The living room of an unremarkable suburban home, furnished with a TV, sofa, picture frames, and other commonplace items.
"It's starting. Sooner than I expected."
A man with nondescript features, sitting in the center of the room, muttered as he crumpled a letter in his hand.
Whoosh
The crumpled paper vanished in a flash of flames, leaving no trace behind.
'It's because of that, isn't it?'
He casually waved his hand, dispelling the heat, and glanced at the muted TV screen.
"-Howard Industry's showcase recently concluded successfully. There's significant interest both domestically and internationally. Many believe this will lead to major societal changes. Professor Seo, what are your thoughts?"
"-Well… It's a boon for our country to have such a company. The situation is a bit chaotic right now, but the economic impact is undeniable. Moreover, new technology…"
Howard Industry, the newly established company frequently mentioned in the media. Their sudden rise was dramatic.
As the sole player in a promising new market, the exclusive supplier of highly sought-after goods, their potential for growth was unpredictable. They were poised to become a major global influence.
'That would be problematic. Very problematic.'
This was unwelcome news for those who had been patiently infiltrating society for years. Especially if Howard Industry was aligned with the Korean government.
The man closed his eyes, lost in thought. He had his orders. He had to act. But Korea was a dangerous place for villains to operate openly. He needed a plan to minimize risk and complete his mission.
'But the situation has changed for us too.'
He recalled the orders he had received, a faint smile playing on his lips. The gist of it could be summarized in one sentence: all means necessary. His restrictions had been lifted.
"…It seems they really hate Korea. Well, it's good for me. With no restrictions, the possibilities are endless."
The Korean branch of the Heaven's Turn Society, which had been lying low under orders from the East Asian Branch Manager, Yulryeongja, after Hahoe Mask's public debut, was now resurfacing once more.
***
I chuckled, examining the object in my hand.
"Well, well. Things have taken an interesting turn."
A mesmerizing swirl of iridescent energy within a thumb-sized, transparent orb. It shimmered like an aurora, morphing into various shapes. I watched, captivated, then licked my lips. A pang of regret struck me as I gazed at this miniature work of art.
'I have to consume this. Such a waste.'
But it couldn't be helped. This was the otherworldly elixir he had been searching for, surpassing even the Shaolin Temple's Grand Restoration Pill.
"I didn't expect her to have something like this."
I recalled Yoon Ji-yoon, the Lightning Emperess, gazing longingly at Mjolnir, the lightning hammer showcased earlier. I glanced at the table. Several other elixirs, though not as exquisite as the one in his hand, were neatly arranged. All acquired in a single transaction.
'A very satisfying first customer.'
Her world, the Sabachon dimension, was dominated by chakra users, who manipulated energy to control natural phenomena. Their magical tool crafting was underdeveloped, but their alchemy, focused on enhancing inherent abilities, was highly advanced.
'Works out perfectly for me.'
I nodded in satisfaction, admiring the elixir again. He knew why she had brought it despite knowing its diminished value on Earth.
'It's not unusual for Awakened to bring back souvenirs. I even managed to get a few extra elixirs from her. She was so fixated on Mjolnir that the negotiation was surprisingly easy.'
He hadn't taken advantage of her. Yoon Ji-yoon was a powerful ally, and her increased strength benefited him as well.
I took a deep breath. It was a shame to consume it, but that was the purpose of acquiring it. Hesitating over its appearance would be foolish.
'This will bring me one step closer to completion.'
I swallowed the elixir without further delay. To awaken his divinity, infused with the energies of as many worlds as possible. A surge of energy exploded within me as I delved into my inner world.
***
Yoon Ji-yoon leaned back in her office chair, admiring the bracelet on her wrist.
"Amazing. How did they acquire this? No, did they say they crafted it themselves?"
A slender gold chain with mystical engravings, a small hammer-shaped charm dangling from its center. She flicked her wrist.
Crackle
Sparks flew as a short-handled hammer materialized in her hand. The display was contained within her office, her precise control preventing any damage to the electronic equipment.
She swung the hammer experimentally a few times. Then, her satisfied expression faded into a frown.
"…It looked cool during the demonstration, but a hammer doesn't really suit me."
Her specialty was manipulating lightning. She had trained with swords and spears, but a hammer was unfamiliar. She had bought it impulsively, but now she regretted her haste.
'…Well, the magical properties work even in bracelet form.'
And as its abilities indicated, it was better suited for throwing. The hammer had homing and retrieval functions. With her control over electromagnetism, she could wield it like a guided missile. It would compensate for her lack of physical strength as a lightning mage.
'And more importantly…'
She narrowed her eyes, yellow sparks flickering within them. Her senses, attuned to the lightning coursing through the hammer, expanded.
Crackle
Chakra allowed its users to manipulate natural phenomena. Just as a water chakra user was stronger near water, and a darkness chakra user was stronger in the dark, she was empowered by lightning.
'Such pure lightning energy. Contained within an artificially created magical tool. And it's rechargeable? I never imagined such a thing was possible.'
She wasn't wrong. Mjolnir was crafted by a master dwarf blacksmith and a dragon enchanter, using rare materials.
Her senses continued to expand, extending beyond the Association building. A network of faint magnetic fields replaced her senses, amplifying her perception and processing information at superhuman speeds.
A strange sense of omnipotence, her 'domain' expanding far beyond its usual limits. She smiled.
'…Not bad. This alone is worth the price of the elixir. I have another one anyway… Wait, what's that?'
Her enhanced senses detected something. Suspicious individuals with suspicious objects, exhibiting suspicious behavior within her domain. The magnetic fields identified the objects.
Her mind, accelerated by amplified bioelectricity, rapidly assessed the situation. She acted without hesitation.
Zap Crackle
Several kilometers away, several men carrying large backpacks through a back alley froze, electrocuted by a sudden surge of electricity. They were Awakened, but their meager resistance was no match for the current that bypassed their defenses, seizing control of their bodies and minds.
They convulsed, collapsing like puppets. Their backpacks, about to hit the ground—
Hum
The metallic contents within reacted to her magnetic field, suspended in mid-air.
And then—
"How did they get these…?"
Yoon Ji-yoon, her expression grim, appeared in the alley. She opened one of the backpacks, her senses guiding her.
"…Bombs."
Not crude homemade devices, but professionally manufactured explosives. If she hadn't prioritized disabling the carriers with electricity, the entire area would be engulfed in flames.
'First…'
She pulled out her smartphone, contacting the authorities. Such items weren't easily acquired. It was even more baffling that these unremarkable individuals possessed them. Such a large quantity of explosives in Korea, where even firearms were strictly controlled?
After reporting the situation, she turned to the unconscious men. She would interrogate them. As a hero, she was also a veteran of countless battles. She could easily torture them with electricity without leaving any visible marks.
She had refrained from such methods since returning to Earth, choosing to abide by the law…
'…I'm uneasy. I should leave this to the professionals, but I have a bad feeling…'
A Transcendent's intuition, a subconscious awareness of causality, wasn't to be ignored. It wasn't precognition, just a vague sense of foreboding. But it had saved her life countless times.
As she was about to act—
Rumble
"Kyaaa—!"
KABOOM
"Uwaaa!"
Distant explosions and screams, barely audible even with her enhanced senses. She froze.
'Too late…! It wasn't just here!'
Multiple bomb attacks had occurred throughout Seoul, shattering the city's unprecedented peace.
***
Things were progressing smoothly in Ganghwange.
Masters from various factions, righteous, demonic, and military, were converging on Beijing with the help of Mosan Sect Taoists—actually yokai from Golden Island.
Some factions had sent mediocre representatives, while others made excuses and remained passive. But he couldn't press the issue. The situation was too urgent.
'Of course, I won't forget this after it's over.'
He wouldn't forgive those who shirked their responsibilities. He hadn't even contacted the truly weak factions. Those who held back were clearly motivated by greed, hoping to seize power after others had bled for peace.
'I won't let that happen.'
Blood for blood. They would pay the price.
'Let's see, the Demonic Cult… The Heavenly Demon is fine, and the others are stable.'
Hans wouldn't participate directly. The final boss for the Demonic Cultists was the Heavenly Demon. Hans would manage the situation from behind the scenes, minimizing casualties.
'I could prevent any casualties, but…'
He had carefully considered how to orchestrate this rehearsal. He could easily eliminate the Demonic Cult and restore the Dragon Heart. He had defeated all the major villains and held the key to resolving the situation.
'But that's not enough. It's just a temporary fix.'
His goal wasn't just restoring the Dragon Heart. It was bringing peace to this land of conflict and reaping the karmic rewards.
'Would simply restoring the Dragon Heart bring peace?'
These people had been fighting for over two decades since the Imperial Palace Bloodshed. They wouldn't suddenly forget their grudges and become friends.
'They need a common enemy. And the shared experience of overcoming that enemy.'
The pervasive resentment in this land was a problem they had to solve together. Peace achieved without sacrifice wouldn't last. This final battle was the climax, essential for securing Ganghwange's future.
'It might seem arrogant, but… I'm preventing complete annihilation. They should be grateful.'
This world would have been destroyed long ago without his intervention. He was setting the stage and providing safety nets; they should at least be willing to shed blood for their own future.
'The factions gathered for the final battle are all regional powers. The smaller factions have no choice but to follow their lead.'
If they still resisted, he would eliminate them.
'Show me your resolve. Your sacrifice for this land…'
Then, he paused, disturbed by his own train of thought.
'Wait, have I always been like this?'
Before he could finish the thought—
"Huh?"
He turned towards the window.
"What's this?"