The Fist Saint's Breakthrough

The reason I'd played my trump card was simple.

I'd pierced through Shin Junseok's fist energy with the Dark Shadow Soul-Chasing Sword.

At a glance, it looked like we were evenly matched, but the truth was the complete opposite.

While Shin Junseok fought with energy to spare, I was drawing on power far beyond my limits.

"I cannot simply stand by and watch. I shall go all out."

"No. Save your trump card."

The Dark Shadow Soul-Chasing Sword. A skill that had been added to Nyx after she obtained the homunculus body.

However, Nyx's internal energy reserves were too low to unleash it at full power more than once.

Even though our essences had merged through Polar Night, she still couldn't draw on my energy. If she could, she'd risk immediate qi deviation.

"Understood. Speak at once if you require my strength."

Just before entering Shin Junseok's range, I spun sharply. His eyes trembled.

I circled him at high speed in a zigzag pattern using Cloud Flow Steps.

"That technique has a short duration, does it not? Are you certain this is wise?"

Instead of answering, I kept my gaze locked on his pupils. Dantalion's Illusion was still active. I couldn't see what vision he was experiencing, but the flickering of his focus confirmed the curse was holding.

The flashy movements were meant to maximize the illusion's effect.

And then—the opening I'd been waiting for appeared.

Black currents wrapped around my forearm. This time the manifestation was perfect, not the incomplete form from before.

Shin Junseok, who had been delayed by the illusion, finally noticed my approach and reacted on instinct.

"Fist energy?!"

Even as he cried out in shock, he unleashed Storm Tiger Divine Fist. Black and azure energies collided.

Boom!

Shin Junseok was the one forced back a step.

"How…?"

"Because the martial art I learned is peak-grade."

Storm Tiger Divine Fist was first-rate. Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts, however, was peak-grade. In terms of technique depth and subtlety, I held the advantage.

Though crude, I had forcibly elevated it with Asura Demon Spirit Heart Method to manifest fist energy.

"Truly… your depths are unfathomable."

A golden fist gleamed. It was the same technique I'd faced earlier—one that released its energy in an explosion on contact.

My shadow writhed and split into dozens of tendrils, coiling around the incoming strike like an octopus seizing prey.

"You couldn't fully neutralize the impact last time either, could you?"

"We'll see about that."

Nyx's control over Polar Night far surpassed mine. The Tiger King Fist detonated at point-blank range, yet the darkness tore and mended repeatedly, absorbing the energy.

"Impossible…"

"I won't fall for the same trick twice."

Well, it wasn't me who had done it—it was the goddess. Still, breaking two of his techniques wasn't enough to seize victory. Even under multiple curses, Shin Junseok hadn't lost his center.

Our hands clashed again and again in midair. I pressed him with various forms of Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts—fists, palms, claws—movements inspired by legendary beasts. His Storm Tiger Divine Fist remained straightforward, relying purely on punches.

In raw specs, Shin Junseok held the edge. In technique execution and depth, I led. Only after activating Rage of the Evil Spirit did the scales even out.

Polar Night's power slipped in unpredictably, but it wasn't decisive. Wounds accumulated one by one. Blood flowed from Shin Junseok's sturdy frame, yet he remained calm, parrying every strike.

There was only one way to create a variable here.

My skin turned green. Muscles swelled to their limit and beyond. For the first time, genuine bewilderment flickered in Shin Junseok's usually composed eyes.

"An orc…?"

When our fists met head-on, his stance finally crumbled.

Using my right leg as a pivot, I spun my entire body and slammed into the faltering Shin Junseok.

Thud!

He tried to stabilize with a firm stance, but this was the decisive moment I'd been waiting for.

"Nyx!!"

"Behold, mortals! This is the true might of your goddess!"

The internal energy infused into the five black swords erupted with explosive force. Though Nyx's understanding of martial arts was limited, the overwhelming nature of "Night" itself pushed the Dark Shadow Soul-Chasing Sword to its absolute peak.

Sword energy. Azure light gathered along the black blades and surged toward Shin Junseok.

Slash!

Multiple blades of darkness carved into his body. Even his peak external arts and energy-infused muscles proved useless.

[The attack threatens the player's life.]

[Barrier activated.]

A green wave of defensive magic from the training center's barrier repelled the Polar Night energy. Shin Junseok, bleeding heavily, barely managed to steady himself.

"Whew… If not for the barrier, I'd be dead."

"Don't exaggerate."

"Junior, when bones are showing, calling it exaggeration seems a bit much, don't you think?"

"It wasn't a fatal wound."

I frowned. Half success. Even without the center's intervention, that strike wouldn't have been lethal. A wound with bones exposed? Someone of Shin Junseok's caliber would have skills like Combat Continuation.

"I didn't expect you to grow this strong so quickly, Junior."

Crack. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with his arm's bones laid bare, he calmly clenched his fist.

"That child moves as if nothing happened."

"See? He's perfectly fine."

If the cut had gone clean through bone, it might have been different, but this level wouldn't drastically reduce his combat ability. A prolonged fight would create variables, but the longer this dragged on, the worse it was for me.

I raised both hands.

"I'm the one injured, so why are you suddenly surrendering?"

"Because that attack was my trump card."

The joint assault with Nyx. I could channel energy into the Dark Shadow Soul-Chasing Sword alone, but not with that speed and precision. Swinging the black swords honestly wouldn't land on Shin Junseok anyway.

"Therefore, I surrender."

Shin Junseok's expression twisted.

* * *

White light seeped into the wounds carved by Polar Night. The injuries closed rapidly. Shin Junseok regarded me with a strange look.

"Just how many abilities do you possess?"

"I'm quite versatile."

"I can't deny it, but somehow it's irritating."

"That's the fate of talented people—they attract envy and jealousy."

Shin Junseok clenched his fist tightly. If I kept talking, that fist might come my way, so I changed the subject.

"Senior, your martial path is too rigid."

"Rigid?"

"It's so honest that I can see exactly where you're aiming."

"I thought I was being careful."

"Far from it. Even your main martial art is only first-rate."

First-rate wasn't low, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was hard to call it the signature technique of someone ranked in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Korea's top ten.

"This art simply felt right for me."

"Then you should have refined it."

"I already sensed something during our spar."

"Sensing isn't enough. You need to become more flexible, Senior."

Under normal circumstances, such meddling would provoke anger. Yet Shin Junseok didn't explode—he simply listened in silence. He'd always been sincere about martial arts even before my regression, so I'd spoken freely. His character hadn't changed much by 2026.

"Flexibility, huh."

"Instead of interpreting techniques literally, try viewing them more broadly."

"I see… I feel something."

Suddenly, Shin Junseok closed his eyes mid-conversation. He was likely replaying the spar in his mind. Even while sitting cross-legged, his arm and leg muscles twitched.

"Hong Yunsu."

If he was about to achieve enlightenment, we couldn't let it be interrupted. Hong Yunsu immediately understood and leapt down from the stands.

A powerful wind enveloped Shin Junseok—an all-in-one offensive and defensive barrier that would slice apart any intruder.

"What are you doing in the middle of a spar?"

"Thank you for understanding."

Hong Yunsu stared at me for a moment, then suddenly clapped.

"That was truly impressive. Even I wouldn't have taken that final move lightly."

I shook my head.

"It was only possible because I had help."

"Hmph, hmph. These mortals finally recognize my greatness."

Her face was deathly pale from the aftereffects of merging with my Polar Night, yet she still couldn't stop boasting. After some time, Shin Junseok opened his eyes.

"Whew… Thank you. Thanks to you, I achieved enlightenment."

"Aren't you going to thank the one who protected you?"

"We're friends, aren't we?"

"So friends get a free pass?"

"Hah, I'll repay you later."

Shin Junseok smiled leisurely.

"That child… his total energy has increased in such a short time."

"Martial artists grow significantly stronger upon achieving enlightenment."

"How fascinating."

Nyx tilted her head. Though I spoke calmly, I was just as surprised. To gain enlightenment from a single spar… his talent was truly monstrous. I'd exploited Shin Junseok's weaknesses using my regression knowledge, but I hadn't expected him to draw inspiration so quickly. I'd only intended to give him a nudge toward the next stage, yet he'd already done the homework.

"I forced an unreasonable match on you, yet ended up receiving a favor."

"I'll charge a hefty price for this."

"Do so. I'll grant whatever you ask."

"You mean that?"

"A gentleman's word is worth a thousand gold."

Thump! Shin Junseok struck his chest with his fist.

"Do I look like someone who'd say otherwise?"

"Not really."

Good. The groundwork was laid. It was earlier than planned, but the stage was set. Time to bring it up.

"There's something I'd like to ask of you, Senior."

"Speak."

"I'm planning to establish a guild around next month at the earliest."

I glanced sideways while speaking. Hong Yunsu's shoulders twitched. Pretending not to notice, I continued.

"One month from now, please join the guild I'll create."

Since you've gained enlightenment, lend your strength as a future asset. Senior.