The cheers of the arena still echoed faintly in his ears even after everything had ended, but Lee Hyun had already stepped away from the noise, away from the crowd, away from the overwhelming attention.
Inside his assigned private chamber, silence returned, calm and deep, the kind of silence that allowed him to think clearly. The tournament was over. He had reached the top. But for him… that was never the end. It was just the beginning.
The moment he closed his eyes, the system interface opened before him, glowing softly in the darkness.
[Quest Completed: Claim First Place]
[Rewards Distributed]
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Let's see."
The first thing he opened, was his status. The screen expanded. The information was clear, detailed and powerful.
Name: Lee Hyun
Talent: SSS Rank – Heavenly Demon's Blessings
Technique: S Rank – Dragon Blade Dance (Growth Type)
Level: 32
Strength: 145
Physique: 148
Agility: 142
Stamina: 150
Vitality: 152
Mana Qi (Mana + Spirit): 155
Intelligence: 168
Luck: 80
Free Attribute Points: 120
Bloodline: Abyssal Heavenly Sovereign Bloodline
Magic: 2nd Tier – Elemental Affinity (Basic Control Achieved)
Sword Power: Intermediate Resonance
Demonic Power: Active (Enhanced Compatibility)
Cultivation: Early Spirit Phase
Summoning Contract: Not Awakened
Blessings: Heavenly God Accord, Demonic Abyss Authority – +20% EXP Gain, Free Attribute Growth, +30% All Combat Stats
He stared at the numbers. His breathing slowed slightly.
"…This…"
Was no longer normal. Without hesitation, he started allocating points. First, luck. All in. The number surged. 80… 100… 150… 200. A faint ripple passed through his body as if even fate itself slightly shifted around him.
"…Good."
Then, he distributed the remaining points across all dimensions. Balanced, controlled, optimized. Strength, agility, stamina, physique, vitality. Each one rising. Each one nearing, 150.
When he finished, the updated status appeared again, more refined, more terrifying.
Name: Lee Hyun
Level: 32
Strength: 158
Physique: 160
Agility: 155
Stamina: 162
Vitality: 165
Mana Qi: 160
Intelligence: 168
Luck: 200
A quiet breath left him.
"…Perfect."
This level of stats, at level 32, was absurd even among elites. Then, he moved to the next reward. Lottery. Three Mythical Tickets. His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Let's see what you give me."
He activated the first one. The wheel spun. Light twisted. Then,
[Congratulations]
[You have obtained: SS Rank Skill – Beast Sovereign Pact]
Lee Hyun's eyes narrowed.
"…Monster taming?"
The information unfolded instantly.
[Beast Sovereign Pact – SS Rank]
— Allows the host to dominate, tame, and contract high-level monsters
— Grants mental suppression over weaker creatures
— Enables evolution boost for contracted beasts
— Increases combat efficiency when fighting alongside summons
— Can temporarily force submission in battle
"…Interesting."
Not just taming. Domination, control and war potential. His smile deepened. Second ticket, spin. Stop..
[Congratulations]
[You have obtained: S Rank Skill – Celestial Step]
A movement technique.
[Celestial Step – S Rank]
— Enhances movement speed by 300% in short bursts
— Allows mid-air stepping and direction shift
— Reduces stamina consumption during combat movement
— Creates afterimages to confuse enemies
"…This solves mobility."
Third ticket. The final spin. The energy felt heavier this time. Then,
[Congratulations]
[You have obtained: SS Rank Skill – Abyssal Collapse]
His expression turned serious. The description appeared.
[Abyssal Collapse – SS Rank]
— Condenses demonic and void energy into a single destructive point
— Creates a localized collapse field that crushes everything within range
— Ignores 40% defense of targets
— Causes continuous damage (DPS) within affected zone
— High destructive output, capable of wiping multiple enemies instantly
"…This is…"
Pure destruction. A skill made for ending battles. He leaned back slightly.
"…Jackpot."
After that, he took out the Advanced Domain Expansion Manual. The moment he activated it, knowledge flooded his mind, complex yet clear, guiding him step by step, refining his understanding of Void Domain. The unstable parts, the energy inefficiency, the strain on his body, everything began to make sense as if he had practiced it for years.
Minutes passed, or hours. He didn't know. When he opened his eyes, something had changed.
"…I can control it."
Void Domain, was now stable. No recoil, no heavy toll, but recise and more deadly. A domain he could use, freely.
He clenched his fist slightly.
"…Good."
Then, his gaze shifted. To another reward.
Exclusive Bloodline Evolution Catalyst.
He stared at it for a moment. Then smiled faintly.
"…This suits her more."
Min Seoah's Ice talent's perfect match.
He closed the system.
"I'll give it to her."
Then, the EXP boost activated. A massive surge of energy flooded in him. His level rose instantly. 32 → 40. But then, it stopped.
A notification appeared.
[Level Cap Reached]
[Condition: First Job Change Required]
His eyes narrowed.
"…So this is it."
Level 40. A new stage, a new path. From here, everyone changes, everyone evolves.
"…Interesting."
But then, his attention shifted. To something else. Something he had been waiting for.
The Evolution Stone.
He took it out slowly, the faint glow reflecting in his eyes.
"This…"
Was the real reward, his talent. SSS Rank. Already at the peak. But, what if it could go beyond?
He thought once,twice. Then,
"…Let's do it."
He activated it. The moment it touched him, an unimaginable amount of pain erupted in his body. It felt like his entire body was being torn apart from the inside, every vein burning, every cell collapsing, his mind shaking violently as if he would lose consciousness at any moment. His bones felt like they were breaking, reforming, shattering again, his energy going wild, uncontrollable.
But, he didn't scream. He didn't fall. His eyes stayed open and focused.
"…Not enough…"
His will stood firm, unshaken.
"I won't break."
The pain intensified. But he endured. Because he knew, this was transformation. And then, silence again took place. A notification appeared.
[Congratulations]
[Your Talent has evolved]
[SSS Rank → SSS+ Rank]
[New Talent Unlocked]
[Heavenly Demon Origin Sovereignty]
The moment he read it, power surged, different and deeper. More absolute. The information unfolded.
[Heavenly Demon Origin Sovereignty – SSS+ Rank]
— Absolute compatibility with all energy systems (No restriction)
— Grants origin-level control over demonic and divine forces
— Allows creation and modification of techniques
— Passive: +50% overall combat amplification
— Passive: Authority pressure over weaker beings
— Unlocks future path to Transcendent Realm
Lee Hyun stood there silently. Then he smiled in confidence.
"…Now this…"
"…is power."
The journey had just changed again.
---
To be continued..