The violent surge of energy raging inside Lee Seong-jun finally broke through his clogged veins with a sharp crack. Relief spread across his face as his breathing steadied and his blood began to circulate freely again. Though his body was weak, the Blood Spirit Asura Divine Art had taken root. The first step toward regaining strength was complete.
A satisfied smile curved his lips. In the past, mastering this art had taken him a month. Now, with decades of knowledge and experience guiding him, he had compressed the process into a single day. His efforts across lifetimes had not betrayed him.
Just as he prepared to rise, a fanfare erupted in his ears.
A shimmering message window appeared before his eyes:
Connection to the POS System successful.
Welcome, new user: Lee Seong-jun.
You have acquired the S-class skill, Blood Spirit Asura Divine Art.
New status unlocked: Blood.
Stats and numbers materialized across the translucent screen like something from a game. Seong-jun's expression, however, remained calm. He had grown up in an age of Gates, dungeons, Awakened beings, and system windows. To him, this was simply confirmation.
Yet one detail stood out — the system recognized his Blood Power, a force unique to the Blood Cult. Blood energy was no mere martial strength. It governed life itself: temperature, pulse, vitality. With it, he could harden muscles, heighten senses, and even force mental awakening. Compared to ordinary internal energy, it was overwhelming.
Of course, the art was dangerous. Misuse could drain the body dry, leaving nothing but a husk. But for Seong-jun, this was familiar ground. As he extended his palm, blood energy surged, muscles swelling at his command. The system had translated decades of mastery into instant application.
"It's comfortable," he murmured, though he quickly forced himself back to focus. Admiration could wait. What mattered now was confirming his location. Was this truly Earth?
Before he could investigate further, a voice rang out — sharp, desperate, and unmistakably Korean. His heart skipped. A language he had not heard in decades echoed across the ruins.
Excitement surged within him, but the voice was joined by the thunder of battle. Following the sound, he found a group of five — three of them bloodied and barely standing — locked in combat against a massive creature.
Green skin, pointed ears, bulging muscles. A troll. Yet smaller than the ones from Earth's records, barely two meters tall. Perhaps a juvenile, but still deadly.
The humans fought bravely but were collapsing under its strength. A middle-aged man shouted for the others to flee, preparing to sacrifice himself.
Seong-jun observed in silence, weighing the risk. In his long life, he had learned that humans could be more dangerous than monsters. But these people were Korean — proof that this was Earth. He could not stand idle.
He stepped forward.
The troll swung a massive fist, but with the smallest tilt of his head, Seong-jun let it whistle past harmlessly. The beast's movements were strong but crude — all power, no precision.
A phantom step carried Seong-jun close, his body blurring like a ghost. The troll staggered, confused, but it was already too late.
His palm pressed against the monster's chest. Blood energy surged.
Blood Flow Explosion.
The troll convulsed as its heart ruptured from within, black smoke spewing from its mouth before its massive body collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The battle ended in a single strike.
The Awakened stared in shock, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed. Meanwhile, Seong-jun walked calmly toward them, his presence heavy with dignity.
"I will ask," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Is this Earth?"
The middle-aged man, trembling and drenched in sweat, stammered out the answer.
"Y-yes… yes, this is Earth."
At last, the truth was spoken.
A radiant smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's face. After decades of struggle, blood, and exile — the Demon God had truly returned home.