The wind pressure Volkran shot forth took the shape of a bear and swept through the training hall.
At first, Lee Tae-sung’s Flame Tide Wave Sword flickered like a flame about to be extinguished by the wind, but as time passed, it gradually held firm.
While Dream World was a game full of realism, when a user activated a skill, most of the movements were executed automatically.
It wasn’t as if they could actually know and perform martial arts or magic, after all.
But Lee Tae-sung could perform those skills in reality as well, so he had the knowledge of how to do it in his head.
Based on that, he had trained diligently to make it second nature to his body.
Now, he had reached a point where he could freely use them as he wished, even if they weren’t strictly skills.
Whoosh!
‘Faster, stronger… If not, I’ll die!’
And now, facing Volkran’s attack, Tae-sung’s sword strikes were evolving even further.
If he stood still, he would be helplessly killed and his skill would be deleted.
But how?
Skill levels were fixed, and so was their power.
If he were just a game character, he wouldn’t be able to surpass his limits.
But what Tae-sung was performing was a game skill that was simultaneously a skill he used in reality.
Even the same technique could differ based on how it was executed and the mindset behind it.
Hadn’t he just recently understood the will of the flames and raised their power a notch?
‘These martial arts… I’m not performing them perfectly yet.’
He felt it instinctively.
The techniques he was performing now were still severely lacking.
Most of the skills Tae-sung used were created by the Flame Emperor.
Their power was undoubtedly exceptional, but they were tailored for the Flame Emperor, not a perfect fit for Tae-sung.
He was just using them passably.
Whoom!
However, as he endured Volkran’s relentless, pressing onslaught, Tae-sung felt his spirit soaring.
In a half-dazed state, he entered a state of no-mind and realized the shortcomings in his own techniques.
The ill-fitting clothes were gradually being tailored to fit.
The flames of the Flame Tide Wave Sword were originally strong and destructive, but now they burned even more fiercely.
The footwork of the Flying Flower Explosive Shadow, the internal energy of the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art.
They all began to fit his body perfectly, as if custom-made for Tae-sung.
-Ding!
[The proficiency of Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art has increased.]
[The skill level of Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art has risen.]
[Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv.5) -> Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv.6)]
[Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv.6) -> Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art (Lv.7)]
-Ding!
[The proficiency of Flame Tide Wave Sword has increased.]
[The skill level of Flame Tide Wave Sword has risen.]
[Flame Tide Wave Sword (Lv.4) -> Flame Tide Wave Sword (Lv.5)]
[Flame Tide Wave Sword (Lv.5) -> Flame Tide Wave Sword (Lv.6)]
-Ding!
[The proficiency of Shadow of the Secret Fire has increased.]
[The skill level of Flying Flower Explosive Shadow has risen.]
[Shadow of the Secret Fire (Lv.6) -> Flying Flower Explosive Shadow (Lv.7)]
In the state of no-mind, the techniques and Tae-sung’s will merged into one.
Simultaneously, all his skill levels exploded in growth.
This wasn’t a change from raising skill proficiency by hunting monsters; it was an absurd transformation born from genuine understanding.
Tae-sung, who had only been enduring Volkran’s wind bullets, began to face them on equal footing from a certain moment.
Even when the wind blew, the flames burned even larger, raging as if trying to burn the surroundings.
It was proof of reaching the Peak Realm, a stage referred to as the continent’s strong.
“Hoho. Sword-Body Unity… The sight of anyone breaking through a wall is always beautiful.”
Volkran muttered in admiration.
He was the one who had insisted on a life-or-death spar, but he hadn’t expected to see results so immediately.
“How do you feel?”
Volkran finally stopped throwing punches and asked.
Tae-sung’s hair and clothes were a mess, a complete disaster, but only his eyes were sharp.
“…It’s bewildering.”
“It is, at first.”
The Peak Realm.
Although Tae-sung was a Hybrider, since martial arts were his main focus, the stages he tread were similar.
Upon reaching this level, his body felt much lighter and more stable.
His breathing was different, and the flow of mana within his body was much more majestic.
It wasn’t simply his level or skill levels rising; the change was far greater because he had grown and reached it himself.
“You’ve just set foot in the Peak Realm, so try many things. You must realize for yourself what you can do and how much you can do.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
Tae-sung bowed respectfully.
Although he had endured because he didn’t want to die, he never imagined he would break through the wall right here.
“Um, I’d like to request it as well.”
Dam Ho-pung approached with expectant eyes.
He had been watching Tae-sung’s growth from the corner of the training hall, swallowing his saliva repeatedly.
Until recently, Tae-sung was third-rate, but now he had broken through the wall to the Peak Realm.
Although there was still a gap between them, they were now both in the Peak Realm.
Rather than feeling jealousy or envy, he too wanted to gain enlightenment this time and advance a step.
For some reason, looking at Tae-sung, he felt he could do it.
Volkran asked.
“You also wish for a life-or-death spar?”
“Yes. I request the same!”
“No… Brother. How about you reconsider?”
Tae-sung was surprised and tried to dissuade him.
It was fine for him, an Outsider, to use such a reckless training method, but for Dam Ho-pung, death meant the end, didn’t it?
However, Dam Ho-pung didn’t hesitate and asked to proceed as is.
The spar that began afterward.
Dam Ho-pung struggled desperately to endure within the storm Volkran created, but it couldn’t have been easy.
“Keuheok…!”
In the end, he was beaten to near death, covered in wounds, and passed out, ending the spar.
Unfortunately, there was no growth, but Dam Ho-pung wore a slight smile, as if this wasn’t so bad either.
*
-The preparations are ready.
Would you like to come see it once?
When Tae-sung logged out of Dream World and checked the messages on his phone, the first thing he saw was a text from Section Chief Song.
He had asked him to look for a house, and it seemed the preparations were finished.
‘0421…?’
An address was written below.
He searched it and was startled.
Excelcia Cheongdam.
A premium apartment designed by a world-renowned architect, built along the Han River in the Cheongdam area.
The initial sale price had been hundreds of millions per pyeong, and now, with time passed, it commanded a price far higher than that—an ultra-luxury residence.
It was known to be inhabited by top celebrities, conglomerates, and Ranker-level Hunters. It wasn’t a place you could buy just because you had money.
There simply were no listings.
‘And he’s showing me a place like this?’
He left the address saying if he liked it, he could purchase it, meaning purchase was possible.
‘I never thought in my life I’d be able to live in a house like this…’
Flustered, Tae-sung headed to the given address.
On the way, he called Section Chief Song.
He asked how on earth he managed to secure such a place for him.
-It feels a bit awkward to say this myself, but securing this place wasn’t easy, haha…
“It seems so. After all, it’s one of the Republic of Korea’s flagship apartments. Was there a listing?”
-There’s no listing now; I secured it a long time ago. I knew something like this would happen someday.
Section Chief Song had been in charge of Tae-sung since his first visit to the Association.
He had seen the small studio he lived in, heard he wanted to move to a bigger house later, and watched his rapid growth.
‘This person will become a Ranker-level and a Hunter representing Korea someday…!!’
Although he hadn’t known the time would be this quick, Section Chief Song was convinced such a day would come.
That was why he had previously proposed to the Association executives and purchased Excelcia Cheongdam under the Association’s name.
-I had placed a purchase bid a long time ago.
There were no listings, but an actor caught in a scandal needed money urgently and put theirs up, which I grabbed.
If he hadn’t been lucky enough to find a seller, he would have had to look elsewhere when Tae-sung requested a house.
Thanks to that, he could now give the best gift to the Hunter the Association currently valued most.
‘For Guild Leader Taesung, this much is only natural.’
Tae-sung’s rapid growth and combat power were, of course, impressive, but more important was the Elixir Potion.
Because of that, which only Tae-sung could produce and sell, the level of Korean Hunters was rising a notch.
The survival rate of Hunters who took the Elixir and increased their mana had improved noticeably, and their frequency of participating in Missions had increased.
An overall rise in Hunter strength.
The resulting economic revitalization and national competitiveness boost.
Changes happening because of Tae-sung.
“Thank you. I imagine other Ranker-level Hunters would have coveted such a listing.”
-No need for thanks.
The Association should do at least this much for you.
As Tae-sung said, when rumors spread that the Association had secured one unit of Excelcia Cheongdam, requests from Rankers poured in.
Requests to sell it to them.
Each one was a Ranker or Guild Leader-level Hunter, so money was no issue.
But since it was the first item to be shown to Tae-sung, they had refused all offers and waited, and it was the right decision.
Tae-sung drove into Excelcia Cheongdam.
He passed several security and identity verification procedures, went through the well-maintained environment, and entered the building.
‘Wow…!’
It was a large building, but not many people lived there.
One household per floor.
It was a full-floor structure.
High ceilings and an open view.
It was truly a symbol of success.
The interior was also perfectly finished.
Tae-sung could hardly recognize where anything was from, as it was filled with materials from overseas origins and high-end furniture.
-How is it?
“I like it.”
-Haha.
That’s a relief.
Section Chief Song said he would proceed with the sale process for Tae-sung and hung up.
He had several other houses prepared, but none were as good as this one.
Frankly, if you had the money, it was the place to choose unconditionally.
“……”
Tae-sung looked out the window for a moment.
Cars running along the road looked like dots, and the sunlight reflecting off the Han River stung his eyes.
‘I’ll have to start taking on Missions intensely soon.’
He roughly guessed why Section Chief Song was treating him so well, and there was only one way to repay that.
Supplying Elixirs was basic, and diligently performing Missions to procure Dimensional Barrier Fragments.
Recalling his future tasks, Tae-sung suddenly chuckled and muttered.
“Summon Ascendant.”
At that moment, mana drained from his body, and with a crackle, sparks flew in the air.
“Master. Let’s see if you can call this a cramped corner of a house this time too.”
He had intended to summon the Flame Emperor again as soon as he reached the Peak Realm.
To get his advice on the Peak Realm and to check how much the burden on his body had lessened.
-Ding!
[Skill: Summon Ascendant is activated.]
Space cracked and shattered as if breaking apart, and from within, someone slowly walked out.
A bald monk wearing a familiar hoodie over old monastic robes, rolling prayer beads.
“Amitabha. Pleased to meet you, benefactor.”
“……?”
Tae-sung was bewildered.
Not the Flame Emperor, but a strange monk…?