Chapter 343: River of Blood, Mountain of Screams (6)

It was nothing more than a punch, yet Paratul couldn’t steady his body.

“

Krghh

....”

Paratul, a dragon once known as a great species, let out a groan of pain. It wasn’t an exaggeration.

“How... How could a human like you...”

Paratul had never seen a human enter the world of the unconscious. As far as he knew, only two humans had ever entered the world of the unconscious. They became gods, and they were the kind of people befitting of becoming such beings. They had either been representatives of a god, or people with the mental strength to establish a religion.

However, Keter was neither. All he was was a human faithful to his desires.

The world of the unconscious was a dangerous place. It was different from the mental world. Minds could be mixed. That was why Keter and Paratul both fought using their mental strength and imagination.

Yet this place was Keter’s unconscious space. Here, he was a god, and Paratul was nothing more than an intruder.

Keter blew on his fist as Paratul staggered. He immediately caught on after feeling the impact in his fist and seeing Paratul taken aback.

“That was a nice hit. Seems like I can kill you here.”

At that moment, Franken jumped and struck the back of Keter’s head.

“You should greet your master if you see him.”

Keter rubbed the back of his head and replied in irritation.

“That temper surely proves it's you. Please wait for a moment. I’ll deal with this bastard first, then we can chat.”

Keter spun his arm in circles as he approached Paratul.

Paratul tried to start a conversation.

“Wait, I have the greatest proposal for you...”

“Cut the crap!”

Keter swung his fist, the most primitive weapon of a human.

Paratul was a dragon, whose race was also called the originators of magic. Naturally, he responded with magic. In his right hand was the nine-circle dark magic, Black Crown. The seven-circle freezing magic, Ice Age, was being cast in his left hand.

However, Keter’s fist was faster than the activation of the magic.

“This is for Serena, you bastard.”

The emotion of rage from having lost Serena was embedded in Keter’s fist.

Paratul tried to use magic even while being beaten. A dragon could use magic by will alone, even without hand seals. Yet, it did not activate.

“Fists are the only things I allow here.”

Keter had been using only his fists for a good reason. By his own will, he had changed the rules of this place. Even Paratul had to submit since this was Keter’s unconscious, after all.

I also have thousands of years of experience with martial arts.

A dragon didn’t always use only magic. Paratul had also learned human techniques as he lived as a human for amusement. Paratul had only been taking hits, but suddenly deflected Keter’s punch and was about to launch a counterattack.

“How old-fashioned.”

Keter’s forehead smashed into Paratul’s face. Next, his knee drove into Paratul’s abdomen. Then, his fingertips struck Paratul’s throat.

“

Kugh

.”

Paratul, who had taken on a human form, clutched his neck and staggered backward.

Keter didn’t chase after Paratul, but watched him and said, “What’s with that expression? Didn’t you expect even this much? You acted like you already won when you came into the world of the unconscious, didn’t you?”

“

Whew

. Keter, listen to me. If you kill me here, you won’t come out unscathed either.”

“Your threats are old-fashioned too.”

Keter clenched his fist again.

Paratul hurriedly continued to say, “I acknowledge my defeat. I will remain quietly, still, in a corner of your mind. Please spare me in return. As compensation, I will grant you my knowledge and power.”

“What kind of knowledge and power? Give me a little first. You should hand over a sample if you want me tempted.”

“A method to kill or seal a god, and the entire history of this world. The secrets of the universe. You will come to know everything, as well as the power of a dragon as well. Even Lillian and the Godfather will no longer be able to ignore you.”

“That’s all?”

“I won’t interfere with what you do. I’ll merely watch. However, if you insist on killing me, then I will have no choice but to kill you as well.”

“Oh dear, how scary. The one who can kill me is struggling this much,

huh?

”

“Even if I cannot take your body, I can still kill you. That is the truth.”

Paratul cast a glance at Franken. Reading that look, Keter turned to Franken.

At that, Franken sighed and said, “It’s annoying, but true, Keter. If he uses his last resort, both of you will die. Mutual destruction.”

“

Tsk

. You really are annoying to the end.” Keter bit his lip and glared at Paratul.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Those weren’t just words from somebody; they were Franken’s. Keter would have dismissed it if it had been Paratul’s threat, but since Franken said it was true, it must indeed be true. Moreover, Keter didn’t know much about the world of the unconscious. He couldn’t simply eliminate Paratul with careless complacency, assuming things would just work out again this time.

The knowledge and power of a dragon. Like he said, it would surely be of great help in fighting gods.

Keter struggled to find a compromise. Trying to rationalize himself to create a reason not to kill Paratul.

“You’re planning to parasitize my mind and take over my body if you get the chance, right?”

It was exactly what Amaranth had tried to do. Unlike Amaranth, though, Paratul was a dragon. Not a mere fragment of a sealed god, but a real dragon.

Paratul nodded. “If your mental strength weakens, or if you are at the moment of dying, then yes. However, if you never create such a situation to begin with, I have no power to forcibly take over your body.”

“In other words, you’re saying you’ll make my life troublesome.”

“That would be more beneficial for both of us than mutual destruction.”

“

Hm

. That is true.”

“I’m glad we understand each other. Then let us make a contract.”

Paratul extended his hand for a handshake.

Keter also stretched out his hand, but it wasn’t for a handshake. It was his fist that reached out.

“It’s so true that it’s punch-worthy![1]”

***

The punches Keter threw at Paratul hadn’t contained killing intent, but anger. Anger because he had been messed with. Anger that he had lost Serena, the one he loved.

However, it changed. The punches now carried the will to kill an opponent were neither dull nor just focused on inflicting pain. They only targeted vital points. The destructive force to destroy the opponent was condensed within it.

Taken aback, Paratul shouted, “You fool! It’s not a lie that I can kill you. That human testified to it as well, and you still don’t believe it?”

Without stopping his punches, Keter replied, “I do believe it, but so what?”

Paratul was shocked.

“I would never negotiate with someone like you. Even if that means I die.”

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“W-what kind of irrational... idiotic reason is that?!”

“That’s what humans are like, and that’s me.”

Paratul’s defense was clumsy. Naturally so, since he had never in his life needed to defend straight up with his own body.

At last, Keter’s fist smashed into Paratul’s head. It wasn’t enough to kill Paratul outright, but it was enough to make Paratul realize.

This bastard really intends to kill me.

Paratul couldn’t understand. This was mutual destruction. They would both die. No one would gain anything. It was foolish. Their lives were different from those of some ordinary beings, and were existences capable of changing this world, even this very realm. Yet Keter was choosing the foolish path of mutual annihilation.

“I cannot understand. I truly, truly cannot understand you humans!” Paratul shouted in anger.

Keter gave a punch first and an answer after.

“Why are you trying to understand? Just don’t.”

“Very well. I’ll do as you wish.”

The moment it seemed light was gonna burst out from Paratul, he shed his human flesh. A massive, imposing dragon appeared instead. A size comparable to a small mountain. Golden scales sprouted like thorns and shone brilliantly.

The world of the unconscious shook violently at the appearance of a dragon.

Franken, who had been watching, approached Keter.

“You’re still reckless,

huh

.”

Keter merely shrugged in response.

“He’s trying to unleash his own unconscious into this place. If an unconscious clashes with another unconscious, then both sides will be annihilated, no matter what kind of being it is. Keter. I know you didn’t do this knowingly, but still, did you perhaps have some kind of plan?”

“Nope. Nothing.”

“And you say that so proudly,” Franken said, and kicked Keter’s knee.

Not even pretending it hurt, Keter looked up at the sky. “I’ll admit it. As long as that bastard remains in my mind, I will never be at ease. It’s annoying, but I don’t see any way to fix it, so I figured I’d rather die.”

“It’s not like Paratul was about to do anything to you immediately. You could’ve instantly become one of the strongest in the world if you gained a dragon’s power and knowledge. Isn’t this a waste? Everything you’ve built, everything you could enjoy?”

“It is a waste. I am worried, but still—” Keter scratched the back of his head and smiled brightly. “I’ve always been prepared to die, so saying I don’t want to die now... that wouldn’t be very cool.”

“

Hahahaha.

You lunatic.”

The world of the unconscious rapidly split apart, and Paratul’s majestic body crumbled along with it.

“I’m sorry. You came all the way here to help me, yet I’m making you die with me.”

“So you finally say you’re sorry when you’re about to die,

huh?

Anything else to say? Perhaps that you actually lusted after me or something like that.”

“Not a chance.”

“How boring.” Franken nudged Keter with her elbow and stretched. “Somehow I figured things would turn out like this.”

“Where are you going?”

“Where else would I go? I’m going to save you.”

Keter became confused at those words.

“You foolish disciple of mine. Do not give up on learning even until the moment you die. I told you, didn’t I? When an unconscious meets an unconscious, both sides are annihilated.”

“You’re planning to sacrifice yourself for me...?”

“Not for you. For me.”

As if going for a walk, Franken casually walked toward Paratul.

Keter blankly stared at her, then hurriedly said, “I’m grateful you’re saving me, but how am I supposed to repay you if you disappear like this?”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to? Keter. It seems you’ve forgotten why I went to Liqueur.”

Keter needed time to think since he really had forgotten.

“Be good to me out there.”

However, there was no time. Franken immediately approached Paratul and unfolded her own unconscious.

Seeing that, Paratul screamed, “

Kraaah!

You foolish human! You could just escape this place, so why choose annihilation for that bastard’s sake?!”

“Because he’s my only disciple,” Franken answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Paratul couldn’t understand. He wanted to shout and ask what that had anything to do with it. However, the moment Franken released her unconscious within the already collapsing unconscious, Franken and Paratul’s unconscious merged and were annihilated.

Franken accepted the annihilation with a smile. On the other hand, Paratul wore a face of despair, and met his end without ever being able to understand the human heart.

1. It’s a Korean wordplay about how 맞다(right) and 맞다(getting hit) sounds the same. ☜