Using Random Mix Ticket.
A base Creative Work has been selected.
Base Creative Work: Bright Ascension Chart
My body twitched.
Bright Ascension Chart.
The name sounded like a martial arts novel, but it was actually an Immortal Cultivation novel, a genre currently wildly popular in China. Similar to martial arts, yet distinct.
Fuck. Why was this selected? I haven't even finished reading it yet.
I thought only Creative Works I'd completed would be chosen? Maybe it's because the Random Mix Ticket selects them, not me.
Creative Works to be mixed with Bright Ascension Chart have been selected.
1. Fallen Heavenly Demon
2. Otherworld Heavenly Demon
[3. Heavenly Demon's Revenge War]
[4. When I Woke Up, I Had Become the Heavenly Demon]
[5. Martial King Online]
"Fuck. What the hell is a Heavenly Demon...?"
I was so dumbfounded that I could barely speak. Why? Four creative works featuring the Heavenly Demon?!
[Creative works have been successfully mixed.]
[Enter the Bright Ascension Chart Game World?]
My pupils trembled.
I had always assumed I would eventually enter a martial arts world.
Since there was a problem with the Demonic Heavenly Art I possessed, I thought I might be able to resolve it in a martial arts world.
But entering the martial arts world this way was never part of my plan.
Wait. If the setting is the Bright Ascension Chart... isn't that not even a martial arts world?
Martial King Online was essentially a fantasy game masquerading as a martial arts title, revolving around a conflict between the Celestial and Demon Races.
Martial King Online? That web game shut down years ago. I played it for two days after getting hooked by the female character illustrations, but...
Aside from the Celestial-Demon conflict, I couldn't remember a single thing about the story.
And for good reason: the plot was so mind-numbingly boring that I skipped every single line of dialogue. Plus, the gameplay was just another generic Chinese web game.
A world mashed together from six different Creative Works? This is going to be a complete mess.
I glared at my smartphone. This Game World was hell. It had to be hell.
Even if I have to auto-play to the ending, I need to get the Bright Ascension Chart.
Bright Ascension Chart.
It was both the title of a novel and the name of a magical artifact within the story.
The Bright Ascension Chart is the protagonist's early-game treasure.
The Bright Ascension Chart was a painting depicting a sky and mountains. This painting possessed a unique ability: it could enhance objects placed within its frame.
Spirit Medicines inserted into the painting would have their effects amplified. Swords and spears would become stronger and sharper.
Even a pebble would be enhanced if placed inside.
This incredible treasure must be mine. It absolutely must.
I knew where the Bright Ascension Chart was located. The problem, however, was the sheer vastness of the Bright Ascension Chart's world.
Its size was several dozen times greater than Earth's.
"I can't customize my character. It must be randomly generated."
In the worst-case scenario, I could start an immense distance away from the Bright Ascension Chart.
"I might have to travel for decades... no, perhaps even centuries."
By then, the Protagonist would undoubtedly have already obtained the Bright Ascension Chart. Stealing it from him wouldn't be easy either, as he might be overwhelmingly powerful by the time we meet.
"...If I'm too far away, I'll just abandon this world."
Still, I planned to give it a try. The Bright Ascension Chart was a treasure worth pursuing, even if its power diminished when brought to the real world.
You have selected the Bright Ascension Chart.
There are no customizable avatar settings available.
Avatar created.
Bright Ascension Chart selected.
Game starting.
I was in pitch darkness. I tried to move my body, but it wouldn't obey.
What's this? I just entered the Game World.
I strained my eyes... No, I couldn't tell if my eyes were even open. My senses were muted. Was I lying down? Or standing?
Frustration began to rise at this lack of control.
Chosen one of the heavens...
A woman's voice echoed through the darkness.
Mysterious yet compassionate, the voice belonged to someone who must be breathtakingly beautiful, though I couldn't see her.
"..."
I tried to speak, but my mouth wouldn't open. Even a mumble was impossible.
-The world faces imminent destruction...
Those words snapped me awake.
I felt like I'd heard something similar before.
...The opening scene of Martial King Online! That's it!
-You, chosen by the heavens, are the world's only hope.
A beam of light materialized from nowhere and enveloped me.
Slap, slap.
Someone lightly slapped my cheek. I frowned and opened my eyes.
"Hey. Hey, Yujin-ah. What are you doing? Why are you dozing off here?"
"...Huh?"
A boy in a navy martial uniform stood before me. With his hollow cheeks, he looked about fifteen years old, but his body was surprisingly well-trained for his age.
"Who are you?"
"Still half-asleep? It's me, Seong Jigun."
"...Seong Jigun?"
"Yeah. Lord Jong will be here soon. Get up already."
I sat up.
Seong Jigun was the half-brother of the protagonist in the original novel, Bright Ascension Chart.
If Seong Jigun is here... does that mean we're at the very beginning of the story, and even the location is the Meteor Sword Sect? Heh. Luck is on my side. I need to find the Bright Ascension Chart quickly and get back to reality.
I looked around. There were other children around Seong Jigun's age, all wearing martial arts uniforms and carrying wooden swords at their waists.
...Could it be that I've become younger too?
I looked down at my body. Like the other boys, I was wearing a martial arts uniform and carrying a wooden sword. My body had indeed become younger.
Thankfully, my smartphone is still tucked inside my robes...
I shook my body. Apart from being smaller than my real-world body, nothing else seemed to have changed.
Is there no penalty for having a younger body?
Perhaps it's because, unlike the Plum Blossom Sword Saint world, my character here is a martial artist.
"What's with you all of a sudden? Are you sick?" Seong Jigun stared at me like I was some kind of weirdo as I checked my body.
"I'm still half-asleep. But where's Seong Cheono?"
Seong Cheono.
The protagonist's name from Bright Ascension Chart.
"Seong Cheono? Who's that?"
"...Who else? Seong Godan's 38th child."
Seong Jigun was the 37th child of Seong Godan, the Sect Leader of the Meteor Sword Sect. For reference, Seong Godan had a staggering seventeen wives and concubines.
"Seong Godan... Hey, what kind of son calls his father by his name? And you're the 38th child! What's wrong with you today?"
"I'm Seong God... I mean, Father's 38th child?"
"Are you... are you messing with me right now?"
"Is my mother's name Wang Giso?"
"You're asking even though you know the answer! You're just teasing me, aren't you, you little brat!"
Seong Jigun flicked a kkulbam at me. Startled, I couldn't dodge it and took the light tap on the head. It didn't hurt much.
My name is Sung Yujin. But there's no Seong Cheono, and I'm Seong Godan's 38th child... Does that mean I've become the protagonist of the Bright Ascension Chart?!
The situation wasn't bad. In fact, it meant I had fewer things to worry about.
The original story starts with the protagonist as a boy... This must be the starting point of the original narrative.
I had no intention of playing this game. My mind was set on obtaining the Bright Ascension Chart and getting out. This world was dangerous in some ways, even more so than God's Atlantis.
At that moment, the dojo doors opened, and a man appeared. Dressed in martial attire, he wore a real sword at his waist.
The nearby boys moved with practiced precision, quickly forming neat rows and columns. I glanced around nervously and lined up behind Seong Jigun.
Jong Seokhong. The man known as Lord Jong.
He was the instructor who taught the Silver Star Sword, the foundational swordsmanship of the Meteor Sword Sect, to the boys of the Silver Sword Division.
Jong Seokhong swept his gaze across the group before addressing us.
"As promised yesterday, today I will assess your skills. Seong Jigun, step forward and demonstrate the Silver Star Sword."
Seong Jigun strode forward confidently. He clasped his hands in a respectful salute to Jong Seokhong, drew his wooden sword, and began to execute the Silver Star Sword techniques.
Fuck.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. I knew absolutely nothing about the Silver Star Sword.
Seong Jigun was demonstrating the Silver Star Sword in front of me, but it was impossible to replicate it after seeing it only once. I wasn't that kind of genius.
"Well done, Seong Jigun. As expected of the Sect Leader's son, you're truly exceptional. Next, Sung Yujin."
I clicked my tongue inwardly and stepped forward, offering an awkward fist-and-palm salute. Jong Seokhyun's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he remained silent, merely watching me.
What the hell.
Recalling Seong Jigun's earlier demonstration, I began to perform the sword technique.
Unsurprisingly, my performance was so pathetic it barely deserved to be called swordsmanship. While I was confident in executing the Yeongcheon Style flawlessly, the Silver Star Sword which I'd only seen once looked no better than a child flailing around with a tree branch.
"Enough," Jong Seokhong said, his voice dropping to a low growl. I lowered the wooden sword and glanced at him.
His face flushed crimson, then turned livid.
"Sung Yujin... are you challenging me right now?"
I flinched at his intensity. The qi radiating from Jong Seokhong's body made it clear: he was far stronger than me.
"Ah, no. It's just that I suddenly couldn't remember..."
"Suddenly couldn't remember? The Silver Star Sword is a technique you've been practicing for five years, since you were ten. And now you can't remember it? Is this a challenge to me?"
"No, sir! I really just suddenly couldn't remember..."
"Enough with the excuses. You clearly think I'm unfit to be your instructor. Pick up the wooden sword, Sung Yujin."
Jong Seokhong snatched Seong Jigun's wooden sword and pointed it at me.
"I'll see for myself if you're truly as superior as you think."
"Lord Jong, please calm down first..."
"Hah! Assume your stance, Sung Yujin!"
He swung the wooden sword. He wasn't completely irrational; instead of aiming for vital points, he targeted my arm. I raised my own wooden sword to block his attack.
If I'd just taken the hit, he'd have gone even more berserk... I'll parry him for a bit and then retreat.
Jong Seokhong's wooden sword moved again, this time with greater speed and force. As I deflected his strike, I felt heat surging through me.
What's with this sudden attack? I haven't even grasped the situation yet. Ugh, how annoying.
I channeled power into my wooden sword. The mana within me stirred and surged.
"...Ho ho. So you know how to manipulate Qi. Is that why you were so arrogant? But you're far from mastering it! To truly wield Qi, use the Silver Star Sword!"
I couldn't use the Yeongcheon Style. Using it now would only complicate matters, as they would mistake it for a sword technique from another sect.
For nearly an hour, I continued sparring with Jong Seokhong without resorting to any special techniques.
Huff, huff...
My breathing grew ragged. My body trembled violently. Sweat dripped onto the dojo floor. My muscles were at their limit.
Jong Seokhong, his face completely dry, glanced at me once before lowering his wooden sword.
"Enough, Sung Yujin. If you refuse to learn the Silver Star Sword from me, get out."
"...Ye. I'll get out."
I relaxed my stance and walked straight out of the dojo.
"Yujin-ah!"
"..."
I ignored Seong Jigun's call from behind.
It's better this way. It's better for them to think I'm just being rebellious than to suspect I've become someone else.
It was far better than pretending to be good.
"Aish..."
I scratched my head as I stepped out of the dojo.
Where should I go now?
The area was filled with pavilions, beyond which lay a densely forested mountain.
Even if I wanted to go to my room, I didn't know where it was.
After asking the servants for directions, I returned to my room and immediately stripped off my sweat-soaked clothes.
Since I don't know where the bath is, I'll just wipe myself down with a wet towel for now.
As I wiped myself down, I paused. A black character, ? (Heaven), was tattooed on my left shoulder.
A tattoo? I don't remember the protagonist in the original story having anything like this on his shoulder...
The moment my finger brushed against the character ?, words materialized before my eyes:
The power of the Heavenly Gang Star awakens.
Welcome Newbie Event! For the next 100 days, your growth rate will be increased by 300%!
Currently, Sung Yujin is VIP 0. Upgrade your VIP level through in-app purchases to unlock incredible benefits!
To reach VIP Level 1, you need to spend 100 Heavenly Jade.
Attendance Event! Receive rewards for each week of consecutive logins! Current streak: 1 day.
First Login Reward: Golden Wound Medicine!
Clang!
A bowl containing Golden Wound Medicine materialized in mid-air before me and crashed to the floor.
I didn't even glance at the Golden Wound Medicine, instead glaring at the text only visible to my eyes.
Martial King Online was among the mixed Creative Works. Is this how it's being implemented?
Considering the voice I heard in my dream before logging in, it seemed certain.
I was both the protagonist of Bright Ascension Chart and the protagonist of Martial King Online.
"...The protagonists of the other four Creative Works must be somewhere in this world too," I muttered, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.
Because all four of those protagonists were Heavenly Demons.
1. Fallen Heavenly Demon = Reincarnated Heavenly Demon.
2. Otherworld Heavenly Demon = Dimension-Traveling Heavenly Demon.
3. Heavenly Demon's Revenge War = Regression Heavenly Demon.
4. I Woke Up and Found Myself a Heavenly Demon = Possessed Heavenly Demon.
5. Me = Player Heavenly Demon.
"Fucking hell, there are way too many Heavenly Demons! Why don't they just make a Power Rangers Heavenly Demon Force or something?! Fucking bullshit!"