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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Webnovel Written by God 006
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has finished paragraph #2.] "As its rightful owner... Excellent!"]
Pretty great, right? Then let's get to it!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has begun the final paragraph #3.] "Let's go!"] [ 3. ] 'Di... Did he just say rightful owner?' Joo Won-baek was struck with shock. It was shocking enough that the One Heaven Origin Fire Token had been mentioned, but to claim ownership of it himself? 'The audacity.' The treasure known as the One Heaven Origin Fire Token had been entrusted to his sect for generations over hundreds of years. Joo Won-baek simply couldn't believe it.
"It's an item that's useless even if the True Dragon Sword Sect holds onto it."
At that moment, a fierce resolve emanated from the glare he fixed on me.
In this world's lore, killing intent manifests as tangible murderous aura. He exuded it as he spoke.
"I won't deny that you've come here knowing everything. The problem is..."
From the instant the One Heaven Origin Fire Token was mentioned, he had transformed into something like a vengeful ghost.
He shrugged off his suit jacket and undid a few shirt buttons to ensure unhindered movement.
The sect leader of the True Dragon Sword Sect. His specialty was undoubtedly swordsmanship, yet even without a blade, he radiated the pressure of someone who could crush me.
"How you know about the One Heaven Origin Fire Token. That's what I need to hear right now."
I let him speak.
And I recalled the Rabbit (卯) and Dragon (辰) meridian pointing techniques from the Heavenly Demon Meridian Pointing Twelve Great Arts.
They enhanced perception and amplified internal energy.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is adding (Martial Art*Heavenly Demon Meridian Pointing Twelve Great Arts–Rabbit).] "Perception amplification!"] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is adding (Martial Art*Heavenly Demon Meridian Pointing Twelve Great Arts-Dragon).] "Internal energy amplification!"] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is clicking his tongue.] "The Heavenly Demon Meridian Pointing Twelve Great Arts is totally broken. And there are still nine left."]
"This is a matter of your life or death, so you'd better answer well."
A force surged in, as if my entire body was being yanked and hurled somewhere. An otherworldly power no human could produce.
Just like the first time I experienced the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, it was our author's kind gesture pulling me into a dark void.
Whoosh―!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The two meridian pointing techniques were instantly etched into my mind.
I moved three fingers according to the principles of Rabbit and Dragon.
Tap. Tatatatap!
Unlike before when I had no internal energy at all, the speed was now entirely different.
The moment I infused a half-inch of energy into my three fingers and executed according to the circulation method.
The Rabbit meridian pointing technique was complete.
I felt my eyes flash open sharply.
Immediately after, the searing heat from my dantian enveloped and coursed through my body. The Dragon meridian pointing technique connected seamlessly.
"Pitiful fool. You came here to die. Who... who sent you..."
Joo Won-baek sighed.
With my ki suddenly amplified by the two techniques, he must have thought I'd sacrificed innate essence for a temporary power boost.
But not at all.
He just didn't know the martial art's name included "Heavenly Demon."
Why would our author leave such severe side effects in these meridian pointing techniques?
"If you won't talk to the end, then no choice."
A voice exploded from ahead.
"Take the path of defeat alone!"
His bloodshot eyes bulged with veins as they flashed.
Joo Won-baek's hand blade, fueled by murderous aura and his self-generated rage, sliced through the air toward my throat.
Shiiiing―.
I barely deflected his sudden charge by a hair's breadth, and only then did I feel my heart pounding.
Gasp! What the hell? Was this guy always like this?
Good thing I'd amplified my perception, or that hand blade would've ended the novel right there.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has added (Martial Art*Heavenly Defense Palm).] ⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: Heavenly Defense Palm (Martial Art) 💨 Agility: One of the True Dragon Sword Sect's signature martial arts ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is amused.] "Nothing beats a good fight scene. When the Heavenly Defense Palm's ultimate technique, Full Bloom Thousand Directions, is unleashed, a simple hand blade swing transforms into a lethal, ferocious strike. Heh heh heh. Now, Lee Hwan, what're you gonna do?"]
Author, you seem to have forgotten... You're in the middle of writing right now.
A prolonged fight with this guy would waste pages. And he doesn't need to be this strong!
As our eyes met again from a distance, what surprised me was that Joo Won-baek didn't seem shocked that I'd dodged his superhuman strike.
In a life-or-death battle, he entertained no other thoughts. He was clearly a man who'd honed himself relentlessly.
Joo Won-baek closed the gap immediately. I could feel his intent: take me down first, ask questions later.
Next came a barrage of consecutive strikes.
His hand technique attacks were sharp and primarily focused on vital points.
But when they failed to land, he launched into the air.
He landed by bending his knee on the opposite side, then sprang back at me.
That was as far as it went for me. In that instant, his figure seemed to vanish.
The next moment, he reappeared from my blind spot, like a leopard bursting from the shadows.
Just like a tiger lunging with ten razor-sharp claws.
His hand blades, now dramatically enhanced, matched that exactly.
To ordinary eyes, those ever-changing moves seemed meant to blind the opponent.
But no. From the start of our clash until now, he hadn't mixed in any feints.
All these attacks dominating the space as he charged were real!
Deflecting them all was still beyond me, so I focused on minimizing damage.
Shiiiing―!
Each grazing attack sent razor-sharp winds slicing into my ears.
That alone made it hard to maintain balance, and his elusive footwork kept pushing me into a disadvantage.
As he tried to overwhelm me with agility, I decided to counter with the Heavenly Demon's Dominion Step.
Swish. Swoosh―.
Our shoulders clashed, feet crossed repeatedly.
The moment he let out a startled "Ah," I thrust a fist into the gap I'd created.
Bam!
I thought it had worked.
But seeing him evade like a ghost and hurl himself backward, I realized something was wrong.
This was no power an ordinary martial artist could show!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author has reinforced (Character*Joo Won-baek).] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Reinforcement reason: At that moment, what unfolded from Joo Won-baek's hand was his ultimate technique, Full Bloom Thousand Directions. Power transcending first-rate!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Reinforcement details: True identity is Joo Ho-won of the True Dragon Sword Sect, hiding under the alias 'Second-Generation Joo Won-baek.' Actual identity: A first-generation martial artist. One of the surviving martial artists who crossed over right after the Dimensional Collision.]
Author... why do you keep doing this? Weren't we getting along great?
I'll actually die at this rate!
Before I could complain more to the author, Joo Won-baek—no, Joo Ho-won—was charging again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The wind pressure from his hand strikes was razor-sharp every time.
They lacked form, but were no different from actual blades fired at me.
He was displaying the full prowess of a supreme master without restraint.
I had no leeway to check how Lee Hwan was described in the novel's text.
It was at the end of one of our repeated exchanges.
A ringing in my ears.
Along with the shrill "Bee―," my back stiffened and my balance faltered again.
I gathered all my power into a single point.
Driven by an instinctive warning that this was my only chance.
This was Lee Hwan's ultimate move.
[ Seventh Form (第七式) ]
It was the same one I'd used against that minor thug in chapter 1.
Unlike then, my condensed power fist now hummed with formidable resonance.
"Hup!"
Joo Ho-won widened his eyes in shock, but it was too late.
His formless blades shattered mercilessly.
The shards scattered everywhere, losing their target.
Boom!
Joo Ho-won flew back, crashing into the interview room wall amid a cloud of concrete dust.
As I approached through the dust, his figure came into clear view again.
He stood with his back against the wall.
"The One Heaven Origin Fire Token... is with my sect."
His head bowed, he declared defeat.
Only after seeing dark red blood drip from his mouth as he staggered did I snap out of it.
Ah!
I'd been too immersed in the need to win somehow.
He wouldn't actually die, but still!
[ Seventh Form (第七式). That cry was like a command. The power exploding from Lee Hwan's fist flew toward Joo Won-baek. Anticipating he'd withstand it, Lee Hwan had already kicked off the ground. Bang! Then, through the dust, a despairing voice rang out. "The One Heaven Origin Fire Token... is with my sect." ]
No good.
This needs revision. The style's one thing, but the fight layout is the issue.
This wasn't the development I wanted.
Originally, I planned for the protagonist's overwhelming strength to force a natural "I greet the Heavenly Demon" from him without physical harm.
It's the very early stages. Wasting pages on a fight scene is too costly.
Plus, having Joo Ho-won, a character who'd been living quietly, get beaten for no reason might backlash with readers.
Who'd stay quiet if someone demanded their treasure outright?
Lee Hwan regretted living only for justice in the past.
That's why he decided to live for himself this time, forgetting grand ideals. That's the reason for the title "Personal Greed."
But that doesn't mean it's okay for Lee Hwan to become a bully who torments others on a whim.
A protagonist who loses reader empathy gets ignored.
Finally, switching scenes again would slow the pacing.
Sigh...
That's why you can't just write impulsively in the early stages.
Save that for later, when characters and the world feel alive and move on their own.
Whew. How to fix all these issues?
Without switching scenes.
Without making Lee Hwan a bad guy.
While adding an intriguing setup...
Then, Joo Ho-won spat blood and slumped to the floor. Oblivious to my inner turmoil, he painfully strung together an obvious line.
"I'll... guide you there myself. That long journey."
[ Unless you're a martial monster wearing a young man's skin like him... "I'll... guide you there myself. That long journey." Joo Won-baek—no, True Dragon Sword's Joo Ho-won—concluded he couldn't handle this monster alone. He had to take him back to the homeland sect. Confirm the monster's identity and uncover who in the sect leaked the supreme secret of the One Heaven Origin Fire Token. Then slaughter them all. 'Must bring him to the sect.' Joo Ho-won looked up at Lee Hwan, steeling his desperate resolve. ]
Oh man.
Checking the novel text made my head hurt.
"How could you go anywhere in that condition."
I'd blurted it out before I knew it.
Ah!
In that instant, inspiration struck—not from our author, but from me.
"...You've endured so much all these years. It's a priceless treasure to me, but poison to you, elder. The True Dragon Sword Sect can finally lay down that heavy burden and rest easy."
I extended my hand to him.
The energy from the Heavenly Demon Lotus Heart Method remained as calm as at the start, even after the fight.
The pact between the Heavenly Demon Lord and Buddha.
The hidden lore passed down from its inheritors.
That taboo acted like a key as I touched Joo Ho-won.
The provision left by the Heavenly Demon Lord in the True Dragon Sword Sect emerged from Joo Ho-won's body as a glowing orb.
Exactly as I'd envisioned moments ago.
A beautifully shining concentrate of vital energy.
Joo Ho-won stared up at it in astonishment too.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The author is reinforcing (Treasure*One Heaven Origin Fire Token).] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Reinforcement reason: "It's a priceless treasure to me, but poison to you, elder. The True Dragon Sword Sect can finally lay down that heavy burden and rest easy."] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Reinforcement details: ① A crystal of yang energy and fire (火). ② Designed so that anyone not an inheritor of the Heavenly Demon Lotus Heart Method will have their five viscera and six bowels incinerated upon holding it, leading to utter annihilation of the body. ③ Those who cultivate the True Dragon Sword Sect's signature heart method can hold it, but suffer periodic extreme burning pain four times a year. If they die while holding it, it transfers to the next generation. The only way to extract it is for the Heavenly Demon Lotus Heart Method inheritor to reclaim it. ④ If held by the Heavenly Demon Lotus Heart Method inheritor, the following effects are granted. First...]