Chapter 364: Chapter 364

An ordinary living room, furnished with a TV, sofa, picture frames, and other common household items. Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary.

“It’s starting. Earlier than I expected.”

A man with an unremarkable, almost nondescript appearance, stood in the middle of the room, crumpling a piece of paper in his hand, his voice low and quiet.

The crumpled paper burst into flames, disappearing without a trace, consumed by the fire that had suddenly erupted from his hand.

‘It must be because of that.’

He casually shook his hand, as if brushing off dust, and then glanced at the TV screen, its volume turned down low.

-“Howard Industry’s showcase was a success, wasn’t it? It’s attracting a lot of attention, both domestically and internationally. Many believe it will bring about significant changes in our society. Professor Seo, what are your thoughts on this?”

-“Well… it’s a great opportunity for our country. It might seem a bit chaotic right now, but the economic benefits are undeniable. And new technology…”

Their sudden appearance and their ambitious plans were… disruptive.

The sole player in a burgeoning market, the exclusive supplier of highly sought-after goods… their potential for growth was unpredictable.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they became a major global player.

‘That would be… problematic. Very problematic.’

And it was a threat to their own long-term plans, their meticulous infiltration of society.

Especially if they were somehow connected to the Korean government.

The man closed his eyes, lost in thought.

He had his orders. He had to act.

But Korea was currently a dangerous place for villains, a veritable hornet’s nest.

He had to be careful, to minimize the risks and ensure the success of his mission.

‘But the situation has changed for us as well.’

He recalled the contents of the orders he had received and smiled faintly.

It could be summarized in a single sentence.

All methods and means were permitted.

All restrictions were lifted.

“…It seems they’re quite annoyed with Korea. Well, it’s good for me. Without any restrictions, the possibilities are endless.”

Heaven’s Turn Society’s Korean branch, which had been lying low since Hahoe Mask’s appearance, following Yulryeongja’s orders to sever all ties and maintain a low profile…

…was now active again.

I chuckled softly, examining the object in my hand.

“To think things would turn out .”

A small, transparent orb, the size of a thumb, filled with a swirling, iridescent mist.

It shimmered and shifted, like an aurora, creating various shapes and patterns. I stared at it, mesmerized, then smacked my lips slightly, a sudden wave of regret washing over me.

‘To think I have to… consume such a beautiful object. Such a waste.’

But it couldn’t be helped.

It was a high-grade elixir from another world, far surpassing even the Shaolin Temple’s Great Return Pill.

“I didn’t expect her to have something .”

I recalled Yoon Ji-yoon, the Lightning Empress, her eyes gleaming with desire as she stared at Mjolnir, the lightning hammer, and then looked at the other elixirs on the table.

They weren’t as impressive as the one in my hand, but they were still valuable acquisitions.

All obtained through a single transaction.

‘My first customer was quite… generous.’

She was from the ‘Saha World’, a dimension where chakra users, individuals who could manipulate energy and create various phenomena, were the dominant force.

Naturally, their magic tool crafting skills were underdeveloped, while their alchemy, which focused on enhancing one’s own abilities, was highly advanced.

‘It works in my favor.’

I nodded slowly, admiring the exquisite elixir in my hand.

I didn't need to ask why she had brought it with her, despite knowing that elixirs were ineffective on Earth.

‘It’s not unusual for returnees to bring souvenirs from their origin worlds. And thanks to that, I was able to acquire a few more elixirs. She was so fixated on Mjolnir that the negotiations were surprisingly smooth.’

Of course, he hadn’t taken advantage of her.

After all, Yoon Ji-yoon was a powerful transcendent, a valuable ally, and it was in his best interest for her to grow stronger.

I took a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the elixir.

It was a shame to consume it, but that was its purpose.

He couldn’t hesitate now.

‘This will bring me one step closer to completion.’

I popped the elixir into my mouth and activated 「Power of Gluttony」.

To gather the energies of countless worlds and awaken my divinity.

A surge of energy, like an explosion, erupted within my body, and I sank deeper into my inner self.

Yoon Ji-yoon, leaning back in her office chair, admired the bracelet on her wrist.

“It’s… incredible. How did he even acquire this? No, he said he made it himself?”

A thin, golden chain, engraved with mystical symbols, and a small, hammer-shaped pendant dangling from its center.

She flicked her wrist,

…and a shower of sparks erupted, a short-handled hammer materializing in her hand.

It was a flashy display, but her precise control over electricity prevented it from damaging the electronic devices in her office.

She swung the hammer a few times, testing its weight and balance, a satisfied smile on her face.

And then, she frowned.

“…It looked cool during the demonstration, but… am I really going to use a hammer?”

Her specialty was lightning manipulation.

She had used swords and spears before, but a hammer… it was an unfamiliar weapon.

She had impulsively acquired it, drawn by its power… but now that she had calmed down, she was starting to have second thoughts.

‘…Well, the bracelet also activates the magic tool’s abilities.’

And as its abilities suggested, it was more suited for throwing than melee combat.

It had homing and retrieval functions, so she could use it like a guided missile, her control over electromagnetism allowing her to manipulate its trajectory.

It would also compensate for her lack of physical strength, a common weakness among mages, creating a powerful synergy.

‘And more importantly…’

She opened her eyes slightly, yellow sparks flickering within their depths.

Her senses, resonating with the lightning surrounding the hammer, began to expand.

Chakra, a mystical energy that allowed its user to manipulate natural phenomena and merge with them.

Just as a water chakra user was stronger near water, and a darkness chakra user was more powerful in the shadows, she became stronger with the assistance of lightning.

‘Such pure lightning energy… contained within an artificially created magic tool? And it’s rechargeable? I never imagined such a thing was possible.’

It wasn't a strange thought.

Mjolnir was a masterpiece, a collaborative effort between a dwarven blacksmith and a dragon enchanter, crafted with rare and valuable materials.

Her senses continued to expand, her awareness growing.

Her perception extended beyond the Association building, encompassing the surrounding area, the faint magnetic fields replacing her five senses, her brain processing information at an impossible speed, amplified by her bioelectricity.

A strange sense of omnipotence, a heightened awareness of her surroundings.

A faint smile played on her lips.

‘…This is… good. It was worth the price of the elixir. And I have another one… Wait, what’s that?’

And thanks to her enhanced senses,

…she detected something.

Several figures, moving suspiciously within her range, carrying… unusual objects.

Her magnetic sense identified the objects.

Her thoughts raced, processing the information at an incredible speed, and she reacted instantly.

Several kilometers away,

Several men, each carrying a large backpack, were walking through a back alley when a sudden spark, a surge of electricity, struck them, their bodies stiffening.

They were returnees, but their meager magic resistance was no match for the powerful current that bypassed their defenses, disrupting their nervous systems and shutting down their consciousness.

They collapsed, their bodies twitching, like puppets with their strings cut.

Their backpacks, which they had been carrying, almost hit the ground…

…but the metallic objects within were suddenly suspended in mid-air, held in place by the magnetic field that had enveloped the area.

“How did these guys get their hands on this…?”

Yoon Ji-yoon, her face grim, appeared in the alley, her movements swift and silent.

She opened one of the backpacks, her senses guiding her, and carefully examined its contents.

Not just crude, homemade explosives, but professionally manufactured bombs.

If she hadn't been careful with her electrical attack, the entire area would have been engulfed in flames.

She took out her smartphone.

These weren't items that could be easily acquired.

And it was even more unbelievable that these insignificant-looking individuals had them.

A large quantity of explosives, in Korea, where even firearms were strictly controlled?

She quickly contacted the relevant authorities, then turned her attention back to the unconscious men.

She had dealt with the immediate threat, so it was time to interrogate them.

She was a Hero, a veteran who had survived countless battles… but she was also a survivor, someone who knew how to extract information efficiently.

She could easily torture them with electricity, without leaving any visible marks or causing lasting damage.

She had been avoiding such methods since returning to Earth, trying to abide by the law…

‘…I have a bad feeling about this. I should leave this to the professionals… but I feel like something’s about to happen…’

A transcendent’s intuition, a primal sense of the flow of causality, couldn’t be ignored.

Even if it wasn't a clear premonition, it had saved her life countless times.

As she made up her mind,

…a deafening roar, followed by screams, echoed from the distance, too faint for her to have noticed without her enhanced senses.

Yoon Ji-yoon froze, her body stiffening.

‘…I’m too late! It wasn’t just here!’

South Korea, which had been enjoying a period of unprecedented peace and stability…

…was now under attack.

Bombings were occurring throughout Seoul.

The situation in Ganghwange was progressing smoothly.

Master-level experts, dispatched from various factions, regardless of their alignment, were gathering from all over the continent, with the help of the Maoshan sorcerers—actually Golden Island Sect demons—stationed throughout the land.

Some had sent insignificant minions just to make an appearance, while others had made excuses, refusing to participate… but he couldn’t force them.

The situation was too urgent.

‘Of course, I won’t forget this.’

He wouldn't forgive those freeloaders, those who tried to benefit from the sacrifices of others.

He hadn’t even contacted the smaller factions, those who were truly struggling.

And yet, they were still refusing to participate?

It was clear they were hoping to seize power after the others had done the dirty work.

‘I won’t let that happen.’

They would pay the price.

‘Let’s see… the Demonic Cult… Hans is fine, and the others are also in good condition.’

Hans wasn’t planning to participate in this battle.

The Demonic Cult’s final boss was the Heavenly Demon.

Hans’s role was to manipulate events from the shadows, minimizing casualties.

‘I could prevent all casualties…’

He pondered his options, carefully considering how to proceed with the Home Theater rehearsal.

He could simply eliminate the Demonic Cult and restore the Dragon Heart.

All the villains were already defeated, and he had the key to resolving the situation.

‘But that’s not the solution. It’s just a temporary fix.’

His objective wasn't just to restore the Dragon Heart.

It was to bring peace to this war-torn land, to change the flow of the world, and to reap a massive amount of Karma.

But would simply restoring the Dragon Heart bring peace?

These were people who had survived for over twenty years by fighting and killing each other.

Would they suddenly forget their grudges and become friends just because the crisis was over?

‘I need a common enemy. And a shared victory.’

The resentment and hatred that permeated this world had to be resolved through their combined efforts.

Peace achieved without sacrifice wouldn't last.

This final battle was the climax, a necessary step towards securing Ganghwange’s future.

‘It might seem arrogant, but… I’m also preventing them from completely destroying each other.’

If it wasn’t for him, this world would have already been destroyed.

He was providing them with a safe environment and even setting the stage for them… so they should at least be willing to shed some blood for their own future!

‘The factions participating in the final battle are all regional powerhouses. The smaller factions will have no choice but to follow their lead.’

And if they still refused to cooperate…

He would eliminate them.

‘Show me your resolve. Your willingness to sacrifice for this world…’

And as his thoughts reached that point,

His own thought process… it felt… strange.

‘Wait, have I always been ?’

But before he could finish the thought,

…his gaze shifted towards the window.