Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Solo Conquest of the Grade-5 Portal
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Thanks to the three people whom Su-hyeok had cleared out first and positioned at a suitable spot where no presence of Atels could be felt, the rescue operation went far more smoothly and swiftly than anticipated.
In the meantime, a message arrived from Han Tae-min outside, who had precisely identified the number of missing people.
'Total of 22 people. And Park Tae-jun said he heard one scream during the argument?'
One woman had died amid the quarrel.
Su-hyeok felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but what was done couldn't be undone.
The good news was that the remaining 21 had all been safely rescued.
Now, all that was left was to destroy the Cosmo Energy of this world beyond the portal.
'Finding it won't be hard.'
In this confined world, and given that it hadn't shown itself yet, there was a high chance a boss monster was guarding the Cosmo Energy.
It was even possible that the boss monster itself was serving as the Cosmo Energy, just as he'd initially feared.
At this point, taking down the boss monster was practically equivalent to closing the portal.
Though the Association had contacted Han Tae-min and dispatched Awakeners to support Su-hyeok, there was no reason to wait for them.
'I can handle this alone.'
Grade 6.
By his original grade, Su-hyeok shouldn't have been able to clear this world beyond the portal on his own.
But after felling countless Atels, he was certain.
He possessed a power that transcended the grades spoken of on Earth.
It was the presence of mind and qi among heart, qi, and body.
The immense inner power granted by the Heaven and Earth Unification Divine Art, along with the experience and techniques to wield it efficiently.
Su-hyeok was overwhelmingly stronger than any other Grade-6 Hunter.
And he was fully aware of that fact.
The favor he'd asked of Oh Sin-woo seemed like it could be resolved even more easily if he let him know about this.
Of course, that would require results to back it up.
Su-hyeok intended to prove it by single-handedly clearing this Grade-5 portal world.
"So that's the one."
Over 3 meters tall.
Su-hyeok spotted the massive Atel crashing through the underbrush—a true giant of a monster—and checked his condition.
'Thanks to the level up, my inner power is full.'
In fact, it had increased even more.
And his swordsmanship.
The peak martial art he'd used after so long—the Life-Reaping Demonic Sword, equivalent to an S-grade Awakener skill—felt surprisingly good, thanks to the quality of the blade.
There was little awkwardness.
'As fast as possible... Shall I?'
Su-hyeok swallowed hard as he eyed the Atel towering over 3 meters away.
A slight tension rose through his body.
True to its name, the Life-Reaping Demonic Sword was a demonic art.
Thus, it could unleash power surpassing its peak classification, rivaling absolute arts.
The price was that it stole the user's very reason.
Martial artists who wielded the Life-Reaping Demonic Sword for too long inevitably became madmen or legendary killers.
Harsh conditions, indeed. But if one could dominate it, the immense power beyond one's grade became fully theirs.
And Su-hyeok knew how to dominate the Life-Reaping Demonic Sword.
In truth, it was simple.
Use power appropriate to one's level, without excess.
Never succumb to the sword's intoxicating might.
That was the most efficient way to wield the demonic sword properly.
But it wasn't the only method. If one could shake off the threatening aura with sheer will, they could tap into power beyond their level a few times. And to fell that massive Atel in one blow, a bit of overexertion seemed necessary.
Fortunately, Su-hyeok's mental control allowed him to preserve his reason fully against the sword's malice.
It was possible thanks to the profound enlightenment carried over from the Huan Continent, upholding his spirit.
'Not my preferred method, but it's been a while, so it'll be fine.'
Decision made, he advanced swiftly with Taiji Eight Immortal Steps.
At the same time, he began circulating his inner power to unleash the Life-Reaping Demonic Sword's killing blow.
The killing blow was a concept unique to demonic arts, distinct from mere ultimate techniques—a pure murder stroke fueled by unrelenting murderous intent to slay the foe outright.
Before long, the entire world in Su-hyeok's vision blurred and scattered.
Not due to Taiji Eight Immortal Steps.
The Life-Reaping Demonic Art's power was stirring to confound his reason.
Already, it felt like he could wield dizzying might, but it wasn't enough.
That much wouldn't devour the giant Atel.
'Feed it all the inner power from my lower and middle dantians.'
The sword's energy swelled as it devoured his inner power.
Malice surged toward the crown of his head.
Su-hyeok accepted it.
Then poured that malice onto the massive monster before him, the Atel.
Gyaaaak-!
Startled by the malice alone, the Atel turned toward Su-hyeok and fired its tendrils.
Su-hyeok saw them.
But he didn't dodge.
He simply charged forward.
Sword thrust straight ahead, he dashed on.
From his upper dantian—a small amount, but mightier than all the power in his lower dantian—it erupted into the blade.
Wooong-!
For a moment, a tangible blue aura manifested at the sword's tip.
The tendrils that had pierced toward Su-hyeok's head struck the ground instead.
Su-hyeok vanished.
Chiiik-!
A blue flash like lightning streaked, accompanied by the sound of something long tearing apart—simultaneous events.
Gyaaaak-!
The bewildered Atel twisted around to find Su-hyeok.
But it couldn't.
Its thick tendrils severed, the massive form staggered and collapsed.
And that was just the start. The giant tropical rainforest trees behind the Atel began toppling like a landslide.
Kugugugwang-!
In the explosion, sparks flew from every tendril root of the massive Atel—tadak, tadak.
Gyaaa-!
The fallen Atel writhed in agony, screaming, but the sparks raged fiercer once ignited.
Soon, they bloomed into flames.
The blazing inferno devoured the Atel's flesh.
A rotten stench permeated the air.
Only after passing well beyond the 3-meter giant did Su-hyeok halt, sheathing his sword and glancing back.
Total devastation.
Not just the Atel—every living thing in his path had perished. Had the Cosmo Energy lain straight ahead, even it would have been destroyed.
And indeed, that proved to be the case.
The sword that reaps lives.
The Life-Reaping Demonic Sword's killing blow: Life-Reaping Slash.
Soon, the world itself began crumbling from the demonic art's aftermath.
Creeeak-!
Standing amid the collapsing portal world, Su-hyeok clutched his head.
The price of shaking off a demonic art beyond his realm: chaotic malice tangled wildly in his mind.
Su-hyeok expelled the painful sensations with a deep breath.
'My enemy was only the giant Atel.'
The Life-Reaping Demonic Sword hadn't just killed the Atel—it had engulfed it in flames.
Having fully digested it all...
The malice tormenting Su-hyeok's mind receded swiftly.
Only faint remnants lingered.
At that moment, a notification chimed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Resisting mental corruption. Powerful mental strength repels the mental corruption attack. Acquired passive skill: C-Grade Mental Corruption Immunity. 'Mental Corruption Immunity skill?'
His eyes widened at the alert.
He could roughly guess its effects, and if used well, it promised tremendous utility.
And the notifications didn't end there.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Due to executing the killing blow, proficiency of S-Grade active martial art, Life-Reaping Demonic Sword, surges dramatically. ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv. [Previous] → [New Lv] + Mind has been fully purified.
+ Destroyed a world single-handedly.
+ Acquired Lesser Destroyer title.
A torrent of tremendous notifications flooded in like a festival, revitalizing his somewhat fatigued body.
The malice that had cluttered his mind vanished as if washed away by water.
"This is... beyond expectations."
In the midst of trying to shake off even the remnants of malice through mental control, an unexpected gain had emerged.
He'd used the technique, but cleared it completely in an unforeseen way.
There was no time to marvel at the new perks from leveling up.
Kugugugwang-!
The crumbling world.
Time to escape.
Su-hyeok dashed forward swiftly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Su-hyeok burst out of the portal.
The Grade-5 and above Hunters preparing to enter at the portal's entrance froze in place.
"Huh?"
"Did it escape?"
"First, request to join..."
As everyone stared at Su-hyeok with dumbfounded expressions,
"Su-hyeok! You're safe!"
Han Tae-min hurried over to him.
Having rescued everyone, they'd expected Su-hyeok to return soon, but his prolonged silence had them worried.
"Yes. I'm fine. Oh, and thanks—the sword performed well."
Su-hyeok handed the sword back to Han Tae-min.
"Finely crafted blade."
He'd benefited from its effects while using it, and it had endured even the Life-Reaping Slash with outstanding durability.
Without Han Tae-min's sword, he wouldn't have even attempted it.
Han Tae-min blushed at the praise.
"It's a Dwarf-forged piece that cost me my life savings. Glad you approve."
Watching the reunion briefly was Kim In-gyu, president of KR Guild and leader of the entry team—a Grade-7 Hunter—who approached Su-hyeok.
"Yang Su-hyeok, we're about to commence portal destruction. Could we get your assistance?"
"Ah, no need."
Kim In-gyu nodded and said,
"You've done splendid work. Leave the rest to our guild and rest up."
The moment he interpreted Su-hyeok's refusal as wanting to rest and turned away,
"P-President! Look, over there..."
One guild member urgently called Kim In-gyu, pointing at the portal.
The portal, which had been emitting light, was withering like a dying flower.
"What? It was definitely a Grade-5 gate, and only Su-hyeok—a Grade-6 Hunter—plus some Grade-2 and 3 Guardians entered."
No, the only one who came out alone at the end was Su-hyeok.
"He cleared the portal solo?"
Whispers spread among the Awakeners.
"Grade 6, but he just passed his evaluation..."
Yang Su-hyeok was currently the hottest topic among Awakener circles.
For a guild president, he was someone to watch closely.
Thus, Kim In-gyu, well aware of the rumors, looked at Su-hyeok.
Incredible as it was, with the portal twisting into a vortex and vanishing completely, denial was impossible.
"Insane. A monster's appeared."
The rumors were true—no, beyond them.
Something shocking enough to stun Korea, no, the world, had occurred.
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