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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]
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Chapter 37: Ancient Dragon (1)
There’s a saying that goes, “Words fail me.”
It’s used when you witness something so bewildering or overwhelming that your mouth feels like it’s sealed shut, unable to move easily.
Park Siwoo, the youngest of the bunch, was quite skilled, but he was definitely not as good as Sword Saint today.
Shin Chang, Kwon Wang, Dok Ma.
These three knew Sword Saint’s skills well.
He was definitely a hyung who used his sword in an amazing way.
But today, he was on a whole different level.
‘What, what is this?’
Kwon Wang, the youngest of the four, blinked his eyes. A horde of monsters that were well over level 500 were blocking their way.
When he, Shin Chang, and Dok Ma each dealt with two of them, there were over six corpses lying in front of Sword Saint.
Sword Saint was definitely the best Awakened in Korea. But that didn’t mean there was such a huge difference in their skills.
After all, the difference in their skills was only a hair’s breadth.
“…Hyungnim. Did you secretly eat something like the elixir of youth?”
“I didn’t eat it. But I did get a good gift.”
“A gift? What is it? Tell these dongsaengs too! Let’s have a reunion together!”
Sword Saint looked at the three of them.
Not only Kwon Wang, who had spoken up, but even Shin Chang and Dok Ma, who were usually quiet, were looking at him with curious eyes.
“I’ll tell you after this gate is over.”
“…Alright! Let’s do it!”
Mana crackled in Kwon Wang’s fist. Shin Chang’s spearhead became even sharper. Green steam billowed from Dok Ma’s body.
And so, they reached the boss room.
[The tomb vibrates greatly as you encounter your first powerful enemy!]
[The final guardian of the tomb, the ‘Ancient Dragon’, appears!]
“…Huh?”
The Awakened, including Dokma, tilted their heads in confusion.
Dragon clan monsters had always appeared as the bosses of the tomb.
However, none of them had the name ‘Ancient Dragon’.
This was a monster they had never seen before.
‘Hidden piece?’
The eyes of the Awakened lit up.
They too had once explored the gate, burning with passion.
Although the flames had dimmed over time, they hadn’t completely disappeared.
“Haha, this is interesting! Hyungs, I’ll go first!”
The hot-headed Kwon Wang rushed towards the Ancient Dragon first. A huge amount of mana gathered above his fist.
[Using ‘Hundred Steps Divine Fist (S)’!]
BOOM!
With all his might, a massive fist formed and struck the body of the Ancient Dragon.
Swoosh.
Smoke rose up.
But, as if to show that it wasn’t just any last guardian, the body of the Ancient Dragon didn’t even flinch.
Soon, a fierce aura gathered around its mouth.
Shin Chang and Dok Ma frowned at the power to be reckoned with.
“Youngest! Be careful!”
Dangerous.
As soon as he made the judgment, he rushed forward.
The dragon’s crimson breath was heading towards Kwon Wang.
[Using Moonlight Slash (S)!]
[Using ‘Deadly Poison Spray (S)’!]
The two desperately used their skills.
A tremendous force surged towards the breath.
Kwon Wang also launched an attack towards the breath.
Momentarily, the three of them were astonished.
‘We’re being pushed back?’
Their skills were being overwhelmed by the breath.
A massive force gradually approached Kwon Wang.
That was when it happened.
A sinister aura struck everyone’s spines.
Their gazes naturally turned towards Sword Saint.
They saw a sword that did not emit any aura.
Yet, they felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.
It was as if they were naked and had their necks exposed to a sword.
The Ancient Dragon also hastily turned its head.
The immense pressure squeezed the dragon’s heart tightly.
As the direction of the breath began to turn towards Sword Saint.
Swish!
With a sound of slicing, the body of the Ancient Dragon split into two.
“…!”
Everyone’s eyes widened as much as they could.
The byproducts of the Ancient Dragon spilled out, but no one was interested in that.
The sight of Sword Saint just now was so shocking that it was enough.
No one saw him swing the sword.
But the Ancient Dragon was dead.
Sword Saint, descending from the air, looked at the message in front of him.
[Achievement of ‘Impossible’!]
[Title, ‘Fanatical Disciple’ acquired!]
[Title, ‘Owner of the Heart Sword’ acquired!]
[New Title List]
[1. Fanatical Disciple]
[Performed miracles with fanatical faith.]
[Effect: Increased chance of enlightenment when the master is in mind.]
.
.
[2. Owner of the Heart Sword]
[You have become a swordsman who knows how to cut through the essence, crossing the boundaries of the material world.]
[Effect: Increases the power of the Heart Sword by 30% when used.]
[I have seen the illusion and its boundaries. The realm of no-self between them.]
“…Now, I understand.”
The words Kim Minwoo had uttered.
Now, finally, he seemed to understand what that meant.
The illusion was the material world.
Beyond that boundary, Sword Saint had opened up a new realm called the ‘heart sword’.
A state of mind that had been stagnant for over 20 years.
If it hadn’t been for those words, he might have remained in that state for the rest of his life.
‘However…’
He was foolish.
He still didn’t know what the realm of nothingness was.
But it didn’t matter now.
He now had a mentor in his mind.
It was while Sword Saint was consolidating the new enlightenment he had gained.
The three elders urgently surrounded him and asked.
“…B-Big Brother!”
“What was that just now?”
“A skill? It can’t be defined as such?”
Still, as they were his own brothers with their own unique personalities, they seemed to understand that it wasn’t a skill.
“It’s a gift I received.”
“Ugh! Seriously! What kind of gift was that?”
The hot-headed Kwon Wang pounded on my chest.
His curiosity was so intense that it seemed like it was going to spill out of his mouth.
“I received a great, great teaching.”
“Teaching?”
“The hyungnim?”
“To whom?”
“Are you asking me to tell you that out loud?”
“No!”
“This is frustrating!”
“Hyungnim! How long have we been together! Didn’t you come here to help?”
“…Ahem.”
Sword Saint, who coughed, looked at his brothers.
Having vented their frustration, it was time to get to the point.
“Fine. I’ll introduce you to that person. However, this could be harmful to them. Do you agree?”
They nodded.
“Then you should prepare a gift.”
Sword Saint pointed to the dragon’s corpse.
The three elders understood his intentions and nodded.
They hadn’t come to the gate for rewards; they had joined the attack to help.
If they were after rewards, they wouldn’t have retired halfway.
Could they only form such a remarkable bond with someone like Sword Saint?
They could hand over ten or twenty corpses and byproducts without hesitation.
And so, Sword Saint put the body and byproducts of the Ancient Dragon into his subspace ring. Soon after, their figure disappeared along with the Gate clear reward.
* * *
Kim Minwoo.
He had been surprised several times today.
On the way back from the auction house news.
[Title, ‘Ultimate Master’ acquired!]
[New Title List]
[1. Ultimate Master]
[A disciple who has been taught has created a miracle.]
[Effect: Learning effect is greatly increased when teaching.]
The sudden acquisition message for the title appeared once.
Then, as if something urgent had come up, an interview ended hastily, and Sword Saint came running.
And then…
“You’re going to give me all the corpses and byproducts? For free?”
“Yeah. It was the boss that came out for the first time called the Ancient Dragon. Since the level didn’t seem to be just S-rank, it will definitely be a big help.”
Ancient Dragon.
Kim Minwoo had never heard of the name before.
When he went to attack the dragon’s tomb, no boss like that had come out.
‘Is it because of the Sword Saint?’
He had said that he had swept them all at the gate.
It seemed that’s why the Ancient Dragon had appeared.
‘This must be a top-rank material…’
Even if he searched the whole world, it would be difficult to find dragon materials as good as the Ancient Dragon’s.
There are very few Awakened who can defeat a monster of that level.
In terms of price, it seemed like it would easily exceed the trillion mark.
Even so, the Dragon Clan is all expensive, and it was even stronger than the ones that had come out so far.
It was impossible to predict how high the price would rise if it was put up for auction.
And they were talking about giving it all away for free.
So, it’s no wonder he was surprised.
“Do the others agree as well?”
“Yeah. We decided to do that if you ask for one favor.”
“If it’s a favor…”
“It’s not difficult.Just meet those three people.”
“Them?”
Sword Saint nodded.
“I guess they must be looking for teaching. It’s up to you to decide whether to tell them or not. It’s not worth the information you’ll get for just one dragon corpse.”
Think about it.
In fact, even if Sword Saint spread the content, it was unclear what to say.
This was because the teaching was something that Sword Saint had given him first, and he also didn’t know if it was a phrase with real efficacy.
‘But he’s just handing me a pass?’
With just a few words, he could form a bond with three masters?
And get the dragon corpses for free?
‘Isn’t this a huge profit?’
Shin Chang, Dok Ma, and Kwon Wang.
All three of them are people He won’t lose anything by connecting with.
Kim Minwoo wasn’t a fool who couldn’t accept it even if given.
“That’s right. Are the three of you outside?”
“If you heard, come in right away!”
With that, the door opened and the three elders hurried inside.
“Heh. I wondered if it was really this guy.”
“We expected it to some extent since the time of the Ilsung Group.”
“That’s true, but….”
The three elders stared at him intently.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Minwoo. I’ve heard of your reputation, sirs.”
“Ahem! Did you really give enlightenment to big brother? I can’t believe it.”
Shin Chang coughed and asked.
“It’s too grandiose to call it enlightenment, but… I think it’s similar.”
At that, the three elders leaned in closer.
“What exactly is this enlightenment?”
“Tell me too! Don’t forget my kindness!”
“Can’t you give us a clue?”
‘That’s all well and good, but I can only parrot back what I said last time.’
He looked at Sword Saint.
In front of him was a genius who had just gained enlightenment and had refined it to some extent.
“Let Sword Saint tell you.”
“…Is that okay? After all, it’s something you told me….”
“Yes. Since you have already reached that realm, you will probably explain it much better than me, who has only peeked at it.”
“…All right then.”
Sword Saint looked at the three and began to speak as if explaining.
To summarize the content roughly, it was about seeing a world beyond the material realm.
‘What on earth is he talking about?’
It was definitely Korean, but it sounded like an alien language.
What was even more surprising was that the faces of the three elders who heard it became very serious.
Hmm.
Alright then.
With a hint of that, the old men nodded their heads.
“…However, I still haven’t realized anything about the realm of nothingness that Minwoo mentioned. I just feel like there might be something in my mind….”
He caught a glimpse of Sword Saint looking at him.
In his eyes, there was a hidden thirst for knowledge, knowingly or unknowingly.
The gazes of the three elders also focused on him.
The atmosphere suggested that he should say something at this point.
He quickly searched through Sword Saint’s teachings.
He threw out the words casually, finding the most plausible among them.
“I don’t know exactly either. Just…”
“Just?”
“Nothingness is about forgetting oneself. The more you do so, the freer you become, but there are clear limits. We are humans. Is it really possible for us to forget ourselves completely?”
“…Hmm.”
“So, I understand that you should forget yourself but not forget. That’s about it.”
Forget, but don’t forget.
It was one of the things Sword Saint had said in the past.
The surroundings became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Sword Saint, who had been closing his eyes for a while, nodded his head.
At that moment,
[The effect of ‘Ultimate Master’ is activated!]
[The effect of ‘Fanatical Disciple’ is activated!]
[The effects are cumulative!]
The message appeared.
‘What the heck, scary.’
Did he really understand something?
“Forget, but don’t forget… I learned something big from you again.”
The faces of the other three elders also became solemn.
Although they didn’t understand what he had realized, they could feel that it wasn’t just meaningless words.
“…I thought all the kids these days were spoiled, but I guess I was wrong. Korea is going to soar high in the future.”
Shin Chang interrupted.
“Your name is Kim Minwoo, right? Here’s my number. Feel free to contact me if you need anything.”
“Ahem! Same here. Take my number too.”
Kwon Wang and Dok Ma exchanged numbers competitively.
A network of connections began to build up like crazy.
The dragon’s corpse was just an added bonus.
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]
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