Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 191

He was well aware of that entity’s existence. Indeed, it would be odd not to know. For thousands of years, it was one of the world’s orchestrators, infamous for its wicked deeds—Balduhrak, the Fire Dragon, who even the Goddess of Fire failed to capture.

Yet, it was said that this beast had once suffered the indignity of being captured by a mere human and sealed within a bead!

“Why on earth are you inside this vessel…?”

The ferocious aura began to engulf the frozen body of Ifrit, who had no intention of engaging in conversation. But Ifrit was not about to be devoured without a fight.

“Do you really think you can consume me, orchestrator? I won’t go down without a struggle!”

With that, he unleashed a burst of azure flames from his body, confronting the savage aura head-on.

And so, fire clashed with fire.

The roar of flames filled the air!

As a result, the innards, sinews, and veins within Yan’s body began to burn, and his blood started to boil. However, the battle was short-lived, ending in Ifrit’s defeat as the vicious aura transformed into a white flame, overpowering Ifrit’s azure blaze.

Ifrit’s body began to tear apart, like a cat toying with a mouse, slowly shredding and melting away. His massive form, large enough to support the heavens, crumbled, disintegrated, and melted.

“No, let me go! I’ll just leave, so please…!”

Despite Ifrit’s frenzied resistance, wrapping his fists in flames and fighting back, he was no match for the brutal aura. After some time, Ifrit’s body was completely consumed by the white flame, and the power of fire he possessed was absorbed into Yan’s mana heart.

From the ashes of Ifrit’s remains…

Crack!

Yan rose to his feet, rubbing his searing belly with a sly grin.

“He was indeed nothing more than a big body.”

Using the breath of the divine dragon to absorb the mana, Yan was confident he could engulf it all. The compatibility with his body was better than expected.

“I didn’t realize I could absorb it so quickly. I thought it would take a much longer, tumultuous battle.”

Or perhaps,

“Was what I received from my father that extraordinary?”

* * *

Yan’s eyes snapped open, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. It was the scorching heat coursing through his body that stirred him—a heat that hinted at the power his father had granted, akin to that of Ifrit. A gamble, yes, but one that paid off handsomely.

As he basked in the satisfaction of the newly acquired energy…

Click.

A hand descended upon Yan’s shoulder. Twisting around, he was met with the Sun Duke’s stern gaze, his face a mask of hardened resolve.

“…What have you wrought?”

“Pardon?”

“Survey our surroundings.”

At the Sun Duke’s behest, Yan’s gaze swept across the hall. His expression solidified into a grim mask.

The once stately banquet hall was now a charred husk. The scorch marks scattered about spoke of a calamity birthed by his own doing. It appeared the act of consuming Ifrit had spilled over, leaving its mark on the hall as well.

The nobles stood agape, their eyes fixed upon him.

Amidst the sea of stares, Yan could only…

“Ha, haha.”

…scratch the back of his head in awkward realization.

‘This is a fine mess indeed.’

* * *

The Demonic Realm, a land seldom stirred, buzzed with an unusual clamor upon the news that the Spectral Overlord herself was hosting a banquet. The cause? The arrival of dozens of nobles.

Those who stepped into the Demonic Realm for the first time were spellbound by the sights: humans with tails and ears atop their heads, a violet sky, and even diminutive blacksmiths busy at their forges.

The realm was brimming with wonders.

The nobles, eyes wide with curiosity, marveled at the land filled with oddities.

“Indeed, it’s said to be the most bizarre place on the continent, and rightly so.”

“But for the Spectral Overlord to hold a banquet, now that’s a mystery.”

“Quite right. As far as I know, she has never hosted one before.”

As the noble throng steadily filled the banquet hall, a butler’s eyes twinkled with readiness.

‘It’s about time to fetch the master.’

With the hall brimming with guests, the butler set off to find his master in her chambers.

Knock, knock.

No sound came from within, prompting a puzzled tilt of the butler’s head.

After a prolonged knocking with no response, he wondered, “Could she be asleep?”

Considering his master treated sleep as a hobby, it wasn’t a far-fetched thought.

Shaking his head, the butler opened the door and entered.

He was greeted by an array of exotic flowers and bizarre magical artifacts.

Yet, the person who should have been there was nowhere to be seen.

The Spectral Overlord’s bed was a mess of blankets, long cold.

The butler’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Surely not.”

Turning his head, he looked towards the desk.

There, as if anticipating this moment, lay a letter.

[To the Butler.]

The foreboding introduction was unmistakable.

With trembling eyes, the butler read the contents.

[Off to see that arrogant whelp. Send the nobles from the banquet on their way.]

[P.S. Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble.]

Such irresponsible words.

To send away the nobles who had come all this way on their own.

The butler stood petrified, speechless.

And then, moments later.

“Aaaaargh! I’m going to quit!”

The butler’s cry of despair echoed through the halls of the Fantastical Palace.

* * *

In that moment, Yan surveyed the chaos around him, presumably of his own making, and smacked his lips in dismay. He had no inkling of how to set things right.

Just then, the Sun Duke, who had been observing Yan with a calming gaze, spoke up. “For starters… go take a bath and then we can have a chat.”

With those words, the Sun Duke turned and left the banquet hall. The bewildered nobles, too, began to disperse amidst a buzz of whispers. No one approached Yan except for Kasa, while the others merely stole fearful glances at him.

Yan cocked his head in confusion at the odd situation. Kasa, who had come up to him, clicked her tongue. “What on earth happened?”

“I was about to ask you the same. What’s with the nobles’ faces?” Yan retorted, puzzled by their expressions.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know?” Kasa looked at him incredulously.

“If I knew, why would I ask?” Yan replied.

Kasa shook her head in disbelief and began to explain the recent events. When Yan had laid his hand on the hilt of the Ifrit, the Sun Duke had urgently intervened, grabbing his shoulder and telling him to stop and let go. But Yan, as if possessed, didn’t budge.

The Sun Duke attempted to forcibly remove him, but at that moment, a tremendous fire erupted from Yan’s body.

“Fire?” Yan questioned.

“Yes, it’s a good thing the Sun Duke was there, otherwise…” Kasa shuddered at the thought.

Yan let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the scorched ceiling. Clearly, his attempt to devour the Ifrit on Mars had somehow affected reality. Even the Sun Duke, with his fire-attribute mana, couldn’t prevent the surroundings from being affected.

Yan’s lips curled into a smile. ‘Indeed, it’s a relic from the myths.’

As he reveled in satisfaction, Kasa, covering her nose with her hand, exclaimed, “Regardless, could you please wash up quickly? You smell terrible. And put on some clothes!”

“Smell? Clothes?” Only then did Yan notice the foul stench and the fact that his clothes had burned off, leaving him embarrassingly exposed.

His face flushed red. Despite his many experiences, he had never been naked in front of a crowd.

Yan hurried to his assigned quarters. After a quick shower, he emerged to find Merriott and a servant waiting for him. The servant held a change of clothes, and Merriott glared at him with folded arms.

“Ah, thank you,” Yan said, accepting the clothes.

Once he was dressed and the smell was gone, Merriott spoke, “The Lord awaits you. Follow me.”

“Yes, understood,” Yan replied, offering an awkward smile, aware that the banquet had been ruined because of him.

‘But it wasn’t entirely my fault. The Sun Duke started it, right?’

Merriott’s stern face suggested he had read his thoughts. “I wasn’t thinking anything,” Yan quickly said.

“Your face says otherwise. Hide such expressions before His Highness, the Sun Duke.”

“Yes.”

Yan adjusted his expression and followed Merriott. After a short walk, they stood before an ornately decorated door.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” came the Sun Duke’s voice from inside.

Merriott gestured for Yan to enter alone. Yan nodded and stepped inside, where the Sun Duke was examining the Ifrit.

‘It’s empty anyway,’ Yan thought. He had absorbed the giant trapped within the Ifrit, leaving only a shell.

Unaware of this, the Sun Duke continued to gaze solemnly at the Ifrit. “Do you know where this sword was found?” he asked abruptly.

Yan shook his head. “I don’t know.”

The Sun Duke chuckled. “About five years ago? I found it during a brief inspection of the market.”

“Is that so…” Yan mused, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. Wasn’t it supposed to be untouchable, hence the Sun Duke’s wager?

As Yan pondered, the Sun Duke laughed heartily. “This sword is quite fierce with those who possess mana. It gave me trouble at first, haha.”

“I see,” Yan replied, his questions dissipating.

Still, something didn’t sit right with him. If the Sun Duke had wielded the sword, he should have confronted the Ifrit, yet he spoke as if he had never done so.

Then Yan remembered the Ifrit’s words.

To think such a vessel would appear just in time. There’s no need for gambling now.
Was that gamble about taking over the Sun Duke’s body?

‘Ah! That’s why the Ifrit was in the Sun Duke’s hands later. The Ifrit failed and was overpowered instead.’

By then, the Sun Duke must have known that Ifrit was a sacred relic of ancient religion.

No wonder he was furious.