전생검신 84권 13화

두두두두두!!

It felt like a massive army was sweeping in as countless alien warriors rushed towards me, their killing intent shining bright. For a moment, I was reminded of the past.

‘Was it like this the first time I entered a war?’

Back then, I had been swept away in chaos, unable to make heads or tails of anything. The violence of sheer numbers hits you hard; it makes you feel powerless, like your martial arts just can’t keep up. But now, having gathered so much experience, the fear from those countless foes barely fazed me.

“It might be easy to get through this, but let me first test their level.”

Ta-daht

I rushed forward, charging my sword with Sword Mastery, sending out a wave of energy. The azure energy shot out, quickly exceeding a hundred in length, and with the sword in my hands, I swung it faster than sound, infusing my killing intent into the energy.

Thunder God Lineage

Thunder Dragon Sword

Rapid Environment Enchantment

Pipippipin!!

In that instant, the long cylindrical energy split thinly, transforming into dozens of whips that expanded far beyond their original reach as they surged forward. In just a moment, I observed the eye movements of the thousands of warriors in front of me, only to feel a wave of disappointment.

‘Tsk… Not a single one noticed the change in my sword energy?’

I could tell.

Even the slightest eye shift or muscle twitch revealed their thoughts to me. No matter how different they were from humans, when they used martial arts, their intentions couldn’t be hidden.

And looking at those in front of me, they were all below par.

Upon realizing this, I suppressed the power of my enchantment, not wanting to kill such weaklings.

Puh-puh-pah!!

In the next moment, streams of sword energy swerved and whipped forward, overwhelming the aliens as they instantly lost limbs and collapsed.

[Kuuaaaah!]

[Aaah!!]

Thud thud thud

Hearing their screams, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Crying out like that!”

Not a single one had been killed. I had merely severed their limbs!

Joining this battle was now a choice for them.

‘If this much power comes from merely mixing the Thunder Dragon Sword’s Absolute Slash with Extreme Illusion, then I wonder how powerful I’d be if I unleashed my full techniques?’

Lost in thought, the encirclement around me grew tighter, and the remaining aliens charged in, closing the gap to within twenty. With a hundred thousand of them overwhelming, our figures were like dark ants surrounded on all sides.

Fwoosh

The first attack aimed at me was an alien spitting some arrow-like thing that shot at me faster than a bullet. Recognizing its segmented form, I quickly realized it was no arrow, but rather a spine-like weapon, indicating that my opponents were armed with biological weapons.

‘Hmm. I think I faced something like this before in the outer realm…’

Shivers ran down my spine. I knew that if I deflected or destroyed this spine-arrow, there’d be hidden tricks waiting for me. Experience taught me that those who resort to such underhanded tactics always lay multiple traps. They were usually a hassle to deal with.

But—this is only the case when facing opponents of similar levels.

If there’s a massive gap in our levels, I won’t need to worry about tricks.

Dragon Scale Divine Art

Three-Step Ultimate Technique

High Tower Divine Palm

Koooohoo!

[Kiieek.]

As I quickly unleashed my first strike with focused intent, the immense force transitioned into a colossal barrier, and all enemies in the vicinity of that spine-arrow were sent flying. Hundreds of aliens were thrown into the air, and a smile crept onto my face.

“Yayul Bong’s martial arts are quite impressive.”

Yayul Bong, the North Yuan Martial Emperor, whom I encountered in the Reverse Root Water Mirror! Once the best master of the Mongol Empire, his unique techniques left an impression I sought to memorize for the future.

I honed his techniques during my self-study and achieved mastery up to the Fifth Layer of the Dragon Scale Divine Art. If I could deploy the Fifth Layer, I could unleash the High Tower Divine Palm, which is the ultimate technique of the Dragon Scale Divine Art.

Though mastering martial arts was usually beyond my talents, my level was already high enough that I intuitively understood the concepts in the Dragon Scale Divine Art.

The High Tower Divine Palm had the power of deflecting incoming foes. I thought it might get fun and began to unleash it in my surroundings.

“Catch this!”

Boom boom boom!

After a flick of my hand, hundreds of divine palms burst forth and expanded rapidly, crashing into the incoming aliens, turning the battlefield chaotic.

Puh-puh-pfff

[Kuuaaaah.]

[Uwaek.]

In the blink of an eye, the fleeing aliens were all airborne! The sight of thousands of them hovering in the air was spectacular. Watching it unfold, I thought to myself.

‘Compared to Cave-Collapsing Sword, this martial art is still lacking. While the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword work in perfect harmony, the High Tower Divine Palm merely relies on brute strength without effectively utilizing that power.’

While the High Tower Palm might be stronger against weaklings, in a duel against experts, the Cave-Collapsing Sword clearly has the advantage. Of course, it’s not that the High Tower Divine Palm isn’t powerful, nor is it weak among the world’s elite martial arts, but there’s an evident difference in levels.

Yet, despite being a lesser version, there was a resemblance between the High Tower Divine Palm and the Cave-Collapsing Sword. Lost in thought, I was suddenly struck by the realization clicking in my mind.

‘Could it be…’

I recalled a passage from Yayul Bong’s techniques.

[However, when I sought to conquer the martial world under a mighty decree, I was confronted by one: Yuan Yuanzi, Jang Sam-bong. I lost to Jang Sam-bong and had no choice but to disband my martial group and retire. He was truly an insurmountable wall, a martial genius never seen before in history. Could he really reach the Absolute Realm at such a young age…?]

[Through constant efforts over twenty years, I finally reached the same Absolute Realm as him. Yet, upon challenging Jang Sam-bong again, he had grown stronger, and I suffered a more devastating defeat than before. He was already a being above the heavens, destined to become an exalted being—a celestial warrior. Alas, I lamented the heavens.]

[I desperately wished to defeat Jang Sam-bong. Yet, I knew that as things stood, I could never surpass him. During these thoughts, whispers reached my ears of an exceptional divine technique in the Shaolin Temple capable of surpassing the Absolute Realm. I secretly infiltrated Shaolin, intending to steal the original of Reverse Root Water Mirror.]

Yayul Bong, the North Yuan Martial Emperor, and Jang Sam-bong were contemporaries and rivals!

However, Yayul Bong never managed to best Jang Sam-bong and ultimately had to retire, desperate to conquer him, even resorting to stealing Shaolin’s Reverse Root Water Mirror. From this, I could piece together a hypothesis.

‘Could it be that Jang Sam-bong devised the Cave-Collapsing Sword while battling against Yayul Bong’s High Tower Divine Palm?’

Absorbing the merits of his opponent’s martial art, he crafted a flawless technique that utilized both repulsion and attraction, resulting in the Cave-Collapsing Sword and the Heavenly Contraction Sword!

Chills ran down my spine!

Upon recognizing this, I trembled at Jang Sam-bong’s talent. He must have not only extracted the advantages of his opponent’s martial art but even improved upon it, creating a new world-class technique! I never anticipated to feel such traces of unparalleled genius here.

Lost in a moment of astonishment, I heard Lee Hwan-woong’s shriek.

“Uwaaaah!! Wait!! This is too intense!!”

Crash crash crash!!

Kwahhh!!

[Kiieek.]

Nearby, I saw Lee Hwan-woong desperately using Cosmic Fragment to defend against the dozens of alien warriors swarming around him. He seemed genuinely panicked, sweating profusely as he blocked their lethal attacks, barely able to hold on.

‘Hmm. I guess it makes sense.’

Those pressing around Lee Hwan-woong were at least advanced warriors capable of Sword Qi! Their physical abilities amplified fivefold meant that when he used one second, they unleashed dozens of seconds. Given their inherently superior attributes, it was a wonder he hadn’t been killed yet.

Watching Lee Hwan-woong, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Come on, don’t start groaning already! We’re only halfway through!”

“Damn!! Individually, they’re nothing but their physical stats are just overwhelming!”

“If you were the Master of the Twelve Joules, you wouldn’t whine about such weaklings. Treat it as training and endure!”

“Freaking hell!!”

Boom!!

I smiled, observing the fierce energy erupting from Lee Hwan-woong’s Cosmic Fragment as the thundering strength began to turn the tide.

“Are you finally stopping with the theatrics?”

It was clear he had plenty of stamina, but facing a hundred thousand opponents made him conserve energy. Only now did he realize I wouldn’t assist him, and he decided to let loose.

‘While his reasoning makes sense, he should throw all caution to the wind during practice.’

Training should be about pushing yourselves to the limits, drawing out every bit of power while camping on the brink of death!

Going easy and strategically fighting may be a good approach for winning, but it’s not suitable for someone in the current ‘downward’ position. The experience and skills that come from playing with death cannot be obtained unless you cross that line, and Lee Hwan-woong hasn’t had much experience crossing it yet.

“Guess I’ll join in then!”

Deciding to leave Lee Hwan-woong’s opponents untouched, I soared to meet the incoming hordes.

Thunder Spirit Seal!

Boomboomboom!

[Kiieek!!]

With a swift ripple of the Thunder Spirit Seal, the swarm of aliens blitzed away in an instant.

“Hmm!”

I monitored the aliens I sent crashing into the sky. Did they die? I needed to check.

Understanding that those struck only suffered electrical discharges without severe injuries made me inwardly rejoice.

‘Awesome!’

I succeeded in not killing them!

Indeed, by controlling the power of the Thunder Spirit Seal, I could minimize physical damage!

I strained my energy, focused on producing less lethal power, even though it drained my inner strength significantly, I had resolved to protect all 126,000 from death!

There was no benefit in just slaughtering civilians.

Enforcing a ‘no-kill’ parameter is crucial for my training also.

Boom! Boom!

After launching the Thunder Spirit Seal about five times, the alien army paused, creating a thirty-span gap in their advance. They finally began to recognize the difference in our levels. Yet, I frowned slightly.

‘Wow… trying not to kill means exhausting my inner power significantly…’

I only fired a few shots, and my energy had already halved?

I found the limits of this ‘no-kill’ vow to be quite the challenge. Intentionally holding back on what I could kill was far trickier than I expected.

As I was weighing the expenditure of my inner power…

[Everyone step aside!!]

Boom

A colossal alien warrior emerged along with around ten others. Observing the pulse of true energy flowing from these warriors, I thought to myself.

‘These guys are no joke.’

They were several times stronger than those attacking Lee Hwan-woong. It wasn’t just their raw power; their controlled flow of intent and stable energy made these warriors well-trained martial artists. Viewing them as top-tier opponents, I glanced at a metal armored being with a bird-like head stepping forward.

[I am Garuen Sing, ranked 7 among the warriors! I pay respect to your magnificent martial skills.]

“…”

[We ten are the top tier of the Demigorgos Reden warriors! While we acknowledge that alone we cannot match your power, we hope to launch a united attack.]

Gooooh

As I witnessed the simultaneous release of energy from all ten surrounding me, I contemplated.

‘So, they’re all coming at me from ranks 3 to 13, huh?’

Rank 1 is Ajidahaka, and Rank 2 just fought Ajidahaka and got injured so he won’t show up. That makes these ten top-tier warriors surrounding me the highest rankers of Demigorgos Reden.

Standing calmly, I chuckled.

“Group attack sounds fun. But it’s a bit boring if we just dive in….”

I simply closed my eyes.

“I shall grant you 100 seconds. If any of you can touch me during that time, you win.”

[……!!]

The top warriors of Demigorgos Reden looked shocked at my words.

Moments later, someone growled loudly, initiating the fight.

[Don’t underestimate us!!]

Swish

In the next moment, I felt the blade rushing toward my back. Unlike the awkward opponents before, this one had concentrated their intent into a powerful blow. This could easily surpass ordinary sect leaders in the Central Plains, instantly gauging their top-tier status.

But it still wasn’t enough.

Three-Step Ultimate Technique

The movements of heaven and earth allowed for minimal constraints. Those two breaths were merely a setup. The real human action is reading the opponent’s moves beforehand and evading with certainty.

As I executed my Three-Step Technique, the axe completely whiffed past, missing me entirely, even its powerful range failing to graze me.

As if we had an unspoken agreement, the ten warriors charged at me, aiming to slash me with tremendous force.

Swish swish swoosh

Kling

Boom!

‘Chains, disc-shaped weapons, large swords, musical instruments, sound waves, and an unknown biological weapon…’

In an instant, thousands of trajectories filled the air, all aiming to tear me apart in a space less than a single step wide.

Normally, maneuvering out of such tight trajectories would be impossible, but I remained resolute in my Three-Step stance, channeling my intent, clearing my mind, and focusing solely on the flow of awareness.

Memories of Asura’s teachings surfaced in my mind.

[Qi remains still while its energy flows.]

[A well-known saying in the Martial World.]

[But how does it move while being still? It’s best to observe the nature of the Qi itself.]

Having realized the meaning of that teaching while mentoring Jin So-cheong, I recalled how Jin So-cheong understood the principle well enough to synergize his technique with Ranna Chul for efficient acceleration. Likewise, I recognized the profound understanding Lee Kwang achieved through his Three Talents, overlapping the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique with the Thunder Soul, discovering methods to augment its efficiency. I had witnessed their development, and it took centuries of training for me to finally grasp the foundational principles they discussed.

[It’s difficult to mark three dots, but imparting intent is simple.]

As Lee Kwang once said.

The essence of the Three Talents is circulation; the foundation of circulation is the circle.

If I place myself within that circle of the Three Talents, no matter how powerful the attack, it can’t sever all three points simultaneously. When one or two dots are erased, I create another using the remaining one; this flow is the key to absolute evasion.

The principles apply seamlessly to the Three-Step Ultimate Technique!

Bam!

With my eyes closed, I began to slowly ‘push away’ all the trajectories in the silent void.

‘It’s not about dodging…’

Dodging allows the opponent to enter into my Three Talents. However, genuine evasion does not completely dismiss their thoughts. I allow their steps to contact my Three Talents so that at that moment, I can ensnare them within my laws, achieving true Three-Step Synchronization. From then on, it becomes a matter of ‘pushing away’ their intent, which is the real trick.

Doo-woom…

In the thick darkness, it felt as if I were dancing slowly and calmly. Even as countless trajectories flew at me, none could threaten my being.

I cast away the arrogance of understanding every attack as evasion; acknowledging their strength, but simultaneously trapping that strength within my Three Talents, doing away with its potency. That realization becomes the first step to achieving heaven, earth, and humanity by harnessing intent.

Swaaah

Time flowed slowly. I felt it within that current, dancing amidst the despairing chaos. Meanwhile, my own Three Chambers and Three-Step Ultimate began to synchronize as I aligned my breaths with the flow of the Three Talents.

Inhale, exhale, strike.

In essence, that basic flow mirrored contradiction and synthesis repeatedly. It mattered not whether the assaults came in the thousands or more; for every single attack reached my flow, becoming a part of the Three Talents.

Was this the vision seen by Jin So-cheong back then?

At some point, I forgot about winning or losing, utterly focused on this rhythm.

I realized this was true training for me.

Papapapah!

How long had it been? Gradually, I sensed the intensity of my opponents’ attacks waning, and at a certain moment, the onslaught ceased altogether.

“…”

As I slowly opened my eyes, the ten top warriors knelt, exhausted.

Seeing Garuen Sing, who had been at the forefront, he pushed his armored arms firmly against the ground as he spoke.

[Our power has been amplified fivefold, and despite your power reduced to less than 10% due to your feat… I never anticipated you could avoid all our attacks with your eyes closed.]

“…”

[As a martial artist, I cannot accept defeat…!!]

Garuen Sing’s voice carried anguish, but alongside it was immense respect. As a peer, he comprehended the futility of continuing to attack, accepting defeat came more swiftly. It seemed all the other warriors felt the same.

Reverting from my concentrated state, I extended my hand towards them. The ten warriors stood still, seemingly ready to embrace their demise.

Thunder Spirit Seal!

Boom!!

[Chiiaaaak.]

With one simple strike, the hoards of aliens waiting to pounce from behind the ranked warriors were sent flying into the air.

[No way.]

Surprised by the sudden attack, the warriors turned to see me smiling.

“I’m grateful for the match, but if you’ve lost, then step aside. I don’t like the idea of struggling to avoid killing you.”

[…… Agreed.]

Boom!

As the ranked warriors acknowledged their defeat and vacated the battleground, the chaos of battle resumed again. I desired to bask in the pleasant afterglow of my defensive tactic, yet with the hordes closing in from all sides, that tranquility shattered, drawing a frown from me.

‘Hmm. Having gained such deep realizations, I find it bothersome to deal with these low-level foolhardy fighters… even if I impose a no-kill vow, it feels like massacre anyway. Isn’t there a less grating method?’

Contemplating briefly, I glanced at Heuk Woong, who seemed to share my thoughts.

[How about using Beast Clones?]

“Beast Clones? But they won’t gain experience for me…”

[It’s the easiest way to clear this place. Plus, if done correctly, it would let you fight efficiently while maintaining the no-kill vow.]

“What’s the idea?”

After hearing Heuk Woong’s explanation, I was taken aback.

“I never thought of that. But can it work?”

[Even if you don’t fully grasp the concepts, they are your clones, so they will perform the basics well.]

“Good. Not bad, so let’s try it.”

Crack

Huff!

I swiftly tore a lock of my own hair and cast the Beast Clone Technique.

Boom!

A hundred clones materialized, and I directed them immediately.

“Attention!!”

“What now?”

“What do you expect us to do??”

“Damn it, you’ve changed faces but not your lousy attitude!”

“Hey, jerk! Is this even right?”

While the clones complained, I didn’t falter and shouted.

“Make your stance! You’re tasked with defense!”

“Damn you!!”

Despite their grumbling, the clones quickly scattered to assume defensive positions around me. They had retained the basic formations I learned a long time ago from Master Myung-ho, so they efficiently grasped the fundamentals.

‘Amazing! Their formations are spot-on.’

Pleased with the results, I watched as Lee Hwan-woong dispatched most of the aliens around him. Tsung, with a look of disbelief, observed the inept defensive formations my clones maintained.

“…No way…”

“Do you know this formation?”

“…”

Lee Hwan-woong looked flabbergasted.

“Is it the 108 Buddhas Formation?”

“Spot on!”

Boom boom boom!

[Kiieek!]

Moments later, the 108 Buddhas Formation took shape, and over a hundred clones stood firm, fending off the advancing enemies. I found myself standing amidst them, at ease, with a content smile.

Lee Hwan-woong approached me, bewildered.

“How do you know about that formation?”

“How do you know it’s called the 108 Buddhas Formation?”

“Well, all the martial techniques from the Shaolin Temple have been shared in the Heavenly Gate… no, more importantly, how did you even use the Beast Clone Technique with that formation?”

Faced with Lee Hwan-woong’s incredulity, I chuckled.

“Haha. It’s just what I learned from Master Myung-ho finally coming into play.”

During the Trials of the Seven Luminaries, Master Myung-ho prepared me for the future by conveying all the powerful techniques of the Shaolin Temple, including the 108 Buddhas Formation. Though my knowledge was basic, it was sufficient to shape a defensive formation, and since each of my clones were strong, they didn’t require anything more complex.

“Hmm, I see.”

“‘I see’ isn’t good enough… You need to join in and take down a thousand!”

Tsuung!

“Gah!”

I shoved Lee Hwan-woong toward the battlefield, leaving him with no room to resist. I shook my hands free and murmured.

“Can’t allow any more excuses to slack off.”

I decided to comfortably wait for the chaos to settle down. While I initially intended to knock every foe out with my own hands, the recent understanding I gained from the Three Talents felt too precious to soil in combat against these lower-tier fighters.

After approximately half a moment had passed, the last of the aliens collapsed, defeated.

Crash

“Huff… Huff…”

Disabling the Beast Clone Technique, only Lee Hwan-woong remained, soaked in the alien warriors’ blood. Even if he appeared blood-soaked, it was all from the enemies, yet he looked utterly exhausted. I approached him and asked.

“How does it feel to have used every bit of your stamina?”

“…Never want to do that again.”

“Still, didn’t you grasp something about your martial arts?”

“Perhaps.”

With a deep sigh, Lee Hwan-woong responded. While he didn’t openly express it, he had likely acquired something valuable.

‘If he’s taught well, he might soon touch upon the Absolute Realm.’

Furthermore, was Lee Hwan-woong’s Heavenly Unrestrained Technique close to the Twelve Joules’ Heavenly Unrestrained technique?

To figure this out, aiding Lee Hwan-woong was essential, for who knows what more insights on the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique I could uncover?

Amidst my thoughts, a commotion erupted in the arena.

[For the first time in Demigorgos Reden’s history, a challenger has succeeded in all three trials at once! Let’s cheer for the Ranking 2 player, Baek Woong, who has earned the rights to challenge the Overlord!]

Waahh

Hearing the yell, I thought to myself.

‘Well, of course…’

With such overwhelming martial arts displayed, there’s no doubt everyone would believe I’m fit to challenge the Overlord.

I glanced over at Lee Hwan-woong and said, “I can’t wait to challenge the Overlord. But before that, let’s take a rest.”

“I should….”

Thud

All of Lee Hwan-woong’s strength drained, and he fainted unexpectedly. I hadn’t expected this at all, and I looked down in surprise when Heuk Woong spoke.

[Lee Hwan-woong faced many moments he couldn’t handle during our skirmishes. Each time, he accessed Mephisto’s power to temporarily use the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique, which drained his stamina significantly.]

“But seeing how he has taken down over a thousand enemies, that’s quite impressive.”

[He may seem indifferent to martial arts but is undoubtedly a rare genius who appears once every century.]

“…”

I stared at Lee Hwan-woong with a curious eye. The thought of him becoming a part of the Twelve Joules felt oddly tangible.

‘The cub will grow into a tiger.’

He radiated instincts, mental acuity, and talent that was extraordinarily hard to match, and if he honed himself for thousands of years, he could become someone like the Master of the Twelve Joules. Only now did I understand just why I had my hands full contending against the Twelve Joules.

As I put Lee Hwan-woong into the wooden armor, I turned to Heuk Woong.

“Let’s head back to the lodge.”

[No.]

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, Heuk Woong rejected my proposal, crossing his arms.

[My lord. Something feels off. I’d like you to accompany me.]

“…Is it something important?”

[It may or may not be, but it feels unsettling.]

“Hmm. Alright.”

[Thank you, my lord.]

Boom!

Following Heuk Woong through the dimensional door, I arrived in an unfamiliar space—a massive ancient cave filled with glistening crystals.

“What’s with this cave?”

Something about this place felt far from normal.

[My lord. The moment we arrived in Lemuria, I sensed an ominous energy. While you engaged in your battles, I concentrated on unearthing the traces of that energy.]

“Oh… right.”

It seemed I had forgotten about his warning. I surveyed the cave.

“I don’t feel any ominous energy yet. And is this indeed Lemuria?”

Lemuria felt like a futuristic mega-city intertwined with foreign civilizations and advanced magitech. In sheer contrast, this crystal cave appeared raw, untouched, and dark—symbolizing pure, sinister depths.

To my question, Heuk Woong glided forward slightly off the ground.

[The position of this Lemuria, based on the Ming Dynasty era you were familiar with, lies near Tianzhu. Of course, the continent’s location has shifted considerably since then, but to be precise, it’s placed on the coastal regions near Tianzhu.]

“Oh, is that so?”

[Yet, that’s only the surface positioning. When I utilized divine energy to survey its exact coordinates, it came close to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Typically, when exploring with physical force, one can observe Lemuria from the waters nearby Tianzhu, but entrance is impossible—only those granted permission can access the true location of Lemuria, which exists in the heart of the Pacific.]

“Hmm!”

So, while regular humans may see Lemuria from the Tianzhu coastal waters, they cannot physically access it!

I mostly comprehended Heuk Woong’s words and asked, “So, Lemuria is beneath the Pacific Ocean? What’s the significance of that?”

[This crystal cave is indeed located directly below the true site of Lemuria, buried over twenty leagues deep. It’s more akin to Earth’s mantle than a simple surface site.]

“Oh!! It’s that deep?”

His words surprised me a bit.

The mantle!

I had learned of it from Professor Sima Ling, exploring the structure of the Earth. The planet’s surface is thinly covered, and below that lies the searing magma layer known as the mantle. The closer that mantle approaches the surface, the more potent the energy contained within, referred to as the dragon vein.

Heuk Woong continued.

[This crystal cave connects to the underground of Lemuria through dimensional doors. Security measures are heavily enforced here to prevent unauthorized access, making it suspicious, prompting my investigation. This location might be the most closely guarded secret of Emperor Lemuria I.]

“And so where’s this ominous energy you’re sensing? Why can’t I feel it?”

[Since I’m at a higher level than you, it’s natural for me to detect such things. Granting my attention closely to this spot, you might have missed feeling it amidst your focus on other matters.]

“……”

[However… try focusing your senses… now that you’re physically here, can you sense anything?]

“Hmm…”

I closed my eyes and extended my sense of Qi.

…

Thump!

The moment I felt a pair of bright eyes lurking in the shadows, a heavy sensation jolted through me, startling me back to attention.

“……!!”

W-what is this?!

[Did you catch it?]

“What the hell…?”

[It doesn’t bode well. While the clarity of its form is unclear, leaving it unchecked seems to forebode danger in your journey ahead.]

“……”

Heuk Woong was right.

That profound sensation I just experienced was pure, raw power!

The emotion it invoked was a mixture of fear and thrill, suggesting that whatever resided here was anything but ordinary.

Frowning, I murmured, “…Damn it. Was there a reason Emperor Lemuria I sought protection?”

Somehow, I just instinctively feared that probing further into this mystery would uncover a significant danger. Yet, that instinct also implied that it might not be an entirely negative choice—just one with considerable risk.

After contemplating for a moment, I declared, “Let’s go.”

I needed to uncover the truth behind this crystal cave.