Chapter 183. The Seven Extreme Stars, Varkanon (3)

Varkanon, whose entire body was burned to a charcoal crisp, had lost all semblance of a Dragonkin's dignity.

“I will kill you both.”

His scales, melted and misshapen by the fire, and his blackened skin resembled a Lizardman more, but the power hidden behind that appearance was still close to that of a dragon.

“What a persistent bastard……”

“From my perspective, you’re the more persistent one. To reduce that Dragonkin to such a state, and with you being relatively unharmed.”

It was he who had trusted Evan and asked him to face Varkanon in the first place.

Yet, seeing the result firsthand was nothing short of astonishing.

To achieve such a result against an opponent that even he would have to risk his life against was practically an overwhelming victory.

But for Evan, it was only a half-victory with quite a painful loss.

“You call this unharmed? Can’t you see this dangling arm?”

Evan, in an annoyed voice, held up his broken left arm and let out a blood-laced cough.

Seeing this, Harashin lightly patted Evan’s back and stepped forward.

“To be honest, I didn't expect a foreigner like you to throw yourself into battle for our kingdom like this. Was that fire from the Fire Dragon Orb?”

“You know about it?”

“Of course. You don’t look like a mage, and to create a fire of that magnitude, what else could it be but the power of a Fire Dragon?”

“If you know, then keep your promise properly. Not only my body, but a precious treasure has been consumed.”

“I said I understand. I’ll give it to you right after we deal with that lizard fellow, so just hang in there a little longer.”

Evan nodded once more.

It was as if they were confirming the promise they had already made to each other.

“I will bring you that armor, no matter what it takes. I became certain today. That it’s better to have the Empire as an enemy than to make an enemy of you.”

To Harashin, Evan was still an unknown being whose true identity he could not ascertain.

At least, he judged him to be more of an ally than an enemy because his hostility towards the Empire was clearly revealed, making him favorable to the Solaid Kingdom.

And Harashin was not a fool who would turn an ally into an enemy.

“I’m glad you realized that. But can you really handle that thing? It seems like it still has the strength to fight.”

Evan’s gaze pointed to Varkanon.

Although his wings were burned away and he was a complete wreck, he was still one of the Seven Extreme Stars and a Dragonkin.

Even in a near-death state, his power should not be taken lightly.

“I will handle that. A dragon that can’t fly is no longer a match for me!”

Harashin got into a stance with a determined look in his eyes.

“But be careful. That bastard is in a state of awakening with his own blood, called Dragon Blood. The more blood he sheds, the stronger that damn bloodline gets.”

“I know well about Dragon Blood. But that’s only when the body is somewhat intact. In his current state, that bastard won’t last long.”

No matter how much one awakens with a dragon’s blood, the current Varkanon had shed far too much blood.

“Of course, he’s still one of the Seven Extreme Stars even if he’s on the verge of death.”

Nevertheless, Harashin was by no means careless.

The opponent was one of the Seven Extreme Stars, a threat in and of itself.

Furthermore, defeating Varkanon was not the end of everything.

From the position of having to prepare for what came after, he could not afford to be seriously injured.

He was a martial artist, but he was also a prince who would lead a nation.

“So you go into the temple and rest. If you get swept up in this, you’ll just be a hindrance.”

“That was my plan anyway.”

But Harashin’s consideration could not last to the end.

The moment Evan showed signs of leaving the battlefield, Varkanon made the first move.

“No one leaves this place!”

Along with Varkanon’s shout, not only the ground he was standing on, but even the surrounding air began to freeze rapidly.

—Jjeojeojeok!

An ice wall, created with his blood and mana as a medium, instantly formed a dome around them.

Evan and Harashin were trapped before they could do anything, and the surroundings soon became a small dueling ground.

“……That’s why I told you to get inside quickly.”

Harashin clicked his tongue and approached Varkanon.

Close-quarters combat was the fighting style Harashin was most confident in.

The inside of the ice dome was actually to his advantage.

—Tatat!

At least, that was what he thought.

But the bitter smile that spread on Varkanon’s lips signaled that the situation was not simple.

“I will definitely not die alone. I will take you with me as companions on the road.”

In that instant, water gushed out from under Varkanon’s feet.

The rising water instantly filled the ice dome.

—Chwaaaa!!

The battlefield had completely changed.

Water, instead of air, filled the empty space inside the dome without a gap.

This place, which had been Harashin’s battlefield, had now become the domain of Varkanon, the one with the blood of a Water Dragon.

“Eup!”

Harashin and Evan held their breath and put strength into their feet to keep their bodies from floating.

Their movements were slowed by the resistance of the water, but Varkanon was different.

His bloodline was that of the Water Dragon, the Blue Dragon.

Underwater was, in fact, the most familiar battlefield for him.

“Don’t worry. I will kill you before you suffocate.”

Now the match was back to square one.

But the pressure of time was much greater on Evan and Harashin’s side.

‘Of all times, to be without a weapon.’

For Evan, a Weapon Master, to be without a weapon was as good as losing half of his combat power.

Of course, he was a top-tier powerhouse even with his bare hands, but in his current physical condition, even putting strength into his body was painful.

‘It’s up to Harashin, rather than me, to make a decision. There’s no time, so I hope he decides quickly.’

In the end, there were only two options.

Break the ice wall, or defeat the caster, Varkanon.

And it seemed Harashin had already made his decision.

To kill the caster, Varkanon.

—Hwoooong!

Harashin, advancing through the water, immediately threw a punch at Varkanon.

Although the speed was slowed due to being underwater, the power contained in that punch was threatening enough for the near-death Varkanon.

“Keuheup!”

He could no longer endure with just the hardness of his scales.

Even if the outer shell remained, the inside was already broken beyond repair.

Therefore, Varkanon began to use human martial arts for the first time.

It was to use defense and evasion.

“Eup?!”

Harashin was momentarily surprised.

A common and ordinary martial art, one that everyone knew and whose counters were widespread.

But if the one using it was a Dragonkin, the story was completely different.

—Teok! Teok!

Unlike himself, whose power was halved due to the resistance of the water, Varkanon’s attacks were still threatening.

When human techniques were manifested with the power of a Dragonkin, those ordinary attacks left a shock that could shake the bones every time they were blocked.

Moreover, to make matters worse, Varkanon’s body was regenerating, albeit slowly.

“In the end, it is you who will die!”

In this state, Varkanon was confident that if he held on to the end, he would eventually win.

‘Looks like I’ll have to show all my cards too. Otherwise, I’ll be the one to die.’

That is, until a smile appeared on Harashin’s lips.

—Kung!

Harashin stomped his foot hard on the ground underwater.

The impact was strong enough to create vibrations even in the water.

And Harashin’s stance was very familiar to Evan.

Because Evan had seen it before Varkanon.

‘I never thought sparring with that foreigner friend Evan beforehand would be this helpful. I was lucky.’

The technique he had researched and refined to surpass Kailam.

That technique, which had been incomplete and nameless until now, finally gained a name at this moment.

‘Since the opponent is a Dragonkin, this name should be sufficient. Yongcheon-gyeok, Dracotuan.’

Harashin, showing respect for his opponent, threw a punch with maximum acceleration, twice from the very beginning.

Varkanon instinctively raised his remaining arm to block, but before the fist even reached, he felt a fear that froze his heart.

—Udeudeuk!

Along with the shockwave, Varkanon’s remaining arm completely exploded.

Fragments flew and created a large crack in the ice wall.

—Teeong!!!

The water churned violently from the impact.

“Uwaaaaah! How dare you humans!! Me, who has the blood of a dragon!!!”

Varkanon, driven mad with anger, opened his mouth wide and, like a lizard, bit down on Harashin’s shoulder.

“Oop!”

At this distance, it was difficult to counter properly.

And if he tried to force it open, his shoulder would be torn off completely.

‘Do I have to give up an arm?’

In such a difficult moment, Evan appeared from behind and thrust his fingers towards Varkanon’s eye.

—Puk!

His fingers went straight into the defenseless Varkanon’s eye.

At the unbearable pain, Varkanon let out a scream.

“Kraaak!”

Due to the scream, he unknowingly opened his mouth, and Harashin used this opportunity to create distance from Varkanon.

And he exchanged glances with Evan, sharing their intentions.

Without a single word, they sought to perfectly synchronize their moves.

‘Let’s go, Harashin.’

‘Yes, I understand!’

A strike that tore the heavens.

—Kung!

A strike that pierced a dragon.

—Kung kung!

The ultimate combination attack manifested by the two merged into one, creating a powerful wave of qi that even they had not expected.

Later, Harashin would recall that moment and name this combination attack ‘Arcatuan’.

It meant the ultimate strike.

—Kwang!!!

The moment their fists connected, the two briefly lost consciousness.

It was because they felt a confusion as if the whole world had been turned upside down by the tremendous impact.

When they regained consciousness, the ice wall had disappeared without a trace.

All the water had drained out, leaving only damp ground, and Varkanon was standing with only his two legs remaining.

“Finally, that Varkanon has fallen. That persistent thing. Evan, we won.”

One of the Empire’s Seven Extreme Stars had fallen.

“This has been a terribly long day……. To face two of the Seven Extreme Stars.”

Though it was a brief battle, it was so intense that once the tension was released, all the suppressed pain rushed back to Evan at once.

He forced his body up, enduring the pain that would have made an ordinary person collapse long ago.

“Keueueueuk……!”

He wanted to collapse right then and there, but the battle was not over yet.

Evan dragged his weary body and looked down.

It seemed the tide had turned, but it was still not over.

“Those guys…… I have to help……”

The moment his body was about to collapse forward, Harashin grabbed his arm and supported him.

“You are a true warrior. And I know how to show respect to a warrior.”

“That’s very kind of you……. I don’t even have the strength to lift a finger.”

Harashin smiled and said.

“Leave this place to our kingdom now and rest. Thank you very much, foreigner. No, friend.”

“I don't make friends with just anyone. At least not right now.”

“Haha! You have quite the pride. Alright, let’s talk again after this battle is over. As friends then.”

After laying Evan in a safe place, Harashin no longer hesitated and jumped down.

‘Ah…… so bright…….’

Bathing in the bright sunlight, Evan closed his eyes.

He could faintly hear the voices of Jack and Jaina in the distance.

‘What the hell…… are they saying…….’

With the voices of his comrades as the last thing he heard, Evan, with all his strength gone, slowly lost consciousness.