The River Dragon Armour (
About[]
The armour is made of interweaving steel whips and it can take any shape it wants, making it capable of covering the user from head to toe. It seems that it can also shrink its size being able to hide in Gang Ryong's ear canal. What makes this armour especially special is that it is a sentient entity being capable of operating on its own, make decisions, and speak with the user (in their mind).
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History[]
Background[]
The origins of the River Dragon Armour is unknown but it is said to have laid dormant for centuries before being found and awakened by Hwan Sa. The armour was coveted by Hyeol Bi but Hwan Sa passed on the armour to Mak Sapyeong instead so that he can take care of the Sect's deeds without sullying the Black Dragon King's hands.[2]
Mak Sapyeong[]
The River Dragon Armour was worn and used by Mak Sapyeong until his death where it transferred over to Gang Ryong.
Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect[]
As Gang Ryong landed the finishing blow onto Mak Sapyeong, the River Dragon Armour encapsulated the young man but was blown away with a powerful technique. Hwan Sa told Hyeol Bi that the armour was destroyed but it actually survived and hid away in Gang Ryong's ear. Later, the armour revealed itself to save Ryong by healing his wounds and fending off Hyeol Bi. The armor then stayed with Ryong the entire time, helping him, and even declared the young man as its master.
At one point, it found and reattached Soh Jinhong and Doh Gyeom's severed limbs.[3]
Loose Ends[]
At an unknown place, Gang Ryong paid respects to the graves of his mother and master, with the River Dragon Armour nearby. The armour told him that it was a good idea to put them side by side since they were close like daughter and father, and in that location in the valley, sunlight reached there for a few hours. At that, Gang commented that in the faint memory he saw, his mother and master really felt like a daughter and father. The armour then told him to come by more often, and mentioned that in the past, it just wanted to be left alone but now being alone was boring and hard to get used to. After the armour asked about the outside world, Gang turned to speak to it and stopped mid-sentence when he saw that the armor had reverted to a dormant egg-shaped form. Gang Ryong then left, leaving the armor stored there.
Powers[]
The armour covers its wearer's entire body (except the head, neck, hands and feet) and negates all external attacks,[1] even those from a formidable martial art such as the Divine Heavenly Destruction Techniques.[4] The armour can be controlled by its wearer, allowing it to cover any open areas, such as the head and neck.[5]
Using the armour offensively will weaken the Armour's power. As the fullest potential of the armour can only be brought out when used defensively. Only when it serves it's intended purposes, such as protection, healing, and restoration, can it's true nature as a divine item be revealed. These further include the ability to completely heal a person's physical injuries, ranging from; dismembered limbs to severely damage tissue and other mortal wounds. When donned, it drastically enhances the user's durability, granting the wearer invulnerability to external attacks. It also possesses some sentience, showcasing the ability to operate without its wearer's awareness, as seen when the armour first began Gang's healing process and is also able to split itself from its wearer. Leaving only part of itself wrapped around to the user to keep it protected. This has been shown when the armour helped Gang escape in order to continue healing.[2] Another ability it possesses is that it is able to tap into and store the memories of all its past and present owners, and share these memories with them.[6] It also seems that it is capable of accessing the user's consciousness and know what they are thinking in real-time but not without permission from the user.[7]
The River Dragon Armour is made up of interweaving steel whips and despite its main feature being a formidable defence, these steel whips, known as its River Dragon Bristles (교룡염 (蛟龍髥), Gyolyong-yeom), can also be unwoven at the ends of the arms and legs for offensive use extending its wearer's attacking range.[4] These steel whips can also be withdrawn from the armour for use as rudimentary blades.[5]
Alternate Translation[]
- Dragon Chain Armor (LINE)
- Dragon Beard (LINE)