Chapter 94 – High-Rank Awakener

“He’s gone.”

The Sword Demon of the parallel world muttered, perceiving that the dream connecting him to Lee Hanseong had vanished.

However, his connection to Earth hadn’t completely disappeared.

The Sympathy Spell engraved on Lee Hanseong’s Demon Armor was still providing him with a view, and besides,

There was another being on Earth influenced by him.

“My Avatar is approaching you.”

Originally an existence opposite to the Sword Demon, but at the moment of Reversal upon reaching Ten-Star, he had accidentally connected with the Black Knight.

The Black Knight’s personality, already being reconstructed due to the Reversal, became corrupted as it mixed with fragments of the Sword Demon’s memories, experiencing a state similar to Synchronization Rate Overload.

He came to regard himself as the Sword Demon and became the Sword Demon’s Avatar.

However, the Sword Demon couldn’t view the meeting between the Black Knight and Lee Hanseong favorably.

“I worry how he will regard you.”

If it were a pure Avatar of the Sword Demon, he wouldn’t have reason to be hostile toward Lee Hanseong, but

Even the Sword Demon couldn’t predict how an Avatar born from the original Black Knight’s personality would act.

Even with the same memories, if the underlying personality and temperament differed, behavioral patterns would naturally differ as well.

All the Sword Demon could do was indirectly observe the Black Knight’s movements.

“I can only believe the Blessing of the Left will be with you.”

* * *

By the time Lee Hanseong awoke from sleep, three days had already passed in reality.

The time he had focused on the Sword Demon’s Sword Principle was longer than expected.

“Three days passed while I was asleep?”

“That is correct, Master.”

“Why didn’t you wake… No, you did well.”

At Lycan’s confirmation, Lee Hanseong felt momentarily anxious, but then recalling the gains from the dream, he calmed his impatience.

<Perception Domination>, which filled one of the additional Unique Skill Slots gained at 5-Star.

While the skill itself would be a great help in combat, the greater achievement lay in the change that occurred next.

Whoosh!

Just as when he obtained the Absolute Sword Art, the Mind’s Eye formed because he needed the Eye of Insight to see the grain,

When he needed the Eye of Insight to read perception upon obtaining Perception Domination, the Primordial Chaos Gang Qi once again integrated an Insight Type skill.

[Conditions met. <Mind’s Eye> and <Multifaceted Perception> are being integrated.]

[The Legendary Skill <Insightful Eye> is forming.]

It was the moment he created his second Legendary Skill, following the Primordial Chaos Gang Qi.

If considering only the Legendary Skills he possessed, there were also Transcendence and Consecutive Transcendence obtained by mastering Awakening Skills,

But those were closer to being born from the reaction between the Twelve Constellations’ Blessing and his Feats, rather than being directly created by Lee Hanseong himself.

So practically, Insightful Eye could be considered the second Legendary Skill he had created.

Throb!

“Ugh.”

When he activated Insightful Eye as a test, his vision overlapped countless times, rapidly overloading his mind.

Thanks to mental system skills like Parallel Consciousness, Unyielding Indomitability, and Samadhi State, it was a burden he could barely withstand, but

The compensation was also immense.

“Reading the near future…?”

Afterimages from a few seconds later, overlapping with the current scenery as if superimposed.

In combat, to use it without burden, it would be best to refrain from seeing too far into the future.

Since the future could change dozens of times per second depending on the opponent’s intentions,

Seeing only the future within one second would be sufficient enough.

Having tested Insightful Eye to that extent, he checked on the guild members in reality.

Zing.

Perhaps having completed all the tasks he requested before sleeping, both Park Seongcheol and Yu Sehee were staying at the Guild House.

Among them, Park Seongcheol was fiddling with a magic core in the training room, likely having received the Golem’s Magic Core he had previously commissioned.

“How did it go?”

—Hanseong! Are you okay? You were out of contact for three days.

When he spoke through Six Harmonies Communication, Park Seongcheol sprang up from his seat and asked about his well-being.

“Ah, I was just asleep, so I couldn’t contact you.”

—Ahh. Sleep. Well, you fought without sleeping, so you must have been tired.

At the answer that it was nothing serious, Park Seongcheol nodded and got to the main point.

—Anyway, what you requested is proceeding well.

“James Lee said he’s coming?”

—Not immediately, but he said he’ll come when the participation restrictions for Highest-Rank Awakeners are lifted.

“That’s sufficient enough.”

With that, one Highest-Rank Awakener was secured.

Next, he asked Yu Sehee the same thing.

Contrary to her earlier anxiety, her reply also indicated success.

‘This much insurance should be sufficient.’

With that, two Highest-Rank Awakeners.

If Jin Taeseong also steps forward, that makes three.

If his father, who was tracking Choi Sangguk, arrives on time, up to four could gather.

Lee Hanseong stroked his chin and gave the three promising candidates another mission.

“I’ll resume the Hundred-Man Slaughter again starting tomorrow, so I won’t be able to pay attention to you until it’s over.”

—I know.

“So… you should go to a dungeon using the Dungeon Entry Tickets you received as 1st to 3rd place rewards after the Qualification Exam.”

—Dungeon Entry Tickets. Right, we had those.

After returning from the Crossroads of the Scales, there was no chance to use them because the Association was busy with Choi Sangguk’s matter.

By now, there should be plenty of time to use them.

Moreover, since only the three of them had Dungeon Entry Tickets, now, separated from Lee Hanseong, was the perfect time to use them.

—But the dungeons accessible with the tickets are only up to 2-Star, right? Hunting a few 2-Star Monsters probably won’t be enough for us to Awaken?

“That’s why you need to choose well. There’s a place called [Steel Ant Nest].”

In [Steel Ant Nest], one of the Association’s 2-Star Dungeons, up to thousands of 2-Star Monster giant steel ants appear.

Achieving a complete clear by hunting all the 2-Star Monsters inside would be sufficient for Yu Sehee and Park Seongcheol, who are 2-Star, to be promoted to 3-Star, though Jin Yuseong, who is already 3-Star, might be a different story.

“Probably, clearing the entire ant nest will take about a week, so the timing should match.”

For the three who shared the effect of having their Grade promoted by one level each due to the Guarantee of the Righteous Will, it wasn’t a particularly difficult dungeon.

—Got it. To keep up with you, who’s getting stronger while fighting High-Rank Awakeners, we also need to keep hunting.

—But what about the new members? They’re guildmates now too, so leaving them alone feels a bit off.

When Jin Yuseong mentioned Baekto and Baek Hyeonwoo, Lee Hanseong pondered briefly and sent Lycan to the Guild House.

“Attach Lycan to them and have them mainly roam 1-Star and 2-Star Hunting Grounds. With a 2-Star Vessel, that should be enough for them to Awaken.”

—Then, I’ll relay that to them.

Having thus planned the growth of the guild members remaining in reality,

For the remaining time, he recalled the various weapon arts the Sword Demon had shown and wielded the Divine Artifacts.

Spear and shield, even striking arts performed with the armor itself.

Training to imbue every weapon art with Sword Principle like the Sword Demon,

Finally, after eating and drinking to achieve perfect condition,

Step.

He headed back to the outskirts of the black market where he had been conducting the Hundred-Man Slaughter, timed with the start of the third week of the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial.

* * *

At the location where thirty-one Mid-Rank Awakeners had previously buried their bones, along with the already present Evil Spirit Masks of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a new Ghost was waiting.

Among them, the new Ghost seemed to have no intention of hiding his identity, as neither his attire nor his aura were concealed at all.

“You came without running away.”

“Jang Wei? Highest-Rank Awakeners are supposed to step forward starting next week, right?”

“No need to worry about that. I’m only here as a judge for the Hundred-Man Slaughter.”

Though flustered by the Grade emitted by a Highest-Rank Awakener, he calmed down at the word ‘judge.’

The reason the Hundred-Man Slaughter had been suspended was precisely because sanctions for rule violations had become impossible at the Evil Spirit Mask level.

In a fight where High-Rank Awakeners would step forward, it wasn’t particularly strange for Jang Wei to appear as a judge.

“Is that so. Then, I’ll be in your care.”

“I only hope the Demon Lord’s deeds will be reenacted here once more.”

In response to Lee Hanseong’s greeting, Jang Wei said no more and closed his mouth.

Soon after, the time for the Heavenly Demon Medallion’s location disclosure arrived, and Lee Hanseong’s location spread.

High-Rank Awakeners swarming in one after another.

Their appearance, each wearing prisoner uniforms, was distinctive.

“There won’t be a shortage of challengers like last time. I deliberately brought High-Rank Awakeners from the Life Imprisonment Convict Unit, promising pardons.”

At Jang Wei’s words, Lee Hanseong’s lips twitched.

Wondering how so many High-Rank Awakeners had gathered during this period when most were busy preparing for the overall division preliminaries of the Heavenly Palace Tournament starting next week,

It turned out he had brought the convict unit.

“He said we get pardoned if we beat that brat?”

“He’s only 5-Star, right? What guts does a Mid-Rank Awakener at best have to show up?”

Perhaps because they usually lived isolated from society in dungeons or remote areas, the convict unit sneered at Lee Hanseong.

Facing them, Lee Hanseong began to assume his combat stance once more.

Hum.

Starting up the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword, swallowing the black market’s Ghostly Energy to use as a resource for Transcendence.

Fwoosh!

Through Transcendence, his Grade, which was 5-Star due to the Guarantee of the Righteous Will, rose to 6-Star.

Fwoosh!

With Consecutive Transcendence added, it rose further to Seven Star.

Thanks to having mastered it as a skill, efficiency improved, balancing the recovery amount filled by the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword and the consumption of Second Stage Transcendence.

Hum.

The Myogaek appearance imposed by the black market’s Law vanished, revealing Lee Hanseong’s original form.

At this moment, having entered the High-Rank Awakener’s Domain, he realized why Awakeners were called High-Rank Awakeners starting from 7-Star.

“Certainly, with power like this, it’s understandable to disregard Mid-Rank Awakeners.”

Shwrrrrrl!

The Spirit Hero Treasures of Pheidippides, Hanna, and Duren were summoned, and in their fused state with Legendary Equipment,

The Divine Artifacts melted into Lee Hanseong’s body, which had achieved Primal Spirit God.

The Demon Armor he wore also melted in the same way.

One of the High-Rank Awakener’s Prerogatives.

Formation of a ‘Treasure Body’ through the Unification of spare Treasure Vessels and the body.

The reason 5-Star Spirits, capable of summoning Spirit Hero Treasures, were called High-Rank Spirits was precisely because of this.

Because the more High-Rank Spirits a High-Rank Awakener had, the higher the level of the Treasure Body.

Clack.

Grasping the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword to use as a weapon, the abilities and forms of the equipment forming the Treasure Body overlapped like Illusory Forms on the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword.

In this state, he could transform into the form of other equipment whenever he wished.

Srrrl!

In that state, he performed Divine Possession with Pheidippides.

Normally, when Divine Possession is achieved, Pheidippides’ form should overlay, but currently Lee Hanseong still maintained his original appearance.

This was the High-Rank Awakener’s second Prerogative.

‘Spirit Overlay.’

Unlike the physical body, which had limits, there was no limit to the Primal Spirit God.

A Spirit performing Divine Possession on an Awakener’s body that has achieved Primal Spirit God doesn’t just overlay but completely overlaps.

It was slightly different from the Yaksha increasing the number of heads and absorbing Spirits into them.

The core was that two Primal Spirit Gods overlap and circulate, producing amplification effects like Eightfold Annihilation.

Fwoosh!

[Synchronization Rate with the Spirit is increasing.]

[…200%]

For a normal Awakener, they would gain an increase of 100% on top of their existing Synchronization Rate,

But even that alone could grant the effect of raising all Skill Grades below Unique Grade by one level each.

Naturally, the limit for Lee Hanseong, Pheidippides’ Contractor, who could use the High-Rank Awakener’s Prerogatives since before through Eightfold Annihilation, was even higher.

‘Eightfold Annihilation Double Overlay.’

Two Holy Light Bodies, each the amount of one Primal Spirit God where the Eightfold Annihilation Lee Hanseong deployed and the Eightfold Annihilation Pheidippides deployed overlapped, overlapped once more: 300%.

‘Yang Will Divine Art. Eightfold Annihilation Quadruple Overlay.’

Again, two Holy Light Bodies, each the amount of one Primal Spirit God where Lee Hanseong and Pheidippides each overlapped Eightfold Annihilation again through Yang Will Divine Art, overlapped once more: 400%.

Gooooooo!

Thus, amplification was achieved where all Skill Grades below Rare Grade rose by two levels, and Unique Skills rose by one level.

Grade increase through amplification from overlay had a limit up to Legendary Grade.

The convict unit, who had been quietly watching, stirred.

Being High-Rank Awakeners, they understood Lee Hanseong’s peculiarity even better.

“That guy… what is he? He clearly has only one Seven Star Spirit, so how is he achieving overlay at the level of contracting with three?”

“The ability to raise his Grade by two levels too, he’s no ordinary guy. No wonder they promised pardons as a reward.”

The expressions of the convicts who had been disregarding Lee Hanseong turned serious, and one stepped forward as a challenger, similarly forming a Treasure Body and deploying Spirit Overlay three times before advancing.

A man wearing a prisoner number labeled 6666.

Fwoosh!

“Kekeke! Let’s kill each other to our heart’s content.”

The moment after Prisoner 6666 muttered with a vile laugh.

Flash!

“……!”

A flash and explosion rivaling Dual Polar Annihilation swept over Lee Hanseong.

Before he could even think of defense or evasion, his Divine Form was shattered to pieces by the explosion that engulfed the entire space.

But Prisoner 6666 didn’t stop his attack.

He knew a High-Rank Awakener wouldn’t die so easily.

Swoooosh!

It was immediately after that Lee Hanseong’s shattered Divine Form rewound and became intact.

The High-Rank Awakener’s third Prerogative.

Limited Immortality.

For a Demi-God of 7-Star or above who has achieved Primal Spirit God, the concept of physical vital points almost disappears.

Only the depletion of Starlight or the collapse of Divinity could kill them.

So even when he was just shattered to pieces, none of Lee Hanseong’s ten lives had decreased.

“Your greeting is fiery. But I don’t intend to drag this out.”

Victory between High-Rank Awakeners who can’t easily kill each other largely divides into two types.

Either one side overwhelms and ends it quickly, or neither can kill the other and time is just dragged out.

Among these, what Lee Hanseong desired was the former.

Click.

The moment the Devouring Heaven Demon Sword aimed at Prisoner 6666.

“Bite, tear, and swallow, Devouring Heaven. No, Twilight Orb.”

Perhaps because he called the name learned from the Sword Demon’s dream, the Wolf’s Maw, now closer to the original, seized and swallowed the opponent.