Chapter 370: Chapter 370

Shockwaves rippled through the air, distorting the very fabric of reality as powerful forces clashed on the battlefield.

The resulting tremors shook not only the immediate surroundings but the entire city of Beijing, their intensity suggesting a battle of apocalyptic proportions.

A fierce struggle, a clash of titans, a fight for the fate of the world.

But some distance away from the main battlefield, a figure stealthily infiltrated a building in the heart of Beijing, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding chaos.

Its movements were silent and fluid, its presence almost imperceptible, its focus solely on the task at hand.

‘I created a diversion, but this is… easier than I expected. His stealth skills must have improved significantly thanks to his recent activities.’

His senses, amplified by his internal energy, were sharp as a razor’s edge.

There were no unexpected variables.

Well, he had put a lot of effort into this, so it would be strange if it went wrong.

He suppressed his aura and continued his infiltration, his footsteps like a ghost’s.

「Heavenly Ki Body」, allowing him to merge with the surrounding energy, 「Nameless Art」, a martial art that could adapt to any style, 「Convergence of Ten Thousand Techniques」, which further enhanced its versatility, and 「Jack-of-All-Trades」, which accelerated his learning…

…the combined effects of his skills and abilities granted him stealth skills comparable to a master thief.

‘I haven’t acquired any stealth-specific skills, though. It seems like all the new martial arts I learn are being absorbed into “Nameless Art”. I wonder when it’ll finally get a proper name?’

The technique he was currently using was the Shadowless Movement Technique, a secret art of a legendary thief known as the Shadowless Phantom.

He had found it in the Heavenly Demon Cult’s library, and Hubert, using his 「Analysis」 skill, had appraised it as a high-level A-rank technique.

It wasn’t easy to master, but thanks to his various skills and growth bonuses, Hugo had quickly learned its basics.

His recent… training against the Demonic Cult warriors near Beijing had also helped.

‘Well, it’s not bad. I can use any martial art with maximum efficiency, since I can ignore the limitations and properties of internal energy.’

Unlike the A-rank Shadowless Movement Technique, its corresponding internal energy cultivation method was only C-rank.

It was a technique that sacrificed long-term growth potential for immediate power, a desperate gamble to maximize the effectiveness of the movement technique.

He wouldn't have even considered it if it wasn't for his unique abilities.

Anyway, thanks to that, he had successfully bypassed the building’s security and reached his destination.

It would have been impossible under normal circumstances, even with his enhanced stealth skills… but there was a war going on outside, a battle for the fate of the world.

The powerful individuals who could have detected him were all busy fighting, and the strongest Demonic Cult warrior guarding this place was only at the peak of the Master Realm, the same level as him.

And he knew the layout of the building and the security measures in place.

It would be strange if something went wrong.

He arrived at a basement area.

The walls were covered in diagrams and incantations drawn in blood, and strange ritual tools and flickering candles created a sinister and unsettling atmosphere.

“It’s time. Let’s begin.”

As if he had arrived at the perfect moment, seven or eight Demonic Cult sorcerers were just about to begin a ritual.

And next to them, the Dragon’s Children, bound and gagged, their movements restricted.

“Heaven-Shattering Curse, Eternal Memory, Willing Sacrifice…”

“Heaven and Earth Reversed, Formless Form…”

The sorcerers began chanting, their voices echoing through the dimly lit basement.

There was no need to wait any longer.

‘Quickly and efficiently.’

Hugo, his sword drawn, his presence concealed in the shadows, suddenly emerged.

And as a flash of light, a single, swift movement,

…one of the sorcerers’ heads fell to the ground.

It was so sudden, so unexpected, that no one reacted in time.

It wasn't until the second and third heads fell, severed by similar flashes of light, that the other sorcerers finally realized what was happening.

“An intruder? How did he get in here…!”

“Impossible! There’s a powerful formation protecting this place! Even a Mysterious Realm expert shouldn’t be able to bypass it so easily!”

“Ugh! Where are the guards?!”

They hurriedly raised their ritual tools, their eyes wide with panic and confusion.

How could they have anticipated that their own leader would betray them and open the path for the enemy?

They desperately tried to activate their spells, their efforts commendable… but futile.

A peak Master Realm martial artist, appearing right before them in a confined space.

And they had no defensive measures in place, their focus solely on the ritual.

Even the most skilled sorcerers couldn’t overcome such a disadvantage.

After all, martial arts was the dominant form of power in this world for a reason.

“Gah! You…! You won’t escape this place alive…”

And so, the sudden battle in the basement ritual chamber ended abruptly, as the last sorcerer, his heart pierced by a sword, choked on his own blood and curses, his head falling to the ground.

Hugo sheathed his sword, wiping the blood off its blade, and exhaled slowly.

The already sinister atmosphere of the basement grew even heavier, the air thick with the scent of blood and the presence of seven new corpses.

…two familiar voices, a man and a woman, echoed through the silent room, breaking the oppressive atmosphere.

Hugo turned his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, as he saw the two figures standing there.

Familiar faces he hadn’t seen in a while.

He had been receiving regular updates on their well-being through Hans, but it was still… nice to see them in person.

Zhuge Hyemi, who had been resigned to her fate as a sacrifice, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion, couldn’t even finish her sentence.

An unexpected rescue, a ray of hope in the midst of despair.

Hugo, his smile widening, his expression strangely at odds with the gruesome surroundings, as if the space around him was a different world, replied confidently,

His words, spoken with a casual, almost cheerful tone, resonated deeply within her mind.

“That I would rescue you, no matter what.”

She couldn’t speak, a hollow laughter escaping her lips.

She had assumed it was just… empty words.

He approached her, his movements gentle and reassuring, and released her from her restraints, then turned to Zhu Gang-in, who was standing next to her.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. I didn’t expect to see you again .”

“…Indeed. I’m indebted to you once again. This is… the first time I’ve been this happy to see someone. Not even when I met my mother.”

He exchanged a few words with the prince, then released the other Dragon’s Children from their restraints. There were seven of them in total.

Thanks to their captors’ meticulous care, none of them were seriously injured, though they were all quite frail and sickly.

“Thank you, Great Hero. Um… have the reinforcements arrived? Have the Demonic Cult warriors been defeated? Is it over?”

One of the Dragon’s Children, a young man with a scholarly appearance, cautiously asked, his face filled with hope.

“I’m afraid not. I infiltrated this place while the Murim Alliance was clashing with the Demonic Cult’s main force.”

“Yes, there are still plenty of Demonic Cult warriors outside.”

The young man’s face, and the faces of the others, darkened at his words.

They had been spared from being sacrificed… but it was too early to celebrate.

If the Murim Alliance was defeated, they would be back to square one.

As Hugo was about to speak, offering them some words of encouragement, Zhuge Hyemi, who had been standing next to him, suddenly reached out and gently grasped his right hand with both of her own.

Her usual cheerful demeanor was gone, her expression calm and composed, as if she had regained her composure.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

She pressed his hand against her forehead and began to mutter softly.

Blood, still clinging to his hand from his earlier… activities, trickled down her face, but she ignored it, her focus unwavering.

After a brief moment,

…Hugo’s eyes widened as a refreshing sensation washed over him.

“…There was a curse. I just… dispelled it. It must have been from the Demonic Cult sorcerers.”

She released his hand, her eyes slightly unfocused, her voice soft.

He had been aware of the curse.

He had been planning to have Hans remove it later.

A curse, uttered by a high-ranking sorcerer in his dying moments, had a powerful binding force.

It was practically a Word Soul, fueled by the sorcerer’s life force and resentment, his death itself the ritual.

Hugo, who hadn’t even reached transcendence yet, couldn’t completely resist it… and she had dispelled it so easily?

‘I knew she was growing rapidly, but… I didn’t expect her to be this strong.’

He had heard she had been studying magical theory for a long time, but even so, this was beyond the realm of common sense.

He glanced at Zhu Gang-in, the imperial descendant, and the other Dragon’s Children, but they didn’t seem to have any special abilities…

Was it a trait unique to Dragon’s Children, or was Zhuge Hyemi simply… exceptionally talented?

He shook his head, dismissing the distracting thoughts.

He couldn't afford to be idle. He still had a job to do.

And then he realized that she was still holding his hand.

She seemed to have been lost in thought, her voice a startled gasp as she returned to reality.

But her hands were still tightly clasped around his.

A brief, awkward silence, and then,

…as she looked up at him, her lips parting to speak,

“…Hurry! Don’t let the sacrifices escape!”

“…How dare you! This is…”

…the sound of approaching footsteps and angry shouts echoed from outside the basement.

They were being delayed by the formation protecting the entrance, but the guards would eventually find their way in.

They were in a precarious situation.

“B-blessing! I’ll give you my blessing!”

Zhuge Hyemi, sensing the urgency, suddenly exclaimed and pulled his hand towards her.

And before he could react, she pressed her lips against the back of his hand.

It had all happened in a matter of seconds.

But the result was far more dramatic than he had anticipated.

A brilliant light, unlike anything he had ever seen in this world,

…erupted from her, flowing into his hand through their connected lips.

A familiar yet unfamiliar energy.

But he knew what it was.

A power that shouldn't exist in this world.

The divine power of the Dragon God, the Main God of Ganghwange,

…was manifesting through her.

Hugo’s momentary confusion vanished as he quickly grasped the situation, his expression turning serious.

The Dragon’s Children were variables, chosen by the Dragon God to restore the damaged dimension.

Special beings, bestowed with a fragment of divine power.

‘Zhuge Hyemi is… an apostle… no, a priestess of the Dragon God.’

She was supposed to be a sacrifice, but…

…she had awakened her dormant power, gaining the ability to wield holy power, and broken free from her predetermined fate.

‘…To think such a thing was possible.’

It was completely unexpected.

Did the Dragon God anticipate this outcome?

‘Well, it doesn’t really change anything. The Dragon Heart won’t be restored just because a priestess appeared.’

It was impressive that she had awakened her holy power, but there were limits.

The Golden Island Sect’s dragons wouldn’t be struggling so much if it was that easy to solve the problem.

‘…I suppose it increases her value as a sacrifice.’

Perhaps she could replace the other Dragon’s Children with her enhanced power.

That was the extent of the change.

It was a premature judgment.

《The individual meets the conditions and unlocks its potential. The special skills “Heavenly Ki Body”, “Super Recovery”, “Super Strength”, and “Hypersensitivity” have merged and evolved into “Empty Spirit Body”.》

The holy power that had flowed into Hugo’s body began to affect him, its influence far exceeding a simple blessing.

He looked at Zhuge Hyemi with a surprised expression, but she was frozen in place, her eyes unfocused, her lips still pressed against his hand.

And then he realized.

This wasn’t her doing.

It was a divine intervention, manifested through her, through the holy power residing within her.

《The individual meets the conditions and gains enlightenment. The special skill “Nameless Art” has evolved into “Heavenly Dragon Divine Art”.》

And it wasn’t just his body.

The unknown power, reaching his mind, rearranged and reorganized his knowledge of martial arts, creating a new and unique understanding.

‘Hmm, it’s been a while since “Mind Hub” and “Soul Firewall” were this strained…’

It might have been dangerous for an ordinary person, but he had countermeasures in place.

He calmly observed the changes occurring within his body.

There were several requirements for transcending through martial arts.

The first was mental fortitude.

He had already met that requirement.

He had raised several transcendent beings, and his main body was even cultivating divinity.

The second was a strong physical body.

His body, enhanced by Karma points, and 「Empty Spirit Body」, evolved from 「Heavenly Ki Body」…

…a legendary constitution that allowed him to manipulate natural Ki and transcend the limitations of the physical body.

And the third, an understanding and mastery of martial arts…

…he had just achieved it.

His bones cracked and popped, his body reshaping itself.

A transformation, a rebirth, a phenomenon that occurred when a martial artist transcended their limits.

It was a momentous occasion, a turning point in a martial artist’s life… but the process was short.

His body, constantly enhanced by Karma points and various skills, was already in peak condition.

Hugo opened his eyes, the transformation complete, and looked down at himself.

An unprecedented power surged through his body, emanating from his hands, his limbs, his very being.

He hadn’t reached transcendence, the Mysterious Realm.

But his power, amplified by his unique abilities and his newfound enlightenment, was far beyond that of a newly ascended Master Realm expert.

‘…This is… ridiculous.’

To think he would transcend …

Hugo glanced up at the ceiling,

…as if meeting the gaze of someone above.

It seemed like the Dragon God also knew it was a sure bet.