Mark of the Blazing Soul

[You have devoured the essence of Rapid Dash.]

It was similar to Fierce Charge. Both were three-star charge skills, but they pursued different directions. The option to add fire damage would be effective against enemies ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immune to physical attacks. For someone like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me who had reached the stage of materializing magic and qi, it wasn't a particularly helpful option. But I'd said it before—there was no such thing as an unnecessary essence.

It was a skill I'd obtained even before my regression. Among fire-attribute magic focused on destruction, it was one of the few debuff spells. Strange. A skill completely unrelated to the two essences has appeared.

"Rapid Dash burns its own soul."

A debuff spell born from the connection between the medium of the soul and fire. Because it received the synergy effect of Fire, it was superior to most curses. With healing skills as well, I could probably pull my weight as a supporter.

A four-star water magic spell. The rewards were quite generous for defeating Rapid Dash. "Selling this would fetch a decent amount of money."

Would it not be better for you to learn it yourself?

"These have class restrictions."

When I displayed the item information, the restriction [Mage Class] was written there. The mana restriction was meaningless thanks to my stats being higher than magic-class players of the same level, but skill books with class restrictions like this couldn't be learned.

Hmm. There are inconvenient aspects after all.

"It's not inconvenient since I can just devour them."

Even before my regression, my body had been more skilled at rearranging mana than most magic-class players. I was still using the magic I'd learned proficiently, wasn't I? Even if my body had returned to its pre-regression state, experience didn't just disappear.

Will you only clear one floor today?

"No. I won't stop until the 34th floor."

Missions conducted in teams or guild units started from the 35th floor. Securing the rewards would help with funding.

Two days should suffice.

"Right."

I chuckled.

The news that Yu Jinho had begun climbing the tower again quickly reached Korea's major guilds. A super rookie who had been considered a recruitment target just two months ago. But now, with the two rankers Shin Junseok and Hong Yunsu joining his guild, he had emerged as a new force threatening the existing power balance.

"This is quite troublesome."

Oh Jangwoo, the master of Hwarang Guild, leaned back in his chair. Complicated thoughts tangled in his mind. The subject was, of course, Yu Jinho.

Even when Park Jongwon suffered defeat, I only thought the kid was foolish.

The bad blood between Hwarang Guild and Yu Jinho had begun during the tutorial held last November. Even when the players Hwarang had painstakingly nurtured were humiliated in the tutorial, he hadn't thought much of it. He had only spread rumors through media outlets connected to Hwarang to slightly diminish Yu Jinho's standing, and that was all. Half a year later, Yu Jinho had grown into a player with the potential to challenge Hwarang's stronghold. Ten years had passed since the tower appeared, but had there ever been a player who shone so brilliantly in such a short time?

That's not the problem.

Yu Jinho's fame wasn't a major issue for Hwarang. No matter how impressive his performance in Indonesia had been, he was ultimately Silver rank. When high-grade gates appeared, they would ultimately have to rely on large guilds like Hwarang or Phoenix instead of Yu Jinho due to rank restrictions.

Shin Junseok and Hong Yunsu. What were they thinking when they joined hands with Yu Jinho?

The strongest players in Korea. The tower selected the top ten and granted them the title of Ranker. Additional rewards when clearing missions. Additional corrections to stats and proficiency (achievement). Various other benefits were granted, and they were the top-tier players guaranteed by the tower. Until now, only two rankers had remained unaffiliated with any guild—Hong Yunsu and Shin Junseok, who had declared they would form their own teams and focus solely on clearing the tower. Those two had been recruited into Yu Jinho's guild as if by prior agreement.

It wouldn't be good for this balance to collapse.

Yu Jinho was a variable. There was too little information to respond to the change. Oh Jangwoo's eyes hardened. If I can't respond, I'll simply crush him. There happened to be a proposal that had come through a roundabout route. There was no longer any reason to hesitate.

"Secretary Hwang."

"You called?"

"Send a message to Phoenix and Baekho."

"What should I say?"

"Let's have a quiet meal together."

Oh Jangwoo said this and slowly closed his eyes.

The next day, the masters of Hwarang, Phoenix, and Baekho gathered in one place.

"It's been a while. Master Yang Jeongsu, and Master Seo Hyeonmin."

Oh Jangwoo rose with a friendly smile. The masters of Phoenix and Baekho lightly nodded and accepted the greeting.

"You people. Aren't you being too cold?"

Yang Jeongsu, the master of Phoenix Guild, let out a short dry laugh. "Well. When have we ever been close enough to exchange casual greetings?"

"Time is money. I hope the master of Hwarang will keep that in mind."

Seo Hyeonmin, the master of Baekho Guild, followed up.

"Keke. But the fact that you showed up means you share the same thoughts, doesn't it?"

Oh Jangwoo dropped his friendly expression and swept his burning gaze over the two masters' faces. The table trembled as if an earthquake had struck. As Korea's number one ranked player, simply releasing some of his suppressed presence made the surrounding air quiver.

"Yu Jinho. What to do about him."

The two masters finally took their seats.

"The two who were unaffiliated have joined a guild. And it's a one-year rookie at that."

"Shin Junseok and Hong Yunsu. How did he manage to move them?"

Yang Jeongsu grumbled. They were rankers who wouldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠budge no matter what conditions were offered. The mere fact that those two had moved was enough to make player-related theme stocks fluctuate. "If we leave him alone, a great wind will blow through the domestic guild rankings. What do the two masters think?"

Seo Hyeonmin remained silent for a moment before slowly opening his lips. "What can we do? We should just observe."

"Isn't Baekho Guild the most urgent among us?"

Oh Jangwoo wore a wry smile. Hwarang — 3, Phoenix — 2, Baekho — 2. That was the number of rankers held by Korea's three major guilds. The only guild whose master was not a ranker was Baekho. If the two unaffiliated rankers joined another guild, everyone knew Baekho's position would be more precarious than Hwarang or Phoenix.

"So what?"

"Oh. Does the master of Baekho Guild have no interest?"

Seo Hyeonmin maintained his silence. I owe Yu Jinho a debt. The Black Tiger team that had been thoroughly defeated by Yu Jinho. Seo Jeongmin, the second son who had coveted guild management rights, had his voice completely stripped away after that day. From Baekho's perspective, they had lost face, but from Seo Hyeonmin's personal view, it had been an opportunity to reestablish his control over guild management. I can repay that debt this time. There was one more reason Seo Hyeonmin pretended not to hear Hwarang's proposal. Yu Jinho's terrifying growth rate. At this pace, he would clearly break the existing ranking system and rise to the top. When it rains, one must take shelter under the eaves.

When Seo Hyeonmin reached his conclusion internally, Oh Jangwoo spoke again. "Baekho doesn't seem very interested. What about Phoenix?"

"Well, it might be right to break his spirit at least once, but I don't know if there's a suitable method."

"Forming a guild alliance team."

Oh Jangwoo brought out the answer he had prepared in advance. They would bind the promising talents from the two guilds in Silver rank into one team and challenge Yu Jinho! The corner of Phoenix Guild Master's mouth twitched. "An interesting proposal."

"At the 35th floor, since it's a mission that must be conducted on a guild unit, we can make use of numerical superiority."

Oh Jangwoo looked at Seo Hyeonmin once more. "I will take my leave now."

"Won't you at least have a bite before going?"

"I have much work to do."

Seo Hyeonmin rose from his seat.

Late at night. After finishing training and picking up my phone, there was a missed call. An unfamiliar number. I was about to ignore it, but when I saw the text that had come from the same number, I pressed the call button. The ringing tone repeated.

This is the first time I've called you directly, Player Yu Jinho.

"Indeed it is, Master of Baekho Guild."

The owner of the missed call was Seo Hyeonmin, one of Korea's three major guild masters. I wondered what this man wanted.

Sorry for contacting you so late. I have something urgent to discuss.

Seo Hyeonmin got straight to the point. The collusion between Hwarang and Phoenix. The story that they would form a team with the new talents from the two major guilds at the 35th floor and challenge me. …Such ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠discussions took place, so please keep it in mind. Seo Hyeonmin finished his brief explanation. An alliance between two of the three major domestic guilds. Their movements were faster than I'd expected. "Thank you, Master of Baekho Guild."

I'm glad if it was helpful to Player Yu Jinho.

"But I'm curious why you're giving me this information."

I have to repay the debt regarding my second brother.

He was referring to crushing Seo Jeongmin, the protagonist of the Black Tiger incident. "Isn't that too great a price for repayment?"

Leaking this information from Baekho was an indirect appeal that they wouldn't participate in checking the Yeokcheon Guild. With two of the three major domestic guilds joining hands, the fact that Baekho had withdrawn wouldn't have a positive effect. I've been told since childhood that I have good instincts.

"Instincts…?"

Yes. This decision is entirely based on my instincts.

"Meaning you believe I'll become that great a player."

If I'm wrong, there's nothing I can do.

To push forward confidently based on nothing but instinct without being a regressor. As expected of someone from a chaebol family, their investment sense was different. "I'll have to work harder to live up to expectations."

I'll be looking forward to the 35th floor mission.

Hwarang and Phoenix. The situation of competing with them. Quite an interesting development had occurred. An alliance between the two guilds that had never happened even before my regression. I burst into laughter as I watched the changing future.