Chapter 88 – Reaction to Change

Meanwhile, in the Reverse World left behind by Lee Hanseong in the black market.

Yu Sehee, who remained inside, was anxiously watching the spatial passage that illuminated the outskirts of the black market where the Hundred-Man Slaughter was taking place.

Lee Hanseong was gradually tiring, and only formidable opponents remained, so she was prepared to intervene if necessary.

Whoosh!

“Did his Grade… increase?”

His Grade suddenly increased.

Park Seongcheol and Lycan, who had been diligently training in another room of the Reverse World, also sensed the change and came out to the central clearing.

Lycan, whose True Body had evolved into a Three-Star Werewolf as his Grade rose, had transformed into a Five-Star Lycanthrope, reflecting the heightened limits of Myriad Fire Transformations.

“Did you feel that just now too?”

“Seeing how we Awakened out of the blue, our master must have done something.”

Realizing that the Grade increase wasn’t just her own, Yu Sehee mentioned another change.

“Did you also form a new Spirit Contract?”

“Yeah, you too? I got a Six-Star Spirit who seemed to be from another world.”

“Same here.”

“This… it must be Hanseong’s doing again, right?”

“Probably. Seeing how this happened in such a short time, he must have used Historical Alteration again this time.”

“Again, we’ve only received help…”

As they exchanged thoughts about the changes, their gazes suddenly turned toward Lee Hanseong reflected in the spatial passage.

The distinct Illusory Form of a Spirit, overlapping with him enough to manifest in reality, brought looks of astonishment to their faces.

“Wait, is that… Spirit Descent?”

“He already promoted a Spirit to Seven Star?”

But the surprise was short-lived.

“Our Guild Master’s growth is simply impossible to predict.”

“That’s why we entrusted him with the Guild Master position, right?”

“That’s true.”

Yu Sehee smiled with relief at the fact that Lee Hanseong had grown sufficiently strong.

She judged that even the remaining opponents could be easily defeated by the current Lee Hanseong.

“I need to train a bit more too, so I don’t fall further behind. I should first get familiar with the new Spirit and abilities. Let’s go, Lycan.”

“Mm. The master will handle things well on his own.”

Park Seongcheol also steeled his resolve and returned to the training room with Lycan.

It seemed Lee Hanseong had intervened in mediating the Spirit Contracts, as the Synchronization Rate had already risen to 50%, the limit for 4-Star.

All Awakening Skills were already Unlocked.

Following them, Yu Sehee also stood up.

“I’ll join you. Now that Light of Resurrection has become a General Awakening Skill, I can revive you even if you die, as many times as needed.”

“Huh…? I wasn’t really planning to die during training, though?”

“What kind of relaxed talk is that? To keep up with our amazing Guild Master, we need to train with the resolve to die, and even then, it might barely match his pace.”

At Yu Sehee’s pointed remark, Park Seongcheol’s face stiffened slightly.

Indeed, even just this time, if Lee Hanseong hadn’t looked out for them, the gap between them would have grown even wider.

Ever since the Constellation fell dormant, Lee Hanseong had been advancing relentlessly like a Runaway Locomotive.

“…Right. You’re correct. Let’s do that.”

“Now your expression is finally worth looking at.”

“Grr? I don’t think I agreed to that specifically…”

Lycan subtly protested the instantly decided plan, but was ignored.

Thus, in the Reverse World, training closer to actual combat began, unlike before.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Galaxy Guild outside the black market.

There, Jin Yuseong and Baekto were also aware of the changes caused by Lee Hanseong.

Whoosh!

“So, how can I believe you were sent by Hanseong… Huh?”

“Awakening…?”

The two had been arguing over whether the other was the real Baekto or not, but upon experiencing the simultaneous change, Jin Yuseong also set aside his doubts.

Because he could see at a glance that the ability that raised his own Grade and the ability that raised the other’s Grade were perfectly identical.

And as far as he knew, only Lee Hanseong could do something like this.

“It seems you’re the real deal after all.”

“I told you so.”

“How could I believe it if you suddenly said Hanseong sent you? Besides, Hanseong started the Hundred-Man Slaughter three days ago, so it’s strange you’re only coming now.”

“That’s… I needed time to figure things out. And even if I came right away, you wouldn’t have believed me easily, right?”

After retrieving the Heavenly Demon Medallion, Lee Hanseong told Baekto to go find Jin Yuseong, but upon returning to reality, he didn’t move for three days and focused solely on gathering information.

Because his Intuition gave him a feeling that moving immediately would lead to hardship.

Then, only today, he felt an Intuition that it was okay to move and came to the Galaxy Guild.

“Oh? How did you know that?”

Jin Yuseong tilted his head, seemingly intrigued by the principle behind Baekto’s actions.

Indeed, even if the guy had come three days ago, he wouldn’t have easily believed him.

Rather, he would have judged it as a ploy to approach Lee Hanseong and the Heavenly Demon Medallion.

Only after some confinement and Interrogation would he have believed.

Even just now, if not for the simultaneous Promotion that occurred moments ago, that was his plan.

But to predict such a future and come at just the right time, showing Promotion simultaneous with his own?

Whatever Skill it was, it seemed quite useful.

Under Jin Yuseong’s burdensome gaze, Baekto hunched his shoulders and spoke.

“It’s just… Intuition.”

“Intuition, huh… Hanseong didn’t recruit you as a new member for nothing.”

“Anyway, what should I do now?”

“First, tell me your real name properly. I need to enter it in the guild member registry.”

“Yes. My name is Baek Hyeonwoo.”

“Baek? By any chance, are you related to Guild Master Baek Junyeong of Chilseong?”

The surname Baek isn’t unique to Korea, but hearing it and looking again, he could see traces of Baek Seongjae and Baek Woohyeon’s faces, whom he met during the Preliminaries, in his features.

As expected.

“He’s my paternal uncle. Is that a problem?”

Indeed, he was related to them by blood.

Though he seemed not to have inherited the talent, being from a collateral branch rather than the direct line of Guild Master Baek Junyeong.

“No, it’s not a problem. Rather, it’s good.”

Even if it’s a collateral blood relation, blood is blood, so that connection could be utilized somehow later.

Jin Yuseong, having entered his name in the guild member registry, smiled faintly and extended his hand.

“Looking forward to working with you from now on. Baek Hyeonwoo.”

“I look forward to it as well.”

The two shook hands.

It was the moment Two-Star Awakener Baek Hyeonwoo officially became a member of the Galaxy Guild.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that moment, in the Underground.

Baek Junyeong, who had personally entered the Underground to disseminate the Hollow Specter Countermeasure Method to the Chilseong guild members forming the majority of the pioneering team, suddenly scratched his ear.

“Just now, Jin Yuseong mentioned my name.”

True to being a Satellite Guild Leader of the North Star Constellation, who values the acquisition of new knowledge and information most highly, with his Information-Type Ability, he immediately reacted to his name being uttered at the Galaxy Guild.

The context before and after his name was called briefly unfolded before his eyes.

Having grasped the situation, he relaxed his guard and muttered.

“So Hyeonwoo joined the Galaxy Guild.”

“Hyeonwoo, you mean your nephew, right?”

“Yes.”

“How come, Guild Master, both your sons and even your nephew all join other guilds?”

“Constellation Aptitude isn’t something you can choose as you wish, so there’s no helping it.”

To be chosen by the North Star Constellation, one must enjoy studying.

An attitude of always seeking to learn new things was crucial.

But Baek Seongjae, who chose the Golden Constellation, had a personality of digging deep into existing knowledge through repetition rather than seeking new things.

Baek Woohyeon, who chose the Heaven-Slaying Star, enjoyed refuting existing knowledge through Sophistry but had no desire to learn new things.

He thought his nephew Baek Hyeonwoo, with his excellent Intuition, had a high chance of being chosen by the North Star Constellation, but seeing that he too ultimately went to the Galaxy Guild, that seemed to have fallen through as well.

‘It’s not certain, but based on the information analyzed so far, the Galaxy Guild likely has a Constellation attached to it that we don’t know about.’

If the guild members weren’t each the direct lineage of Highest-Rank Awakeners, he would have dug into information about the new Constellation long ago under the pretext of contact with Heresy.

In Park Seongcheol’s case, his father, the former Sunrise Guild Master, was in a missing state almost confirmed to be deceased, so it wasn’t much of a burden.

But with Shining’s Yoo Mirae, Shade’s Jin Taeseong, and even Association Head Lee Hyeonseong involved, the Galaxy Guild couldn’t be recklessly touched.

‘If there were no other new information, I might have taken the risk and touched them…’

But now, thanks to the appearance of a new target, the Hollow Specter, the Galaxy Guild had been pushed down Baek Junyeong’s priority list.

In fact, disseminating the Hollow Specter countermeasures, the reason he entered the Underground, was an excuse.

His real goal was to discover the Hollow Specter faster than anyone else, uncover information about it, and achieve a Feat.

Through that, to be Promoted to Ten-Star.

“This way. This is the initial appearance point of the Hollow Specter from last time.”

“Indeed. The information has been erased.”

Before his eyes, the traces of Kim Hongsik’s death, who had been the Contractor of King Munmu, remained clearly.

Traces of information engraved in the Starlight filling the universe being unnaturally erased.

“How is it? With this level of information, surely we can sufficiently skip the side effects of Reversal that come with Promotion to 10-Star, right?”

At the guild member’s question who guided him, Baek Junyeong smiled faintly and affirmed.

“Yes. With this much, we can step into the stage of Synthesis of Opposites in one leap, beyond Reversal. If we must name it, it should be called Half-Step Eleven-Star.”

Baek Junyeong, a Devotee of the North Star Constellation whose Feats accumulate just by learning new knowledge, could actually rise to 10-Star anytime.

The reason he remained at 9-Star, or rather Half-Step Ten-Star, until now was solely due to concern over the side effects of Personality Reversal that comes with reaching 10-Star.

He was always preparing for the next realm.

“Ahh… Finally! Our guild will also have a Transcendent Awakener.”

“Don’t get too excited. This is still just a possibility. To obtain the information needed for the Feat, we must see the Hollow Specter directly.”

As he calmed the excited guild member and tried to analyze the Hollow Specter’s traces a bit more, that was when.

“Guild Master. New information.”

Another guild member brought news.

“Is it information about the Hollow Specter?”

“No, not that. We discovered traces of former Elder Choi Sangguk and Secretary Kim Jinsu, as requested by the Association.”

“Where?”

“They were sighted in the Black Forest region in the northern part of the Underground.”

Corresponding to reality, the Black Forest is an area connected to North Korea.

As expected, they seem to be planning to cross over to the Heavenly Demon Divine Nation via Manchuria.

“First, inform the Association Head.”

“Shall we try Tracking on our side?”

“No, information about the Hollow Specter is more urgent than that. Leave the Tracking to the Association Head, and we focus solely on the Hollow Specter as planned.”

“Understood.”

Thus, Chilseong Guild, led by Baek Junyeong, passed the information about Choi Sangguk and Kim Jinsu to the Association Head and paid no further attention.

However, contrary to their expectations, the two fugitives were not heading toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Nation.

* * *

Underground Black Forest.

―Groooaaan!

―Kreeeeek!

Ghost Wails echoed from time to time, a desolate forest of death filled with Corpses.

On land already saturated with Killing Intent, three Yakshas—Choi Sangguk’s Shuten-doji and Yaksha, and Kim Jinsu’s Yaksha—gathered, triggering Legend resonance.

Amidst the Legend resonance that transformed the area into a hellish environment, former Elder Choi Sangguk was pondering something.

Around him, the corpses of other High-Rank Awakener Hunting Teams who had been hunting in the Underground were scattered.

“Originally, I planned to go to the Heavenly Demon Divine Nation like this, but I need to verify if the information I just confirmed is true.”

A moment ago, they heard from those who became corpses that Lee Hanseong was undergoing the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial and that he had challenged the Hundred-Man Slaughter.

Regarding the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial, he had somewhat anticipated it through subtle hints from Jang Wei.

But who would have thought Lee Hanseong would challenge the Hundred-Man Slaughter with just that level.

“I’d like to kill him through the Hundred-Man Slaughter if possible. What do you think, Secretary Kim?”

“It’s fortunate that this place is the Black Forest. The environment here, close to the Underworld, can activate the Ghost Gate, so we can enter the black market directly.”

“However, as one who serves the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord, I cannot violate the rules of the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial.”

According to the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial rules, there were still about ten days left until the Fourth Week, when Highest-Rank Awakener Choi Sangguk could directly participate.

Kim Jinsu, catching Choi Sangguk’s meaning, stepped forward first.

“As a Mid-Rank Awakener, I will go first and deal with him. Since it’s a One-on-One Life-and-Death Duel, I won’t lose with a Yaksha Contract, right?”

“Good. I’ll trust Secretary Kim and watch.”

Kim Jinsu was a promising candidate from a Six-Star Vessel, now a Mid-Rank Awakener who reached 5-Star.

Unaware of Lee Hanseong’s growth, he opened a Ghost Gate in a state of Divine Possession by the Yaksha and crossed over to the Underworld.

Creak— Thud, thud…

Like ghosts, he intended to cross directly from the Underworld to the black market.

Thud.

And Choi Sangguk also followed behind, in a state of Divine Possession by a Yaksha instead of the Nine-Star Ox-Demon King.

Due to the rules of the Heavenly Demon Medallion, he couldn’t participate directly, but he intended to witness Lee Hanseong’s death with his own eyes.

Anyway, due to the black market’s rules, his identity wouldn’t be revealed.

Passing through the black market briefly would also cause confusion for Tracking, so it was killing two birds with one stone.

Bang!

Soon after Choi Sangguk completely crossed the Ghost Gate, it closed.

.

.

.

A short while later.

Clank… clank…

A Black Knight clad in full-body black armor slowly walked into the Black Forest where the two had left.

He paused briefly at the spot where the Ghost Gate had opened.

“……”

Swish!

He slashed through space, forcibly opening the closed Ghost Gate.

And began walking again, crossing over to the Underworld inside the Ghost Gate.

To find the traces of Primordial Chaos he had sensed once before.