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Lee Seong-jin eventually agreed after much consideration.

He disbanded the Luna Guild and decided to become the new guild's representative. For the time being, his role would be doing the things I asked for.

Meanwhile, I had my own tasks to attend to.

With only three months left until the 'Curse of Exit 7' was due to take place, I decided to focus more on my martial arts training.

The Heavenly Demon then took the opportunity to teach me the techniques with more care and attention than before.

Other hunters would raise their level by clearing the monsters in the gates, but levels didn't matter to me now.

I planned to fill in that gap with martial arts.

"It's nice to see you after a long time."

It had been a long time since I had met the Heavenly Demon in the mental world.

"We're always together..."

"From now on, I'll try to work as hard as possible."

"Kukuku. Still, keep your word. I’m looking forward to it."

"Thank you for your cooperation again."

"You better be prepared."

"By the way…."

"What?"

"I think I should have a goal before we start training."

"To become strong and prevent the world’s destruction. And to eat and live well. Isn't that your goal?"

"I don't mean that goal. I want to know the level of my martial arts, not my level as a hunter."

"Then, before I tell you about your level of martial arts, you need to know your stage."

"My stage?"

"Yes, the main cult's system is too simple, so let's explain it with the system of the Justice Faction bastards who like to divide things so much. And, let's use weapons as an example. Then you'll understand more quickly."

The Heavenly Demon's explanation was surprisingly straightforward. Third and Second Class were the level of a vagabond or low-ranking warrior, so they weren't worth mentioning. Only First Class and above were considered masters. He used the single-edged blade he had as an example and explained it like this.

First Class: A stage where one can freely wield their blade.

Peak, Transcendent: The stage where one can manifest Blade Energy by infusing their inner power into the blade, and it is divided into Peak and Transcendent according to their training.

Harmony: A stage where one becomes one with their blade, and a more powerful Blade Energy can be generated.

Profundity: The stage where one imbues their feelings into the blade and attains absolute control over their Blade Energy.

Life and Death: A stage transcending life and death, signifying complete mastery over one’s body and mind.

Divinity: The stage of Primordial Purity. 'I am one with nature, and nature is one with me.’ This stage is attained when one’s body becomes closest to God. The person and the blade become inseparable.

With his explanation concluded, I felt I understood the levels.

"I'm not even a First-Class Master yet."

"No, it's just that you can't use Blade Energy, but from my point of view, you're close to Peak. It's only a matter of time before you reach Transcendent."

"I see. Now that I have a goal, I can focus more on my training."

"Okay, remember that enlightenment of the heart is also important to raise your stage."

With that, my training began.

My only issue was that, unlike before, he directly taught me martial arts and beat me under the guise of sparring.

It didn't matter that we were in the mental world; the pain felt real. I even bled and got bruised, but strangely, when I returned to the real world, I had no wounds.

Training in the mental world accumulated mental fatigue, but the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art alleviated it somewhat. The Heavenly Demon hadn't been lying when he said that earlier, though he had sounded like a snake-oil salesman.

In fact, he said these Mind techniques were created by adding the realization he had in his later years to the methods handed down by the prior leaders of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

He said that the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art developed an inner power that was compatible with any martial art and rendered one immune to all poisons.

According to the Heavenly Demon, the more one learned those mental techniques and attained enlightenment, the more their body would undergo a transformation known as Bone Metamorphosis.

Once this metamorphosis reached its peak, the body would no longer be a vessel for storing internal energy but a tool that drew power from Nature.

In other words, it had the same effect as having an infinite amount of internal energy. An inexhaustible source of magic power.

Anyway, following the advice of the Heavenly Demon to use the mental techniques while accepting positive and negative energy equally, I practiced the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art throughout the day. My training yielded great results as time went on. Around the time when I had mastered the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style, the Heavenly Demon taught me the Perished Soul's Eight Fists, telling me to prepare for a situation where I had no blade to rely on.

It was apparently a technique he frequently employed in the Martial World. He also added that the feeling was immensely satisfying.

The Perished Soul's Eight Fists was a martial skill that drained the opponent's soul through eight moves. The destructive power increased in intensity as one progressed from the first punch to the eighth.

Since any difficulty in learning martial arts was solved by the Heavenly Demon imparting his memories, there was no significant difficulty except for getting beaten.

***

“I can see you have learned quite a bit.”

“Thanks to your beatings.”

“Look at how you talk... so, what do you think? Doesn’t your inner power’s flow feel unnatural when using the techniques?”

“How did you know that?”

“When you blink, do you blink like, ‘Oh, I have to blink now?’”

“You’re not answering me again.”

“You punk! Just listen.”

When I stared the Heavenly Demon down, he continued.

“I mean, when you eat, do you think, ‘I have to lift the spoon and scoop the rice?’”

“I don’t quite understand.”

Slap-

“Ouch! Can’t you just use words?”

The Heavenly Demon’s beatings continued today as well.

He held a long smoking pipe in my consciousness, which he swung around whenever he wasn’t pleased.

It felt as if it flew at me in a way I could dodge, but somehow, I could never evade it.

“Are you holding that just to hit me? Why did you hit me this time?”

“You seem to ponder each move before you employ it. That’s why your inner power doesn’t instinctively guide you to the next move!”

“I mean, if I don’t consider it when I’m utilizing the move, how else can I utilize it?”

“That’s why there’s no progress! Let’s suppose we’re sparring. I know everything about your techniques and what’s coming next...”

The Heavenly Demon grabbed me, showed me how to move, and drew a cross with the blade. The next moment, he thrust his knee up, blocking the blade with a move I didn’t recognize.

“If I use an irregular technique like this, you will be thinking next time, ‘How should I fight against this kind of technique?’”

“I… I guess.”

“Then the flow of your inner energy is disrupted. If this wasn't a practice match but an actual fight, the moment you wasted time pondering this you'd be dead!”

“!!!”

“You're pretty good at not comprehending the scolding I reserve for novices.”

It was a frustrating part for me as well, while I trained. I could feel it but had no idea how to fix it.

As soon as he pointed out what was wrong, I was speechless.

“I thought you would understand somewhat if you got beaten up because of that while we sparred.”

Did I learn martial arts to hear this...? I felt ashamed.

“What can I do?”

“Empty your mind and swing your sword until it’s as natural as blinking or eating.”

“What?”

“That way, you will survive.”

“Ah, that means….”

“Do you understand?”

“!!!”

It seemed obvious now, but there was a big echo in my head before I could consider it further.

Booooooom-

‘Was that an explosion? Is this a hallucination?’

“O-Oh, my.”

The Heavenly Demon acted flustered as he hurriedly pushed me back to the real world.

[Sit in the lotus position and reflect on what you are feeling now!]

Listening to the Heavenly Demon, I reflected on my emotions.

Forgetting myself in a trance, I began meditating on the Heavenly Demon’s words. And soon, I failed even that.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed whilst I was in that trance. But as I came back to my senses, I felt that the lump in my chest had been released, and something else was rising in its place.

Gasp!—

I opened my eyes and spat out dark-red blood. An indescribable feeling of refreshment enveloped me, and I could feel the fullness of my inner power surging through me. My proficiency with the Heavenly Demon Moves had increased significantly.

"Ah, now I understand what it means to forget."

[Congratulations! You have attained enlightenment. This is the second time you’ve entered a trance.]

“Oh, then….”

He was talking about the other time in the Tutorial Dungeon when I had frantically cut down the Goblins.

[With this, you have become a complete Peak master. But there is still a long way to go.]

“Can I use Blade Energy now?”

[It will be possible when you embody that mindset entirely.]

“So it doesn’t just happen with enlightenment.”

[That is the harmony between the mind and body. When you used your techniques, you consciously moved as if you were using a skill. That is what I pointed out.]

“It seems that my old habits still remain. I should be able to fix it now, right?”

[You’ll only know when you experience it in actual combat. Your situation right now is quite imbalanced. You must go to the gate whenever you have time and practice what you learned today.]

“I will keep that in mind.”

[Yes. Be more diligent in your training.]

“Thank you.”

[I’m glad you realize what I’ve done for you.]

“You’re going to say that when I’m thanking you?”

[What did I say?]

“…I’m going to do some physical training.”

[You say it as if you’re going to leave me. We’ll be together anyway.]

So, my training persisted.

There wasn’t much time left until the day the ‘Curse of Exit 7’ was due to take place.

Since I had become fully accustomed to the Heavenly Demon’s Royal Stride, I trained to make the first half of the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style ingrained as a natural part of me.

I also practiced the remaining three moves simultaneously, but I still lacked the inner power I needed.

If I used it in order from the first move, Demonic Dragon Era, to the Demonic Dragon Skywrecker, I would run out of inner power, and my mental power would be consumed to the point of throwing me out of the mental world.

Fortunately, I was able to use the three moves of the second half independently without issue.

The Heavenly Demon demonstrated a mix of the first and second halves, but it was far from me.

And in my spare time, I worked on my speed and trained hard to use the Heavenly Demon Replication and Air-Stride techniques.

***

As had happened in the past, most of the damage caused by the Second Cataclysm had been patched up.

The government made no effort to be spared in supporting displaced citizens so they could return to their daily lives. However, several educational institutions postponed their start indefinitely for the sake of their students' safety.

Some of the Awakeners who returned around this time had achieved relatively high levels and ranks, so each guild promoted itself, recruited new Hunters, and grew in size.

Quite a few went out of their way to recruit parties without joining a guild, mainly relying on the internet or job advertisements to find Hunters.

With the advent of the Probies created by the Second Cataclysm, a new age had dawned.

***

I had trained hard and learned the first map of the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style and the Heavenly Demon Royal Stride, and increased my proficiency in the latter three moves by around twenty percent.

Furthermore, I had mastered the Heavenly Demon's Royal Stride and achieved a proficiency of fifty percent in the mind techniques.

[Are you planning to go alone?]

“It is best if I want a title and items.”

[Honestly, I’m worried. Although your martial arts have improved, you aren’t yet at the level where you fully embody them. Your mind and body are still not in harmony. I wish we had a little more time... Embodiment is perhaps the most essential part of learning martial arts.]

“You’re nagging more than usual today.”

[If we had had a little more time, I would have beaten you more.]

“Is that what you’re disappointed about?”

[Ahem, anyway. Since you've mastered the first moves, I hope you gain some valuable experience through this hunt. Additionally, make sure to practice the three moves of the second half.]

“I will definitely try it this time.”

[Yes... I never took on any disciples before, but after teaching you, I wish I had taken on at least one while I was in the Martial World.]

“Should I bow to you nine times later?”

[Forget it, boy!]

I felt the Heavenly Demon's feelings as someone who had become the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. He was well-versed in martial arts, didn't trust anyone, and refused to take on any disciples.

I wondered if he talked a lot because he was lonely after living alone for so long.

“It would be nice if I could buy you a drink.”

[Are you serious?]

“Do I have any reason to lie?”

[Why do you answer questions with other questions?]

“The way you speak makes it sound like there is a way.”

[It is not that there’s no way. I didn’t want to waste your time, so I kept quiet.]

“You should have just told me.”

[I’ll let you know when this gate hunt is over.]

“Alright.”

[And, if your martial arts skills aren’t good in this hunt, I’ll show you a demonstration myself. Could you lend me your body for a while then?]

“Again?”

[It may be an opportunity to quickly learn, like when you discovered the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art.]

"I'll try it on my own first."

[…]

It was time to go.

While everyone was asleep, I left the house without my parents' knowledge and checked my condition.

[User: Lee Byeong-gi Lv. 19]

[Title: One at a Time, Relentless Hunting]

-Title Effect: (One at a Time) Increases critical strike rate by 10%.

-Title Effect: (Relentless Hunting) No effect.

[Vitality: 75 (+10), MP: 79]

[Skill: Lv. Max Insight (Passive), Lv. Max Mana Drain (Passive) Lv. 2 Enhancement, Lv. 4 Mana Shield]

I hadn't leveled up recently because I hadn't gone hunting in the gate, but my basic abilities were above what they were previously.

In terms of basic ability, I was equivalent to the top rankers in Korea. I was sure I would receive an S-Rank if I went through the mana measurement again.

As my inner power increased due to the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art, my mana value rose dramatically, and my skill level increased directly.

In particular, Mana Drain reached Max, and up to 50% of inflicted critical damage recovered as mana.

It seemed that I wouldn’t get tired from most battles now. Then I could use the Heavenly Demon Godly Arts more easily.

However, my revealed level was still too low even if my mana value was high. I thought it would be difficult to find a party. Wasn't this a world where levels were the most appreciated thing about a hunter anyway?

[If you think of it the other way around, it's good to trick those aiming for you. It was when I went to Jinan, in Shandong Province, when I reached the Stage of Reversal….]

"Even if you say that, I don't know where it is."

[Hmph! I don't want to hear you whining about it later.]

"Never!"

[But why are you carrying that big backpack?]

"I have to take the mana stones and monster parts. Inventory alone isn’t enough."

[Why did you bring your phone?]

"This is a modern necessity."

[Is that so?]

"I'm going."

Whoosh-

As soon as I finished speaking, I leapt into the air and soared through the sky.

The third move of the Heavenly Demon Motion—Heavenly Demon Air-Stride!

He said it could be used in the air, so I thought it would just be hovering a bit. I had no idea I could fly through the sky like Superman.

[Hahahaha! I haven't felt this in a long time!]

The Heavenly Demon’s spirited laughter resonated in my head.