Ch. 109
Chapter 109
Blood Flower Great Divine Art.
…The secret art of the Halla Clan had begun to awaken within my veins.
Swaaaaaa.
‘Power is surging. An overwhelming power.’
First, the mark near my heart shone red.
Slowly like the rising sun, yet intensely.
On the left side of my chest, where my heart beat, the sun pattern engraved there awakened for the first time.
At first, it was a faint crimson, but it gradually grew clearer, emitting a red glow like an actual sun.
That light spread gradually, yet with unstoppable force. Like dawn pushing away the night, or the sun rising above the horizon. What had started as a faint glow became increasingly intense, transforming into a dazzling crimson light.
“…Hoo.”
The red light that began in my heart spread through my blood vessels and across my entire body. Like molten lava flowing, the light branched along my veins and spread throughout me.
The light that flowed through the larger vessels divided into smaller ones, dyeing even the tiniest capillaries red. Beneath my skin, the flow of crimson-lit veins was clearly visible. Like rivers drawn on a map, or a cluster of red meteors in the night sky, the flow was distinct.
Ancient characters climbing up my spine awakened one by one. Like dominoes, when a lower character lit up, the one above it awakened in turn. The light that began at my tailbone slowly climbed my spine, illuminating every engraved symbol.
At first, they were faint crimson, but they gradually turned into a more vivid red. The patterns glowed as if heated like molten metal. Each time a character fully awakened, a small ripple spread around it, and a pulse could be felt beneath my skin.
The patterns writhed as if alive. Each character brightened and dimmed at regular intervals, as though breathing. At times they twisted like snakes, at times they moved as if ascending like dragons—these ancient characters.
They no longer looked like mere tattoos, but like living beings.
It was hot.
The heat climbing up my back felt like lava. Each time a pattern awakened, that area burned as if seared with red-hot iron.
But even that pain became strength and circulated through my entire body.
It felt like the blood flowing through my veins was boiling. My heartbeat quickened, and the hot blood surged through my body. Each time it passed through a pattern, the blood grew hotter, and that heat became increasingly intense.
Bubble, bubble.
The sound of boiling blood rang in my ears. Like a kettle boiling, or lava flowing.
The sound grew louder, soon becoming a vibration that shook my entire body. The sound of blood racing through my veins roared in my ears like a waterfall.
A pulse continued beneath my skin.
In sync with my heartbeat, the patterns brightened and dimmed all at once. Each time, a new wave of power swept through my entire body.
The changes did not end there.
My hair began to turn red.
My silver-white hair gradually changed into a deep crimson, as if soaked in blood.
My eyes glowed red as well.
My muscles hardened and swelled.
I heard the flustered voice of Lin Winterbell.
“W-What the hell did this crazy bastard just do?”
Beneath my skin, red patterns spread like tree branches.
My veins bulged as if they were about to burst,
and the blood flowing through them glowed red like lava. A crimson aura rose around my body.
Like steam, or like flames.
That aura wrapped around me and swirled.
With each step I took, crimson ripples spread outward.
The floor of the training ground cracked, and a crimson light seeped out from the fissures.
It felt as though my very existence had become a blazing flame.
The power of the mark had reached its peak.
Every sense in my body sharpened to the extreme.
Each muscle held explosive strength.
My joints hardened, and my skin turned like steel.
This was the true power of the Halla Clan.
The ultimate body created by the Blood Flower Great Divine Art.
My crimson eyes, as I looked at her, gleamed coldly under the moonlight.
‘I only drew out half the power of the Blood Flower Great Divine Art, yet the changes in my body are already this significant.’
When I faced Ian, I had used less power than this.
Back then, the physical changes hadn’t been noticeable—but now it was different.
My crimson-dyed hair and eyes were more than enough to draw everyone’s attention.
“Fuck… what the hell is that…”
Someone’s lament slipped out. The audience held their breath at the crimson aura enveloping the training ground.
“My god… his hair is turning like blood.”
“I’ve never seen such an intense aura before.”
A stir rose among the nobles’ seats.
“Father, that is…”
“Yes. The bloodline of the Halla Clan.”
Murmurs spread even among the gamblers.
“Damn it…! If I’d known, I would’ve bet on Ran Winterbell.”
“Now that I look at it, that earlier fight was just the surface. And if the blood of the Halla Clan and the Winterbell Clan are mixed, doesn’t that make him the strongest in battles where mana is sealed?”
Even among the gathering of family heads, conversation passed around. Rayven Helios, the Patriarch of the Helios Family, spoke.
“That is the Halla Clan… And your youngest son was born with such a powerful bloodline?”
“……”
Arkan, the Patriarch of the Winterbell Family, remained silent.
He had always been a man of few words, but as he looked at the blood energy emanating from Ran Winterbell’s body, it seemed many thoughts were crossing his mind.
At the edge of the training ground, Lin Winterbell watched the situation coldly. Despite the surrounding air heating up, there was still composure in her stance.
“Interesting.”
I felt time slow down.
Within the heightened senses created by the Blood Flower Great Divine Art, Lin Winterbell’s movements appeared sluggish, as if underwater.
My sword cut through the air.
Shiaaa—
The blood energy flowing along the blade scattered like petals. A crimson trajectory flew in a single arc. The blood-colored mist that gathered and burst along its path blended with the moonlight, creating a bizarre spectacle.
I saw Lin Winterbell’s movement.
A motion to twist her body around her right foot to evade.
But it was already too late.
In that fleeting instant, my sword grazed her shoulder.
The moment it cut her flesh, the blood energy emitted from the blade seeped into her body through the wound. Her white martial robe was dyed red as if ink were spreading through it.
“Khk…!”
Slash!
The second strike.
This time, more graceful—more lethal.
The blood energy brushing the blade swirled and burst forth like the breath of a dancing dragon.
The trajectory drawn by the sword formed a perfect circle.
Under the moonlight, it traced a crimson arc as it coiled around her body as if embracing her.
The blood energy that burst there spread like mist, obscuring her vision.
Her sword blocked my attack, but at the moment of collision, the splattered blood energy drenched her face. Her silver-white hair was instantly dyed blood-red—like blood splashed over snow.
“Right. You inherited the blood of those madmen.”
A thrill lingered in Lin Winterbell’s voice.
But I did not stop.
The boiling blood within my body demanded stronger movements—an even more perfect dance of the sword.
Within my vision, everything became even clearer.
Lin Winterbell’s breathing, the trembling of her muscles, even the moment a drop of sweat fell—
Everything appeared slow, yet vividly clear.
Shiaaaak—!
A sequence of consecutive strikes followed.
Not a single movement was wasted.
Like a dance long prepared, every motion formed perfect harmony.
Each time I swung my sword, crimson trajectories sliced through space, surrounding Lin Winterbell’s body.
Before the semicircle drawn by the first strike even finished, the second began,
and the third filled the space left behind.
The crimson trails drawn in the air formed perfect shapes like a single painting.
Trapped within them, Lin Winterbell’s body grew increasingly stained red as time passed. Yet her gaze still shone with a vivid, distinct light.
It meant she had not been broken.
Suddenly, Lin Winterbell burst into mad laughter, and clear insanity filled her eyes.
“Heh. Hehehe! Hahahahaha!”
Her sword shone silver.
A cold killing intent enveloped the training ground.
Winterbell Style Mad Sword.
Mad Frost Sword Dance.
The first strike began.
A frigid sword dance that raged like a storm.
“Graaah!!!”
It was swordsmanship completely devoted to instinct, unbound by the rules or forms of conventional technique.
Dozens of afterimages were left behind with a single movement.
Her silver hair fluttered as if dancing, becoming one with the trajectory of her blade.
Like snowflakes dancing in a blizzard—beautiful,
yet at the same time, a cold blade that tore flesh apart at a maddening speed.
Shiaaak—!
Before the first strike even ended, the second followed.
There was not a trace of hesitation, not even a moment’s pause.
The endlessly 이어지는 sword dance resembled an unending snowstorm.
Whooong!
Each time her sword cut through the air, a silver afterimage lingered.
It was as brilliant as moonlight shattering across ice crystals, yet it carried the chill of death.
The light of reason vanished from Lin Winterbell’s eyes.
With only instinct remaining, her sword moved even faster.
Three strikes in a single step,
seven mad sword strikes in a single turn.
The air froze.
Frost formed wherever her blade passed, then shattered and scattered.
Within the swirling vortex of cold created by her silver blade, Lin now looked like a mad goddess of frost.
“This… is the true sword of Winterbell!”
With her shout, the silver storm reached its peak.
The true form of the Mad Frost Sword Dance.
The ultimate realm created by swordsmanship that had cast aside reason and surrendered to instinct.
A shocking spectacle formed purely through swordsmanship alone, without the use of mana.
Everyone watched in silence.
“Ran Winterbell. Die here today.”
The mad storm—
the fangs of Winterbell’s crazed wolf—
rushed toward me.
But I did not retreat.
Rather, I advanced toward Lin Winterbell, who had opened her jaws wide as if to devour me.
It was an action no one had expected.
Not Lin Winterbell.
Not the spectators.
Perhaps not even myself.
‘I, too, will entrust myself to instinct.’
Rather than evading or breaking it down—
I would shatter it head-on.
That was my way.
Seeing that, Lin Winterbell smiled broadly and burst into loud laughter.
“Yes! Show me! Show me your true sword!”
“Do not regret it.”
Muttering quietly, I calmly walked into the storm of her mad sword dance.