Chapter 11

“Asura Perception Way? Is it a blade technique?” 

-Not blade (刀) but way (道)[note]In Korean pronunciation, 道 and 刀 can be pronounced as “do”[/note]. It’s a martial art that enhances thinking speed and reaction time while training the mind to stay calm in any situation. In life-or-death battles, having an unshakeable mind is more important than flashy sword techniques or powerful internal energy cultivation methods.

It was closer to a mental cultivation method than a martial art, but that’s precisely why it was the most suitable choice for Yuseong right now.

“Is that one technique enough?”

-Of course not. Asura Perception Way is just the minimum requirement for survival. To ensure victory, you need more martial arts. Try to remember as much as possible of what I’m about to tell you. The more you take with you, the higher your chances of survival will be. First…

What Hae Cheongyeong described were closer to miscellaneous techniques than proper martial arts, but they were versatile skills that could be used in any situation.

[You have cleared the quest ‘The Final Moment of the Heavenly Demon Sect’]

[Analyzing clear process, please wait a moment]

[Fate Change Rate 100%, Otherworld Skill Usage 0.0002%, Otherworld Artifact Usage 0%]

[Final Evaluation SSS Rank]

[Amazing! Han Yuseong succeeded in changing fate using almost entirely the client’s own abilities and items without otherworld powers! Rewards will be given!]

[Basic Clear Reward: 10,000 Karma, Great Revival Pill x1]

[SSS Rank Clear Additional Reward: 300,000 Karma]

[Return to original world will begin shortly]

“Huh? Wait. The quest completion window just appeared but has the ritual ended? Nothing seems to have changed?”

-Though it pains me to think about throwing away the entire sect, considering that I can ascend and achieve the rule of the demon path, the merits outweigh the costs. If by chance our paths cross again…

[Initiating Deus Ex Machina Program]

[Ariadne’s Thread tracking complete]

“What? What did you just…”

[Initiating spirit particle transfer]

“W-wait. Aaaaah!”

Flash!

“Right until the end, not a shred of dignity in that one.”

Despite his gruff words, the corners of Hae Cheongyeong’s lips curved into a faint smile.

That helpful fellow who opened the door to an unreachable realm that seemed forever beyond reach.

Though Yuseong might have felt he was being needlessly fussy, Hae Cheongyeong had acknowledged him as a friend transcending age and worlds.

Woooong!

“Oh my. This is dangerous.”

Just standing up makes the Ten Thousand Mountains tremble.

Perhaps because he had abstained from food and couldn’t properly circulate energy while performing the ritual, his physical abilities and internal energy levels were lower than fifteen days ago, but none of that mattered now.

What the Sun-Moon Ritual changes is not the body but the soul.

Having completed the process of harmonizing divinity created from gathering the essence of sun, moon and stars with his soul, Hae Cheongyeong’s spirit had stepped beyond mortal limitations into the realm of transcendence.

A sense of omnipotence that made anything seem possible.

He could hardly contain himself wanting to try this infinite power as soon as possible.

And fortunately, suitable opponents for receiving this power were running here of their own accord.

“The heads of the righteous world’s number one Heavenly Sword Emperor and evil world’s number one Crimson Blood Demonic Sovereign. What perfect sacrifices to mark the fall of the old demon sect and rise of the new.”

A heavy pressure spreads from his clenched fist.

Though they seemed to sense something wrong even from over ten li[note]Approximately, 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles.[/note] away as their movement stopped, Hae Cheongyeong swung his fist without hesitation.

It was the punch announcing the beginning of demon path rule.

* * *

Flash!

After the seemingly endless light tunnel ended and confirming he was back in his original body, Yuseong hurriedly lowered his head to check the surroundings from under the car.

“Human! It’s a human!”

“Damn it.”

Yuseong cursed briefly at the sight of orcs approaching.

After seeing how Earth had changed following his first quest completion, Yuseong had formed several hypotheses.

One was wondering if he might be falling into similar parallel worlds rather than his original world after clearing quests, but looking at the situation, it seemed this ruined world really was his original one.

‘Situation assessment later. For now…’

[Congratulations on clearing the quest!]

[Han Yuseong’s rank has increased from ‘Novice Solver’ to ‘Solver’]

[‘Karma Shop’ has new items added]

[Current Karma: 310,000]

[Product List]

-Ascension State(S): 300,000,000

-Heaven Communication(S-): 150,000,000

-Heavenly Demon Body(S-): 150,000,000

-Heavenly Demon Divine Art(S-): 120,000,000

-Yang Spirit Art(A+): 10,000,000

…

……

………

He didn’t even glance at the items boasting flashy ranks and names at the top of the list. They were all like pearls before swine for his current self, and even if he wanted to buy them, he was far short on points.

‘Right tool for the job. The martial art that fits the situation is strongest.’

Recalling Hae Cheongyeong’s advice while purchasing skills, Yuseong jumped up and ran with all his might without looking back the moment he heard an orc’s breathing very nearby.

“Hiss! There’s a human here!”

“It’s a human!”

‘Securing an advantageous position comes first.’

Yuseong hadn’t wasted the fifteen days until the Sun-Moon Ritual’s completion.

He had endlessly analyzed and simulated ways to win based on the surrounding terrain and structures he’d seen just before starting the quest, along with the orcs’ positions, numbers, and his own skills.

Though most scenarios ended in tragic deaths, there was one method that had a ‘possibility’ of facing the orcs, and that was…

“Human! Got you!”

Facing the orc who swung its club with a cruel smile just steps ahead, Yuseong returned a bright smile and said:

“Yes. You got me.”

Whoosh!

As the orc stared blankly at its club swung wide of its intended target, Yuseong kicked it while grinning at the ground.

He felt the moist earth sensation rarely found in the gray 21st century cities full of asphalt, concrete and steel through his palm.

-Unless you’re growing existing vines or using the earth’s nutrients instead of mana, if you create something from nothing using pure mana alone, of course it uses a lot of mana!

Yuseong hadn’t forgotten Alice’s words when he first collapsed from exhaustion after exceeding his mana limits using the Thorny Vine skill.

‘The efficiency is definitely better. Compared to creating them from my hands, it’s 10 times, no, almost 20 times more efficient.’

Despite rapidly creating vines long enough to bind both the orc’s legs, he barely felt any mana consumption.

“Kwiiiiik!”

The orcs charged with bloodshot eyes at seeing their fallen comrade.

It was a terrifying visual that would make even the bravest person wet themselves, but Yuseong didn’t waver at all.

Asura Perception Way(修羅感覺道)

Rank: C

-Increases reaction speed and thinking speed.

-Better maintains composure.

Though the description was utterly plain, no skill could be more suitable for the current situation.

Without this skill, no matter how many dozens of simulations he ran or how firmly he steeled himself, the excitement and fear from directly facing orcs would have made proper movement difficult.

Crunch!

Yuseong firmly gripped the long straight vine he had grown with both hands after it finished twisting and tangling.

While the orcs hesitated at the sight of the vine densely covered in large thorns making it look like a spike, Yuseong charged without hesitation and struck the nearest orc’s face.

Crack!

Blood drops and flesh pieces scatter with a heavy sound.

“Kweeeeek!”

“Kuk!”

Yuseong instinctively blocked the sword swung by the screaming orc right beside him but collapsed to his knees as the unimaginable impact drained his strength.

A mistake born from inexperience having never faced real combat.

However, Yuseong had a skill to make up for his lack of experience.

‘Collapsed with strength drained. Three orcs in position to attack me now. Sword falling for my head, axe aiming for my neck, and a kick targeting my abdomen.’

The enhanced thinking speed from Asura Perception Way made the world seem to slow down, and the increased reaction speed enabled quick and precise movements in this slowed world.

Instead of retreating, he threw himself forward to squeeze into the tight space.

It was virtually suicidal to deliberately put himself in harm’s way, and he did get wounded by their weapons, but Yuseong smiled brightly.

-Get a weapon as soon as you return. Whether stealing from enemies, picking up dropped weapons, grabbing stones from the ground – the type and method don’t matter. Killing someone barehanded is very difficult, but even a three-year-old can kill with a weapon. Having a weapon or not will determine life and death.

When he struck hard inside the elbow, the hand gripping the sword naturally loosened.

Snatching the falling sword, Yuseong slashed the orc’s side without hesitation.

“Kwiiiiik!”

Leaving behind the squealing and spilling of hot innards, Yuseong stabbed the sword into another one’s throat then placed his hand on the ground.

“Magic? It’s a magician!”

Thorny vines grew through the earth using the orcs’ legs as supports.

While normal vines would just be slightly cumbersome, these weren’t ordinary vines but thorny vines with sharp, long thorns.

As the orcs hesitated from the pain of their skin being pierced, Yuseong created another long thorny vine in his other hand and swung with all his might.

Snake Shadow Whip Technique(蛇影鞭法)

A martial art recommended as an alternative if unable to obtain weapons.

Though using thorny vine to perform this whip technique made the characteristic snake-like precision strikes impossible, its power was extraordinary – orcs hit by the Thorny Vine had flesh torn away and screamed in agony.

He slashed and struck the orcs relentlessly with sword in one hand and whip in the other.

Though he felled over half the orcs in the blink of an eye, the remaining ones didn’t cower but rather gnashed their teeth, tore off the vines binding them through pure strength, and charged at Yuseong.

Orcs, also called the warrior race, tend to burn with even greater fighting spirit the stronger their opponent.

Unless showing truly overwhelming power difference, this level of prowess would only provoke the orcs.

“Die!”

“Kweeet! Kwee!”

“Revenge, for comrades!”

Three orcs remained.

However, the difficulty had increased.

No matter how fast he could think and maintain composure, Yuseong’s absolute abilities and experience couldn’t exceed an ordinary person’s limits.

Unable to use surprise or unexpected methods to cause confusion and forced into direct combat, he had no choice but to fall back.

‘At this rate I’ll lose.’

Though he could take down two more at the cost of injury, beyond that would be mutual destruction at best.

Even as his breathing grew labored and wounds accumulated, Yuseong calmly analyzed and combined his skills and the situation without panic, thinking of a one-hit-kill method to take down the third orc.

And just as his breath reached its limit, lightning struck in Yuseong’s mind.

‘That would work!’

He would collapse from exhaustion if this dragged on any longer.

Yuseong decided to gamble while he still had some strength left.

“Tch!”

Seeing the human suddenly charge head-on, the orc swung its wooden club horizontally with a cruel smile.

Crack!

Hearing the brutal sound of bones crushing and organs rupturing, the orc unconsciously relaxed, judging victory was decided.

And that careless judgment determined the outcome.

Pain Nullification.

Despite the critical hit, Yuseong charged in without any stiffening or hesitation and stabbed his sword into the orc’s throat.