Overcoming Technique — Part 4
The Blood King was a middle-aged man with a stern and upright demeanor.
Though he looked middle-aged, he was far older.
Wasn’t he already past eighty?
I bowed respectfully to him.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Warrior Kim.”
“Nice to meet you, Warrior Kim. I’m Chen Wei. We met briefly earlier, didn’t we? I serve as the President of the Protector Alliance.”
“The world knows of your dedication, President Chen.”
“Haha. I appreciate the kind words. Please, take a seat.”
The President’s office was nothing like the one in the game.
In the game, it was adorned with gold, jewels, and intricately drawn magical arrays everywhere. Here, there was none of that.
There wasn’t even a basic climate control magic array, let alone purification or mana stabilization arrays.
No air conditioning or cleaning drones either—just a single table, a few wooden chairs, and two coat racks.
‘This is extreme.’
Since there wasn’t even a couch, I had to pull over one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs to sit.
As I glanced around the sparse room, the Blood King gave a faint smile.
“I modeled it after my master’s study, as best as I could. My master believed that curbing unnecessary desires was the quickest path to enlightenment.”
Master.
Hearing that word made me instinctively adjust my posture to be more respectful.
“Do you mean the Heavenly Demon?”
“Yes, the Heavenly Demon. The greatest martial artist in history, the man who touched the heavens through martial arts alone. Though I’ve never even come close to his shadow, I’ve always aspired to follow in his footsteps.”
Level 9 superhumans are exceedingly rare in Arcane Seoul.
There are only four of them in total.
Apparently, back in the Middle Ages, when gods still walked the Earth, there were more. But after the Divine Annihilation War, when many gods were killed or sealed, they became almost extinct.
Eventually, as the story progresses through later episodes, they’ll become more common again.
“I’ve heard much about the Heavenly Demon.”
“Oh? And what have you heard?”
“Well, stories akin to myths. Like how he defeated the Demon King alone or overcame the avatar of an evil god.”
“Those aren’t just stories—they really happened.”
“Yes, the historical records confirm them. I’ve reviewed them a few times myself, and each time I was in awe.”
“Hahaha. You mean those lousy video recordings? They don’t even scratch the surface of the greatness of my master.”
“You witnessed it yourself, then?”
“Of course. I saw it all firsthand. Those mythic battles are still as vivid in my mind as if they happened yesterday.”
His age truly showed.
Though his appearance was that of a middle-aged man, his speech and tone were unmistakably those of an elder.
Unexpectedly, his Korean was so fluent that I could catch even the subtle nuances of his words.
The Blood King’s expression turned wistful.
“The only regret is that I haven’t seen my master in decades. He’s been in seclusion for so long. If he were still active, I’d be bowing to him every morning, hoping to glean even a fragment of his wisdom. Alas, it must be because my senior brother, junior sister, and I have failed to meet his expectations. Though the three of us were called geniuses, we likely never lived up to his standards.”
The Divine Army General, the Devil Emperor, and the Blood King.
All three are SSR-tier superhumans, NPCs at Level 8.
They’re monsters on par with the Saintess, but compared to the Heavenly Demon, they still fall short.
After all, the Heavenly Demon is a one-man powerhouse—completely unmatched.
“Isn’t it precisely because the Three Sovereigns stand firm that the Heavenly Demon was able to enter seclusion?”
“No. My master went into seclusion to reach the perfect divine realm: Level 10. It has nothing to do with us.”
“Level 10…”
“It’s possible my master has already transcended and ascended.”
“That can’t be.”
“I’m serious. For the past twenty-two years, the Pills of Transcendence and Nectar left at the entrance to his retreat have remained untouched.”
Wait, what?
The Heavenly Demon ascended?
I looked at the Blood King with wide eyes, and he raised a hand to calm me.
“I said he might have ascended, not that he has.”
“But he hasn’t consumed the Pills of Transcendence or the Nectar?”
“Perhaps because he no longer needs to. But his presence and mana waves remain. You can still sense them clearly if you approach the base of Mount Heaven.”
“Then…”
“He’s still in the Secret Martial Hall of Mount Heaven. In theory, if someone were to leave their body behind and ascend as a soul alone, it would explain the current situation. But realistically, that’s improbable. Historical records show that those who ascended or transcended typically took their bodies with them or disintegrated them during the process. Most likely, he’s still in the final stage before full ascension.”
That explains a lot.
There’s a reason why the Four Great Superhumans don’t make an appearance in the game.
The Heavenly Demon (Warrior), Leviathan (Reinforced), Merlin (Mage), and Gabriel (Priest).
You can’t meet or talk to them—they only exist as characters you can acquire through rare pulls.
They’re probably all in seclusion, like the Heavenly Demon, or in similar circumstances.
“That’s unfortunate. I always hoped to one day receive guidance from the Heavenly Demon.”
“That’s the dream of all warriors. Many Protectors in the Alliance are willing to risk their lives just to receive even a fragment of his teachings.”
How amazing would it be to inherit the Heavenly Demon Divine Art from the Heavenly Demon himself?
It’s the strongest and most supreme trait in existence.
Far above even the Big Three Sword Arts.
The reason is simple.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art isn’t just an ultimate offensive and defensive technique—it’s also a mana cultivation method and a movement art.
You could think of it as a combination of the Heavenly Demon’s Heaven-Cleaving Palm, Heavenly Demon’s Iron Wall, Heavenly Demon’s Heart Technique, and Heavenly Demon’s Dominion Step.
Even compared to the Big Three Sword Arts, its level is completely different.
‘Even the Big Three Sword Arts are busted, but this… this is on another level entirely.’
The Blood King looked at me with a steady gaze.
“My master would have liked you, Warrior Kim. It’s a shame he cannot meet you.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“No, really. You have an odd quality that resembles my master’s.”
“Me? I do?”
“It’s true. I can’t quite explain it. Your personality and appearance are completely different, yet there’s something about you that feels similar to my master. If your face resembled his even slightly, I’d have thought you were his biological son.”
“It’s an honor. No one has ever said something like that to me before.”
“I’m serious. If my master weren’t in seclusion, I’d have taken you to him and recommended you as his youngest disciple.”
What?
Is he joking?
But his eyes tell me otherwise.
The Blood King wasn’t joking—he was completely sincere.
Did he notice my trait switching ability as an 8th-level superhuman?
Even though I’ve been leveling up at a ridiculous pace, it’s not like there’s no precedent for it.
After all, Seo Woojin reached Level 5 immediately after overcoming his Divine Fever.
‘I’ll need to tread carefully.’
The Saintess, the Tower Master, the Legion Commander—they’re all 8th-level superhumans who seem to “see” something in me.
I bowed my head deeply in response.
“Thank you for your words. I’ll consider them an honor for generations to come.”
“Hm. That being said, would you consider becoming my disciple?”
“Excuse me?”
“Of course, I can’t teach you the Heavenly Demon Divine Art since it was passed down to my senior brother. But my Blood Heaven Demon Fist isn’t a martial art to scoff at either.”
The Blood Heaven Demon Fist isn’t bad—it’s Tier 1 in hand-to-hand combat techniques.
It’s a level below the Big Three Sword Arts, but it’s still highly regarded.
But…
When compared to Garuda, the absolute pinnacle of martial arts, it falls short.
It’s roughly equivalent to the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art used by the Eastern Army Commander.
And I already turned down the Commander’s offer to teach me that technique.
Now he’s asking me to settle for the Blood Heaven Demon Fist?
I put on a troubled expression.
“While it’s truly an incredible honor, and I deeply appreciate your offer, I’m afraid I can’t accept it.”
“Why not? Do you think I’m unworthy as your master?”
“Of course not. But…”
I tapped the sword hanging from my waist for emphasis.
The Black Tiger Sword.
The Blood King raised an eyebrow.
“And what about that? Do you think that old man will have anything to say to me?”
“Even so, I would be directly disrespecting the Legion Commander. While you may not see it that way, the Commander is a living legend in Korea—a historical hero. I can’t bring myself to tarnish his reputation.”
An independence hero. A war hero.
A giant who supported Korea during its early years.
In Korea, the Legion Commander’s stature is second only to the Heavenly Demon himself. There’s no comparing the Commander’s disciple to the Heavenly Demon’s.
The Blood King clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Tsk. I finally find a disciple worth taking, only to have it ruined because of some old man!”
“My apologies.”
“Forget it.”
I already have two of the Big Three Sword Arts.
Why would I settle for the Blood Heaven Demon Fist at this point?
If he had offered me the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I’d have dropped to my knees and started bowing immediately.
‘Thank you, Legion Commander.’
If it weren’t for the Black Tiger Sword, I’d probably be stuck as the Blood King’s disciple right now.
So this is what they meant.
What the Tower Master admired, the Legion Commander was astonished by, and the Protector Alliance President sought after…
“Take this.”
The Blood King suddenly tossed something my way.
It was a dark, heavy, rectangular plaque.
The moment I caught it, my eyes widened in shock.
[The Heavenly Demon Reigns, All Submit to Him]
The words, written in bold characters, were inscribed on a plaque made of eternal cold iron.
A line you’d see repeatedly in martial arts novels.
There are slight variations, but the core meaning remains consistent.
“It’s the Heavenly Demon Plaque.”
“Wh-why are you giving this to me?”
“Consider it a gesture of goodwill. This plaque is only to be used by my master, our three brothers, and our direct disciples. Use it whenever you need.”
But… there’s a catch, isn’t there?
The Blood King smiled faintly.
On the surface, it seemed like a calm, indifferent expression.
But deep in his otherwise emotionless eyes, I caught a glimpse of something.
A competitive spirit.
Most likely aimed at the Eastern Army Commander.
What could have happened between the two in their youth?
There’s a significant age gap between them, after all.
The Legion Commander is over a hundred, while the Blood King has just passed eighty.
A nearly twenty-year age difference.
“Well, off you go. I look forward to the day you call me ‘master.’”
“Be well, sir.”
I bowed respectfully and left the office.
Though he had tried to make me feel at ease, had I been tense the entire time?
My back was damp with sweat.
“Whew!”
As I reached the Protector Alliance lobby, I let out a long sigh.
Sigmund, who had been waiting for me, gave me a knowing smile.
“You’ve had a rough time, haven’t you?”
“He has a way of making people tense, doesn’t he?”
“Well, he’s a transcendent, after all. He’s on a completely different level from us ordinary superhumans.”
“You’re also Level 5, Sigmund. I wouldn’t exactly call that ordinary.”
“Here, Level 5 is pretty average. Even Level 6 can’t act all high and mighty. Only Level 7s can walk around with their heads held high.”
“This place really is a dragon’s pond and a tiger’s den.”
“Uh… dragon lake and tiger cave?”
Did my translation sound strange?
I admit, it might’ve come off odd when directly translated.
If only I knew more English proverbs and idioms.
“Anyway, Mr. Kim, since you’re now officially a Protector, let’s celebrate!”
“Again?”
“Of course! It’s only natural. There’s a whole crowd of Protectors waiting for you outside. You’re a benefactor to all of them! A benefactor to everyone! The city-wide festival will start soon.”
“A city-wide festival? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just as it sounds. A family reunion or a Brotherhood gathering isn’t enough. Who knows, from now on, today might be celebrated every year in honor of Mr. Kim and the Overcoming Technique.”
Isn’t that a bit much?
If I had revealed all the Overcoming Techniques or even those for mid-tier demons, sure, it might make sense.
But I only shared six methods and stopped there.
Of course, if they analyze those six and extrapolate the principles to apply them to all 108 demon lords, it might justify the hype…
Boom! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, the sound of fireworks erupted outside.
Sigmund started bouncing in excitement.
As if they couldn’t wait any longer, Sigmund shouted in excitement.
“What? They started without me? These rascals! Let’s go, quickly!”
“W-wait a second, let me catch my breath…”
“You can catch your breath on the way!”
There was no resisting the momentum of a Nord warrior.
Dragged along by Sigmund, I stepped outside.
The entire city was already in full celebration.
The streets were alive with noise and movement, as if the entire city itself was reveling.
Guooong! Guaaaang!
A superhuman was blowing into a twenty-meter-long horn all by himself.
Bang! Bang! Bang! KABOOM!
Another was pounding on a massive mana-charged drum, creating thunderous echoes.
Ziiiing! Ziiiiirrr!
High above, on the side of a skyscraper, a superhuman was running mana strings across the building like violin strings and playing them with a divine sword as if performing a concert.
The entire city was a stage for chaos and dance.
Everyone was holding silver goblets of liquor in one hand and massive slabs of roasted meat in the other, dancing gleefully.
Their supposed “singing” sounded more like shouting.
A shirtless Nord warrior and a Spartan in a skirt-like armor were doing the can-can, arms locked over each other’s shoulders.
Nearby, a cyborg of African descent was breakdancing, while a magician in a theatrical robe scattered tarot cards in all directions. Wherever the cards landed, dazzling spells erupted, stealing everyone’s attention.
Even the priests weren’t behaving any differently. Dressed in their robes backward, they were standing on their hands, squealing and squawking in a bizarre choir.
It was both utterly ridiculous and utterly overwhelming.
“What… what is all this?”
“It must be your first time seeing something like this.”
Sigmund smiled brightly.
“When the city has something truly worth celebrating, festivals like this happen. It’s been so long—over thirty years, in fact. The last time was when the Heavenly Demon himself visited the Labyrinth City.”
“It’s… a bit overwhelming.”
“Hahaha! This is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of festival! Come on, let’s go!”
Is this really a festival?
It feels more like pure madness.
But soon enough, I, too, was swept into the frenzied crowd.
“Mr. Kim! Thank you so much!”
“We’re so grateful to you!”
“Because of you, my daughter survived!”
“If it weren’t for you, my brother would’ve died!”
People were expressing their gratitude with sincerity, and others were literally bouncing with joy, their entire bodies radiating their thanks.
Sure, I ended up having to drink until I was nearly at my limit, but it wasn’t so bad.
[Indomitable], [Drug Resistance], [Poison Resistance]
[Sigurd’s Cultivation Technique], [Endurance], [Resolve]
I had trait switching on my side.
“Hm? Our Protector is pretty good at holding his liquor!”
“Let’s test him properly!”
“Let’s drink till the end!”
A drunken Nord warrior.
A mutant enhanced with the strength of a monstrous bear.
A mage who claimed to have spent his entire life studying wine magic.
A priest who boasted about personally offering wine to Dionysus.
None of them were a match.
“Blaaaargh!”
“Ughhh…”
Snore… Snore…
Around me lay nothing but fallen soldiers.
One superhuman was retching loudly, another was snoring with gusto, and yet another was crawling along the ground, scratching at it like a defeated beast.
I felt a pang of disappointment.
Should I call it… the allure of drinking?
Three or four more bottles would’ve been perfect.
“Oh, forget it.”
What am I even thinking?
Time to head back to the hotel and get some sleep.
As I made my way toward the hotel, something stopped me.
In the alleyway right next to the hotel, where the shadows grew thick under the twilight, someone called out to me.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
It wasn’t in English or German—it was raw, unfiltered Korean.
I froze on the spot without realizing it.
It was a voice I recognized.
“…Saje?”
Even with his hoodie pulled low over his face, I recognized him instantly.
That gentle face, the metallic sheen of his silver hair…
It was Kim Saje.
–TL Notes–
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