[The Secret Area’s difficulty increases dramatically compared to the general area!]

[Traps and demon beasts exist on every path!]

[Would you like to return to the general area?]

True to the first room, multiple safety measures were in place.

But if I’d had any intention of turning back, I wouldn’t have entered in the first place.

I immediately headed toward the eastern corridor.

-Kiiiik…!

Demon beasts swarmed inside.

They resembled Human Bone Ghosts but were an entirely different species.

‘Warrior Human Bone Ghosts’ awaited me, equipped with far sturdier weaponry and armor.

At my current stats, defeating them would be difficult.

If Dokgo Jun had come along, I could have taken them down easily—but I had no intention of yielding this area to him.

Instead, I had already finished my preparations.

[Merit Points invested! Strength has grown to Rank 4!]

Just moments ago, I had accumulated a substantial amount of Merit Points in the general area.

It was the result of deliberately choosing only rooms where demon beasts appeared.

It might have been dangerous alone, but I had Dokgo Jun—a Divine-grade awakener—by my side.

Thanks to that, I’d amassed far more Merit Points than anticipated.

I used my remaining Merit Points to raise my Strength by one more rank.

[Merit Points invested! Strength has grown to Rank 5!]

This should be enough to take down Warrior Human Bone Ghosts without much trouble.

I sheathed my sword and proceeded to the next room.

As expected, countless Human Bone Ghosts were crawling about.

-Geureureureuk…!

They all turned to look at me.

In my eyes, they weren’t demon beasts—they were nothing but lumps of Merit Points.

I ignited flames in my hand and charged at them.

* * *

[Acquired 10 Merit Points!]

With a deafening crack, the last Human Bone Ghost shattered.

After hours of clearing the demon realm and slaying easily dozens of Human Bone Ghosts, Seo Kangrim showed no signs of fatigue.

Compared to the struggles of his previous life, the results were almost unbelievable.

‘Raising my stats early on definitely pays off in more ways than one.’

After clearing out the Human Bone Ghosts, Seo Kangrim summoned his Fortune Window.

His stats had risen considerably in the meantime.

═══════════════

[Strength] Rank 5

[Stamina] Rank 4

[Agility] Rank 4

[Senses] Rank 4

[Magic Power] Rank 3

═══════════════

In his previous life, he’d only reached an average of Rank 2 after clearing this place three or four times.

Compared to back then, these were significantly higher numbers.

After checking his Fortune Window, Seo Kangrim stepped into the next corridor.

‘Almost at the exit now.’

Heading straight ahead would lead to the boss room.

But Seo Kangrim turned around and headed for the eastern corridor instead.

-Hwiiing…

Something that sounded like wind was coming from the east.

He stood at the entrance and peered inside, but without any lighting, it was hard to make out anything.

[Special Ability ‘Ten-Foot Blaze’ activates!]

The moment the wind sound ceased, Seo Kangrim tossed a flame inside.

As the dim room lit up, he could finally see the source of the wind sound with his own eyes.

‘As expected, there’s still a trap here.’

Enormous four-sided blades lined both sides of the corridor.

The blades repeatedly spun and stopped, emitting a sharp grinding sound like a blender.

The wind soon extinguished the flame, plunging the room back into darkness.

‘Now I just need to deal with the boss.’

Seo Kangrim retraced his steps and headed north.

As he approached the boss room, he felt the air momentarily ripple.

The boss room had a distinctly different atmosphere from everywhere he’d been so far.

Even at a glance, it appeared four to five times larger, with countless blades piled together to form a Blade Mountain.

And standing at its center was a demon beast.

A massive frame roughly two meters tall, clad in armor, wielding an enormous snake sword in one hand.

═══════════════

[Name] Blade Mountain General

[Rank] Third Human Grade

[Description] A demon beast known as a master of the sword. Two operate as one. Unless both are defeated simultaneously, they immediately regenerate.

═══════════════

Grade: Third Human Grade.

At Seo Kangrim’s current stats, taking on both of them simultaneously would be tantamount to suicide.

But Seo Kangrim fired off Ten-Foot Blaze without a moment’s hesitation.

-Pyeong!

-Geureureureuk?!

As the flames struck home, both Blade Mountain Generals turned their heads simultaneously.

The moment four eyes locked onto the intruder.

The Blade Mountain Generals immediately charged toward Seo Kangrim.

-Keuoooo!

A tremor that seemed to shake the entire demon realm.

Seo Kangrim used his remaining Merit Points to raise his Agility to Rank 7, then bolted.

Behind him, furious roars erupted.

‘That should be enough to lure them…!’

Despite the threatening vibrations at his back, Seo Kangrim sprinted forward without faltering.

As he darted nimbly through the corridor.

The sound of wind began to drift in from ahead.

-Hwiiing…!

Seo Kangrim immediately dove into the eastern room and ducked to the side.

Then, mere seconds later, the Blade Mountain General charged in after him.

An ear-splitting roar echoed through the air.

-Kagagak!

In the darkness, he could see blades spinning and throwing off sparks.

The Blade Mountain General was being ground to pieces between them.

-Keuaaa…!

The Blade Mountain General tried to break free, but it had already plunged too deep.

As bone and armor were being shredded apart, the second Blade Mountain General arrived.

Sensing danger, the Blade Mountain General came to an urgent halt—but at that same moment, a tremendous impact struck it from behind.

-Kuwung!

Seo Kangrim burst from the darkness and slammed into the Blade Mountain General with his entire body.

The startled Blade Mountain General desperately braced itself.

But soon, the Blade Mountain General’s body began to give ground.

[Strength has grown to Rank 7!]

Seo Kangrim had reserved a portion of his Merit Points for emergencies.

As his Strength increased, the Blade Mountain General was slowly pushed back.

It thrashed and struggled, but the blades crept closer inch by inch.

-Geuoooo!

His muscles felt ready to burst, but Seo Kangrim gritted his teeth and shoved the Blade Mountain General forward.

In that instant, the Blade Mountain General lost its balance and pitched forward.

The blades swallowed their prey as if they’d been waiting.

-Gagagak!

A grinding screech like a scream rang out.

Fragments of bone sheared off by the blades scattered in every direction like shrapnel.

Then, with a thunderous crash, a notification window appeared.

[Defeated ‘Third Human Grade Blade Mountain General’!]

[Calculating Merit Points.]

[Bonus Merit Points awarded for defeating a target stronger than you!]

Despite the substantial accumulation of Merit Points, Seo Kangrim showed no sign of satisfaction.

He was simply watching the Blade Mountain General still being ground apart.

Then, another notification window appeared.

[Deceased detected within range.]

[Use Special Ability ‘Fortune Stealing’?]

This was the true purpose of visiting the Secret Area.

To steal the demon beast’s fate.

Generally, demon beasts didn’t possess a Fortune, so killing them didn’t allow one to steal their stats.

However, among demon beasts, there were those classified as humanoid.

‘As expected, humanoid demon beasts do have stealable fortunes.’

In his previous life, Seo Kangrim had attempted to steal demon beast fates instead of human ones.

Naturally, defeating humanoid demon beasts had been impossible with his level of skill.

Merely approaching them had been out of the question.

‘The demonic energy of Ghost-grade demon realms was lethal to me.’

Humanoid demon beasts primarily appeared in Ghost-grade realms.

In his previous life, Seo Kangrim couldn’t even withstand the demonic energy seeping from upper-grade demon realms.

Even if he’d tried to tag along with the Flying Tiger Sect group, he would have collapsed before making it halfway—there was nothing he could do.

‘And Fortune Stealing has its drawbacks besides.’

Seo Kangrim silently stared at the notification window floating before him.

[Using this Special Ability accumulates Karma.]

Committing atrocities such as murder or using certain Special Abilities accumulated a stat called ‘Karma.’

And when too much Karma accumulated, the person in question would cross ‘The Boundary.’

‘The fate of those who crossed The Boundary was always miserable.’

Seo Kangrim smiled bitterly and looked at his Fortune Window.

[A substantial amount of Karma has accumulated within you.]

The price of stealing the fortunes of 422 people in his previous life.

Not knowing the exact figure only made him more anxious.

No penalties had manifested yet, but there was no telling when he might cross The Boundary.

Even so, he couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.

[Special Ability ‘Fortune Stealing’ activates!]

[Stealing a portion of ‘Strength’!]

[Stealing Special Ability ‘Sword Draw’!]

═══════════════

[Special Ability] Sword Draw

[Rank] Third Ghost Grade

[Description] Automatically activates the moment a sword is drawn. When using a sword as a weapon, swordsmanship is boosted to at least Third Ghost Grade level.

═══════════════

Though Seo Kangrim was Third Insect Grade, he had now acquired Ghost-grade swordsmanship.

That alone made coming here more than worthwhile.

‘At this level, I can accept whatever Karma accumulates.’

He had no intention of abandoning ‘Fortune Stealing,’ but the penalties meant he couldn’t use it recklessly.

If he killed a weak human to steal their fortune, he’d lose more than he gained.

He would accumulate the dual Karma of murder and theft.

‘Stealing fates from humanoid demon beasts is better than from humans. Even though it’s still killing, slaying demon beasts accumulates less Karma than killing humans.’

After stealing the fate, Seo Kangrim exited the Secret Area.

Upon returning alone, a white notification window promptly appeared.

[First Door, ‘Room of the Mountain of Death’ First Clear!]

[Achiever: Seo Kangrim (Solo)]

[First Clear special rewards have arrived!]

At the same time as the notification chime, the first door began to change color.

It had originally glowed red, but the color gradually faded until it shone white.

“What? It’s already cleared?”

“He cleared it solo?”

“Is that guy Seo Kangrim?”

The astonished voices of the people remaining in the hall reached his ears.

Just then, someone rose from among the crowd and approached.

“Seo Kangrim, you…!”

Dokgo Jun was staring at Seo Kangrim with wide eyes.

From the looks of it, he hadn’t attempted the clear himself—he’d apparently stepped out to recover midway.

The Room of the Mountain of Death had convoluted paths and numerous traps, making it impossible to clear on the first attempt.

‘Even when Dokgo Jun achieved the first clear of the Blade Mountain door in my previous life, it took him several days.’

Dokgo Jun, the fastest, had taken three days, and the average trainee needed ten days to clear it.

Yet Seo Kangrim had cleared it in a single day.

Including the Secret Area.

From Dokgo Jun’s perspective, it would have been understandable for his pride to sting, but his expression was bright.

No—”bright” was an understatement.

He looked almost inexplicably delighted.

“I told you he was my comrade! I believed in you!”

“We’re not comrades, and don’t believe in me. I’m tired, so I’m going to rest.”

Pushing away the clinging Dokgo Jun, Seo Kangrim tried to take his leave.

Just then, Ahn Nabi appeared and addressed Seo Kangrim.

“You’re Seo Kangrim, the one who cleared the first door, correct?”

“Yes.”

Ahn Nabi regarded Seo Kangrim in silence.

Had she not been wearing a mask, her astonishment would have been fully visible.

‘To clear it this quickly. And solo, no less… What exactly is this person?’

She didn’t voice those thoughts aloud, but her eyes—insufficiently concealed—shone with amazement.

Feigning composure, Ahn Nabi retrieved something from her pocket and handed it to him.

“You’ve worked hard. And this is the additional First Clear reward.”

What Ahn Nabi handed him was a small card.

Upon inspection, it had a complicated Wi-Fi password written on it.

“…Thank you.”

It was a reward Seo Kangrim felt less than enthusiastic about.

As he pocketed the card halfheartedly and turned toward his room, several people approached hesitantly.

“Excuse me, Seo Kangrim. We have something to ask you…”

“Yes. What is it?”

“I-if you wouldn’t mind…”

They spoke with faces that went beyond earnest—bordering on desperate.

“Could we… have the Wi-Fi password…”