Chapter 82
Thud!
No matter how many times it happened, I could never get used to losing consciousness.
This time, too… the white System was quiet, and the LIMITLESS System was noisy.
(T/N: I’m changing UNLIMIT to LIMITLESS moving forward.)
[Screech!]
[Warning! Warning!]
[Your consciousness has been severed by a sudden attack.]
[Initiating recovery.]
Maybe it was because I’d lost consciousness so many times since my past life.
Or maybe it was because I’d anticipated it.
My consciousness snapped off with a thud, plunging my vision into darkness—but aside from that, it felt no different than usual.
I was so unfazed I might not have even realized I’d fainted, but if there was one peculiar thing, it was that I could still see the LIMITLESS System’s messages in this dark space—what I assumed was my mental world.
[Screech!]
[Warning! Warning!]
[Mana (Internal Energy) is flowing in from another person.]
[The Mana Road (energy channel) is moving.]
[The Mana Road (energy channel) is being activated.]
[The Mana (Internal Energy) moving through the Mana Road (energy channel) is beginning to form a Barrier outside the skin.]
This was something I already knew—something I’d experienced before.
It was just the first time I was getting messages this detailed.
‘This is new. More importantly… is this what Chang-kyung saw?’
Another world, shrouded in darkness.
It was the first time I’d ever faced this place that seemed to be my mental world.
I looked at the LIMITLESS System.
‘Can I talk to it?’
Unlike the white System, the LIMITLESS System had another advantage.
[Please state a command.]
I could communicate with it.
‘Where am I?’
But it also had a clear drawback.
[You do not have the command authority.]
Commands required a certain level of authority.
In my current state, the LIMITLESS System was useless beyond informing me of what was happening outside.
As I clicked my tongue and shook my head, the LIMITLESS System spoke again.
[To increase your authority, please meet the qualifications.]
Qualifications—five out of ten, according to it.
Twitch.
A thought hit me.
What were the ten qualifications, and what were the five it claimed I’d already met?
The only one I knew for sure was Regression Mode.
Beyond that, I had no clue.
‘There’s that, but…’
The LIMITLESS System.
‘What the hell is this thing? No matter how much I dig through my past-life memories, I’ve never heard of anyone having two Systems—let alone something called LIMITLESS.’
In the silent, dark space, as I stared at the LIMITLESS System, one question led to another.
‘Let’s think.’
All Hyuk-min could do right now was quietly trust Chang-kyung in this dark mental world.
Ever since I died and fell into this life, I hadn’t wasted a single day. But now, I decided to temporarily set aside the plans I’d been chasing and look into the things that weren’t part of them.
‘Five…’
The conditions—five out of ten.
The only certain one was Regression Mode.
If so, it must be a type of Skill…
‘But I don’t have Regression Mode anymore. And even if I absorbed Regression Mode, why is it still five?’
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
The only Skills I had were Immortal Demon Art—which wasn’t even activated yet and was barely visible—and No Death’s and Hyun-jung’s Skills, which I had through Party Armament.
And those Party Skills weren’t even my unique Skills, so they couldn’t really be called mine.
‘Then what are these qualifications that I’ve somehow met five of?’
Just as I was lost in thought—
In the dark mental world, a red light flared in one corner.
Fwoosh.
[Activation of the Mana Road (energy channel) is complete.]
[Pioneering a new Mana Road (energy channel), not one pioneered by another’s Mana (Internal Energy).]
A new energy channel?
Did I need something beyond releasing Mana outside my skin to endure in Taebudong?
‘Chang-kyung, what in the world are you doing?’
I was captivated by that red light, blazing in the corner of the dark mental world, when—
[A new Mana (Internal Energy) has been discovered through the newly pioneered Mana Road (energy channel).]
The moment the message about a newly discovered Mana appeared, the faint red glow began to change.
What had been a tiny dot in the pitch-black darkness slowly grew larger.
‘What is that?’
The red light—once no bigger than a bean—swelled until it was as large as a car, dyeing the entire mental world red.
And at that very moment—
From the center of the red light, a different color surfaced: a blackish-red glow, like blood.
‘A blackish-red light… like blood?’
And the instant I saw it, I understood what this new Mana—the new Internal Energy—was inside me.
At the same time, as its identity clicked into place, the answer to the five qualifications I’d been agonizing over burst open like a dam.
‘I was too fixated on Regression Mode. The qualifications the LIMITLESS System mentioned—it wasn’t talking about Skills!’
The one certain qualification, Regression Mode, and—
The Death Knight’s Helmet, the Dark Ring, the Immortal Demon Sword, and finally—
‘Immortal Demon Art!’
Fwoosh!
As if responding to my words, the blood-like blackish-red glow instantly intensified.
‘What… is it for real?’
The slightest change in that light sent a shiver down my spine.
I’d only thought it was a strong possibility.
But when I lifted my head and saw the LIMITLESS System window, I became sure.
[You have met the minimum requirements to learn the linked Skill ‘Immortal Demon Art’.]
[Would you like to learn ‘Immortal Demon Art’? Y / N]
“What is this!”
I hadn’t even entered Taebudong yet.
I’d sought out Chang-kyung and was about to go in there to learn this.
So why was it appearing now?
The blackish-red light before my eyes.
The newly pioneered energy channel.
‘Then is this the minimum requirement to learn Immortal Demon Art?’
Whoosh, whoosh.
I shook my head hard.
At the same time, the distracting thoughts scattered, leaving my mind clear.
My deliberation was short.
No—there was no need to deliberate in the first place.
Immortal Demon Art.
I would learn it.
I had to learn it.
Click.
[Binding ‘Immortal Demon Art’ to the LIMITLESS System.]
Sssss.
The moment I pressed accept (Y), I heard a peculiar sound—just like when I absorbed Regression Mode.
I thought Immortal Demon Art would be absorbed into the LIMITLESS System window just like that.
[Screech.]
[Failed to learn and bind ‘Immortal Demon Art’.]
[Your understanding of ‘Immortal Demon Art’ is low. Black Blood Demonic Energy is not detected in your dantian. A certain level of Black Blood Demonic Energy was not detected.]
[The necessary conditions to learn ‘Immortal Demon Art’ have not been met.]
‘What in the world is happening right now?’
[?>!?! 10 percent of the conditions have been met.]
‘What?’
It was then, as I was thrown into confusion by the LIMITLESS System’s barrage of messages.
Crackle.
[‘Godslayer’ ??@#>$ 10 per>#$ met#$%(&%$da.]
Just for a moment—at the exact instant a familiar word flashed by—
FWOOSH!
“Heup!”
Hyuk-min’s consciousness was blown away by the immense light that suddenly surged over him.
= = =
A considerable crowd had gathered on the 9th floor of the Baeksan Building in Apgujeong, Gangnam, where the White Mountain Guild’s headquarters was located.
More than ten vehicles came to a stop, and numerous people rushed out, gathering around a luxury sedan parked at the center.
The car door opened, and the person who stepped out was none other than Park Chung-ho.
“Is this the place?”
As Park Chung-ho revealed himself, the building’s first-floor doors opened as if on cue, and a dignified man in a suit walked out.
“Are you from the Haeundae Guild?”
“I am Park Chung-ho of the Haeundae Guild.”
Park Chung-ho extended his hand first.
The man who shook it bowed slightly.
“I am Seo Hwan-do, head of Baeksan’s Seoul branch.”
The home base of Baeksan—Korea’s number one ranked guild—was Seoul.
Being the head of the Seoul branch, their main force, meant he was at least among Baeksan’s top three.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
For someone like that to come out to the entrance and greet him personally—
Park Chung-ho nodded, satisfied by the impeccable hospitality.
“Where is the White Mountain Guild Master?”
“He is waiting on the 9th floor.”
“Let’s go up.”
As Park Chung-ho moved to enter, Seo Hwan-do stopped him.
“Just a moment.”
“Hm?”
“The person the Guild Master wishes to see is the Haeundae Guild Master. Subjugation Force Leader, please go up with the Haeundae Guild Master when he arrives.”
It was a reasonable statement.
After all, that was likely why Seo Hwan-do had come out personally—to guide them.
But at the reasonable request, Park Chung-ho scoffed.
“Pfft.”
As Seo Hwan-do’s face tightened, Park Chung-ho waved a hand dismissively.
“Ah, my apologies. Our Guild Master won’t be coming. I’m here in his stead, so just guide me.”
“…..”
This was no simple meeting.
Though unofficial, it was essentially a summit between guild masters—practically official.
The White Mountain Guild Master was attending in person, yet the Haeundae Guild Master hadn’t shown up?
“I hope you won’t be offended. Our Guild Master isn’t feeling well at the moment. The White Mountain Guild Master is already aware of that.”
“Ah… is that so.”
Seo Hwan-do’s expression immediately relaxed.
“I will escort you.”
“Let’s go.”
And so, under Seo Hwan-do’s guidance, they waited for the elevator.
Watching the floor indicator, Seo Hwan-do casually tossed out a question.
“You’re not the Vice Guild Master or a regional branch head, so isn’t it difficult for you—the Subjugation Force Leader—to run errands in the Guild Master’s place?”
It sounded light, but it wasn’t.
It was a blunt reminder of the situation: the head of Baeksan’s Seoul branch was guiding a mere Subjugation Force Leader.
“Not really.”
“Is the Haeundae Guild Master very unwell? He hasn’t been seen at all lately.”
“He’s quite unwell. I suppose it’s hard on him, what with his precious son going missing in England.”
Seo Hwan-do nodded as if he knew everything.
“Hmm. I hope he recovers quickly. It would be a huge problem if he passed away with no heir.”
The Haeundae Guild Master’s official activities had recently been completely suspended.
In truth, they’d been suspended for months, but it only became a major topic after the recent Shindang-dong department store incident.
“Right? Thanks to that, I’m having a bit of a hard time.”
At a time when negative rumors about the Haeundae Guild were pouring out, they’d put Park Chung-ho—the Subjugation Team Leader—forward as their spokesperson.
But the Haeundae Guild Master never showed his face.
That only fueled more speculation.
“For someone who was healthy enough to personally step up for statements and such, how sick must he be to entrust it to a Subjugation Team Leader of all people… I’m worried.”
Seo Hwan-do’s intent was to belittle him through that point.
However—
Seo Hwan-do, wearing a faint smirk, knew far too little about his opponent.
“That’s right. I think so too. He always stepped up personally. Even when told not to, he insisted on grabbing the microphone. The damn old man.”
“Pardon?”
Seo Hwan-do tilted his head.
“It’s driving me crazy with regret. He just had to grab the microphone and spout useless things like developing Busan or solving manpower shortages. Geez, he should do that at a karaoke bar or alone at home… right?”
“…..”
“Well, it’s a relief things are slowly finding their proper place now.”
For a moment, Seo Hwan-do couldn’t control his expression.
Park Chung-ho’s remarks about the Haeundae Guild Master were deeply strange.
Just as he was struggling to make sense of it, Park Chung-ho spoke again—putting an end to every lingering doubt.
“Don’t worry. I’m changing things for the better. From head to toe, every last bit.”
Ding.
The elevator arrived, and Park Chung-ho stepped inside.
Even so, Seo Hwan-do—his mind racing, his eyes dazed—caught Park Chung-ho’s face, twisted in ridicule.
“Aren’t you getting on?”
He said… I.
It felt like he’d just heard something he shouldn’t have.
He’d thought Park Chung-ho was just a simple youngster buried in work… but he wasn’t.
Gulp.
“I’m getting on.”
Seo Hwan-do forced himself to compose his expression and stepped in. The doors closed.
BANG!
At the sudden thud, Seo Hwan-do spun around, instinctively taking a combat stance.
“It’s not even summer yet, but there’s already a mosquito.”
Park Chung-ho, turned toward the wall, was swatting a mosquito.
Momentarily flustered, Seo Hwan-do let out a dry cough and faced forward again, while Park Chung-ho snorted.
“Why are you so tense? Acting like that. You make me look like I eat people.”
“Ah, no, sir.”
“More importantly, what’s the plan?”
“Pardon? What about—”
“That son of a bitch, the Legendary Title Holder.”
He was talking about Bang Hyuk-min—the pride of Korea.
No one should refer to him like that.
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it’s like this. They clearly received our intentions, yet they’re calling us like this. They must be trying to lead the conversation in a positive direction, right?”
“I’m not sure. Everything is up to the Guild Master—”
“The Legendary Title Holder, Bang Hyuk-min…”
Grit.
With the sound of grinding teeth, a chilling killing intent began to seep out from Park Chung-ho.
It was so cold and sharp that Seo Hwan-do couldn’t help but glance back—and his eyes widened.
Then Park Chung-ho spoke, thick with malice.
“I don’t know about anything else, but that son of a bitch, the Legendary Title Holder… I’m going to grind him into dust one way or another… along with that little bitch who fired the gun.”
The VIP-only elevator was passing from the 5th to the 6th floor.
Still grinding his teeth, Park Chung-ho curled the corners of his mouth into a grin as he looked at Seo Hwan-do.
A creepy feeling, along with something strangely unsettling, crawled over him.
“Ahn Hyunwoo.”
“Ready.”
A voice came from within the elevator wall.
Seo Hwan-do flinched, but only for a moment.
“Begin.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Park Chung-ho’s incomprehensible command, two pale hands shot out from inside the elevator wall, reaching from behind Seo Hwan-do to cover his eyes.
“Heup!”
Ding.
The elevator arrived on the 9th floor.
In front of dozens of waiting White Mountain Guild members, the doors opened, and Park Chung-ho stepped out confidently.
“Whew~ Baeksan is Baeksan, I see.”
Behind him, Seo Hwan-do—the head of Baeksan’s Seoul branch—followed without the slightest hint of unease.
What in the world had just happened?
Seo Hwan-do walked out smoothly, then bowed ninety degrees to Park Chung-ho without a second thought.
“I will escort you.”
And so, with Park Chung-ho and Seo Hwan-do leading, the dozens of waiting White Mountain Guild members began to move.
In the now-empty elevator hall, Jang Han-bit—who had arrived earlier and was waiting—shook his head.
“It’s really all coming together…”
And as he looked at the banner hanging from the ceiling, he swallowed dryly.
[Countermeasure Meeting Regarding the Legendary Title Holder]
“That man, Park Chung-ho’s plans have never been wrong…”