BRDM 202

chapter 202

[Hwa-an Geumjeong and Hon-yo Sa-an are merging.]
[The magical power is at its limit, accelerating the integration.]
[Integrating…]
[31, 32, 33%…]

The Thunder-Eye Azure Gaze wasn’t fully complete yet, but as the integration percentage rose, more details became visible to Lee Hyun’s eyes.

Flaws.
Gaps revealed in the Uma King’s storm-like momentum.

“The nature of Hwa-an Geumjeong, which pursues truth, combined with Hon-yo Sa-an, which examines the depths, has naturally transformed into a trait that probes weaknesses. If I use this properly…!”

Lee Hyun clenched his teeth and quickly loosened the Yeoui Chain.

[‘Sacred Artifact: Yeoui Chain’ is used to maintain balance!]

Shararrrrk!!

From the ground beneath his sight, the black-gold Yeoui Chain shot out and wrapped around his left arm, anchoring itself to resist being blown away by the Pachoseon’s gale.

At the same time,

Chaaak! Chaaak! Chaaak!!

Other parts of the ground lifted as Yeoui Chains sprang out, aiming at the Uma King’s clone.

“As expected, this alone isn’t enough. Well… if it had already bounced outside the subconscious, it would’ve only smudged the youngest sibling’s face, wouldn’t it?”

The Uma King chuckled at Lee Hyun, tightening his grip on the Pachoseon once again.

“Then, this is the second attempt. Can this one hold too?”

[The Uma King’s clone attempts a second gust.]
[Effect: Torrential Rain.]

Whoooosh!!
Chachachachang!

As the Pachoseon swung in the opposite direction, the already fierce wind doubled in intensity, knocking all the Yeoui Chains away. Simultaneously, the tornado spiraled skyward, filling the sky with an ominous darkness.

The sky, densely packed with black clouds, twisted into several layers forming a supercell. Formed horizontally at a low altitude, it loomed as if it could swallow the world.

Kwaaaaah!!

The storm raged.
Hail battered the ground, and a downburst lifted and flipped the terrain. Tornadoes formed on the surface. Visibility vanished amid the chaos.

[Dueokshini’s cloak merges with the storm clouds, maximizing defense!]

“Damn…!”

Pajijijik!!

Lee Hyun drew together brainwaves and electric currents, wrapping himself in them. The cumulonimbus washed over, dispersing the gusts, but

Kwa-jik!

The ground barely held by the Yeoui Chains loosened and lifted into the sky. There was no place left to anchor the chains. Everything in the subconscious world was airborne.

“At times like this… I have no choice but to shorten the gap.”

Lee Hyun had to admit he didn’t yet have the ability to counter the Pachoseon’s winds. With everything airborne, he couldn’t aim for a reversal.

However, with Thunder-Eye Azure Gaze, he could somehow resist the wind.

[56, 57%…]
[Searching for weaknesses in the gale!]
[Using Gingoa to gather more environmental data for analysis.]

Wheeeee!!

The Gingoa overheated, releasing smoke, and then

“Here!!”

Lee Hyun found the point he had been seeking. He stepped on the cumulonimbus midair, rushing toward the weak spot.

A confluence of convection currents created a brief vacuum.

Fwaaaat!

Lee Hyun, now reduced to a whirlwind form, pierced the gap, swinging Dueokshini’s molars fiercely.

[Activating Dueokshini’s Trust!]
[Attempting Blink!]

“Where do you think you’re going…!!”

But the Uma King wouldn’t just let that happen.

[Third gust attempted.]
[Effect: Storm.]

The Pachoseon swung again, and the supercell exploded, releasing hundreds of violent lightning strikes.

Kwaaaaah-

Facing the bombardment, Lee Hyun looked on the verge of breaking.

[Dueokshini roars!]

Kwarrrr!!

Ascending lightning clashed with hundreds of strikes. Chain explosions struck the subconscious world. Winds shattered, hail crumbled. Hot blasts tore through everything.

Amid the flashing lights,

Shwaaaak-

Lee Hyun reached the Uma King’s clone in an instant.

In that fleeting moment,

Huuuuk!

Lee Hyun exhaled sharply. His body was severely burned, and the Dueok Brain Demon’s heat had mostly dissipated. But his eyes shone brighter than ever.

[74, 75, 76%…]

As Thunder-Eye Azure Gaze neared completion, the clone’s weaknesses became visible. One point instinctively caught Lee Hyun’s eyes.

[The core of the Uma King’s clone is revealed!]

On the Uma King’s right chest, the textures fused into a single large dot.

Thump! Thump!

The core pulsed violently, pumping massive mana into the clone and the King’s subconscious.

“Break it!!”

But there wasn’t enough space to swing the molars. Lee Hyun dropped them and pulled the fang from Kibisis, aiming upward.

The fang had been made precisely for this purpose: to exploit gaps during fierce combat with a sharp, pointed weapon.

[‘Trait: Conductive Current’ applied to the limit, targeting the enemy’s weakness!]

Shwaaaak!!

The Uma King’s clone, experienced in combat, recognized Lee Hyun’s plan and quickly countered with Bangowol from his back, swinging down.

Kwaaaang! Kwa-kwakkwang!!
Rrrrrrr…!!

The fang and Bangowol collided midair, sending shockwaves through Lee Hyun and the clone.

“…Cough!”

Blood spurted from Lee Hyun’s mouth—a grievous internal injury.

[00:01:21]
[Dueok Brain output drops sharply.]
[Fatigue: 88]

Exhausted, wounded, and with depleted brainwave output, Lee Hyun was in a critical state. Meanwhile,

“It’s over. I expected at least a thread of resistance… but it was only half a thread.”

The Uma King’s clone remained formidable.

Chaeng! Chachachacheng!

Several blows were exchanged in a flash, each pushing Lee Hyun backward.

“You should have survived here first, regardless of the King’s fate, but your short-sightedness ruined the King’s mana and your brother’s whereabouts.”

The clone actually respected Lee Hyun. Despite taking Hon-yo Sa-an, no human had resisted him this much before. It even planned to lure Moon Soo-chan to Gehenna if needed.

But Lee Hyun’s perception was too narrow. He couldn’t see himself objectively—an unfortunate disqualification.

“Still, you won’t die here… your mind remains, and with Bokhae, you can see your brother again.”

The clone believed Lee Hyun still had value, curious what would happen if he merged with the King.

With that thought,

Buuuung!

As Bangowol swung like a guillotine toward Lee Hyun’s head,

“The one whose vision is blocked is the one who lost an eye.”

A grotesque smile crossed Lee Hyun’s bloodied face.

“…!?”

The clone shivered.

[Fatigue: 91]
[Severe bleeding. Near death.]
[Trait: Cold-Blooded activated. ‘Frozen Banner’ triggers an absolute zero blizzard!]

It was already too late.

Fwaaaak!!

Absolute zero blizzard enveloped the heat-filled Lee Hyun, freezing everything. The clone froze mid-swing, and Lee Hyun seized the moment, thrusting his left hand forward.

Flash!

A frigid light erupted from the sigil on his hand, piercing the Uma King’s right chest.

[Glass Sword fires from Frozen Banner!]

Paaaak!!

A blow large enough to punch a human head-sized hole. The clone couldn’t even scream. Glass swords shot like a barrage, followed by the absolute zero curse spreading through veins and circuits.

Then,

Shararrrrk!
Puk! Puk! Puf-paf!

Dozens of Yeoui Chains erupted from the ground, trapping the Uma King’s clone.

The tide turned.

Lee Hyun grabbed the clone by the collar.

Grasp!

“Tell me. Where is my brother? You know something, don’t you?”

Ice-blue eyes. The Thunder-Eye Azure Gaze neared completion.

[96, 97, 98%…]

“Hahaha! Pahahahaha!! As expected! I wasn’t wrong! You resemble the youngest, yet you’ve started walking a different path!”

The Uma King laughed heartily, enjoying Lee Hyun’s struggle.

“I take back what I said earlier! Your perception isn’t narrow—it’s my eyes that were half-blind!!”

A laughter laced with madness and chaos. Lee Hyun’s expression twisted further.

“Speak now!! What do you know—”

“Palmyra Desert.”

The Uma King interrupted, smirking.

“Go to the place where Isan is. My main body will already be there. We have much to discuss.”

Lee Hyun had no time to respond.

[…100%]
[Thunder-Eye Azure Gaze is complete. Part of Uma Flesh acquired.]

Over his deep blue eyes, a fleeting vision appeared: the Uma King and Moon Soo-chan laughing and conversing, then vanished. Part of the King’s deep memories.

And…

[The Uma King’s clone explodes!]
[Time limit ended. Event dungeon closes.]

The clone turned to ashes, and the subconscious world closed.

In the last explosion, the King’s single eye clearly conveyed a message to Lee Hyun:

“Come to the Palmyra Desert. There lies the clue you seek.”