My Name Is (2)
‘Damn it, what the hell is Seolip?’
Huh-wak asked, and I panicked for a second before answering.
Then I thought about it: there was no name even more terrifying than that.
If I answered “Wonryu,” Huh-wak might recognize Wonrip. The Won family was out.
So I went with whatever came to mind, and it was the absolute worst name possible.
‘Goddamn. I can’t turn back now.’
Whether or not he understood my thoughts, Huh-wak laughed and said,
“Seolip! The Seos are all geniuses. Even back then, I tried to enroll a Seos disciple in a peak academy and failed. Truly… a being who was nothing but raw talent itself.”
“Haha… Really?”
I smiled awkwardly, guessing exactly who he meant.
“Anyway, the Black Ghost Valley is going to keep expanding its talent pool because of the new Ascension Platform. No problems there. For now… go follow this child.”
Whoosh!
Huh-wak flicked his sleeve, and from inside it burst a pitch-black ghost.
“Take this fellow to the entry hall.”
Whoosh!
The ghost nodded in understanding and flew off somewhere.
“Then I’ll see you later. Go follow him.”
“Yes, honored one.”
After bidding farewell to Huh-wak, I followed the ghost he had spat out.
‘This place… is it inside the Black Ghost Valley’s valley?’
I had never been here before, so everything felt strange.
A vast valley.
Inside it were dozens, hundreds, even thousands of narrow paths.
The ghost navigated them flawlessly, guiding me deeper.
How far did I follow it?
“Hm?”
I arrived at a small pavilion in front of one labeled “Entry Hall.”
The ghost fluttered around as if urging me to follow, so I stepped inside.
“Huh!”
The moment I entered, I was stunned by the bizarre sight.
Inside the pavilion, before a black-wood desk, sat a pure white skeleton reading a document.
Nascent Soul Great Completion.
No, not even that—half a step into Heavenly Person stage.
I was shocked, but I remembered meeting Song Jin and spoke up.
“I…”
I didn’t even need to finish. The ghost I had followed darted beside the skeleton’s skull and whispered something.
Their language wasn’t that of the You race or the common tongue of the Gwanghan Realm’s Heavenly beings.
They hadn’t even used spiritual energy, so I couldn’t understand a word.
After a while of silent exchange, both looked at me.
The skeleton gestured.
Soon the familiar common tongue of the Heavenly beings emerged.
“So, you came up the 13th Ascension Platform?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“The 13th one is brand new, so development is still incomplete. Normally we trace the victor’s origin right away, but we haven’t added that function yet. That’s why I’m asking directly.”
The skeleton’s eye sockets glowed as it questioned me.
“Which lower realm are you from?”
I saw the method and realized it was a kind of ritual technique.
‘Similar to the Strange Star-Mind Scroll.’
A technique that revealed the color of intent.
‘Star techniques, all of them.’
I felt amazed and controlled my intent.
Then, calmly, I answered.
“The Star Realm… a small star there.”
“What is the star’s name?”
“We called it Earth.”
“You’re from Earth too?”
He nodded and jotted something on paper.
I thought of Kang Min-hee and asked,
“Are there others from Earth?”
But the skeleton chuckled and said,
“Most of the Star Realm’s victors will say Earth. Only a handful name ‘round land’ after themselves. How many Earths do you expect in the Star Realm?”
“Ah…”
I was stunned by the thought I hadn’t considered.
“Anyway, since it’s true, let’s move on. One last time—your name?”
“Seolip… sir.”
“Good. Seolip. Gender?”
“I am…”
***
Whoosh—
I flew for several days with Jeon Myeong-hoon and Hong Beom until we reached the Human race territory.
“Is this the way to Cheonin-do?”
Jeon Myeong-hoon asked.
I shook my head.
“I’m going. You two cannot. Go first with Hong Beom and Yeon-jin to Noeryeong-do… and recover any remains of Geumsincheonroemun.”
“You’re going alone?”
“That’s right. Alone will be better if I have to flee.”
Jeon Myeong-hoon nodded.
“Alright. See you later. If you flee, where will we meet?”
“Come to the Lake of Bright Spirits in the Heonryeong race territory. I’ll be there.”
We parted ways after the promise.
I flew at full speed toward Cheonin-do.
Because it was the headquarters of the Human Race Alliance, an extraordinarily strong barrier enveloped the city. It had been reinforced beyond its usual state because of heavy casualties among Integration stage masters.
There were even new checkpoints I had never seen before.
“All Heavenly Persons passing through—entry permits and reason for entering…”
I glanced at the Heavenly Person Great Completion inspectors and ignored them, drawing my Colorless Glass Sword and raising Triple Taiji behind my back.
Whoosh!
Kwaaang!
A wind hole opened directly in the barrier.
I passed the inspectors and headed toward a specific location in Cheonin-do.
Cheonin-do, Heavenly Mountain.
The place where seven Integration stage masters usually stayed.
‘The Human race’s Integration stage masters total nine.’
The Great Completion stage black dragon of the allied Black Dragon race.
Heon-won, early Integration stage and lord of Bongrae Palace and Geongon City.
Junje, Integration stage and leader of the Human Race Alliance.
Wiyong-seon, early Integration stage and inspector of the entire Human race.
Gaejin, mid-Integration stage and owner of Gaejinmun.
Eunyeon, mid-Integration stage and owner of Eoncheon Palace.
Wisu, early Integration stage and chief military commander of the Human Race Alliance.
Golmang, late Integration stage from the mountains and rivers.
Taeyeol-jeon, secret Integration stage.
These were the nine pillars supporting the Human Race Alliance.
However, Taeyeol-jeon, known only as Integration stage, rarely attended the master council, and the black dragon was treated merely as an ally because he was from the Black Dragon race and had no real vote.
Therefore, the Human Race Alliance was essentially run by Junje, Wisu, and Wiyong-seon as the core, with Heon-won, Golmang, Eunyeon, and Gaejin.
I accelerated toward Heavenly Mountain to meet them.
In the distance, Heavenly Mountain glowed with pure spirit energy.
The residence of the Integration stage masters.
But when I tried to enter,
‘…?’
Something felt wrong.
No matter how far I flew, my distance to Heavenly Mountain never shrank.
‘This is…’
I realized I had passed this place earlier.
‘Am I looping the same spot?’
It wasn’t a fault in my sense of direction.
My senses were fine.
Then there was only one possibility.
‘Space is warped.’
Warped space blocked entry like a barrier.
There was a simple way to cross it.
Only Four Pillars stage and above could use the spatial folding technique to fold space and move through.
But I had Integration level power yet only Heavenly Person level abilities.
I couldn’t fix the warped space with my abilities.
What now?
‘If all I have is power, then use power.’
Simple logic.
Ku-gugugug…
I clenched my fist around the Colorless Glass Sword.
I raised it high and swung with all my strength.
The warped space appeared in my perception.
The structure was completely twisted.
Kwakwaak!
Space tore open, revealing the warped path.
I calmly entered the valley veins of Heavenly Mountain and reached it.
And then,
Paba-bam!
Six translucent projections blocked my way.
Secret Integration stage masters.
Taeyeol-jeon.
All Integration stage masters except Heon-won, who lived in Geongon City, had sent projections.
A familiar face spoke first.
Wiyong-seon.
“How dare you set foot in Heavenly Mountain, the sacred ground of the Human Race Alliance?”
I grinned.
“I came to receive one step of the eastern foot of Heavenly Mountain after receiving permission from the Heavenly Mountain masters.”
Their expressions twitched.
“You know the conditions for receiving the eastern foot?”
“Yes. Either an Integration stage master, or the name of a super-tier power equivalent to the Human race’s six major sects.”
“Well learned. You are not a master—you are only a Heavenly Person inspector.”
“Hmph…”
I laughed softly.
“I did not come for the eastern foot as a master.”
“Then what exactly?”
“Super-tier powers can claim one eastern foot in terms of power level, can they not?”
“…You claim to be riding the Human race’s five major sects?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I say I am equal to the Human race’s six major sects.”
The masters fell silent.
Wiyong-seon spoke again.
“Arrogance.”
“Is it?”
“Do you know that Heon-won has issued a new reward for you? A bounty from the Bongrae Palace unit, and your crimes are clear. Fleeing the Ascension Platform arbitrarily.”
“Hmm. I had already registered my name in the Seopmyeong ship’s logs alongside Geumsincheonroemun. Why do I need to be entangled with the Ascension Platform?”
“That is the procedure. Even if you return as a victor, procedure is required. And you did not report to the Alliance when returning from the lower realm and arbitrarily raided the Heonryeong race. That counts as a crime too. And hiding the Lake of Bright Spirits in the Demon Realm for years, disrupting the demon extermination—that is an enormous crime.”
“Is that so?”
“And entering Heavenly Mountain without permission today… Your crimes are too numerous. Know that even this conversation with you is an act of mercy.”
I smiled faintly at the threatening tone.
After entering the realm.
Even as a simple projection, I could perceive a certain amount of intent.
I read the intents of the other masters and understood why they treated me this way.
‘So that’s it.’
With growing confidence, I told Wiyong-seon,
“Then mercy is unnecessary. Let me pay the price.”
“What…?”
“I said to let me pay the price.”
Wiyong-seon stared at me silently.
Our standoff continued.
None of them attacked first.
‘They must have suffered greatly from the Heavenly Punishment’s owner.’
Normally, they would have descended in person, not with projections.
Then,
Junge, the Human Race Alliance leader and head of the master council, stepped forward.
“Inspector Wiyong-seon, arrest Seo Eun-hyun. When captured, hold an immediate trial and make him pay the price.”
At those words, Wiyong-seon’s face hardened and he vanished from the spot.
‘Ho-oh…’
After Wiyong-seon’s projection disappeared, space cracked open and a white, bald man with an open mouth stepped out from beyond.
‘Wiyong-seon, the main body!’
Ku-gugugugug!
An immense pressure crushed me.
Simultaneously, the other five masters’ projections shot upward and reached toward somewhere.
At the same time, the surrounding space suddenly “widened.”
The battlefield for Wiyong-seon and me was set.
I felt his gaze beyond the bald head.
To provoke him, I said,
“The pressure feels Four Pillars level. Are you in pain? Do your joints hurt?”
Wiyong-seon stared at me a moment before grinning.
“Indeed. I was struck with a fatal wound after facing the one who descended on Noeryeong-do last time. My current state is serious.”
‘So readily admitting it?’
I was surprised, and he continued,
“Yet, among us, do you know why I alone stepped forward?”
“Enlighten me.”
At my words, Wiyong-seon reached toward the sky.
Simultaneously, I felt a surge of energy from the opposite side and stepped back.
Ku-gugugugugug!
In the distance, from far away, an immense energy began pouring toward me.
Paaaaat!
From the sky, hundreds of beams rained down.
I traced back the origin of the nearest beam and found it.
‘Wiyong-seon’s clone!’
Master Wiyong-seon dispatched his clones across the Human race territory to monitor the entire race.
Since Cheonin-do was vast, besides the main body he had sent about three clones.
Those three clones currently dissolved into Heavenly Mountain’s veins and transmitted the mountain’s power to Wiyong-seon’s main body.
The same was true for the other beams.
Wiyong-seon’s clones sent to the Heavenly Mountain sent the power of the Heavenly Mountain veins to him.
Ku-gugugugugug!
I let out a cry of admiration at the sight of Wiyong-seon receiving the power of all the Human race’s Heavenly Mountains.
His pressure, which had been only Four Pillars level, began to rise sharply.
[This is enough for a short battle. It will reach peak level.]
Next moment.
Whoosh!
The one enveloped in the Divine Art technique charged forward with a seven-colored fan in one hand.
[I’ll fix that ridiculous head of yours.]
Kwarrrrrrr!
Flames exploded.
Seven-colored fire scattered in all directions and instantly turned the entire space into a sea of fire.
And then I raised Triple Taiji.
[A worthy opponent.]
Next moment.
Kwaaang!
My Colorless Glass Sword pierced straight through Wiyong-seon’s mouth.
[…!]
He looked startled, as if he hadn’t realized it.
I gazed at him endlessly charging power and smiled.
[Give it everything.]
[Ah, ah-gak… ah-gu-gak…!]
Kwaaang!
I sent him flying to the side.
Revealing my teeth, I laughed.
[You might accidentally kill me.]
[You, you…! That power…!]
Kwaaang!
Propelling myself into the air, I dashed like mad in the frozen world toward Wiyong-seon.
Was it not because he had just become a master?
He used the Divine Art technique and began moving agilely in the frozen world.
However, it was slow.
Whoosh!
Flash!
With the Invisible Sword superimposed, I slashed his upper body in half.
I braced myself and stabbed him with one hundred and sixty precise strikes.
Yet he couldn’t react.
[This, this… you, you are a You race’s power…!]
Heaven, Earth, You, Disaster.
Four axes of power supplied volcanic force to me.
I amplified it through Seo Jang-gun’s circuits on my body and pressed him.
[Kruuk…!]
Losing even the chance to speak, Wiyong-seon focused on watching my attacks for a long time and exchanged blows.
At some point.
Paaaaat!
Wiyong-seon gathered his energy and cast the Divine Art technique even faster.
He suddenly moved before me.
Instantly closing two thousand ri, he sent out an Invisible Sword.
The Invisible Sword struck like lightning, but distance weakened the power transmission slightly.
And the one who endured my blow began to form a seal.
‘Now it begins.’
[You damn You race spy! Die!!!]
Simultaneously, countless clones burst from Wiyong-seon’s shadow.
Each one was a Heavenly Person grade clone, filling his surroundings tightly.
‘Hah, no matter that it’s a technique and limited to short battle… these unstable clones will disappear soon.’
But when the Heavenly Person grade clones exceeded three million,
I could only laugh.
Ku-gugugugugug!
The clones spread outward and formed seals.
‘Are you trying to unfold an array?’
Danak Sword Art.
Layers of mountains.
Ku-gugugugug!
The Invisible Sword stretched in all directions, creating a vast thorny bush that covered the world.
Each one split into mountain ranges, literally turning layers of mountains into rubble.
Under the explosive growth of the Invisible Sword, Wiyong-seon’s clones began to explode.
That was not the end.
I retrieved all three thousand Colorless Glass Swords and unfolded them in the air.
The Invisible Sword was embedded in the Colorless Glass Swords.
Wiyong-seon’s clones began forming new clones again.
And those clones created more clones.
And the clones gathered and began arranging their own arrays.
Their power was amplified in the array.
Danak Sword Art.
Three Thousand Light-Burst Peaks.
Ku-gugugugugug!
Three thousand Colorless Glass Swords.
From those overlaid with Invisible Swords, three thousand Invisible Swords each stretched out.
Nine million sword qi swept the front.
Clones hit by sword qi exploded instantly.
Danak Sword Art.
Rock Collapse.
Nine million sword qi scattered in all directions shook and slammed outward together.
At every spot, sword qi storms swept Wiyong-seon’s clones.
Paaaaaaat!
One of his clones flew at me, reaching out.
I simply sent it flying with a sword qi strike.
That moment.
Pabat!
[…!]
Clone and main body swapped positions.
The main body swung the seven-colored fan in his hand at me.
Kwarrrrrrr!
Flames hotter than lava melted the ground and rushed at me.
I rushed forward to meet him.
But Wiyong-seon had swapped positions again.
‘Annoying.’
I would have to keep playing tag.
‘I’ll wipe them all out.’
Danak Sword Art.
Danak!
Ku-gugugugugug!
The three thousand Colorless Glass Swords began unfolding Danak according to my will, each with an Invisible Sword embedded.
Three thousand Danak filled the sky and pressed.
Light flashed, and Wiyong-seon’s clones were wiped out in an instant.
That moment.
Kuuuuwuuuuuu!
I discovered that the energies amplified by Wiyong-seon’s array of clones were gathering into a single point.
[There you are!]
That was the main body’s location!
And then I poured everything into an attack there.
Kuuuuwuuuuuu!
From that direction, Wiyong-seon began expanding his realm.
[…!]
Rapidly, his realm engulfed me.
I had entered a world filled with colorful masks.
Flash!
A mask beside me suddenly changed into Wiyong-seon and rushed at me.
Ku-gugugugug!
The seven-colored fan in his hand turned red, then yellow, then white, then blue.
New, blazing flames covered me.
Flames of unprecedented power rushed toward me.
And I revealed my teeth and reached out.
Kwaak!
Breaking through the flames, I grabbed Wiyong-seon, and he looked surprised.
[When will you unfold your realm… I was waiting.]
[What…?]
[Four Pillars stage inspectors must split the Heaven-Earth realm to die… but you masters must destroy the ‘realm’ itself that was born from the merged Heaven-Earth realm. Therefore…]
I shot a sword at the startled Wiyong-seon.
He swapped positions, but my sword exploded the clone and tore into his realm.
Kwaaahaaaang!
Just as the water-realm dimensional curtain was torn by one sword, Wiyong-seon’s realm was torn by one sword.
‘The Four Pillars stage inspector’s realm curtain felt like bending water, but…’
The Integration stage realm was clearly different.
It was itself a dimensional curtain!
[Impressive.]
I tore apart Wiyong-seon’s dimensional curtain and laughed.
Inside his realm, intents floated and revealed emotions.
The realm was filled with intent of pain.
[You bastard!!!]
Wiyong-seon’s clones rushed at me in unison.
Outside the realm they had been Heavenly Person grade, but inside they were each early Four Pillars, yet all were casting Integration stage Divine Art techniques as they rushed.
But…!
[Slow.]
Kwaang, Kwaaahaaaang!
One sword tore Wiyong-seon’s realm.
[Compared to Kim Young-hoon…]
Kwaaahaaaang!
One sword tore the realm.
[Compared to Heon-won…]
Jejejeong!
Three swords caused countless clones to explode and created wind holes in the realm that was like a dimensional curtain.
Continuing, continuing, stabbing the world itself.
I carved through countless clones and gradually moved toward Wiyong-seon’s main body.
He swapped with clones and fled far away inside the realm.
From far away he sent me blue flames, but I kept getting closer.
Danak Sword Art.
Yu Gong-i-san!
Kwaaahaaaang!
Strikes exploded, and Wiyong-seon’s clones rushing at me were smashed apart.
His realm trembled in places.
I reached extreme speed in an instant and rushed at Wiyong-seon.
He swapped positions again.
Because it was inside the realm, reading his intent was confusing.
Using only the You race’s eyes, I couldn’t have known where he was.
But through Kim Young-hoon’s perceptual skill I had obtained this time, I knew the position he was “trying to swap to.”
Paaaaat!
The instant he began swapping clones, I turned toward the new location and arrived before Wiyong-seon.
I swung the sword down.
Kwaaahaaaang!
The boom scattered, and Wiyong-seon’s entire realm shook.
He looked at me with a deathly pale face from inside his half-shattered bald head.
Extreme, ah-gak, ah-gu-gu-gu-gak!
He barely blocked my Colorless Glass Sword with the seven-colored fan.
However, my sword gradually pierced his law guard.
[Well then.]
I extended seven pairs of wings from behind my back.
[Goodbye.]
The energy of Cheongikcheonsaeng was embedded in the Colorless Glass Sword, and the moment it tore through his law guard and the main body.
Paaaaahaaaat!
“That’s enough.”
Someone placed a hand on my shoulder.
Integration stage.
Junge, the Human Race Alliance leader.
[…!]
I felt the touch on my skin and was startled.
The Human Race Alliance leader had brought a main body.
‘I didn’t notice.’
When I broke out in cold sweat, he clapped.
Clap clap!
At the sound of the clap, Wiyong-seon immediately withdrew his realm and retrieved his law guard into his mouth.
“Good. Congratulations. You have proven your qualifications.”
I likewise retrieved the Colorless Glass Sword into my mouth and stepped back one pace.
“…Next time, be careful with the shoulder.”
“Haha, I understand. Anyway, do any of you doubt Seo Eun-hyun’s strength?”
By now the Integration stage masters had brought their main bodies and were watching from the sides.
“None.”
“Satisfactory.”
“The Human race’s future is bright.”
“Mastering the You race’s technology as well is excellent for research into the You race’s divine art.”
Everyone gave me positive evaluations.
I realized the intent I had read earlier was correct and smiled softly.
They had only been testing me from the beginning.
Junge looked at Wiyong-seon and asked,
“Master Wiyong-seon, what do you think?”
Wiyong-seon brushed dust off his body and said,
“Excellent. This child will be the new future of the Human race.”
Junge laughed loudly.
“Congratulations. Excluding Heon-won and Taeyeol-jeon who are not here, over half of the Human Race Alliance’s Integration stage masters acknowledge you.”
At his words, I finally understood that I had been acknowledged by them.
“Congratulations on passing the test safely. You have worked hard until now. Only good things await you ahead.”
I obediently bowed.
“From now on, please take care of me. Tae-su (太修).”
===
Author’s Note: All examinees who took the college entrance exam this year, thank you for your hard work!