Chapter 188 – The Strongest Serpent (6)

…The slashes didn’t stop. A relentless offensive. With its tail immobilized, Basilisk endured the fierce onslaught. Kang Geom-Ma kept changing positions as he swung his sword.

Blocking its movements wasn’t enough. The goal of the assault was to land a fatal blow.

Through the thick dust, two red points gleamed. Kang Geom-Ma instinctively leapt back. An alarm rang in his head.

And then, an anomaly spread through the area. A sinister radiation pulsed outward, and a glacial chill enveloped everything like icy blades.

Bzzzzz…

The sword energy headed toward the enemy turned to stone in midair, then shattered into pieces. Crack crack crack—the sound of rocks breaking echoed all around. Though he dodged the effect, it was by a hair’s breadth.

‘Did it just petrify my aura?’

He’d heard from Horn that the Petrifying Eye didn’t only affect physical targets. But aura was just energy. And yet it was turned to stone? In that moment, he understood just how atrocious the Eye was. Kang Geom-Ma clicked his tongue.

‘So I can’t even attack from a distance?’

It was clear—if he wanted to destroy it completely, he’d have to get close and cut it directly. But charging in blindly was suicide.

He’d already seen the power of that eye firsthand. Just one glance, and he’d turn to stone. And to top it off, the bastard used twin swords. The combination of the Petrifying Eye and blades was downright diabolical.

“Since when does a damn snake know how to use swords? What, did it evolve into a lizard or something?”

Kang Geom-Ma wiped sweat from his chin with his sleeve. He narrowed his eyes, staring at Basilisk. Its pupils flickered like embers.

‘Beyond the elemental disadvantage, this lava-filled environment is also limiting my movement.’

But he had no choice. He wiped his sweat hastily and dove back into combat. If he lost the momentum, the situation would spiral out of control.

“My Lord…”

Choi Seol-ah’s face filled with worry as she watched. The Lord was clearly exhausted—maybe from the stress, but mostly from being in such an oppressive volcanic zone. Even from her distance, she felt like her head was melting.

How unbearable must it be for someone actively fighting in that?

A battle isn’t decided by skill alone. The environment, luck, and affinities matter too—and this battlefield was overwhelmingly stacked against them.

Gritch.

She gritted her teeth. Her fingers, which had been relentlessly pulling the trigger, finally stopped. They had generated enough cover. Shooting more would no longer make a difference. She quickly checked her remaining bullets.

‘How many do I have left…?’

Three. Out of the hundred she’d brought, only three remained. Choi Seol-ah toyed with the lead bullets in her palm like nuts. Doubt gnawed at her.

‘What if I got closer and shot these magic rounds from there?’

She could distract Basilisk. And shooting at close range would increase the damage. But the risk was much greater. In a clash between transcendents, she’d only be a hindrance.

‘If I get into his attack range, I’m dead.’

That place was far too close to death. She’d made it this far by surviving through sheer grit. Her survival instinct was so strong, even villains would be envious.

But this decision felt like walking into her own grave. Was she loyal to the Lord? Their relationship started with a betrayal. She even stole his “Stallion Emblem.” Holding a grudge would’ve been natural.

‘…And yet.’

Choi Seol-ah clenched the bullet tightly. Determined, she looked at Horn. The girl was doing everything she could to maintain the magic field. Choi Seol-ah gave a small smile and called out.

“Hey, Horn.”

Horn didn’t react at first. She called louder.

“Horn! How can you have ears that long and still not hear?! I’m talking to you, damn lizard!”

“…Huh?”

Horn finally turned her head. Her eyes widened in surprise. Her lips moved slowly.

“Am I losing it from all this magic? Did arrogant Choi Seol-ah just call me by name?”

“Hey! That’s what you’ve been thinking of me all this time?!”

Choi Seol-ah snapped, then sighed deeply. She lifted her head and met Horn’s gaze directly. A violet light flickered in her eyes.

The air changed, and Horn swallowed dryly. Choi Seol-ah spoke in a low voice.

“From my perspective, there’s no point in just shooting and casting spells from here anymore. All we’re doing is creating cover.”

She pointed with her eyes toward the front.

Basilisk was destroying nearby stalactites with his twin swords.

“Look, your brother’s using swords—something we didn’t expect. If things don’t go as planned, we have to improvise.”

“……”

Horn turned to look at Kang Geom-Ma. He was still pressing in on Basilisk.

‘But…’

The balance between offense and defense was evening out. Horn couldn’t understand how her brother was wielding swords.

She couldn’t see clearly through the dust, but she had the eerie feeling that he was standing upright… like he had a humanoid form.

An imugi that failed to become a dragon couldn’t take human form. Yet, the longer the battle went on, the stronger her unease grew. A bad feeling crept down her spine.

‘No way…’

Had Basilisk really become a dragon by consuming human flesh? Her entire clan considered it impossible, but there are no absolute truths.

Sometimes, the most improbable things happen. Like humanity’s victory 700 years ago.

So even if it was one in a million, they had to confirm it with their own eyes. After a brief pause, Horn nodded at Choi Seol-ah.

“I agree. But if we enter the range of the Petrifying Eye, it’ll be like we’re already dead. Are you sure?”

“Uuuh…”

Choi Seol-ah’s voice dropped. Hearing it directly shook her. But she quickly shook her head.

“Yes. Either way, if I run now, the Lord will kill me. I’d rather turn to stone than be stabbed.”

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. Her fingers were soaked in cold sweat.

“You said the opposite earlier… never mind.”

Horn sighed at her fake bravado. And then—

Every hair on her body stood on end.

‘It’s been a while, sister.’

“……!”

A voice echoed in her mind. Horn reflexively turned forward. Through the dusty haze, two ruby-like lights glowed. The Petrifying Eye.

Even though she was outside the range, her body shrank back. Though cornered, her brother’s eyes were filled with bloodlust—like a predator waiting to strike.

‘Don’t interfere, sister.’

“Ugh…”

Horn clutched her temples, staggering from the sudden pain. It was only a mental voice, yet it clouded her mind.

Basilisk continued.

‘I don’t wish to kill my own blood. But if you leave those two humans behind, I’ll let you live. If I devour their flesh and bones, I will finally achieve my deepest desire.’

His tone was so arrogant it made her sick. Horn responded with rage.

—Do you think that makes any sense, Basil? Every imugi is given the chance to become a dragon. You were the one who rejected it.

‘Ha, don’t be ridiculous, Horntail. Do you really think this is all about becoming a dragon? I gave up on that pathetic race the moment I could think. What I desire… is to ascend to something greater.’

—What…?

‘I will be reborn… as Alduin.’

At those words, Horn felt her blood run cold.

Alduin, the Black Dragon. Despite the name, it wasn’t truly a dragon.

Horn murmured, horrified.

“The strongest of all serpents.”

An impure being even dragons refused to name. But its power was said to rival the first Dragon Lord.

‘I never wanted to be a dragon. What’s so great about a species that just watches from the sidelines, even though they’re the highest among demons? You felt it too, Horn. Just hearing my voice shook you. Even as a dragon, you couldn’t resist. I gained all this by devouring human souls.’

Basilisk laughed bitterly. The wind blew unnaturally, and even Kang Geom-Ma, in the middle of throwing his sashimi blades, took a half step back.

The sinister energy condensed and then exploded, blowing away all the surrounding dust.

Boom!

In an instant, over half of the stalactites were pulverized by the shockwave.

And then, Basilisk’s figure was finally revealed.

Kang Geom-Ma was the first to look stunned. He blinked several times in disbelief.

“…That’s a snake?”

Black scales covered its entire body, a long tongue protruded from its mouth, and its tail bristled with spikes. It looked like it was molting—parts of its skin were visibly peeling away.

The creature stood on two legs and gripped two black swords in its hands. Although it had all the traits of a serpent, its form was eerily humanoid.

“…Shit.”

Choi Seol-ah froze with a stunned expression. The determination that had flared up just moments earlier was snuffed out like a candle in the wind. Just seeing it made her skin crawl.

But beyond its grotesque appearance, its aura was overwhelming. Just being near it felt like her bones might melt.

Instinctively, Choi Seol-ah stepped back. That’s when another powerful energy stirred beside her.

“Horn… pointy ears?”

Despite being called, Horn didn’t lift her head. She bit her lip hard, her face shadowed in darkness.

‘Basilisk.’

She remembered her brother from long ago. He didn’t exactly have a good temperament, but he hadn’t always been like this. At some point, drunk on his own power, he began to disdain life. That was the beginning of his fall.

The elders of the clan branded him as an “impure serpent” and decided to execute him. They said the seed of evil had to be uprooted.

Upon learning about it by chance, Horn exiled him to the Demon Realm. Even though it was a harsh environment, at least he wouldn’t be killed.

But her intentions had been twisted. Her brother ended up in the human world and became a magical beast.

‘This is all my fault.’

If she had followed the will of the clan instead of her own attachment, perhaps there wouldn’t have been so many victims.

‘That’s why I have to take responsibility.’

And now her brother wanted to become Alduin. That alone was enough. There was nothing more to think about.

“I…”

Horn raised her head and faced Basilisk. A golden light emerged from her now-clear eyes. She declared firmly.

“…I will stop you, no matter what it takes.”

A black mist swirled around her and took form. Wings spread from her shoulders, long, curved horns appeared, and then—

KRAAAAAARGH!

A roar shook the entire cavern. Choi Seol-ah, barely keeping her balance, looked up with her mouth agape.

“A dragon…”

Horntail spoke with a heavy voice, different from usual, as if every word weighed a ton.

“Let’s go, contractor. I will be your wings.”

Choi Seol-ah, stunned, could only nod. As soon as she climbed onto her back, her body lifted into the air.

She crouched low to steady herself and then peeked down.

The dragon soared rapidly upward, flying near the ceiling of the cavern.

The sky was the dragon’s domain—a space serpents could never reach. And Basilisk, no matter how much he pretended otherwise, was still a serpent. His power couldn’t reach those heights.

Horntail flapped her wings. With each beat, gusts swept away the heat and darkness completely.