Chapter 230: A Being That Transcends Humanity
Gulp!
The Dragon Heart slid into Ian’s mouth. Though its size should have made it impossible to swallow, it melted into a liquid, seamlessly flowing down his throat. The moment it entered his body, an immense force erupted within him.
Thump. Thump.
Ian’s body trembled violently. His heart pounded as if it had just been reunited with a missing half.
“Ugh…”
He clutched his chest, overwhelmed by the immense shock surging through him. And in the very next instant—
Bang!
A massive explosion erupted around Ian, sending out a raging inferno that swept across the battlefield.
Galon’s eyes widened in horror as he shouted, “My… my lord!”
Nathan, equally alarmed, turned to him. “Galon! What did the prince just consume?!”“I… I don’t know.”
Galon suspected that Ian had consumed the Dragon Heart, but witnessing such a reaction was unprecedented.
‘I’ve heard that the Dragon Heart grants immense power to the consumer.’
The Dragon Heart contained tremendous magical energy. If a knight consumed it, they would gain a mighty oath that could rival anyone. If a mage consumed it, it was said to grant an endless supply of magical power.
‘That’s why everyone coveted it.’
However, Ian’s transformation was something they had never encountered. Even Nathan was taken aback and shouted, “What the hell… what is that appearance?”
“A dragon? No, a dragonkin?”
It was a reasonable assumption. Ian’s body was undergoing a dramatic transformation. His red hair grew longer, trailing behind him like a tail. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and his pupils thinned into reptilian slits. But that was not all.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from his back, stretching outward like wings. It was the legendary form of a dragonkin.
The sight left both Galon, Nathan, and the surrounding soldiers speechless.
Then, amidst the roaring flames, Ian exhaled a single breath.
“Haa…”
As if responding to his will, the violent energy of the Dragon Heart began to settle.
His helmet’s voice rang out urgently.
[Are you alright? Hey! Get a hold of yourself!]
‘You’re too noisy. Quiet down.’
Having digested some of the Dragon Heart, Ian shook his head as if finally regaining his senses. The helmet was shocked by his voice.
[What?! You’ve already regained your senses? Have you absorbed all that power already?]
‘Not completely.’
[What?!]
‘I’ll need more time to fully absorb it.’
His words were no exaggeration. Less than a tenth of the Dragon Heart had fused with his body, let alone half. His drastic transformation was merely the initial reaction.
The helmet immediately grasped the situation.
[Ah… you’re still growing. That’s why you survived. If you were fully mature, that power would have torn you apart.]
Ian hadn’t yet undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, meaning his growth wasn’t complete. His untapped potential had inadvertently saved him. Ironically, what had seemed like a reckless gamble had turned out to be the best possible choice.
But the helmet’s voice remained wary.
[This power won’t last. The energy you haven’t absorbed will soon dissipate.]
It was true. The unrefined power still surged within Ian, unstable and fleeting. If he didn’t use it quickly, it would fade away.
Ian’s expression hardened.
‘Then I’d better end this fast.’
His cold, lizard-like eyes locked onto Vector below. A chilling aura radiated from him. Vector, who had been so confident moments ago, trembled under Ian’s gaze.
“W-what on earth… what is that power?”
Ian raised his hand towards Vector, who was trembling from the immense power of the Dragon Heart.
“You said you’ve transcended humanity, right? There’s no need for fair play against someone like you.”
“You…”
“Come on up. Let’s go another round.”
Ian clenched his fist.
And then—
Boom!
An intense explosion erupted beneath Vector’s feet.
***
Nathan thrust his sword into the black knight standing before him.
Thud!
The enemy collapsed, lifeless.
Nathan let out a breath and sank onto the ground, exhausted.
“Galon! It’s done on this side!”
“Ah, I’m finished over here too.”
Galon also collapsed beside him. Together, they had defeated dozens of black knights strengthened by the Seven Sins. Of course, it wasn’t solely their own strength; it was the result of mobilizing the soldiers around them.
“Wasn’t it Aaron? He showed great leadership.”
Galon nodded in agreement. “Yes. He supported us flawlessly, without needing a single order.”
Nathan gave Aaron a thumbs-up, to which Aaron responded with a flustered bow. But at that moment, something else demanded their attention.
“I really…can’t believe my eyes. Is the prince really human?”
“He is our lord. Trust in him, Nathan.”
“But you find it hard to believe too, right? Look at that.”
“Hmm…”
Nathan pointed in a certain direction. Galon swallowed hard, unable to take his eyes off the sight.
“You… you bastard!”
“Is that all you can say?”
It was Ian battling Vector. He had seemingly transformed into a legendary dragonkin, consistently overpowering Vector. Soon, flames erupted from Ian’s back, spreading like dragon wings and striking Vector.
Bang!
With sharp horns and fangs resembling those of a beast, Ian unleashed a torrent of fire from his mouth.
Whoosh!
Vector had long abandoned his human form through the power of the Seven Sins, but now, Ian appeared to have transcended humanity itself. However, Ian was distinctly different from Vector.
‘He’s merely in a form that has transcended humanity, but his strategies and attack patterns remain familiar.’
Ian wielded the power of someone who had surpassed human limits with the finesse of a human. Unlike Vector, who was being consumed by his own abilities, Ian wielded his newfound power with precise control. His mastery over it left Vector utterly helpless.
Nathan, witnessing the scene, couldn’t help but exclaim in disbelief.
“Can you even call him human after seeing that?”
Galon responded firmly, “Such words are disrespectful to our lord.”
“No, seriously. At this point, with flames spewing from his mouth, he doesn’t seem human at all.”
“Hmm…”
Nathan’s words were not a joke. Regardless of the knights’ various oaths, this was unprecedented. It was so uncanny that even the soldiers around them were murmuring about it.
“Could he be… a dragon?”
“I’ve heard that dragons take human form for amusement…”
“If not, how else could he do this?”
Awe and reverence filled the battlefield as the soldiers bowed their heads toward Ian, some genuinely believing he was a dragon.
Galon swallowed hard, his mind racing.
‘Come to think of it, the first king was rumored to have a connection with the Red Dragon…’
Could that be why Ian absorbed the Dragon Heart without suffering any harm? Had the long-dormant dragon blood within the Kaistein royal lineage finally awakened?
Yet, Galon quickly dismissed the thought.
‘Even if he does have dragon blood, it changes nothing. I have already sworn to follow him, no matter what.’
His gaze remained fixed on Ian’s back, and within him, his oath began to burn anew.
Thump. Thump.
It was a crimson light, akin to the flames spewed forth by Ian, who had transformed into a dragon.
***
Whoosh!
Vector frantically dodged Ian’s relentless flames. His once-majestic beast-like fur was now singed and tattered. But Ian wasn’t relying solely on the Dragon Heart’s power.
“It’s time for revenge. Fury!”
Roar!
A colossal beast emerged from Ian’s body. Fury, strengthened not only by Jealousy but also by the Dragon Heart’s energy, now resembled a dragon in both size and might. The massive crimson creature lunged at Vector.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Vector barely managed to stop its fangs with both hands. Fury growled, baring its teeth, attempting to devour him.
“Ugh! This… this is nothing!”
Vector poured all his strength into resisting the fangs. Strangely, the force he possessed was insufficient to overcome them.
‘Certainly, enhanced by the Seven Sins, it should have the power to crush anything.’
Yet, something felt off. The strength he had gained through the Seven Sins should have been absolute.
‘With this power, I should be able to crush anything…so why?’
While Vector struggled against Fury’s fangs, Ian saw his opening and didn’t hesitate.
Whoosh!
A huge Patience materialized in his right hand—not just a hammer, but one wreathed in white, blazing flames. It resembled the divine weapons spoken of in ancient legends. In his left hand, a whip, also ablaze with white flames, appeared. It was Humility.
Whoosh.
Humility, once weakened due to a lack of power, was now revitalized by the energy of the Dragon Heart. Contrary to its name, it greedily absorbed the new power, growing stronger than ever.
Ian’s cold voice cut through the chaos.
“Humble yourself, beast.”
As if obeying his command, the fiery whip wrapped around Vector. Now trapped—his body caught between Fury’s crushing fangs and the searing grip of Humility—Vector was completely immobilized.
Thud!
His legs buckled, forced to the ground. Fury’s fangs pressed dangerously close to his heart, while his arms twisted under the unbearable strain. The overwhelming strength he had once boasted was rendered meaningless.
Desperate, Vector shouted, “I… I have transcended humanity! I can’t lose like this!”
Ian scoffed. “You’re delusional.”
“What?!”
“Only a human can transcend humanity. You’re nothing more than a beast.”
His voice was icily indifferent.
“The moment you discarded the knowledge and skills that humans have built over time, you sealed your own fate.”
If he hadn’t relied on the power of the Seven Sins and turned the power of Annihilation into defense, if he had properly engaged in a counterattack as a knight, it might have been different. Ian knew this for certain.
‘Had he fought strategically, I might have lost. This power won’t last forever.’
Even if the battle had been brief, Vector could have used his expertise to put Ian at a disadvantage. If he had properly led the Black Knights instead of letting arrogance consume him, the tide of war could have turned.
But he hadn’t.
Blinded by his own power, he had squandered his advantage.
“That was your fatal mistake.”
A massive, blazing hammer loomed above Ian’s head before crashing down upon Vector.
Boom!
The battered Vector crumpled to the ground, the power of the Seven Sins having long since abandoned him.
Fwoosh.
His body, unable to withstand the immense energy it once held, began to disintegrate. Struggling, Vector feebly lifted his hand toward a distant figure.
“Ah… Lord Leon…”
His hand fell.
Thud!
And with that, the one who had stood in Ian’s way met his hollow end.
Ian’s gaze remained cold as he declared, “The enemy is dealt with. Now, only one remains!”
“HOOORAH!”
At his command, the soldiers began to advance, their sights set on a single destination—the hidden stronghold where Leon awaited.
***
In a dimly lit chamber, blood flowed like a river, and at its center stood a man—Leon.
Bubble.
No one dared to disturb him. The room was steeped in silence, broken only by the soft sound of air bubbling through the thick blood. This was the most crucial moment for Leon.
‘The Seven Sins is nearly complete. Only one final step remains.’
The process was all but finished. In truth, the power was already complete—what remained was to infuse it into his own body. Once that was done, all that would be left was to refine and strengthen it. A power forged through war and massacre.
‘When that moment arrives, I will unite the two continents and rule over everything.’
Just as Leon was about to reach for the Seven Sins, a sudden jolt interrupted him.
Leon’s expression, submerged in the river of blood, frowned.
Bubble.
He sensed it—something had happened to Vector, who could be considered his sword. As he gasped for breath, bubbles began to rise around him. Soon, Leon opened his eyes.
Boom!
A violent explosion sent the river of blood surging outward. Drenched in blood from head to toe, Leon stepped forward slowly. As he moved, the heavy door to his secluded chamber creaked open.
“Lord Leon… there’s a problem!”
“Right now, Sir Vector is stalling for time outside…”
“We must leave immediately—”
His anxious subordinates rushed in, shouting. It seemed everyone was preparing to move, carrying supplies. But Leon spoke as if he already knew.
“He’s coming.”
His bloodshot eyes gleamed with intensity, and in an instant, those around him fell under his gaze. Their expressions turned blank, their movements sluggish as if they were caught in a trance.
One by one, they abandoned the burdens they carried, dropping them without hesitation. A few stepped forward, towels in hand, and without a word, began wiping the blood from Leon’s body.
Swish.
They moved as if driven by an unseen force, embodying his will without the need for instruction. This was the true power of the Seven Sins that he possessed—a genuine power, distinct from the scraps of strength his subordinates had been using. Cold and emotionless, Leon spoke.
“Prepare yourselves. We need to get ready to confront my little brother.”
Lift.
At his command, his followers raised their heads. Their eyes were hollow, devoid of thought or feeling. Like lifeless puppets, they turned and marched outside, ready to carry out their master’s bidding.
Author's Thoughts📚 Hey! Check Out My Newest Series:
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