A blood-soaked space came into view.
The thick air carried an unidentified swelter that felt nothing but unpleasant.
The area behind was packed with corpses, and all that could be seen ahead was the edge of a sheer cliff.
What had reduced them to such a pitiful state?
And.
Who was that figure standing at the precipice's end?
Just as frustration welled up from knowing nothing.
-I'll ask.
The hulking figure ahead spoke.
An old man with a wild mane of white hair, yet his body was ferociously robust for his age.
The issue was.
-The martial art you just demonstrated... did you create it yourself?
His upper body had been obliterated nearly halfway.
Blood poured endlessly. In a state where death long overdue wouldn't surprise anyone, the old man asked flatly.
The figure before him—a black-haired youth whose face was shrouded by his locks—gazed at the old man and replied.
-Yes.
-...I see. So it was as I thought.
The old man nodded.
-What's your name?
-Haven't decided.
-Then, may I give you one?
-Do as you like.
-Tsk tsk tsk...
The old man let out a low chuckle at the youth's response. Blood beaded at the end of his subdued laughter.
After a brief laugh, the old man whispered.
-...Heavenbreaker.
-Heavenbreaker?
-You've shattered the heavens. What name could suit you better?
Heavenbreaker.
Hearing its meaning, the youth gave a slight nod. Then.
-I like it. Heavenbreaker it is.
He nodded and voiced his approval.
-Good...
Splatters of blood gushed from the old man's gutted torso.
-I, Baek Yeo-jeok, the 21st Divine Cult Leader, acknowledge you...
Turning from the sea of corpses, the old man addressed the youth.
-From this moment, you are the master of the world.
Thud.
As the words left his lips, the old man's body crumbled. His lifeless form slumped to the ground.
-Hmph...
The youth regarded him with a voice devoid of emotion.
-A pity.
What was so regrettable? It was beyond understanding.
But then.
'...!'
The youth's gaze, fixed on the old man, suddenly shifted to me.
My body went rigid. Gooseflesh prickled my back. Even with his eyes veiled by hair, it felt like staring down a predator.
'What?'
Why was he looking at me all of a sudden? Unable to comprehend, I stood frozen.
-Now.
The man said.
-Rise.
In that instant, my eyes snapped open.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Gasp...!"
My eyelids lifted, and awareness returned.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
Never imagined I'd utter those words, but damn, it really was unfamiliar.
'What.'
My heart hammered, likely from the dream I'd just had.
What the hell? What did I dream?
Too vivid for a random nightmare, yet too absurd for reality.
What was this? My vision was foggy like a mist, and my gut churned.
As the alien sensations unsettled me.
"...Ah."
A forgotten fact resurfaced.
'...Terror...!'
I recalled the attack on the building. Trying to sit up.
Zing.
"Urk...!?"
My entire body screamed. Overwhelming pain flooded in.
"Hah..."
Agony too fierce for even a cry. I trembled and locked up.
'What?'
Why did everything hurt so much? And.
'Where am I?'
An unknown space. Slowly scanning around, it dawned.
'A hospital?'
Hospital interior. Seemed pretty upscale, though. An IV dripped from my arm. In the quiet hush, only the steady 'beep-! beep-!' resounded faintly.
Wondering why I was hospitalized.
Creak—
"...Oh my...!"
The entering nurse and I locked eyes.
"Ah, excuse me."
Trying to speak to her.
"Doctor...! Patient Lee Jin-woo is awake...!"
She bolted out before I could.
"...Ugh..."
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.
My body still ached all the same.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"How's your body feeling?"
"...Ah, yes..."
The doctor with the stethoscope poked and prodded. Intimidating as hell. Not just one, but a whole swarm.
"No major trauma from the impact. Lungs look fine too... No aftereffects expected. You're lucky."
"...Yeah. Tell me about it."
What was with the warmth? First time I'd felt anything like it.
"Oh, and... about our director."
"Superhuman Dan A-jin woke up without issues."
"Ah."
Truly a relief. Only then could I exhale.
"...Thinking of others even now. As expected."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Treatment went smoothly, and your condition suggests a few days' rest will do."
"Ah, yes..."
"We'll see you later."
The doctor bowed and departed. Damn, I should've asked why I was in this luxury suite.
'...How much does this cost?'
Panic hit. No rent money, let alone hospital bills?
"Excuse me...!"
Calling the doctor back.
"...You little shit."
"Ah."
Seeing who entered as the doctor left clicked everything.
"You insane? Wanna die for real?"
Fuming face.
My one and only friend, Jin Kyung-beom.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jin Kyung-beom. An exasperating tie.
First met around twelve, glued at the hip ever since.
Some mess back then bound us.
"Why ghost my calls? Phone just for show?"
"...Busy. Real busy."
"Bullshit. 'Busy' while picking up for the director?"
"..."
Years as friends, but.
He fussed over me more than necessary.
Always. Lived worlds apart, yet babied me oddly.
"Psycho."
Mouth like a sewer, sure.
"Why the hell crawl back in there?"
"No..."
"Awakening fried your brain? Or always unhinged? Yeah, you were off, but not this bad."
"Hold on—"
"Only a lunatic re-enters a terror site. You're deranged."
"...Wait."
Trying to cut in, but his yap wouldn't quit. Ears ringing.
"You'll get yourself killed. Got it? Huh?"
Finally quiet after that. Relief.
"Haa."
No reply, so Kyung-beom sighed heavily.
He dragged a chair over and plopped down.
"...Awakened, huh."
"Yeah."
"Knew you would. Figured no, though."
"Same."
"Loony... So that's your first post-awakening stunt?"
"Didn't plan it. Who'd guess terror there?"
Lame excuse, his face soured.
"Crap. Terror happened, you chose to go in. Right?"
"..."
Spot on, no comeback.
"Moron."
Laced with annoyance.
And.
"Hey."
Kyung-beom followed up.
"Gonna do it?"
"What..."
"Knight. You gonna?"
"..."
"Your face says yes."
"Have to."
Had to.
Whole point of chasing superhuman status: become a knight.
"Somehow."
Answer unchanged.
"...Hah."
Kyung-beom blew a frustrated breath.
"Asshole."
That curse? Relief. His way of conceding.
Now my question time.
"...Hey."
"What."
"This room—your doing?"
Obviously high-end single. Pricey. I was broke.
Assumed him.
Taesung Enterprises. His dad, top-tier chairman.
Rolling in it. Figured his handiwork.
But.
"What're you on about."
He scowled.
"Why would I foot this for you?"
"Huh? Not?"
"No, dumbass. Knew you'd flip without warning, so why bother."
"..."
Not him? Then who?
"...So what. Why am I here?"
Puzzled ask, he smirked.
"You're a big deal now. Gotta treat you like one."
"...What nonsense?"
Big deal who? Gibberish.
Then he fiddled with my phone and chucked it.
"See for yourself."
"...Hm?"
Grabbed it, checked screen.
"Eh?"
Eyes bulged.
📰 Breaking News [Unregistered Superhuman's Terror. Already the umpteenth this time...] [Yeouido's Transcendent Building Burns and Collapses in Terror Attack...] [Perpetrator an A-Rank Superhuman Possessing a Mage's Past Life...]
Terror coverage everywhere.
📰 Breaking News [Unregistered Superhuman's Serial Terrors—What Is the Superhuman Association Doing...?] [Superhuman Rescue Team's Delayed Response. The Situation Born from Missing the Golden Hour.]
Scanning the packed headlines.
"...What the hell?"
One blared loudest above them all.
📰 Breaking News [Young Superhuman Saves Civilian Amid Terror.] [In a Catastrophic Scene Without Rescue Team, Who Is the Savior That Appeared?] [The Figure Making the Greatest Contribution to Suppressing This Terror Is a Superhuman Who Awakened Less Than a Day Ago, Unranked...]
"Holy shit."
Mixed in the explosion of stories: photos that looked like me.
"What in the world..."
"What? Fallout from your stunt."
As I stared, trembling, he snatched his phone back.
"...Fallout?"
"Meddling like a busybody, and boom—you're a somebody. Calling you a hero."
"..."
Hero. The hollow word left me speechless.
"Reporter among the saved. Articles everywhere now. Thoughts?"
Kyung-beom eyed me.
"Overnight fame feel?"
"...A dream...?"
Best I could muster.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I spaced out for ages. Sat alone in the empty room.
"-I'll come tomorrow, so behave."
Kyung-beom had glowered that. Hoped not, but he'd show.
"..."
Idly, I slapped my cheek.
Smack-!
"Ow."
Stung. Proof it wasn't a dream.
"...What the..."
Not a dream—reality? Hard to swallow.
"..."
Checked phone again.
Portal site crammed with my stories.
Terror stuff too, but mine dominated.
📰 Breaking News [Young Hero.] [Yeouido's Savior.] [The Real Superhuman.]
And so on. Absurd labels galore.
"...Hah."
Powered off the phone.
"Gonna lose it."
Explained the nonstop doctors and nurses checking.
This room? Superhuman Association courtesy, he'd said. Even.
'Association Chairman tomorrow.'
Superhuman Association head.
Current S-Rank heavyweight flying in from abroad to see me.
"...Ugh..."
Overwhelming.
How'd it come to this? World flipped while eyes shut.
Stifled the nausea.
"Fuu..."
Sighed, steadied. Trembling hand swept my knuckles.
Ding-!
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ■ Past Life Info. [Past Life Info.] ■ Martial God (EX) [Martial God (EX)] ■ Assimilation Rate (3%) [3%] ■ Too low—abilities limited. [Limited] ■ Heaven-Shattering Art (1st Stage) [1st Stage] ■ Heaven-Shattering Martial Art 1st Form. Heaven-Shattering Eternal Martial. [Heaven-Shattering Eternal Martial]
"..."
New details appeared.
'Assimilation at 3%... Heaven-Shattering Art...'
Not a hallucination after all.
Quest cleared, assimilation rose—that granted the Heaven-Shattering Art.
"Quests, though."
Never heard of the system issuing quests. Rewards? Unprecedented.
"...Quests..."
Cleared one, assimilation up.
Up, power gained.
So.
'Past life's power?'
Memory hazy, but body moved on autopilot, unleashing something.
Glanced cautiously at phone. Transcendent Building's upper floors obliterated.
Terrorist's doing? Or.
'Mine...?'
Me? No clue. But if so.
'...What the hell.'
Did something monstrous.
'EX...'
Unseen rank. 3% yielded absurd might.
Then.
'Higher...'
Greater power?
Thump-!
Heart pounded.
'Could surpass S-Rank.'
Expectation surged.
If true.
'...Possible.'
Becoming a knight.
'Revenge too.'
All within reach.
"So, how?"
Raise assimilation first. If it powers up, yes.
'How to raise it.'
Should auto normally. Days to fill, but this says otherwise.
Thus.
'Quests.'
Like that one. Clear them.
'...Where get quests?'
Mystery.
Hunt quests? They appear? Or.
'Like last time.'
Auto-drop...?
That very thought.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
■ Clear the Gate.
"Whoa."
Eerily on cue.
"...!"
I froze reading it.
Gate. Instant reaction.
'A Gate?'
Any superhuman knows.
'But...'
Gates shouldn't open yet.
'Gates stay shut five days after closing.'
Timing wrong.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ■ Reincarnation Network Emergency Broadcast.
A crimson alert bloomed in the air.
⚠️ EMERGENCY ALERT ⚠️
■ A Gate Has Spawned.
■ Fail to block, and contamination begins.
■ Reincarnators: Enter the Gate immediately.
"What."
Network fired up unbidden.
Ding-ding-ding-!!
Deafening alarms rang.
Bell icon showed +999.
Piled unread.
Shelved it.
💬 Reincarnation Network — Paris Romance What the hell? Why's a Gate opening? — Marcel's Farmer Crazy. Days left! Sudden Gate wtf? — Gyeyang Mountain Ori Gungdengi Chaos at dawn. New Year's mutants are overkill.
Posts flooded. Seemed rare.
'Mutant...'
Mutant Gate.
Right, a mutant Gate.
'Heard of 'em.'
Gates popping irregular, skipping schedule.
Folks called 'em mutants.
Just like that? Perfectly timed?
Absurd. Scrolling the net.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ■ Entry commencing. Choose promptly. ■ D-Grade 11/120
"..."
Gate entry counter.
Reincarnator-exclusive alert.
"Ah..."
The dream I'd chased—eyes quivered.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Enter?]
Enter the Gate? No second thoughts.
Tap.
Instinct pressed the floating prompt.
Superhumans go. That's all.
Vrrr—!
Sensation of spirit lifting.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ■ Selected D-Grade Gate entry. ■ Block dimensional contamination.
Shut eyes. Recalled school Gate lessons.
Prep would carry me.
Definitely.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ■ Entering Gate... Zzzt.
'Huh?'
Should've.
⚠️ SYSTEM ERROR ⚠️
[Zzzzzzt...!]
Static flooded my ears.
Then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ■ Correcting dimensional setup error.
Unforeseen messages piled.
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠️
■ Non-Standard Reincarnator Entering.
■ EX-Grade Gate not active.
■ Correction failed. Entering D-Grade Gate.
■ Vast Existence enters the dimension.
■ Gate hazard level spikes dramatically.
■ D-Grade hazard +200%.
'...What?'
Madness. Absurdity stunned.
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠️
■ Extreme Gap: Reincarnator vs. Gate.
■ Grade diff calculated. Power multiplier adjusted.
■ Reincarnator stats boosted 5,000%.
■ Entering Gate.
Even wilder followed.
```
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