These AI combat robots were developed by the biotech company Gaeanix, designed to enrich human life and enhance combat capabilities.
Currently, their use is limited to serving, medical, health, and service sectors, but Gaeanix’s plans included the development of full-scale combat robots for monster hunting.
The reason was to compensate for the insufficient number of hunters by replacing them with combat robots.
The probability of a citizen awakening and gaining Mysteries is 0.1%.
In other words, only one in a thousand people becomes a hunter.
The awakening period usually occurs between the ages of 16 and 20.
Every human undergoes a hunter aptitude evaluation on their birthday for five years starting at 16, and 90% of awakenings happen during this period.
However, since the types of Mysteries awakened vary widely, many are not suitable for combat.
Therefore, only about 70% of those who awaken actually become active hunters.
Meanwhile, worldwide, the frequency of rifts has been increasing rapidly, and their cycle is getting shorter.
Currently, around 30,000 hunters are active in South Korea, but 80% belong to private guilds, with only 20% affiliated with the Rift Management Bureau.
Because of this, it was no easy task for just 6,000 hunters under the Bureau to thoroughly defend the entire country against Rift threats.
The problem was that hunters in private guilds rarely acted unless significant profit was at stake.
So when Gaeanix announced the development of combat robots, the Rift Management Bureau was the first to welcome the news.
Naturally, they were glad to replace the lacking number of hunters with robots.
Gaeanix was soon to hold a prototype combat robot demonstration, and the day for real deployment was approaching fast.
“The GX mark is actually Gaeanix’s sub-brand…”
Kim Seo-jun returned to his room, researching Gaeanix in detail online.
The company’s establishment process was also peculiar.
An ordinary software development firm suddenly purchased a magic stone research lab and then transformed into Gaeanix, a cutting-edge robot developer, based on that lab.
What was even stranger was that no information was available about Gaeanix’s CEO.
“Could it be that Gaeanix is creating demon beasts too?”
Kim Seo-jun couldn’t believe the similarity between the demon beasts’ mark and the service robots’ logo was a coincidence.
“What if the demon beasts created in that world crossed over through the rifts to the world I lived in?”
It wasn’t an impossible hypothesis.
But why?
Why would Gaeanix create such monstrous demon beasts, and how could they possibly send demon beasts to Earth, where Kim Seo-jun once lived?
This was completely different from how his own body had been taken over by the Kim Seo-jun of this world after his death.
“This is troublesome.”
There was no way to know yet.
Many people expected that if Gaeanix succeeded in developing combat robots, it would be a huge help in dealing with Rift threats.
But if Kim Seo-jun’s suspicion were true, those combat robots would turn into demon beasts, becoming humanity’s worst existential threat.
“Damn it. I just wanted to live a normal life here…”
Though that was his wish, circumstances wouldn’t leave him alone.
A single demon beast requires about three top-level hunters to handle.
Equivalent to AA-class in hunter capability.
If such a creature turned its gun toward humanity under Gaeanix’s command, this world would be finished.
“There’s less than a year until the combat robot demonstration.”
By then, he had to achieve the greatest strength possible.
That way, even if the combat robots turned into demon beasts and made humanity their enemy, he could protect his family from them.
“I can’t do this alone. I have to find people to help.”
Since Kim Seo-jun was in this world with his parents still alive, he believed the comrades who had helped him fight the Heavenly Demon Army in his previous world were alive here under the same or similar names.
If he could find them, teach them martial arts, or awaken those without Mysteries, they might help prevent the massacre the demon beasts could cause.
“But where do I even start?”
He couldn’t just search aimlessly, and even if he found them, what could he say to convince them to help?
Kim Seo-jun sighed quietly and sat on his bed again.
“Come to think of it, the last demon beasts that appeared before I died tore through the sky, didn’t they?”
He recalled the images from the news showing the rifts at the time of the Rift disaster.
He realized that when the transforming demon beasts who had killed him appeared, a rift-related phenomenon also occurred.
Eight humanoid demon beasts appeared right after Cheon Kang-woo died.
He could never forget the scene where the four-legged carnivorous demon beasts suddenly transformed into bipedal humanoid forms.
The scene of them tearing through the sky and the rift that opened in the sky over Jamsil looked strangely connected.
“Could it be that demon beasts will eventually travel freely through rifts?”
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
Moreover, Cheon Kang-woo’s last words bothered him.
- Demon beasts… those devil’s puppets weren’t made by me. They just suddenly tore open the sky and appeared before me.
If they suddenly tore open the sky and appeared, then demon beasts must have been able to open rifts for a long time.
“If demon beasts can open rifts themselves, monsters won’t be the real problem!”
The destructive power of a single demon beast approaches that of an A-rank large monster.
Furthermore, the humanoid demon beast from Kim Seo-jun’s last memory was even stronger.
If demon beasts could control rifts, how many hunters could stop them?
At least S-rank hunters would be needed to even stand a chance.
“As I am now, I wouldn’t even stand a chance.”
Imagining demon beasts tearing open the sky and appearing gave him goosebumps all over.
“I have no choice but to get stronger.”
Another reason was added to his list of why he must grow stronger.
To protect the life he had newly been given, he might need to be stronger than he ever was in his previous world.
*****
Early morning on Monday.
Kim Seo-jun found himself on the rooftop, feeling a renewed sense of duty as he focused on his martial arts training.
Beneath the bright, welcoming sky, he began his practice.
Starting with Surageukseom, he eased into the flow of training before moving on to master Birae Sinbo and Cheongungsi.
Birae Sinbo was a movement technique.
In this world, Birae Sinbo itself was like a B-rank Mystery or higher.
It allowed lightning-fast movement, flying high like a bird, and moving freely anywhere like a serpent.
That was Birae Sinbo.
When using this technique, each movement emitted powerful sparks similar to a taser.
In other words, Birae Sinbo combined evasion, pursuit, and attack into a single powerful martial art.
Using the ventilation system and railings on the apartment rooftop as stepping stones, Kim Seo-jun moved swiftly and sharply as if lightning itself was coursing through him.
Sparks crackled from his body with each movement.
If he hadn’t carefully controlled his inner energy, the apartment’s electricity might have even been cut off due to the sparks.
An hour passed.
Kim Seo-jun’s body was soaked in sweat, but because of Taemang Sin-gong, moisture evaporated instantly.
His clothes were left with white marks from the sweat.
“Next is Cheongungsi.”
Before practicing Cheongungsi, Kim Seo-jun checked his physical condition.
[Kim Seo-jun]
- Physical Strength: 16 / Inner Energy: 6
- Mysteries: Meokbalsangi-Gaese (11%) / Taeyang Sin-gong (2%)
“My inner energy and Taeyang Sin-gong proficiency have increased…”
However, the newly learned Surageukseom and Birae Sinbo had not yet awakened as Mysteries.
This was different from Taemang Sin-gong, which had awakened within hours of learning.
“Is there some other condition required for Mystery awakening?”
He couldn’t say for sure yet.
“Well, it should awaken eventually if I keep practicing.”
Thinking pragmatically, Kim Seo-jun decided to focus on his training.
Even if Mysteries didn’t awaken, practicing these three martial arts would be of great help to him.
He then began practicing Cheongungsi.
Cheongungsi.
Literally meaning “Heavenly Bow and Arrow,” but no bow or arrow was actually needed to use this martial art.
Any small piece of wood or stone was enough.
It just had to be solid and small enough to fit between the index and middle fingers.
Cheongungsi consisted of three techniques: sniping, intercepting, and bombing.
Sniping was straightforward—channeling inner energy into the projectile held between fingers to ambush enemies at a distance.
Though its range wasn’t as far as a sniper rifle, it could reach up to 200 meters, and the projectile flew at near-sonic speeds.
Intercepting was like a guided missile technique; the projectile could be bounced to hit enemies hiding behind obstacles.
Its range was up to 30 meters.
Though slower than sniping, it was nearly impossible to dodge.
The last technique, bombing, caused the projectile to explode into thousands of shards upon reaching the target, covering the area in a devastating carpet bombing effect.
The bomb’s radius was 5 meters—meaning a 10-meter diameter zone was affected.
The destructive power was immense.
Following the techniques of Cheongungsi, Kim Seo-jun manipulated his inner energy to flick the stone shards from his fingers in various directions.
Initially, his accuracy was below 10%, but over time, it climbed to nearly 70%.
Numerous stone shards were embedded around the target drawn on the wall.
“This is good enough for real combat.”
Less than an hour into training Cheongungsi, he was satisfied with his progress.
Kim Seo-jun returned to Surageukseom, methodically practicing each step.
Like someone newly addicted to fitness, he committed himself wholeheartedly to consistent training.
Sweat poured down his face as he pushed himself harder.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching the rooftop and paused his training.
The rooftop door opened, and a figure appeared.
It was Kim Joo-hyeok.
Even though it was his day off, he hadn’t slept in late and had come straight to the rooftop where his son was training.
“How did you know I was here?”
“You think I’m blind even though I’m awake? The lady upstairs mentioned you’ve been coming and going up here a lot lately.”
“Ah…”
Kim Seo-jun wiped the sweat streaming down his face and chuckled softly.
“What’s that you’re holding?”
Kim Joo-hyeok wasn’t empty-handed.
He carried a long, slender case that looked like an artist’s toolbox.
“This… is the weapon I brought for sparring.”
He opened the case and pulled out two wooden swords.
About 1.2 meters long, resembling the broad, curved twin-edged swords used during the Three Kingdoms period.
Kim Joo-hyeok handed one to Kim Seo-jun.
“Take it.”
“Are we really going to spar?”
“Why, afraid you’ll get beaten up by your old man?”
Though the opposite was true, Kim Seo-jun just scratched his head instead of replying.
“They say you blew away Gohanseok or Gojaseok? I want to see if that’s true.”
“It wasn’t the sword, but my hands that did it.”
“If a sword is used like a hand, it works. You even had weapon training at the academy, right?”
“Well, yes…”
“Then stop complaining and come at me. No Mysteries allowed.”
“It’d be better if I used at least that, you know?”
Kim Seo-jun didn’t refuse any longer and assumed a stance.
Since his father had also taught him martial arts before, he thought this would be a good opportunity.
“If I get beaten badly, maybe he’ll be more willing to teach me.”
Kim Seo-jun placed the wooden sword against his left hip, gripping the blade lightly with his left hand and the handle firmly with his right.
He was preparing to perform the draw strike of Surageukseom.
“An interesting stance. Is this some kind of draw strike?”
“You’re quick to notice.”
“Even if you use a trick like that against someone as experienced as me, do you think it’ll work?”
Kim Seo-jun smiled at his father’s self-praise but decided to be serious.
“Try it, then tell me.”
“Bring it on.”
Kim Joo-hyeok’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Thanks to his son’s massages, he had lost a lot of fat and gained mobility, but his body still wasn’t even half as strong as in his prime.
Still, there was a reason he wanted to spar with his son.
Teaching through real combat.
Having survived countless life-or-death battles in his prime, he wanted to pass on that invaluable experience practically.
Kim Joo-hyeok had awakened at the relatively late age of 21.
However, having trained his body with swordsmanship and various close-combat techniques since 17, he was able to achieve much success right after becoming a hunter.
Usually, hunters who awaken tend to rely heavily on their powerful Mysteries and neglect physical training.
As a result, those who run out of inner energy can be easily killed by even E-rank monsters.
In contrast, Kim Joo-hyeok’s Mystery was weak, so he endlessly trained his body instead.
Among hunters, some said that if Kim Joo-hyeok hadn’t awakened a support-type Mystery called ‘Multiplayer’ and instead awakened a close-combat Mystery, he might have reached S-rank or higher.
His nerve control and physical ability were exceptional.
If he set his mind to it, regaining his prime form would be only a matter of time.
Kim Joo-hyeok looked at his son.
Still lowered in stance, leaning slightly forward, Kim Seo-jun prepared himself.
“The draw strike ends after you dodge the first move.”
Recalling the weak point of the draw strike, Kim Joo-hyeok dashed forward fiercely.