Chapter 164

After taking a brief rest, Taewoon headed toward the Muan and Yeongam areas—the sectors managed by the Oracle—with Hongyeon. Following their guidance, he arrived at a forest near Mount Seungdal, which had become nearly twice as lush in just a single day.

“Phew, right here. But are you sure about this? Even with Heosu and me giving it our all, it just keeps returning to its original state… I can’t tell you how stubborn it is.”

Miyeong, a Level 6 Hunter from the Oracle dispatched to Muan along with Choi Heosu, was a seasoned veteran who remained active despite her age.

Perhaps because her experience told her that the Holy Ground before them was no ordinary thing, she looked at Taewoon with a worried gaze.

“…It is certainly true. Two Level 6 Hunters gave it their all, yet there was no progress. I thought Hongyeon might have a way, but I didn’t expect this to be your handiwork.”

Though his tone was blunt, Choi Heosu wasn’t dismissing Taewoon; rather, he showed a genuine curiosity about his abilities.

Seeing this, Hongyeon let out a small chuckle and responded.

“You can look forward to it. From now on, the lead role in Baran will be this guy, not me. No, he might just completely flip the entire Hunter community of South Korea upside down.”

It could have sounded like an exaggeration, but since it was Hongyeon saying it, it was hard to dismiss it as mere flattery.

Heosu and Miyeong cast intrigued glances at Taewoon, wondering if he was truly that capable. Amidst their expectations, Taewoon’s party began heading toward the center of the expanded Holy Ground.

‘It seems… the Holy Ground here was created before the one in Mokpo.’

He couldn’t have noticed it by looking at the Mokpo Holy Ground alone, but comparing them made it clear.

As time passed after installation, the Holy Ground took root in the land, forming a tighter connection.

If left unchecked, it might eventually transmute the entire surrounding area with the Holy Ground’s magical power, transforming it into an Impregnable Fortress.

‘It would have been dangerous if I had noticed a bit later.’

Taewoon signaled for his companions to step back, then recited the Apostle Transformation spell and activated the Cinema Skill: Final Rampart.

【Condition 1: There must be a target to protect with a sincere heart】

【Condition 2: There must be a threat or crisis facing the target of protection】

【Condition 3: Assume the appropriate casting posture using the Divine Spear Barata】

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Final Rampart】

【Creating a Level 6 Equivalent Semi-Automatic Protective Zone targeting a radius of 100 meters!】

The two Oracle Hunters were startled by the succession of rising walls and spires, their eyes fixed on the spectacle. Soon, after enveloping the entire Holy Ground in a golden Barrier, Taewoon summoned Mitra’s Wings and soared into the sky holding Keshatus.

As if the heavens themselves were enraged, the black-tinted Lightning of Destruction struck the earth, tearing through the ground and ravaging the magical power of the Holy Ground.

Taewoon could have completely overwritten the magical power inside the Holy Ground to minimize its strength as he had before, but because the Muan Holy Ground had fused deeply with the surrounding forest, it exhibited far stronger regenerative powers, constantly attempting to revert to its original form.

‘I guess there’s no other way…’

Realizing that adjusting the strength of his attack would be endless, Taewoon paused his offensive and descended to the ground to ask the two Oracle Hunters if it was acceptable for some damage to occur in the surrounding area.

“Don’t worry about that. The Oracle will take responsibility. You can focus entirely on destroying the Holy Ground.”

“Oh, the environment is important, but leaving a monstrosity like that is far more dangerous. As long as the job is done properly, the county office won’t have much to say.”

Having received their consent, Taewoon soared back into the sky, focused his mind, and began to draw out the magical power circulating within his body at full strength.

Magical power seethed, and Crimson Mist exploded outward in all directions.

Within the sensation of being detached from the world—characteristic of Apostle Transformation—Taewoon glanced at Mitra’s Wings.

‘Divine Authority Release!’

The golden halo floating behind his back split in half, and three thin lines extended from it, forming a shape like wings made of hieroglyphs.

Soon, Taewoon opened eyes that glowed crimson. From a higher vantage point, he observed the interior of the Holy Ground, scrutinizing the magical power rooted throughout the area.

‘Truly an incredible power. It feels as if the total amount of magical power has been amplified several times over.’

Of course, this didn’t mean Taewoon’s own magical power had increased, but regardless, it allowed him to enjoy the sense of omnipotence Kaira must have felt at the time. Using the overflowing magical power, he began to draw the image in his mind into the air.

‘Now… I think it’s fully possible.’

Since coming down to Mokpo, Taewoon hadn’t been neglecting his training while surveying his assigned area.

He had been focusing on classifying and interpreting the new abilities obtained from the Trillaore New Continent Travel Journal Theater, and further, on reconstructing them into a form that suited him.

‘It was somewhat difficult at first, as the concept of the Heart Sword realm felt a bit ambiguous.’

Taewoon had seen the pinnacle of Martial Arts by reaching the realm beyond the Flower Realm in the Heavenly Secret Manual Theater, but his primary weapon was a spear, not a sword.

However, after pondering and gaining enlightenment, he realized that the Heart Sword was a completely different matter from such formal classifications.

What meaning is there in applying rigid concepts to a realm where one discards form, leaves only oneself, and pursues the keen edge of heart and will?

‘The Heart Sword is, in essence, the blade of a tempered heart.’

By organizing his own enlightenment and refining it, Taewoon—who had already reached a higher dimension of existence—was able to grasp the true meaning of the Heart Sword without much difficulty.

The materialized image now began to emit a sharp Aura beside Taewoon.

【Condition 1: Possess fire control ability above a certain level】

【Condition 2: Have reached the realm of the Heart Sword】

【Condition 3: Possess more than 10% remaining magical power】

【Condition Fulfilled】

▶【Cinema Skill: Blazing Sword Judgment】

The Blazing Sword of Kaira, which had pushed Taewoon and his party to the brink on the island of the New Continent, began to manifest in reality, reconstructed to fit Taewoon.

‘Kaira used the Blazing Sword in a form that flaunted power by pursuing pure destructive force, but…’

What Taewoon needed now was not such a powerful blow, but a profound strike containing the philosophy of enlightenment.

Soon, the swirling blazing heat circled Taewoon before vanishing as if melting into the wind. Just as a moment of silence fell, a gale erupted, and immense heat swept through the surrounding area in an instant.

“This is…”

“What on earth is happening…”

Choi Heosu, who had squeezed his eyes shut and curled his body against the aftermath, regained his vision and stared at the scene before him with wide, shocked eyes.

‘…I can’t believe it.’

It was a strike whose presence couldn’t even be properly read.

There was no sense of direction to the attack, nor any precursor of magical power; missing the movement had happened in a mere blink of an eye.

Every inch of space within the golden Barrier had been transformed into scorched earth, with fragments of severed or crushed plants scattered everywhere.

‘A terrifying strike. If I had been the target of that attack…’

As one of the top archers in South Korea, Choi Heosu was confident in his evasion and deceptive movements, but facing this strike, he had no confidence that he could have ensured his safety.

It wasn’t just the power; it was because the profundity and the control—digging deep to carve out the magical power rooted in the Holy Ground—felt as if it were from a different dimension entirely.

‘This guy is no longer even the same Level 6!’

He had heard from Taegil and Yeeun, fellow Oracle guild members, that Taewoon was not a simple Level 4-rank Hunter, but he had never expected him to be this skilled.

It wasn’t that Heosu’s judgment had been arrogant; it was only natural.

How many Hunters in all of South Korea had officially reached the realm of Level 7?

And how many cases were there of someone Taewoon’s age raising their realm at such a rapid pace?

As Choi Heosu suddenly thought of these facts, a chill ran down his spine, and he met the eyes of Taewoon descending from the air with a look of astonishment.

‘If the rumors that have been buzzing around are true, this guy is definitely…’

The dropout once called the “food-bug” of Hongsim Hall, and a latecomer who had only recently managed to begin official activities.

People had focused only on the fact that Taewoon grew rapidly and survived against Kalliedu, but the realm Taewoon had already reached was far beyond that level.

‘He’s an unbelievable monster. How can a Hunter like this exist…’

He felt neither jealousy, envy, nor longing. This was because Taewoon’s growth rate had surpassed the level of being incomprehensible and had entered a realm that could be called impossible.

Not just in South Korea, but nowhere in the world would such a case exist.

Choi Heosu had moved beyond admiration and was now feeling a sliver of fear toward Taewoon.

He simply could not fathom how high the being before him could climb.

“…This should be enough.”

Whether he knew of Choi Heosu’s feelings or not, Taewoon landed on the ground with a composed face and simply looked around at the traces of destruction he had wrought.

Then, as a phone began to ring, everyone’s attention, finally snapping out of the silence, converged on the sound.