Chapter 147

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍guy stared at the weapons falling and floundering on the floor before speaking in a low voice.

“Do ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you know what the good thing about getting close to smugglers is?”

“I ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍am not sure. Is the employee welfare quite good?”

His ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hand was suddenly sucked into the air. The space itself flickered and drew ripples. That was sub-space.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍game terms, it was like an inventory. Jung Oh-hoon would really love it if I gave that to him.

Leaving ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Han Sang-ah and myself aside, Jung Oh-hoon’s skill tended to depend on equipment. If he had a sub-space that could store a large amount of items, Jung Oh-hoon’s skill would rise several times over.

“You should have stored the smuggled goods in that sub-space instead.”

“Speak sense.”

Well, he was just a hired hunter after all.

The owner of the smuggled goods was the Blue Wrench Junk Shop. No matter how safe it was claimed to be, no madman would hand over the company’s vital assets to a hunter who was not family and was just being paid to guard the goods.

How was that different from the madness of keeping company money in an accountant’s personal bank account? Furthermore, no one other than the owner could access the sub-space.

“Since things have turned out this way, I will show you something good. Yoo Chan-seok.”

The item he pulled out of the sub-space as if boasting was a greatsword. One look and it was clearly a famous blade. Red mist flowed down the dull gray blade.

“You psychotic bastard.”

After confirming that greatsword, I lunged at him. As I thrust my spear, he swung the greatsword.

From the swung greatsword, a piercing sound resembling the cry of an infant echoed out. Unlike just a moment ago, this time the opponent was neither pushed back nor sent flying.

Veins bulged prominently on the guy’s forearms as he held the sword. Furthermore, the muscles across his entire body swelled several times over.

“How many people have you killed with that sword?”

At my words, the guy clicked his tongue.

“I’m not sure, should a fetus be counted as a person?”

“One thing for sure is that you cannot be counted as a person.”

At my words, the corners of his mouth stretched upward.

“To have such a reaction over this, I look forward to seeing what kind of expression you will wear next.”

While swinging the greatsword with his right hand, he thrust his left hand into the sub-space again and pulled something out.

It was a silver dagger. Similarly, a terribly ominous power was felt from it. Glistening droplets flowing from the handle of the dagger ran down the blade.

“It was tempered with the tears of a parent who strangled their own child to death. It took years to collect enough.”

“What a thing to boast about. Should I give you a compliment?”

He must have created a situation where the parent had no choice but to strangle their child.

The opponent’s own skill was unremarkable. The problem was that the equipment he pulled out and held in his hands was not.

They were already malicious pieces of equipment to begin with, and since he had added that kind of madness to them, they could not help but boast monstrous performance.

The power contained in that greatsword and dagger each reached several times that of the trash standing there.

“It seems you cannot bestow life on those after all.”

“….”

The guy fell silent at my words. The equipment possessed strong power, but the process was hideous. The contained resentment surpassed that guy’s ability.

The moment he bestowed life, the targets those two weapons would aim for would not be me, but that bastard’s own life.

“So what of it.”

What do you mean 'what of it'. If there is a limit to the skill of the person handling them, the tools have a limit no matter how good they are.

“It means that even if you wear luxury goods, it is futile if the human is a piece of junk.”

In fact, what he was wearing could not even be called luxury goods.

“You talk well!”

It was impossible to know how many fetuses were sacrificed for the greatsword being swung toward me. I only guessed by the wailing of countless children erupting from the blade.

I only guessed how many parents were forced to kill their own children by the tears flowing down the dagger.

In an instant, attacks aiming for each other’s lives were exchanged more than dozens of times.

“Quite typical.”

The weapons were strong. But the guy handling the weapons could not properly manage his own power. He was simply running wild, unable to do anything about the overflowing power.

He was merely filling the gaps created by flowless attacks with merciless speed somehow.

“Fine! Then die once to this typical bastard, you son of a bitch!”

“ I will not die to a guy like you. Your personality is trash, and your skill is trash. On top of that, the things you do are trash too.”

Through the overwhelming power and speed gained thanks to the equipment, he was swinging the greatsword and dagger recklessly.

It was a movement more like an angry beast than a human.

“Hehehehe. Hehe. Hehek.”

“What a joke.”

The guy’s pupils glowed red. The veins bulging on his face were writhing hideously.

His muscles became even harder and thicker. It was hard to imagine they could swell any further.

“Die! Die right here! Because I will grind you up without leaving a single piece of flesh! Hey, don't dodge!”

The red mist flowing from the greatsword became increasingly thick. The tears pouring from the dagger created a puddle on the floor.

Avoiding the attacks of the rampaging guy, I thrust my spear into the center of his chest. His eyes and mine met.

Excessively dilated pupils took up almost the entire iris, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot from burst capillaries.

“You are quite the junkie.”

With the spear thrust in, I struck his chest with both feet. With the sound of breaking bones, he flew toward the wall.

Along with a series of crashing sounds, a large crater was made in the wall. I did not end it like this.

Pursuing the guy who was still embedded in the wall, I hammered additional strikes onto him in succession.

Dozens of holes were pierced into his body, limbs were cut away, and one side of his head was smashed and caved in.

The Banshee’s Tears I had embedded in my spear dug into his body, and the wounds began to rot black.

The guy hung his head while stuck in the wall.

“Stop bullshitting and get up.”

He would not die from this. At my words, the guy snapped his head up and burst into laughter.

“Uhahahahaha! Huh, how did you know?!”

His wounds began to bubble and boil. The holes pierced by the spear were filled, and droplets of poisonous liquid that had been eating away at his body flowed out of the blackly rotting wounds.

His limbs grew back, and his caved-in head was restored. Thud, the guy who fell to the ground crawled on all fours and panted heavily.

“I feel great. Power is overflowing. That is right, you cannot do anything to me.”

Of course, it was not just a restoration. In the process of rapid recovery, his body was becoming unnaturally bloated. Now his height exceeded 3 meters, and that massive frame was packed tight with enormous muscle.

The greatsword looked like a one-handed sword, and the dagger already looked like a toothpick.

“This is why I don't use ominous items.”

What was that? He started as a human, but now he was just a monster.

“Candy Lady is coming you say? Let her come if she wants. I will listen to the screams of her begging me to stop while being crushed under my belly!”

He was not even fighting properly anymore. Like a football player, he used his bloated physique to sprint toward me.

He seemed to no longer care about Jung Oh-hoon and Han Sang-ah, who were diligently examining the data in the back. It was a bit of a dated expression, but he had been consumed by power.

“Fine, keep growing. Let us see how far you grow.”

“Uaaaaaaargh!”

Along with countless blue trajectories, I swung my spear at him without rest. The spear strikes became increasingly dense and detailed, eventually forming a shape like a wall blocking his charge.

I blocked, and he charged. The muscles that had bloated beyond their limits were now excessively hard. Rather than lumps of flesh, each of those muscles was like hard steel.

Countless pouring spear strikes mangled his body. Hundreds of scars remained on his bloated body, and the spear’s poison seeped in through those wounds.

“It is useless, you retard. It is useless!”

The poisonous liquid that caused the wounds to rot flowed out of his body again, and his mangled body was reborn with even more bloated and even harder lumps of flesh.

He looked like an inflated balloon. If the Michelin Man fell to hell, suffered, and then crawled back up, he might look like that.

At a glance, it looked like he would self-destruct at this rate. But.

“That will never happen.”

The pieces of equipment he used were all malicious. They deserved to be called cursed swords or demonic swords. And surprisingly, such equipment did not harm the owner that often.

Those damn items could only satisfy their own desires if there was an owner. It was a kind of symbiotic relationship.

“Found it all! This is the end!”

From behind, Jung Oh-hoon shouted to me.

“Damn, that took a long time.”

I immediately extinguished the Paradoxical Flame that had been burning the thoughts of the smuggled goods strewn on the floor. All sorts of equipment that had escaped the influence of the Paradoxical Flame floated in the air again.

The Paradoxical Flame was something I had maintained out of necessity because I lacked the confidence to cover Han Sang-ah and Jung Oh-hoon if those things targeted them in this situation.

Now that Han Sang-ah and Jung Oh-hoon no longer needed to focus on other tasks, I could use the Paradoxical Flame elsewhere.

“You are merely on the level of a reinforced version of the monster I faced in Gyodongdo.”

The hand clutching the greatsword, which now looked too small, swung toward me. I also did not back down and thrust my spear toward the fist he was swinging.

If there was a difference from before, it was that a small size of extremely suppressed Paradoxical Flame was burning fiercely at the tip of the spear now.

The moment the greatsword and spear collided, the Paradoxical Flame that had been suppressed to its limit swept over his body like a waterfall.

The vortex of black flames spiraled around the guy who had obtained power through unjust means and wielded it unjustly, like a snake, and instantly ate away at his muscular strength.

“Let us stop here.”

Looking at him quietly, I extinguished the Paradoxical Flame that was burning him entirely. His muscular strength had already been completely burned away. The guy, who fell forward with his whole body limp, struggled to draw a breath.

“Kill, I will kill you. You son of a bitch. Just you wait. I will….”

I grabbed him by the hair, lifted him up, and met his eyes.

“Hey, I am going to perform an experiment on you from now on.”

I thought I would probably still fail. But even so, it was fully worth a try. It was similar to when I burned Jung Oh-hoon’s thoughts before.

If there was a difference from the experiment I did on Jung Oh-hoon, it would be that unlike burning thoughts, this experiment would cause permanent damage to the opponent.

“….”

Staring at him quietly, I kindled the Paradoxical Flame at my fingertips. The kindled Paradoxical Flame became increasingly fierce. I focused my mind. I focused solely on raising the temperature of the Paradoxical Flame.

If I could burn this, it was decisive evidence that I had reclaimed at least more than half of the power I used to wield in that other world.

“If I succeed, you will be born again. I shall bestow a baptism upon you.”

It was washing away sins and being born again. If I succeeded, this bastard would truly be born again as a new person.

“First, starting with that physical body.”

The Paradoxical Flame blazed. It was a procedure to burn all the achievements this guy's physical body had accumulated so far, without exception.

Muscular strength, endurance, agility, reflexes, coordination, sense of balance….

Without leaving a single one, I returned them all to the level of a newborn.

“This much is a success.”

I thought this would obviously be a success. The next part was the problem. I frowned. My body trembled, and cold sweat poured down my forehead.

My nose bled, and the capillaries in my eyes burst. It felt as if my brain were turning into pudding crushed in a press.

“Kegh!”

I vomited a bucket of blood from my mouth and then moved back slightly with a pale face.

“Heuh… keuk… fuck, not yet I guess.”

Darn it, I thought it would work. It seemed I had to put in a bit more effort.

I wiped my mouth. In the meantime, the guy was wriggling like an earthworm with not a handful of muscular strength left, trying to live.