Trait Hoarder – Chapter 201

Supreme Flame — Part 1

I closed my eyes and savored the lingering sensation.

Level 7.

In this world, reaching Level 5 meant being treated as nobility, fully recognized as part of the privileged elite of society.

At that point, you were granted privileges comparable to a high-ranking government official.

Then what about Level 7?

You were considered a walking natural disaster.

Even members of the National Assembly, provincial governors, and corporate chairmen—unless they themselves were high-level superhumans—had to tread carefully around you.

In terms of modern weaponry, a Level 7 was equivalent to an aircraft carrier.

Even a warrior, whose area attacks were the weakest among all classes, could bring down a building or two with ease.

There was a reason they called it the Ultimate Realm, the pinnacle of human potential and the limit of superhumanity.

“Finally…”

It would be nice to visit the Superhuman Tower in grand fashion, just like the Saintess, and get my certification in a flashy manner.

That alone would be enough to dominate the trending searches and monopolize all the attention.

But I was busy.

I didn’t have the time to strut around and boast.

‘Episode 2 is just around the corner.’

Even without Gaia’s warning, I could feel it.

Just thinking about the Saintess and Episode 2 always sent a chilling sense of urgency down my spine.

That meant I had to act.

Right now.

[Manager Choi. There’s something that needs to be done.]

[Sword Star! You did it, didn’t you?!]

[Yeah.]

[Hahaha! As expected of you, Sword Star! Our group’s chairman! Shouldn’t we throw a celebration for this?!]

[I’m busy. Just hand out bonuses, Manager Choi. To both Warrior Security and Warrior Construction.]

[Ohoho. Our Chairman Sword Star really understands his employees. I can already hear them singing your praises loud enough to pierce the heavens.]

This world was ridiculous.

Give out hefty bonuses, and even the most indifferent employees would develop company loyalty.

And in the end, all of that became part of my assets.

[Just handle it however you see fit, Manager Choi. But don’t be stingy. When spending money, you have to go all in.]

[Of course! I’m starting to understand your business philosophy, Sword Star. I’ve never seen employees voluntarily work overtime and take on extra shifts before. And their efficiency is through the roof! I daresay this is unprecedented in the history of capitalism, let alone Korea.]

[Even if they volunteer, make sure they get paid for overtime and extra shifts.]

[Naturally! Your golden teachings, Sword Star, I take none of them lightly!]

With that handled, I moved on to the next matter.

[Now, listen up. In Hwaksan, Gapyeong County, there’s a place called the Supreme Training Center.]

[Supreme Training Center… Yes, I found it.]

[It’s a cult. And one of the worst kinds at that. I’ve heard they perform human sacrifices daily.]

[Human sacrifices?]

[Yeah. I’m going to raid the place. I can’t just sit back when dozens of people are dying there every day. Back when I was Level 6, I couldn’t guarantee I’d succeed in wiping them out. But now that I’m Level 7, I’m starting with them.]

[Dozens of people a day? Sword Star, are you sure? No matter how incompetent the Korean government is, and even if the police are turning a blind eye, dozens per day seems… excessive.]

[They must have powerful backers.]

[Ah…]

Their true identity was Old Father’s Cult.

The Supreme Training Center and Old Father’s Cult were in a symbiotic relationship.

One provided cover, while the other supplied sacrifices.

[So call in the reporters, and also contact the Thor Cult and Gaia Cult. Let them know I’m personally leading a purge and ask them to handle the cleanup.]

[And the police… it’d be better not to involve them. There’s a good chance they’re connected to this too.]

[Exactly.]

[Understood. I’ll move immediately.]

It was still dawn.

No, calling it dawn was a stretch.

It was the dead of night—2 AM.

But as expected, Manager Choi was already moving busily.

And so was I.

I took off aboard the Red Cougar.

The Supreme Training Center in Hwaksan, Gapyeong County.

Despite its name, it was actually the headquarters of a cult.

That cult referred to their god as Supreme Flame.

That’s right.

Supreme Flame.

The very same name as the bet I had placed with Sun Mage Tower.

A counterpart to Ultimate Flame, the pinnacle of fire attributes with no class restrictions.

You remember the Master of the Sword title’s acquisition conditions, right?

Supreme Flame had a similar requirement.

A specific achievement or quest had to be completed.

And as far as I knew, this was my best shot at fulfilling it at this point in time.

Shuuuuu.

The Red Cougar descended slowly.

The training center was built into the side of a peak, surrounded by towering walls that resembled a fortress.

Atop those walls, electric barbed wire ran along the perimeter.

Watchtowers dotted the area, and CCTV cameras ensured no blind spots in their surveillance.

It wasn’t a training center.

It was a military base.

[Radar detected. They’ve noticed your arrival, Master.]

“Radar? They’re pulling out all the stops.”

[Incoming communication. Would you like to answer?]

“No need.”

I opened the door and stepped out.

Right at the front gate of the training center.

Several security guards stood watch at the entrance.

From a nearby guard post, a few burly men strolled over.

Their uniforms were typical security attire.

But concealed beneath their jackets were handguns, and the batons at their waists radiated a faint electrical magic signature.

“Where have you come from, sir? This is the Supreme Training Center. We do not permit entry at night. If it’s not an urgent matter, we kindly ask that you return during the day.”

This cult was bigger than I thought.

Every single one of these security guards was a superhuman.

Even if they were just Level 2 nobodies.

I said nothing and continued walking forward.

The guards visibly tensed.

Understandable.

Even if they couldn’t see my face in the darkness, the Red Cougar I had arrived in was expensive enough to turn heads at a glance.

“Take another step, and—”

No need for words.

I lunged forward.

Slamming my foot down, I crashed into the security guard.

[Giant’s Strength] [Vajra Body] [Undying]
[Mana Soul] [Close-Combat Mastery] [Grand Assault]

My shoulder drove into his chest as if he were being sucked in.

Could a mere Level 2 superhuman withstand this?

He wasn’t wearing a protective suit like me, nor was he clad in heavy armor like the paladins of his cult.

Impossible.

The security guard was sent flying.

Blood exploded in the air like a detonated bomb, and the other guards, who had been bracing themselves, stood frozen in shock.

Slash!

A burst of crimson flames ignited.

In an instant, I swung Black Tiger Sword, cutting down every single guard.

Even those still inside the guard post met the same fate.

A single flash of my sword pierced their foreheads before they could even sound the alarm.

“Tch.”

Every superhuman here was trash.

Not worth sparing.

Still gripping Black Tiger Sword, I kicked the main gate.

Boom!

A thick iron door.

Completely powerless before my kick.

It crumpled like paper and was sent flying.

Of course, the alarms blared instantly.

WEEEOOOO! WEEEOOOO!

Magical lights illuminated the entire training center.

Pop! Pop!

Spotlights flared to life on every watchtower, beams of light converging on me.

Felt like a damn celebrity.

Without hesitation, I hurled Mjolnir.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One throw, one watchtower.

No need to imbue it with Thunderous Annihilation or anything fancy.

The lightning that surged from Mjolnir, the storm it commanded, easily erased those flimsy towers.

“We’re under attack!”

“Emergency! Emergency!”

“Everyone, wake up!”

Now it was a race against time.

I sprinted forward.

Destroyed every visible structure.

Eliminated every superhuman in sight.

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in my actions.

I knew exactly what these cult bastards had done.

I tore through multiple defensive lines.

They fought back with guns, cannons, even missiles—useless.

Traps?

Same result.

With Bright Eyes, Sixth Sense, and even my Trap Detection trait, I saw through them all and dismantled them effortlessly.

And so, I reached the underground grand temple.

The heart of this wretched cult.

A grotesque sight.

Spiked pillars protruded everywhere, like fangs.

Tied to those spikes were battered and broken victims.

Their eyes hollow.

Staring at nothing but the massive pyre in the center—the burning pit where they had nearly been thrown.

“Sword Star! Die!”

The final gate.

The guardians charged.

Most of them were Level 5 or Level 6.

High-ranking superhumans, respected anywhere else.

But they weren’t alone.

At the front, the Guardian Commander raised his holy sword.

A massive blade of light sprouted from it.

Fire, light, and darkness intertwined, forming a towering sword.

Exalted Holy Blade.

A power only the highest-ranked Holy Sword Knights could wield.

“Khhaha!”

From his throne atop a high platform, the cult leader laughed.

The other guardians smirked with confidence.

A Level 7 paladin’s Exalted Holy Blade.

An ability rivaling the Sword Master’s Aura Blade.

They were certain it would cut me in two.

They were wrong.

I unleashed Mars Swordsmanship, followed by Nephilim Sword, then Kalaratri in succession.

My attacks, sharp as a tiger’s claws, tore through the Guardian Commander and his subordinates.

At the end of it all, black-and-white sword energy erupted.

The Exalted Holy Blade shattered effortlessly.

Lightning surged forth, incinerating the superhumans.

KABOOM!

When the thunder faded, only ashes remained.

“No!”

The cult leader shot up from his seat in horror.

His eyes stretched wide as if they might tear apart.

“This… This is impossible! Impossible!”

Was it, though?

As if I went through hell collecting the Big Three Sword Arts for nothing.

THWACK!

I kicked the Level 7 villain—the cult leader.

“Guhh! Kuhak!”

He tumbled across the ground, coughing up blood.

No matter how strong a Level 7 priest was, physically, they had limits.

I shackled his wrists with a Mana-Sealing Lock, and he roared in fury.

“You bastard! You faithless wretch! Do you not fear divine punishment?! The mighty Supreme Flame will personally smite you! If you do not release me this instant, you will suffer in its belly for all eternity!”

“Supreme Flame, my ass. More like a goddamn bonfire.”

“W-What?”

A heinous act of blasphemy.

The cult leader’s mouth hung open in shock.

“How dare you… How dare you insult Supreme Flame?!”

“If we’re being precise, your very existence is an insult to Supreme Flame. That’s blasphemy. Get it?”

“You heretic!”

“What? Gonna pull off one last desperate trick?”

Slash!

I moved around, cutting the victims free.

Since they were meant as sacrifices, they had been kept relatively unharmed.

Except for those who had lost their minds after watching their loved ones die before their eyes.

The freed victims bowed deeply to me.

“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

“How can we ever repay this debt…?”

“It’s fine. Ah—hey, don’t hit him. That’s dangerous.”

One of the victims tried to kick the cult leader while I wasn’t looking.

I quickly stopped them, and they burst into tears.

“Let me go! I’ll kill that bastard! He murdered my husband!”

“Not yet.”

“Don’t tell me… you’re planning to put him on trial? The judges and prosecutors are all in on it! Even if he gets arrested, he’ll just walk free on probation!”

“I know. He’s dying here.”

“Then why—”

“Killing just him won’t end this.”

And I still needed Supreme Flame.

Of course, I swallowed that last thought.

Instead, I gave them a more acceptable reason.

“If you really want to end them for good, we need to kill their god.”

“A-A god?”

“Yeah. Killing a single apostle is pointless if another one just takes their place. Their god has the power to make that happen. So we need to kill the god. Only then will this cycle end.”

I grabbed the cult leader by the hair.

Dragging him across the floor toward the altar, he let out a furious scream.

“You blasphemous wretch! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Go on. Do it.”

“Do what?!”

“The grand ritual. Perform it.”

I threw him onto the altar.

His eyes burned with malice as he glared at me.

“Hah! How utterly arrogant. You, a mere human, think you can summon a god and kill it? That’s impossi—”

Then, suddenly, his expression shifted.

The rage and hatred on his face twisted into shock and fear.

“Y-You… No way… Warrior Kim, you… You’re a Divine Champion, aren’t you? I knew something was strange… That explains why you’ve grown so strong, so fast. Which god do you serve? Could it be… could it be…”

His face turned pale.

“You’re not… the Old Father’s Divine Champion, are you?”

What kind of nonsense was this?

Did he not know I had already overcome Old Father’s Divine Fever?

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

That scheming mind of his must’ve convinced itself that Old Father’s Cult had abandoned him first.

The cult leader gritted his teeth.

“Those damn bastards. Those mongrels! So this is why they raised me… why they nurtured our cult! But I won’t let them have their way. The Great Supreme Flame’s Avatar will descend and devour you, your cult lackeys, and that Black Gold Armor Whore altogether!”

“Oh, yeah? Then hurry up and summon it!”

“You’ll regret this! O, mighty Supreme Flame!”

The cult leader roared.

He had no divine power.

Not even a trace of mana waves spread from him.

But he was still an apostle of a calamity god, standing on equal ground with Priest Kim.

Naturally, his voice reached the Fire Calamity God.

Rumble.

The temple trembled.

Flames dripped from the ceiling.

A molten, half-liquid, half-solid substance.

The moment the fire touched the floor, smoke rose with a hissss.

The rescued victims shrank back in terror.

“Offer the sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice?”

“Of course. How could a god be summoned without a proper offering? Quickly, present the sacrifice. I am ready.”

The cult leader lowered his head to the altar, baring his chest.

As if offering up his own heart.

His eyes gleamed with madness.

It was possible.

Even if I sacrificed him, the Avatar of the Fire Calamity God would descend.

Stronger than usual, burning with vengeance.

It was a trap.

Not because the avatar would be more powerful.

But because it was the wrong choice.

Whether I used the cult leader as a sacrifice or the trembling victims behind me, the result would be the same—the avatar would descend.

Defeating it and consuming its heart would grant me Calamity Flame.

And if I activated six traits while holding that heart, I could combine them into Fire Calamity God.

Both options were a dead end.

I didn’t come here for that.

I came for Supreme Flame.

And to obtain it, I had to achieve a specific feat, just like with Master of the Sword.

“I don’t need a sacrifice.”

“What?”

“I’m not offering anything.”

“Y-You fool! The god will not answer without a sacrifice. Kill me, and another apostle will rise from our branch in Busan.”

Busan, my ass.

Their only branches were in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

Even at the brink of destruction, he was still spewing lies.

I stepped onto the pyre at the center of the temple and sat down.

Flames dripped around me, each ember imbued with magical and theological significance.

I swapped my traits.

[Black Flame] [Sunfire] [Infernal Flame]
[Celestial Flame] [Chaos Flame] [Dragon Sovereign Fire]

The six fire attributes I had carefully collected.

Each one a top-tier trait in its category.

As soon as I changed them, the air around me shifted.

A gentle yet overwhelming fire-attribute mana radiated from me, making the cult leader narrow his eyes.

“What are you trying to do? Are you… self-immolating?”

“Yeah.”

“Puhaha! So you’re a lunatic after all! If you want to die, do it quietly! But this is the most ridiculous suicide I’ve ever seen!”

Oh, really?

I channeled my mana.

The pyre naturally caught fire.

Even without using my traits, the special kindling absorbed my energy, igniting six different flames at once.

Sizzle. Crackle.

The fire engulfed me.

Burning.

“Ahahahaha! AHAHAHAHA!”

The cult leader convulsed with laughter.

“Sword Star…!”

“Why are you…?”

The rescued victims watched me with unease.

It hurt, but I endured it.

The fire resistance granted by all six traits helped, but I still had to grit my teeth.

This was close to self-immolation, a nearly identical act to self-sacrifice.

Both were the core conditions for the [Fire Saint] achievement.

–TL Notes–
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