Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 14 Pillar of Support
They say that the first time is the hardest, but the second time comes easy.
The same goes for research.
The physical structure, energy flow, and method of wielding power of Estelle, a Seraph, were complex and difficult for a human to comprehend.
But I had already analyzed Baal before.
Moreover, Estelle didn’t even try to kill me like Baal’s avatar had.
'Because Estelle isn’t my enemy.'
Though the tutorial system’s limitations prevented her from giving direct advice, her willingness to cooperate with my research was a huge help.
I accelerated my work.
"Hoh… Fascinating."
Her physical structure was similar to a human’s, but the bodies of angels, who lived eternally, had evolved to become more efficient through constant stimulation from training and magic.
The density of her muscles was different.
Though compact, they could unleash explosive power, and even a small amount of magic drastically enhanced their strength.
I meticulously scanned her body, checking for any overlooked details or differences in efficiency, until she finally spoke up, unable to bear it any longer.
"It’s a little embarrassing to be stared at like this…"
She seemed slightly flustered.
If someone were examining my body this closely, I’d probably feel the same.
But for the sake of research, there was no other choice.
"It’s an unavoidable part of the process. Should we take a break?"
She sighed.
"…Fine. Look all you want. Until your eyes wear out."
With her permission, I studied her even more intently.
Upon closer inspection, her body resembled a human’s but felt like an intricately designed program.
'Did the gods sculpt her body with greater care?'
Her muscles were inherently blessed, designed to better absorb magic.
'This could be applied to martial arts.'
I might not be able to perfectly replicate it, but I could guide the body to evolve in a similar way.
The gaps could be filled with Baek Ryeon’s unique traits.
That way, instead of merely imitating an angel, she could achieve a powerful synergy between a robust physique and extreme yin energy.
Inspiration flooded my mind.
Next was energy flow.
Using my spiritual senses, I began studying the circulation of energy within Estelle.
Baal’s method of energy manipulation was a heretical art that defied natural order—reversing energy flow to maximize repulsion, disrupting an opponent’s internal energy, and neutralizing defenses.
In contrast, Estelle’s method was the pinnacle of harmony.
A smoother, more stable flow, adhering to the natural order to its absolute limit.
The result was a perfectly balanced energy system that generated explosive power far beyond martial arts that clumsily mixed unorthodox elements.
It was on a whole different level.
'So this is another way of thinking about it.'
Rather than forcibly incorporating irregularities, pushing a single flow to its extreme could be even more devastating.
I decided to make this realization the core principle of the martial art I would create for Ryeon.
A pure, untainted ultimate yin—a martial art that pursued just that.
The direction of the divine art became clearer.
"Estelle, who created the internal technique you use?"
Whoever it was must have been extraordinary.
Unlike me, they hadn’t relied on the tutorial’s infinite lives to craft it—yet they had achieved such perfection.
"I did."
'…What?'
She was that genius?
"Wait, you… can create martial arts too?"
As someone who had also crafted martial arts, I knew it was never easy to create one from scratch.
Yet a Seraph had done it?
"Of course. Angels primarily wield divine arts, but I’ve always had an interest in martial arts. So I studied various martial scriptures from the mortal world and created one that suited me. Didn’t I advise you when you were making the Dawn Divine Art?"
Now that I thought about it, she had.
"The foundational internal techniques of each sect were carefully crafted by their founders for future generations."
Without that hint, it would have taken me much longer to grasp the principles of martial arts creation—with far more trial and error.
"Now that you mention it… So, you reached the rank of Seraph while mastering martial arts, a non-mainstream path for angels? That’s incredible."
Estelle straightened her posture proudly.
"Yes. I am that exceptional of an angel. So strive to do better."
Her shameless confidence was astounding.
I chuckled and playfully knelt, pressing my lips to the back of her hand in a teasing manner.
"As you wish, my lady! I pledge my utmost loyalty!"
Estelle looked down at me with an exasperated expression before breaking into a laugh.
And so, the research continued.
Next was studying her method of wielding power.
Nothing was better for that than sparring.
When I had researched Baal’s methods, I had danced on the edge of death to sharpen my senses and achieve rapid breakthroughs.
Angels couldn’t kill players, so I couldn’t push myself to that limit, but I could still experience her full strength.
"It’s been a while since we sparred like this."
"Yeah. How many years has it been?"
Since learning intermediate martial arts, we hadn’t sparred even once—over a decade.
Back then, I had barely reached first-class, but now I stood at the pinnacle of transcendence.
That gap made Estelle’s movements even clearer. Flawless, exposing no weaknesses.
What I had thought were openings were merely ones she allowed me to see.
'Ah, so I was just dancing in the palm of her hand.'
"Can you see it now?"
"Yeah. You were toying with me back then."
She smirked.
"Instead of calling it education, you say I was toying with you… I’ll have to refresh your memory."
I instinctively raised my guard, but it was too late. Estelle’s fist was already flying toward me.
'I see it!'
The moment I tried to dodge, an intense dissonance flashed through my mind.
'No matter where I move, I’ll get hit.'
Her movements dominated space itself.
Not fast or overwhelmingly powerful, yet they surpassed my reaction speed.
The same pattern repeated.
My attacks never reached her, while hers always landed.
Even though I was faster and stronger, Estelle effortlessly neutralized that difference.
"Blind speed and strength aren’t everything. If you use your opponent’s force against them, even a small amount of power can achieve greater results. After all, they’re the ones expending the energy."
With each hit I took, I gradually adapted to her style.
'Limitless variation born from ultimate restraint.'
Restraint and variation were opposing concepts, but by pushing restraint to its extreme, her movements became even more unpredictable.
The moment that realization struck, I dodged her fist for the first time.
Estelle’s surprised expression quickly turned into a smile.
"That’s it. As expected, the Han Yeong-min Player learns fastest when getting beaten up."
I had just heard the words I least wanted to hear again.
"Damn it… I can’t believe I’m hearing this again…"
"If you don’t like it, get stronger faster than me."
Now she was even teasing me with profanity.
I really needed to get stronger.
*****
While researching Estelle and incorporating my findings into martial arts, I never neglected my disciple.
Creating a martial art wasn’t just about studying Estelle—understanding Baek Ryeon was equally important. After all, this entire process was for her.
"Ryeon. Let’s begin again today."
"Yes, Master."
She naturally removed her upper garment, sitting down as I positioned myself behind her, observing her back.
"Do you remember where we left off yesterday?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Good. Then let’s start from there."
Ryeon slowly guided the energy from her dantian into her meridians. I placed my hand on her back, meticulously tracking its flow.
I analyzed how her energy interacted with specific meridian points, which parts were strong or weak, and the related bodily reactions—over and over.
Then, I stumbled upon an unexpected discovery.
'What luck. To think Ryeon had the Saint’s Talent all along.'
While martial arts and magic only required raw magic power, divine arts required converting that magic into Divine energy.
If one never intended to use martial arts or magic, they could permanently convert their magic into Divine energy. Otherwise, they had to undergo the conversion process each time.
'That’s why I gave up on divine arts.'
With zero talent for handling Divine energy, the conversion took far too long.
I wasn’t gifted enough to justify permanently altering my magic either.
But occasionally, there were those born different.
People whose magic naturally carried a divine aura without conversion—allowing them to wield martial arts, magic, and divine arts seamlessly.
Angels inherently possessed this trait, and among humans, priests or paladins with related traits were the same.
'But I never expected Ryeon to be one of them…'
While studying her energy flow, I noticed something odd and asked—only to learn she had the Saint’s Talent.
According to Estelle, it was an ability coveted by all constellations.
If Ryeon climbed the Tower, she’d become a celebrity.
'She’s just full of talents, isn’t she? Yoo So-eun Mk. II.'
This meant divine energy flowed naturally through Ryeon’s body—just like Estelle’s.
This shared trait made designing the internal technique much easier.
Especially since the overlap was in energy flow, the most crucial aspect.
Using this, I could guide her body to evolve naturally like an angel’s, even applying Estelle’s methods of power manipulation without modification.
However, due to her Nine Yin Divine Meridians, instead of gathering and wielding pure energy like Estelle, she would focus solely on pure yin energy.
The foundation would be Estelle’s, while the rest would be tailored to Ryeon’s traits.
That was the goal of this new divine art.
'Still, I should finish analyzing her body by today.'
In the past, fully understanding my own body had taken five years.
Now, in less than half a year, I had nearly mapped out her entire physical structure.
Of course, I had already grasped much of it while curing her Nine Yin Severed Meridians, and my current realm was at least two levels higher than when I created the Dawn Divine Art. So this progress was only natural.
"Done. You can put your clothes back on now."
Every inch, every minute detail—I had analyzed it all.
Now, it was time to craft the martial art based on my research of Estelle and Ryeon.
"Not going to check the front this time?"
Ryeon grinned mischievously.
"Tch… Just get dressed."
"Fine, fine."
After putting her clothes back on, she turned to face me. I took a light breath before speaking.
"Alright… From now on, I’ll start seriously crafting the internal technique. I’ve fully analyzed your body, but this is only my second time creating one, and my first time making an ice-based art. There will be countless trials and errors."
No matter how thorough my research, no matter how perfectly I understood her body, creating a custom martial art for one person inevitably involved trial and error.
The moment I touched her body, a thought flashed through my mind.
'Is this really okay?'
Passing on the excruciating pain I had endured to her.
If the martial art required repeating failures so agonizing that maintaining consciousness was a struggle—was this truly the right path?
Was I doing something I shouldn’t?
"It’ll hurt. Maybe not as much as when I created the Dawn Divine Art, but you’ll die at least several dozen times. Even so, do you still want me to make this for you? The Tower might offer something better."
I had a goal I was willing to die a hundred times for.
That was why I kept moving forward, even after triple-digit deaths.
'There were many times I wanted to quit.'
Repeatedly destroying myself and dying took a greater mental toll than I had imagined.
When the pain of death left me dazed, the urge to give up would surge.
-Haven’t you done enough? Just enter the Tower already.
'If I just enter the Tower, I could obtain an advanced internal technique much more easily. What am I even doing?'
Those thoughts would swirl in my head, urging me to quit.
Whenever I was tempted, I thought of Yoo So-eun.
The girl who might already be soaring through the Tower—perhaps having forgotten someone like me.
Hadn’t I vowed to become someone who wouldn’t shame himself before her? The thought of giving up here, after having hurt her so deeply, kept me going.
This wasn’t just about techniques or martial arts. It was about the kind of person I wanted to be.
'You’re my friend, my teacher, my pillar of support.'
Baek Ryeon. Did she have such a pillar?
"Master."
Her voice was calm and resolute.
"None of that matters to me. It’s your first time creating an ice-based art? I’m happy your first is for me. There’ll be trial and error? I was never even allowed to experience that. I had no choices back then."
The Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
They had been shackles, ensuring that no matter what path she chose, she would eventually hit a dead end and be forced to give up.
"Trial and error is natural when learning martial arts, right? It’s even more so when creating one. Even if it’s painful, even if I die, I’ll be fine."
She smiled and added:
"After all… you’ll be by my side every time. Right?"
I couldn’t speak.
There was no reason to stop her.
No reason to force her to quit, no reason to block her path, no reason to turn her away.
I had underestimated her.
She wasn’t afraid of pain. She didn’t fear failure. She was already a true martial artist.
"Right."
I nodded heavily. If she wouldn’t give up, neither would I.
"A martial art you pour your heart and soul into, crafted just for me… Nothing could be more precious. So please… make it for me."
Her voice was earnest, filled with conviction.
"I want to become like you, Master."
I took a short breath.
'Have I… become someone’s pillar?'
In the past, I had used Yoo So-eun as my guiding light.
Whenever I wanted to quit, I thought of her. Remembering her, I stood back up.
And now, to Baek Ryeon, I had become that very presence.
In her heart, at the end of the path she wanted to walk—I was there. She aimed for me, followed me, wanted to become like me.
Slowly but firmly, I spoke.
"I’ll do my best. If you ever want to quit, just say so."
"That won’t happen, so don’t worry. Han Yeong-min’s disciple can’t afford to quit here."
A faint smile touched her lips.
But I found myself staring not at her smile, but at her eyes.
Eyes filled with determination—so familiar.
'Now I remember where I’ve seen that look before…'
It was the same as the reflection of my own eyes in Estelle’s gaze. I knew people with eyes like that all too well.
'She won’t give up.'
Even if she breaks, as long as her pillar stands firm, she’ll rise again.
Then I must become an even stronger pillar.
To be that pillar, I must strive harder.
Hard work—that’s what I do best.