The living room sofa felt unusually firm.
Jinhyuk sat with his arms crossed, letting out a long, contemplative hum. Before his eyes floated the status window.
Blank Card – Jin Rank: 2
These were nothing like the ordinary blank cards that spat out random results. With a Jin-rank card, he could choose the hero. As long as he met the conditions, he could even select the trait or skill he wanted to learn.
In other words, it gave him exactly what he asked for.
Maybe that was the problem—too many options.
Every time he used a Jin-rank card, it inevitably came with deep, agonizing deliberation.
"Just one minute," he muttered.
He wasn't planning to brood forever. One minute, decide, then straight to training.
Too careless for something this important?
Not at all.
Short didn't mean sloppy.
Lately he'd been hooked on an anime that featured "Total Concentration Breathing"—a technique that let someone surpass human limits with just a brief, focused breath.
Inspired by that, he'd devised his own version: Total Concentration Contemplation.
One minute of focus that could match a full day of thinking.
"Sssss…"
He folded his legs, straightened his back, and inhaled slowly, drawing in every ounce of focus he could muster.
For the next sixty seconds, he would become Rodin's The Thinker.
A statue. Unmoving.
Even if a storm tore through the apartment or the place caught fire, nothing would break his concentration.
This was the essence of Total Concentration Con—
"What are you doing?! I told you to stick close and mark him, so why are you sliding in with a reckless tackle?! That's another red card! We're down to eight players because of Momo!"
"He ran right through Momo without asking!"
"It's soccer! The offense breaks through the defense and scores! You think they're going to politely ask to pass?!"
"If they asked, I might at least consider it—hey! He's running through again! Die! Momo's sending him off for good with that tackle!"
"Seven players now! At this rate only the keeper will be left! What? Forfeit?! I scored all the goals and we still lost because of Momo!"
"Don't blame Momo, you raccoon!"
"I'm not a raccoon, I'm a—no, I'm Yodel!"
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
He could endure the shouting with Total Concentration Contemplation.
But when a game controller came flying in and smacked him on the side of the head, his focus shattered.
He rose silently from the sofa and stepped out onto the balcony.
Cross-legged once more.
"What do you mean it's been a minute already?"
He'd just added another minute.
Another sixty seconds passed.
"Sera."
Decision made.
He'd chosen how to use the first card.
Sera stopped swinging her wooden sword and walked over. Judging by the sweat soaking her clothes, she'd been practicing relentlessly.
"I'm thinking of using a Blank Card to learn Black Knight Order Swordsmanship—Intermediate. What do you think?"
He glanced at his trait window.
Black Knight Order Swordsmanship – Beginner MAX
They said the fastest way to grow stronger was through real combat.
His swordsmanship had stubbornly refused to budge for ages. But after defeating the Third Calamity, Kalik, it had shot straight to MAX.
"Hmm. Intermediate, you say."
Sera stepped closer, examining him carefully.
Jinhyuk swallowed.
The master's cold evaluation was coming.
Please don't say I'm not qualified…
"You shouldn't."
"…What?!"
The shock left him speechless. He finally achieved true statue status.
"It would be inefficient to use the card here."
Sera pressed lightly against his arms and shoulders as she continued.
"This isn't like advancing from Basic to Beginner. You've already reached a certain level in the Black Knight Order's swordsmanship. You'll cross the wall without the card."
After the battle on the 13th floor of the Myth Tower, she had realized something.
She'd been watching that fight with clenched fists and sweaty palms.
Not because she thought he'd lose.
Quite the opposite.
Throughout the battle, Jinhyuk had overwhelmed Kalik in strength, stamina, technique, and instinct.
Even after training with him every day, she hadn't realized how far he'd come.
Real combat was different from sparring.
No—on an entirely different level.
In training, defeat meant bruises and maybe a broken bone.
In real battle, defeat meant death.
Most fighters faltered under that weight. They made mistakes they'd never make in practice. Their skills plummeted.
Jinhyuk had done the opposite.
As the battle went on, he grew sharper.
It wasn't just the stacking buff of Ganjiang and Moye.
There was something only those who had crossed a certain threshold could see—
Perfect judgment born of instinct and reason in harmony.
The ability to read the flow of battle in real time.
And the decisiveness to act on it.
Her disciple… no, her one and only student…
…was already a blade far sharper and harder than she had imagined.
So this is how it felt.
Sera's lips curved into a faint smile.
Now she finally understood why her own master had once said something similar to her.
"Phew…"
The biggest coward in Hannam-dong let out a sigh of relief.
"But what if it takes too long to break through?"
"It won't," Sera replied calmly. "I don't know if it'll take hours."
She held up one finger.
"But it'll be done in a day. I'll break it for you myself."
A cold sweat slid down his back.
She hadn't said it would be hard.
She hadn't told him to prepare himself.
Her face was as calm as ever.
That's what made it terrifying.
She was the type who would beat him with a wooden sword for twelve straight hours and call it guidance.
"I'll do my best, Master."
"You don't need to. As long as you don't die, you'll break through."
"…Master? That sounded kind of violent."
With a playful smile, she turned away, telling him to come when he was ready.
He watched her go, slightly dazed.
She used to never smile.
Now she did.
"Oh, right."
She stopped and looked back.
Jinhyuk flinched and stepped back twice.
Was she reconsidering and planning to beat him immediately?
"Ultimately, it's your decision," Sera said. "But personally, I'd suggest using the Blank Card on the Dokkaebi."
"Oh? I was planning to use the second one on Renya anyway. Why do you think so?"
"You remember, don't you? Your survival comes first."
"Of course. If I die, that's it."
She nodded.
"That fight was messy, but I saw something interesting. That Dokkaebi hardly ever got hit."
Jinhyuk smiled.
He'd noticed the same thing.
Renya had only been struck when frozen solid. Once he broke free, not a single blow landed.
"You never know when or where you'll fight. There may be situations where you can't use your weapon—or don't have time to draw it. Right now, your defense and evasion depend heavily on your sword or chains. But that Dokkaebi's abilities come purely from his own body. That would greatly improve your survival."
Jinhyuk suppressed the urge to grin.
Their reasoning aligned perfectly.
Showing it off would look pathetic, so he held it in—but he felt great.
"Got it. Thanks, Sera."
He flashed a thumbs-up and stepped back inside.
A boost to his survival ability.
He already felt safer.
At the peak of a remote mountain near Seoul—one no one bothered to visit—Jinhyuk stretched atop a large boulder.
It had been a while since he'd gone hiking.
It felt refreshing.
"Master."
Renya lightly tapped the boulder and turned.
Crack!
Jinhyuk's eyes widened.
Renya hadn't even thrown a serious punch, yet the rock shattered into pieces.
What kind of trick was that?
"You could've summoned me with your ability," Renya said, landing lightly before him. "Why come all the way here?"
"Figured I'd get some exercise. Also, I have something called a Blank Card…"
He explained his abilities and what he planned to do.
"How curious."
"What is?"
"Why tell me? It's your authority. You could simply take the skill."
"You're the owner of the ability I want. Of course I should tell you first."
Renya studied him quietly.
At least he had proper manners.
"I have no authority to grant or deny you," Renya said at last. "But if what you seek is my approval…"
His eyes narrowed.
"I refuse."
"…Oh."
Jinhyuk blinked.
So firm.
"Why?"
"You are my master. Your survival is paramount. If this ability helps, then you should take it. But as a warrior, I cannot agree so easily. This strength was forged over countless battles, sharpened at the edge of death. No true martial artist gives such things away freely."
"Fair enough."
He meant it.
That was exactly why he'd come to ask.
"But your survival remains important."
Renya pointed at a massive boulder nearby.
"Break it. Without using a weapon."
A Dokkaebi who worshiped martial discipline above all.
Renya had recognized Jinhyuk's strength immediately—but that was with weapons.
It wasn't childish logic about "not your true power."
Everything Jinhyuk possessed was his power.
Still—
Renya disliked strength that relied on something external.
This was simply his preference.
"Deal!"
Jinhyuk loosened his fists and approached the boulder.
Renya watched silently.
A warrior who fought as one with his weapons couldn't possibly shatter a rock like that barehanded.
He would struggle.
That was the point.
A small act of stubborn pride.
And a chance to test his master's resolve—
Renya's eyes widened.
What was he seeing?
A moment later—
BOOOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion shook the mountain.
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T/N:
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