A Disappointing Lack of Ambition
"Why? You awakened such a rare ability, yet you have no ambition? How disappointing!"
Contempt flickered across Lee Ji-ryeong's face.
He despised those who lived day to day without purpose, squandering their lives.
It was one thing if they lacked talent, but for someone with power to waste it like that was the worst offense imaginable.
In that regard, Zeon was the epitome of that type.
At least by Lee Ji-ryeong's standards.
Yet he couldn't let go of his obsession because Zeon's awakening ability was ridiculously overpowered.
'The ability to control sand at will.'
The world was mostly buried under sand.
Human territory couldn't expand any further because of it.
Even Neo Seoul was a prime example.
They barely held onto the old Seoul grounds and didn't dare venture outward.
Confined to this tiny patch of land, they bickered over who was superior.
Lee Ji-ryeong found this reality utterly repulsive. Until now, he'd watched from the sidelines, helpless to change it.
But things had changed.
All because of the man standing before him.
With Zeon, expanding Neo Seoul's territory was entirely possible.
Humanity could reclaim its dominion over Earth.
That's why he couldn't give up on Zeon.
"My offer still stands."
"So does my answer."
"You're disappointing me to the end, Zeon! Fine, then I'll make you submit by force."
Before his words even finished, the Lightning Field expanded further.
Lightning flickered in a fifty-meter radius around him.
No matter where Zeon looked, bolts crackled everywhere.
"Hah! Giga Lightning Spear!"
A massive bolt, thicker than any before, plunged toward Zeon.
Zeon unleashed Sand Step to dodge.
By a hair's breadth, a colossal strike hit where he'd stood.
Sand exploded outward, leaving a crater over five meters deep.
The sheer destructive power was terrifying.
But Zeon's expression didn't change. He flicked his finger, and sand surged like a water jet toward Lee Ji-ryeong.
High-pressure Sand Blaster.
Boom boom boom!
However, the blasts detonated against the crackling lightning barrier around Lee Ji-ryeong, unable to penetrate.
"No chance. Your ability is impressive, but attacks like that can't touch me."
Lee Ji-ryeong sneered at Zeon.
Zeon smiled back.
"Shall I crank up the power a bit?"
"What?"
Grrrrrind!
In that instant, the sand around Lee Ji-ryeong's feet began spinning at ferocious speed.
Zeon's Sand Mixer had activated.
The sand whirled so fast it was invisible to the eye, swallowing Lee Ji-ryeong in moments.
He tried to escape, but immense pressure crushed down, sealing his movements.
"Damn it!"
Crunch crunch crunch!
Sand everywhere he looked.
A dizzying sense of isolation and peril washed over him, like being tossed into a giant blender.
Trapped in this vortex, even a massive monster would be shredded to bits, bones pulverized.
But Lee Ji-ryeong wasn't some monster.
Nor a mere Awakener.
He was the closest thing to a lightning god.
"Haaah! Lightning Wave!"
With a shout, lightning waves erupted around him.
The first wave smashed the Sand Mixer, followed by second, third, and fourth waves sweeping through.
The furiously spinning sand burned away and scattered. Lee Ji-ryeong broke free.
He prepared to counterattack immediately.
But then he spotted sand soldiers rising around Zeon.
Zeon had summoned Sand Soldiers.
Over dozens of them. Lee Ji-ryeong couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha! This is bullshit. Making soldiers out of sand?"
"Your ability is plenty overpowered too, isn't it?"
"Then you can overwhelm with numbers. Damn, I want it so bad."
Lee Ji-ryeong licked his lips.
To take down Zeon, he'd have to go all out.
And that would mean one of them dies for sure.
His own death would be a problem, but so would Zeon's.
"Alright! Let's call it here for today."
"Weren't we going to settle this?"
"We're not blood enemies or anything."
"He's the killer of your brother, isn't he?"
"That piece of trash? Not even worth recycling. I cleaned up his mess after he caused a huge incident in Neo Seoul and told him to lay low. But the idiot couldn't help himself, got caught, and croaked. That's how he always was—constantly screwing up, me cleaning up after. Just because we shared blood. I've done enough. I don't wanna play the grieving brother now for that moron."
"Cold."
"That's how you survive this world. Blood means nothing—ability comes first. Stay on good terms with strong Awakeners if you wanna last."
Lee Ji-ryeong retracted his Lightning Field.
The crackling bolts blanketing the area vanished without a trace.
No hostility emanated from him anymore.
Whether sincere or not, it was clear he wasn't treating Zeon as an enemy here and now.
Lee Ji-ryeong said,
"Zeon!"
"Speak."
"I'll forget the grudge over my brother. I won't hunt you down to kill you anymore."
"Appreciated."
"You owe me now. Don't forget that."
"Is that really a debt? If anything, I think you owe me."
"Think whatever. Just remember our relationship isn't hostile anymore."
Lee Ji-ryeong was thoroughly self-centered.
Zeon found his attitude ridiculous but said nothing more.
No point ripping open a wound that had just been patched.
Crackle!
Lightning flickered at Lee Ji-ryeong's feet.
"The one who told me about you? Yohan."
"Figured as much."
"Yeah! He egged me on to kill you. Watch out—that old man's capable of anything for his goals."
"I know."
"See you around then."
Boom!
Suddenly, the lightning at his feet exploded.
The blast propelled Lee Ji-ryeong skyward in a flash.
Zeon watched his vanishing silhouette and muttered,
"Like a lightning god."
"You okay?"
Briel greeted him first when he got home.
"Yeah, fine!"
"For real?"
Briel circled him skeptically.
Only after confirming no injuries did she sigh in relief.
"Phew! Good."
Levin asked cautiously,
"How was he, hyung?"
"Strong."
"Compared to me?"
Levin's eyes burned with unprecedented intensity.
Zeon instantly recognized the rivalry in them.
"You're not in his league yet."
"That... bad?"
"Yeah."
"Kuh!"
Levin's face twisted.
He'd sensed it already, but hearing it from Zeon made it hit harder.
"But at the same rank, you'd crush him."
"Really?"
"Yeah! You've got abilities he lacks."
"Specter, ghostification, right?"
"Exactly! Hone that, and you'll surpass him someday."
"Got it."
Levin nodded.
'I'm still young. Plenty of room to grow.'
He'd realized it fighting the vampire bats.
His powers were cheat-level.
And with effort, he could grow even more.
He was only C-rank now.
At B or A, it'd be different.
Then he could face Lee Ji-ryeong properly—the man who'd filled him with despair.
Zeon was pleased.
This gave Levin solid motivation.
Nothing spurred growth like a rival to surpass.
This incident would accelerate Levin's progress.
Zeon shed his robe and sank onto the sofa.
A lot had happened in just days.
Not physically taxing, but mentally exhausting.
Levin rested on the sofa too.
Neither Levin nor Briel disturbed him.
Levin headed out on errands, and Briel retreated to her room, spreading out today's materials.
'This time, success for sure.'
Briel dove into alchemy.
"So Zeon came back unharmed?"
"Yes."
"You're sure? Not mistaken?"
"I saw it with my own eyes."
Yohan scowled deeply at Kim Jae-kyung's response.
"And Lee Ji-ryeong?"
"Confirmed back inside Neo Seoul."
"He just... entered Neo Seoul?"
"Yes."
"Didn't you say they met?"
"Yes!"
"Then how are both walking away fine?"
Yohan slammed his fist on the desk.
He was the one who'd leaked Zeon's info to Lee Ji-ryeong.
Lee Ji-ryeong was a powerhouse even inside Neo Seoul.
Initially pegged at B-rank.
Years later, he might even be A-rank now.
No one to underestimate.
Yohan had stoked his grudge to force a clash.
He'd assumed they'd fight fiercely—wounded or dead.
Zeon dying was ideal for pushing into Shinchon.
If Zeon won but was crippled, Yohan's crew could finish him.
Either way, Yohan won.
But his plan crumbled.
Whatever happened in the desert, both returned safely.
"Did they fight for sure?"
"Unclear. They vanished into the desert in seconds."
"Useless. This isn't what I expected from you."
"I'm sorry."
Kim Jae-kyung trembled.
Fear etched her face.
Yohan was saintly when kind, demonic when enraged.
Incurring his wrath meant no mercy, even for loyalists.
Subordinates were disposable to him.
Her unique ability was special, but replacements existed.
"Find out exactly what went down in the desert and devise a way to deal with him."
"Understood."
"We must seize Shinchon. Only then can we spread the Lord's teachings across all of Neo Seoul."
Madness gleamed in Yohan's eyes behind his glasses.
He approached the window.
City Hall loomed in the distance.
"I'll plant a cross atop that tower no matter what."