Chapter 242

After promising to eventually pass on his persistent request to Cheong Soha, I began asking Cheong Kibeom about something that had been bothering me since earlier.

“What did you mean by what you said after the battle ended?”

“Hmph, it’s nothing complicated. It means those bastards are growing stronger too.”

Listening to Cheong Kibeom, this was apparently the second time his faction had fought Mahbata.

“We wanted to settle it in the first battle if possible, but it ran away, so we failed.”

The story was that after lying low for a while to heal its wounds, they found Mahbata again and were only able to finish it off today.

And what Cheong Kibeom wanted to talk about was starting now.

“At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but it wasn’t. In the second battle, it clearly possessed greater power than before.”

Some might say it was just a matter of both sides becoming familiar with each other from the previous fight, but it wasn’t that simple.

If Cheong Kibeom felt it physically to that extent, it meant the difference in power was quite significant.

“There was only a gap of a few days, but it honestly felt like it had cultivated power for several years.”

Cheong Kibeom said.

It seemed closer to the feeling of regaining power rather than just becoming stronger.

And I could roughly guess the reason.

‘Its body and soul, weakened from being imprisoned for a long time, must have regained strength by devouring humans or other Specters.’

There were such descriptions in the original work too. But it seemed that aspect had been noticeably enhanced by the Hell Difficulty now.

And that was information like a bolt from the blue for all of humanity.

‘Those monstrous beings are becoming even stronger?’

I know the Specters that will become the true crisis of this third Night Parade of One Hundred Specters.

And honestly, I don’t even want to imagine the sight of them becoming even stronger.

‘This is no trivial matter.’

At this very moment, a new policy was set for me.

Whoever among them it is, I must use all my power to settle things the moment they reveal themselves.

As if responding to that resolution, I clenched my fist tightly and gazed toward the setting sun.

“What a mess. Isn’t that right?”

“Stop clinging like a leech and get off. Were we ever on such friendly terms?”

Amidst the corpses of Specters, there were a man and a woman conversing nonchalantly, in stark contrast to the bloodstains covering their bodies.

They were Cheong Jiwoon, the 10th Elder of the Cheong Family, and Cheong Joohwa, known as the thorn in the Cheong Family’s side.

Considering their respective statuses, it was a rather mismatched combination.

“Ah, really, of all people to run into…”

“Is there a need to be so cold? When you think about it, we’re somewhat like fellow disciples.”

“What fellow disciples? I just took your stuff and used it on my own.”

Cheong Jiwoon’s Grand Art, Gu-eun-sim-myeong (Nine Graces, Ten Inscriptions), created by reinterpreting the family’s unique Cursed Technique.

After Cheong Joohwa successfully replicated it after seeing it just once, Cheong Jiwoon was plunged into deep contemplation.

An overwhelming talent that could make even someone called a genius like himself seem like a mere insect.

In the end, Cheong Jiwoon decided to discard all the conventions and relationships he had built up until now.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m changing my stance. You are the ultimate talent who will one day surpass even that Cheong Soha. If we set our minds to it, standing at the very top of the family wouldn’t be impossible.”

“No, I said I’m not interested. Seriously, why are you being so creepy?”

But no matter how Cheong Joohwa refused, Cheong Jiwoon had already made up his mind.

He was that captivated by Cheong Joohwa’s talent, and he had also gained an intuitive conviction.

‘In any case, in 5 years, no, even in just 3 years, I won’t even be a match for her.’

So rather than incurring her dislike, he thought it better to show unconditional goodwill now, if only to avoid becoming an enemy.

Frankly, who knows?

If Cheong Joohwa were to harbor a grudge from the past incident, cultivate her power, and return, Cheong Jiwoon’s faction would be utterly destroyed.

Before such a thing happened, it was best to settle the karma in advance.

“I understand if you find me unpleasant. But when you think about it, back then I acted only due to my position. Rather, now is my unvarnished sincerity. I, Cheong Jiwoon, and my faction have decided to stand behind you.”

With such persistent displays of goodwill, even Cheong Joohwa couldn’t take it as a joke.

She realized that Cheong Jiwoon had truly decided to become her ally.

“So, what, you’re saying you’ll come under me now?”

“The phrasing is a bit… The meaning isn’t too different, but please take it as supporting you from behind.”

“Then what can you do for me?”

“Anything, as long as it doesn’t risk the faction’s survival.”

At such a groundbreaking declaration, Cheong Joohwa let out an exasperated sigh.

“Well then, can I have all of you gather under my command starting now, or something like that?”

“…What could possibly stop that? If you wish, I’ll take responsibility and prepare it.”

Although his eyebrow twitched slightly as if he wasn’t entirely comfortable, Cheong Joohwa knew that even this much meant he had lowered his pride tremendously.

“It seems you’re serious, not joking.”

“Haven’t I been saying that from the beginning?”

Cheong Joohwa fell into serious thought.

Honestly, it was an unexpected development, but she herself had also been pondering her own path more often lately.

And soon, she reached a conclusion.

“It can’t be bad. But, let me say this upfront: I have no intention of surpassing Lady Cheong Soha or taking control of the family.”

Moreover, from what Cheong Joohwa sensed, the relationship between Cheong Soha and Han Kangyoon had been quite strange lately.

She often got the impression that Cheong Soha, practically the Leader of the Cheong Family, was rather attending to Han Kangyoon.

She didn’t know what interests existed between those two, but she didn’t want to interfere with that.

“Yes, even that is fine.”

From Cheong Jiwoon’s perspective, there was no need to rush.

Winning Cheong Joohwa’s favor was the top priority, and in any case, once she gained power, her status would naturally rise as well.

Thus, the interests of the two finally aligned.

Lightly shaking their joined hands, Cheong Joohwa immediately gave her first order.

“Then gather everyone under my command right now.”

“…You weren’t joking?”

“Why would I joke with you? What a waste of time. Or would you rather have a nice, long three-way confrontation with Lord Azure Dragon? He’s making a huge fuss wanting to see your face right now.”

“I will gather everyone.”

Cheong Joohwa wasn’t the type to hold onto past grievances, but she knew that since they were joining hands, they needed to clearly define their relationship.

And conveniently, weren’t there plenty of things to do right before her eyes?

“At least for this vicinity, I plan to clean everything up.”

“……”

She said it as if joking, but it was by no means an easy task.

And seeing Cheong Joohwa like that, Cheong Jiwoon intuited.

Indeed, his choice was not wrong.

From the day I truly began taking action, nearly a week had already passed.

During that time, I relentlessly sought out high-level Specters and finally managed to obtain the two Traits I had aimed for.

【Desperate Struggle (A+)】

▶The more unfavorable the conditions during combat, the greater the bonus to all stats.

【Giant Slayer (A)】

▶The higher the enemy’s Level and stats, the greater the bonus to all stats.

As their names and effects suggest, these are Traits that show high efficacy when facing powerful enemies.

In the battles to come, where I would inevitably face only powerful foes regardless of the path taken, they would clearly be of immense help.

“Junior, wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit?”

“Yes. Starting today, I plan to rest for a while.”

The unfavorable conditions that trigger the Desperate Struggle Trait have a very wide range.

Like Giant Slayer, facing powerful enemies qualifies, and the effect also activates in various situations such as being wounded or exhausted from repeated battles.

Therefore, to get a feel for the numerical values, I deliberately hunted Specters without sleeping, repeating trial and error.

Given my combat style of engaging in numerous battles with all Trait stat bonuses factored into calculations, even a minor error could lead to fatal results.

And the outcome was quite satisfactory.

‘Indeed, within the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis, there’s no Trait like this.’

Not only must one face powerful enemies, but the number of Specters is also so high that one can fight over ten times a day.

In such a situation, its effectiveness was truly unparalleled among Traits of the same rank.

‘And……’

There was another reason for deciding to step away from the repeated battles and rest.

I could somewhat feel in my bones that the end of this final grace period granted to us was approaching.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 60

▶Stats

【Stamina: B+】

【Spiritual Power: A-】

【Art Formula: B-】

【Mental Strength: A】

▶Traits (8/10)

【Phantom Body (S)】

【Witch’s Resonance (A+)】

【Dragon Body (A+)】

【Desperate Struggle (A+)】

【Giant Slayer (A)】

【Soul Combustion (A)】

【Challenger (B+)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository (B)】

Thanks to engaging in intense battles selectively against only powerful enemies, my Level also achieved explosive growth.

Honestly, I was a bit taken aback that I had crossed the Level 60 barrier so easily.

‘In the original, it was an area one could only barely reach after gaining enlightenment and whatnot.’

Of course, guessing the reason wasn’t difficult.

It was surely because I had already fulfilled such conditions through the previous trial of the Cheonghongyeong.

“…It’s about to start, isn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Arietta had also heard the general story from me, so she intuitively understood the situation.

And as if confirming that thought was correct, the sinister energy that had been drifting around everywhere for hours began to intensify its momentum.

The grace period was over.

Now, the giants of the old era, once called calamities, would finally break their bonds and descend upon this world.

And soon, I was able to immediately obtain information about the first enemy that would signal the beginning.

Bri-ring-ring-ring!

Tick.

“What’s going on?”

[That thing you emphasized I should tell you about… I think it’s appeared.]

Seo Jian, who sent me a signal through the specially made Communicator, continued in an uncharacteristically trembling voice.

[Near the Han River, there’s something… very huge. It’s wrapped in something like a cocoon.]