A completely ordinary living room, devoid of any distinctive features, is filled with various household items like a TV, sofa, and picture frames.
“Is it finally starting? It’s earlier than I anticipated.”
In the center, a man with a vague and unremarkable impression whispered softly while crumpling a letter.
Fwhoosh—
The crumpled paper erupted in flames from his grasp, disappearing without a trace.
‘That’s probably because of that.’
With a nonchalant expression, he lightly waved his hand to dispel the heat and glanced at the TV screen, which was turned down low.
– Not long ago, Howard Industries successfully completed its showcase, didn’t it? Many people, both domestically and internationally, are showing great interest in their actions. It seems there is a general consensus that there will inevitably be significant changes across society. Professor Seo Jong-chan, what are your thoughts on this?
– Uh… the mere fact that such a company has emerged in our country is a great fortune. Although it’s a bit chaotic right now, the economic effects triggered by it cannot be overlooked. Above all, new technology…
The burgeoning company, Howard Industries, began to be frequently mentioned in various media outlets.
Their sudden emergence was nothing short of shocking.
As the only company entering a blue ocean expected to thrive, and being the exclusive supplier of goods that everyone coveted, it was impossible to predict how far they could grow.
If things continued as they were, it would only be a matter of time before they wielded substantial influence not only in Korea but across the globe.
‘That would be problematic. Very problematic.’
And that was certainly not welcome news for him, who had steadily worked to infiltrate society over many years.
Especially if they harbored a secret intent towards this country, Korea.
The man closed his eyes for a moment and fell into thought.
Since the orders had already come down, he had to devise a plan somehow.
But in the current state of Korea, it was practically a labyrinth where villains could not move freely.
In such a situation, he needed to put in significant effort to minimize damage and complete his mission.
‘But the situation has changed for us as well.’
A faint smile spread across his face as he recalled the contents of the orders he had received.
The key point could be summed up in one sentence.
It allowed any means necessary to achieve the mission.
That meant all restraints that had limited them were now lifted.
“Apparently, Korea has become quite a thorn in their side. Well, it’s good for me. If all restrictions are lifted, the possibilities are endless.”
After the full-scale appearance of the Hahoe Mask, the Buncheon Society’s Korean branch, which had been quietly biding its time under the name of Yul Ryeong-ja, began moving again.
*
I chuckled as I examined the item in my hand.
“Well, I can’t believe it’s come to this.”
A thumb-sized transparent orb, with mysterious wisps swirling inside.
The beautiful energy that resembled an aurora twisted and spiraled, forming various shapes, and as I blankly watched, I couldn’t help but lick my lips lightly.
It felt a bit regretful to look at an object that was essentially a work of art.
‘To think I have to consume something like this. Oh! What a waste.’
But there was no helping it.
This was precisely the supreme elixir of the other world I had longed for, one that even surpassed the divine elixir of the Shaolin Temple.
“I never expected to have something like this.”
I recalled the brainy Yoon Ji-yoon, mesmerized by the lightning-spewing hammer, commonly known as ‘Mjölnir’ during the showcase, and subtly shifted my gaze to the table.
There were several elixirs, not quite on the same level as this artistic piece, but certainly worthy of respect.
All of them were the fruits of a single transaction.
‘The first customer is rather satisfied.’
Her origin, the Sabacheon Dimension, featured users of Chakra, who could evoke specific concepts and phenomena through their inner microcosm.
Thus, their ability to create magical equipment, being an external item, was understandably lagging, while the elixir production field, which helped enhance one’s own abilities, thrived remarkably.
‘That’s quite favorable for me.’
Nodding satisfactorily, I admired the piece of art I held again.
I didn’t need to ask why she had brought it even after knowing the value of elixirs would plummet on Earth.
‘It’s not strange for an Awakened One to bring back souvenirs from their world. Thanks to that, I managed to obtain a few more elixirs. It seems she was quite taken with Mjölnir; the negotiation process was easier than expected.’
Of course, I hadn’t pushed too hard.
After all, Yoon Ji-yoon was a representative powerhouse of the allied forces, and her becoming stronger was a benefit for us as well.
After admiring the elixirs for a while, I took a deep breath.
It was indeed a waste, but I had sought this to consume it.
Lingering over its appearance would be counterproductive, wouldn’t it?
‘This should bring me one step closer to completion.’
With that thought, I immediately shoved it into my mouth.
To start the process of sprouting divinity while embracing as much energy from the world as possible.
As the immense energy burst within me, I plunged deep into my inner self.
*
Seated in the office chair, Yoon Ji-yoon glanced at the bracelet on her wrist and couldn’t help but murmur in awe.
“It’s incredible. How on earth did he obtain this? No, did he say he created it himself?”
A slender golden chain, embossed with mysterious patterns, with a small hammer-shaped ornament dangling from it.
As she gazed at it, she lightly shook her wrist.
Crackle—
In an instant, a fierce spark erupted in her office, and a short-handled hammer appeared in her hand.
Yet, the commotion was only surface-level; due to her extreme control over her attributes, it didn’t affect the electronic devices around her.
While seated, she swung the hammer a few times in the air, visibly satisfied.
But it didn’t take long for her previously pleased expression to tighten into a frown.
“…It looked cool, but swinging a short hammer isn’t exactly my thing?”
Her main domain was undeniably controlling the lightning element.
While she had wielded weapons like swords and spears before, a minor weapon like a short hammer was unfamiliar to her.
Having impulsively acted on some inexplicable urge, she wondered if she had been a bit too hasty.
‘…Well, the magical equipment’s abilities are applicable even in bracelet form.’
And considering the inherent abilities, this weapon was originally designed for throwing.
Since the magical equipment also had hit confirmation and retrieval functions, with her ability to control electricity freely, she could manipulate it like a homing missile.
It would help mitigate her inevitable physical inadequacies as an Electric Sorcerer, providing her with synergy.
‘And above all…’
As she grasped the hammer, her eyes narrowed slightly.
A spark of bright yellow flared within her slightly closed pupils.
Her senses, attuned to the electricity surrounding the hammer, began to expand continuously.
Crackle—!
Chakra is a mystical ability that integrates itself into a phenomenon to wield the power as one.
Just as a water Chakra user grows stronger where there is water, or a darkness Chakra user becomes stronger in darkness, she can become more potent with the aid of lightning.
‘Incredible purity of electricity. To think it could be contained in artificially created magical equipment. Not only that, but it’s not a one-time use and can be charged as well? I could never have imagined that a human could achieve that.’
In some ways, that wasn’t a wrong assumption.
This Mjölnir was a collaboration made by a Dwarf blacksmith and a Dragon enchater, who spared no precious materials and put in their utmost effort.
Even within her thoughts, her senses continued to intensify.
The subtle magnetic field extending beyond the association building replaced her senses, amplifying the electrical signals across her body, processing information at a level impossible for an ordinary human.
A peculiar omnipotence flooded her as she extended her ‘domain’ much more broadly and rapidly than usual.
The corners of Yoon Ji-yoon’s mouth slightly lifted.
‘…Nice. I think this is worth at least what the elixir cost. Besides, I have another souvenir with me… wait, what’s that?’
Thanks to the enhanced perceptive ability, she could detect.
Suspicious movements from figures carrying suspicious items within her domain.
The magnetic field that replaced her senses identified what those items were.
In her accelerated thought process, compared to usual due to the amplified biological electricity, she rapidly assessed the situation and acted without hesitation.
Zap! Zap!
Farther away, at least a few kilometers distance.
“Ugh—!”
“Cough! How is this…!”
“Grrgghh!”
All at once, several men, cautiously moving through an alleyway with enormous backpacks, were electrocuted and turned rigid.
Though they considered themselves returnees, flexing their shoulders, the electricity piercing through their veritable barrier instantly snatched away their physical control and consciousness.
With convulsions, they stood like wooden blocks before one by one collapsing.
As they fell, the enormous backpacks they were carrying almost crashed to the ground too.
Wooong—
But the metallic substances inside were entrapped by the magnetic field, temporarily suspended in the air.
And right after that.
“How could these guys have gotten this…?”
Yoon Ji-yoon, having approached the alley with a stiff expression, crossed it towards where they were.
Then, following her senses, she carefully opened one of the backpacks to check what was inside.
“…Bombs.”
Not just any improvised bombs, but genuine bombs that looked well-crafted and functional.
If they hadn’t been electrocuted and had kept a close watch on their electrical control, this area could have easily turned into a sea of fire in an instant.
‘For now…’
She immediately pulled out her smartphone to report the situation.
Naturally, such items were not something anyone could easily obtain.
The fact that they were in the hands of such unremarkable individuals was incomprehensible.
In Korea, where firearms were strictly regulated, how could there possibly be such a massive amount of explosive devices?
After hastily relaying the situation to relevant departments, her gaze shifted back to the unconscious carriers.
Having quickly extinguished the immediate danger, she intended to wake them up for questioning.
No matter how much of a hero she was labeled, she was still a warrior who survived through a hellish battlefield.
Executing a bit of electric torture without leaving a trace would be child’s play for her.
Of course, since returning to Earth, she had intentionally tried to avoid those thoughts for the sake of upholding law and order—
‘…I’m anxious. I’d ordinarily leave this to the professionals, but I can’t shake the feeling that something big is about to happen…’
The intuitive sense of a Transcendent Being, feeling the flow of cause and effect, cannot be disregarded.
True, unless one is a seer, it may only feel like a vague intuition, but how many times had this instinct saved her life?
Steeling her resolve for action, just as she was about to act.
Kaboom—
“Ahhhh—!”
Boom—!
“Ughhhh!”
If not for her heightened senses, she would have never even registered the distant sounds of explosions and people’s screams.
Yoon Ji-yoon’s body tensed and froze.
‘Too late…! It wasn’t just here!’
In recent times, the Republic of Korea had been enjoying unparalleled peace.
But now, indiscriminate bomb attacks were starting to erupt all over the capital, Seoul.
*
In the Ganghwan Realm, the situation was unfolding smoothly.
Masters dispatched from various factions, regardless of righteousness, evil, or military, were quickly gathering with the help of the Mosan faction’s Dosa — actually spells used by the monsters of Gonmudo.
Among them were some factions that seemed to just want to save face, sending only their weakest members, and others that feigned ignorance, citing difficult circumstances… but for now, they had to be overlooked.
At this point, it wasn’t the time to reprimand or rush them.
Given the immediate urgency of the situation, there was no room for such things.
‘Of course, once this is over, I won’t show any mercy.’
I wasn’t going to forgive those who tried to free-ride off the collective efforts of others who sacrificed so much for peace.
The fact that they even refrained from making requests showed nothing but greed — trying to grasp power over the peaceful foundation built from others’ bloodshed.
‘I shall never stand for such a sight.’
Blood for blood.
They would ultimately pay a proper price.
In whatever form that might take.
‘Now, let’s check on the situation with the Demon Cult… The Heavenly Demon isn’t a problem, and the others are holding up well.’
Hans had no intentions of stepping in this time.
The ultimate boss of the Demon Cult was solely the Heavenly Demon.
Hans would be playing the role of a chess player, subtly adjusting the board from the shadows to minimize any damage.
‘It’s possible to completely eradicate them.’
If I wanted, I could easily wipe out the Demon Cult and even restore the Dragon Heart.
All the main villain bosses had already been defeated by me, and I held the keys to resolving the situation.
‘But that’s not the solution. That would only be a temporary fix.’
My goal wasn’t just to restore the Dragon Heart.
I aimed to bring ‘peace’ to this land, teeming with hatred and conflict, twisting the world’s flow to reap enormous karma.
But would merely restoring the Dragon Heart bring peace to this land?
Well, they are folks who’ve been edging weapons against each other for over two decades since the Imperial Palace bloodbath.
Having fought tooth and nail, how could they simply ‘make peace and get along’ when one day it’s announced that everything is over?
‘A common enemy that can unite everyone is absolutely necessary. And the process of combining their strength to defeat that enemy as well.’
The resentment prevailing in this land must be addressed collectively by them all.
Peace gained without sacrifice cannot endure.
Simply put, the current events represent a necessary climax for seizing the future of the Ganghwan Realm.
‘Call it arrogance, if you will. But what’s the big deal? Still, providing safety measures and setting the stage isn’t exactly a minor thing.’
If I haven’t had the ambition, this world would have already fallen into ruin.
But now, after laying down the groundwork, they should be prepared to shed blood for their own future!
‘Those gathered for the final battle are all the losers of one territory. When their thoughts unify, the smaller factions will inevitably follow.’
If, even in such situations, they still try to waste their efforts, then there’s no choice but to eradicate them.
‘Now, show me your will. Your sacrifices for this land…’
And just as my thoughts reached that point.
I suddenly stopped.
The flow of thought I felt was so alien.
‘Wait, have I felt this way before?’
But before I could finish pondering that,
“Huh?”
Suddenly, my gaze drifted toward the window.
“What’s this?”
