Mukuroshibo closes the door behind him.
The room falls silent.
"Are you two ready?" he asks.
Riven looks at him. "Ready for what?"
Mukuroshibo lifts his naginata slightly. The green stone embedded within it glows faintly.
"If you do not already know, I am the Clock Stone God."
Riven and Tetsuro listen carefully.
"I will be your mentor until you are powerful enough to stand on your own… if that is what you wish. We will now head to the research facility to determine your hero rank and chi output level."
Tetsuro nods. "We're ready, Mukuroshibo, sir."
"Then follow me."
They leave the waiting room and descend the long staircase beneath the castle. The air grows colder the deeper they go.
Eventually, they arrive at a vast underground research facility. Bright lights illuminate rows of advanced machinery. Researchers move between stations while experiments are conducted inside reinforced chambers.
They walk until they reach a large room.
At the center stands a massive cylindrical tube, large enough to hold a person.
Mukuroshibo gestures toward it.
"If you stand inside the tube and allow the researchers to scan you, your hero rank will be calculated."
Riven looks around. "What are the rankings of heroes?"
Mukuroshibo nods toward a metal sign beside them.
"Look."
Riven reads:
Warrior
Elite Warrior
S-Warrior
Titan
Legend
God
Tetsuro steps forward first.
"I'll go."
He enters the tube. The door seals shut.
"Initiate scanning," a researcher says.
Lights move across the tube as a low hum fills the room.
After about a minute, the scan completes. The tube opens.
"Sir, the results are ready."
The screen displays:
Male – 6'5"
Race: human
Age: 22
Weight: 300 lbs
Hero Rank: Elite Warrior
Chi Output Level: 1700 / 3000
Mukuroshibo glances at the screen.
"That's good for a monk."
He turns to Riven.
"Your turn, pirate."
Riven steps into the tube.
"Initiate scanning."
The machine hums once more.
After a short wait, it finishes.
"Mukuroshibo, sir, you may check the screen."
The display reads:
Male – 6'0"
Race: Human
Age: 21
Weight: 190 lbs
Hero Rank: Elite Warrior
Chi Output Level: 1872 / 3000
Mukuroshibo studies the numbers.
"Not bad for a former knight."
He faces both of them.
"You are both Elite Warriors—but at the lowest tier. There are three divisions: Elite Warrior I, II, and III. The more missions you complete, the stronger your chi becomes. You may return here anytime to reassess your output and rank."
He continues—
"Remember, training your chi is crucial for lasting long in battl—"
The doors burst open.
"SIR MUKUROSHIBO!" a guard shouts. "We've detected a large amount of Dark Chi a few miles from Gate X!"
Mukuroshibo's expression hardens.
"Keep all S-Warriors and Titans guarding every gate. I'll investigate Gate X."
He turns to Riven and Tetsuro.
"You two, report to the Elite Warriors of your division. Leave this facility and show them your forearm marking for rank verification before entering the upper levels."
Without hesitation, he exits.
—After Mukuroshibo arrives at Gate X and senses the Dark Chi
Several S-Warriors stand positioned behind him.
"Is this all for your rank?" Mukuroshibo asks.
"Yes, sir," one of them replies. "The rest went to Norse Planet."
Mukuroshibo pauses.
"And did you pick up their chi signals there?"
The warrior hesitates.
"No, sir. We've lost all contact with their chi."
The air grows heavier.
Then—
A guard scans the distance.
"Sir… we've identified the source. Villain rank… Monster level."
Mukuroshibo's expression darkens.
"That's not good. It could destroy this gate at any second."
A spherical black orb floats toward Mukuroshibo.
"Gunners, point all turrets at it."
Before they fully aim—
A second orb appears.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
Suddenly, a blinding flash erupts.
"Now this is rather amusing… entering a castle this easily."
Mukuroshibo can hear the voice but cannot see.
"GUNNERS, FIRE!"
"God Fighting Style!"
His arms glow white as he deflects the turret blasts forward.
The light fades.
A figure stands there.
Spiral eyes.
Long coat.
"Greetings, Mukuroshibo…"
"Omni Null…" Mukuroshibo says.
He swings his naginata instantly.
Omni Null dodges effortlessly and counters with a punch to Mukuroshibo's stomach.
"First Seal… Relic Gun."
"Keep it up, Mukuroshibo," Omni Null says calmly. "Let's see if you're really Legend rank."
"SUN FIGHTING STYLE!"
Mukuroshibo's four arms ignite burning red. He grabs Omni Null by the neck and throws him through the gate, destroying it and forcing the fight outside the castle.
"Coming here alone wasn't a good idea, Omni Null."
Omni Null stands.
"Who said I came alone?"
Mukuroshibo rushes forward.
"SUN DRAGON BEAM!"
A bright yellow beam erupts from his right arm toward Omni Null.
Omni Null blocks it with one of his black orbs.
"Who is the other person you brought here? Answer."
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Void Kwon Do!"
Omni Null escapes the beam and drives a punch into Mukuroshibo's gut, sending him flying back toward the destroyed gate.
Mukuroshibo coughs as he stands.
"Guards… keep an eye out for another Dark Chi user. That hit me pretty hard."
A guard scans the area.
"Sir… you were right. I've detected another Dark Chi signature."
Mukuroshibo looks up sharply.
"Where is it?"
The guard swallows.
"…Inside the castle."
end of the chapter.