Chapter 85
Lee Hyuk-soo thought to himself.
‘There are countless monsters in the world.’
From a young age, he had become desensitized to fighting, and he truly believed he had some talent with the sword.
But after experiencing the mysterious mage Ataraxia, the prophet, and Han Shin—his mindset had changed.
‘I’m nothing.’
Perhaps there were far too many beings in this world far greater than himself.
Unless he tempered himself harder and honed himself sharper, he would never even reach the tips of their claws.
Lee Hyuk-soo had found a new sense of urgency.
He had to become stronger than he was now.
He couldn’t be satisfied with the enlightenment he had just received.
He would run faster, soar higher.
‘But among all of them, the greatest monster is…’
His eyes drifted toward the prophet, Park Chan-woo.
Even among monsters, the prophet stood out.
He still didn’t know what Sephiro was, or what the prophet’s true identity might be.
But what was clear—was that the prophet was a sky beyond the sky, a being incomparable to the others.
Even the absolute rules of the Abyss held no meaning before him.
‘…Is he really human?’
He was a being so beyond measure that calling him human felt wrong.
Lee Hyuk-soo had never seen a human like the prophet—and he was certain he never would again.
Nothing proceeded in a normal fashion once he was involved.
This time was no different.
‘Ataraxia. That incredible mage kneeled instantly.’
Ataraxia, the mage who had suddenly appeared and attacked—
When Park Chan-woo showed up, he immediately lowered his tail and knelt.
He even begged to be killed for his sins.
Ataraxia’s remorse had been genuine.
He had desperately begged forgiveness for his actions.
‘All it took was one line from the prophet—“You’ve caught my interest”—and he was weeping in joy.’
What baffled him most was Ataraxia’s reaction.
Ataraxia had referred to the prophet as “Lord Sephiro” in utmost reverence, and the prophet had accepted it as natural—treating Ataraxia like a mere subordinate.
Then the most unexpected thing happened:
With just a single remark—
—“Your actions have caught my interest.”
—“Ah…! What an honor!”
……Ataraxia had trembled with delight and looked utterly ecstatic.
It wasn’t a lie.
It wasn’t an act.
Ataraxia sincerely followed the prophet.
No—he didn’t just follow. He revered him like a god, as if he were receiving a divine visitation.
The prophet was a god incarnate.
—“Leave everything to me, O Great One.”
By the end, he had even called him “O Great One,” eyes filled with sacred resolve.
Just what was all this?
The name Sephiro, Ataraxia’s identity, the so-called Black Witch—none of it made sense.
He didn’t understand a single thing… but—
“This is the place.”
A voice beside him snapped him out of his thoughts.
Lee Hyuk-soo gathered himself.
And stared at the massive palace before him.
“This is… the Palace of Khan?”
“Hmm?”
Park Chan-woo tilted his head.
They had finally reached the [Palace of Khan] at the end of the [Path of Light].
The journey there had been exceptionally smooth.
Because Ataraxia had taken care of all the obstacles that should’ve appeared along the way.
The reason Park Chan-woo tilted his head was purely because of Lee Hyuk-soo.
His tone had suddenly changed.
Not only was he speaking formally, but his demeanor was nothing like before.
“Lee Hyuk-soo. Don’t act so stiff—just speak normally like you always do.”
“…I can’t do that.”
Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.
Miracle after miracle had unfolded before his eyes.
How could he treat the man who had guided him and even saved his life as an equal?
If the prophet hadn’t intervened, he would’ve surely died by Ataraxia’s magic.
He would’ve gained no enlightenment.
He wouldn’t have seen his mother again, nor realized his own arrogance and resolved to better himself.
‘The mighty Lee Hyuk-soo…’
Park Chan-woo let out a quiet, awkward chuckle.
Lee Hyuk-soo—the Sword King who lived his life entirely alone.
He had never seen the man speak formally to anyone.
The Sword King was utterly solitary.
He didn’t follow others, nor keep companions close.
Naturally, he never treated others with reverence.
Disillusioned by people and the world, he maintained a consistently cynical outlook.
And yet now, the first object of his “respect” turned out to be Park Chan-woo himself.
‘You really live long enough, you’ll see everything.’
Shaking his head, Park Chan-woo stepped into the palace.
[You have been recognized as one with the ‘Qualification of Khan.’]
[You are accompanied by the ‘Knight of Khan.’]
[You are entering the ‘Palace of Khan.’]
[The ‘Palace of Khan’ is a sealed space, isolated from the ‘Second Night.’]
[No ‘Observers’ may peer into the ‘Palace of Khan.’]
[Including Creators and Moon’s Master Ahheta.]
…A sealed space.
That meant even the Creators—and Ahheta—could not track them here.
‘The ancient being, Khan. He really is no ordinary figure.’
To have created such a space while sealed…
Just how powerful was he?
Driven by curiosity, Park Chan-woo stepped inside without hesitation.
And at that moment—
[The ‘Warrior of Valhalla (Lv. 99)’ appears!]
[Defeat him in battle and emerge victorious.]
A warrior clad in golden armor and helmet emerged.
He stood at least 2.5 meters tall.
Wielding a massive golden spear.
‘Level 99?’
Park Chan-woo’s thoughts went blank for a moment.
That level was far too high for a mere gatekeeper.
Naturally, the odds of winning in a direct fight were close to zero.
Then, the warrior of Valhalla turned to Park Chan-woo and Lee Hyuk-soo and asked:
“I ask you. Are you the one who has broken twenty seals and earned the ‘Qualification of Khan’?”
“I am the one who obtained Khan’s qualification.”
Park Chan-woo answered immediately, and the warrior tilted his head.
“You’re far too weak.”
“……”
“You do not possess the ‘Qualification of Khan.’ You are far too frail to speak of such qualifications. Return once you have strength befitting the title.”
A clear rejection.
But earning the strength and returning wasn’t an option.
Once the [Second Night] ended, Ahheta would never reveal this space again.
They had to resolve everything now.
Park Chan-woo’s thoughts raced.
The unresolved clues.
He recalled the messages that had appeared after destroying the 20 shelters.
[You have received the ‘Challenger’s Key.’]
[Seek the traces left behind by the ‘Ancient Being’ and open the gate.]
[However, you will need another of your ‘own kind’ to open the gate.]
He hadn’t used the [Challenger’s Key] yet.
The key was meant to open a door.
But they hadn’t needed a key to enter the Palace of Khan.
That meant the key served another purpose.
“You don’t have the authority to judge my qualifications, do you?”
Park Chan-woo offered a light rebuttal.
Then he pulled out the [Challenger’s Key] and held it up.
This key itself was the qualification.
A mere gatekeeper couldn’t determine whether he was worthy.
He already had the key that opened the door.
Whether a gatekeeper stood there or not—if one had the key, the door would open.
The warrior’s voice dropped.
“…Are you saying you’re confident you could defeat me?”
A fierce killing intent burst forth.
“Guh…!”
Lee Hyuk-soo trembled.
There was no way he could endure the bloodlust of a level 99 monster.
But instinctively, he moved to shield Park Chan-woo.
Prepared to block with all he had if the warrior attacked.
Behind him, Park Chan-woo shook his head calmly.
“Stop. I’ve already won.”
“You haven’t even fought me, and yet you claim victory?”
“You said I wasn’t qualified, but I’m already in possession of the qualification. Doesn’t that mean I’ve already won?”
“…Is your idea of winning just wordplay? Absurd.”
A look of amusement flashed in the warrior’s eyes.
But he wasn’t wrong.
[Defeat him in battle and emerge victorious]—the message never specified it had to be a physical fight.
Nowhere in the messages or dialogue did it say victory must come from combat.
There are many kinds of battles.
Clashing weapons and risking life and death aren’t the only forms.
But the [Palace of Khan] was clearly designed to pressure one into such “combat.”
It presented an overwhelming-level warrior to intimidate and force one to flee.
“Absurd, but correct. You’ve got courage. Most would panic and run away.”
The warrior stepped aside.
“Go on. Proceed.”
The first trial.
They had passed.
If you lacked even this much wit and courage, you weren’t worthy of the challenge.
But Park Chan-woo shook his head.
“I’ll give you a chance as well.”
“…What? I just told you to go. Why are you saying that now?”
“You’ve been stuck here a long time, haven’t you? Wouldn’t it be a shame to let us go without a fight, warrior?”
“……”
The warrior fell silent.
He was a gatekeeper.
The face guarding the palace.
But also, he was a warrior.
Trapped in the palace for ages, he hadn’t had a chance to display his prowess.
Now that the Palace of Khan had reappeared in the world—he couldn’t not be itching for a fight.
He wanted to fight.
Desperately so!
Park Chan-woo had clearly sensed that desire.
“I’m offering you a chance to battle us properly.”
“Can you handle me?”
Still, the warrior was skeptical.
Even at a glance, their power gap was obvious.
Their mana didn’t even come close.
If they fought properly, it would be over in an instant.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
“Of course, not in a fair fight. I have a condition.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“You’ll match your level to ours.”
Match levels, and fight on even ground.
The warrior responded irritably.
“…Are you mocking me? Do you think you can win just because I lower my level to yours?”
He understood what “level” meant.
He had been marked as level 99 from the beginning, after all.
But from his perspective, it made no sense.
Why challenge him when they had already passed?
He was a mighty warrior of Valhalla.
Even with limitations placed on him—even with his level lowered—his technique, honed over ages, had not dulled.
He was confident he could defeat a hundred monsters of the same level.
Park Chan-woo shrugged.
“Well, obviously. I do think we’ll win.”
“…If I win, you’ll both die here.”
“And if we win—you will no longer serve Khan. You’ll follow and serve me.” (T/N: The scammer is scamming again! )
“Fine. So be it. If you can pull that off, even Khan would understand.”
The warrior nodded, rather pleased.
It had been a long time since he’d fought.
He could finally fulfill his duty as gatekeeper.
What better opportunity could there be?
Matching levels was simple.
You couldn’t forcefully raise your level, but there were plenty of ways to temporarily reduce it via seals.
Park Chan-woo spoke slowly.
“Then let us swear before the Oathbound Reaper—to match our levels and face this battle as equals.”
“Forget it. I’ll lower mine by ten more levels than yours. Maybe then it’ll be a fair fight!”
(T/N: Oh boy, I think Hyuk-soo will one-hit KO him lol. Imagine lowering your level below Chanwoo who is in the negative level area lol. )