My Alter Ego's Path to Greatness

Shaolin Temple, located on Mount Song.

As expected, once the chaos subsided, those who had gathered for the meeting began to return home. Some suggested staying longer, as a precaution, but only a few factions, too weakened to travel, agreed. Most were eager to return and devise countermeasures.

This included the Zhuge and Nangun Clans. The Zhuge Clan, specializing in defensive formations rather than pure martial arts, hadn't suffered significant losses, and the Nangun Clan, with their Peak Master, the Sword Saint, had more than enough strength.

'The fight with the One-Eyed Demon Sword ended in a draw. Then he must be leading the retreating Demonic Cult forces.'

Hugo watched as they prepared for their long journey home. While the Heavenly Demon was dealt with, there were still formidable remnants. To swiftly eliminate them…

"Young Master Ha!"

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Nangun Soran, who had visited him every day during the chaos to check on him.

"…Please be careful. And if you ever leave the Zhuge Clan, please consider our Nangun Clan!"

Both clans were about to depart. Considering the terrible state of travel in this world, it was practically a farewell, with no promise of reunion.

"The Zhuge and Nangun Clans aren't that far apart, and we have occasional exchanges. I'll visit you then…"

But it was just wishful thinking on her part. The distance between the two clans was twice the distance between the Shaolin Temple and the Zhuge Clan's estate.

After bidding farewell to the reluctant Nangun Soran, he said his goodbyes to the other connections he had made. He also learned about Mok Ingwang, now called the 'Former Mad Demon', who seemed to be planning to stay at the Shaolin Temple. It was a logical decision, as he was interested in the 'New Mad Demon', Harley, and waiting here was the best way to ensure they met again.

'…New Mad Demon. What a ridiculous name. I should have stayed and corrected it!'

But it was too late. Titles were given, not chosen. If Harley had stayed and insisted on being called the Mad Demon, it might have been different, but there was nothing he could do now that he was gone.

'I have to do something before that title sticks…'

But there was nothing he could do right now. He had to—

"…There's been an incident at the estate. Everyone, discard any unnecessary luggage. We'll depart immediately."

—join the hurried march after receiving an urgent message from the clan.

The world was in turmoil.

And at the center of the storm…

The Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang Province.

"…Heh heh, found you. So you were hiding here—"

A dark figure, floating in the sky, looked down at a small city nestled in a remote corner of the vast mountain range, a sinister smile on his face.

'Impressive. To build a city of this size in such a remote location. And it's completely concealed by a formation. I would have taken much longer to find it without 「Eyes of the Abyss」.'

Hans stroked his jawbone in admiration. It was a completely self-sufficient environment, with farmland and even large-scale livestock farms. A small but complete city-state. Truly befitting the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the largest, strongest, and most vicious faction in Ganghwange.

'Of course, it means nothing to me.'

A dark light, reflecting the abyss, flickered in his eye sockets. The chimera forming his eyes twitched under the sudden surge of power but quickly calmed down under his control.

"Heh— Shall we begin?"

A chilling laughter, and a terrifying demonic Qi, powerful enough to engulf the entire mountain range, began to emanate from him. An aura far surpassing that of the Heavenly Demon.

Goooo—

The clear sky darkened as storm clouds gathered. Darkness fell upon the land under his gaze.

"——!"

"——?!"

He sensed the rising panic within the city—

—and made a solemn declaration, his voice echoing through the dimension.

["Hear me, mortals, hiding in your shells."]

So they could understand the situation.

["I am the master of all demons."]

So they wouldn't dare to meet his gaze.

Rumble—!

Thunder echoed through the storm clouds as the divine being announced his presence to the world.

["Kneel before your new Demon King."]

And so, the Demon King descended upon the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Dragons and Korean dragons had much in common, but their differences were even more pronounced.

Like how the same ingredients could yield completely different results depending on the process.

'The biggest difference is that a dragon's birth isn't solely determined by bloodline.'

Unlike dragons, who could only reproduce through their own kind, there was a chance for other creatures to become dragons.

Like a serpent transforming into a dragon after a thousand years of cultivation and ascending to the heavens.

While the probability was incredibly low, almost impossible, it wasn't zero. But such transformations only resulted in lesser dragon species, like the Chicken Dragon, the Fish Dragon, or the Winged Dragon.

The Five Dragons—Red, Azure, White, Black, and Yellow—were purely of bloodline. While other dragons who cultivated their power weren't necessarily weaker, the mystical power accumulated and passed down through their bloodline couldn't be ignored. It was only natural that the descendants of the Five Dragons held the highest positions within the Golden Island.

And now, two of them were…

"…Cute."

"Ahem! He's quite charming."

…completely smitten by a small child.

Azure Dragon smiled warmly, stroking Horus's head, and Red Dragon, despite her constant coughing, couldn't take her eyes off him. He sat on a pavilion in a picturesque forest, enjoying a feast, being pampered.

'This is working better than I expected.'

Horus, no longer shy, puffed out his chest proudly.

"Here, Horus. Try this. A pig raised on spirit silkworms, prepared by the Golden Island's finest chef…"

"Don't just eat meat. Try this too. Ten-thousand-year mountain ginseng simmered in jade bee honey…"

Delicacies were constantly offered to him. Horus accepted them with a haughty expression, recalling the events that unfolded after his arrival.

'I didn't expect it to go this smoothly.'

Horus's sudden, unannounced appearance… It was a desperate gamble by Harley, but trespassing on the Golden Island's territory without permission wasn't a light offense. It could have been a serious issue…

'…but it wasn't.'

For one reason.

He was the only 'Yellow Dragon' left in this world.

'Seriously, both in Auterica and here, the Gold Dragons are always on the verge of extinction.'

But it wasn't a coincidence. The Yellow Dragon was the leader of the Five Dragons and the Golden Island. And it was the same in Auterica. Naturally, they were the prime targets for those seeking to destroy the world.

The Immortal Kings had always targeted the Gold Dragons, especially the reigning lord's bloodline, and the Society Master, who invaded Ganghwange and stole the Dragon Heart, was no different.

'He didn't just waltz in and take the Dragon Heart.'

While it was publicly known that a winged outsider caused the massacre at the Imperial Palace and stole the Dragon Heart, there had been fierce resistance. From the humans, led by the Imperial family and a few Peak Masters, and from the yokai, led by the Golden Island.

'…but they were defeated. And Harris's Mooyoo Palgwae Bigong originally belonged to someone who was defeated by him, right?'

The Society Master wasn't alone. He had the support of the Demonic Cult, who had been plotting in the shadows. Spies and brainwashing made it impossible to trust even allies, and the rampant dark sects prevented them from gathering their forces.

As a result—the imperial family was massacred, countless experts perished, and the world descended into chaos. The Golden Island lost not only the Yellow Dragon bloodline, but also most of the dragons, the Kirin, the Black Tortoise, and other high-ranking members.

"Yummy… So? What are the other dragons doing now?"

Horus listened intently, munching on the food. His primary objective, gathering information, was being achieved effortlessly! All he had to do was eat!

"The White and Black Dragons are in the Dragon God's shrine, maintaining the balance. Along with others who can support them."

"We were there until recently. It's not a place where you can simply endure. We have to take turns and conserve our strength."

"…Several have already died."

"We won't last much longer either. That's why we clung to the Dragon God's message…"

Horus nodded slowly. Now he understood their reaction to Harley. He glanced at Harley, wandering around the outskirts of the Golden Island under Cheonggwan's guidance, then turned his attention back to the two women. They weren't treating him so well just because he was cute. They wanted something…

Poke, poke—

"This is fascinating. Cheeks can be this stretchy?"

"Red Dragon, don't disturb him while he's eating."

"You stop braiding his hair. Even if he's not his main body, that's not something you do to a boy."

"But look at his hair. Isn't it prettier this way?"

…Or were they? Were they genuinely treating him this way because he was cute? As Horus pondered his own unexpected charm…

"To think that dragon slayer was the guide to the Yellow Dragon. He's quite different from the Yellow Dragon of this world…"

"Yes, I can't believe it, but he seems to possess the karma of the Yellow Dragon. That's enough for now."

"My… He looks barely a hundred years old… no, not even half of that. Is this even possible? What kind of world did he come from?"

…they resumed their serious conversation. And finally, they talked about the 'Dragon Children'.

"Uh, so… they're sacrifices? To rebuild the lost Dragon Heart?"

"Yes. Sacrifices. Ordained by our great and glorious Dragon God."

"Red Dragon…"

"Hmph."

The Dragon God, the Main God of Ganghwange. The being who had remained a passive observer, finally acted when the Society Master stole the Dragon Heart, scattering his 'solution' throughout the world. He was the Main God, after all.

The 'solution' manifested in the unborn children of several pregnant women living near the strongest dragon veins, second only to the Dragon Heart.

They were the Dragon Children.

Sacrifices, destined to be offered to restore the world.

"…The ritual will take place at the Dragon God's shrine, and we, the Five Dragons, are the priests."

"Isn't it absurd? But what can we do? It's the Dragon God's will. He doesn't care about our feelings."

Horus nodded slowly at Red Dragon's words, filled with resentment. He understood her feelings.

'…Wow, he's truly heartless.'

He knew gods weren't benevolent beings. They were administrators of the world, their will far beyond human comprehension. They were categorized as benevolent or malevolent for convenience, but they weren't beings that could be judged by mortal standards.

'…This is troublesome.'

He recalled the connections he had made in this world.

-"I'll be diligently training here, so please tell me all about it when you return, Young Master Ha. It's a promise."

-"I'm in your debt. Thank you, Divine Doctor. I will repay your kindness someday…"

Horus frowned and sighed deeply. He had been too naive, thinking things were going too smoothly.