Chapter 160. Is He Eating?

— It hadn’t been like this just moments ago.

“

Ha!

Impressive.”

The Shadow Lord hovered in mid-air, his massive wings beating rhythmically as he looked down at Jecheon Seong.

An old man, bleeding profusely from his head, glared back at him. They had been battling no ordinary fight for what felt like an eternity. Jecheon Seong’s undeniable swordsmanship skill had startled the Shadow Lord multiple times.

The old man wordlessly launched himself from the ground, swinging his sword.

The Shadow Lord’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“How pathetic.”

Clang!

The sword rebounded off the Shadow Lord’s shoulder, as though it had struck an impenetrable wall. Undeterred, Jecheon Seong struck again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each blow was deflected without leaving so much as a scratch. It wasn’t just the Shadow Lord’s toughness, but also the sense that the very space refused to let the sword pass.

“

Hmph

.”

Thud—!

With a loud crash, Jecheon Seong was sent hurtling back to the ground. The Shadow Lord chuckled as he watched.

I’ll admit that you’re skilled for a human. There were moments you genuinely surprised me.

However, he was human in the end. And between them was a gap that could not be bridged due to a difference in existence itself.

“How could a mere insect ever hope to reach one such as me?”

The Shadow Lord’s laughter echoed through the air, filled with genuine amusement. How delightful it was to encounter such a rare prey—something far superior to those he usually consumed.

For someone like him...

The Shadow Lord licked his lips, his mind racing.

This one is top-tier, perhaps the finest I’ve ever encountered. Consuming him will surely elevate my rank.

Down below, Jecheon Seong remained locked onto his foe, his gaze unwavering.

He spat a wad of blood from his mouth and muttered through clenched teeth, “That wing of yours... It's irritating.”

“Oh?”

The Shadow Lord burst into laughter, his amusement tinged with a patronizing fondness. His gaze softened, as if humoring a child.

“Listen, when I said you couldn’t reach me, I wasn’t referring to something as simple as flight. This is far beyond your comprehension.”

Jecheon Seong said nothing.

The Shadow Lord chuckled. How could mere prey possibly grasp the world of a predator? Just as cows and pigs could never understand the humans who raised and slaughtered them, this old man could never fathom his own insignificance.

Then, with grim determination, Jecheon Seong leapt again.

“

Tsk.

”

The Shadow Lord clicked his tongue. These types were the worst. They refused to give up, even when all hope was lost. Surely, he despised their kind.

This is starting to bore me.

Dark energy began gathering in the Shadow Lord’s hand. It was a swirling, devastating force capable of obliterating the entire area—the kind of power necessary to swat down an annoying insect.

As the destructive energy coalesced, Jecheon Seong’s form seemed to blur. Moving like a wisp of cloud, he climbed higher, closing in on the Shadow Lord.

Suddenly, Jecheon Seong was behind him. He focused on the Shadow Lord’s back—the massive, pillar-like base of his wings.

Jecheon Seong’s entire being seemed to merge with his surroundings. He felt himself dissolving, his existence spreading thin within this strange world. The sensation was so overwhelming, it’d drive anyone else mad. However, he remained grounded, his focus unwavering.

It was a familiar feeling. The same sensation he had experienced when he cleaved the sky and severed the roots that attacked the academy.

The Shadow Lord, oblivious, continued channeling his energy. The dark mass in his hand trembled, ready to unleash its fury.

“It’s been entertaining,” said the Shadow Lord.

However, just as he prepared to release it, a searing pain exploded in his back.

Swoosh

It was agony unlike anything he had ever known, as he was being consumed by flames from the deepest pits of hell.

“

Gaaah!

” the Shadow Lord screamed in desperation.

With a deafening crash, one of his wings was severed and fell to the ground. His balance wavered and he began to plummet.

Jecheon Seong was not one to waste an opportunity.

His gaze sharpened as he retrieved his sword. With a decisive swing, he severed the Shadow Lord’s remaining wing. He wasn’t done. Intense heat emanated from the blade, causing the wound to sizzle and melt. Soon, the air was filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh.

“

Aargh!

”

Crash!

The Shadow Lord’s massive body hit the ground with a resounding thud. He writhed in agony, struggling to push himself upright.

“How... how is this possible?”

The idea of a mere human inflicting such grievous wounds on him was inconceivable, defying every law of existence he believed in.

The arrogance he had worn like a mantle, the gaze that always looked down from on high, was gone. His core belief that he was an invincible superior being lay shattered before him.

It wasn’t just arrogance; it was a literal difference in their "ranks" of existence. Yet, that gap had been bridged, and now he stood wounded.

Jecheon Seong smirked, watching his foe with satisfaction. “Now, I can finally swing without holding back.”

Seeing the Shadow Lord standing on foot, the old man looked every bit the victor. From this moment onward, the tides of battle shifted completely.

“

Keugh... Kek...

”

The Shadow Lord was in shambles, disfigured by countless sword wounds and seared flesh. His wings were gone, his tail had been severed, and one of his horns was cut off when he barely dodged a strike. He was riddled with injuries, and blood pooled around him in a dark, viscous mess.

“This is...” Kim Do-Joon’s voice trailed off as he stepped onto the scene, staring at the mangled form of the Shadow Lord.

“Sorry, you arrived a little too late,” Jecheon Seong said with a grin.

His pride was palpable, the kind of satisfaction only someone who had climbed to the peak of martial arts could feel.

“...You’re incredible,” Kim Do-Joon muttered.

“

Hahaha!

” Jecheon Seong laughed heartily.

Kim Do-Joon had arrived in haste, only to find the battle all but over. Though the anticlimax was a bit disappointing, Jecheon Seong’s dominance was undeniable.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Lord trembled, quaking with humiliation.

“How... dare you!”

The thought of being looked down upon, laughed at like this, sent a storm of rage surging through him.

I won’t forgive you...!

This won’t end here. Not like this. These two won’t be able to get away. No matter what it took, no matter the cost.

The Shadow Lord’s black eyes burned with an unholy fire as he swore to himself.

The Shadow Lord gritted his teeth, his thoughts churning. To recover his current injuries would take centuries. However, his fury outweighed any hesitation.

Besides, if he managed to devour that old man, his own rank would soar to unimaginable heights. It was a gamble, but one worth taking.

“

Ha...

”

With a groan, the Shadow Lord began to rise. His hand pressed against the ground, and a ripple of shadow spread outward. The darkness surged, expanding until it enveloped the entire fortress. It spilled beyond, stretching out to cover the cliffs and land around them.

“Elder!” Kim Do-Joon shouted with urgency.

Jecheon Seong’s eyes narrowed. “What’s he plotting now?”

Though the Shadow Lord seemed broken, his intent was clear. Yet, despite their wariness, no attack came. Instead, the fortress itself began to sink.

“What... what’s happening, Human?!” Ashunaga, arriving late to the scene, grabbed Kim Do-Joon in panic.

Kim Do-Joon’s expression darkened as he surveyed the scene. The fortress was being swallowed by shadow, its structure dissolving into the abyss. Even the distant horizon was consumed by the encroaching darkness.

Then a thought struck him—a memory, unbidden, flashed through his mind.

“...Is he eating the Branch?”

The Shadow Lord was devouring the very Branch he had planted in the heart of Shanghai.

The ground rumbled and shadows surged like a tide, engulfing everything. The blackened earth, the swirling mist, and even the cliffs—all sank into the void. Slowly, the oppressive shadow gave way, revealing a glimpse of the blue sky above.

***

Son Chang-Il and Yeon Hong-Ah arrived in China, accompanied by a small group of volunteer Hunters. As a side note, Shin Yoo-Sung wasn’t with them. He was the type to rarely leave South Korea, much less venture abroad.

Coincidentally, the group checked into the same hotel where Kim Do-Joon had been staying—the Grand Carlton Hotel. It just happened to be the most luxurious option in the area.

“This place is packed,” Yeon Hong-Ah remarked, her gaze scanning the bustling lobby.

“Well, Hunters from all over the world are bound to be interested in this situation,” Son Chang-Il replied.

Indeed, the influx of Hunters into Shanghai far exceeded the numbers from when the last S-rank dungeon had surfaced. The Branch emergence had drawn global attention, evident in the sheer variety of nationalities among the Hunters.

Journalists and intelligence agents had also flocked to the city, turning it into a melting pot of anticipation and tension.

Nevertheless, South Korea held a unique advantage because their Hunters had been the first to enter the branch.

Of course, that’s only beneficial if both of them come back alive...

Son Chang-Il immediately shook off the grim thought. The idea of those two dying was absurd. They were stronger than any Hunters he’d ever encountered, and he had even witnessed their strength firsthand.

That day, Son Chang-Il held a brief discussion with the foreign Hunters at the hotel. Before his arrival, they had already established that a multinational raid team would be formed to enter the Branch together.

The following day, hundreds of elite Hunters from various countries assembled at the branch. Son Chang-Il gulped nervously. It had been a long time since he had gone on an active mission, and seeing the Branch up close filled him with a sense of dread.

Beside him, Yeon Hong-Ah steeled herself. She couldn’t forget the times Kim Do-Joon had come to her aid during the airborne bridge dungeon and the Giant Woodland. It was time to repay some of that debt.

“Let’s go!” the raid leader shouted, signaling the group to advance.

A surge of tension swept through the Hunters as they readied their weapons and prepared to enter.

However, the ground shook violently beneath their feet.

Rumble!

The black coffin, the gate which had been stable moments before, quivered and writhed.

“What the...?” Yeon Hong-Ah gasped, her eyes darting to the branch.

“What’s going on?”

“Fall back!” someone yelled, and the group scattered, creating distance from the gate.

Hundreds of Hunters turned their eyes to the trembling structure, their faces taut with anxiety.

Suddenly, three figures were flung out of the gate with incredible force.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Bang!

“Is that...?” Yeon Hong-Ah instinctively stepped forward, catching one of them.

She froze as she recognized the face before her.

“Mr. D-Do-Joon?”

Kim Do-Joon blinked in surprise as he saw Yeon Hong-Ah. What was she doing here?

“Hunter Jecheon Seong? What happened to you?”

Before Kim Do-Joon could respond, chaos erupted behind them.

“Look! A monster just came out of the gate!”

The three figures who had been flung out—Kim Do-Joon, Jecheon Seong, and another—barely had time to gather themselves.

Although Kim Do-Joon was curious to see so many Hunters gathered there, he did not have time to ask.

“Everyone, fall back now!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Suddenly, a monstrous claw shot out from the gate, slamming into the ground with a resounding thud.

The claw was enormous, reptilian, and grotesque. It was the size of a building, easily capable of crushing anything in its path. The earth shook violently as Hunters struggled to maintain their footing, their eyes fixed on the gate.

A low growl echoed from within.

Crack!

Soon, the black coffin shattered, revealing a massive, jet-black dragon. It let out an ear-splitting roar, its dark scales glinting ominously in the light.

The Hunters stared up at the creature, their weapons trembling in their hands as they realized the true scale of what they were facing.