Ep433 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The White Phosphorus Serpent King was enraged. This reaction was, in a way, an inevitable consequence. From his perspective, what he did seemed rational, but that was purely from Baek Woojin's viewpoint. For the White Phosphorus Serpent King, encountering such absurdity was mind-boggling. Some stranger barging into his lair, asking him to part with a well-functioning organ — anyone would think him mad if he didn’t find this infuriating and absurd. "Kiaaaa—!" A guttural growl echoed throughout the caves, filled with the beast's fury. Seeing the extent of the serpent's anger, Baek Woojin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Well... I thought it was a fairly reasonable approach.” Life. He did not want to kill a gentle creature who meant no harm to humans. Yet, he had no choice but to obtain the core that resided within that creature. “It can’t be helped.” Sighing softly, he drew his sword. When negotiation fails, there is little else to be done. “Time for coercion.” “Kyaaa—!” The serpent’s massive body coiled around the perimeter of the cave, its sheer motion creating an intense centrifugal force. A mind-boggling power concentrated in its tail, catapulting toward Baek Woojin. The speed was incredible, challenging even his exceedingly trained eyes to keep track. Yet dodging was not difficult. The attack was large and fast but lacked any true unpredictability. “Oops.” Using his elusiveness, he evaded, and the gargantuan tail scoured the floor past him. An attack too simple and easy to dodge. Nevertheless, the sheer destructive force left him astonished. “One direct hit would be the end of me.” The might stemming from its huge body and hard scales surpassed even a seasoned swordsman's blade. Even with a protective aura, something was bound to break from a strike like that. Of course, that was only if he got hit. “Kieeee...” A lingering, angry hiss resonated throughout the cavern. A snake's means of attack were obvious. Either lunge forward to sink venomous fangs... Or. Bring its coiled strength to bear through its tail. Each of these was a deadly attack capable of ending him. Yet that was all. Even after living for hundreds of years, a snake's physical limitations remain unchanged. Tail, fangs, or the entire body used to ram. No amount of variation would extend beyond these three methods. Moreover, there was an even greater weakness. 'Its combat experience is severely lacking.' Born a predator, few would dare to provoke it. Most mystical creatures capable of rivaling it would avoid unnecessary conflict as long as their territories weren’t infringed upon. On top of that, wasn’t its temperament rather gentle? Had it lived by preying indiscriminately on humans, its battle experience would amount to facing a mere handful of weaklings stumbling upon fortuitous discoveries. 'It has no idea how to fight a skilled opponent its equal.' This was what allowed Baek Woojin to nimbly evade its assaults. With a swift tilt of his head, a razor-sharp tail whistled past. White scales blanketed its skin. Baek Woojin struck down upon those scales with his blade, enveloped in his sword aura. “Kaang—!” A resounding crash as his sword met the scales. Simultaneously, the serpent let out a tortured screech. “Kiiaaa!” Even with his sword aura, he couldn’t shatter the scales. All he achieved was causing a crack. It seemed the impact was severe enough, as the serpent’s howls of pain and rage grew more frenzied. “Damn.” Baek Woojin’s face reflected his dismay. His one attempt to gauge the strength of the scales had only fueled the serpent’s anger. While its attack remained simplistic, another issue loomed. “Rumble…” “Thud!” With every crazed thrash of its body, the entire cave felt like it would collapse, akin to an earthquake. The potential outcome if this state persisted was clear. 'The cave might collapse.' While the ground was solid enough that the White Phosphorus Serpent King had chosen it as his domain, it alone could not withstand the beast’s full wrath. ‘I either force it outside or subdue it instantly.’ Just then, an opportunity arose to test a technique he'd been contemplating. Whether by coincidence or fate. Even its scales bore a pristine white. The dazzling white scales, as hard as armor and swirling wildly, sparked inspiration within him. "Let's give it a shot." Every day had been a battle for survival. Across otherworldly realms and martial arts, there was no one who had endured a more hellish decade than he had. These were days he could never endure again; days he wished to forget. They had left indelible scars on Baek Woojin but had also bestowed upon him a meager reward. ‘Let’s bring to life what’s etched in my mind.’ Thousands of battles and the skills honed from them were recalibrated to birth something new. It was an innate talent acquired over time that had given rise to yet another skill. “Inhale…” It all began with projecting his own image. This move was not only about harnessing his inherent strength but about channeling every bit of the projected image. Within the vast cave unfolded a desolate landscape. Then swords began to rain down in endless streams. "Kiaaak!?" The White Phosphorus Serpent King looked in disbelief at the swords pouring down like rain. Yet, not a single sword so much as scratched the scales and fell to the ground without a hint of power. Thousands of swords lay scattered across the parched earth. With preparation complete, all he needed to do was stir the useless swords into a frenzy. “Phew…” He exhaled a long breath. Simultaneously, the internal energy amassed within his body dispersed through every pore. The energy, nearing its limits, began to churn forcefully in one direction. Clatter, clatter! The swords, scattered on the ground, slowly awakened under the influence of the powerful surge. Lifted by the flow, they began to swim through the air. ‘Now to accelerate.’ One round, two rounds, three rounds... With each sweep through the enormous cave, the flow gained momentum, becoming swifter and more intense. So too did the swords swimming within it. Now, they appeared not as swords but as radiant points of light. From this moment, the anomaly began. "Ki-..." Swords, moving at the speed of light, began to score the hard scales. Confusion painted across the White Phosphorus Serpent King’s face. Here were the scales that had protected its flesh against all danger, now beginning to crack — a naturally alarming phenomenon. While its body squirmed with unease, the flow gathered more speed and force. ‘Now!’ With a glint in his eye, Baek Woojin funneled the immense energy directly towards the creature. “[Baek Family Sword Technique: Third Form - White Scale Storm].” Amidst the swirling flow, swords appeared like snow-white scales, surpassing the actual scales of the creature. Skrrrsh! Countless swords and the whirlwind that moved them. Amidst it all, the White Phosphorus Serpent King found itself curled, unable to act. Though eager to break out, it struggled to find footing. Its lack of combat experience offered little in terms of crisis-solving prowess. Steadily, the storm that relentlessly shredded the creature’s scales eased. Had he desired, Baek Woojin could maintain the assault, stripping every scale and embedding swords deep into its flesh. ‘Still… killing isn’t quite my aim.’ Before and after the battle, his resolve was unchanged. He didn’t want to take a life. Of course, the suggestion he offered as “reasonable” was absurd from the start. Yet, at least it would live. While alive, the lack of an inner core could be replenished somehow. Most likely. "Kiiee…?" The serpent, previously curled tightly, cautiously raised its head, an expression of bewilderment. The storm that tormented it had vanished without a trace. Why? A puzzled gaze landed on Baek Woojin. “Hey, are you alright?” "Kiik…!” A low growl mixed with faint anger in response. It seemed to convey, 'Would you be alright in my place?' “Seeing you get mad, I guess you’re okay.” With indifferent ease, the serpent flicked its tongue without further protest. It realized. The knowledge it had accumulated was worthless before this formidable human. Sauntering forward with relaxed steps, Baek Woojin tapped the serpent’s body, speaking with a cocky air. “You know, right? If I was serious, you'd be dead.” "Kishishi…" As maddening as it was, it wasn’t false. Had the brutal storm continued a moment longer, its scales would have been savagely peeled away. Without its greatest means of attack and defense, all that awaited was death. Given that, the mercy shown by the person before seemed apparent. "Kissh..." What is this feeling he desperately wants to deny? Yet, come what may. Baek Woojin continued with a triumphant expression. “Sorry, but I really need your core. But I just don’t feel right taking it by killing you.” He extended his hand as if he were retrieving something he had once lent out. “So let’s settle this amicably, okay? If you give me just half of your core, I promise we’ll never have to see each other again.” His words weren’t much different from what he had said before the fight began. What had changed was the serpent king’s perspective. “Kiii.” If sacrificing half of its core could send this insane human away immediately, maybe it was a deal worth considering. The creature genuinely contemplated the proposition. --- Author's Note: Even a serpent that's been alive for centuries is left in awe by his power... With regular updates starting this week, I'll push myself even harder. See you in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Wishing you a restful night. (_ _)