Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Book 1 - Chapter 2 (4)
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Deep within a forest where the wild cries echoed.
There, Oh Heon sliced through a fleeing Compound-Eyed Wolf with lightning speed.
The wolf-hunting prowess mastered through Grasp Complete.
Swordplay optimized to strike only the weaknesses, without a single unnecessary motion.
This was purely the result of his experience and honed body.
His hunting speed was remarkably fast, leaving little chance to use many skills.
While hunting at a pace similar to the heightened state from Grasp Complete...
Oh Heon realized he needed wolves to test his newly upgraded 3rd Grade skills, so he spared a few.
Skills leveled up far faster with opponents, and real combat made gaining insights easier.
There were tales of enlightenment striking even during training if luck was on your side.
But I've never had that happen.
Enlightenment... Does it tie into combat sense too?
Combat Master. Thanks to this title from the tower, his average combat sense had risen to a respectable level.
Just checking skill details wouldn't help master their changes in real fights.
He had to practice relentlessly, without rest.
A moment ago, he'd briefly tested Wave Strike.
3rd Grade skills not only boosted base power but added new abilities.
It felt qualitatively different from before.
He decided to properly test Demi-God Body first.
As the spared wolf showed signs of fleeing, he closed the distance in an instant with his overwhelming Agility stat.
Then, he drew forth the demi-god power generated by his upgraded Demi-God Body from every part of his frame.
A sensation entirely unlike before swept through his body.
Defense and Mana converting to demi-god power at a higher rate, of course.
The sheer power, speed, and defense from the demi-god power itself had changed.
But this was just like previous upgrades.
To feel the new ability, he concentrated demi-god power into his right arm.
An hour ago, even at maximum density, only a faint golden aura had emerged.
Now, it enveloped his entire arm like a liquid.
Of course, it wasn't actual liquid.
The muscles across his enveloped arm vibrated faintly, condensing power incomparable to before.
The new ability gained at 3rd Grade.
Partial Reinforcement.
Normally, shifting demi-god power around the body only made it slightly tougher and denser.
But this new power directly enhanced the body itself.
Beyond merely cloaking the body in demi-god power, it explosively amplified all physical capabilities.
Even speed, which barely increased before, was now compensated.
No more struggling to forcibly boost speed by controlling Domain power.
He eyed the wolf.
Let's try the legs too.
Pop!
Concentrating power in his legs unleashed explosive propulsion that launched his body forward.
He instantly appeared behind the wolf's back.
The wolf couldn't even react.
He lightly grabbed its neck with his reinforced right arm.
Crack.
With the snap of the wolf's neck bones, its breath cut off.
Testing on the wolf revealed another benefit.
In this reinforced state, it held steady without forced maintenance—no constant focus needed.
Handling demi-god power was now easier and more intuitive.
Perfect.
All abilities reinforced, weaknesses erased.
3rd Grade skills were on another level from 2nd Grade.
Next, the true core skill: Domain.
Time to test it.
Oh Heon activated his now 3rd Grade Domain skill in the heart of the forest.
Domain changed even more dramatically than Demi-God Body.
Vast amounts of demi-god power drained from his body in an instant, seizing control of the surrounding space.
Consumption was several times higher than 2nd Grade.
But it was worth it.
Once Domain fully expanded, he simultaneously grasped two new sensations.
First: precise detection of enemies' Defense.
Before, it was just vague feelings like 'tough' or 'weak.'
Now, it was different.
Like viewing a status window, he could accurately sense the Defense of everything within Domain.
Second: Mana. Since it didn't emanate outward, it had been impossible to detect before.
Now, he could faintly sense it.
At least in combat, he could track how much it depleted.
Demi-god power efficiency had naturally improved, as with past upgrades.
But 3rd Grade's true added ability was separate.
Domain Size Adjustment.
From now on, he didn't need to always deploy at maximum range.
He could make it smaller or larger.
Half to double size.
Meaning a radius from 50 to 200 meters.
Adapt Domain size to the situation or foe.
Combat prowess wasn't just stats. Invisible factors had decided countless battles throughout history.
'Freely adjusting Domain size...'
Domain's potential was now boundless, beyond just growing stronger.
He had greater expectations for the versatile Domain than even demi-god power.
Finally, time to test Precision Enhancement.
He hadn't yet combined it with the other 3rd Grade skills.
Precision Enhancement at 2nd Grade wouldn't gain new powers, but it might interact uniquely with the upgraded skills.
The moment he activated Precision Enhancement within the deployed Domain...
He realized their tremendous synergy.
No, all three.
This is it.
Now he understood why these three skills were given at the base level.
The battle with the Giant King.
Even then, he'd briefly accessed 3rd Grade skills.
But he hadn't imagined such additional powers.
For hours, he immersed fully in training.
Time flew as he worked to wield the changed skills freely.
'About 30 minutes left.'
Time to return to Dimension 64 approached.
He checked his condition one last time and headed to the village.
"Understood, Senior."
Artu immediately bowed to the man advising him.
He'd seen what happened to juniors who defied orders multiple times.
His eyes held the tension of a newbie entering this new society.
Confirming Artu's gaze, the man wrapped up.
"Right. Never catch a superior's eye. Especially not Siron's."
"That's the only way to survive this hell."
The man called senior by Artu—
Muscular Rabupan—left those words laced with advice and warning.
Newbie Artu watched his back, reaffirming this closed society's rules.
He began meticulously analyzing everything he'd observed to build relations.
The biggest rule: hierarchy.
In Artu's eyes, that man.
The peak of the hierarchy, the leader: Siron.
Everything here seemed to move by Siron's will.
His hierarchy was absolute.
Juniors obeyed superiors; all obeyed Siron without question.
But Artu didn't despair. There was hope.
The one thing that pierced this absolute hierarchy:
'Batch'—how early you arrived in the Transcendent World.
The longer you'd survived, the higher your rank.
He was at the bottom now, but time would make him a superior too.
This applied even to Unique Ability holders—no special treatment.
Dimension 64 only spawned minimal monsters, so EXP and gold were fixed.
Regardless of skill,
Earlier arrivals always got more EXP and gold unconditionally.
This batch system favored the long survivors.
'I'll survive. As long as possible.'
Artu took in the unfamiliar village scenery, clutching that small hope.
At the same time, elsewhere.
Rabupan, the muscular man who'd warned Artu, walked with complicated thoughts.
Arriving on day 8, he now counted as a senior.
Thanks to over half the seniors dying yesterday.
He thought of Artu, still bright with hope.
'We're slaves. Hm... Or should I say livestock?'
'That guy's no troublemaker. Probably no need for more warnings.'
Just one day after that horrific, surreal incident.
After it happened, Dimension 64's people were in utter chaos.
But with newbies arriving after a day, things returned to normal as if nothing occurred.
No need to think or plan. Absolute power rendered everything futile.
Rabupan was among the few who'd witnessed Oh Heon's power.
The true ruler of this dimension—survivors who'd seen Oh Heon's might up close numbered just ten, Siron included.
Siron had ordered them: no mentioning Oh Heon to newbies.
Disobey, and you might witness that power again.
Rabupan reached his lodging.
Shared quarters for multiple people.
Per-person cost matched the cheapest solo spots, but no loneliness.
Still awkward with it, he opened the door and entered.
"Welcome back, Rabupan sir."
A man inside shot up from his chair, bowing politely.
A day-9 junior, stiff with discipline.
As Rabupan opened his mouth to reply, a voice came from the side.
"Rabupan, heard from Siron? No rest tonight."
An older-looking man, Dugason.
A casual tone only possible without superiors around.
Rabupan answered swiftly.
"Yes. Heard while hunting."
Dugason scratched his head, as if he'd forgotten.
"Ah, right. Sorry about that."
He had a kindly uncle vibe, but no room for complacency.
Anyone in the Transcendent World was no ordinary soul.
Only three superiors left for Rabupan now.
Administrator Siron.
Dugason, just chatting.
And one Japanese guy.
Oh Heon? Not a superior—a master.
Dugason apologizing was surprising. Superiors rarely did to inferiors.
Until days ago, hierarchy wasn't this rigid.
Moreover,
Rabupan was a day-8 Unique Ability holder.
Same batch were nominally equal, but treatment varied slightly.
His ability—mere smoke emission—was ace treatment just for existing.
Later,
Lodgers maintained weapons or meditated quietly.
Then, murmurs rose outside.
Everyone inside turned to the window.
People poured from nearby lodgings.
Rabupan peered out too.
First in his sight: Administrator Siron at the crowd's center.
Spotting Siron, Rabupan and others rushed out.
The square filled instantly with dozens.
Newbies revered Siron as absolute ruler; others, less so but still,
hung on his every word in total obedience.
Siron received reports, about to issue further orders.
Then,
Space near the spawn point, beside one man, warped with light.
All eyes locked there.
Finally, light faded, revealing a man.
Day 11, just before noon.
Dimension 75's Slime Meadow bustled as usual.
As slimes spawned, people grabbed weapons and scattered for their shares.
Hunting wrapped quickly.
Midway, all eyes subtly turned to two women.
Simple reason.
One of the arguing women was nearly tumbling across the meadow, screaming.
"You!!! How are you gonna make up for this!!"
"It was an accident! Why are you making such a fuss?"
"Ha, really."
They snarled like they might grab hair any second.
Onlookers figured:
The twenty-something probably accidentally—or intentionally—messed with the thirty-something's slime.
Greed for limited monsters was everyday here.
A youth approached a man leaning against a building.
"Mr. Yonas. You have to go today. Otherwise, you'll really die."
"Not going."
The elderly-looking man replied curtly.
Yonas.
His voice rang hollow, devoid of attachment to life.
Stubborn tone.
"...This is my last persuasion. Even minimal hunting ends soon. Tomorrow, they'll come."
"I know. But what can I do? I don't want to live in this crap world... Don't want to go back either."
"..."
"Live well."
With that, he dropped his head, once lifted to the youth.
Clear intent to reject further talk.
The youth realized persuasion was futile, turned away with regret.
Already fond of the man.
'So unrealistic. Knowing it'll kill you, yet... Why.'
Truth was, beyond him, many in the Transcendent World had nearly quit hunting.
Mostly day-1 arrivals.
Some wouldn't even catch the 5 for quests.
11 days was too short to change lifelong habits.
'Cooldown's insanely long... Is this ability even useful?'
A woman sighed deeply, checking her Unique Ability.
Abysmally low utility.
Unable to hide disappointment, she scanned around.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Then... Who to try it on?"
At that moment, she conceived a mad idea that could upend her fate—and perhaps the world's.
"Number 1?"
The man emerging with light.
Dimension 64's true ruler, Oh Heon.
He'd returned.
The true master's appearance silenced the square's din.
Siron spotted him and knelt instantly.
Newbies panicked at the absolute ruler's sudden kneel,
but followed as others mimicked Siron, grasping the situation and bowing.
Oh Heon ignored their greetings.
Gliding through them like empty space, he stopped before Siron.
Then, quietly spoke.
"Report."