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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Web Novel Written by God
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This is the martial arts transmission method of a supernatural being!
Ooh. Long live the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Art!
Long live the author!
Who the hell called the Heavenly Demon Divine Art childish? The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is the pinnacle of martial arts.
An illusory martial art is now alive and moving within me.
And it didn't stop at just injecting that information.
I even have experiences of actually using them.
What I mean is...
The details like when, where, against whom, and how many opponents are all hazy, so I can't recall them precisely.
But one thing is clear: I have memories of fighting many battles with this Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
An indescribably vast wealth of experience!
Moreover, with just the right trigger, I could fluently recite the profound theories of martial learning.
I was confident I could even teach others.
The entire process that elevated me to a grandmaster of martial arts in an instant was all etched in my mind.
How I obtained the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, too.
Of course, I know.
All of this is fake memories.
Memories of this novel's protagonist, injected into me by God along with the martial arts.
But after teasing the author countless times and only imagining it, now I can wield martial arts with my own hands.
Isn't this awe-inspiring in itself!
That must be why.
I must have blanked out for a moment.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"This guy's completely lost it today. Wanna fight right now? Exam? Are you insane?"
Even after acquiring the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and its memories, it had only been a split second from the extra's perspective.
When I opened my eyes again, the guy was shoving his face right up to mine.
That's when I saw signs of him gearing up to threaten me.
I need to dodge.
The moment that thought hit, one of the steady flashes in my head sparked again.
Lightness skill?
The image pointed to the Heavenly Demon's Dominion Step, the lightness skill of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It felt like a direct command to move according to the footwork's profound principles right now.
As the method came to mind, I discovered myself slipping naturally into the preparatory stance.
When I snapped back to attention, I was standing behind the guy.
It had to be because I'd reflexively unleashed the Heavenly Demon's Dominion Step the instant he lunged for my collar.
Suddenly, my ankle throbbed sharply.
Pain lanced through my waist as well.
Executing an ascending martial art with a body devoid of even a scrap of internal energy is no different from a young sapling caught in a typhoon.
"Huh?"
Then my balance gave out.
This body really is pathetically weak.
My knees were the culprit, as expected.
My breath came in ragged gasps like after a full sprint, and even bracing against the ground to stand felt overwhelming.
Caught in the triangle of awkward posture, disharmony, and immaturity... There you have it. This is exactly it.
My head's now littered with martial arts theory!
Wow, seriously...
This is a jackpot beyond jackpots!
Thank you.
For granting me this incredible experience. Put me to work however you like!
Protagonist memories, settings—what if they're fake? I'll make it work!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "This guy's completely lost it today. Wanna fight right now? Exam? Are you insane?" Kwon Sang-hu strode forward to grab Lee Hwan's collar. Whoosh! At that instant, Lee Hwan's movement was ghostly. From Kwon Sang-hu's view, he'd clearly seized Lee Hwan's neck. But how, when? Lee Hwan stood behind Kwon Sang-hu. Then Lee Hwan's face crumpled as he staggered. He collapsed, gasping for breath. Yet a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
A smile lingered at the corners of his mouth? Was I smiling?
The author and the novel narration lack flexibility.
It depicts exactly as observed.
I braced against the floor to rise, redoubling my efforts to immerse in the character.
"As expected, this body's still weak."
With that, I leveled my gaze.
The guy wore a baffled expression.
Then, hit by some sudden instinct, he jerked his shoulders back and bellowed.
"This guy's really lost his mind today, huh?"
The fist he swung sliced through empty air.
A crude punch bearing not even a speck of martial training.
I stepped back one pace, staying within my limits.
Right now.
I dove into the arms of the reeling thug.
An unnamed opening stance of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. I poured the essence of its seventh form into my fist.
Internal energy or no, it'd suffice.
Just ensure he stays down!
This technique pursued peak condensation and explosive release, so even bare-knuckled, I was certain one strike would floor him.
Thud!-
The instant my fist met his gut, certainty turned real.
"Urk!"
His eyes bulged like they might pop free.
And despite his hefty frame, he flew back with ease.
...You're not the only one hurting.
My body screamed in protest too, contorting my face. But I had to deliver the closing line.
The dialogue to cap the paragraph.
The protagonist's storied past should subtly emerge from the groundwork laid earlier.
For someone vowing a life of pure personal greed henceforth, this regret fits perfectly.
Author, take a good look. See the emotion fueling my immersion as Lee Hwan.
"I've lived far too ignorant of the world. Reality isn't just what you see."
Bittersweet yet dignified to close.
"It's a world where justice doesn't exist."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lee Hwan gazed down at the unconscious Kwon Sang-hu and declared, "I've lived far too ignorant of the world. Reality isn't just what you see. Justice doesn't exist in this world." His words rang like a confession to himself.
A confession to himself. Great line!
Perfect, Author!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has completed (Paragraph #1). ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author is quite satisfied with himself. "Whoa... I think I'm writing pretty damn well. Must have talent. Writing's the best!"
That's exactly what I want to say.
The protagonist's life is pure gold, isn't it?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has reinforced (Character*Lee Hwan). ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Reason for reinforcement: "Justice doesn't exist in this world."
Oh, protagonist settings!
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 👤 Name: Lee Hwan 📖 Role: Protagonist 📜 Past: Mastered fist techniques of Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Strived for righteousness, but it was miserable. ⚔️ Betrayed: Died without completing revenge.
The setting notes are filling up.
As expected, the author is drawing inspiration from my lines and thoughts.
Anyway, for blockbuster success, pour everything into these opening 3 chapters.
Hoo, hurry but don't rush.
Whatever fresh settings and fun tale you've prepped, show it all in 3 chapters—but prep meticulously, no haste there.
Be ruthlessly calculated.
Weave settings into the narrative within those fixed 3 chapters, clearly reveal the protagonist's drive.
Plus, agonize over hooks to steadily build reader hype, devoting pages to them.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has begun (Paragraph #2). - The Strongest in a World of Pure Self-Interest, Chapter 1
Title changed? Way better.
Alright, Phase 2.
I started slapping the unconscious thug's cheeks.
A few smacks later, his eyes fluttered open. He'd merely regained consciousness, nothing more.
He clutched the spot on his gut where my fist had landed, writhing in agony.
It'd take time for him to steady enough to talk.
Hmm. Now what?
Fantasy, wuxia, romance, alt-history.
Finding non-regression stories is tougher than regressions these days. Most are regressions or regression-lite.
To differentiate, first: protagonist's unique hook or charm. Second: stage originality.
Lee Hwan's solid there.
Natural hype from his personal-greed pursuit born of trauma.
Plus revenge as ironclad motive.
Next up: stage and era.
This is modern with martial arts.
Plenty of those.
Hunter, raid, tower, constellation—common tropes.
So you could rip the sky for monsters or spawn a 100-floor tower on a whim!
But you nixed status screens for lacking freshness over systems.
Makes it trickier.
What's the genre of 'The Strongest in a World of Pure Self-Interest'?
...Undecided. Spot on.
You want modern martial arts protagonist sans clichéd systems.
That's it, right, Author? My turn now?
This far in, half the IP rights are mine?
You know it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After prolonged deliberation, the thug steadied enough to speak.
I dropped the prepared line.
"I covered about 3 mil of your debt, so let's call it 30 mil. Bring it."
"How the hell am I getting that kind of cash now..."
"Make it happen."
I flashed a savage grin.
With the power gap crystal clear, the punk offered no defense.
Foundation set.
World-building exposition is trash.
Time for era-blending dialogue.
"Goblins lend to lowlifes like you too. Walk in? Or dragged?"
His eyes quivered.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author ponders deeply. "Goblins? Martial arts already... Just make protag a wizard and rewrite?"
Wizard go... Huh? Prologue's live? You loved it?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author ponders again. "Eh, diverse elements sound fun."
Yes!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has decided. "Yeah. Adding fantasy." ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has added (Race*Goblin). ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The author has added (Race*Orc).