Infinite Battle

[You can purchase 3 items for free.]

[Current Karma: 412,100,000]

[Product List]

-Sun Moon Ritual(S): 300,000,000

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

-Crimson Blood Divine Art(S-): 100,000,000

-Bead Containing Thought Energy(A+): 35,000,000

-Dragon’s Inner Core(A+): 30,000,000

-Nine Phases Manifestation(A+): 10,000,000

-…..

-…..

-…..

“I would’ve been in big trouble without those additional rewards.”

The prices were literally mind-boggling.

Without the additional rewards, he would have depleted all the karma points he had saved up from clearing quests.

“First, I’ll use the free purchases on Sun Moon Ritual, Crimson Blood Divine Art, and Bead Containing Thought Energy…”

After that, he bought several smaller items like Dragon’s Inner Core, Nine Phases Manifestation, and martial arts before closing the shop window. Yuseong picked up the Sun Moon Ritual from among the many items piled on the desk.

After staring at the book for a while, Yuseong sighed and closed it.

The contents of Sun Moon Ritual were incredibly profound and abstruse.

Each character and phrase contained multiple meanings, and most of the content used abstract metaphors that made it possible to barely get through one page in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Though he could somehow interpret it thanks to his high wisdom stat, it seemed he would need to struggle quite a bit to fully understand Sun Moon Ritual’s contents.

“Since Sun Moon Ritual clearly won’t be done in a day or two, I’ll set aside time to read it slowly later. The real issue is this.”

Mind Stabilizing Pill and Bead Containing Thought Energy.

Mind Stabilizing Pill was an elixir that eliminated drug side effects and increased spirit stats, while Bead Containing Thought Energy was a mysterious item with unknown effects.

‘Considering the note’s contents, it seems Bead Containing Thought Energy has some kind of side effect that needs to be suppressed with Mind Stabilizing Pill…’

Though he wasn’t sure what effect Bead Containing Thought Energy had, given that the Heavenly Demon made Mind Stabilizing Pill and left a note, it probably wasn’t left with malicious intent.

What Yuseong was worrying about wasn’t Bead Containing Thought Energy but Mind Stabilizing Pill.

Mind Stabilizing Pill had two effects.

One-time removal of all negative effects from any type of drug, and increasing spirit stats by 1,000 for 24 hours.

The key point here was that Bead Containing Thought Energy wasn’t a drug.

‘In other words, it means Mind Stabilizing Pill’s second effect suppresses whatever side effects Bead Containing Thought Energy has, while the first effect remains unused.’

Removing all negative effects from any type of drug.

The moment he saw this option, an idea occurred to Yuseong.

“Could I use Mind Stabilizing Pill’s effect to make Skill Rank Increase Elixir’s success chance 100%?”

<Skill Rank Increase Elixir>

-Rank: A

-Type: Consumable

-A mysterious mystic pill that increases the rank of one selected skill when consumed.

-The higher the skill rank, the lower the chance of the mystic pill’s effect manifesting.

Taking out the mystic pill he had stashed away in his subspace, Yuseong pondered as he read the description.

He couldn’t be certain whether ‘The higher the skill rank, the lower the chance of the mystic pill’s effect manifesting’ counted as a side effect.

In the worst case, he might lose not just Mind Stabilizing Pill’s effect but the Skill Rank Increase Elixir too.

However, Yuseong soon firmed his resolve.

The Skill Rank Increase Elixir was like a stone in the soup – too risky to use on high-rank skills for fear of failure, but too precious to waste on low-rank skills.

“Better to use it now than keep it stashed away in subspace forever worrying about it.”

Gulp.

He first put Mind Stabilizing Pill in his mouth, then consumed Skill Rank Increase Elixir right after.

After swallowing the liquid with an indescribably subtle taste, a message window appeared.

[You have consumed Skill Rank Increase Elixir.]

[Please select a skill to increase in rank.]

He had already decided which skill to choose.

“Eye of Truth.”

Choosing Infinite Origin Force at S rank would enable more efficient energy manipulation.

Choosing Crimson Blood Divine Art at S- rank would allow using more powerful energy techniques.

However, Yuseong’s choice was Eye of Truth at A+ rank.

‘Both Infinite Origin Force and Crimson Blood Divine Art are ultimately skills stolen using Eye of Truth. Though its displayed rank might be lower, Eye of Truth has far more potential and room for growth.’

After briefly worrying about possible failure, a bright smile spread across Yuseong’s face.

“It worked.”

[Eye of Truth’s rank has increased to S-.]

The gamble paid off.

After immediately activating Eye of Truth and looking around while casting a few skills, Yuseong tilted his head.

He couldn’t see anything new, nor could he see existing energy any better.

“Has nothing changed?”

Lost in thought, Yuseong shook his head.

The rank had increased.

Though he hadn’t found it yet, something must have definitely changed.

However, he didn’t have time to test Eye of Truth now.

Yuseong immediately opened the second case and took out Bead Containing Thought Energy.

His spirit stats were approaching 3,000 thanks to being boosted by the Forbidden Knowledge skill, so he didn’t think he particularly needed Mind Stabilizing Pill’s mental stat increase of 1,000, but just in case, he decided to faithfully follow the note’s instructions.

Crunch!

When he applied force with his fingers, cracks appeared in the bead and gray energy spewed out from inside.

And that energy burrowed into his body instantly without giving him time to stop it.

Yuseong closed his eyes as he felt his consciousness growing distant.

* * *

When Yuseong opened his eyes, he realized he was in a completely new place rather than the lord’s room in Dragonia.

Dozens of mountain peaks rising majestically as if piercing the sky.

Mist draped over the entire mountain range creating a dreamy atmosphere, and countless pavilions too numerous to count.

He was on the highest peak overlooking all of this.

“Though I hoped our fates would connect, I never thought it would actually happen. Fate truly works in strange and wondrous ways.”

At the voice from behind, Yuseong quickly turned around and took a fighting stance.

There stood a sharp-featured youth wearing a black robe.

Though it was clearly someone he was seeing for the first time, the voice felt strangely familiar.

While searching through his memories, Yuseong recalled something and exclaimed in surprise.

“Could you be Lord Hae Cheongyeong?”

“To be precise, I am Hae Cheongyeong’s lingering thoughts. Good to meet you again, Han Yuseong.”

“Ha, haha…”

Though he had somewhat guessed, he couldn’t believe it was really Hae Cheongyeong.

Yuseong, who had been laughing hollowly, was brought back to reality by Hae Cheongyeong’s voice.

“Though I’d like to have a drink and chat about various things, we don’t have time for that. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“The point?”

“Passing on martial arts and enlightenment.”

Hae Cheongyeong spoke while drawing his sword.

“The reason my main body created this existence was to pass on at least some of the martial arts and enlightenment accumulated over a lifetime to those with fate. A lingering thought without physical form can only exist for an instant, and martial arts and enlightenment cannot be passed on through words alone.”

Woong!

Energy materialized visibly enough to be seen spreading in concentric circles centered on Hae Cheongyeong.

Such massive energy made the air ripple and the entire mountain range shake.

An overwhelming force that didn’t even allow the will to fight.

With a face pale from the absolute pressure crushing his soul, Yuseong muttered.

“…Are you planning to kill me?”

“Did you take Mind Stabilizing Pill?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

“Then it’s fine. This is a mental realm. As long as your mental strength doesn’t run out, you can die here any number of times without dying. With Mind Stabilizing Pill, you should be able to endure even a thousand deaths.”

“Right now I don’t have any items, I mean equipment, so I can’t fight properly…”

“The mental realm is a world of mind. Imagine. Whatever you imagine will become reality.”

Imagine.

Yuseong realized Thousand Hands was already fitted on his hand and gave a hollow laugh.

‘If whatever I imagine becomes reality, can I create weapons that exist in reality too?’

While considering whether to try making modern weapons like fighter jets or nuclear bombs, Yuseong shook his head.

He wasn’t sure if he could really create modern weapons, and even if he could, winning that way would be meaningless.

Yuseong half-opened his eyes and checked his condition.

His stats were identical to reality, and the effects of skills and performance of items were also the same.

The only difference between this world and reality was that imagination could be made real.

“I’ll let you attack first.”

“…I’ll learn from you.”

‘Go all out from the start.’

Hae Cheongyeong was an overwhelmingly stronger being than himself.

Thinking that half-hearted probing attacks wouldn’t work, Yuseong decided to go all out from the beginning.

Energy sleeping in his head, heart, and dantian was released strand by strand.

Pure white spirit power, golden magic power, silver internal energy.

The three energies that originally could not mix were combined into one through Infinite Origin Force, being reborn as supreme primal energy.

“Impressive. A divine technique that can unite energies of different natures into one. But can you control that much internal energy?”

“No problem.”

The synergy between his wisdom stats beyond common sense and Eye of Truth that had reached S- rank granted him unrivaled energy control ability.

The problem was his body unable to withstand the energy breaking down.

Yuseong activated the Blessing’s Absolute Protection skill to double his supreme primal energy using this amplification skill, and finally employed Crimson Blood Divine Art.

Crack! Crack!

Space distorted each time sparks flew from the blood-red energy.

With crimson energy wrapped around his entire body, Yuseong took a stance about to charge forward and said.

“…You clearly said you’d let me attack first.”

“You talk too much. Come.”

Seeing Hae Cheongyeong’s utterly calm appearance, Yuseong gritted his teeth and kicked the ground.

Shooting Star unleashed using 10,000 points of magic power.

The crimson Yuseong shot toward Hae Cheongyeong.

‘No matter how transcendent a martial artist he is, after taking this…’

Crack!

Along with the sound of something breaking, his vision went dark and consciousness faded.

When he came to his senses, Yuseong realized through touch that he was buried in the ground and tilted his head.

‘…What happened?’

“You died once.”

His vision immediately went dark and returned.

This time he felt overwhelming buoyancy and fierce wind.

Yuseong first activated Asura Perception Way to assess the situation.

Through the blurry vision he could understand what had happened.

The highest peak where he and Hae Cheongyeong had been was gone, and there was a huge hole in the peak next to it.

‘I couldn’t even last one exchange?’

As Yuseong was startled, Hae Cheongyeong’s indifferent voice pierced his ears.

“Two.”

Vision went dark, then returned.

“Three.”

Looking at Hae Cheongyeong calmly muttering, Yuseong realized he had picked the wrong fight.