Chapter 92 – Kim Jinsu (3)

Kim Jinsu clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Lee Hanseong, who kept revealing new abilities like peeling an onion.

‘Jinho didn’t die for nothing.’

Who would have thought he’d need to use the Vajra Night Demon King form to deal with Lee Hanseong?

Truthfully, even Kim Jinsu wasn’t in a state to properly handle this form.

Originally, he should have realized Polarity Reversal on his own and re-compressed the parts added by the Skill back to the basic Yaksha state.

But Kim Jinsu was substituting that with the effect of Hong Gildong’s Polarity Reversal, Return to True Form.

It was essentially a shortcut, and naturally, the penalty for it was significant.

‘As expected… it’ll be hard to last long.’

In this state, since the Yaksha’s consciousness grew slightly larger than Kim Jinsu’s own consciousness, the risk of Synchronization Rate Overload was high.

A precarious tightrope walk was happening within him; if he lost focus even a little, his consciousness could be crushed by the Vajra Night Demon King’s consciousness.

However, it seemed Lee Hanseong’s Second Stage Transcendence wouldn’t last that long either.

Ultimately, it was a contest of who could last longer.

‘…One second.’

Swish-swish-swish—swish— swish…

The multiplying slashes of the Infinite Single-Heaven Sword Art stopped multiplying upon encountering the power of liberation contained within the Lotus Platform.

The Six Directions Sealing Prison also couldn’t confine him as long as the power of the Lotus Platform existed.

Whoosh…

The power accumulated in the Retribution Extreme Light Medallion melted away upon being reflected by the flame-shaped Halo.

The nature of Karmic Flame judged that retribution had already been delivered, blocking the reflection at the power accumulation stage.

Rumble!

The self-moving Devouring Heaven Demon Sword clashed with the similarly self-moving Vajra Pestle, creating a stalemate of equal force.

Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam!

Meanwhile, Lee Hanseong, blinking countless times with the Blinking Jade Throne, and the bare-handed Yaksha, flying at ultra-high speed ignoring Footstep Heaven’s Edge while moving through the Imaginary Space, collided frequently.

Clang! Clang-clang! Clang clang clang!

Even bare-handed without the Vajra Pestle, being in the Demon Hand state meant he was no easy opponent.

Even with equal Grade, the Yaksha, a Non-Human Species, was superior in both strength and speed compared to Pheidippides.

What bridged that gap was Lee Hanseong’s chillingly sharp Swordsmanship and the Dual Polar Annihilation completed intermittently within the Void Space.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Avoiding them wasn’t particularly difficult since he could just momentarily shift into the Imaginary Space.

However, the Dual Polar Annihilation, which erupted without warning and forced evasion, prevented him from capitalizing on any advantage he gained.

Dual Polar Annihilation was like a restart button that nullified all gains made up to that point.

‘Tsk.’

Seeing the battle take this shape, he thought the side that lasted longer would win.

Confirming the stagnant situation was continuing, Kim Jinsu entrusted the combat to the Yaksha’s consciousness and focused on maintaining his ego.

Whirrr—

His past life unfolded before his eyes like a panorama.

Kim Jinsu was a second-generation Awakened, born as the child of a first-generation Awakened who Awakened during the Great Cataclysm.

A child born with a Six-Star Vessel under a father who was merely a low-rank Awakened with a 2-Star Vessel.

It was only natural for his parents’ expectations to grow.

Especially since around that time, promising candidates with a Vessel of 5-Star or higher had already begun to be managed by the state.

‘You are our family’s pride.’

As Kim Jinho, born later, had a 4-Star Vessel, his parents’ attention focused even more on him.

Naturally, during his growth, he realized that in this world, power was everything.

In his childhood, a Sudden Rift occurred where he was.

The Awakeners from the Association protecting the promising candidate only cared for his safety, indifferently watching other ordinary people die.

Of course, he knew that if they had tried to protect the others too, he might have died.

But was that really the only reason?

Weren’t they hesitant to step forward out of fear that they might die if they acted unnecessarily?

He was angered by their appearance of having power yet not stepping forward.

‘You alone are more important than those people who died now.’

The state resources concentrated on promising candidates.

The social trend of being ignored if you lacked talent.

The reality where unexpected death could come at any time.

All of it felt absurd.

‘Do you want to change reality? Then get strong first.’

So, after becoming an Adult and contracting with a Spirit, he joined the Wheel Constellation’s Samsara Guild and tried to change reality.

Initially, he worked in the information field, following the abilities of the spy Spirit he first contracted with, but only realized it was insufficient.

Even after contracting with two 7-Star Spirits and becoming a Mid-Rank Awakener, nothing changed.

No matter how high he climbed in a Guild without even a 12-Star Apostle, there were limits to what he could change.

‘To change the world, you need to join at least one of the Heaven-Slaying Guild or the Solar Guild.’

So he left the Samsara Guild and became the secretary of Elder Choi Sangguk, a member of the Heaven-Slaying Guild.

He judged that the Heaven-Slaying Guild, which revered the strong, would allow him to rise to the upper echelons faster than the Solar Guild.

Elder Choi Sangguk wasn’t exactly a likable person, but he endured and obeyed like a dog to gain power.

However, even then, he didn’t completely convert to the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation’s side.

Since Jinho was acquainted with Lee Hanseong, the third Great Vessel, if Lee Hanseong became the third Apostle, he could be a better choice than the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

He waited, intending to make his decision after seeing the outcome of Lee Hanseong’s Spirit Contract ceremony.

But Lee Hanseong ended up becoming a 1-Star Contractor in the Spirit Contract.

At that moment, his heart leaned toward the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

‘So you’re the kid who said you’d abandon the Wheel Constellation and serve the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.’

As soon as his mind was made up, he met the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord and swore loyalty.

Perhaps the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord took a liking to him, as he not only granted the Blessing of the Heaven-Slaying Star but also mediated a Contract with the Yaksha.

Up to that point, things went smoothly, but from some point on, dark clouds began to gather over his future.

The plan to gradually dye Korea in the colors of the Heaven-Slaying Guild began to shake starting from the Training Center Sudden Rift Incident.

Lee Hanseong, who should have fallen, made a comeback and even survived the assassination attempt.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

‘If you were going to be like this, you should have shown your good side from the beginning!’

It was all because that bastard became a 1-Star Contractor, messing everything up.

The sole reason Korea was resisting was that one bastard.

If he killed him here, everyone would accept the Demon Lord’s rule.

‘For the Demon Lord… die here. Lee Hanseong.’

Leaving only a twisted killing intent directed solely at Lee Hanseong, he gritted his teeth and maintained his ego until finally, an end was in sight for the battle between the Vajra Night Demon King and Pheidippides.

* * *

Pshhh— pat.

Pheidippides’s Second Stage Transcendence ends.

Moving momentarily into the Void Space with Space-Time Step.

In the Instant he tries to switch the Primal Spirit God and buy time for another Second Stage Transcendence.

Swoosh— Crash!

“……!”

The Vajra Night Demon King, who had followed him even into the Void Space, threw the Vajra Pestle at Lee Hanseong.

Tap tap tap!

After lightly evading while running through the Void Space.

—Hmph.

Along with a soft snort.

The fist of the Vajra Night Demon King, who had moved through the Void Space riding the Lotus Platform, approached before his eyes.

It seemed the Lotus Platform, containing the power of liberation, could move even within the Void Space.

Bang!

‘Ugh!’

Lee Hanseong, punched and simultaneously dragged from the Void Space back to reality.

The force carried by the Vajra Night Demon King’s fist completely blows away Pheidippides’s Primal Spirit God, which hadn’t completed its transition yet.

Pshhh…

Another Primal Spirit God, immediately recovered from the Imaginary Space, took the place of the vanished one, but.

If he used Second Stage Transcendence on this Primal Spirit God as well, he wouldn’t be able to maintain Pheidippides’s Divine Possession.

Yet, without Second Stage Transcendence, he couldn’t face the Vajra Night Demon King either.

Whoosh!

Reluctantly activating Second Stage Transcendence on the remaining Primal Spirit God, he continued the battle.

Contrary to the expectation that the Vajra Night Demon King form would soon dissolve, Kim Jinsu was holding out better than expected.

The best outcome would be for Kim Jinsu to self-destruct before this Second Stage Transcendence duration ended.

But if he could hold out longer, there was no backup plan.

So Lee Hanseong deployed the Yang Will Divine Art, preparing for after Pheidippides’s Second Stage Transcendence ended, separate from the battle.

‘Recalling the sensation of Pheidippides’s Awakening Skill being imprinted as a Skill.’

This was the sensation he had experienced three times already, including this Second Stage Transcendence.

This much was sufficient to imitate.

Whoosh!

Deploying Continuous Transcendence upon himself, he raised his True Body’s Grade to 7-Star.

And he observed the process of Transcendence and Continuous Transcendence becoming embodied as Legendary Skills, not missing a single detail.

Sizzle!

And as soon as he grasped the entire process, he immediately released only the Continuous Transcendence.

The stability of Transcendence was already shaken, but if things went as planned, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Sizzle!

Repeating the process he just grasped, he deployed <Spirit Particle Manipulation> onto his own soul, engraving the First Awakening Skill, Transcendence.

Since a fierce battle was ongoing in reality, more Concentration was needed, but with Unyielding Indomitability and the Samadhi State, he somehow managed to complete the imprint.

[<Spirit Particle Manipulation> imprints 《Transcendence》 onto the soul!]

[First Awakening Skill 《Transcendence》 transforms into the Legendary Skill <Transcendence>.]

[Great Feat, ‘First Awakening Skill Acquired Before 7-Star’ has been achieved.]

[Having acquired sufficient Achievement for Awakening, you Awaken to 4-Star.]

[The supreme Twelve Constellations of the Heavenly Palace are wary of your Great Feat!]

[4th Awakening Skill “Soul Imprint” Blooms.]

As expected, the Feat of achieving a higher realm’s merit at a lower realm in advance was sufficient Achievement to Awaken to 4-Star.

The instability that arose while deploying Continuous Transcendence, though brief, was completely stabilized along with the Awakening.

‘Good. Then next….’

Although Pheidippides’s Second Stage Transcendence was almost over, there was still time left, and he needed to finish the match now.

Recalling the moment just before Mirinae fell asleep, when her presence sharply diminished, he reversed the <Transcendence> that had become a Skill.

Polarity Reversal—

“Divine Fall.”

Clunk!

“…What?!”

The Grade of the Vajra Night Demon King, which had reached Half-Step Ten-Star, was forcibly dropped to Half-Step 9-Star.

The Vajra Night Demon King form was released, and he suffered a Divine Fall to Two-Headed Four-Armed.

The Lotus Platform beneath his feet also vanished.

The two Myth Skills reverted to 5th and 6th Awakening Skills, and the Polarity Reversal was undone.

Flash!

Not missing the opening created by the sudden Divine Fall and the ensuing panic, Dual Polar Annihilation struck the Yaksha.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

Zzzzzz—

Finally, after deploying Footstep Heaven’s Edge to block the aftermath, Pheidippides’s Second Stage Transcendence ended.

Pshhhhh…

Even as Pheidippides was reverse-summoned, Lee Hanseong kept his gaze fixed on the Yaksha remaining within the explosion of Dual Polar Annihilation until the end.

‘Soul Imprint.’

Sizzle!

Preparing in case he survived, he imprinted even the Second Awakening Skill, Continuous Transcendence, onto his soul.

There was one major difference between Divine Fall and Transcendence.

With Divine Fall, power equivalent to the amount of the opponent’s Grade that was shaved off flowed into him.

Thanks to that, even now, having consumed most of the Starlight he had swallowed with Domain Devourer, he still had the strength left to deploy Polarity Reversal once more.

Moreover, the difference between Transcendence and Continuous Transcendence was merely the addition of the principle of stacking.

Conceiving the Polarity Reversal of Continuous Transcendence wasn’t that difficult either.

Pat—

“As expected, you’re not dead.”

As soon as he saw the Yaksha, who seemed to have evaded into the Imaginary Space in the middle of the explosion and returned again, he immediately activated the conceived Second Polarity Reversal.

“Consecutive Divine Fall.”

Clunk!

The Yaksha experiences another drop in Grade.

The Heavenly Night Demon is released, and the absorbed Black Flame Winged Garment spurts out again.

The Halo on his back reverts to being merely a flame decoration.

The Grade, fallen to Half-Step 8-Star, was no longer threatening.

Moreover, the deducted amount had even become his power.

It was a level he could win against even without invoking Pheidippides’s Divine Possession.

“An ability that forcibly lowers Grade…! Hahaha!”

Perhaps the shock of being hit by Divine Fall was great, as Kim Jinsu, who had been looking at him with trembling pupils, suddenly laughed like a madman with a relieved expression.

Just as Transcendence had a time limit, Divine Fall likely had one too. Lee Hanseong, who had intended to finish things as quickly as possible, paused his attack momentarily at his reaction.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’ve just belatedly realized my mistake. Power is merely a means. Yet at some point, the purpose and means had switched places. Kehehe….”

As the Blessing of the Heaven-Slaying Star was suppressed by the Consecutive Divine Fall, he could recognize his own distortion.

Ever since receiving the Blessing of the Heaven-Slaying Star, he had been using dirty methods like assassination without hesitation.

What he had initially desired was simply to create a world where people didn’t die easily….

But at some point, his goal had changed to the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s benefit.

Kim Jinsu, who had been self-deprecating, suddenly spoke while looking at Lee Hanseong.

“On a whim. Let me give you one piece of advice.”

“……?”

“Choi Sangguk will soon come to kill you. If possible, you should survive.”

He wanted to ask for details due to Kim Jinsu’s changed atmosphere, but there was no time.

The Consecutive Divine Fall’s time limit would end soon.

If he dragged this out here, he would be the one in danger.

Screeeech!

Swish—swish swish swish swish swish swish!

The invisible maw of the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword and the multiplying slashes of the Infinite Single-Heaven Sword Art were deployed simultaneously.

[<Primordial Chaos Gang Qi> links <Devouring Heaven> and <Infinite Single Heaven>.]

The Primordial Chaos Gang Qi intertwined the two, and the multiplying maw of Devouring Heaven swallowed the entire space where the Yaksha was.

Chomp chomp chomp chomp chomp chomp chomp chomp!!!!

For a while, the sound of incessant chewing continued from within the invisible maw.

At some moment, the sound stopped.

Kim Jinsu had been completely swallowed.

* * *

After Kim Jinsu, there were no more challengers.

The Mid-Rank Awakeners, who were already hesitating, completely gave up on challenging after seeing the defeat of Kim Jinsu, the Contractor of an 8-Star Yaksha.

‘Is this really someone who just became a Mid-Rank Awakener? Just how many Divine Artifacts does he have?’

‘Reversing an ability that raises Grade into one that lowers Grade… Even a High-Rank Awakener couldn’t guarantee victory.’

The Evil Spirit Mask, who had been watching Lee Hanseong’s growth since the beginning of Hundred-Man Slaughter, also knew this and did not force any challenges.

Both Lee Hanseong and the level of challengers who would fight him had already surpassed their assumed standards.

The level of the Life-and-Death Duels had risen to a point where, with only the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult members present at the Black Market, they couldn’t sanction anyone even if they broke the rules.

“If there are no more challengers, I will temporarily pause Hundred-Man Slaughter here. It will resume four days later.”

Hundred-Man Slaughter was postponed until the third week of the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial, when the participation restriction for upper-rank Awakeners is lifted.

Remaining Life-and-Death Duels until Hundred-Man Slaughter concludes: 69.