brief moment.
Those few seconds of bought time were enough.
The Elders, arriving a moment later, attacked the Branch Manager and turned him into a sieve.
“Ugh…”
Even in his dying moment, the Branch Manager could not take his eyes off Lee Tae-sung.
He was certain he could have killed such a fledgling in a single move, but he had witnessed something impossible at the final moment.
He had thought that growing a step further to overcome a crisis was the kind of thing only seen in heroes of old legends….
The light faded from the Branch Manager’s eyes.
*Ding!*
**[You have contributed to defeating a powerful enemy.]**
**[Level Up!]**
**[Level Up!]**
Along with the notifications ringing in his ears, Lee Tae-sung collapsed and lost consciousness.
***
The first thing he sensed upon waking up was his sense of smell.
Specifically, it was the scent of medicine.
When he opened his eyes, he saw bandages wrapped tightly around his body.
A dull pain throbbed throughout his entire frame.
He was definitely alive.
‘The battle… is it over?’
He must have won.
The Branch Manager was the greatest power in this place, and they had defeated him without any of the Elders dying.
Right after that, they would have sent reinforcements to the Red Magic Tower and the Dragon Knights, easily securing victory elsewhere as well.
‘Four level ups. My skill proficiency went up a ton, too… The rewards are incredible.’
It had been that dangerous of a war.
Aside from the moment the Branch Manager targeted him, it was clear he would have lost his life long before then without the Elders’ help.
Since dying meant one skill would be deleted and his level and overall skill proficiency would drop, he didn’t know if he could have done it again if asked.
But thanks to that, he had gained a lot.
‘Heavenly Net Flame Hand finally reached Level 6.’
From proficiency Level 6, one could apply skills in various ways.
Just as he could imbue the flames that could only be generated by the Flame Sword Style into hidden blades or palm techniques, he could now handle the flames of the Heavenly Net Flame Hand in the same manner.
He would have to test it to be sure, but the power would likely be immense.
Furthermore, the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art had reached Level 5.
He felt a sturdy torrent of mana inside his body.
‘Since Mortu Nocturn is a place of polar opposite energy, I gained that much more proficiency.’
And there were many powerful enemies.
As long as he didn’t die, he found himself wishing for another experience like this.
“Ugh.”
Feeling his entire body creaking, Lee Tae-sung rose from the bed.
It seemed to be a private room, as there was only one bed.
After stepping out into the hallway, he walked out of the building entirely.
“Hm? Oh. You’re awake? Hero of the Flying Dragon Clan?”
A man leaning against the wall with a cigarette in his mouth spoke up happily upon seeing Lee Tae-sung. He was wearing armor, but it was a wreck, dented and pitted in various places.
Wondering how he could even wear such armor, Lee Tae-sung spoke.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Of course. Only you and I are lying in this private ward. I’m Kelson of the Dragon Knights.”
Kelson suddenly offered a handshake.
Lee Tae-sung had heard that the large factions that came to support them were the Red Magic Tower and the Dragon Knights, so it seemed the man was from the Dragon Knights side.
“I am Lee Tae-sung. I heard you helped us this time.”
“We considered Mortu Nocturn a thorn in our side as well. We thought, ‘What a catch,’ and joined the fray. Then I ended up like this.”
Kelson pointed to his own body.
His battered frame made it clear that he had fought a difficult battle.
“The Vice Branch Manager here was a fairly strong fellow. He was someone who could have easily been a Branch Manager in most other cities.”
“You must have had a hard time.”
“Could it compare to you? The Flying Dragon Clan is in an uproar because of the story that you played a great role against the Branch Manager.”
Was it that much?
Technically, all he did was hold the Branch Manager for a few seconds; the Elders had done everything from start to finish.
Lee Tae-sung had only provided a bit of help.
When he said as much, Kelson shook his head.
“That ‘bit of help’ plays a huge role in war. I hear you’re a First-class Member? When someone completely unexpected holds off a Branch Manager, it’s only natural for them to be called a war hero.”
“If you say so…”
“That’s why I’m asking—wouldn’t you like to join our Dragon Knights? In my experience, friends like you adapt well when they join. Your talent seems exceptional, too.”
“!”
A recruitment offer from the Dragon Knights, one of the large factions of the continent.
Places like the Red Magic Tower were a bit different from the direction Lee Tae-sung pursued, but the Dragon Knights were not.
The Dragon Knights contracted with dragons of another world to borrow their power.
‘I heard that the stronger the dragon you contract with, the greater the power you can wield.’
It was said that knight-commander-level knights could even transform into dragons.
Since joining a large faction was no easy task, he wanted to say he would join immediately.
The problem was that there was one concern.
‘If I contract with a dragon from the Other World to use power, can I do the same in the real world?’
It was unknown if such a contract would carry over to his physical body in reality.
If he couldn’t bring the contract over and the skills failed to function properly… the thought alone was terrifying.
It was while Lee Tae-sung was hesitating.
“Sir Kelson. What do you think you’re doing!”
“Ah, boy. I’ve been caught.”
Kelson gave a bitter smile.
Dam Ho-pung had approached and was staring at him with terrifying eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that, Elder Dam. I just did it without thinking because I saw such an outstanding talent.”
“This fellow is a core talent of our Flying Dragon Clan!”
“Is a core talent merely a First-class Member?”
“That was until yesterday. As of today, he has been promoted to a Special-class Disciple. The Sect Leader’s decision has already been made. So don’t even think about taking someone else’s talent!”
“Oops. How scary. I get it, so don’t glare at me like that. I apologize for violating professional ethics.”
Kelson raised both hands and backed away.
Dam Ho-pung stared at his back for a long time before turning his head toward Lee Tae-sung.
“Brother.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Is your body alright?”
“It’s not bad.”
“Yes. That’s a relief. You’re not thinking of going to the Dragon Knights, are you?”
“…Haha. Of course not.”
He would have to think about it, but for now, he simply nodded.
After looking at Lee Tae-sung as if suspicious, Dam Ho-pung soon changed the subject.
“Thank you. We won easily thanks to you.”
“I’m glad I could be of help as a member of the Flying Dragon Clan.”
“I’ve told the Chief Overseer several times to take good care of your merits, so look forward to it. Promoting you to a Special-class Disciple is part of that.”
Excluding the Elder rank, the highest position in the Flying Dragon Clan was a Special-class Disciple.
Once he became a Special-class Disciple, designated requests would increase explosively, and much more difficult and high-end requests would come in.
It meant that his opportunities to obtain experience points, gold coins, and other good items would increase significantly!
Starting from the third-class, he had somehow climbed all the way here.
“Congratulations. We’ll talk more later. I’m busy with the aftermath, so I’ll be going now.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Since he had just stopped by while passing, Dam Ho-pung, who was busy with work, moved on first.
Lee Tae-sung also wanted to move rather than continue talking to him.
‘Shall I head out?’
After touching the ring on his finger, he moved.
He intended to go to the place indicated by Avison’s Son’s Ring.