Song Seung-jun couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
Lee Seong-jun's shield was flawless, his movements unshakable. Still, Song convinced himself: Every defense has a blind spot. If I move faster, I can strike through.
He pushed forward, his twin blades cutting the air, agility sharpened to its limits. Yet the illusion crumbled in the next breath.
Ding!
[Star's Favor activated.]
[Strength, Agility, and Stamina enhanced.]
[Earth's Blessing applied. Wind's Protection applied.]
[Amplification effect triggered. Buffs increased by 50%.]
Power erupted within Seong-jun like a volcano breaking free. Muscles hardened, bones strengthened, and raw energy surged through his veins. His body had broken past its limits.
A smile curved his lips. So this is the height of a Spiritualist…
He stepped forward. Bang! The ground trembled as his fist drew back, condensing every shred of power into a single strike.
Song's eyes widened. "Tch!" He crossed his swords desperately, forging an X-shaped guard.
Too late.
"Vajra Steel Body—Profound Meaning: The Immortal Dragon."
Seong-jun's fist roared forward, a dragon of indestructible force crashing down.
KWAAANG!
The explosion split the night. The earth shook, steel shattered. Song's blades twisted, broke, and scattered into the air. Blood trickled from his palms as the impact numbed his arms.
"Ugh—!"
Before he could recover, Seong-jun's figure appeared before him, faster than thought, a fist pressing lightly against his chest—directly over his heart.
No power behind it. No pain.
But the meaning was clear.
If that strike had been real—he would already be dead.
Seong-jun's voice was cold as steel.
"Do you still call this greed?"
The aura around him shifted. Darkness flooded outward, swallowing the night. It wasn't mere killing intent—it was the weight of a ruler. The power of the Blood Demon, the Demon God who once reigned over the Thousand Continents.
Song Seung-jun's body trembled. His soul quaked beneath that overwhelming presence.
Monster. This man… is a monster.
His knees weakened as realization crashed down. Even his master, Yoon Min-soo, who shone like the sun, felt distant compared to this abyss.
"I… I spoke out of turn," Song whispered, swallowing fear.
Seong-jun's fist withdrew. He stepped back, eyes calm, though his speed had been so absolute that Song hadn't even sensed the movement.
What kind of martial art is this? It feels like something beyond human limits…
Seong-jun's gaze hardened. "I'll warn you once. There won't be a second. Don't try anything foolish again."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Song called out desperately, "Treasure Gates aren't so simple! Traps, monsters with strange powers—you can't clear it alone! Work with me, with Nuri! Together, we could conquer it!"
But Seong-jun didn't look back. His figure faded into the night, leaving only silence and Song's hollow voice echoing in the ruins.
Later, Seong-jun sat on a park bench near his home. He replayed the clash in his mind.
The new skills of the Spiritualist… they're more effective than I imagined. I defeated Song Seung-jun without even drawing on my internal energy.
It was proof enough. He could endure the trials of the Treasure Gate. Buffs that bolstered his durability and stamina, shields that protected his body—tools perfect for a drawn-out, lonely battle.
Still, he reminded himself: This world is vast. There are countless strong, countless arrogant fools waiting.
Enemies like Cho Se-hyeok, Song Seung-jun, and the Returnees Association were just the beginning. Fame and reputation meant nothing. Threats would never stop.
There was only one way to silence them all.
Overwhelming power. Authority that makes every head bow.
It was the same path he once walked as the Blood Demon—the path of an absolute ruler. And now, he would walk it again.
"The first step," he murmured with a quiet smile, "is the reward of the Treasure Gate."
The next day, cameras flashed wildly as Lee Seong-jun arrived before the Treasure Gate. The nation's eyes were fixed on him—the lone hunter daring to challenge what had devoured entire guilds.
Go Tae-hyun, smiling warmly, greeted him.
"I've been waiting for you, Hunter Lee Seong-jun."
"It's been a while," Seong-jun replied.
Though Tae-hyun's smile held a trace of unease, his heart stirred with awe. Hunters like Daniel Brühl and Blanca Suárez—legends in their own right—had perished inside these gates. Until this morning, doubt had gnawed at him.
But standing before Seong-jun now, feeling the sheer pressure radiating from him, that doubt evaporated.
No… he's stronger than me. Strong enough to take the Gate.
Tae-hyun swallowed. In just one month, he's grown into something monstrous.
Yet instead of fear, excitement bloomed in his chest. If he regains his true peak… this man might raise Korea to stand above the world.
Tae-hyun chuckled. "I see my worries were unnecessary."
Seong-jun's confident smile answered him. His gaze turned to the gate ahead, where crimson winds swirled ominously.
"I don't like delays. Shall I begin?"
"Of course."
The air hummed with a low resonance, as if the gate itself beckoned.
With steady steps, Lee Seong-jun crossed the threshold.
"Then, I'll see you later."
Tae-hyun bowed deeply. "Good luck."
And just like that, the man known as the Demon God disappeared into the Treasure Gate.