Chapter 165

Ba-dump.

With her unwavering determination…

Jae-yeon’s body begins to evolve.

Ba-dump!

A heart emerges from the scattered flesh on the floor. Although withered, it immediately starts racing towards its destined evolutionary path without delay.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

As blood rushes back into the heart with each powerful beat, the spell meticulously crafted by four great mages over a week finally activates.

Woooom!

With every heartbeat, the Dimensional Awl Heart, which connects Jae-yeon’s soul and physical form, gains control over the chaotic energy of the Eternal Sun. This unexpected outcome was beyond the imagination of even these skilled mages.

The effect was beyond anything the great mages could have imagined during their week of preparation. Who could predict such an outcome? If anyone had suggested that consuming a transcendent elixir while in a spiritual state would force the spell meant to reconnect soul and body to instead induce zenki, they’d be considered delusional rather than insightful.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump…!

With each heartbeat, it reverberated like a giant drum echoing throughout the area. The power of the Eternal Sun was so immense that despite being controlled by the Dimensional Apex Heart, it still compelled physical phenomena.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

The enormous amount of zenki flowing from Jae-yeon’s heart should have been channeled to his dantian. However…Jae-yeon currently had no dantian.

In fact, he lacked more than just the dantian. Currently, Jae-yeon didn’t possess limbs, a head, or even a torso. All that existed was a floating heart in the void!

A dantian is essentially a hypothetical organ. Practitioners spend their entire lives sensing and utilizing it, considering its importance second only to their own life. Yet if one were to dissect them, nothing would be found except for ordinary internal organs identical to any human being.

However, Jae-yeon imagined this hypothetical organ.

He had always yearned for it. At this moment, he continued to recall various martial arts techniques, insights, and experiences, providing ample data to create what he desired. The Bio Factor absorbed all of it.

Krrrunk! Kriiik!

With sounds akin to those heard in a large factory, flesh intertwined. Blood that had turned into steam recondensed and was sucked back inside, forming a pulsating organ roughly the size of an adult male’s fist. It transcended being merely human or even biological, resembling more closely the engine of an airplane or the Iron Heart of a gigas. This unprecedented “physical dantian” emerged within him.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

Transcendental Inner Force surged from his Dimensional Edge Heart, filling the newly created dantian.

Ba-dump! Ba-thud! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The waves emanating from Jinwoo’s dantian were so powerful that even Room Tower, protected by numerous defensive spells, couldn’t withstand them and started to sway. Naturally, those inside panicked and rushed outside.

“Ahhh! What’s happening?! The building is shaking!”

“What’s going on?! Is it really a transcendent-level monster?!”

“Alert! Alert! This is not a drill. All citizens, please…”

“Psychic Energy Disaster Warning Level 20! Psychic Energy Disaster Warning Level 20! All citizens, please…”

Warnings blared continuously from holographic billboards as well as smart pets people carried around, causing widespread confusion among civilians who had never experienced anything like this before.

“What nonsense… Evacuate? Where’s safer than here…?”

“But if it’s a level-20 psychic disaster… Isn’t that beyond extraordinary?”

Instead of evacuating, everyone just stood frozen on the spot. This reaction was understandable, as no one from District 34, known for its near-uninterrupted peace, had any experience with emergencies. Some even looked around suspiciously, wondering if this might be some hidden-camera prank.

Of course, their misconception didn’t last long.

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

Five giants descended onto the plaza.

“Wow! Those are definitely Giga-class models, right?”

“That model is…Tak Joonkyung!”

“Look at that! It’s Kim Gu—Kim Gu!”

“It’s Kwak Jae-woo! Wow! I’ve only ever seen them on TV…!”

The gigas waved back at the cheering crowd.

“This is an emergency! Everyone, please evacuate immediately!”

“Please step aside!”

After pushing people away to create some space, they unleashed their psychic powers.

Zzzzmmmmm!

A barrier materialized and enveloped Room Tower, a skyscraper located west of Gwanghwamun Square.

“Hold your positions! We don’t know what we’re dealing with!”

“But why level twenty out of nowhere? There haven’t been any reports of Transcendents passing through!”

“Isn’t this like the scenario from that variety show? A Transcendent-level monster? Whoa! Finally, a chance to battle a Transcendent?”

[“Seriously… Are they desperate to get chased? No matter how powerful their gigas mounts are, they can’t withstand a Transcendent!”]

As the Riders surrounded the building, someone was moving inside Room Tower.

“No way, what is this?! I’ve never seen such a disgusting mess!”

“Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!”

“Honey, be quiet! Mommy’s busy!”

Song Hana, a sword master and combat police officer, moved according to protocol despite her trembling limbs amidst the turbulent Inner Force currents. She rushed towards the entrance of the studio apartment, where loud noises were emanating, and swiftly placed four seals.

“Oh, don’t provoke it further! I’m too young to die on duty… Well, whatever! Withdraw!”

Pop!

In an instant, the atmosphere changed dramatically.

Using the power of Mago’s Law, she and the designated area were transported to the parallel world, effectively turning reality inside out.

“Did it work? Ah, I guess they fell for it because their ranks seemed higher than expected.”

Fortunately, her desired reaction soon followed.

Ba-dump! Boom!

“Yes!”

The pilots outside Room Tower quickly assessed the situation.

“They already responded? But it’s been only one minute and thirty seconds since the incident began? Wow, the police these days are really swift.”

“I heard that combat police officers happened to be residing near the site.”

“What method did they use? Closure? Sealing?”

“Evasion. They sent everything to the parallel world.”

“And they fell for it? Are those guys level 20s or something?”

“So this means it wasn’t terrorism or a monster attack…”

“Let’s move on first!”

Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!

Five gigas transitioned from Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul to its counterpart in the parallel world.

As soon as they did…

Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

The thunderous sound of a heartbeat echoed through the area.

Krrrk! Craaash!

Room Tower began crumbling.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…Wow. Perfect timing.”

Gigas pilot Guk Jaewoo chuckled nervously.

“And who is this police officer? We need to promote them immediately. It was almost a catastrophic disaster…”

Crash!

Finally, Room Tower collapsed entirely, revealing something atop its ruins. Shin Dongkyu’s forced smile froze.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

“Activate your primary weapons!”

“Check your spell registries! I’ll go first—”

“Hold it! Everyone, stop!” Lieutenant General Shin Dongkyu’s shout halted the gigas units preparing their armaments.

“What’s wrong, sir? The enemy is a Transcendent! We need to at least restrain them.”

“Do as ordered. Ugh, seriously.” He muttered incredulously, “That crazy dog, what is he doing here?”

“Aieeeeekkkk… It’s hot!”

Jae-yeon barely regained her senses due to the shrill scream. When she looked up, she saw a child struggling as their dress caught fire. Above them, there was a massive light burning through the sky - the False Eternal Sun.

Even divine beings dared not use it as a weapon or consume it, considering it an eternal treasure.

“Ah…”

“Spare me! I’m dying! Help! Agh!”

“Stop whining…”

“Hey! What is this thing? Why do you keep bringing strange items here? Ack! Burning…! It’s burning…!”

As Jae-yeon observed Hyperion flailing about, she quietly surveyed her inner world.

Everything he had manifested, including his house and Go game board, was now burnt to ashes. Even the elements stored within the Immeasurable Floor were reduced to cinders. The only thing remaining was Hyperion, but even it sounded like it was dying.

“How much time has passed?”

“I don’t know! It’s hot! Do something about that!”

“Time.”

“Ten or fifteen minutes, maybe?! Ahh! Burning! I’m burning alive!”

“For now… Get out of here.”

Fwip.

After banishing Hyperion, Jae-yeon sat cross-legged amidst her empty inner world.

‘She lacks patience…but I can understand why.’

She felt intense pain as if her entire body was on fire. However, it wasn’t bothersome. Compared to the void she experienced earlier, this physical agony was almost welcome.

Indeed…martial arts were the solution.

When he closed his eyes, Jinwoo felt the heat of the sun not from above but within his stomach. The image of the sun floating in the sky was merely symbolic.

I need to circulate my energy.

The Eternal Sun inside him threatened to incinerate both his soul and mind.

“Ahhh… Damn it! I should’ve memorized some solar or scorching martial arts…”

Despite her vast knowledge of martial arts, Jae-yeon hadn’t bothered with elemental techniques. Without innate talent, special training environments, or unique elixirs, mastering them was extremely difficult.

There was no time to lament what she didn’t have; she needed to make do with what she possessed.

Tick-tock…

Unaware of how much time had passed, Jae-yeon endlessly circulated her internal energy within her inner world.

Righteous, evil, demonic—it didn’t matter which type of cultivation method it was; she utilized every technique at her disposal to funnel solar energy into her dantian.

Ahh…

The process went smoothly. Bit by bit, she could feel the sun’s power being drawn into her core. The problem was the pain.

It hurts…

The burning sensation wouldn’t relent. Despite possessing extraordinary willpower, enduring this agony for days on end drove her nearly insane.

Enduring it for a short while wasn’t an issue, but there was no telling how long she needed to maintain this state.

Let’s think positively… At least I’m lucky.

If not for her vast inner world acquired when reaching the ninth stage of chakra, her soul and mind would have incinerated instead of merely suffering from unbearable pain.

Moreover, with only 900 mana points… If I had any less, it would’ve been over.

Mana is energy, and Mana Power controls that energy. Regardless of Jae-yeon’s willpower, without such transcendent Mana Power, her zenki would have gone berserk.

“Sigh…” Jae-yeon regulated her breathing. The endless burning sensation felt like madness, yet giving up now wasn’t an option.

“Let’s think positively…positively… It’s better than being tortured by those nobles who acted superior to everyone else… If I can endure this, at least ten kisby of Inner Force will be mine… Maybe even more… With that much power, sword forces would shoot out effortlessly… The Purest Sword Force could block laser bombardments… Earn 1 billion, no, 10 billion or maybe even 100 billion won, and keep purchasing items… Buy stocks for patches… Complete my collection of +9 enforced equipment… Unlock class awakening and enhance reputation…”

Jae-yeon clung onto positive thoughts to maintain her focus amidst the chaos. She recited various martial arts techniques and recalled intense moments from fierce battles. Simultaneously, she yearned for relief from the heat, wishing for something cold. Her desire activated her chakra.

She wished for something cold amidst the intense heat, and her chakra responded to this desire.

Boom!

The chessboard descended.

Snap!

Then, the Idolization Shop, the Ice Queen’s Paradise, shone brightly.

Zzzt!

Coldness radiated from her, and Jae-yeon’s pain-stricken face became peaceful once more. Unbeknownst to her, within her physical body, specifically her blood, a chill had set in.

Up until this point, it aligned with her wish… However, Ardenia didn’t stop there. Once activated, other flower shops naturally began reacting as well.

Snap!

The Left Transformation Shop, representing Great Earth, illuminated.

A substantial energy permeated the skeletal structure of her physical form. Her bones, already harder than most alloys, became even denser and heavier.

The Left-Handed Store shone with its toxicity attribute. Toxicity permeated his liver, and just like within his physical dantian, it created biological organs capable of detoxifying various poisons while also producing new ones.

The Lower-Left Flower Shop glowed with Flame City’s attribute.

As warmth infused his muscles, the coldness circulating through his body clashed with it, generating continuous bursts of steam.

The Lower-Right Flower Shop illuminated with the World Tree’s attribute.

The essence of trees enveloped his skin, covering both flesh and bones.

Whoooosh…

Wind energy filled his lungs. Lightning energy coursed through his nerves, and light energy radiated from his eyes.

Suddenly…

His eyes snapped open.

Flash!

In that instant, the dim parallel world brightened before plunging back into darkness again.

“Wow, did you see her eyes just flashing?”

“My goodness…”

Jae-yeon stood there dazed amidst the murmuring voices around her. She became aware of everything simultaneously - the ground beneath her feet, the numerous people surrounding her, the flowing wind, their conversations, and even the displays on their watches. Without anyone explaining it to her, she instinctively knew that a significant amount of time had passed.

“Chuseok has already passed,” she whispered with a soft sigh.

“My Songpyeon…” Unexpectedly, at this moment, her transcendent body was formed.