#111 First Follow
At Myeong-wang's words, Kang-ho couldn't help letting out a low hum.
What suddenly came to mind was a conversation from the past, with Epsilon.
"That's all the speculation we have right now. Another world beyond the nine dimensions. We're just assuming beings from there are after the Eternal Crystals."
Yes. The ones called "Demons" seemed to be harvesting Eternal Crystals like crops.
And the "Higher World" he'd seen in the Demon Realm—the apparent home base of the Demons. Just looking at it had been so eerie it felt like it could drive you insane.
"During the upheaval called the Blood Cult Chaos, so much of the Murim's order collapsed. Sects were all but annihilated, and we had to fight and fight to the very end."
Myeong-wang gave a bitter smile.
"In the end, it took countless sacrifices before the Heavenly Demon finally brought down the Blood Cult Leader."
The Heavenly Demon had ultimately resolved that dimension's crisis.
Cheorwon's log cabin.
Kang-ho sat at the table and laid out all the Eternal Crystals he'd gathered so far.
He had six from the Demon Realm. Plus one from Earth and one from Toon World. Eight in total.
The Toon World one differed slightly from the others. It looked like a translucent magic stone filled with swirling, bizarre white gas.
The rest were just solid colors, lifeless as corpses.
"Hmm."
The six Demon Realm crystals had merged into one fairly large chunk.
And that's where the problem began.
Kang-ho examined it closely from every angle.
"Couldn't figure it out before, but now I get it."
Collecting them was fine. He'd confirmed the Toon World one could open interdimensional gates via Bassago—pretty useful.
Clearly, each Eternal Crystal had distinct uses.
For example.
Ziiing—
Kang-ho touched Earth's Eternal Crystal.
As Earth's heart owner, he couldn't absorb its fragments or anything. But after unlocking the heart's power and clashing all-out with Kang Jun-seok, changes had occurred.
Specifically.
Ziiing—
Infusing it with his mana after grasping it, it resonated with Earth's Eternal Crystal.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, that fragment's color shifted.
The blue-glowing magic stone radiated immense energy on its own.
Yes.
'This awakens the Eternal Crystal.'
Activation, maybe?
The change that happened when it fused with a user's heart—he could now induce it without one.
"Gonna call it activation."
Kang Jun-seok nodded thoughtfully.
It had awakened just like the Eternal Crystals held by the Kirin and Ice Dragon in the Murim world.
He'd need to ponder how to use it.
Kang-ho easily sensed its activated effects.
'Overwhelming regeneration, purification.'
It emanated those on its own.
Setting the activated one on the ground, dramatic changes swept the area.
Grass gained vibrant life, dying trees slowly revived.
"So that's how it works."
"Insane power."
He marveled again at its absurdity.
This was the essence of a world's power.
Now.
Their eyes turned to the Demon Realm Eternal Crystal.
'Mana and vitality absorption.'
Dangerous. Better to seal it than awaken rashly.
Kang-ho had witnessed those devoured by it, reduced to instincts, committing atrocities before their grim ends.
Staring at it, Kang Jun-seok spoke.
The eerie demonic energy emanating from it!
"Gonna leave that one to you."
"Yeah."
Kang-ho nodded. The awakened heart's power neutralized even demonic energy.
"I see."
Han Su-hwa, the Ice Dragon, nodded gravely.
"The Heavenly Demon's clearly gathering these too."
Murim's Eternal Crystal altered natural climates. The Kirin and Ice Dragon influenced weather too.
Him collecting it meant he was advancing toward this world's truth.
"He's strong."
Kang Jun-seok said curtly.
"......"
"Stronger than you. When I went there, we fought day and night, but..."
He shook his head.
"Like an inexhaustible monster. And weirdly, his gear. The power from his sword and armor was no joke."
"Gear?"
Kang Jun-seok nodded.
"......!"
Kang-ho got it instantly.
"Makes sense. He forged gear with Eternal Crystals."
Radical idea.
But logical. An awakened one was like a massive magic stone.
What if used as a medium for gear?
"Problem is—"
Kang Jun-seok continued, troubled.
"Need a master blacksmith who can process it."
"Ah, I heard there's a blacksmith called Manryeonja in Murim."
Quiet Han Su-hwa chimed in.
"Manryeonja?"
"Heard he's crafted countless famed swords. But shrouded in mystery. They say you need fateful luck to meet him."
Kang-ho nodded slowly.
That explained the Heavenly Demon's moves perfectly.
Their interests might align someday.
Back to it.
"Issue's getting to Murim from this world..."
Kang Jun-seok rubbed his chin, then turned.
"Bassago."
[Yep, Baal-nim!]
In the corner, Bassago—who'd been rolling his eyes—responded promptly.
Kang Jun-seok didn't love "Baal," but he smiled wryly and asked.
"How'd you open the gate to Murim?"
[Used coordinates I luckily found there.]
"Hm. So those connect to the Demon Realm?"
[Yes.]
Bassago nodded. A thread-like rift had lingered when opening from Demon Realm to Earth.
[Should've, but...]
Bassago glanced between Kang Jun-seok and Kang-ho, then added softly.
[Last check, it was completely severed.]
"Why?"
[Not sure exactly. But maybe massive physical force erased the coordinates themselves... First time I've seen this, so hard to say for sure.]
"Hmm."
As Kang Jun-seok crossed his arms in thought, Kang-ho recalled someone.
'Gunter.'
The blacksmith who'd gladly made the Stellar Gauntlet and Stellar Silk.
Kang-ho pulled out his smartphone.
He didn't know how to reach Gunter. But he knew someone from the same dimension.
The enigmatic World Rank 1 with 300 million SNS followers. He occasionally prophesied futures there, but lately silent.
Kang-ho opened his own SNS account.
"......"
"What the...?"
He'd made it ages ago—King set it up—but lost interest and ignored it.
No posts, yet over 500k followers. Modern society was baffling.
He tried messaging Epsilon, but messages blocked.
Thinking, he commented on Epsilon's latest post.
Spring was flying by.
Kang-ho stretched luxuriously, basking in morning sun.
He knew Seol-a roamed lately. Snacking daily at the Rampage estate—not thrilled, but he let it slide.
His mind buzzed with thoughts; complicated times.
Sitting blankly on bed, he stretched again, heading to the table.
Plugged his haphazardly tossed phone into the charger, about to sip morning coffee.
Clunk—
He saw King barge in.
"Why not play longer."
King had won his ranking match, done interviews and schedules, heading back.
"Hyungnim. Why's your phone off?"
At King's stunned face, Kang-ho tilted his head.
"......?"
King blinked, then flipped on the TV—seeing is believing.
"......"
Kang-ho eyed his smartphone.
Kang-ho narrowed his eyes.
"No way."
Powering on the charging phone, backed-up messages flooded in.
Epsilon had replied to his comment—an unprecedented event.
And Epsilon's following count changed.
Kang-ho noticed his own followers had skyrocketed.
Nearly 12 million new followers.
"Holy crap... This is history. Epsilon's first follow is you? Massive deal!"
King gushed; Kang-ho blinked.
What idle fools, he thought. Over something so trivial...
Beeeep!
Suddenly dizzy, Kang-ho plopped down.
Theo—back from Seoul sightseeing with King—rushed at him, eyes bulging.
"......"
King chuckled dryly, then struck a pose in front of Theo grabbing Kang-ho's collar.
Click!