Overwhelming Disparity
Japan's Rank 1, Sato Kenji, had just finished mopping up a high-level gate in Tokyo and returned to his residence, only to be plunged into shock.
The surface of the teacup he gripped to steady himself trembled violently. His hands were still shaking.
The exhaustion of sensing impending doom. Then the scene of dispatching it with a single blow, as if it were nothing. To him, it had felt like the end of the world.
An overwhelming sense of disparity.
'There's a monster in Korea.'
He was confident he could hold his own even against Cheon Seung-hyuk. There was no way he'd ever felt this kind of presence from a human, not a monster.
'If this continues, it's really over.'
The conviction that an eternally unbridgeable gap would form because of this unregistered existence. Compared to the humiliations Japan would face going forward, this Holy Relic Accord was just the tip of the iceberg.
Sato pressed his palms together toward the statue of Yamata no Orochi that he served and closed his eyes. Even with only three tails unlocked, he'd reached Japan Rank 1.
'I must unlock all eight tails.'
Once he reached that point, he could look down on Korea's unregistered monster.
At that moment, the world's high-rankers were in an uproar.
Less than an hour after the accord was signed, two of Japan's top-tier gates had each been cleared in a single blow. It was a massive event.
• US Rank 1 = Jayden Hawk
The dealer shuffling dozens of cards, Jayden, confirmed through his status window that the two top-tier gates had been utterly shattered.
"Whoa. Gotta friend this guy up for sure! Or I'll die!"
Hawk, who had soloed a wave-type high-level gate with a single card, sent a mail to the unregistered. Not sure if it'd be read, though.
"I... really... wanna... be... friends..."
• China Rank 1 = Seon-gwang
"......" The monk tapping his wooden fish struggled to maintain composure.
He knew all too well how strong the unregistered was, having briefly ravaged China.
Seon-gwang, the martial artist with 1,000x attack power.
Even he, who had dominated as an overwhelming dealer until recently, calculated the power he'd need to match this unregistered's damage output...
"This monk's awakening is like child's play."
Jing Wei, who had come to see Seon-gwang, lowered his palms and spoke.
"......If war breaks out."
"Presumptuous words, but."
China's one-sided defeat.
That was Seon-gwang's judgment on Korea, which possessed the unregistered.
• Russia Rank 1 = Ivan Mikhailov
"Kahahahaha! There's a refreshing bastard out there!"
Ivan Mikhailov, radiating radiation in real-time from his body while blocking two high-level gates simultaneously, laughed heartily at the news from Japan.
"First opponent I wanna go all-out against!"
World Ranking 1. Russia's Ivan Mikhailov decided. He'd have a proper clash with the unregistered.
Even if it destroyed the surrounding area, even if humanity faced crisis because of him, not a gate!
Ivan, gulping down 70-proof vodka, rode off on his bear.
A mail from US Ranking 1. I usually ignore them all, but this one piqued my curiosity, so I read it.
I decided to finish up shelter management.
You can open a new shelter at LV 100.
By then, I needed to fully understand all the cards in hand.
A brief window had opened regarding the Holy Relic and Necrophilia, so it was time to push.
My stats had built up decently, so I expanded Defense and Area substantially.
"Whoa!" Jenny yelped every time the area expanded. Of course, hiding under the blanket was Captain's privilege, so she hid beside the bed.
"Hm? Ollie finds this super intriguing too~yo. Shelters have research value~yo!" Even Ollie, engrossed in the arcade's animal claw machines, said it was his first time seeing something like this.
It felt plenty spacious now. Easily over 50 pyeong. At LV 91, the difference was clear.
Defense was now solid enough to shrug off most external shocks.
For Function Improvements, I was making great use of laundry/drying and cleaning features, but I set up a theater space for Jenny, who was still adjusting to the arcade.
Home Theater (Display) and Home Theater (Content). Functions unlocked around LV 35-40, and using them conjured an 85-inch TV on the wall.
'Surround sound' synced up, rivaling any real cinema.
Content included every movie, drama, anime, and kids' educational program on Earth.
I let her pick kids' educational stuff that suited her tastes.
"Uh, uh. Whoaaa!"
She was completely mesmerized, searching the TV screen.
Other function improvements were solid too. I didn't dive deep, just skimmed, but applying LV 85's Noise Management brought a message: [Noise pollution eliminated], letting me control sounds from hallway footsteps to street traffic.
Other Additional Facilities like NBC protection (debuff nullification) on hold. Checked out explosives storage and infirmary.
"Ooooh?"
Ollie was hooked on Explosives Storage.
If lucky, it might synergize with his forte in magitech.
As I prepped to install, Ollie spoke up.
"Whoa, better start prepping now~yo!"
"Time already?"
Intel from the war room indicated a high-level gate opening in Seoul. No EXP given, apparently.
Besides harpy and chimera gates, I'd cleared a few low-to-mid gates with no EXP either.
The public's burdensome attention only burned brighter.
'How far does the Holy Relic's influence reach? If it gave EXP, I'd be thrilled too.'
Still, I geared up for battle. Location matched exactly where Minotaur/Chimera had appeared.
That lingering unease of unresolved domestic issues aside, for my safety and national defense pledge, I grabbed the sniper rifle [Massacre] for this difficulty.
Time to test the new skill Precision in real combat. Eliminates body tremors for 1 minute.
- Kugugugugu...
Through the scope, a rift tore open in Seoul's sky.
Annoying to expend mental energy on a no-EXP gate, but with rankers sent overseas for Power Fragments... all investments.
- Kugugugugu...
Surrounded by Shura's Formation, Cheon Seung-hyuk drew his holy sword.
"......"
Even breathing brought immense pressure. Time felt frozen.
The whole world looked blood-red. Probably due to Hongmaehwa Seol's influence.
In reality, only an hour would pass, but here it could be years.
- No hunger. No sleep. Eternally battling souls inside. Die but don't stay dead; live but not truly alive.
According to Seol's warning, the deed was done. Without this resolve, the pinnacle was unreachable.
And for Cheon Seung-hyuk, the pinnacle meant not some unknown unregistered, but the entity before him now.
『......』
'Moomyeong.'
Right after Shura's Formation deployed, the translucent soul had solidified, standing on two feet.
Blue energy still emanated from his spirit body. But now, he seemed more like a living man than a ghost.
『Impudent whelp.』
"!"
A deep, resonant voice echoed from Moomyeong. Like an ancient sage reborn, delivering the words of forebears.
- Sring.
Cheon Seung-hyuk drew his holy sword without reply, readying for battle.
Moomyeong spread his hands, gazing at them alternately, then stroked his skin and swept back his hair.
『Shura's Formation of eternal battle. Whelp, do you think you can handle me?』
He'd apparently heard all of Seol's words. Then,
- Kuoooong...!
"!!!"
Overwhelming killing intent radiated from Moomyeong, screaming at Cheon Seung-hyuk's every cell to flee now.
'Stronger than the skeleton form. No, incomparable.'
This was Moomyeong's true power. Maybe not even full, still in soul state.
Kwak. Cheon gripped his holy sword with defiant force.
'This is what I wanted.'
"Draw your sword. If you won't, I'll come to you first."
A battle against an undying soul. No dragging it out—Cheon Seung-hyuk powered up.
White Tiger Overlord Sword / True White Magnolia
Moomyeong blocked Cheon Seung-hyuk's two ultimate techniques—his sure-kill moves—with a single downward slash. From here, the real clash began.
Cheon, even using Lion's Verdict, charged like a cannonball: 'Kwaaaang!' at Moomyeong. But,
- Kagagagak!
Moomyeong caught True White Magnolia with his fingertips.
"!!!"
From Moomyeong's scar-covered hands leaked an aura of breathtaking beauty.
『You're no swordsman, but a laborer hauling carts. Better suited to pulling plows.』
His tone treated a pathetic novice.
"Tch!"
Cheon tried unleashing White Magnolia's piercing sword energy to shred Moomyeong's body entirely. But it wouldn't manifest.
『Holy Sword. A tragic fate, meeting the wrong master in this worldline.』
Moomyeong caressed the entire holy sword freely with his aura.
Instinct told him: Cheon couldn't touch a hair on Moomyeong now. Then,
Sirius Carlyle Style Inexplicable Sword, Form 1
Formless
- Seogeok! Seogeogeok!
- Chwaaaaak!
"Kuhuk...!"
Cheon Seung-hyuk groaned deeply for the first time. Invisible sword energy sliced from all directions, carving his flesh like butchered meat.
Blood sprayed from his body. True White Magnolia's energy burst messily, still wounding him badly.
"......"
He involuntarily staggered back. Moomyeong now held a black sword in his left hand. Cheon hadn't even seen the draw.
『Holding back screams is commendable. For someone unworthy of teaching.』
"Shut up!!!"
- Seogeok.
In that instant, Cheon Seung-hyuk's head flew.
Regaining senses, he was back at the start. Moomyeong, sheathing his black sword, staring at him—the beginning of Shura's Formation.
Day one.
Desperately defending with every technique, yet unable to block even once the inexplicable forms; body shredded dozens of times.
Day two.
The unbreakable holy sword snapped as his head fell. Awakening, it was restored.
One week.
Even overlaying Lion's Verdict on White Tiger Overlord Sword, enduring near-fatal pain, result unchanged. Impenetrable.
One month.
Dodging sword energy via Air-Stepping, seeking openings—ankles severed. Now, upon respawning, head lopped instantly; had to raise sword to block.
After a year, stopped counting time.
"......"
Countless deaths now unknown.
Pain as natural as breath.
Despair against the wall eroded past pride to oblivion.
Only a swordsman remained: reflexes dulled from survival instinct, eyes slightly unfocused.
Mind teetering on collapse. Body and gear miraculously restored.
『Whelp, you'll never steal my sword. In my worldline, you're a dullard too pathetic to glance at.』
Moomyeong resumed his eerie stance. Over a year, still no grasp of the swordsmanship.
『Think for yourself. What is a sword?』
That single phrase twisted eardrums just hearing it. Treated as clueless novice. Amid death's agony, endless fury boiled.
Kaduduk. Cheon ground his teeth.
"I'm not... trying to steal... your swordsmanship..."
『......』
No reply from Moomyeong.
"Hoo."
In that moment, Cheon hurled his holy sword to the ground. Arms outstretched, eyes closed, feeling only the space's air currents.
- Seogeok!
Cheon's head fell again.
Estimated over three years passed.
- Kagagagak!
Eyes closed, Cheon blocked Moomyeong's sword energy.
『......』
Through superhuman perception honed by countless deaths, he grasped the incomprehensible sword path. Then,
- GoOOOoo...
The White Tiger Overlord Sword aura and Lion's Verdict killing intent enveloping him sank suddenly,
seeping into his ragged body, vanishing entirely.
『......Close.』
Moomyeong uttered an inscrutable remark.
"......"
Three years battling an invincible foe beyond measure.
Cheon concluded: Win or lose, what a sword-bearer must do.
One answer.
Carve through hell, return as swordsman.
'No tricks.'
White Tiger Overlord Sword sank. Lion's Verdict sank. Not gone—gathered in his spirit, dormant in simplest essence.
All erased. No stray thoughts.
No wasted power. No flashy, complex forms. No impurities.
Purity.
Simply swing the sword.
Fundamental
- Swish.
Cheon, pupils slightly relaxed, slowly swung toward Moomyeong. Utterly plain downward slash,
- Seogeok...
Moomyeong's spirit body was deeply gashed for the first time.
Shocked himself, Cheon's focus sharpened; regripped holy sword. Now's the chance.
He'd revive anyway, but honing this sensation meant future total victory.
Maintaining sunk momentum, Cheon surged at Moomyeong. Then,
『Splendid.』
Moomyeong smiled kindly at Cheon,
- Chwaaaaaak!
Shura's Formation shattered instantly, revealing Hongmaehwa Seol.
"Hah. Haah. Haaah."
Cheon, knees buckling, gasped, instinctively regripping his sword in stance.
But,
The 'blue soul' was gone.
Only the dungeon's stench remained.
"He attained Buddhahood."
Seol's Shura's Formation tore apart effortlessly under Moomyeong's power, before even an hour.
As if such a formation was trivially breakable anytime.
"You endured without going mad. Impressive."
"......"
Even Hongmaehwa couldn't grasp the blue soul's identity. Spiritual energy too intense for her approach.
Cheon dragged his trembling body from the dungeon.
He knew Moomyeong's true identity. Since around a year in.
Over three years of battle, souls tangled slightly in countless duels; memory fragments transferred to him.
Memory of cherished disciple, raised lovingly in old age, torn apart by enemy.
Avenging, yet losing life's meaning, wandering slums as vagrant, scavenging filth.
And recently, meeting a burly-eyed man wielding a holy sword, reminiscent of that disciple...
A swordmaster from another worldline.
- If you think I'm your master, you're mistaken. Forge your own path. I merely show one way.
Like words one day,
Now, Cheon Seung-hyuk's 'senior'.
Same spot as Minotaur. At 32x scope, easy sniper position.
Thus, no Jenny warp point; bipod on window, prepped shot.
- Kugugugugu...
High-level unique boss. 'Giant's massive face emerged from the gate. A drooling titan.
"Taking it out immediately."
No EXP, but quick clear normalizes situation. Then,
- Quaaaeaeaeak!
"Ack!"
Suddenly, a man blurred past my one-room at insane speed.
Back view: Korea's top hunter, Cheon Seung-hyuk.
About to snipe, but close combat at that speed risky.
As I moved to activate summon 'Savior' for ally join,
- Seogeok!
"?!"
Cheon, already at Giant, bisected it from body to gate interior in one swing.
- Chwaaaaak!
Giant's crimson blood rained on Seoul. Halved colossal corpse pixelated mid-fall to ground.
■ MVP = Cheon Seung-hyuk
"No need to step in."
Yeah. That's Rank 1 for you.
As expected of Cheon Seung-hyuk. Had faith.