Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Ascension (1)
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The grand hall I'd called home for so long filled my entire field of vision.
Heavenly Demon Hall.
A name bestowed because it was the dwelling of the Heavenly Demon.
It was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's most sacred ground, a place where no one dared to tread carelessly.
I tilted my head back and gazed up at the sky.
Beyond the clouds drifting lazily across the blue expanse, I could feel a pull drawing me in.
"Ascension..."
Ascension.
The legendary tale that once one's enlightenment and martial arts reached a certain pinnacle, one would shed the mortal world and ascend to the immortal realm.
But now that I'd reached that level myself, I understood.
This wasn't the immortal realm pulling me toward it.
This world, this land...
It was expelling a being whose power it could no longer contain.
"I could stay if I really wanted to..."
I muttered to myself, letting out a smirk.
But no matter how I thought about it, there was no reason to.
"There's no fun left here."
I'd already done everything there was to do.
There was nothing more for me to achieve with my own hands, no opponent left who could stand against me.
"Back in the modern world, I'd just lie in bed scrolling on my phone, and time would melt away."
The only thing that could satisfy the dopamine receptors of a modern human, utterly ruined by electronics and the internet, was the raw thrill of battles where life and death hung in the balance.
But this world had no such opponents.
So...
"Guess I'll have to go find some myself."
I swung my hand like a blade, tearing open the fabric of the sky.
Beyond the massive rift etched into the heavens, stars twinkled brilliantly from the darkness.
Without a moment's hesitation, I leaped toward it.
Baek Seon-woo, the modern man.
Five years after being dropped into the martial world.
I had ripped apart the boundaries of the world and achieved ascension.
I surrendered my body to the pull of this unfamiliar new world.
**
How much time had passed?
A pitch-black cave.
In that lightless void, a man clad in ebony dragon robes opened his eyes.
"Where is this..."
He rose silently from his spot, his indifferent gaze sweeping the surroundings.
The pressure in those eyes was oppressively heavy.
"It's dark."
No light meant one sense—sight—was sealed away.
But a martial artist had another.
Qi Sense.
By spreading out one's qi, detecting nearby objects, living beings, incoming attacks, murderous intent, and more.
There were plenty of other ways to apply it, but anyway.
"Let's take a look..."
His perception expanded, engulfing the entire space.
And he realized.
There were other lifeforms here besides himself.
"Oh..."
The presence didn't feel quite human, but whatever popped out in this strange new world wouldn't be too surprising.
The first lifeform he'd encounter in this unfamiliar realm.
How strong would it be?
Excitement bubbling up, he followed the tunnel stretching ahead.
And then, he saw it.
"Oh..."
A vast cavern.
And countless torches lining its walls.
Treasure piled high on the floor in heaps beyond count, but something else drew his eyes even more.
A massive body sprawled atop it all like a blanket.
Its scales, gleaming blue and wrapping its form, reflected his face like a polished mirror.
"A dragon, huh."
The first lifeform he met was a dragon.
What kind of world was this?
His lips curled into a grin of anticipation.
"...This could be fun."
To gather some intel on this strange world, he decided to try talking first.
He approached the colossal form, standing right before the dragon's closed eyes.
"Hey... you asleep?"
The enormous body twitched.
Moments later, the dragon's eyes snapped open, fixing on him.
Its eyes were so huge, each one nearly matched his body in size.
Then, it rose.
Just moving sent tremors through the entire cave.
The next instant.
Its voice boomed directly in his mind.
"[...A human? It's been ages since a human invaded my lair...]"
A superior authority that transmitted one's will directly into another's mind.
It was the power of Wisdom Light Mind Speech, a step above telepathy.
The moment he heard it, his lips curved upward.
Knowing Wisdom Light Mind Speech meant a certain level of enlightenment in qi.
At the very least, it could hold a conversation with him.
Grinning widely, he stepped closer to it.
"Hey, I've got a question."
But conversation required mutual consent.
"[...Insolent intruder. Die.]"
It seemed to see him as some thief breaking into its home.
Snarling in rage, it lifted its previously limp head from the floor.
Blue lightning crackled between the dragon's stubby forelimbs.
At the same time, the ambient energy twisted in eerie patterns, weaving into a mystical harmony.
Blue sparks leaped through the air, coalescing into a bolt of heavenly punishment that speared toward him.
Kwarrr rumble—!
A flash of light and thunder that tore at his eardrums exploded outward.
Without flinching, he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Sring— The blade slid out smoothly, the characters for Heavenly Demon Divine Sword engraved near its base.
Slicing lightning with a sword might seem impossible.
But martial arts were the manifestation of one's will upon the world.
The instant he willed the strike, the drawn blade's tip had already reached its mark.
Kwajijik—! The lightning shattered, fragments scattering everywhere.
The dragon's eyes widened in shock.
"[...Not an ordinary human, then?]"
Clear astonishment laced its voice.
He smirked in response.
"Think so?"
"[Your tone is awfully arrogant...]"
"Look who's talking."
Ku-gu-gu-gu—
Black sword energy swirled, enveloping the pristine white blade of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.
It formed a jet-black edge rivaling the dragon's own size.
A perfect void that seemed to devour all light.
"You look your opponent in the eye when talking. Don't look down, kid."
"[Conversation... That's for those of equal standing. Prove yourself.]"
"Me? Prove myself to you?"
Was this thing blind?
He stared at it in disbelief, and it snorted derisively.
"[Just once. Did you think this Thunder Dragon Aselin was that easy?]"
"Yeah."
It was clearly misunderstanding something.
"Know what broken machines and people have in common?"
The Thunder Dragon Aselin ignored him, gathering mana from all directions.
A sphere of lightning swelled in its gaping maw.
He raised his sword and voiced the answer.
"You fix 'em by hitting 'em."
The next instant.
Kwarrr rumble—!
A massive roar, and a beam of destructive lightning erupted from its mouth, engulfing him.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"Shut your mouth. It stinks."
He closed his eyes, extending his Qi Sense to encompass the entire space within his domain of consciousness.
Everything happening here slammed into his mind as his perception expanded endlessly.
The sensation he'd once named Transcendent Sense.
His head throbbed, but an even greater sense of omnipotence flooded his body.
Martial arts were the unfolding of one's will.
Thus, anywhere his will reached was firmly in his grasp.
The entire cave fell under his sword domain.
The next moment, he swung down at the apocalyptic lightning hurtling toward him.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword
Form 1: Heaven
A severing strike that cleaves all
The slash that rent everything split the beam of destruction in two, shearing off even Aselin's right horn beyond it.
"[KyaAAAAAHH!]"
Aselin's shrill scream echoed in his mind.
With its horn severed, the dragon's energy had visibly diminished.
He didn't miss the opening it showed.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword
Form 2: Demon
Feral claws that rend all asunder
His sword became savage claws tearing through everything, whipping toward Aselin like a storm.
Kwa-gwa-gwang—!
The feedback through his hand: the blade splintering scales, slicing into flesh beneath.
Countless wounds carved across Aselin's body.
When the tempest finally halted, Aselin collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
Ku-woong—!
Its massive frame hitting the ground shook the cave.
"[Hic...]"
He stepped before its face, sword slung over his shoulder, and spoke.
"So, where are we?"
"[Insolent...]"
"Not beaten enough yet..."
He lifted his sword slightly and approached.
"[Eek..!]"
It submitted immediately.
Its earlier arrogance vanished.
Tears welled in its massive eyes.
"[This is my home...]"
"No, that's not what I asked."
"[Then...?]"
It cocked its head, clearly not grasping his intent.
Why was this thing so dim?
Perfect material for getting called trash in the army.
"...Never mind."
He started to ask more, then shook his head at the massive blue gate beside Aselin.
"I can just check it out myself."
For some reason...
The energy from beyond the gate felt so familiar.
It was closed, but if it's closed, just open it.
Without hesitation, he smashed it with his fist.
Aselin's limp head jerked up.
"[...You forced it open?]"
"Alright, let's go."
"[...I don't know.]"
Shame and humiliation filled its voice, but what could it do?
To avoid getting beaten to death, it had to obey.
Thus, with Aselin carrying him atop its head, he advanced through the gate.
What beings might live beyond?
Maybe some on his level, or even stronger.
Judging by Aselin's power, it seemed likely.
Full of such hopes, the sight that greeted him was...
"...Huh?"
Something he never expected.
Towering skyscrapers.
This was unmistakably the world he'd lived in before falling into the martial realm.
Countless people staring at him in shock, their modern clothes.
The nostalgic scenery of Earth reflected in his eyes.
"Uh..."
Looks like he'd returned to his home world.
And the first thing he encountered there was a young woman aiming her sword at him and Aselin.
"...Ugh."
Her legs trembled pitifully.
...If she was that scared, why not just run?