Chapter 89
Chapter 89
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Purple Spirit Single Moon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Domain.
When a single player perfects their inner world.
Then manifests it externally to reshape the real world.
Manifesting a domain was such a profoundly difficult feat that even Challenger Tier players could barely attempt it.
Yet Shin-hyeok had succeeded in crafting one using nothing but the body and abilities of a mere Platinum player.
Even after drastically shrinking its rank and scope by adopting a simplified form, the miracle of pulling it off was praise-worthy in and of itself.
Several factors had made it possible.
For starters, Shin-hyeok wasn't your average player. He was pumped full of every enhancement imaginable, pushed to the absolute limit.
Somewhere between Diamond and Challenger Tier, you could say.
And that was far from all.
Shin-hyeok hadn't forgotten the sensation of deploying his domain countless times before his regression.
That muscle memory had seamlessly integrated into this simplified version, yielding exactly this result.
Keeeeeeng!
A purple full moon materialized behind Shin-hyeok's head.
Differing slightly from his memories, the moon naturally dispersed vast spirit power softly around him, dominating the surroundings.
'Before regression, I based it on mana, so with my mana being a deep blue, it was the Azure Moon Battlefield. Now it's Purple Moon, I guess.'
The domain Shin-hyeok wielded in the past manifested as a vast battlefield lit by a blue moon.
But now, it was a purple moon instead of blue.
A change born from using an entirely different core energy.
Of course, the moon's color meant little to Shin-hyeok.
'Way better than pre-regression. Using good energy really makes a difference.'
Because when you compared raw output and rank...
This domain outclassed his old one by a mile.
Well, the gap between his past and present self made direct ability comparisons unfair, but purely on specs, it was more than solid.
Now all he needed was to grow into it.
Borrowing the simplified domain's power to seize a portion of the Martial God's transcendent domain, Shin-hyeok turned to face him.
"Now it should be a fair fight, right?"
"Clashing domains to create an opening, then claiming that space. The classic domain battle tactic. How do you even know about this? Your dimension shouldn't be at a stage where battles this advanced occur."
"Gotta be 'cause I'm exceptional."
"...Fine. I've confirmed your choice isn't mere arrogance. Time to end this."
"Perfect. I wasn't planning to drag it out anyway."
One Origin - Spirit Power had granted him immense spirit power, but even that was being sucked away like water into a bottomless jar just to maintain the domain.
In the end, it couldn't last long.
So Shin-hyeok opted for a swift strike.
Show what he needed to show, then bail.
The Martial God didn't call him out on it either.
He was already giving major credit just for manifesting even a simplified domain.
All preparations complete, the two warriors charged at each other once more.
Domain.
This ability, where players manifest their completed inner worlds into reality, encompasses various powers, but they can roughly be divided into two categories.
One is support, the other enhancement.
Sometimes domains come with unique traits exclusive to the domain itself, but those only appear around transcendent domains—and even then, not always—so they're not a big deal.
In any case, Shin-hyeok's domain was neither purely one nor the other; it was both.
Support and enhancement.
Perfectly blended, that was his simplified domain: Purple Spirit Single Moon.
Keeeeeeng!
The moment the purple moon spun ferociously, spewing spirit power...
Purple Moon began unleashing a barrage of skills like mad.
Spirit Art, Necromancy, magic, and more.
This was Purple Moon's support ability.
Automatic skill deployment.
Skills normally required direct activation by the player, but with Purple Moon hovering overhead, Shin-hyeok was freed from that constraint.
'Shame. A full domain would've let me deploy Weapon Mastery too.'
In a proper domain, not just these skills but weapons scattered across the battlefield would move on their own against the Martial God. But that was impossible now.
Putting lingering regrets aside cleanly, Shin-hyeok sprang into motion.
Kwaaaaaang!
An endless torrent of overwhelming skills poured from Purple Moon without respite.
Spirits summoned endlessly, undead replenished infinitely, magic rampaging wildly.
This onslaught was markedly different from before.
'Spirit power. This stuff's incredible.'
Because it layered spirit power atop a mana base.
Spirit power elevated the inherent rank of every skill like the perfect seasoning.
Of course, skill grades themselves didn't increase.
But rank wasn't something measured by grade alone—as proven by Heaven Shattering Destruction Style or Heavenly Demon Divine Art—so Shin-hyeok didn't mind.
Thanks to Purple Moon, with his brain freed up for pure combat calculations, Shin-hyeok's movements grew even lighter.
And it didn't stop there.
Keeeeeeng!
Purple Moon vibrated once more, erupting in purple radiance.
The instant that radiance enveloped Shin-hyeok...
Kwaduduk!
Shin-hyeok grinned at the pulsing mighty force surging through his body.
This was Purple Moon's second ability: enhancement.
A power that boosted the player's physical capabilities directly.
Plain, but powerful precisely because of its simplicity.
Empowered by the domain's enhancement, Shin-hyeok charged the Martial God with a clearer mind and heavier body.
Cheeeeeeng!
"...Hm."
For the first time, the Martial God let out a low groan-like exclamation.
Feeling his peak strike—admittedly not at full condition—land solidly, Shin-hyeok went on the full offensive.
"Gale Wind Extreme Demon - Spirit."
Kwaaaaaaaa!
Growing accustomed to infusing techniques with spirit power, Shin-hyeok's relentless assault pushed the Martial God back helplessly.
With spirit and undead swarming in endless numbers on top, even the Martial God found it grueling to handle amid such binding constraints.
Kuooooong!
"Fun."
The Martial God stomped lightly, quaking the earth and vibrating the air to forcibly dispel all incoming spirits and undead.
A broad grin split his face as he casually tapped the empty air.
Cheeeeeeeng!
Space shattered, revealing a void—neither emptiness, cosmos, nor nirvana.
Impossible to describe, it instinctively screamed that venturing in meant no return.
Shin-hyeok kicked off backward.
"Where do you think you're going? Play with me more."
"...!"
Thud!
But the Martial God had no intention of letting him escape, strolling forward casually—yet instantly closing the distance to Shin-hyeok's face.
Up close, that smile terrified Shin-hyeok more than any horror he'd known, but he gripped his holy sword and demon spear tightly, swinging them wildly.
Kwaaaaaang!
Not strong enough to shatter space like the Martial God, but devastating by human standards—the Martial God parried swiftly with his arm.
Bang! Kwaang! Kwaaaang! Bangbangbang! Kwaaaaaang!
Exchanges too fast for the eye to follow.
In this frenzy where attacker and defender blurred, the Martial God broke the rhythm first.
Kwachaaaang!
Like shattering glass, the space his fist grazed exploded, viciously sucking Shin-hyeok in.
The void subspace's pull was beyond imagination; only by burning mana and spirit power alike could Shin-hyeok barely escape.
"This scenery is brutal."
"Things break in a fight, don't they?"
"Usually that's bodies or objects. Space breaking doesn't count?"
"Does it not? Everyone around me does this as a baseline, so I'm not sure."
"...Ah."
Surveying the Martial God's transcendent domain—riddled with dozens of gaping, hideous holes—Shin-hyeok clicked his tongue. Then, at the Martial God's genuine head-tilt, he assumed stance with an exclamation.
"Time to wrap this up. Getting hard to hold."
"Was fun enough. But I don't get why bother with even a simplified domain."
"You'll see... right now."
The real reason for the domain hadn't surfaced yet, so the Martial God not knowing was natural.
Shin-hyeok poured everything he had into his stance.
"Comprehensive Weapon Mastery."
Keeeeeeng!
Purple-blue sword aura bloomed along the holy sword, elevated to S-rank by transcendent effects via Comprehensive Weapon Mastery.
Maximizing Purple Moon's support and enhancement as the foundation for the martial feat to come.
"Heaven-Destroying Lightning Slash. This how it's done?"
"...!"
Heaven Shattering Destruction Style.
Its Chapter 1, Section 3—the Heaven-Destroying Lightning Slash the Martial God had just demonstrated—unfolded in Shin-hyeok's hands. As the Martial God recoiled in shock...
"Have a taste of Azure Transcendence."
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!!!
Perfectly executed from Shin-hyeok's hand, Azure Transcendence hurtled unstoppably at the Martial God.
Compared to the Martial God's version, it lacked polish and power in places, but a Heaven-Destroying Lightning Slash was still that.
Sensing the slash—carrying heaven-exterminating might and flashing like lightning—bearing down, the Martial God smiled faintly.
"Pass. The slash landed evenly."
"...Huuuuu."
A long diagonal gash across the chest.
Incredibly, crimson beads welled up along it.
A shallow wound.
Shallower than a paper cut, but it had pierced the Martial God's clothes—and flesh.
Exhaling the breath he'd held, Shin-hyeok collapsed on the spot.
Purple Moon had long dissipated after the slash, drained dry. His body hung limp like a wrung-out rag, devoid of strength.
One Origin's spirit power, scraped from every last drop, was gone. With all energies funneled into it, the rest were equally depleted.
In this state, even his brother Shin-woo could dethrone him with Frost Flower without resistance.
Yet despite sprawling starfished on the ground, a thick smile played on Shin-hyeok's lips.
"What to give him..."
The delightful reward settlement awaited.
Even boneless, Shin-hyeok could smile watching the Martial God stroke his long white beard in thought.