The blood around Lee Seong-jun's arms began to whirl violently, painting crimson trails in the air. With a sharp movement, he compressed it into a small sphere—yet its weight was far from small.
This sphere was no ordinary construct. It held the combined force of his middle and lower dantians, every ounce of power he had condensed into one point. It was his ultimate strike made manifest.
KUUUNG—!
The blood and energy saturating the battlefield were drawn into the sphere, swirling like a crimson vortex. Even the streams conjured by the doppelgangers were sucked away, powerless against its pull.
It was natural.
This was the essence of the Blood Sea Martial Arts—a cornerstone technique, the foundation upon which greater devastation could be built.
Seong-jun's eyes narrowed. You don't know me now. You only copied who I was then.
The doppelgangers stiffened, instincts screaming as the sphere swelled with uncontrollable power. They tried desperately to shatter it, but every attempt was meaningless.
Their knowledge stopped at the past. They could not comprehend what Seong-jun had become.
"Let's end it here."
He closed his palm.
KUNG—!
The sphere erupted, releasing a blinding scarlet radiance that engulfed the temple and sky alike. The air itself bent beneath the crushing force. The light dyed the world redder than any sunset.
The pillars crumbled first, collapsing into rubble. Then the ground split apart, the temple reduced to dust in the quake.
Yet in the midst of destruction, one figure stood unshaken.
"Mansang Blood Sea… Second Form—Manifestation of Asura."
A demonic presence erupted behind Seong-jun, an Asura-shaped phantom towering like a god of slaughter. Its power dwarfed everything, pressing the world to its knees.
KWAKWAKWANG—!
The temple, the ground, the doppelgangers—everything vanished. Only a vast crater remained, with Seong-jun standing alone at its heart. Victory was his.
But the price was heavy.
"…Tch." His vision spun. His body grew cold, drained by the excessive use of blood and internal energy. He steadied himself with deep breaths, forcing calm back into his frame.
TING!
[S+ Rank Boss Monster: Doppelganger Squad—Defeated.]
[Contribution analysis in progress.]
[User 'Lee Seong-jun' contribution: 100%.]
[Special condition met: First solo raid completed in the dimension 'Earth'. Reward tier increased by one level!]
[Excess reward converted into experience points.]
[Experience gained—Level Up!]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 90.]
[Title Acquired: Monopolist.]
A green hologram filled his view. Seong-jun smirked. "Better than I expected."
The rewards of the Treasure Gate surpassed even his expectations. To leap from Level 80 to 90 in one raid was nearly impossible. Even the strongest SSS-rank hunters required months to achieve such growth.
But this was only the beginning.
Title: Monopolist
All stats +10
Solo hunting EXP gain +50%
"…Perfect." His strength, speed, stamina—everything surged, equivalent to twenty additional levels. Already unmatched, he had ascended even further.
DING!
[User 'Lee Seong-jun' is awarded the highest reward of the S-Rank Treasure Gate.]
[Skill Acquired: SSS-Class—Metamorphose.]
His heart pounded. SSS-class skill…
Metamorphose (Lv.1)
Summon one figure from your memories.
Summoned being holds 30% of user's stats.
Growth-type skill: power increases with proficiency.
A slow grin spread across his face. Growth-type skills were rare legends, capable of evolving endlessly. In his past life, such skills had turned hunters into world-class rankers within years.
And now, this power was his.
Countless warriors… countless demons… all etched in my memory. Each one can become my blade.
The system window faded, but Seong-jun's excitement didn't.
DING!
[Compensation settlement complete.]
[Exit to dimension 'Earth' created.]
A red crack opened before him. But instead of stepping out immediately, Seong-jun straightened his clothes, his eyes glinting coldly.
"The path I walk… is the path of an emperor."
He would not emerge as a mere hunter, but as a ruler whose presence demanded submission. His return would shake Earth itself.
With steady steps, he advanced toward the crack.
It's been a while.
The air trembled as his figure crossed the threshold.
And then—everything changed.