Chapter Content
Chapter 001. Prologue
No matter how desperate the situation, there is always a way out.
As long as one does not abandon the will to live.
As long as one does not give up on moving forward.
A man who started as a street orphan and earned the alias Sword Dragon. Dam Jeok-san, the Third Young Master of the Martial Sovereign Castle, believed this fact without a doubt.
That was why he never gave up even when his dantian was shattered into pieces due to excessive training.
Even though countless people who surrounded him turned their backs, and he was completely pushed out of the succession line of the castle.
Because he believed he could rise again.
……Until yesterday.
“Ha, they are finally trying to completely cut off my breath……!”
Dam Jeok-san said while looking at the order placed in front of him.
An undeniable sense of despair and an intense anger that surpassed even that despair could be felt in his voice.
A letter with the image of a dark blue dragon engraved on pitch-black silk.
That meant this order was a Castle Lord’s Order issued directly by the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
[I order the Third Young Master Dam Jeok-san. Go to the Northern Branch of the Martial Sovereign Castle and fulfill your duty.
The deadline is in five days.
Castle Lord Man Su-geuk]
A short and concise command.
However, the expression of Dam Jeok-san, who received it, was complicated beyond measure.
“They are telling me to die. Isn't that right, Won?”
Dam Jeok-san said, looking at his escort warrior, Gyeong-won.
“Young Master…….”
Gyeong-won lowered his head deeply and avoided answering.
But Dam Jeok-san clearly understood the situation he was in.
The Northern Branch of the Martial Sovereign Castle is the gateway defending the Central Plains.
A battlefield where all sorts of monsters and demons run rampant.
The Martial Sovereign Castle is guaranteed all kinds of rights and authority from the Imperial Court in exchange for blocking that hell on earth.
Therefore, the Northern Branch is a place no different from the foundation of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Furthermore―
‘It is a hellscape where a cripple with a shattered dantian would not last half a day before dying.’
Dam Jeok-san thought with a cynical smile.
This simply meant for him to die.
No.
“It might mean that our Eldest Senior Brother intends to kill me personally.”
“That will not happen.”
Gyeong-won cut off my words and spoke.
“I will protect you, Young Master, even if I have to stake my everything.”
“Forget it. Don't talk nonsense and go find your own way to live. I will give you plenty of money.”
Dam Jeok-san waved his hand and said.
“Please stop talking bullshit, Young Master. Even if I leave, do you think the First Young Master will let me live?”
“……No. There is no way he would.”
Dam Jeok-san sighed and said.
As seen from the fact that he was driving a junior brother, who had become a cripple with a broken dantian, into a death trap, he was a cold and heartless person who left no future troubles behind.
‘No, perhaps he realized that I obtained the Prajna Heart Technique and was slowly restoring my dantian.’
He moved carefully to avoid exposure, but there are no secrets in the world.
“Should we just die together?”
Dam Jeok-san said to Gyeong-won as if sighing.
“No. Even if I die, you must…….”
“Shut up.”
Dam Jeok-san covered Gyeong-won's mouth with a nonchalant look.
However, a very faint smile formed at the corners of his mouth.
To him, Gyeong-won was not just a simple escort.
Their bond began before Dam Jeok-san caught the eye of the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle and became his disciple.
Dam Jeok-san and Gyeong-won were orphans who lost their parents to rampant demons.
A chaotic era where orphans were as common as dirt.
The two wandered together in the barren world.
Although they did not share blood, they were no different from family.
So Dam Jeok-san asked the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, who recognized his talent, to take Gyeong-won in as well.
And Gyeong-won swore to be loyal to Dam Jeok-san for the rest of his life.
After Dam Jeok-san's dantian was shattered.
Those who had flocked to him seeing his status and martial arts all left him.
But Gyeong-won remained by Dam Jeok-san's side.
If only to save such a Gyeong-won…….
‘I must survive.’
A glint momentarily flashed in Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
What is needed to survive?
In the end, it is a powerful strength.
Because the Central Plains Murim is a place where the strong survive.
But the strength Dam Jeok-san currently possessed was weak beyond measure.
A level where victory was hard to guarantee even against Gyeong-won.
Although his dantian was recovering little by little due to the efficacy of the Prajna Heart Technique, it would take at least 10 years to exert the same power as before.
‘……Even if I reduce it as much as possible, it is 5 years.’
Even that is assuming he trains excessively while risking qigong deviation once again.
However, the time given to Dam Jeok-san is merely five days.
It is absurdly insufficient.
‘A miraculous encounter……. No, a miracle is needed.’
Spiritual medicine possessing immense energy.
Understanding that penetrates the providence of heaven and earth.
No, even a heaven-defying demonic art……!
It didn't matter what it was; he needed even a thread-like miracle.
“Damn it…….”
Dam Jeok-san clenched his molars tightly and continued to agonize.
Like pouring water into a broken jar, the genuine qi of the Prajna Heart Technique filled his dantian and then disappeared repeatedly.
Each time, the dantian recovered very slightly.
But Dam Jeok-san now felt a thirst at that sluggish speed.
Because he had reached a point where he could no longer endure with the hope that it would get better someday.
If he went to the North like this, he would surely die. Not just dying alone, but together with the loyal escort who followed him.
Since Dam Jeok-san was also a martial artist who lived holding a sword, he knew well enough that he never knew when he might die.
However, if he had to die, he wanted to decide his grave with his own hands. At least he hoped to meet a worthy death on a meaningful battlefield.
If he could not do that…….
‘I'd rather die today.’
Dam Jeok-san continued his qi circulation with the resolve that one must seek death to live.
Faster. Steeper. More intensely.
The genuine qi, raging like a storm, passed through acupoints near the death points that he would absolutely never pass through normally.
Even though it was a Buddhist qigong that was stable beyond measure, his wave of qi shook precariously.
Eventually, blood vessels bulged hideously all over Dam Jeok-san's body and then receded repeatedly.
And when a little more time passed, his complexion turned completely leaden.
Typical symptoms of entering deviation. It was something he had already experienced once.
But Dam Jeok-san did not care at all. With the feeling that he would rather die, he endlessly continued his qi circulation.
The genuine qi swirled ruthlessly without distinguishing between death points and vital points. Ironically, that path was touching closest to the basics and fundamentals of the Prajna Heart Technique.
Was that why?
Dam Jeok-san, who looked precarious enough to collapse at any moment, continued qi circulation with a pale complexion until half a day had passed.
Dam Jeok-san, continuing the circulation, could not distinguish where he was or where he came from. He no longer felt physical pain or mental suffering. However, his desperate will still existed firmly within him.
I will become strong.
I will become strong and survive.
I will survive and save him.
That will reached the origin of the Prajna Heart Technique, and the origin of the Prajna Heart Technique touched upon an unknown that Dam Jeok-san could not even guess the identity of.
“……!”
VROOOOM!
A terrifyingly bright light poured out from Dam Jeok-san's body, and the surrounding objects began to shake madly.
Sensing that something was happening, Gyeong-won quickly headed outside the door.
If by any chance a miraculous encounter had come to Dam Jeok-san.
What he had to do was protect his liege. So that no one could enter this place.
Dam Jeok-san felt Gyeong-won leaving but continued to focus on his training. Blood poured from his eyes, nose, and mouth, and his consciousness drifted far away, but he did not care at all.
Something he had already experienced once.
What more could happen other than dying?
“No, I will not die.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered, clenching his molars tightly.
That was not conviction but will.
But sometimes, a will bordering on obstinacy changes things.
[Your desperate will awakens the essence of the Prajna Heart Technique.]
[The Six Paths of Reincarnation reveals its true form before you.]
A strange voice was heard in Dam Jeok-san's ears.
“……?”
[The past lives recorded in the soul watch you.]
[Searching for the most appropriate past life.]
[Searching…….]
[Searching…….]
[Diagnosis, close-quarters combat type ability discovered.]
[Diagnosis, there is severe damage to the body.]
[Search complete.]
The moment that sound rang in Dam Jeok-san's ears, distant memories flowed into his head like a tide.
[Awakening the memories of the SS-class Hunter, Predator Seo Woo-joo.]
―!
* * *
[Name: Seo Woo-joo
Alias: Predator
Rank: SS → Immeasurable
He became an SS-class Hunter with the ability to devour monsters to heal injuries and accumulate magic power.
Thanks to that ability, Seo Woo-joo survived countless battles without dying.
Until the entire human race except for him perished.
Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing is unknown.]
Translucent letters brushed past Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
And Seo Woo-joo's memories flowed in endlessly.
From when he was recognized for his ability and became a Hunter.
Until he lost everything and walked the earth alone.
“Ah…….”
Dam Jeok-san could not control his emotions and let out a groan.
He thought he was accustomed to despair and solitude in his own way. But the memories Seo Woo-joo possessed were like an abyss whose depth even he could not fathom.
However, Dam Jeok-san succeeded in finding hope even within those abyss-like memories.
‘Things called monsters... they seem like the demons of the North.’
The one called Seo Woo-joo definitely recovered from injuries by taking the lives of demons.
From shallow scratches to when his torso was blown away entirely.
If it's that extent…….
‘I will be able to restore my shattered dantian as well.’
As Dam Jeok-san thought that, a translucent window appeared before his eyes once again.
[Optimizing language…….]
[Optimization complete]
[Ability List
1. Predation (1-star)
Can absorb essence to heal injuries and accumulate internal energy.
Efficiency is extremely low due to low achievement. Efficiency increases according to level.]
At the same time, Dam Jeok-san felt a part of Seo Woo-joo's memories entering his head.
They were memories of becoming stronger through that unidentifiable translucent window.
What he realized through the memories was precisely this.
The fact that he could heal his injuries using the ability called Predation.
‘Isn’t this practically a demonic art?’
No, it is not.
Even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, called the Thousand Year Demonic Cult, would not have such a demonic art.
Just how dangerous the thing Dam Jeok-san grasped was, in fact, could be known just by looking at Seo Woo-joo's memories.
An ability that makes an ordinary human the last survivor of mankind.
He felt his heart beating fast.
If it is this.
I might be able to survive.
No, beyond surviving, I might be able to find a clue for a counterattack.
Dam Jeok-san calmly settled his breathing. And he put on a cynical expression as if nothing had happened.
One must be calm at times like this.
Acting hastily could ruin everything.
That was a lesson Dam Jeok-san realized through painful failure.
Even though quite a long time had passed, the presence of Gyeong-won guarding outside the door was not disappearing.
As if the words to die together were not a joke, he silently guarded him.
At that moment.
Another presence was detected beyond Gyeong-won's presence.
It is a presence familiar to the point of being sickening, and terrible as much as it is familiar.
“Move aside. I am a senior brother looking for his junior brother, yet a mere escort warrior dares to stand in the way.”
An arrogant voice rings loudly through the area.
“I refuse.”
And he felt Gyeong-won, with his molars clenched tight, blocking the owner of that voice.
“Huhu, your spirit is quite something. Jeok-san was raising a loyal dog that doesn't suit him.”
“…….”
“How about it? If you bite your master, I might spare your life.”
His senior brother and the Castle Lord's second disciple.
Woo Seo-gwang had come.
“If you wish to enter, you must cut me down and go.”
Gyeong-won spoke calmly toward Woo Seo-gwang.
“Ha, do you think I can't?”
Woo Seo-gwang said so while emitting sharp killing intent.
Dam Jeok-san knew that Woo Seo-gwang would not kill Gyeong-won even if he didn't step in.
Because his Second Senior Brother is a guy who doesn't have the caliber to do so.
But he couldn't just stay still.
Just because he wouldn't kill didn't mean he wouldn't harm him.
“Tell him to come in.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke toward beyond the door.