Chapter 1003
Chapter 1003
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1003
Chapter Title: 1003. Path of Radiant Ascension
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"Sinful one who bears the power of the stars... Die here."
The figure muttered in a chilling voice and turned the ledger toward me, showing me its contents.
.
My name was written there in three stark characters.
Thump!
My heart stopped beating.
I stared at the alert floating before my eyes, utterly dumbfounded.
Dead?
Just because my name was written there? I never imagined I'd go out like this.
'What the hell is that Death Note?'
I furrowed my brow. I had a hunch. Baeun's voice echoed through the space. He'd called this guy a chasa—messenger of the underworld.
'If it's an underworld messenger, then yeah, that makes sense. Grim Reaper. Or Death God in the West. No wonder he's got a Death Note.'
I could revive with Complete Recovery. The problem was what came after. With my name in that ledger, would I just drop dead again? If not, I'd have to kill the bastard before he could write it again.
Shhrrk.
The figure, who had been hanging upside down from the ceiling and staring at me, began to fade away. It was trying to vanish from this place. If I let it go and used Complete Recovery at the last second, I could probably scrape by unscathed.
'No way in hell. If it's trying to kill me, then that fucker dies too.'
My temper wouldn't let it end like that.
Before it could fully disappear, I activated Complete Recovery.
Thump.
My heart started beating again. I sprang to my feet from where I'd collapsed, playing dead.
"What?!"
The chasa's body, startled, solidified once more. He hurriedly clutched the ledger and brush. Flipping it open, he tried to write my name again. If he did, I'd probably die again.
'Acceleration, Moment.'
I charged at him. In an instant, I closed the distance and swung my Fire Lotus Sword. The chasa recoiled in horror. The blade sliced into his shoulder. Black blood dripped down. His blue face twisted in shock.
"You worm! How dare you resist the natural order! Your sins are piling up! If you don't want to be thrown into the Avici Hell, accept your death with dignity!"
"Natural order? Bullshit! I'm gonna live for a thousand... no, ten thousand years!"
My body plummeted downward. Unlike him, I couldn't hang upside down from the ceiling.
'Thunderbolt.'
But I could wield lightning.
Bzzt-crackle.
Bluish bolts erupted from all directions, lancing toward the chasa. He gritted his teeth and endured them. His trembling hand scribbled with the brush.
.
Two characters of my name were scrawled there. The handwriting was horribly shaky.
"Block it! Stop him from writing your name in the ledger!!"
Baeun's voice rang out. I was getting pissed. If he was gonna backseat drive, at least say something useful instead of stating the obvious.
'How the hell am I supposed to stop that bastard from writing?'
I activated Moment again and leaped upward.
Shadow Heaven Style: Thunder Light.
I aimed for the chasa's head. His neck snapped back at an impossible angle for a human, dodging the blade.
'Damn it...! Moment!'
Grinding my teeth, I forcibly twisted the sword's trajectory. Rip—crunch. My right arm's muscles tore, bones grinding. In exchange, I severed the arm holding the brush. It fell away.
'Now he can't write my name.'
My body dropped again. I was satisfied. He had no brush anyway.
Suddenly, the chasa bit his lip hard. He stuck out his tongue and pressed it to the ledger, slicing off the tip to finish my name with his black blood.
'Fuck!'
I hurled the Fire Lotus Sword. It pierced the ledger straight through and embedded in his chest. Yet the chasa didn't scream—he silently wrote my name with his tongue.
'No, not like this! I can't die! Heavenly Heart!'
Desperate, I triggered Heavenly Heart.
"I don't know how you survived, but it must've been luck. From the look on your face, you won't get that luck twice. I'll personally escort you to hell, so die quietly."
The tip of his tongue was gone, but he spoke clearly. Then he turned the ledger to show me. . Showing my name must be the ledger's activation condition.
'...Is this it?'
One second passed.
Before, seeing my name had stopped my heart instantly. Now, I was fine. My heart beat steadily.
The chasa faltered in confusion.
"This... impossible...! This isn't something you can withstand! What the hell did you do?!"
What did I do? I used Heavenly Heart. For one minute, stats rise, and I'm immune to abnormal statuses!
'Did his attack count as an abnormal status? Maybe it's like a curse.'
Either way, the important thing was I was safe.
The chasa pressed his tongue to the ledger again, trying to rewrite my name. But I felt no urgency. Heavenly Heart had over 40 seconds left.
"Die, you fucking bastard!"
I rushed him and deliberately sliced his legs. Slash. Splatter. He crashed to the floor.
"Grraaah..."
He didn't give up. He spread the ledger on the ground and wrote my full name.
.
"This fucker writes damn well with his tongue too."
I stomped his head down, snatching the ledger. His physical prowess was pathetic. Maybe a great sorcerer, but no martial artist.
"Don't touch the ledger with your filthy hands! Give it back, give it...!!"
"Shut up."
Thud, thud-thud.
I stomped his skull a few more times. I flipped through the ledger. It wasn't his first rodeo—hundreds of names filled it. All unfamiliar.
"I'm taking this Death Note back to the modern world and becoming a new god. You'll be the first name in my Death Note. What's your name, asshole?"
"My name? It's right there."
I squinted at the ledger. Small text on the cover's bottom: Snow in the Midst ( ).
"Write your own name in the Death Note? ...Does the cover not count?"
I picked up his dropped brush, dipped it in his black blood, and wrote on the ledger. He didn't die.
"Huh, why didn't you die?"
"You idiot. I'm the ledger's owner. And even if you were... you can't kill me with it."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a being beyond the natural order!"
"......Guess I'll kill you first and claim ownership."
"Remember this. Even if I die... it won't end here. The underworld is watching you."
"Ooh, scary."
Crunch!
I crushed his head underfoot. He went still, dead.
"Hot!"
Black flames erupted from the ledger. I dropped it in shock. It blazed up with his corpse.
"Sung Yu-jin!"
General Baeun entered with his soldiers. The barrier must've vanished with the chasa's death. He sighed at the corpse.
"To think such a dangerous bastard would show up..."
"He came looking for me?"
"Can't you tell? Your trial opponent was supposed to be that fish-like freak. The chasa came personally to kill you."
"Something about the power of the stars. Was that it?"
"I don't know the details. But a chasa targeting you directly means the underworld sees you as a threat."
"Will more of these guys keep trying to kill me?"
"This is rare. They're not free to act on whims. No need to worry much."
"I passed the 20th floor trial, right?"
"Congratulations on conquering Wanmu Tower."
Baeun said flatly. Three had died on the 20th floor; only six survived to the end.
I opened my mouth, then closed it. After the incident, demanding rewards felt off—memories of the previous Wanmu Tower trial flooded back. They ignored the dead. No responsibility for accidents during trials. Only the climbers bore that burden.
The conquerors stood before Baeun.
"Congratulations on conquering Wanmu Tower. You will bask in the fame of its victors. Rewards will be generous, of course. But first, we offer you one opportunity."
"What kind?"
I asked.
Before Baeun could answer, the old woman beside him—September Immortal Lady Neung So-ryeo—stepped forward.
"I'll answer. The chance to become my disciple."
The chance to become her disciple.
From anyone else, it'd sound arrogant. These were peak Origin Realm experts, qualified to found their own sects. Pride wouldn't allow discipleship.
But from September Immortal Lady? Different story. A Harmony Realm master with ties to the emperor.
"One condition: Swear loyalty to His Majesty and serve in the military. Those who wish to reach higher realms under my guidance and command as generals—become my disciple."
Neung So-ryeo stared straight at me. She wanted me as her disciple. Makes sense—I was the strongest climber, born with star power.
I clamped my mouth shut. I already had a master stronger than her. No interest in the military or her arts.
"Um, could I become September Immortal Lady's disciple?"
Sung Ji-gon raised his hand, eyes sparkling. I stifled a laugh. His goal was obvious: topple her and have a go.
Neung So-ryeo stared, then nodded.
"Sung Ji-gon, was it? Welcome as my disciple."
Of the six, only one—Sung Ji-gon—wanted to be her disciple.
He performed the disciple's bow right there.
"I'll devote myself fully, Master!"
Neung So-ryeo smiled faintly and nodded.
Then came rewards.
None of the six chose her arts—they trusted their own. One was the Beggar Clan wanderer Jang Chun-mong.
Sung Ji-gon, now her disciple, skipped arts per her advice and took Millennium Snow Ginseng.
Jeong Bin got his goal: Azure Jade Oil, one drop. He popped it in his mouth immediately, erupting in two back-to-back dry orgasms before sitting in lotus position to cultivate.
Hwangbo Ga-hye chose an elixir too: Taiji Divine Pill, famed from Wudang. She was pleased.
I skipped elixirs for arts. Looking for thunder qi-related ones.
'If none here... better take an elixir and search outside.'
Luckily, one: Heavenly Severing Thunder Binding.
From the Thunder Star Demon, a great fiend who shook the martial world 2,000 years ago. Must be powerful, regardless.
'...It's kinda weird for a martial art, but it's impressive, so whatever.'
I skimmed the manual.
'No clue.'
Dump it on Wiyu. She'd figure it out and teach me simply.