It had been a week since he’d met Nam GoongJin.
During that time, KangWoo concentrated on increasing the size of the demonic energy stone inside him.
Even while eating, drinking, and sleeping, KangWoo kept using the Celestial Dragon's Psyche Style.
His ability to control and regulate the demonic energy inside him was already at a level that no one could get close to.
Since someone like him had spent all that time using the Psyche Style, the result was impressive.
The size of the demonic energy stone grew every day, and he got used to using the energy inside it.
'But when will I reach the Extreme Demonic Energy Body?'
Although the size of the demonic energy stone had become the size of his fist, he still hadn't fulfilled the last condition.
'Well, I guess I'll eventually reach it.'
Even if he became anxious, nothing would change.
The only thing he could do was put all his strength into it.
KangWoo checked his status window while using the Celestial Dragon's Psyche Style.
—The demonic energy stat was still at 103.
The amount of demonic energy hadn't increased after he’d begun using the Psyche Style.
'I guess it's natural since there isn't demonic energy.'
Unlike mana, it was impossible to obtain demonic energy from natural sources.
Maybe it would be different if he were in Hell, which was full of demonic energy, but on Earth, it was impossible.
The reason why the demonic energy stone was growing in size was that KangWoo was moving the demonic energy spread through his body to the Dantian.
'There's probably a limit to this too.'
When all the demonic energy spread through his entire body flowed to the demonic energy stone, he wouldn't be able to make it bigger anymore.
Because the seal was still active, he wouldn't be able to drag demonic energy from the Ten Thousand Demon Core. After his demonic energy stat had surpassed 100, it had stopped increasing—no matter how many monsters he devoured.
'In the end, the only way is to lift the level restriction.'
The higher his level became, the weaker the seal got. And naturally, the amount of demonic energy he could control increased.
Although it was random, he also was looking forward to the other stats that increased as a level-up bonus.
'I need to figure out the way to lift the restriction.'
Although he had obtained the hint to unlocking the Extreme Demonic Energy Body, he didn't have a clue about how to lift the leveling-up restriction.
He had tried all the different ways that had worked for other players, but he hadn’t been successful.
Chae YeonJoo laughed at him, asking if he hadn't been put under a curse by the system.
'A curse…'
Although it was a comment made as a joke, it was a real possibility.
During the Isu Station incident, Kim ShiHoon said that the system window had spoken to him as if it had its own will.
'If players and the Gaia System are somehow connected…'
He could understand why he wasn't able to lift the leveling-up restriction.
It was because he was the culprit that had damaged the Gaia System.
'First, I need to concentrate on increasing the size of the demonic energy stone.'
It wasn't like all the demonic energy inside his body had flowed into the dantian yet.
Since there wasn't a way to solve those worries at the moment, he just had to focus on what he could do.
"Hyeongnim, the break is over."
He could hear Kim ShiHoon's voice.
KangWoo, who was immersed in his thoughts, nodded and stood up.
They were in Suwon's S-rank gate.
Just like he'd promised before, he had gone there to help Kim ShiHoon's party.
"Are the preparations ready?"
"Hehe! Of course!"
"Yes, we took enough rest."
"Ugh~ I wanted to rest a bit more…"
TaeSoo, Seol-ah, and EunBi stood up while replying.
"KangWoo, are you worried about something?" Echidna, who was next to him, asked him while pulling his clothes.
"No, it's nothing like that."
Although he was worried about something, it wasn't something that could be solved by thinking.
There was no need to speak about stuff like that.
"If it's something I can help you with, just say it."
KangWoo smirked and nodded.
"Rather than that, let's begin."
He warmed up, turned his head, and looked around. They had to find a monster distanced from the rest of the group.
'Over there.'
KangWoo saw the monster you could see the most in Suwon's S-rank gate, the giant ogre.
He approached it and used the Authority of Silence in a wide area.
Things could get bothersome if they caught the attention of other ogres.
"Echidna…"
"Got it."
Echidna took a step forward.
She extended her hand toward the giant ogre. Black demonic energy rose, and eight scythes were created.
Fwoosh-! Fwoosh!
"Grrr!"
The scythes, which moved erratically, attacked the giant ogre.
The giant ogre dodged the attacks with sleek movements that didn’t fit its size.
But that only lasted for a moment.
The erratically moving scythes managed to hurt it. Blood poured out from the wound, and its movements became slower.
"Prepare to fight."
"Yes, Hyeongnim."
Kim ShiHoon took out the El Quero Sword. He seemed nervous.
Even TaeSoo and EunBi were serious.
"GRRAARR!"
* * *
The ogre’s scream spread through the entire place.
'A little bit more.'
KangWoo waited until the ogre lost a bit more vitality.
It was important to weaken the Ogre so Kim ShiHoon's party could win against it in a battle.
'Gaining experience without doing anything doesn't make sense.'
The reason why he'd brought Kim ShiHoon's party to the S-rank gate wasn't only to help them grow fast…
It was also to increase their battle sense while fighting an S-rank monster, an opponent they wouldn't normally be able to face.
'This is the real bus.'
There was a limit on how strong you could get by leveling up.
Just like there was a difference between two martial artists who wielded the same sword, there was also a difference between players with similar stats.
There were other important things besides numbers.
—This was something known among players.
Simply having a higher level and stat didn't mean that you would be able to win in a battle.
Stats were just like increasing your muscles through training.
If you plan to become a professional builder, focusing only on bodybuilding doesn't make sense.
KangWoo focused only on increasing his stats because he'd already gained a lot of real-life fight experience.
But in the case of Kim ShiHoon's party, it was different.
—They had to increase their level and gain battle experience.
"Grrr."
The giant ogre began trembling.
KangWoo opened his mouth.
"Start."
"Yes!"
With a short answer, Kim ShiHoon and Kang TaeSoo leaped forward.
Han Seol-ah applied some buffs, and Choi EunBi cast magic.
"GRAARR!"
Boom-!
"Ugh!"
Although the giant ogre was already close to death, the battle was fierce.
In the first place, the giant ogre wasn't an enemy that ShiHoon's party, who were on average at level 40, could face.
Just the fact that they could face a giant ogre on its last legs showed how talented everyone in that party was.
Boom-!
"Oof! Oof!'
"The giant ogre is definitely strong."
The battle was over.
Unlike TaeSoo, who was breathing heavily, Kim ShiHoon wasn't that tired yet.
'ShiHoon also has a strength that doesn't make sense compared to his level.'
If he fought with everything he had, he could probably win against a tired giant ogre alone.
But because it was a real-life fight training, it made sense to restrain a bit so his party members could also participate in the battle.
'I'll have to create a special course for Kim ShiHoon later on.'
It was evident that there was a difference between Kim ShiHoon and the other party members.
At that point, for him to really grow, he needed something else.
"Regroup and prepare for the next hunt."
"Oof! Understood!"
"Mr. TaeSoo, come here."
Han Seol-ah applied healing magic on him.
"Grrr!"
At that moment, KangWoo saw a group of giant ogres approaching them.
'Did they smell blood?'
He'd blocked the sound, but it seemed like it wasn't enough with that.
KangWoo took some energy from the demonic energy stone.
There were three of the ogres approaching them.
It was a number of opponents he had to deal with by himself.
"Wait here."
KangWoo turned around. The shouts of giant ogres spread through the place.
He used the Authority of Dark Spear.
A dark spear was formed in his hand, and the energy of the demonic energy stone flowed into it and covered the spear as if it were sword energy.
Clang-!
"Grrrr?"
"Huh?"
A clear sound of ringing steel spread.
A flash of silver light went off.
The giant ogres that were approaching KangWoo stopped.
A widening wound appeared across their bodies, and they collapsed.
The three giant ogres lost their lives in one attack.
KangWoo turned his head.
He saw a thin man and two other people that followed him from behind coming to his side.
One was a glamorous woman, and the other person was a young man who seemed scared.
'To eliminate three giant ogres with one attack…'
KangWoo's eyes narrowed.
Even Chae YeonJoo wouldn't be able to beat three giant ogres with one attack.
—That meant that person had a strength that was above a ranker.
Among people like that, only one person would approach them personally…
Sword King Cheon MooJin.
China's strongest player and one of the eight world rankers.
"It seemed like he really came. I thought that he may send some assassins."
"So you're the Sword King's sworn brother. I sincerely apologize for what happened before… I guess you don't understand Chinese."
Cheon MooJin looked at the young man that was next to him.
The young man nervously opened his mouth.
"Mr. Ch-Cheon MooJin wants to apologize for what happened…"
"You can say it in Chinese."
"Hmm? You know how to speak Chinese?" Cheon MooJin asked after KangWoo spoke using the Authority of Translation.
KangWoo nodded.
Cheon MooJin seemed relieved.
"Then it's going to be easier. I'm sorry for what happened before. I heard my subordinate was rude."
"Anyone can say that he's sorry."
"Hahaha! That's right."
Cheon MooJin bowed toward KangWoo.
The people around were surprised.
"…"
Even KangWoo wasn't expecting him to ask for forgiveness in such a polite manner.
Sword King Cheon MooJin…
The most powerful person in China had bowed to a normal person.
That wasn't something easy to do. Considering the power and influence he had, it was something he shouldn't do.
"I excommunicated the person who was rude toward you. It was my mistake for not controlling my subordinate correctly."
"Well… If you say it like that, then I'll forgive you."
It wasn't like he'd received direct damage from Nam GoongJin.
If the perpetrator had been properly punished, he didn't intend to keep the conflict going.
"So why are you here?"
"I came here to meet Dragon Sword."
"I know that, but why do you want to see ShiHoon so badly?"
"It's because I saw the video."
"…?"
"Was it at Isu Station? I saw the video of Dragon Sword fighting there."
"So?"
"There was something I wanted to know," Cheon MooJin said while smiling.
"I want to know how Dragon Sword learned the martial arts of the martial god."
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