The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 399

If someone wanted to take the life of a Dragon's Flower, now was the best moment.

Anyone who held resentment could stand in their way.

The Crowd Road was a journey that started in the morning and ended in the evening.

The one with the highest chance of making it to the end was Shin Yo.

She was capable of making cold-hearted judgments and handled things as if emotions didn't exist.

If the great mechanical device known as Khan had to be controlled by someone, she would undoubtedly be the first choice.

Thud…

Thud…

She couldn't hear the sound of her footsteps hitting the ground—only the sensation of walking remained.

Before the Crowd Road started, the archivists used a Shamanic Power Sphere the Dragon’s Flower would have to wear and walk. They described the experience as sinking into the deep sea.

Simply wearing the Shamic Power Sphere was enough to give them that sensation. So, if one were to walk with that as a Dragon's Flower, the psychological torment would be even more severe.

Blades could strike them from anywhere at any moment.

It was a situation where even the most basic defense was impossible.

The regrets that would resurface when reflecting on the past.

It was widely agreed that the mental fortitude of those who reached the end of the Crowd Road was beyond doubt.

A message made with a shamanic power arrived in everyone's mind.

- Salvation Flower has fallen. Dead.

Flinch…

The remaining seven stopped in their tracks.

Upon hearing the news of death, fear erupted in one of the Dragon's Flowers.

- Season Flower has fallen. Given up.

Now, only six remained.

However, right now, the situation of their competitors didn't matter to them.

What mattered was whether they themselves could reach the end of this path.

Swoosh…

Swoosh…

Tae Yul was the first one to take a step forward again.

Following him, all the other Dragon Flowers resumed their steps—not a single one among them stopped moving.

No matter how bold they were, everyone knew that the most terrifying thing was the people themselves. So they couldn't help but hesitate.

Whir…

Flinch!

Even the slightest breeze made them cling to the rope, trembling.

Obviously, such behavior became the subject of ridicule among the people.

For the people, all of the information was permitted. But for the Dragon's Flowers, only the signal of fear was transmitted.

There was no smell, scenery, or sound—the only thing they could do was roll their feet, pushing them against the ground to shorten the remaining rope.

- Zero Change Flower has fallen. Dead.

No one stopped at this news—no, they even quickened their pace.

However, at that moment, the next news flowed in.

- Wise Eye has fallen. Dead.

However, they had to stop again.

In an instant, their number had halved.

Most of them had died.

They couldn't help but feel anxious.

There had been too many deaths.

Had they died because of resentment? Or had they simply become targets of vented anger and died?

If it were the latter, then it would be right to give up this test now.

After all, they could be the next to die.

However, they began walking again.

They put strength into each of their steps.

"Oof… Oof…"

Tae Yul exhaled roughly. Despite not having done anything strenuous, his muscles were creaking.

And then…

Swoosh…

The Grim Reaper visited Tae Yul.

Tae Yul stopped.

He could feel it, the strong killing intent in front of him.

If he walked forward, the Grim Reaper would be waiting for him.

Tae Yul stood still and didn't react to the killing intent. His heart felt like it would burst.

The owner of the killing intent didn't do anything aggressive.

Having lost his hearing, Tae Yul couldn't hear the Grim Reaper's words. Having lost his sight, he couldn't see the Grim Reaper either.

"Tae Yul! You hypocrite!"

The Grim Reaper stood there, tightly gripping a sword.

If Tae Yul didn't start walking soon, he might not reach the Dragon Palace in time.

Swoosh…

So he began walking.

"Don't come!"

Swoosh…

"Don't walk! You… You're a murderer!"

Tae Yul grabbed the Grim Reaper's hand. The Grim Reaper didn't shake off his grip. After all, he had the upper hand right now, and he could kill Tae Yul at any moment.

Tae Yul grabbed Grim Reaper's hand, not to make him drop the weapon but to find out who he was.

The Grim Reaper was trembling. The man's hand, rough and dry, seemed to belong to someone middle-aged.

"So it's you…"

Tae Yul said.

"So you've come…"

"You… You're a murderer! My family… died in Tochang… because of you! Because you couldn't protect them!"

It was the man who had blocked Tae Yul's path while he was patrolling Chapa, a mid-sized city in Khan.

- You… You gave up! You abandoned my family in Tochang…

During the Yaksha War, many had died in Tochang. Although Tae Yul had saved the city, he hadn’t been able to save everyone.

Because he wasn't perfect.

Because he was human.

For every corpse that fell, resentment grew twofold.

"We… definitely met in Chapa… You scolded me."

"That… How… do you remember me…"

Tae Yul couldn't hear the man talking; he just remembered his killing intent.

Tae Yul embraced the trembling man.

"I remember you. I'm sorry… I'm sorry. Because I'm not perfect… I did my best, but it wasn't enough."

"…"

Clang…

The man's sword fell to the ground.

"Could you forgive me…?"

Thud—!

The man pushed Tae Yul away and then disappeared.

Tae Yul had survived the Grim Reaper.

Everyone shuddered at Tae Yul's boldness. However, the reality was different.

He was crying.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

And he continued walking.

* * *

Seol Hong walked, trembling.

Her slender body swayed, as if it might be blown away by the wind.

- Secret Flower has fallen. Given up.

Now, only Seol Hong, Shin Yu, and Tae Yul were walking the Crowd Path.

Everyone else had either died or given up.

Now, if someone were to die, it would be someone close to Seol Hong or Seol Hong herself.

That terrified her.

Tap…

Suddenly, her foot caught on something.

'This is the slums…'

The uneven ground, the change in the flow of the air.

Seol Hong immediately realized she was in the slums.

Gulp…

She couldn't help but tense up.

Assuming everyone had a pure heart was the most foolish thing one could do in the slums.

Trusting people wasn't something one shouldn't do there.

Paf—!

'Huh…'

Tss…

Paaf…

Her foot caught on a rock.

Due to being unable to see, she fell even harder.

"Ahahaha!"

"Pfhahaha!"

There were probably people laughing at her.

Being mocked was something she could endure—it didn't scare her. But what she couldn't endure was the fear of…

'I've lost it!'

Having lost the rope.

Due to having fallen so dramatically, she had to fumble around to find the rope again.

"Not yet… If I can find the rope again… I can find it… I can…"

PAAF—!

At that moment, she felt a shock that almost made her heart stop.

"Ugh…"

A cold liquid mixed with something else was poured on her, and the debris from it clung to her body.

It was filth.

She was sure of it.

Even though she couldn't see, hear, or smell, she knew it.

She had been drenched in filth.

"Ugh..."

Someone had dumped a bucket of filth onto the ground.

"Ahahaha!"

"See?! She's nothing!"

"Without escorts, she's destined to crawl on the ground like that!"

"Every person is the same! Got it? You fools!"

People were spewing words that Seol Hong couldn't hear. Those people were the demons of the slums.

No one helped Seol Hong.

"Ugh…"

She didn't cry.

She wasn't sad, but afraid.

The demons of the slums had drenched Seol Hong in filth and then left.

"Remember today, Seol Hong! Because the sight of you drenched in filth is what fits you the most! We're going to be watching you!"

The day was cold.

Her wet body couldn't calm down.

"Ugh… Sob…"

Help me.

Seol, help me…

What should she do in a situation like this?

No matter how much she asked, the one who had left didn't answer.

While lying on the floor of the slums, she couldn't get up.

Someone else had approached.

Swoosh…

Feeling the movement, she curled up in fear. Seol Hong's once beautiful appearance had turned ugly.

Like a flower petal fallen to the ground, she had been trampled. However, the footsteps of those who longed for the flower didn't stop.

Swoosh…

Something was draped around Seol Hong's neck.

As she touched it, she realized it was a flower—a necklace made of flowers.

"Seol Hong, please, don't give up."

"Do your best!"

Words she couldn't hear.

Seol Hong groped around with her filthy body.

And then, she stood up.

She wasn't sure exactly where she was standing or where the rope was.

Of course, how could she?

She was a mere human. How could she be perfect?

"Please, help me!"

Her loud cry.

The people gathered were taken aback. They hadn't expected her to drown out the voices of the people with such a loud shout.

"The rope… I don't know where the rope is. If this continues, I won't be able to reach the Dragon Palace. I… I lost the rope because I'm inexperienced. Give me a chance! If I can grab the rope again! I'm confident I won't lose it again!"

"…"

"Give me… Give me a chance… Please, help me…"

Her plea made everyone pause, but the following action was immediate.

Clap—!

Claaap—!

Someone near the rope started clapping.

But she couldn't hear anything.

Was this a meaningless action?

Claap—!

Claap—!

Their clapping gradually grew louder.

The people gathered around the rope began clapping simultaneously.

As they did so, a flow was created.

The vibrations resonating through the air reached Seol Hong.

Grab—!

Seol Hong fumbled and grabbed the rope.

"Stay strong!"

"Keep walking!"

Seol Hong muttered as she started walking again.

"Thank you… Thank you…"

What greeted her as she left the slums was a vibration even greater than the clapping.

Duunng…

Duuunnng…

What now?

A sensation that seemed to shake her entire body.

'A bell…?'

Vibrations from a massive bell being struck reached Seol Hong.

'Why…'

Duunng…

Duunng…

The toll of the bell shook her very core.

'Ah…'

This was for her.

She was being told to follow the sound of the bell.

Yes.

She was surrounded by too many people to mourn those who had left.

It felt as if a crowd surrounded her.

They were all shouting something, but of course, she couldn't hear it.

Although she was walking a path covered in darkness, she wasn't alone.

Step…

Step…

As she reached the end of the path, someone removed her blindfold.

Swoosh…

Beep…

The sound, the scenery, and the smell returned.

"Become a Dragon!"

Deenng…

"Become a Dragon!"

A massive bell, carried on an equally massive cart, had accompanied her to the very end.

The foul stench of filth had erased the scent of the flowers.

The people holding hands formed a circle to protect Seol Hong.

"Ah…"

As Seol Hong struggled to speak, Tae Yul and Shin Yo, who were already beyond the Dragon Palace, watched her intently.

The archivist asked.

"Death Flower, you've reached the end of the Crowd Path. Once you cross this door, you will gain the qualification."

"…"

"The qualification to become a Dragon! Are you prepared to bear that weight?"

The woman who had her face stained brown from filth grinned.

And she took a step forward.

Step…

Step…

She crossed the Dragon Palace.

She didn't have scales, nor could she breathe fire. She didn't have wings, nor could she control the weather.

She was merely a human, drenched in both filth and flowers.

Yet…

"I will become the Dragon."

She aspired to become the Dragon.

"Become a Dragon!"

"Become a Dragon!"

Deenng…

The bell's sound echoed.

Tae Yul, Shin Yo, and Seol Hong—three had crossed the river of people known as the Crowd Path.

Among them, only Seol Hong started from the lowest in the Dragon War and became a Dragon.

The Death Flower had bloomed even in the mud.

Three Dragon Emperors had been born in the Great Empire Khan.