The Frontline of Cheonwon Castle
The terminal building, which could be considered a kind of gateway, gave way to the interior beyond.
Upon entering the true rift zone, an utterly unique sight unfolded before his eyes.
The first thing that naturally drew attention were the rifts themselves, scattered across the landscape at considerable intervals.
They truly lived up to their name, appearing as literal cracks torn through empty space. The faintly iridescent glow spilling from the central holes was particularly captivating.
At each rift, at least four or five hunters stood guard like stationed troops. There were surely more personnel inside, and massive camping vehicles the size of buses, trucks loaded with equipment, and tents had turned the areas around the rifts into temporary encampments.
A few rifts had simply been left alone. Next to the signs indicating their grade and number stood prominent blue placards clearly visible from afar, marked with the word “Processed.”
Most were likely waiting for natural dissipation because there were no further threats or resources worth harvesting, or had been deliberately preserved for research and experimentation.
It was currently accepted as established theory that 99.9% of rifts formed on solid ground. The reason was that the interior of a rift also contained land, and the two sought to connect with each other.
‘The remaining 0.1% form in midair or underwater and collapse almost immediately.’
With that thought, Han Yujin examined the rest of the scenery.
The barren earth was littered with scars of battle—bullet holes, bomb craters, and jagged traces that could only be the aftermath of supernatural abilities.
When he lifted his head and looked into the distance, he could see part of the chain-link fence topped with razor wire that encircled the entire rift zone. Beyond that, sections of reinforced concrete barriers containing heavy-weapon sentry posts were also visible.
“This way, please.”
The administrative officer moved as if the sight was completely familiar to him. They continued on together and soon arrived at the E-grade rift where the practical training was scheduled.
The Hanseong Guild under the Hanseong Corporation held the conquest rights, and the “active hunter safety personnel” assisting with this training were their members.
“Check your equipment one more time. Once you pass through the rift…”
An elderly man who was clearly the instructor stood before roughly twenty seated students, giving what appeared to be final instructions. He glanced briefly at Han Yujin’s group mid-sentence, and the other students’ gazes followed.
A few nearby Hanseong Guild members who seemed acquainted with the administrative officer offered greetings.
The Hanseong Guild’s rift training and conquest this time would be carried out by a total of twelve people—excluding two scouts—organized into three teams of four.
Each team’s role composition consisted of one defender, one long-range attacker, one close-range attacker, and one healer. These roles were also commonly referred to as tank, ranged DPS, melee DPS, and healer.
It was somewhat excessive firepower for an E-grade rift, but it was understandable as a safety measure for the students.
“Please leave items like smartphones here for storage. As you know, they malfunction after passing through a rift.”
Following the supervising officer’s guidance, they organized their belongings under the tent and waited for a short while.
“Entering!”
With the Hanseong Guild scout who had already completed a preliminary sweep at the lead, the rift entry began. They were following proper procedure despite having already scouted once.
‘Even if it’s an E-grade rift, this is real combat. It makes sense.’
With that thought, Han Yujin stepped through the rift ahead of the students.
Everything here was new to him, so it felt slightly awkward, but he knew he would grow accustomed to it after a few more trips.
The sensation of passing through a rift could not, even generously, be called comfortable.
It felt like forcibly pushing through a violent current. When such supernatural shock persisted for over ten seconds, it was only natural that electronic devices would break down.
The occasional stories about analog watches also malfunctioning were apparently not exaggerations.
This shock from rift traversal affected not only electronics but also sensitive explosives like gunpowder, causing various accidents. For ordinary people, non-awakened individuals apparently found it far more difficult to endure.
Regardless.
The interior was a forest where trees of alien shapes grew. However, compared to the Primordial ForestHan Yujin had visited, it was laughably shabby. Visibility was excellent, and movement was not particularly inconvenient.
The training proceeded strictly according to the Hanseong Guild hunters’ instructions. The atmosphere was so stern that it seemed they would tolerate no accidents whatsoever, and the students looked quite tense.
“By the way, why are there only about twenty students?”
A question suddenly occurred to Han Yujin, and he asked the administrative officer quietly.
“A rift isn’t an area that can be fully conquered in a single day. It means the training can be conducted in rotations over several days. Bringing too many people at once would make control difficult and increase the risk.”
“I see.”
“You don’t seem nervous at all?”
At the administrative officer’s smiling remark, Han Yujin reflexively shook his head.
“Of course I’m nervous. A little, at least.”
“A moderate amount of tension is good.”
Though he clearly didn’t believe it, the officer said so anyway. It sounded like a roundabout way of advising that letting one’s guard down in real combat was dangerous.
“Three small wolves ahead! Team 2, forward!”
At that moment, a Hanseong Guild member’s warning, carrying a suitable amount of tension, drew everyone’s attention.
Rather than sending the trainees out immediately, they seemed to want them to observe several battles first. The Hanseong Guild conquest Team 2 stepped forward as three hairless wolf-like monsters the size of large dogs bared their fangs and approached.
It seemed the principle that beasts whose territory was invaded became extremely ferocious applied even inside rift spaces. Despite being clearly outnumbered, the creatures charged bravely instead of fleeing.
And just like that, they were brutally slaughtered by Hanseong Guild Team 2.
A beam of light accompanied by a flash tore one wolf monster apart. Another was blocked by a special-material shield before its head was crushed into pulp by a mace. The last one was cleanly decapitated by a longsword, as neatly as if in a painting.
The beam of light was one thing, but the combat of the hunters wielding shields, maces, and longswords truly captured Han Yujin’s interest. Having grown accustomed to sorcery, he instead found their physical combat refreshingly bold and thrilling.
‘They seem to have body reinforcement abilities, and acceleration-type powers as well.’
Below a certain level, fast and powerful physical abilities were still incredibly threatening. Especially the hunter using the longsword—his blade’s sharpness was clearly not due to the weapon alone.
“What’s the rank of that close-range DPS hunter?”
Han Yujin asked in a deliberately lowered voice so no one else would overhear. The administrative officer glanced at the longsword-wielding hunter and answered.
“He’s B-grade. His name is Shin Han-cheol. He’s quite famous as a master of swordsmanship.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
Similar battles occurred once more after that. While he didn’t know about the rift as a whole, at least in this forest, wolf-type monsters seemed to be the majority.
Only after that did the students finally take the stage. Though they looked extremely nervous, they didn’t shrink back or freeze when facing monsters that were clearly trying to kill them.
Han Yujin was impressed by the students of the hunter specialized school, yet felt a slight regret.
It wasn’t that he was disappointed in their skill. Rather, since they had not yet reached the Dharma Soul Stage and lacked divine sense, he couldn’t examine the state of their spiritual roots, which left him somewhat disappointed.
Among them, one student whose awakening ability was supposedly B-grade shot out several pitch-black energy tendrils that resembled hands. He single-handedly turned three charging wolf monsters into bloody pulp. The ground caving in and a tree being smashed and toppled were mere bonuses.
He seemed to be the most promising honor student among his peers; even the gazes directed at him carried a distinctly different weight.
‘Maybe these kids are even more sensitive to hierarchy.’
From their mid-to-late teens, they already possessed clearly differentiated abilities based on rank and received treatment accordingly. He wasn’t sure whether that was ultimately good or bad for their education.
Of course, for the purpose of nurturing outstanding hunters, there would be no major problems.
And then, finally.
It was Han Yujin’s turn.
When he stepped forward, just as before, one of the Hanseong Guild healers extended a hand, preparing for any contingency. The hunter possessed both healing and defensive abilities and could apparently cast a transparent protective barrier on a target. Considering that other hunters would intervene in an emergency, there was virtually no chance of injury.
Naturally, Han Yujin didn’t need their help.
“Two small wolves ahead!”
Even before the shout, Han Yujin had already detected their approach with his Eye of Insight. The moment they entered suitable range, he immediately cast Fire Bullet Technique and hurled it.
Though he called it “throwing,” the flame projectile flew at a speed far exceeding his hand movement. Before the wolves could even react, it erupted in a flash and explosion.
Fire Bullet Technique
BOOM—!!
A powerful explosion mixed with fierce flames surged upward. The sight of nearby trees instantly reduced to ash and collapsing in a shower of cinders visually demonstrated the terrifying destructive power.
“Whoa……”
One of the hunters behind him unconsciously let out the sound.
While everyone stared at Han Yujin in shock and admiration.
The one who had actually caused the scene paid little attention to their gazes. Instead of basking in their attention, he focused on a faint sensation he had caught when killing the wolf-type monster.
‘Karma.’
It was unmistakable. An extremely abstract and mysterious energy connected to his awakening ability.
Killing other living beings was indeed an excellent way to rapidly accumulate Karma. After all, living beings and Karma shared an inseparable relationship.
Of course, if killing accumulated Karma well, then saving lives would similarly accumulate comparable Karma.
However, in modern society, there were few cases where one could completely save another living being using only their own power.
Such critically injured patients would not easily fall into Han Yujin’s lap. Moreover, if the patient was that severe, his C-grade healing technique might not be enough to save them.
He didn’t know about later, but for now, participating in hunter activities and clearing rifts was the fastest and most reliable method.
“Is it alright to continue like this?”
When Han Yujin quietly asked the nearby hunter, the man—who was both Team 1 leader and overall raid leader—immediately nodded.
Afterward, every time they encountered a monster, Han Yujin’s Fire Bullet Technique shot forth and obliterated them instantly.
BOOM—!!
CRRRRR—!!
Flashes and explosions erupted, and every monster that appeared died without leaving a trace, evaporating on the spot. From slightly behind, the raid leader’s quiet conversation with the administrative officer could be heard.
“That person doesn’t really need this training, does he? He’d probably perform similarly even in a D-grade rift.”
“He’s a prospective A-grade, you know.”
On the other side, the elderly instructor and supervisor of the students couldn’t hide his admiration. He didn’t stop at admiration either—he actually approached and asked a question.
“Excuse me, but how many more times can you use that attack?”
“In my current condition… conservatively, I should be able to do about forty without issue.”
“Hah…… Another A-grade hunter is about to emerge in South Korea. Perhaps even an S-grade in the future. I’m Kim Hak-man. May I ask your name?”
It was strange for the student supervisor to suddenly abandon his duties and attempt to build rapport, but Han Yujin was in a good mood and answered readily, exchanging pleasantries.
He wasn’t the only one who approached to talk. The Hanseong Guild hunters’ eyes carried an unusual glint.
If they could recruit a powerful hunter—especially a super rookie who was just beginning practical training—it would be enormously beneficial in many ways. Simply having him join their conquest team would make them feel that much more secure.
“Insane, seriously insane……”
“If that hit me, I’d die instantly, right?”
“Even the instructor would just leave him be?”
In between, the students’ awestruck whispers reached his ears and made Han Yujin feel even more smug. He had to put in considerable effort to keep it from showing on his face.
And then, at that moment.
“Ahead… one medium-sized boar!”
The slightly tense shout drew everyone’s attention. Of course, Han Yujin, who had already activated his Eye of Insight, had been watching the creature approach from afar for some time.
Seemingly provoked by all the noise they had been making, the huffing beast looked less like a boar and more like a rhinoceros. Its size alone suggested as much, though the fur, hide, horn, and tusks still gave it a distinctly boar-like impression.
KWEEEEEEEEEE—!!
With a piercing shriek that shook the entire forest, it began its charge. The ground trembled faintly as obstructing trees snapped like matchsticks. The sight was quite threatening.
Naturally, the Hanseong Guild hunters were about to step forward—
But Han Yujin had already infused a bit more power into his completed Fire Bullet Technique and launched it. The projectile, visibly more brilliant than any before, struck the charging boar—or rhinoceros—squarely in the head.
BOOM—!!
A slightly different explosion rang out this time. It was because the creature’s internal spiritual energy had interfered, but of course, that was nowhere near enough to withstand Han Yujin’s sorcery.
Within the exploding flames and swirling inferno, the monster—its head and upper torso completely obliterated—collapsed and rolled across the ground. Its massive size made even the tumbling spectacle look dramatic.
Chiiii—!
The sound of blood evaporating in the heat gradually faded, and the boiling hot air quickly dissipated in the form of shimmering haze. Because the creature had been so large, the charred black cross-section of its wound was clearly visible.
A faint smell of meat that had gone past cooked and into burnt reached his nose.
Han Yujin smiled as he felt the noticeably greater amount of Karma accumulate compared to the wolf-type monsters.
As expected, the training ended safely without any major incidents.
The administrative officer gave the evaluation Han Yujin had inwardly hoped for: that he no longer needed to participate in further training sessions.
However, Han Yujin requested to join the next practical training as well.
After roughly calculating the schedule, he realized that until he completed the preliminary education, he wouldn’t be able to engage in official hunter activities anyway. And within that preliminary education period, the next training session was already scheduled.
Though it was only a drop in the bucket, if he had no choice but to spend the time idly, it was better to kill a few more monsters and accumulate Karma.
The administrative officer naturally accepted such a “humble” request.
There were additional benefits as well.
The next training would be conducted with the help of a different famous guild, not Hanseong. If he could build connections and demonstrate his ability to them in advance, it would be more advantageous when he eventually entered the market and signed a contract.
This wasn’t mere fantasy. In Han Yujin’s pocket was the business card the Hanseong Guild raid leader had handed him, along with a sincere invitation to work together in the future.
“Thank you both again for today.”
“It’s nothing. This is my job.”
“Get some good rest when you get home!”
He expressed his gratitude to the administrative officer who had driven him home once again, bid farewell to the supervising officer, and parted ways feeling refreshed. He headed back to his studio apartment.
After arriving, he used Purification Technique in place of a shower, changed clothes, and sat down in the computer desk chair out of habit. Even then, he still felt half-floating in a daze.
‘It won’t be long now before I truly begin hunter activities.’
Something that had felt like a dream only a short while ago was now within reach. If he didn’t feel excited in a situation like this, he wouldn’t be human.
After savoring the pleasant feeling a little longer, he finally calmed down and recalled the last thing he needed to do today: check the investigation request report.
The report that had arrived by email was far more substantial in both volume and content than he had expected. Of course, since only a single day had passed, there wasn’t anything particularly crucial yet.
He spent some more time reading through the report, then finally finished everything and lay down on his bed.
‘It’s about time I start looking for a world suitable for sorcery training.’
Even if it wasn’t strictly for sorcery training, a world where he could learn formation techniques, alchemy, or talisman crafting would be fine. Success on the first try would be difficult, but he planned to keep trying steadily until he found a suitable world.
‘I don’t intend to stay for too long. Just long enough that I don’t lose touch with reality… about a week to two weeks would be perfect…’
Contemplating what kind of wish he should anchor the door with, he fell asleep.
Soon.
In the waiting area within the dark void, he regained his senses and, now quite familiar with the process, gathered all the necessary items: the Ohaeng Sword, the spiritual liquid bottle, the sunset ruler, and so on.
He then stood before the ever-changing door, closed his eyes, and spent a long time in thought.
At a certain moment.
His outstretched hand finally touched the door, and its form stabilized. It was an iron door that emanated an extremely solid feeling, with mysterious runes glowing upon it.
Destination Fixed — Cheonwon Castle Frontline
‘Frontline world?’
From the interpretation, it was a world where a fortress named Cheonwon Castle existed, serving as the frontline in a war.
Judging by the naming format, it appeared to be a cultivation civilization world. Moreover, the fact that an entire world was being used as a frontline suggested the war was unimaginably dangerous.
‘Since I wanted to train in sorcery and learn alchemy and such… it makes sense that the door fixed on a cultivation civilization world.’
And if it was serving as a frontline, there might be opportunities proportional to the danger.
Regardless, he couldn’t judge without going. With his resolve firmly set, Han Yujin pushed open the iron door and stepped inside.
“Aaaargh……!”
“Over here…! Someone help over here…!”
There was no time to even glance at the door disappearing behind him. The acrid smell of gunpowder and intense heat washed over him from all directions, accompanied by the faint scent of blood and screams filled with agony.
It seemed a large and fierce battle had just taken place.
The massive, majestic castle walls—large enough to have been built by giants—were damaged in numerous places. Amid the debris and the corpses of horrifically large monsters, the bodies of people were not difficult to find. From their attire and the energy they emanated, they were clearly cultivators.
It was his first time seeing other cultivators besides himself. At the same time, it was also his first time seeing cultivators like himself lying dead and discarded like trash on the side of the road.
“Hey, you!”
Suddenly, someone called out to Han Yujin, who had been blankly surveying his surroundings, in an angry voice. When he turned his head, a middle-aged cultivator with fierce eyes and a thick beard was glaring at him savagely.
“Move faster!”
“Ah, yes…!”
The aura emanating from the middle-aged man was at least at the Dharma Soul Stage. It meant he was strong enough to slaughter more than ten entry-level cultivators like Han Yujin as easily as sheep.
Without knowing exactly what he was supposed to do, Han Yujin moved anyway. Fortunately, the perceptiveness he had developed during his military service allowed him to quickly join the rescue efforts and avoid further scolding.
It was then that he discovered the corpse of a cultivator whose entire upper body had been blown away.
Items like the sunset ruler had already been taken by someone else and were nowhere to be seen. However, the jade plaque hanging from the man’s belt that served as identification was intact.
‘Private, 127th Battalion, Yeon Biwon of the Yeon Family, Dong-eun Province.’
It seemed the deceased had been a cultivator named Yeon Biwon from the Yeon family in the Dong-eun Province region. The rank of private suggested his cultivation realm had not been very high.
Thinking it was the perfect identity for himself, Han Yujin naturally picked up the jade plaque and attached it to his own waistband. Naturally, his clothing had transformed into attire matching the other cultivators when he crossed into this world, so there was no awkwardness.
‘From now on, I am Yeon Biwon.’
With that thought, he inwardly began making plans.
He didn’t know how much or what he could learn on this terrifyingly dangerous battlefield, but there would surely be opportunities proportional to the risk.