Chapter 301

“…This is incredible.”

Even after arriving near the lake, the raging storm and whirlpools in all directions completely blocked our view.

Standing before a barrier that seemed to cut off external access, Seo Jian began gradually gathering the nearby Natural Qi.

“That’s considerable control. We might be able to disrupt it, but my attacks probably won’t be very effective either.”

“That’s enough.”

With great effort, Seo Jian controlled the Natural Qi of water and wind, then unraveled the whirlpool, creating a straight passage forward.

Hurrying inside, we encountered the Exorcists engaged in battle near the lake, all huddled together.

“…You are?”

“We’ve come to assist. What’s the situation?”

“Not good. The thing is holed up at the bottom of the lake, and most of our attacks are useless. Tsk.”

Present at the scene were High-Ranking Exorcists from the Baek Family and Elders we had previously encountered from the Hwang Family. Among them were also familiar faces like Hwang Jihak, Jeong Hansol, and Shin Sora.

“…It’s been a while. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like a situation for pleasantries.”

“I feel like I’m going to die! Stop talking and help already!”

It felt familiar, even though we hadn’t met in quite some time. But even they had clearly grown several levels after experiencing the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis.

“Where is Cheong Soha?”

“She’s at the center of the lake. She’s with a Special-Rank Exorcist from Headquarters, managing to restrain it somewhat effectively.”

Ultimately, that meant we also needed to head to the center of the lake.

Cheongpoongho was a massive lake spanning 67㎢, so we couldn’t even see the situation at the center from here.

“We’ll head to the center. Is that alright?”

“…Do you have a way to counter its power? Just holding on at the outskirts is already this taxing.”

“Yes. It should be quite possible.”

After speaking, I took the lead and began running towards the center of the lake, with Seo Jian assisting our movement using natural-type Art Formulas.

“…As I said before, don’t rely on me too much. Even my Cursed Technique will waver against a Specter of that level.”

“Understood. Let’s each move according to our abilities as much as possible.”

I took to the sky with the help of Black Yin and the Black Birds, while Sophia scattered paper cranes taken from her bosom into the air, reciting some kind of Jooeon.

Chwarararak!

“Ugh, Uncle told me not to break it… but there’s no choice.”

It seemed to be a Cursed Tool borrowed from her family. Sophia made a pained face, anticipating the future, and floated through the air with the help of the countless multiplied paper cranes.

Thus, with difficulty, we broke through to the center of the lake and soon discovered three Exorcists engaged in battle there.

‘Cheong Soha, Ban Soyae from Headquarters… and Haekaram?’

All three were familiar faces, so recognizing them wasn’t difficult.

However, something else caught my eye more.

“It’s like an antlion pit…”

The circular underwater whirlpool spinning at the center of the lake—what lay beneath it was obvious even without looking.

Moreover, with an average depth of 97 meters, approaching the creature’s main body itself was no easy task.

‘…I knew it, but it’s certainly not an easy situation.’

Nor did we have the luxury of time.

If we left it like this, it would gradually draw in the surrounding Natural Qi from the lakebed and cause a massive flood in South Korea.

With the entire country already shaken, it was all too easy to imagine what would happen if such an event occurred.

“Are you alright?”

“…You are?”

All three were riding on the back of a giant bird-like creature, seemingly summoned by Ban Soyae. Recognizing us, they immediately changed direction and approached.

“Long time no see. I heard you had some special experiences; you feel quite different now.”

Haekaram greeted us warmly, then pointed towards the whirlpool at the lake’s center with his fingertip.

“So, do you have a way… to lure it out?”

“Has it been like this the whole time?”

“Yeah. Thanks to that, we’re stuck in a meaningless war of attrition.”

These three here could pose some threat to the Dragon Abyss God.

Knowing this, the creature cleverly refused to give up its advantage.

“There are two methods. Accept its invitation, or pull it out.”

“…Is that possible? Which do you recommend?”

“The former carries high risk, the latter consumes a lot of power. Even if we pull it out, the opportunity will likely be fleeting.”

Neither path was easy.

As I steeled my resolve again, a suggestion came from Seo Jian, who had been deep in thought.

“…I’ll try to pull it out. If done well, it might not be too difficult.”

If possible, that was far more ideal. I nodded and accepted Seo Jian’s opinion.

Then, Seo Jian grabbed Sophia’s hand, who was beside her, approached the lake, and began to concentrate.

“Keep firing Grand Arts in the direction I indicate. I’ll open the path.”

“Umm… Alright. I’ll give it a try.”

Hooong.

Soon, Sophia invoked her Spiritual Power and recited an Incantation, deploying the Heavenly Thousand Rotation Wave, a Grand Art passed down in her family.

And precisely at the moment the Art was deployed, Seo Jian, who had been concentrating, widened her eyes and gestured towards the lake’s whirlpool.

Then, something amazing happened.

Chwaak!

Piiiiing—!

As if a hole had been punched through, a circular gap appeared within the whirlpool. Sophia’s Grand Art, piercing through the gap, flashed and penetrated the lakebed.

Guuuuuu—!

A cry filled with pain, or perhaps resentment.

Along with it, an intense vibration spread through the air, and the storm tormenting us grew even stronger.

The attack just now had accurately hit the Dragon Abyss God, provoking its anger.

“Don’t stop. We have to keep pushing.”

“Ah. Ugh.”

Sophia once again drew up her Spiritual Power and recited an Incantation. Seo Jian also began assisting her by repeating the same process.

And only then could I accurately grasp what Seo Jian was aiming for.

‘…She plans to torment it unilaterally.’

By having the two cooperate to repeatedly attack through the lakebed, they were declaring that it was no longer a space advantageous only to the Dragon Abyss God.

In reality, no matter how powerful the Dragon Abyss God is, it cannot effectively attack us from down there alone.

So, isn’t that why it’s summoning storms and making a fuss like now?

And if this repeats, surely the creature will…

“It moved. It will reveal itself soon.”

“It’s coming. Everyone, prepare!”

Chureong.

Chwaaaak—!

In an instant, as if a bomb had exploded, the lake’s surface split open, and a massive form surged up from within.

A dragon’s head and tail, but the body resembled a Haetae. Its arms and legs, covered in scales, seemed capable of free movement like a human’s.

That mysterious monster, with its unique Oppressive Aura, soon landed, floating on the water’s surface on all fours, carefully taking in our faces with its eyes.

“…It’s smaller than I thought. I imagined something more massive.”

“Don’t let your guard down. The energy it radiates is on a different level from other Specters.”

Ban Soyae, who had been muttering with a dazed expression, shook her head at Cheong Soha’s words and took a deep breath.

Anyway, now that the creature had directly revealed itself, what we had to do from now on was practically decided.

Thud.

Srrrruk.

Haekaram, who had been wearing a goblin mask, took it off first, dropped it onto the lake’s surface, and began reciting a Jooeon.

“Sorry, but once we’ve met, I won’t let you go.”

Hooong!

A high-level Barrier immediately enveloped the surroundings using the mask as a medium. Watching it, I realized the Barrier’s level was different from usual and finally noticed one fact.

“Don’t tell me, that mask earlier was…”

“Ah, it’s the real thing. The one that maintained Yangcheolkoong’s Great Barrier.”

“Is that still okay?”

Well, in a situation like now where the nation itself is in crisis, that might also be a rational decision.

I understood Haekaram’s resolve for this battle and simultaneously felt reassured.

“With this, we should be able to hold it for a while at least. We must settle this within that gap.”

“…Yes. Understood.”

With this, the Dragon Abyss God’s retreat was cut off, creating a perfect setup for a frontal fight.

Unlike before when it held all the advantages, our positions had somewhat reversed.

“…Uuum. Good. Anyway, now we just attack wildly, right?”

Sophia was the first to step forward.

She must have expended power deploying Grand Arts several times since earlier, yet without showing signs of fatigue, she fired powerful Arts at the Dragon Abyss God.

Following that momentum, Cheong Soha and Ban Soyae also charged directly at the creature, riding their giant flying Shikigami.

“It’s likely agile due to its small size. Getting too close is dangerous.”

“I’ll handle the close combat; please provide support from nearby.”

Ban Soyae expressed concern, but Cheong Soha charged at the Dragon Abyss God without hesitation, swinging a sword wrapped in Talismans.

Frankly, I thought she wouldn’t be a major force without the Azure-White Sword now, but it seems I was completely mistaken.

Seogeok!

Piiing—!

Cheong Soha swung her sword vertically once, then immediately swung it back horizontally, sending the Talismans attached to the sword flying towards the Dragon Abyss God.

Chwarararak!

“Seal of Heavenly Binding!”

The Talismans each emitted light, covering the Dragon Abyss God’s body and hindering its movement. Seizing the opportunity, Ban Soyae’s powerful Curse pummeled its entire body.

“A counterattack is coming!”

“Don’t worry.”

Hwiik!

Teok!

After one exchange of attacks, Cheong Soha quickly returned to Ban Soyae’s side. Only then did the Dragon Abyss God writhe, shaking off the Talismans and freeing itself from the restraint.

We clearly landed a considerable amount of attacks, but conversely, the expressions of the group were not good.

“There was… some damage, right?”

“Hard to say.”

As I expected from my knowledge and the results of Appraising it, this was precisely the problem when dealing with this creature.

Terrifying defense and endurance.

Unless we can break through that, we will never achieve victory over it.

Srrruk.

Staring back at the creature’s gaze, which looked down on us contemptuously from the water’s surface, I quietly sent a signal to the shadows.