The Pinnacle of the Korean Player Federation.
In a room reserved for the leader, a long conversation had just ended.
More precisely, it wasn't really a conversation—it was more like a report.
"…That's everything I witnessed."
Lee Seong-ah, who had participated as a Destroyer in the divine trial, Tomb of the Dragon, explained everything she had seen in the final battle.
What kind of skills Han Yuseong had used, how he fought, what his personality seemed like, what he looked like—everything.
"Hm…"
After hearing the entire account, Jain sank deep into her chair.
With her eyes closed, she let out a deep sigh.
"So, most of what was written in the article is true?"
"There are definitely exaggerations and fabrications, but the core of it is mostly accurate. This trial… was led by that man alone. Especially the final battle—what I saw then…"
At that point, a tremor ran through Lee Seong-ah's eyes.
The scene replayed in her mind.
The image of the monster who slaughtered newly registered Destroyer rankers like livestock.
How no other Destroyer dared stand in his way.
"It's hard to believe even after hearing it with my own ears. It was practically a solo clear, with the other guardians just standing by."
"…Yes. Especially since the top-ranked Destroyers were already dead by then. But this is just my speculation…"
"You think Han Yuseong killed those top-ranked Destroyers too?"
Lee Seong-ah gave a small nod.
Wei Hamo, Suzuki Haruto, Inoue Seigo—
They were the names mentioned in the article as likely having been killed by Han Yuseong.
Jain turned her gaze to Park Yuha, who had been standing beside her.
As if he had been waiting for the cue, Park Yuha began to speak.
"Wei Hamo is affiliated with China's Hoksalmun. He's talented and capable, and I believe he was under state-level protection. The Lord of Calamity he had contracted with as well."
"Hoksalmun, huh… This could get messy."
Hoksalmun—a major Chinese guild.
It was known for using the power of players to conduct various illegal activities.
With people like that, there was no telling what they might do.
Especially when combined with China's uniquely closed-off attitude—it only made things more complicated.
"What about movements from other countries?"
"They're watching the situation, but it seems they're still in the information-gathering phase. They're probably planning to approach after confirming more about this Han Yuseong. If they move too soon, it might leave a bad impression."
"The problem is, there are always those who don't care about things like impressions."
China's Hoksalmun was a concern, and Japan's moves were also being monitored.
Both countries had a history of aggressively poaching foreign players.
Whether through offers of naturalization—or, in more extreme cases, coercion.
Jain closed her eyes and quickly organized her thoughts.
"…Bring me any information related to Han Yuseong, no matter how small. And identify him as soon as possible so we can assign Federation forces to him. I'm especially worried about Hoksalmun's movements."
"Understood, Chief. But… we may already be too late."
"And as for our warrior…"
Jain opened her eyes and met the gaze of Lee Seong-ah, who was sitting across from her.
"Is it okay for me to go?"
The female warrior, who had been nervously watching the situation, shuddered.
It was because she realized that Jain wasn't looking at her with that kind of intention.
"I'd like you to move with the alliance forces. Since you've met him in person, you'll recognize him at a glance."
"Y-Yes, huh?! No, I…"
"I'm asking you for a favor. You'll be properly rewarded. Park Yoo-ha, show her the way."
"Wait, waaaait a second! I have trauma…!"
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, the young woman reacted intensely.
Leaving her behind, Jain fell deep into thought.
'I think her level was 95, if I recall correctly.'
In this trial, the average level of the rankers and named NPCs was 100.
That's quite high.
To be able to overwhelm such a trial alone—what level did she reach, and just how strong was she really?
A deep smile crept across Jain's lips.
"Interesting."
He wanted to meet this person in person.
The next day, Kakasha finally came to her senses.
"Are you finally coming to?"
[Ugh… I'm sorry, Oathkeeper. I, I lost myself in greed…]
Embarrassed by how she had lost herself to the lure of coins, Kakasha apologized to Han Yuseong in a shrinking voice.
A monarch apologizing was a rare sight indeed.
"I know, so that's enough. You can have 200,000 of my coins."
[Then that makes 600,000! Kuhuhu, I'm rich! Slurp… oops, drooling…]
"Wipe your drool later. First, tell me what this 'special option' is."
These were the rewards Kakasha received from her trial:
400,000 coins, enhancement of the Blessing of the Flame Lord, and a special option.
Han Yuseong checked the message floating before his eyes.
[Blessing of War (Enhanced)]
· All stats +8
· Attack Power +8%, Skill Damage +8%
· Fire Attribute Enhancement +8%, Fire Resistance +8%
· The desolation of a ruined battlefield will further empower this blessing
The enhanced Blessing of War appeared.
Its grade had risen to Rare, and a new effect had been added.
It was similar to the one attached to the Apostle skill Prominence.
But that wasn't the important part right now.
What mattered most was the "special option."
[Oh, I see three choices—ah, this is… quite surprising. You must be curious too, so I'll let you see them.]
A blue flame flickered to life.
That flame danced before Han Yuseong's eyes and began writing out the words.
These were the "special options" given to Kakasha:
[1. Grant a unique enhancement effect.]
[2. Restore and enhance a portion of the lost Castle of War.]
[3. Recover one of the lost castles.]
The options were more interesting than expected.
Indeed, they were worthy of being called special options.
"One is a divine blessing, the other two are related to the castles."
[Mmm, Oathkeeper, which choice appeals to you the most?]
"Well, personally, the one I'm drawn to is…"
After a brief moment of thought, Han Yuseong made his choice without hesitation.
And it happened to be the same one Kakasha had in mind.
"Option 3 — recover one of the lost castles."
Kakasha chuckled softly, clearly pleased.
[The blessing can be enhanced naturally as I grow stronger. The Castle of War can also be rebuilt over time by using more coins.]
"But the lost relics—those can't be recovered the same way."
[Indeed. It's hard to say how much effort it would take to restore one.]
Restoring and enhancing what you already possess—
Versus reclaiming what you've lost and rebuilding it from scratch—
There was no question about which was more difficult.
Kakasha had once held many sacred castles.
But she lost them all—stolen, destroyed, or absorbed by others.
"There's really no room for doubt."
[Option 3, it is!]
Kakasha selected Option 3.
The message written in blue flame vanished.
Then, a faint blue flame bloomed in the air—
and soon transformed into a fierce blue fire.
From within that fire, something began to emerge.
[Grade B Castle Relic, 'Flag of War' has been recovered.]
It was a flag.
A blazing banner made of blue flame, radiating intense heat.
[Flag of War (Grade B Castle Relic)]
· A sacred relic of the Flame Lord Kakasha, once a symbol of a monarch's majesty, though now considerably weakened.
· By planting this flag, one may declare war over a specific area.
· During a battle within that territory, the faction that satisfies the relic's conditions will receive a buff, which intensifies as the battle becomes more fierce.
· Conversely, the opposing faction will receive a debuff.
A relic designed to grant buffs to groups.
Quite useful—except for one key drawback:
"So it doesn't automatically give the buff to allies."
[Hmph! Why should a blessing be granted to allies who don't make the war interesting?! A real battle should be hot and thrilling!]
"…That's so like you."
The buff doesn't go to "allies"—
It goes to the side that satisfies the relic's will.
It's a risk, but considering its potential in large-scale battles, it's still a valuable relic.
"What about the gauntlets?"
[They'll take a bit more time. But don't worry, they'll be finished before you enter the tower.]
"That's good enough."
The gauntlets once used by Wei Hamo:
Han Yuseong was planning to transfer the blessing imbued in the relic to his Blood-Soul Spear.
Since it was said to be finished before he entered the tower, all he had to do was wait.
"Alright then…"
Han Yuseong rose from his seat and glanced briefly out the window.
It was evening. The sky was dark, and there weren't many people out and about.
But he could sense it.
"Looks like the alliance is one step too slow again."
[Seems like the rats have already started to swarm.]
A considerable number of players were approaching the area.
They were moving in with clear intent—
tightening the net around Han Yuseong with precise coordination.
It was surprising how quickly they had mobilized—faster than the alliance.
"Well, I'll just have to go find out for myself."
[What will you do?]
"Isn't it obvious?"
Han Yuseong turned off the room's lights.
In the darkness, his eyes gleamed with a cold blue light.
"I'll kill them all."
Sometimes, violence is the solution.
Or rather—in this world, it's not "sometimes,"
but very often.
Are players inherently good people?
Of course not.
The stronger the power they possess, the deeper they fall into temptation—and many end up committing crimes.
Some commit acts so heinous that even a modern society accustomed to player-related violence cannot accept them.
These individuals, who find no place under the light of society, eventually hide in the shadows.
The problem is that finding these criminals is more difficult than one might expect.
And the reason is painfully simple:
There are lords who encourage crime—or find these individuals useful—and thus offer them protection and support.
As a result, in many nations, underground havens known as the "Underworld"—safe zones for criminal players—have become highly active.
Naturally, South Korea also has many such hideouts scattered across the country.
Behind the disguise of ordinary shops or buildings,
organizations take on requests for assassinations, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.
And the ones now targeting Han Yuseong belonged to one such organization.
"…That building, huh?"
"Heh, for a player, he's living in quite a shabby place."
The players, their faces hidden behind masks, looked toward a specific building.
They were members of a criminal syndicate known as "Hunting Dogs."
They were criminals who would do anything for money,
regardless of who made the request—
even foreign governments.
As long as it paid well, they didn't care.
That was the kind of group "Hunting Dogs" was.
"Makes our job easier. How many are there?"
"One hundred. All are stationed in their assigned positions."
"Good. Let's finish this before the alliance bastards show up."
Mi Cheol-woo, the Hunting Dog in charge of the operation, began to move.
He and the Hunting Dogs following him moved in absolute silence—
without a sound or a trace.
"What about the poison we got from Wang Liuyue?"
"It's already been released inside the building. That woman said it has a strong effect and a wide range. By now, it should have spread completely."
"If it's something made by the Huoxian Sect, then it should be reliable. Everyone, make sure your masks are secure and take your antidotes."
It would be nothing short of humiliating to fall victim to their own poison.
The Hunting Dogs swiftly infiltrated the run-down one-room apartment building.
Inside, it was filled with a thick, dark purple smoke—
a deadly vapor that paralyzes the body and slowly kills the target.
"Remember: do not kill him. Our objective is Han Yuseong. Capture him and hand him over to the Huoxian Sect."
"What about severed limbs?"
"That's fine. They can handle that much with their healing methods."
The Hunting Dogs didn't know exactly who Han Yuseong was.
His power was unknown, and capturing him without leaving a scratch would be impossible.
But as long as he was alive, handing him over would fulfill their contract.
Mi Cheol-woo activated a skill and stood before a tightly closed door.
Signals were relayed to the other Hunting Dogs.
They were stationed at either side of the target room, outside the window, and at the door.
Each one gripped their weapon tightly.
Mi Cheol-woo scanned the interior with a detection skill.
'Quiet. I can hear steady breathing… If he's asleep,'
—this becomes a lot easier.
He grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open.
Then, the doorknob broke off without a sound, and the door itself crumbled without making a single noise.
Revealed was the narrow, pitch-black one-room apartment.
It was truly a space untouched by even a speck of light...
"No light at all…?"
It was a night when the moon was especially bright.
And yet, not a single ray of moonlight entered the room.
As if something inside was blocking all light from entering...
Feeling an ominous sense of unease, Mi Cheol-woo started to move—
"So, the guests are finally here. I've been waiting quite a while."
"Kh…! Cough…!"
Puhk!
Something sharper than a blade pierced straight through Mi Cheol-woo's chest.
From all directions, shadows surged up, impaling him and the other Hunting Dogs who had entered with him.
"How… the poison…?"
Mi Cheol-woo's eyes widened in disbelief.
What he saw was Han Yuseong, standing calmly amidst the shadows.
And then, without mercy, streams of sword-like killing intent sliced through the necks of the remaining Hunting Dogs.
'He… knew all along…'
That was the last thought that flickered through Mi Cheol-woo's mind.
All the Hunting Dogs who had entered through the door collapsed simultaneously.
And in that very moment—
the windows and both side walls came crashing down.
The Hunting Dogs on standby moved in after receiving the signal.
What they encountered were the lifeless bodies of Mi Cheol-woo and his subordinates.
"Hy-hyung-nim…"
"What the hell is this…?!"
The unbelievable sight left the Hunting Dogs in utter shock.
Their eyes slowly turned toward the one who had created this massacre.
"I was planning to kill all of you… but I suppose I should hear you out first."
A surge of magical energy exploded from Han Yuseong.
It was so overwhelming, it made the Hunting Dogs' skin tingle with dread.
The shadows around him rose and twisted, transforming into countless weapons—all aimed at them.
"Maybe I'll let two of you live."
And then, the shadow weapons were launched.
Moments later, the Hunting Dogs' screams of agony echoed throughout the building.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : http://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]