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The Heavenly Demon began to guide the magical energy that was generated by activating my body, while at the same time explaining the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art.

The magical energy swirled through every corner of my body, awakening my dormant nerve cells.

[This place is strangely dense with energy! This is good.]

A thick, foul-smelling liquid poured out of the pores opening on my body.

'Keugh!'

The Heavenly Demon was controlling my body, but only I could feel this unfamiliar pain.

[There's a lot of bad energy inside you. Be patient.]

The Heavenly Demon Move shook and rushed the energy through my veins.

After he spat out all the bad energy, I absorbed the magic power around me through breathing.

After some time, the swirling waves of magic power calmed down and began to gather in the bottom energy center.

[It's done!]

The Heavenly Demon's soul was pushed out of my consciousness, and I regained control of my body.

"...!"

I felt a surge of refreshing energy that surpassed the feeling of activation I had had earlier.

[All the bad energy in your body has been expelled. And the energy center... well, it's good enough. The Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art prevent wicked power from accumulating in you and purifies your body. I planted the explanation in your head, so practice it as soon as you have free time.]

When the Heavenly Demon mentioned the energy center, he hesitated but said it was nothing to worry about.

Sniff.

“But what's this smell...?"

For some reason, I smelled horribly, and all my clothes were worn out. When I went to take them off, they literally tore and fell off me.

I became nude in an instant, but the stench was still there.

"I stink!"

I wanted to wash, but that was not possible in the Tutorial Dungeon.

[This is due to the bad energy. It’s the first time I've seen such impure energy. If anyone else had seen it, they would have thought you were honing your own skills.]

'Is it because of all the instant food?'

For a fleeting moment, I thought I might be right.

[The groundwork has been laid. However, looking at your memories, they expressed 'qi,' one’s internal energy, as 'mana' here.]

"That's correct. And the expression of mana is referred to as magic power."

[Indeed. The concentration of energy is higher here.]

"What does that mean?"

[It means you can make progress more quickly if you train here.]

My heart rate quickened at his words.

"Can we start right away?"

[You're in such a hurry... Alright then. There won't be any major issues since you're already in better shape than the average person.]

With his permission, I immediately summoned the inventory.

I figured I could practice right away if I had a weapon.

"Inventory."

My inventory subspace appeared.

However, it wasn’t quite the same as what appeared in games. In simple terms, it was a warehouse-like space with a height and width of about 2m.

It was a convenient space where the user could check and take out the contents at any time.

I took out the Trainer's Sword and Vitality Potion, which were given to the awakened as essential items, from my inventory.

[Trainer's Sword]

[Grade: Common]

[Attack Power: 8]

[Endurance: 80/80]

-This is the basic sword given to Awakeners in the Tutorial Dungeon.

[Vitality Potion]

[Grade: Common]

[Quantity: 50]

-You can replenish lost physical strength and magic power and heal minor wounds. It can only be used in the Tutorial Dungeon.

[Whoa. An inventory... that's really amazing.]

"You'll see more amazing things later. We're running out of time, so please, can we start as soon as possible."

Every second was precious.

I'd only be here for a month, so I had to make the most of my time if I wanted to learn martial arts and level up.

Most importantly, I had to find the Hidden Pieces in this Dungeon.

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Demon had other plans.

[Put the sword back in for now.]

"What?"

***

Mind Divine Shifting Art.

It was a martial arts skill that enabled training in the space of one’s consciousness, their mental world.

With this skill, I was able to see the Heavenly Demon directly in my head.

Dressed in a black uniform, he looked younger than I had expected. He was a handsome man in his 30s, with a long beard that suited him well.

"Oh my… I didn't know there was such a technique."

"One of the former school leaders said he had devised it after pondering, 'How can I train without worrying about others?' But it appears to have had an unforeseen effect."

"Did you also train using this skill?"

"This isn't my preferred method. Training is all about putting in the effort! It's just a shame that this is the only way now."

"I guess I still have to work hard here."

"In martial arts, physical training is very important. But, above all else, training of the mind should be your primary focus. Learn the principles behind the Heavenly Demon Godly Arts here."

"You talk like a Taoist guru."

"Kukuku. I became Immortal for a reason. There is only a difference in ideology between the Heavenly Demon Cult and the conventional factions. The pursuit of martial arts is ultimately the same."

"You’re saying they come from different branches but end in the same place?"

"Right."

Fifteen days of that month had passed since.

Time passed slowly in the mental world opened up by the Mind Divine Shifting Art, and as I spent more time with the Heavenly Demon, I felt we were growing closer. In fact, we even joked around with each other now.

Anyway, under the strict guidance of the Heavenly Demon, I learned the principles of the Heavenly Demon Godly Arts, and also, in the real world, I practiced those techniques and worked hard to strengthen my physical capabilities.

Unlike when I had gone hunting right away, this time, I devoted my time solely to learning martial arts from the Heavenly Demon.

For sustenance, I used vitality potions, and, except for the times I slept, I dedicated my entire day to learning and training.

However, since the contents of Heavenly Demon Godly Arts were so vast, there wasn’t enough time to learn them all. Instead, I decided to focus on mastering only the first two groups.

First, the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style.

Second, the Heavenly Demon Motion.

The Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style were divided into five in the first map, and three in the second map.

First Move. Demonic Dragon Flash.

Second Move. Demonic Dragon Grief.

Third Move. Demonic Dragon Bound.

Fourth Move. Demonic Dragon Gale.

Fifth Move. Demonic Dragon Power.

These were techniques that could be linked together or operated independently.

And the second map:

First Move. Demonic Dragon Era.

Second Move. Demonic Dragon Force.

Third Move. Demonic Dragon Skywrecker.

Each of these could be operated independently, but it was a technique that displayed a tremendous destructive power when used sequentially from the first to the third.

There was, however, the downside that it consumed a lot of inner power.

Since I didn't have much time for all the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style, I focused on the first half because I couldn't learn the three moves of the second owing to the fact that my inner power didn’t support them.

Next, the Heavenly Demon Motion.

Although these were divided into three moves according to the stage of one’s martial arts, they had the advantage that they could be used independently.

These consisted of the following:

First Move. Heavenly Demon Royal Stride.

Second Move. Heavenly Demon Replication.

Third Move. Heavenly Demon Air-Stride.

First, I had to learn the footwork that served as the basis, allowing one to move in any direction. He said that if I took a step with my inner power, I could exert a great deal of pressure on another person.

But the techniques began in earnest from the second move onwards, and it was mainly used for the more advanced techniques. The name was given because it caused the user to move so swiftly that they seemed to replicate.

The third move was a technique focused on the speed that could be executed while in midair.

This time, too, I could only learn the basics, given our time constraints.

Overall, the training wasn’t as difficult as I had first imagined.

There was no problem physically with the help provided by my awakening and the Heavenly Demon Godly Arts. Still, it was difficult to understand my development of those techniques through the use of inner power.

Of course, my inner power wasn't helping either.

Fortunately, in this part, I overcame those limitations by sparring with the Heavenly Demon.

***

"I think it's time to move on."

[It's still not enough, but you won't be easily beaten with what you have gained.]

The Heavenly Demon declared that it wasn't enough, but the speed at which I had acquired his martial arts skills was far from ordinary. Even taking into account the slow passage of time in the mental world, he said he had never seen someone reach this level in as short a span as fifteen days.

It seemed my experience as a hunter had been of great assistance.

 I hadn't checked my status window once during training, so I wanted to see if the training had altered my stats.

"Status Window."

[User: Lee Byeong-gi Lv. 1]

[Title: None]

[Vitality: 15, MP: 18]

[Skill: Lv. 2 Insight (Passive), Lv. 1 Enhancement, Lv. 1 Mana Shield]

"..."

The level of my basic abilities and the Insight skill had risen without any system notifications.

The basic stats displayed by the system were only Vitality and Magic Power, but I should be glad they had increased.

Actually, this part was disappointing. If they were to display it, they could show something like strength or agility. Consequently, many hunters cursed the unfriendly system.

Still, that didn't really matter much.

As for skills, even if my level rose according to the criteria set by the system when my magic power increased, it was good that my vitality also increased.

The higher one's vitality, the greater the chances of surviving serious injuries.

Before I regressed, we had to level up through hunting to boost our vitality and magic power.

No matter how much we trained alone, it was futile, so all the hunters focused on slaying monsters and accumulating experience.

However, the Heavenly Demon's training had augmented those basic abilities!

In particular, the increase in my magic power was remarkable and seemed to be directly influenced by the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art.

And in terms of skill, judging from the fact that nothing of the sort was displayed on the status window, the techniques I learned from the Heavenly Demon weren't recognized as skills by the system.

The important thing here was that I could raise my basic stats without system notifications, even if I only practiced martial arts.

If I considered my stats now, I was close to someone at level 5 without slaying a single monster.

"This is an important check!"

I smiled.

[Are you happy?]

"Heheh. I'm kind of looking forward to the dungeon now."

[What is that? That eerie laugh?]

"I think I can easily deal with those damn monsters. I can't wait to try it out."

I grabbed the Trainer's Sword, searched my memory, and headed to the hunting ground where I knew monsters would be concentrated.

[Are you going whilst looking like that?]

"I can't help it now."

I was still naked.

Tutorial Dungeons didn't drop armor, so while I was anxious about the future, I chose not to dwell on it too much.

[I don't like the feeling that something that isn't even mine is hanging around.]

"Please keep your thoughts to yourself."

***

The Tutorial Dungeon was a labyrinth with monsters swarming in every room.

"It's here!"

The first room was a place where monsters called Goblins gathered.

They were about a meter tall and had green skin. They were weak monsters but still quite dangerous if you didn’t know about their habit of grouping together.

[They look hideous.]

"All monsters are like that. If I kill these guys and reach level 10, I can get a title and the Goblin's Sword as a reward."

[A sword? Something with that long a blade doesn't suit the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style.]

"The system doesn’t drop the type of weapons I need. And I can't keep using the Trainer's sword."

[What a strange system. I myself don't care what I use, but it's impossible for you. It'll be hard to exert your true power.]

"Why didn't you teach me swordsmanship?"

[A man should use a blade! That's why I taught you martial arts rather than some clumsy swordsmanship.]

The primary weapon the Heavenly Demon employed was a blade, and his martial arts were accordingly tailored to it. However, that was only the beginning, and once I attained a certain level in my martial arts, the type of weapon I used wouldn't make much of a difference.

In any case, that would be for later. I wasn't going to pass up on what I could get now.

I activated the Insight skill.

[Goblin Lv. 1]

[Category: Humanoid Monster, Attacks Later]

[Status: Hungry.]

[Skill: Lv. 1 Smash]

It was on the same level as me, but thanks to my increased basic stats, there was actually a difference of four levels.

But I still had to be careful.

I decided to hunt a Goblin that wandered alone as a test.

"Enhancement!"

As soon as I activated the skill, my skin hardened.

[Is this what's called a skill? It feels like your inner power is being forced into motion. This feeling is strange.]

"It's likely because my magic power, or inner power, is being optimized for the skill."

[I see, but aren't you being too cautious about a guy like that?]

"It never hurts to be careful."

I deliberately provoked the Goblin and fell back.

"Hmm."

I was much faster than before.

"Kerreuk!"

The goblin took the bait and came after me, brandishing a rusty sword.

I leaned back to dodge his first swing and immediately deployed the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style.

"The first move, Demonic Dragon Flash!"

Whoosh- Pukakakak!-

With the sound of the air splitting, the monster’s head cracked open.

<SYSTEM: You've killed a goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

"!!!"

I was kind of surprised, I had done it in one shot!

[As expected, the destructive power decreases when you use that technique with a sword.]

"That's beside the point for me. Before I returned to this time, slaying one took me more than an hour."

[It seems to be because the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style has maximized your internal power.]

"Isn't that a bit too unbalanced?"

[Quiet, do you really need to deal with them individually? If you use your footwork well, there will be no problem even if you run into a group.]

He had said this sword didn't fit the technique... but with this much power, it was still too unbalanced.

With this exchange, and feeling the power of martial arts, I thought I should do as he recommended.

I jumped into the Goblins' gathering.

Pugak!-

<SYSTEM: You've killed a goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

“Kiruk, Kiruluk, Keruk!”

The Goblins screamed and came charging in droves.

From then on, a one-sided slaughter began. As the Heavenly Demon said, the footwork I learned made it much easier to dodge and attack.

Fugagak! Pow!-

“Keew!”

“Keehee!”

“Kero?”

<SYSTEM: You've killed a goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

<SYSTEM: You've killed a goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

<SYSTEM: You've killed a goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

After killing a group of Goblins in that manner, a new notification message popped.