Episode 834
Chapter 209: The Seventh Tomb of Temar – The Painting of Kaitam (7)
Jin and Murakan.
They were the first to sense the presence of the impostor.
“Knights, he’s coming.”
“The fake one. I was worried he might stir up trouble in other regions again, but thankfully, he’s come here himself to die.”
The Tenteen Knights sharpened their senses, detecting the impostor’s power.
“All knights of Seongnae Fortress, assemble. Today is the day of reckoning.”
“We must eliminate him today and avenge the head of the family’s grudge…”
“Barmal, Murakan. Show us what you’ve got.”
As soon as the impostor appeared in the nearby sky, the storm intensified, and the night grew even darker. It felt less like a dragon’s arrival and more like some malevolent god descending to bring ruin.
The Tenteen Knights busied themselves, directing the other knights.
“He’s strong. The painting Kaitam made really captured your prime, didn’t it? Even from this distance, I can feel that immense power.”
“Hmph! No matter how strong he seems, he’s still a fake—a mere painting.”
“Judging by what you’re saying, you admit he’s strong, right?”
“Of course, the real me was even stronger, but yes. He’s dangerous. We need to stay alert, kid.”
Outside, the knights were already in position.
Even among the lower-ranked foot soldiers, none showed fear. All were resolute, ready to face death without hesitation.
Jin and Murakan climbed atop the fortress gate.
“You know well enough—while he’s airborne, there’s no way to deal with him.”
“He swept through Lugado and Mito, so he must be aware of Murakan and me. He’s about to enter our range.”
Shing…
Jin slowly drew Sigmund. In the stormy night, with no moonlight, the pale blade gleamed quietly.
“We need to force him down to the ground, centering on me and the kid. Frey, you provide long-range support, then join the knights when the ground battle begins. Dranax and Violo, you two handle close combat with us in the air.”
The Tenteen Knights nodded.
“Barmal, Murakan.”
“Yes, Sir Frey?”
“Why?”
“I regret not welcoming you properly at first, but now that such a great battle is about to begin, I feel sorry.”
The Storm Fortress now fully trusted Jin and Murakan.
Only those truly enraged by this crisis—those willing to die for Runkandel—could radiate such fierce fighting spirit into the dark sky above. A spirit so intense it seemed capable of overwhelming and tearing anything apart.
“There’s no need for apologies.”
“Besides, we’re glad you’re here. Looking at this now, I doubt we could have handled him alone.”
“I told you there’d be no disappointments. It’s an honor to fight alongside you.”
“Likewise.”
Just as Frey finished speaking,
Suddenly, a black vortex tore open in the sky above Runkandel. The impostor exhaled a breath of dark energy.
“Hah!”
At the same moment, Murakan leaned back, clenching his fist. His fist and legs were covered in black dragon scales, and as he stepped forward, a section of the fortress wall crumbled.
“Urya!”
His forward punch unleashed a massive, sharp spiritual energy like a breath of death. Two streams of energy collided in midair, warping the space around them.
Before the scattered energy could dissipate, Murakan transformed into his true form, enveloping the entire fortress in a black barrier.
[You dare impersonate me, harm Temar, and kill countless innocents without cause? Prepare to pay for your sins, ephemeral falsehood.]
The impostor halted midair, staring at Murakan.
‘He’s bigger than Murakan…’
The two black dragons filled the sky. They looked identical, but the impostor’s larger size gave him a more intimidating presence.
[So the rumors from Mito’s insignificant ones were true. There exists a being identical to me… Your power is quite impressive. Who forged you?]
[This bastard still thinks he’s the real one. Enough talk. Just keep taking hits until you realize you’re the fake, a worthless worm.]
[Do you think that’s possible without Temar Runkandel? None of you can kill me. Surrender Barisada, and I’ll spare your lives. Especially you, fake—I have plans for you…]
Shwaaak!
Before he could finish, the impostor dashed across the fortress wall, cutting through the storm. Raindrops evaporated instantly upon touching his blue lightning aura, leaving afterimages.
The Fifth Secret Technique: Lightning-Speed Piercing, the Lord of Death. Seven streaks of sword energy sliced through the black sky, surging toward the impostor.
He had already raised a protective barrier, blocking six of the strikes, but the seventh, layered and precise, slipped through the gap and pierced his chest.
A deep wound opened, spilling spiritual energy like blood.
Yet the energy fell to the ground only to quickly return to the impostor.
‘This isn’t simple regeneration. It seems the absolute amount of spiritual energy composing the fake remains untouched…’
If this is my prime, even the kid and I together wouldn’t stand a chance.
Really? That strong? You said you were close to your prime.
Close and complete are different. Heh heh. Back then, Murakan here could only be killed by Changseong. No matter how many strong foes came, without Changseong, he was untouchable.
Murakan’s words before entering the painting echoed in Jin’s mind.
Indeed, it felt like cutting through the ocean. No matter how massive the disturbance, the sea quickly returned to its original state.
Jin recalled the techniques he had that could effectively harm the impostor.
‘Eternal Flame, Upheaval, the Lord of Death’s Reign Sword, the Annihilation Flame of the Heavenly Demon’s Final Form, and the family’s secret technique.’
He decided to save Eternal Flame for last, to strike the heart with certainty. It seemed closest to the nature of ‘Changseong.’
[An unfamiliar knight. I didn’t know Temar hid such a successor.]
“Temar wouldn’t know.”
[Is that so? You’re from Laprarosa, wielding the Lord of Death’s power.]
“You don’t need to know about me. We can’t coexist under the same sky.”
The impostor sneered, not understanding the implication of the ‘painting world.’
[That’s only if I wish it to be so. You intrigue me. I’ll spare you for now; there’s much to learn.]
Crack!
Murakan lunged, biting the impostor’s neck. The impostor bit back, and both held their breath in their jaws.
Their breaths exploded, momentarily obscuring their heads in a cloud of spiritual energy. It looked as if their heads and necks had exploded, but neither suffered serious damage.
Jin and the Tenteen Knights swiftly surrounded the impostor on a gale of sword wind. Dranax and Violo’s blades tore through the layered barriers first, allowing Jin to close in.
The Nine Sword Technique of the Fighting God unleashed a flurry of annihilating strikes, slashing down the impostor’s wings. Then the Seven Sword Dragon Slayer struck his chest, followed by the Meteor Shower targeting his back.
The Dragon Slayer sword was specialized against dragons, its hooked blue energy relentlessly carving into the impostor’s scales. The impostor winced in pain, distracted by the Dragon Slayer’s assault, slowing his defense against other attacks.
‘No damage, but he feels pain. Perhaps the energy restoration drains his mental strength. Either way, he’s trying to avoid attacks. We can drag him down to the ground.’
Even as the two dragons tangled and spun, Jin and the Tenteen Knights focused solely on the impostor. Such precision was only possible for the top-tier superhumans. Without them, no one could withstand the breath and spiritual energy the two black dragons constantly unleashed.
Back at the Storm Fortress, Frey was ready to strike. Beside her lay two massive spears tipped with ancient eternal steel. She gripped one carefully, aiming at the impostor.
‘Now.’
Thud! Shing!
Frey hurled the spear with all her might. The fortress floor cracked under the shockwave. The spear traced a dazzling arc against the black sky, striking the impostor’s head precisely.
Before he could flinch or look toward Frey, she had already thrown another spear. Each impact sent heavy vibrations through the battlefield.
Gradually, the fake Murakan’s altitude dropped. He spewed black spikes from his body, pushing Jin and the Tenteen Knights away.
But the three cut and shattered the spikes with their swords, clinging stubbornly to the impostor’s body. They stabbed his neck, tore his wing membranes, and detonated aura and magic in his abdomen. In the process, they sustained minor wounds.
From the fierce early skirmish, Jin’s group had gained the upper hand. After the struggle, Murakan managed to climb onto the impostor’s back.
Murakan sank his teeth into the fake’s nape, relentlessly battering its shoulders and wings with his forelegs. From both wings, he formed sharp spikes that jabbed into its sides. Crack, crunch, stab! The fake’s scales, flesh, bones, and organs shattered, scattering its life energy.
But it was also regenerating. Though it was in pain, no real damage was being done to its core.
“Get off!”
Dranax shouted, driving his sword into the fake’s shoulder where Frey’s spear had pierced. The spear broke, driving the blade deeper into the wound. Violoh swung his dagger, slicing through the spikes aimed at Dranax and Jin.
Even if the fake perfectly replicated Murakan at his prime, it seemed impossible to break free without transforming. Both the knights and Murakan were neutralizing every spike of life energy the fake unleashed, maintaining constant pressure. Its body structure made simply escaping unfeasible.
Finally, the fake shifted into human form in an instant, landing on the mountainside. Jin, Dranax, and Violoh descended like lightning, their swords poised to strike.
But the next moment, all three halted simultaneously, their blades stirring up a sudden gust. Instinctively sensing danger, they twisted their descent paths.
The fake grinned.
“You think dragging me down to the ground will do anything? Especially you, fake—you were the most desperate. Probably because you know me best.”
[This is maddening. Who’s calling who fake? You’re losing your mind, though you’re less beaten up.]
“Right… Now that I think about it, you all cared more about someone else getting hurt than yourselves. Fine, then. I’ll start by smashing the Storm Fortress. Barisada’s there anyway.”
The fake stretched out a hand toward the Storm Fortress.
“This is how you use life energy, fake. And fake contractors.”
In that instant, the entire mountain range, including the peak where the Storm Fortress stood, darkened with life energy.
The knights stationed at the Storm Fortress suddenly noticed their shadows beneath them twisting in strange, unnatural ways.
Almost every shadow around the fortress contorted like that. Those touched by the fake’s power became identical to their shadows—mirrored, warped reflections of themselves.