I smiled and said,
> "For the sake of the forgotten.
For the sake of the weak.
We will annihilate them all.
Everyone who stands in our face will face more than death itself."
Everyone gasped.
Chaos said,
> "I don't care whether you're welcome or not.
Tell me what you're planning to do."
I said,
> "First thing is abducting someone."
Vapor asked,
> "Why?"
I replied,
> "Simple.
When I was Delta — at the Suzuki auction — there was this kid who created the fraud detection."
Theo:
> "What the heck is that?"
I said,
> "Just let me finish."
Theo:
> "Yeah, sorry."
I continued,
> "A fraud detection is a detector that uses a scan.
With just one scan, it can give information about the person."
Their eyes lit up the moment I said that.
I continued,
> "The information is what shocked me.
It wasn't kid-level information. It was high-level — extremely advanced.
> We don't notice it, but when someone is born, there are these small insect-sized flies that suck the newborn child's blood and take it to an abandoned storage place called DNA Storage.
> They store the newborn's blood, and it stays fresh as long as the DNA Storage is operational.
> The system analyzes it and differentiates the magic abilities the newborn has.
Then they store it — all without human contact.
It's just an AI algorithm."
Ironveil said,
> "Never knew about that. Good to know — for real."
I said,
> "The algorithm is perfectly made.
And the kid who came to the auction directly linked the information source to the DNA Storage algorithm.
> As someone who learned coding and programming…
I know — this is something only legends can do.
> So if we get that kid to join us — or even just help us — we can get information about the nobles… even their secret demonification.
> Everything is going to be listed there.
> The demonification part might take a while to figure out, but he will.
> Plus, everything from camera footage to other systems — he can hijack them all."
Rajin said,
> "There are actually very few people who can do that.
If we get them…
It means we've got access to everything we ever asked about."
The Queen said,
> "That's a solid plan.
So — who's planning to get him or her?"
Gravitorn said,
> "I think you should bring him yourself — as your first mission."
They all agreed.
The Queen said,
> "Good. Then when will you get him here?"
I replied,
> "I'll go out tomorrow morning… and get back as fast as I can."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
I walked out.
After that…
Ironveil, Vapor, and Vortex called me.
I walked, chilling with them.
They took me to a grassland.
Vapor said,
> "I heard you can use all magic."
(He took his shirt off.)
The other two sat down on the ground — one leg up, the other flat.
I said,
> "Nah, I can't."
Vapor replied,
> "What? But you used both magic and skill — plus both abilities."
I said,
> "It's kinda complicated…
My power is Auctions."
---
> "Whatever I learn is my power," I said while clenching my fists.
Then I looked down and said,
> "Well, even though I can't create my own attacks, I can use others' attacks — even if I can't use the elemental magic they're using."
Vapor asked,
> "That's good, but what happens when it comes to aura users?"
I replied,
> "I can't use any special aura user's ability.
But when it comes to hunters, I can use their ability if I learn how it works.
As for dungeon bosses — I need to beat the shit out of them first.
Otherwise, I won't be able to use their skills."
Vapor finished stretching and said,
> "Stand right in front of me."
I walked slowly, scanning his stance.
As he requested, I stood right in front of him.
He moved his hand and placed it on my head.
Then he attached his thumb to my forehead — slightly above the junction between my eyebrows.
Smoke began to come out of his mouth, and he was creating fog from his body.
His long hair stood upright — flying and waving from the rising smoke.
Then — just as he tapped his middle finger on the top of my head…
I lost consciousness.
---
I woke up in a completely different world.
There was nothing — only fog and mist.
Then suddenly, an eye-shaped glow — dark blue, kind of like navy — shined so bright.
I slowly stepped back.
A deep, echoing voice sounded.
> "Welcome… to the Smoke Realm."
The eye… was actually the eyes of a huge monarch.
He said,
> "Do you want to be my follower?"
I answered,
> "Well… can I?"
The monarch cleared the fog and said,
> "You have a magic restriction…
But you might still gain powers.
It's okay if you don't — but this is a very valuable offer."
I replied,
> "Let me guess…
Your elemental power is used by only one person.
And as a monarch, you must be able to let people cultivate your power."
The monarch responded,
> "Correct.
My power needs that.
In order to do it — I must continue making my elemental magic get cultivated."
> "I will be one of your followers," I said, "but I have an offer — give me a wish."
The monarch, sitting on his massive throne, leaned to its left side and said:
> "But you see... my one and only cultivator — Vapor — didn't even get a wish.
So why should I give it to you?"
I replied,
> "I promise you… I will make a godlike being — just as you should be.
You just need to believe in me."
The monarch looked down at me with amusement.
> "How are you going to make me one?
You're just a human who wasn't even destined to be here."
I smirked.
> "It's okay if you don't want to…
But there's a reason why I broke my destiny.
You see, these days I feel like…
I'm here because I was destined to break my destiny."
The monarch nodded slowly.
> "I believe in you.
So don't let me down.
Now… tell me your wish."
> "My wish…
My wish is…"
Yeah. I wished.
But it's a secret.
---
The monarch said,
> "Now go do what you promised.
You better not let me down."
---
I woke up — feeling dizzy.
Vapor was beside me.
> "Hey, you okay?" he asked, raising my head and handing me a cup of water.
I nodded and took it, still a bit dazed.
I stood up and said,
> "Good to know I can actually use mist magic now — for real for real."
Vortex smirked,
> "You can use wind and mist. That's good for you."
Ironveil stepped forward.
> "Now you better get ready.
You're gonna meet the Blacksmith God next."
> "For today, it's enough," he added.
"We don't want you losing your sanity from the dizziness.
Go sleep."
I was confused.
> The Blacksmith God?
Why would there be one?
I mean sure — no human is a blacksmith anymore. And they never can be.
But somehow… Ironveil is connected to the blacksmith.
Looks like we're gonna hear a very interesting story with a theory behind it.
For now… let's just enjoy our time.
> "I'm gonna sleep."
---
A little while later…
A fairy came to my room and knocked.
I didn't reply. But I sensed her.
That's just me.
I sleep like the dead.
She used her magic to try and wake me up.
After a bunch of attempts, I finally woke up.