Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 150
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 150】
150. Heavenly Arena (2)
At the moment the participants ascended the Heavenly Arena.
The Dragon Slayer stood upon his yacht, gazing up at the towering structure.
Not out of concern for his sole disciple—after all, whoever faced him would crumble without difficulty.
The real reason I stood outside was to receive a guest.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
The empty air split open, and a wizened old man emerged.
His limbs were skeletal, his spine curved with age. He looked as though death might claim him at any moment.
Yet beneath his decrepit appearance, the old man’s eyes were utterly unsettling—the sclera pitch black, the pupils burning crimson.
“It has been a long time.”
The old man spoke with a crooked grin, his sparse teeth revealing a vivid scarlet palate.
The Dragon Slayer furrowed his brow as he replied.
“Why did you come in person instead of sending an emissary?”
“How cold. Is there some reason I shouldn’t have come?”
“No reason. But when a head suddenly pops out of nowhere, anyone would ask the same.”
In this world, there existed secrets known only to an infinitesimal few. This old man was one such secret.
Azet Hermes.
The leader of the world’s first and only organization of mages.
That was this old man’s true identity.
“When you reach my age, you must occasionally move about yourself.”
“How pitiful. They say the old should die quickly.”
“Still as heartless as ever.”
Azet Hermes burst into laughter. Despite his dour expression, he was a man who laughed often.
“Be honest with me. You didn’t come because of the Heukcheon Bloodline?”
“Why would I concern myself with that fool?”
“Don’t play coy. You told me before—that a true bloodline could only be born if Aeon’s treasure existed. You came to verify whether Kwon Han-ul’s body contains the vessel, didn’t you?”
At the Dragon Slayer’s words, Azet Hermes clicked his tongue in response.
“Yes, I did say such things. But I don’t believe Heukcheon’s account.”
“You don’t believe it? But you said the Heukcheon Estate stole the vessel?”
“They did steal it. But those fools never discovered what they had stolen for decades.”
Contempt dripped heavily from Azet Hermes’s voice.
“And now they’ve suddenly found the vessel? That’s impossible. Moreover, the vessel’s power is absolute. If Heukcheon had truly discovered its existence, they would never use it in such a manner.”
In that fleeting instant, rapture flickered across Azet Hermes’s pupils.
The vessel was such an object—merely contemplating its existence intoxicated the mind.
“Then Heukcheon lied? But why?”
“How could anyone fathom what lies within? It seems he intends to pressure his enemies by fabricating the existence of a true bloodline.”
Azet Hermes spoke as though the matter held little interest for him.
“But why ask me such a thing? Shouldn’t you understand better, having met Kwon Han-ul directly?”
“Hm?”
“So what of it? Did you sense anything from that boy?”
The Dragon Slayer’s expression hardened.
That reckless demeanor of his, the way he resisted my gift—it all came flooding back.
Now that I thought about it, the whole thing was deeply suspicious. A Black Dragon Bloodline bearer withstanding my gift? And he even proclaimed himself a true bloodline?
“Nothing special besides being an arrogant brat.”
I didn’t mention that fact deliberately. Aeon and I cooperated because our interests aligned, nothing more. We were not allies.
It seemed wise to keep this truth hidden just in case.
“Then Kwon Han-ul is unlikely to be a vessel. More importantly, what became of the Babel Family head?”
“Ah, that woman? Just as you said, she wasn’t in her right mind. What exactly did you do to her?”
“That’s a secret. Don’t ask for details.”
“Between us, there shouldn’t be such things?”
“Enough.”
Azet Hermes’s tone sharpened.
“Dragon Slayer. You are merely a collaborator. So maintain proper boundaries.”
The Dragon Slayer’s expression twisted. His pride had been deeply wounded.
“Don’t display your emotions so carelessly. Unless you wish to return to your status as a laboratory rat.”
Azet Hermes regarded the Dragon Slayer with a cold stare.
They glared at each other for some time.
“…Why target the Babel Family first instead of Heukcheon?”
Surprisingly, the Dragon Slayer was the first to look away.
“Because we must eventually fight the Hukcheon Estate. The Babel Family’s Dragon Heart Bloodline shares many similarities with the Black Dragon Bloodline, making them ideal test subjects.”
“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to experiment directly on Heukcheon’s bloodline?”
“If we provoke Heukcheon now, it becomes problematic. Aeon’s forces are currently insufficient to face Heukcheon directly.”
“Are you saying Heukcheon is more dangerous? Others claim the two are identical.”
“That’s the drivel of ignorant fools who know nothing. The Dragon Heart Bloodline merely grants the power of dragons, but the Black Dragon Bloodline bestows the very nature of the dragon itself. The danger is incomparable.”
It was cryptic at best.
Since I hadn’t asked out of genuine curiosity anyway, I pressed the matter no further.
“So how is your disciple progressing?”
“Perfect.”
Color returned to the Dragon Slayer’s face, which had been subdued ever since the old man’s warning.
“His gift is perfectly calibrated, and his martial prowess speaks for itself. The Heavenly Arena will become his exclusive stage.”
The Dragon Slayer spoke with overflowing confidence. The old man nodded in acknowledgment.
“Well, considering who granted him that gift.”
It was then.
The old man’s eyes narrowed to slits.
The Heavenly Arena.
The pristine white structure was being painted in rainbow hues.
“What is that?”
Dragon Slayer felt bewilderment wash over me.
In all my years, I had never heard of the Heavenly Arena’s color changing.
But the strange phenomenon didn’t end there.
The Heavenly Arena consisted of multiple circular platforms floating in the sky, stacked one above another.
Yet they were disappearing in sequence, starting from the topmost platform.
Eventually, only the first platform remained.
“Could it be…”
It was when Azet Hermes muttered those final words.
Then, a tremendous explosion erupted.
The blast originated from the Heavenly Arena. Both of them looked upward.
But viewing from below was impossible.
Dragon Slayer pulled out a laptop and turned on the broadcast feed.
-Do you see it there!
A reporter inside a helicopter circling above the Heavenly Arena shouted urgently.
-Just now, an explosion occurred inside the Heavenly Arena!
The camera panned across the Heavenly Arena.
This round’s theme was a maze, it seemed. Complex labyrinthine passages twisted throughout the entire arena.
And at the southern point.
The walls there had been completely obliterated.
-Let me zoom in for a closer look!
The cameraman adjusted the focus at the reporter’s command.
The moment that image appeared on screen, Dragon Slayer’s pupils dilated.
* * *
After the press conference revealing my true bloodline status, Kwon Han-ul found himself wrestling with a troubling concern.
The problem was that proving I possessed a true bloodline turned out to be far more difficult than anticipated.
Legendary tales of true bloodline users abounded, yet specific records of what powers they wielded were remarkably scarce. Besides, I couldn’t exactly display my status window to the world.
Should I demonstrate using the exclusive authority of the True Black Dragon Bloodline? That presented its own complications. While the True Black Dragon Bloodline’s power vastly surpassed inferior bloodlines, the external manifestation showed little discernible difference.
Activating a semi-divine form would leave no room for doubt, but the Sky Arena was a public venue visible from the outside. I couldn’t expose my trump card.
‘Then I have no choice.’
Thus, the method Kwon Han-ul chose was to display not merely overwhelming—but absolute dominance.
Everyone would have no choice but to acknowledge that Kwon Han-ul possessed a true bloodline.
It wasn’t a difficult task.
An insurmountable gap already existed between Kwon Han-ul and the other competitors.
However, one thing Kwon Han-ul hadn’t anticipated was that the Dragon Heart’s power far exceeded his expectations.
“Kugh….”
“Uhhh….”
Groans continued echoing. The five who had rushed at Kwon Han-ul lay scattered across the floor, reduced to broken shells.
The walls surrounding the arena had been obliterated entirely.
“This is… a bit excessive.”
Even Kwon Han-ul hadn’t anticipated the Dragon Heart’s magical power would be this formidable.
Regardless of how weak the surrounding competitors were, they were hunters with considerable reputations.
Yet a mere release of magical force had reduced them to near-death states.
“If anyone questions it, I’ll just insist I witnessed the true bloodline firsthand.”
The inability to definitively prove my true bloodline status actually proved convenient in this moment.
No one would see through a lie presented as truth.
【First Round Cleared!】
【Next Round Beginning.】
【Round 2: Reach the Center of the Maze!】
Kwon Han-ul surveyed his surroundings. Beyond the shattered debris, additional walls came into view.
It appeared the maze would be revealed once a survivor remained—the walls opening to expose the labyrinth.
Kwon Han-ul moved forward, leaving the five behind. With the first round cleared, there was no reason to deal with them further.
Kwon Han-ul stood before the new wall. It was equally towering and expansive.
“A maze….”
The walls were too high to scale.
Walking through the maze on foot would be absurdly inefficient.
Besides, Kwon Han-ul had already resolved to display absolute dominance.
“I’ll just break through.”
If I could destroy a wall once, why not twice?
Kwon Han-ul placed his hand against the wall. He activated the Dragon Heart, concentrating all his magical power into the barrier.
The released magical force struck the wall. Yet contrary to his expectations, only spider-web cracks formed—it didn’t shatter.
“Huh?”
A message materialized before the bewildered Kwon Han-ul’s eyes.
【Arena Object Damaged.】
【Repairing destroyed object. Increasing durability.】
The spider-web cracks vanished in an instant, fully repaired. More than that, the wall’s yellowish-brown color shifted to a deep brown. Its structural integrity had increased dramatically.
It seemed that mere mana release alone wouldn’t be enough to break through this wall.
“So you’re coming at me like this?”
If I used a skill instead of just mana release, I could probably destroy the wall.
But a stubborn pride welled up inside me. I wanted to smash this wall using nothing but raw mana.
Fortunately, I had a power to test.
【Authority: ‘Clear Sea Dragon Horn’ is manifesting.】
A black horn sprouted from Kwon Han-ul’s forehead.
During the fight with Kwon Chan-seong, the assimilation rate of the Black Dragon Bloodline had surpassed 50%. Thanks to that, this was a newly acquired authority.
Originally, this was a supreme authority that lower bloodlines could only obtain when their assimilation rate reached 80%.
As such, its effects were truly formidable.
Pure destructive power enhancement.
When using the dragon horn, all techniques employed by the Heukcheon Bloodline gain amplified potency.
However, the Clear Sea Dragon Horn that Kwon Han-ul wielded was a true bloodline authority.
【Authority: ‘Clear Sea Dragon Horn’ amplifies mana!】
Therefore, its capabilities were far more devastating.
The Clear Sea Dragon Horn’s ability not only enhanced destructive force but also amplified the mana itself.
The Dragon Heart released mana. As it collided with the Clear Sea Dragon Horn, the power multiplied several times over.
Mana erupted from Kwon Han-ul’s body. Even without converting it into aura or dragon magic, the mana was vivid enough to see with the naked eye.
Kwon Han-ul alone struggled to contain the surging mana.
【Authority ‘Celestial Dragon Eye’ is opening.】
So I activated another authority.
Kwon Han-ul’s forehead split open, and a third eye appeared.
Using the Celestial Dragon Eye, I concentrated all the rampaging mana into a single point.
Then I released it all at once.
The materialized mana crashed against the wall. The walls behind it shattered in succession, like watching dominoes fall.
Kwon Han-ul gazed at the now-open maze and smiled with satisfaction.
“That felt refreshing.”
Kwon Han-ul stepped onto the newly created path, heading toward the center. Other participants appeared each time I passed through a wall.
“W-what is this?”
“G-Kwon Han-ul?”
Panicked participants occasionally attacked Kwon Han-ul.
But it was all futile.
Skill-based attacks were blocked by the Dragon Heart. Physical attacks bounced off the Dragon Scale Armor.
Each time a participant appeared, Kwon Han-ul released mana. Without exception, they were all sent flying.
After causing roughly four explosions like that.
“They’re getting farther away.”
The presence of participants that had been felt nearby began to fade. They were all fleeing to escape Kwon Han-ul.
Kwon Han-ul continued forward. Soon, an undestroyed wall appeared.
Once again, I released magical energy to destroy the wall.
【Dragon Heart’s operation has ceased.】
Thirty minutes had already passed. Dragon Heart’s operation came to a halt.
Kwon Han-ul withdrew the Azure Sea Dragon Horn and Thousand-Mile Dragon Eye as well. With that, the overwhelming aura that had enveloped my body dissipated in an instant.
It was just as Kwon Han-ul crossed over the destroyed wall again.
The scent of blood carried through the air.
Many people lay scattered about, drenched in blood.
They bore countless blade wounds across their entire bodies, as if attacked by edged weapons.
Some were already dead, while those still alive seemed on the verge of death.
“Ugh…?”
A sound came from the center of the corpses.
A woman, covered in blood, stared at Kwon Han-ul.
“Where have I seen that face? Ah, Kwon Han-ul? It’s Kwon Han-ul, right?”
Kwon Han-ul lowered his gaze. Beneath the woman’s feet lay another woman.
“Why aren’t you answering? Aren’t you Kwon Han-ul?”
Remarkably, the woman on the ground was Sasha Babel, a participant from the Babel Family.
The dignified woman who had stood so proudly in the Party Hall now lay with her entire body mangled, breathing heavily.
“Can’t I just stop worrying about this one?”
The woman spoke with displeasure and drove a dagger into Sasha Babel’s shoulder.
In that instant, a scream erupted.
“Ahhh!”
Sasha Babel clutched her shoulder and groaned. For a promising talent of the Babel Family, she was far too helpless.
But it was only natural, in a sense.
The woman who had driven the dagger into Sasha Babel was the Dragon Slayer’s disciple, after all.
Her name was probably…
“Mano Stonlight.”
As Kwon Han-ul responded, the Dragon Slayer’s disciple broke into a wide grin.
“Correct.”
Mano Stonlight pulled the dagger from Sasha Babel’s shoulder.
In that moment, an unwelcome aura was detected.
【Aura of ‘Enemy Dragon Star’ detected!】
【Black Dragon Bloodline is suppressed!】
Kwon Han-ul’s body trembled. Seeing this, Mano Stonlight bared her fangs in a smile.
“My final prey has walked right in on its own?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————