Chapter 3
Bang!
With a rather loud noise, the wildly raging energy finally breaks through the blocked meridians.
A smile spreads across Seong-jun Lee's face as he feels the energy rotating freely inside his body, accompanied by an electrifying sensation.
'Not bad.'
His rough and painful breathing had become considerably smoother.
He had buttoned up the first step of the Blood Shadow Demon God Technique, able to absorb energy from the atmosphere, accumulate it in his dantian, and partially control the blood in his body.
In reality, he could feel a small concentration of energy below his navel, in the area called the dantian - the fundamental internal energy of martial arts.
Naturally, a satisfied smile spread across Seong-jun's lips.
"Indeed, effort never betrays."
In the past, it took Seong-jun a month to fully master the Blood Shadow Demon God Technique.
However, thanks to the knowledge and experience accumulated in his soul through blood, sweat, and tears, he had shortened it to less than a day.
It felt like he was being rewarded for all his efforts.
Although it was infinitely weak compared to the internal energy he once possessed, you can't fill your stomach with the first spoonful.
"This should be enough to put out the urgent fire."
Just as Seong-jun was about to get up to properly explore his surroundings after wiping the sweat from his forehead...
Parapapapam pam~ Parapapa! Pam! Pam~~!
Along with a grand fanfare sound hitting his ears, a translucent message window appeared before his eyes.
Ding-!
[Successfully connected to the Force System!]
[Welcome new user 'Seong-jun Lee'!]
[You have acquired the S-class skill, Blood Shadow Demon God Technique.]
[According to the ability of your S-class active skill, Blood Shadow Demon God Technique, the status 'Blood Energy' will be unlocked.]
[Loading status window information.]
[Status]
Name: Seong-jun Lee
Job: None
Title: None
Level: 1
Strength: 5, Agility: 4, Stamina: 5
Blood Energy: 5
Active Skills Possessed
S-class, Blood Shadow Demon God Technique 1 star.
Although a green holographic status window that he had only seen in games suddenly appeared before his eyes, Seong-jun's expression as he looked at it was utterly calm.
* * *
Humans are creatures of adaptation.
While something might seem fascinating when first seen or heard, if one continues to see and hear it, the excitement gradually fades, doesn't it?
That was exactly how Seong-jun felt looking at the system window that had just appeared.
He was literally indifferent.
'A system window?'
As mentioned earlier, Seong-jun had lived in a world where awakened ones, dungeons, different races, and returnees existed since birth.
The system was no exception.
'I didn't expect the system to activate as soon as I used an internal energy technique...'
Anyway, this increased the probability that this place was Earth.
'I'll need to meet people to be more certain, but it's hopeful.'
Smiling at the positive situation, Seong-jun's gaze suddenly fixed on the word 'Blood Energy' displayed on the green holographic status window.
'I didn't think it would even accurately capture Blood Energy.'
Blood Energy (혈기), a special power that only martial artists of the Blood Sect could handle, directly using or manipulating blood like internal energy.
It wasn't just fancy words.
The power of Blood Energy was literally on a different level from ordinary internal energy.
In fact, when martial artists of the same level fought, those who couldn't handle Blood Energy could never defeat those who could.
This was inevitable because blood is the foundation of life, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it oversees everything in the human body.
Handling blood doesn't just mean controlling its shape or movement.
It meant controlling even blood components such as body temperature, pulse, and red blood cell count.
If desired, one could forcibly bring the mind to a state of awakening, or instantly explode physical abilities by inflating and toughening muscles.
Internal energy battles were out of the question.
It was only natural that the power of Blood Energy, forged from blood which could be called the foundation of life, overwhelmed ordinary internal energies.
Moreover, those who could handle Blood Energy could supplement lacking blood with internal energy, or conversely, turn blood or life force into internal energy.
Of course, it wasn't a perfect power without weaknesses.
As it uses blood (血), if overused, it could lead to dizziness, vomiting, chills, paralysis, and in severe cases, death by becoming a mummy as all the blood in the body drains out.
'The system is more impressive than I thought.'
It wasn't just what was displayed on the system window.
Perhaps because it was recognized as a single ability stat?
The moment he stretched his palm forward, internal energy turned into blood, and soon muscles began to swell.
It becomes reality as soon as the thought occurs, without particularly focusing on internal energy operation.
Naturally, a satisfied smile spreads across Seong-jun's lips.
"Convenient."
However, not long after, he shakes his head, stiffening his face as usual.
Now wasn't the time to be marveling like this.
Seong-jun, with his hand on his chin, carefully organizes the information he's gained.
'The probability that this is Earth is quite high.'
Although aged, the appearance of collapsed building ruins, along with the congratulatory message and the application of the Force system, undoubtedly indicated this was Earth.
However, he couldn't say that the current time was 2080, where he had originally lived.
There was only one hypothesis that could be drawn from this.
'Has the time axis shifted...?'
Moving through space and time was by no means an easy feat.
The probability of unexpected variables occurring was high.
Seong-jun shakes his head at the anxiety blooming in a corner of his heart.
'There's nothing that can be definitively determined.'
It's not too late to see with his own eyes, confirm, and make judgments.
Just as Seong-jun, having composed himself, was about to get up and explore his surroundings, it happened.
"Danger!"
Not far away, a familiar and very missed language was heard.
Seong-jun's head naturally turned towards the direction of the sound.
"Korean?"
He remembered it clearly, having never forgotten it even once.
The voice he just heard was undoubtedly Korean.
The probability of this place being Earth was increasing more and more.
Thump! Thump!
His heart started racing, unable to hide his excitement.
However, it wasn't just nostalgic sounds that were heard.
Kwang-! Bang-!
Following the urgent voice, a thunderous sound is heard.
A familiar sound.
A battle was taking place nearby.
Seong-jun immediately set his feet in motion, running towards the direction the sound was coming from.
Fortunately, as it wasn't a far distance, the battle situation came into view before long.
Five people, three of whom seemed injured, were precariously standing while forcibly grasping their arms and legs which were flowing with red blood.
'People.'
Moreover, they were undoubtedly civilized, Earth humans.
This meant he had met Koreans who could answer questions about the incomprehensible current situation on Earth.
But unfortunately, their situation wasn't leisurely enough to peacefully exchange questions and answers.
This was because a huge green-colored entity was continuously swinging its fists in front of the people.
Seong-jun narrows his eyes as he observes the green monster's appearance.
"Is that...?"
Deep green skin, pointed ears, a large build with matching bulky muscles.
He remembered clearly, having longed for Earth for decades.
It was undoubtedly the appearance of a 'Troll' that he had seen several times on the internet and during school safety education sessions.
However, it couldn't be said to be in the same state as seen in educational materials.
'...It's small.'
About 2m, considering that the size of trolls in educational materials was written as 3m, it could be said to be quite small.
'Is it a cub that hasn't grown into an adult yet?'
Of course, what's important now wasn't whether the troll had grown or not.
'Why is a troll here?'
For what reason are those people, presumed to be awakened ones, fighting a troll in this desolate park?
While numerous questions were blooming in his head, the middle-aged man facing the troll shouted.
"We have no chance fighting like this! While I draw its attention, everyone escape!"
The people were being pushed back helplessly by the troll's fists, which carried strong power matching its huge build that overwhelmed adult men.
Although they were barely maintaining a defensive line even amidst the pouring fierce attacks, perhaps having worked together for a long time, even that was like a candle in the wind.
Seong-jun, watching the battle from afar, slowly nods his head and makes a decision.
'For now, I'll save them.'
It wasn't an easy decision.
One of the knowledge gained from long life in the Thousand Continent, the most dangerous thing is people.
Moreover, they weren't ordinary people but awakened ones.
They could be considered martial artists.
In a desolate city without proper public order, it was too dangerous to rashly extend a helping hand to martial artists whose dispositions were unknown.
But Seong-jun believed in his skills and senses.
Although he had lost most of his power, there was no way he would be defeated by a troll that hadn't even finished growing and awakened ones of that level.
'Strong internal energy and powerful martial arts don't always determine the outcome.'
Some might call it arrogance, but he was once a being at the pinnacle of a world.
Nodding his head, Seong-jun takes a step.
He had exhausted all his power as the price for moving through space and time.
But just now, he had mastered the Blood Shadow Demon God Technique.
There was no reason to think of defeat.
As Seong-jun took confident steps to join the battle, the middle-aged man shouted towards him.
"It's dangerous! Run away!"
But Seong-jun ignores the man's words and closes the distance with the troll.
Whoosh-!
With minimal movement, Seong-jun avoids the troll's flying fist by slightly tilting his head back.
'A beast-like appearance without reason.'
No matter how strong and fast it is like a monster, what's the use?
'It's all meaningless if you can't hit.'
After avoiding the laughably straightforward attack, Seong-jun used a footwork technique, the Ghost Shadow Step, to dive into the troll's body.
The Ghost Shadow Step is characterized by showing movements that become hazy like a ghost, using it to confuse the opponent's senses.
The troll, surprised by the strange movement, tried to step back feeling instinctive unease, but it was a futile struggle.
"It's already too late."
Seong-jun, who had naturally extended his palm to the left chest area where the troll's heart was located, muttered quietly in his mind.
'Blood Flow Explosion.'
Bang-!
Simultaneously, the Blood Energy attached to the troll's heart exploded, causing a loud noise.
Even a troll with strong regenerative abilities can't regenerate if its heart is completely pulverized.
As if to prove this...
"Kuuuh-!"
The troll, spewing black smoke from its mouth, fell backward showing the whites of its eyes.
Thud-!
It was instant death.
"G-Good gracious..."
Faced with a situation hard to believe even with their own eyes, all the awakened ones could only sit down blankly with dazed expressions, as if by agreement.
Meanwhile, Seong-jun approached the awakened ones sprawled on the ground and opened his mouth.
"I have a question."
Seong-jun's condescending attitude, despite looking much younger, would be strange from the perspective of Earth's South Korean norms, but the middle-aged man didn't even feel that peculiar sense of discomfort.
The pressure and dignity flowing from Seong-jun, along with his natural tone, prevented him from harboring even the slightest doubt.
"Y-Yes! P-Please speak."
Seeing the middle-aged man answering him urgently while sweating cold sweat, Seong-jun asked.
"Is this Earth?"
"Y-Yes... yes, it is!"
He had returned to Earth, which he had longed for so much.
Naturally, a bright smile was spreading across Seong-jun's lips.