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“This might be my last fight.”

Jin So-cheong thought to herself, and she probably wasn’t wrong. No matter how you looked at it, her chances of surviving in the brawl with the Eight Parts of the Divine and Mahuraga equated to a snowball’s chance in hell. She knew this fact all too well. With her current skills, she couldn’t even properly bypass a single divine being, let alone take on the elite.

But she just had to fight.

She had no choice but to fight.

Jin So-cheong kept reminding herself as she pushed forward, enveloped in the light of the Thunder Spirit, her eyes fixed ahead.

There was a reason behind her determination.

That reason was forged in the battle with the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

Just moments ago, Jin So-cheong had fought against the Master, who was on the brink of death. Her role had simply been to dispatch the Young Master and stab the Sect Leader’s reverse scale, yet she had chosen to face the Master directly. Because she didn’t want to give a respectful warrior a meaningless death.

Initially, she had entered the battle with a twinge of sympathy, but that changed drastically as she clashed with the Sect Leader. It was a battle of despair, one where escape was impossible; whether she won or lost, it would end terribly. Nevertheless, she fought with all her might, pushing herself to the limits and forcing Jin So-cheong into a corner, utilizing the Primordial Spirit to its max.

While the Sect Leader was stronger than her, even in a weakened state due to the reverse scale wound, they remained nearly even in battle. It could practically be called her defeat.

What drove the Sect Leader?

As Jin So-cheong witnessed the unwavering spirit and grit of the Sect Leader, she suddenly grasped what she lacked compared to the rulers of the three factions.

The will to save humanity!

It transcended the ultimate self-interest, something outside of mere altruism; they were prepared to sacrifice everything for their true goals. The Sect Leader believed until the end that only he could save humanity, fighting with flames of determination.

Jin So-cheong realized she could never fight for someone else to that extent. Let alone an intangible collective like humanity; that commitment surpassed the imagination of an everyday person. It was something entirely different from a pure desire for martial perfection—even if it was smeared in the chaos of time, it nonetheless unleashed mental strength capable of overwhelming practitioners of pure martialism.

They were, at the very least, individuals who enforced their own will. Beings who demonstrated the true essence of life through action.

She continued to ponder as she stood there.

What am I fighting for?

What do I possess?

…In truth, nothing at all.

The reason Jin So-cheong had been so gloomy wasn’t just for cowardly exploiting the Sect Leader’s gap, but for realizing anew that she was, in fact, an utterly empty existence. The revival of the Thunder God lineage, the long journey against the Old Ruler, revenge against the Emperor who had killed her father, her hatred for otherworldly beings who treated humans like toys, and her resistance against the divine status deceiving the history of the world—all were absent. In reality, she had simply been meandering through life since being reincarnated as Baek Woong.

This wasn’t inherently wrong. The rulers of the three factions and Baek Woong were anomalies beyond compare, while Jin So-cheong was decidedly normal.

However.

Why were those who had no interest in the purest form of martialism able to transcend the essence of it in their pursuit of madness for their own goals? As she contemplated the nature of that madness, Jin So-cheong reached a conclusion.

She, too, had to go mad.

By merely resting on her talents in a safe space and waiting for time to pass, she could never hope to surpass them. Even if she grew stronger objectively later, she wouldn’t exhibit the obsession needed to move the world with that power.

She had to actively unleash her violent talents—she had to cross over the threshold of death.

Only then could she overcome their level.

Jin So-cheong also wanted to fill the unbearable void within her.

Because until now, she had never truly enjoyed anything about life.

Was it too unfortunate to say this was merely a hunch instigated by her talent and a result of it? The thing was, some soft feeling within repeatedly urged her to fight, and somehow it felt as if that sensation would become reality.

Jin So-cheong tried to chase away the fleeting thought.

‘I have to transcend.’

I must leap beyond this impossible battlefield.

I must surpass myself.

I must embody what martialism means: self-control.

Simply being a pawn would not suffice in aiding Baek Woong in the future, so she resolved to energize herself.

Hastening along,

She arrived on the battlefield with the acceleration of the Thunder Spirit. For a brief moment, she took in the sight of the azure giant, Mahuraga, and the Eight Parts of the Divine, confirming the colossal power they wielded. She was engulfed by a wave of despair so intense that her lips turned pale.

There was no way she could compete.

In this battlefield, there wasn’t a single foe she could win against.

All those beings had transcended humanity ages ago!

Why, oh why, did she come here of her own volition to die?

Upon realizing that dismal reality, Jin So-cheong felt a peculiar sensation wash over her heart. It was a dirty, sticky bliss that tricked her mind like a cool breeze on a summer day.

So this is what madness feels like.

And thus began the battle of the human Jin So-cheong.

What’s this?

Mahuraga was the first to notice her presence. Strategically managing the most advantageous view to capture the three of the Eight Parts of the Divine, he noticed a human flying in at an astonishing speed, like a pesky fly. But as he assessed her battle power, he quickly lost interest.

Just a bug.

The lower beings would rate her level several tiers lower, but to a divine entity, she was meaningless. Why would he care whether a cicada or ladybug was tougher?

Mahuraga preferred to watch the bug self-destruct during the battle rather than squash it himself. A sadistic personality, he wanted to see Jin So-cheong do something foolish and watch the Eight Parts of the Divine despair at her actions, so he let her be.

The Eight Parts of the Divine caught on to Jin So-cheong’s presence slightly later. However, not knowing what she was up to, they merely stared at her. Fighting Mahuraga alone was already too taxing, so what was the big deal with a lone human sticking her nose into things? They felt no need to exert energy to eliminate her.

Thoroughly disregarded in an instant, Jin So-cheong concentrated her will and unleashed the Internal Power of Absolute Realm.

Absolute Realm.

Thunder Spirit!

Thunder Transference!

Her body became blurry, suddenly transforming as she tapped into the essence of Thunder God. However, unlike when she fought Lee Cheong-un, it was not a full manifestation of lightning; it felt more like her body was shimmering around its contours. This was because Jin So-cheong had an understanding of the Thunder Spirit’s secrets, but lacked sufficient Internal Power to manifest it completely. She could only pull it out in bits during battle. Compared to Lee Cheong-un, who could activate it at will, her foundational offensive power fell short.

But that didn’t mean her attainment was low. Regardless, she could conduct the abilities of the Thunder Spirit’s secrets entirely since she understood them. Jin So-cheong transformed her spear into lightning and hurled it straight at Mahuraga of the Eight Parts of the Divine.

Whirr!

As the spear whirled near Mahuraga’s form, a loud sound rang out, and a protective barrier automatically spread, blocking her thunderous spear. When Mahuraga confirmed this audacious human was his adversary, his expression soured.

[Die!]

Screech—

In that moment, Jin So-cheong realized that soundwaves had pierced her body, piercing and tearing her apart. With the speed of sound, she could’ve dodged, but Mahuraga’s command was imbued with ancient sorcery, rendering divine techniques or reaction speeds ineffective for evasion. Moreover, the power contained in his command rapidly shattered her psyche and began to rip her soul away.

Crackle!

The Thunder Transference fell apart like a joke, and blood vessels surged across Jin So-cheong’s body. Originally, she would have turned into a gory puddle after a single strike, but she resisted with her will.

“Cough!”

She screamed. Then, tremors ripped through Mahuraga’s powers. No matter the circumstance, how could she possibly be on the brink of death from a single attack from Mahuraga while inside the Absolute Realm? It wasn’t false that the actual might of the Eight Parts of the Divine exceeded that of the Thunder Spirit. Even Mahuraga, who was considered among the weaker ones, could squash her like a bug with her current state.

Mahuraga’s eyebrows twitched.

[You can withstand that? For a human, quite…]

The celestial beside him spoke brusquely.

[Anyway, it’s hardly combat-ready now. Ignore that thing and focus on Mahuraga.]

[Exactly.]

Crash!

As they concluded their discussion, Jin So-cheong’s arm exploded. She held out as best as she could, but the command’s power was unbearable. With one arm lost, her chance of recovery appeared slim.

BOOM!

Regardless of Jin So-cheong, countless rays of light rained down between Mahuraga and the Eight Parts of the Divine, igniting the sky in a scorching blaze. In the midst of a battle of colossal proportions that should never have been permitted in this era, Jin So-cheong fell from the void.

Whoosh!

In the blazing void filled with precious gems and mayhem, soaked in blood, she reflected. Losing an arm felt insignificant.

‘Why am I feeling this way?’

She resembled a bug.

It was clear that her enemies identified her as such and that she truly was akin to one.

She ought to face the inevitable despair of dying like a bug – and yet…

‘This is fun.’

She couldn’t hide the overwhelming joy welling up inside. Just letting herself succumb to madness surprisingly filled her with a thrill she had never experienced before. It was hard to believe this was truly enjoyable, but it was. Jin So-cheong smiled and reached out.

Shall I enjoy it?

Whip!

As she fell, a Thunder Spear somehow flew into her hand. She felt an instinctive understanding of the chaos surrounding her, knowing precisely what she must do amidst the pandemonium. Words couldn’t express it, but every single sensation embedded in her body sparked to life, guiding her actions.

Her body itched.

She wanted to fight.

Absolute Realm!

Heavenly Motion!

This time, Jin So-cheong flew through the void without the use of the Thunder Spirit. Having consumed quite a bit of Internal Power and will already, it was like throwing eggs at a rock, but her target was Mahuraga. If she left his divine flame unchecked, it was only a matter of time before he truly burned alive.

Of course, Mahuraga was no simpleton who merely spewed flames.

[Hmph.]

Mahuraga, blessed with divine perception and reflexes, immediately detected her killing intent without even turning his head and created a pillar of flames in mid-air that he shot off toward her. Despite not training in martial arts, the physical capabilities of the Eight Parts of the Divine were comparable to those of a master skilled in the Absolute Realm.

Crash!

In the blink of an eye, where Jin So-cheong had been, a luminous explosion desolated all life. Thinking he had taken care of the bothersome bug, Mahuraga tried to disregard her, but the next moment, he felt a hollow sensation in his chest.

[…]?

A silver thorn had pierced through his body. In fact, that was Jin So-cheong’s spear. With one hand gripping the spear, Jin So-cheong appeared as if it were only natural that she would conclude her attack.

[Huh?]

And suddenly, she surged with newfound energy, and as Mahuraga wore a shocked expression, the Essence of the Soul Extinguishing Step activated, shredding Mahuraga’s form.

SPLAT!

Jin So-cheong’s face remained perfectly calm. Still wielding the spear, she turned and charged at the celestial nearby. The celestial, realizing something unbelievable was occurring, instinctively activated the ancient sorcery he knew to attack Jin So-cheong.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

The patterns of the spell bore down on Jin So-cheong, causing her to spew blood. Even wielding Thunder Transference, she couldn’t evade the celestial’s magic.

[What is that guy…?]

The celestial was briefly stunned. As Jin So-cheong was flung backward by the attack, she hovered in the air, seemingly still full of combat power. Under normal circumstances, a regular human would have died ten times over by now, so what was happening?

‘Could it be that guy just used his will to neutralize my sorcery?’

How was that possible?

Hypothetically, it could happen, but she’d never heard of anyone possessing such a genius talent before.

Were they required to immediately resist using their will at the very moment their magic lashed out? Who could manage that?

Among the Celestials, there might be a few of them capable of such feats, but at least among those met by the celestial, none existed.

“GRAAAAAH!!”

But the gaze that transformed Jin So-cheong into a bloodthirsty being erupted with a burst of light as she attacked the celestial once more. Mahuraga and the celestial, witnessing the scene, finally realized one thing.

This guy.

He had just gotten stronger than before.

Boom!

Realizing this fact did nothing to diminish the shock. The celestial’s neck was pierced by Jin So-cheong’s spear. Her potential was simply too much for his defenses to bear.

[…]

Of course, it was not a lethal blow. She wasn’t hit by the Seven Luminaries nor by Mahuraga’s attack, so the newly injured Mahuraga would resurrect soon. Even the celestial, who temporarily disappeared, would undoubtedly return shortly.

This highlighted the gap between the Eight Parts of the Divine and a mere human. It was a battle that was unwinnable.

Yet still, the snow-white figure of the celestial, lacking eyes, nose, or mouth, was now engulfed by a strange feeling. The sight of the insane human rampaging drew even an otherworldly being’s admiration.

[Impressive…I’ve never encountered a human like you.]

Swoosh!

As he temporarily vanished, the celestial left behind his words of admiration. It dawned on him that Jin So-cheong’s talent was of a level that could not simply be dismissed as that of a human. Mahuraga also recognized this, wearing an equally stunned expression.

[Hahaha! Not bad for a bug. I’m impressed…]

At that moment, as he watched the farcical spectacle, Mahuraga chuckled. Before he could finish, Jin So-cheong charged Mahuraga with all her might, thrusting her spear.

BANG!

[…]

Mahuraga was left speechless. The shock came from the fact that, without intending to, he had instinctively woven his divine power to deflect Jin So-cheong’s strike. That meant he had unknowingly recognized her attack as a genuine threat to the divine body he possessed, indicating that her potential had momentarily risen to a level that could tear a divinity apart.

Yet even with that recognition, Mahuraga felt incredulous.

[You…how dare you?]

No matter the circumstances, could a mad human dare to wield a weapon against one as great as him, a deputy-ranked figure just beneath the Three Sovereigns? The very fact that it was happening was so far beyond the norm that he didn’t even feel anger; it was something so outlandish that it left him dumbfounded. This could very well be the most shocking moment he’d experienced over millennia, causing him to freeze like a divine being should not.

Meanwhile, Jin So-cheong was panting through blood. She realized that both her strength and qi were on the verge of depletion and that a few more clashes would unavoidably kill her. But she didn’t care. After all, she had no means to escape now. With Zhuge Sa’s plans twisted beyond recognition, she saw no point in worrying about that anymore.

Even now, she was growing stronger. She wasn’t entirely sure why, but she just felt she was. She knew she’d become even stronger in their next collision.

Just as a star would effortlessly guide her through darkness, Jin So-cheong followed that flow naturally.

That was—Absolute Realm’s Heavenly Motion.

A realm that couldn’t be defined by any technique, martial art theory, or discipline.

An apostate that denied the history of martialism across thousands of years through sheer talent.

A contradiction that only manifested when she could truly enjoy fighting in extreme circumstances.

‘Let’s give it our all.’

To achieve maximum efficiency, she had to give up her chances of survival—how contradictory that was! But as Jin So-cheong began to acknowledge her death and immerse herself, she directed her spear at the towering Mahuraga instead of whining aimlessly.

“Want to go again?”

Jin So-cheong was having a blast.

For the first time in this life.

 

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