The sun rose slowly over the village, casting long shadows across the courtyard where I stood. The air was cool and still, but my heart wasn't. Even after the victory against the Nightfang Warlord and the comfort of a new home, something gnawed at me — a hunger for more.
Not for wealth. Not for recognition.
For strength.
The Primordial Ascent Manual demanded more than I'd given. It wasn't just about refining technique — it was about pushing the body, mind, and spirit beyond mortal limits. And I wasn't there yet.
"Again."
The word fell from my lips like a command. My sword flashed through the air — heavy and precise — as I moved through the stances. Each strike felt sharper, each step quicker. But it still wasn't enough.
"You're going to wear yourself down."
Yoon-Hee's voice broke through my focus. She stood at the edge of the courtyard, arms crossed, watching with the same mix of exasperation and worry that had become all too familiar.
"I can't afford to stop," I said without slowing.
"You can't afford to collapse either." She stepped closer, the cool presence of the Azure Lotus Scripture following her. "We've been fighting non-stop for weeks. Bounties, training, more bounties — you barely sleep. Even your sister's worried."
That made me pause. Seol-Ah rarely spoke about her fears. If she was worried… maybe I really was pushing too far.
But I couldn't stop. Not yet.
Before I could answer, the village bell rang — sharp and insistent. Trouble.
---
The bounty office was chaos. Mercenaries and warriors crowded the space, voices rising in a mix of fear and excitement.
"What's happening?" Yoon-Hee asked, her hand already on her sword.
The guildmaster — an old man named Dae-Seong — waved us over. "You'll want to see this." He shoved a bounty notice into my hands.
Bounty: Crimson Serpent Sect — Leader and Key Officers
Reward: 1000 Gold Pieces
Threat Level: Martial King (High)
"Martial King?" Yoon-Hee's eyes went wide. "That's—"
"Suicide," Dae-Seong finished. "But the reward's enough to tempt fools. The Crimson Serpent Sect's been raiding towns near the border — slaughtering anyone who resists. This is beyond what most of you can handle."
Most. But not us.
"Where are they now?" I asked.
"North. Near the old ruins of Kyaran's Watch." Dae-Seong frowned. "I won't stop you from going — but don't expect anyone to save you if you get in over your head."
---
The journey was long, and the closer we got, the clearer the devastation became. Burned villages. Fields turned to ash. The Crimson Serpent Sect didn't leave survivors.
We made camp on the edge of a forest the night before the attack. The fire crackled low, and for a while, there was only silence.
"Why do you push so hard?" Yoon-Hee's voice was soft, but there was an edge to it. "Isn't this enough? The house… your family's safe now. We have money. Why keep risking everything?"
Because I'd seen the kind of world we lived in.
Because safety was an illusion.
"Strength is the only thing that lasts," I said finally. "If we're not strong enough to protect what we have… we'll lose it. I won't let that happen."
Yoon-Hee didn't answer right away. But when she spoke, her voice was softer. "You don't have to do this alone."
---
The ruins loomed ahead, half-swallowed by the forest. The Crimson Serpent Sect had turned them into a fortress — torches flickering along the walls and shadows moving beyond them.
We didn't wait.
We hit them like a storm.
Yoon-Hee moved first — the Azure Lotus Scripture making her faster than they could follow. Her sword cut through the air, and the first wave of enemies fell without a sound.
I followed, my blade heavy and relentless. The Primordial Ascent Manual pushed me forward — each strike breaking armor, bone, and spirit alike. We fought like demons, carving a path through their ranks.
But then the leader emerged.
The Crimson Serpent Sect's Warlord was a giant of a man — his aura thick and suffocating. The air itself seemed to ripple around him. A Martial King in every sense of the word.
"You've made a mistake coming here," he growled, drawing a massive halberd.
"People keep telling me that," I said, raising my sword.
He struck first.
The ground shattered under the force of his blow — but I was already moving. My sword met his halberd with a thunderous crash, and the fight began.
He was fast. Strong. But I was stronger.
The Primordial Ascent Manual surged through me — every strike pushing my body beyond its limits. The fight was brutal and fast, and when my blade finally found his heart, it ended in silence.
---
The reward was more gold than we'd ever seen. Enough to keep our family safe for a lifetime.
But it still wasn't enough.
Because beyond the ruins, beyond the border… the Infinite Ascension Tower waited.
And one day, we'd climb it.
One day, we'd reach the top.