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Chapter 206

I don’t have any more strength...

Already exhausted, his use of the Demonic Blood Art had drained the last of his energy.

I guess whatever happens, happens.

A wave of fatigue washed over his entire body. He had been musing over how he would minimize the impact of landing, but in the end, he decided to let go completely.

In his current state, such a fall wouldn’t kill him anyway. He closed his eyes, resigning himself to the rough landing approaching at a terrifying speed.

Swish!

But just before he crashed, dark blue blood surged up from the ground, cushioning his fall smoothly. The soft cushiony feeling of a sofa surprised him.

Benjamin approached.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. I seem to have no major injuries.”

“...”

Despite Se-Hoon’s reassurance, the subtle, concerned expression on Benjamin that was directed downward didn’t disappear. Following his gaze, Se-Hoon also looked down.

“Oh.”

There was a pitch-black sword jutting out of his abdomen.

Realizing that his condition was far from fine, Se-Hoon smiled awkwardly.

“Hold on a moment.”

Snap!

With a light snap of his fingers, the sword shook and slid cleanly out through his back.

Woong-

Now hovering before him, the sleek, black sword began to crack and splinter, likely because the Demonic Blood Art had run its course.

Hmm... this turned out pretty fine, Se-Hoon thought, scrutinizing it closely.

He lightly flicked its cracked blade with his fingers.

Crack!

The brittle fragments fell away like a shattered mold, revealing the sword’s pristine surface beneath. At that moment, an achievement message popped up before his eyes.

[Weapon \'Abgrund\' has been completed!

Forged by a master smith with the aid of a Perfect One, the mere existence of this unique weapon challenges the very gods themselves.

The tier evaluation for ‘Abgrund’ is ‘Legendary’.]

Dismissing the achievement message, Se-Hoon carefully inspected his new weapon, Abgrund. It was a relatively short, straight sword, about ninety centimeters long. The blade was thin and slender, with a hole between the hilt and guard, giving it an ornamental appearance at first glance.

It looked completely different from when it was unfinished.

[Abgrund]

[Tier: Legendary] [Quality: Average]

[A sword forged from Nimbus Steel using a special forging technique.

By consuming mana, it can harness the powers of night and the underworld, each amplified by the nature of the mana stored within.

It allows free passage across the boundary and can interfere with objects or phenomena made of darkness mana.

*Can absorb the darkness and convert it into mana

*Allows free travel to and from the underworld using the power of Boundaries

*Enables the use of the skill ‘Abaddon’]

Not bad.

Abgrund was the sword Se-Hoon had spent several days forging with Wurgen’s help. He had long completed its basic structure, but the subtle details were too difficult to finalize, leaving it incomplete until he used the Demonic Blood Art to finish it.

I never thought I’d end up using this method here...

He had used an old method he acquired before regressing to complete the weapon. It involved superimposing the data from a highly refined weapon onto the incomplete one and cleaning up the remnants. Back then, he only used it when pressed for time, but this time, he used it to finish a particularly challenging weapon.

And with this, I’ve confirmed there’s no problem with the Demonic Blood Art itself.

Now, the only remaining issue was his body itself. He glanced down at the wound on his chest.

“...”

Appearing in midair, Wurgen’s eye gazed intently at the floating Abgrund.

Then, after a long, contemplative silence, he faced Se-Hoon and calmly asked, “Is this the finished weapon?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmm...”

Wurgen narrowed his eyes.

“What an audacious weapon.”

Hearing his mutter, which carried an unexpected hint of displeasure, Se-Hoon was puzzled until he suddenly recalled the one line in the achievement message.

Didn’t it say its mere existence challenges the very gods themselves?

He had assumed it was just flowery language, but it seemed there really was something about the sword that unsettled Wurgen.

“Is there something about it that displeases you...?”

“...”

At Se-Hoon’s confusion, Wurgen thought back to the black hole that devoured Hraesvelgr. It was a power that eroded whatever it touched and transferred it elsewhere, a power similar to the power of Boundaries. However, it was an entirely different force. And the fact that it was “entirely different” was precisely what irked Wurgen.

To think he created a new kind of power that manipulates the boundary based on my power over the boundary...

If seen in a positive light, it was a bold experiment. But on the flip side, it was akin to a challenge, a suggestion that Se-Hoon could create something greater than Wurgen himself. It felt like an infringement on his domain.

And normally that would have been enough to provoke Wurgen into dealing with the offender. Se-Hoon, though, was worth sparing for now.

Gathering his thoughts, Wurgen finally focused on Se-Hoon again.

“Was this the best you could do?”

At the slightly taunting question, Se-Hoon flinched briefly before answering, “For now, yes.”

“So you’re saying you could create something even better next time.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“In that case, I’ll be watching,” Wurgen declared.

As of now, the sword was still so rudimentary that Wurgen could dismiss it as something other than a derivative of his power, but if Se-Hoon managed to advance the sword further, it could become something he couldn’t overlook.

I guess I’ll have to collect the copyright soon.

Satisfied with his plans for the distant future, Wurgen decided to postpone any decisive movements for now.

Meanwhile, Se-Hoon was feeling troubled.

That old man is probably up to something weird again...

He wanted to ask what Wurgen was thinking, but he knew that poking around would only lead to unnecessary trouble. So, he decided to change the subject entirely to the main purpose of the recent battle.

“So, did I pass the test?”

“Ah, right. There was that matter as well.”

Reflecting on the recent fight, Wurgen began musing over whether Se-Hoon used the successfully forged Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx effectively in battle and soon gave his verdict.

“Projecting the underworld to gain power from it was a good move. The transition process was quick, and the efficiency was decent.”

“Hmm.”

At Wurgen’s praise, Se-Hoon began feeling proud. But it didn’t last for long.

As if displeased by Se-Hoon\'s reaction, Wurgen’s critique became harsher critique. “However, your attack methods were overly simplistic. You seem to be obsessed with using a spear form, likely to maximize efficiency, but that’s just a waste of mana. In short, it was a foolish approach.”

“...”

“Summoning Benjamin was also a reckless move. While it worked, if the summoning went wrong and another undead appeared, you would have lost greatly. This was a strategy only a gambling addict would try—completely idiotic.”

The criticisms came at him relentlessly. However, he couldn’t dismiss them entirely despite thinking it was too harsh for someone who hadn’t even fully mastered necromancy.

After all, Wurgen\'s points were valid. He needed to use the limitless mana more efficiently and rely on solid strategies rather than chance.

“There were many more issues other than these as well, but the most critical one is...”

Wurgen coldly focused on Se-Hoon’s chest.

“You’ve taken the boundary between life and death too lightly.”

“...”

Se-Hoon glanced down at his chest, where a supposed fatal attack had pierced his heart. He had planned to heal it immediately after completing Abgrund, but for some reason, it stabilized instead of healing fully.

“Standing on that boundary means constantly observing life and death, maintaining that sort of paradox. It isn’t a technique for someone alive and well to be imitating.”

An existence neither living nor dead, sustained by a paradox—that was the realm Wurgen had reached when he became a Perfect One, a kind of secret technique.

I was somewhat confident that I could pull it off... but I guess I failed.

To use the technique properly, he needed to have a deep understanding of necromancy and perfect control over his soul. However, given that Se-Hoon’s soul had altered during the regression and he had yet to identify the cause, it seemed impossible for him to fully execute the technique as of now.

“So, is my wound not healing because something\'s wrong with my body?”

“Hmm, a problem, you say...”

Under Wurgen’s scrutiny, Se-Hoon’s expression grew tense. Using the Demonic Blood Art in the recent battle had served not only to demonstrate his abilities and complete Abgrund but also as a reason to consult Wurgen, who had significant insight into souls.

He’s not as trustworthy as my master, but this guy might be able to figure out the cause.

He waited nervously for an answer.

And eventually, Wurgen said, “There’s definitely something there.”

“...Really?”

“Yes. Your soul has become more muddied than before. That seems to be why your body’s regeneration is slowing down.”

“Muddied...”

His soul had become muddied. Seeing Se-Hoon pondering the meaning, Wurgen calmly elaborated. “Impurities have tainted your soul. It’s likely some wraiths from beyond the boundary have latched onto it. The impurities should settle over time, so it’s best not to overexert yourself for now.”

“...”

Taking in Wurgen’s diagnosis, Se-Hoon once again looked down at himself.

My soul has become muddied... impurities have latched on...

Wurgen\'s words brought to mind a specific Fatestone. It had originally been a colorless, transparent stone, but after leveling up, it had changed and now had something else mixed within it—his own Fatestone, the Relationship-null metal.

Until now, he had been uncertain about what the change meant, but thanks to Wurgen, he gained a clearer idea.

During the regression process, my soul merged with something else.

What exactly had intertwined with his soul? Furrowing his brow at the unsettling thought, Se-Hoon only snapped back to reality when Wurgen continued his words.

“Anyway, to summarize the results.”

Wurgen looked at Se-Hoon to give his final evaluation.

“It felt like a monkey was trying to imitate me.”

Not even a person, but a monkey. Anger flared within Se-Hoon, but only for a moment.

If a normal person had told him that, it would have been an insult, but Wurgen was a demented skeleton with a twisted personality. Understanding his intent was more important than his words.

Ah! That’s what he meant.

When realization dawned, Se-Hoon smiled and looked back at Wurgen.

“Thank you.”

“...Did you even hear what I said?”

“Of course,” replied Se-Hoon smoothly.

“You mean that even though I’m inexperienced, I imitated the power of Boundaries well enough to remind you of yourself.”

“...”

“I didn’t expect such high praise from you.”

To others, it was a rather novel interpretation, but to Benjamin, who was observing from the side, it was genuinely impressive.

Truly remarkable.... He understands the President’s intentions so accurately...

Se-Hoon’s interpretation skills were so outstanding that Benjamin even considered recruiting him as a secretary. And bolstered by Benjamin’s admiring gaze, Se-Hoon felt even more confident, making Wurgen click his tongue in annoyance.

“Tsk... What a strange fellow.”

“So, was I wrong in saying—”

“Enough. Just know that you barely passed.”

Wurgen cut off Se-Hoon’s words, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation. Bored, he surveyed the city around them that had been left in ruins from the terror attack and the ensuing battle. The city had been swiftly evacuated, but many casualties remained.

However, Wurgen didn’t seem particularly concerned.

“Let’s clean this up now.”

After all, he had been prepared from the beginning.

The Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx emerged from Se-Hoon’s fingertip and floated in the air. From within, darkness then began to flow out, coalescing into a single form. A figure, cloaked in a robe made of black mist, had appeared in front of Se-Hoon. And their overwhelming presence made Se-Hoon instinctively realize their identity.

The Eternal Nocturne...

Although he had lost most of his power due to an accident, it hadn\'t diminished. With the newly created bone as a medium, Wurgen summoned his authority and slowly lowered the finger that had been pointing toward the sky.

Rumble!

Darkness swiftly swept across the sky, as if time had accelerated, completely covering it before receding beyond the horizon. In the blink of an eye, the city, which had been shrouded in shadows, was restored to its original state.

“What the...?”

Both those who had sought refuge and those who had perished in the attack returned to the streets as the destruction of everything, including the hotel, reversed.

“Huh? Why am I...?”

“I remember I was last caught in an explosion...”

Though they clearly remembered their deaths, they found themselves alive on the streets without a scratch. It was as if they had woken up from a horrible nightmare, but the memories were too vivid to dismiss.

As confusion dominated the city, a voice suddenly echoed throughout it.

“The situation has been resolved.”

Floating as a black wraith in midair, Wurgen addressed the entire city calmly.

“Resume your duties.”

With that, he vanished into thin air.

I figured he had something planned... but this is way too incredible.

Now back in the suite, Se-Hoon was observing the perfectly restored cityscape from the window.

To an onlooker, it would seem like he had rewound time, but Se-Hoon had a vague idea of the truth.

He must have projected the entire city into the underworld beforehand, then inverted it back afterward.

At the realization that Wurgen could kill or revive an entire city at will, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but be impressed by the sheer scale of the power Perfect Ones like him wielded.

“Take this.”

A green dagger and its sheath suddenly dropped from the air.

“Is this...?”

“It’s the sword left by the automaton. Consider it your spoils of war.”

Wurgen handed over the Legendary sword nonchalantly as if he had no interest in it. It was magnanimity typical of Perfect Ones, but Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes.

“That thing had a Demon Eye as well, didn’t it?”

“It did.”

“Then you should give that to me as well...”

After all, he had defeated the automaton by himself, and it wouldn’t be fair for Wurgen to claim the spoils just because he handled the cleanup. But despite Se-Hoon’s complaint, Wurgen didn’t bat an eye.

“Consider it the rental fee.”

“...Excuse me?”

“You borrowed my Benjamin and my Phalanx to win, didn’t you? Therefore, I deserve a portion of the rewards.

“What kind of...”

Feeling it was completely unfair since Wurgen had only made him fight to test his own abilities, Se-Hoon was about to argue and glared at him. However, that was when Wurgen’s eye curled into a crescent-shaped smile.

“I also healed your wound for free, so you should be grateful.”

“...”

At his words, Se-Hoon immediately glanced down at his chest, now fully healed. He was deeply irritated by how Wurgen had healed him and then demanded compensation without consent, but he decided to let it go. Arguing further would only be pointless; with Wurgen’s capricious nature, pushing him might even lead to losing the Legendary sword as well.

Once he finds a new body next time, I’ll...

Watching Se-Hoon grumble inwardly, Wurgen looked at him with exasperation, reading his thoughts.

This guy really has no fear.

Despite the concessions Wurgen had made, Se-Hoon still dared to show his dissatisfaction. He considered teaching Se-Hoon a lesson, but since Se-Hoon had completed all of the required tasks, he decided to let it slide.

“If there’s something you want, particularly, speak up.”

“...Something I want?”

“Yes. As long as it’s reasonable, I’ll grant it.”

Se-Hoon’s eyes gleamed with interest. Wurgen\'s tone suggested he was willing to give Se-Hoon something small to be done with everything. It was the perfect opportunity, though not an intended one.

Ensuring no one was eavesdropping, Se-Hoon slowly began.

“I plan to kill the Dream Demon before summer break ends.”

“...What?”

“How about you join me?”