Seol-Hwi continued to walk through every corner of the underground third floor prison.
Not knowing when South Dipper Star’s presence might appear, he simply walked in silence.
“What has that guy been doing since a while ago?”
“Leave him be. It’s entertaining to watch soone who’s a bit lacking….”
Even though those imprisoned in the dungeon spoke to him, Seol-Hwi deliberately did not respond.
His sole purpose was South Dipper Star. He had no ti to mingle with the naless subordinates.
Step, step.
But soon, Seol-Hwi’s footsteps ca to a halt.
Three warriors entered from the entrance side.
Since he had overpowered the first floor and entered, they seed to have sensed that sothing was amiss inside.
“Was it you? The one who invaded this place.”
Naturally, upon encountering Seol-Hwi, Shin Yaja, who had been watching silently, spoke up.
- Don’t kill those guys; persuade them to leave.
Seol-Hwi nodded.
There was sothing ntioned by Shin Yaja before entering this place.
Soon, the warriors managing this area would co, and if unnecessary trouble was caused, he would not be able to see South Dipper Star.
“Nice to et you.”
When Seol-Hwi greeted, the one who appeared to be the leader frowned.
It was then.
[Captain Cheon-wol of the High Demon Pavilion, Jade Prison Troops is initiating a conversation. Which prompt will you choose?]
Along with the pause of ti, a prompt appeared after a long ti.
It seed likely that this place was part of the second path suggested by Earth Demon, hence the selection prompt was generated.
▶ I have co for a task requested by the Elder of Jade Prison. ▷ I ca to patrol in advance as the Fourth Disciple ntioned visiting. ▷ Haven't you heard the news delivered by the High Demon Pavilion Leader? ▷ Why is the Death Demon Crazy Heart, in here?
Seol-Hwi’s gaze was drawn to one of the choices laid out before him.
Jade Prison’s Elder… A familiar na.
He appeared in the second passage of Earth Demon’s three paths, known for educating and guarding at Earth Demon’s side.
- Choose the fourth one.
Following Shin Yaja’s instruction, Seol-Hwi selected the fourth choice.
As soon as Seol-Hwi made his choice, leader Cheon-wol’s expression suddenly hardened.
“Who, who are you?”
Judging by his stamring, it seed there was a story behind it.
- I am the confidant of the Fourth Disciple, and the Fourth Disciple will soon arrive. Tell them to step back.
Seol-Hwi relayed his words directly to leader Cheon-wol.
Suddenly, the three warriors appeared bewildered. They exchanged a few words among themselves and then showed their respect.
“Please don’t misunderstand. The reason Death Demon Crazy Heart is being held here is due to the orders of the main sect. We assure you we have no involvent in this matter.”
That was the end of their words.
They picked up the fallen guard and hurriedly left the prison.
“Who is Death Demon Crazy Heart?”
Seol-Hwi asked Shin Yaja with curiosity about their actions.
- It’s that guy.
A middle-aged man was visible in one of the thirty-two cells made of iron bars.
He had been silently lying there without a word since they arrived.
Unlike the others, his hands and feet were bound with iron chains.
“Oh.”
Only then did Seol-Hwi show interest.
At first glance, his eyes seed almost crazed, and no internal qi could be felt from his body.
But even if others couldn’t tell, Seol-Hwi’s eyes couldn’t be deceived.
“Huh? Could that guy possibly be…?”
- Yes. That person possesses a special body. It’s called the Empty Spiritual Body.
“Huh. I’ve only heard about it…”
Empty Spiritual Body.
A unique body type that allows one to use the limitless qi of nature despite having no internal qi of their own.
However, as with all unique body types, those with the Empty Spiritual Body eventually go mad and die due to the infinite qi that they absorb.
“Why is soone like that in here?”
- The Empty Spiritual Body appearing before the Heavenly Killing Star, Earth Demon. It’s about utilizing that person to create various variables. As you know, the system always provides materials that resonate along any path.
In response to Shin Yaja’s words, Seol-Hwi nodded.
If the first path presented by Earth Demon was Goo Jong-myung of Mount Hua Sect, the second path likely involves that person becoming the focus.
“……”
The person, even while speaking about him, showed no reaction.
Already, his eyes were not those of a human.
“Earth Demon is proceeding with utilizing this person…”
Seol-Hwi clicked his tongue bitterly and asked Shin Yaja.
“Do we have to keep wandering around?”
- Yeah. There’s really no other way.
Seol-Hwi wandered around the third floor of the prison again as he said.
No one asked him anything as before.
He continued doing that for more than half a day.
Then.
[A sudden mission has occurred.]
‘This is it.’
Finally, the signal ca.
The sudden mission ntioned by Shin Yaja. This was the sign calling for South Dipper Star.
[Look at the choices and make a choice.] ▶ Call one trusted person. (Fight against the top ten warriors of the Central Plains.) - Gain 10 lives ▷ Call three trusted people. (Fight against an absolute master of Central Plains.) - Gain 100 lives ▷ Summon five trusted individuals. (Summon the strongest warriors across all ages.) - Gain 1000 lives ▷ Summon all trusted individuals. (Summon South Dipper Star.) - Gain infinite lives
‘This is it.’
The previous words ca to mind.
South Dipper Star—The condition of fighting him was to kill loved ones.
It seed like an unavoidable situation at least once.
Seol-Hwi chose the fourth option as he had thought.
[Think again. High rewards co with significant responsibilities. South Dipper Star is a god who grants opportunities for incorrect causality and is the second strongest being in this world. As soon as the fight begins, all entities connected to the player will appear and shatter your mind. Do you really wish to proceed like this?]
‘This is quite long too.’
Just like when Big Dipper Star appeared, many warnings were attached to the call.
Seol-Hwi agreed once more.
[This is your final warning. South Dipper Star only appears when he wishes to reveal himself, and if he hides, you will never find him again. Also, it is extrely difficult to respond because you never know in which space he will appear. The martial prowess of the beings connected to you, summoned by him, will gradually strengthen, while your humanity will erode.]
‘The explanation is going too long.’
Seol-Hwi quickly proceeded with the selection.
At that mont.
Guooooo——!
A dark shadow enveloped the surroundings. It wasn’t complete darkness but carried a grayish atmosphere and color.
Simultaneously, the ground soared skyward, giving the impression of being dozens of sheets high.
“Sothing seems extravagant……”
Clang, clang.
No sooner had the response ended than all the iron bars in the prison opened.
And those who slowly walked out.
Seol-Hwi’s eyes sank the mont he saw them.
Seo Ryeong—She was the first woman, and the second to appear was Cheon Miryo.
And those who slowly revealed themselves…
“Ha, indeed.”
They were the mbers of the Hidden Troops.
The number of presences revealing themselves inside the dungeon exceeded twenty.
Starting with the mbers of the roops, where Seol-Hwi once belonged, to the people he t during his martial arts travels, they showed their presence.
- Friends of the Hidden Troops, huh? Oh?
The figures walking out of the dungeon were known to Shin Yaja as well.
Hidden Troops, and there were other surprising figures for him too.
- Cheon Miryo is here too?
Eyes that seed to hold a story.
Seol-Hwi was curious about that look, but more than that, he had sothing to propose, so he spoke first.
“Now. It’s your role.”
- ……What?
“It’s your ti to shine. Were you just going to stand by and watch forever?”
- You, surely… Are you trying to make deal with these guys?
“Why? You need to play a role too. What if my mind collapses from all this?”
- Hey, you said you don’t have emotions though. Why are you involving in this useless… Ah!
Zzzt.
Switching bodies with the AI wasn’t difficult.
At Lv3, Seol-Hwi, the master, could make Shin Yaja take over his body at will.
“Wow. Truly a reckless guy…”
The surroundings were filled with people.
Shin Yaja scoffed at such people.
There were many faces he had seen once, yet had no particular interest in.
- End it in one go, without pain. If you want to switch quickly.
At Seol-Hwi’s words, Shin Yaja looked at his hand.
It’s been quite a while. Being assigned as an AI next to such a skilled individual.
It felt like the old senses were reviving after a long ti.
“Alright. Just this once, I shall personally assist.”
Tssss.
The energy gathered at the fingertips. It was clear he intended to unleash the Absolute Demonic Arts.
“No! Leader, have you abandoned ?”
“Leader. We et after so long, why suddenly attempt an assassination…?”
“It’s , Imugi. You recognize don’t you?”
As he prepared the assassination technique, people began to speak up.
Among them were mbers of Flying Squirrel troops.
“Squad Leader, please spare . I just want to be happy in this life.”
“This ti, I wasn’t dragged away by the Supre Pavilion Lord. So please, just let live in this life…”
- Look at this system. They’re completely unworthy bastards.
Seol-Hwi’s expression, watching as an apparition, hardened.
It wasn’t just the appearance that had ford. It was the path he had walked, along with the emotions he had felt in that process.
It was created in a very vicious form.
“You fool. You still have so romance left in you, huh. I told you. This system is made for guys like that.”
From Shin Yaja’s hand ca the sound of thunder and popping beans, and demonic qi was amplifying.
The power of Absolute Demonic Art.
An absolute power, considered the pinnacle in the natural world, was surging forth.
“I’ll finish this in one go.”
Watching them approach one by one, Shin Yaja coldly continued speaking and imdiately unleashed his energy.
Kuwaaaaa—
The explosive sound of thunderclap was followed by flas that completely enveloped the prison.
Kukukukukuku.
Pebbles were falling from the ceiling one by one.
And in front, grains of what had completely turned to ash were scattering around.
“When will he co out?”
Seol-Hwi had already returned to his original form and was looking around.
It was the transparent form that Shin Yaja had ntioned.
- Hidden.
“Already?”
- No, he never appeared in the first place.
“Why?”
- He stayed hidden due to the Absolute Demonic Arts I just displayed. He was afraid he might get caught up in it. He must’ve felt like he would lose if he tried to fight back even a little.
“Huh.”
Seol-Hwi was dumbfounded at the response—Not revealing his presence.
- But I don’t know why he’s acting like this. According to my mory, he should reveal himself, even briefly.
Shin Yaja seed a bit confused as well.
“Well, can’t we just break the barrier?”
- That’s true, but… sothing seems off this ti.
“What do you an sothing seems off? What’s that supposed to an?”
It was then.
Step, step.
Soone was walking out into this place, where even the iron bars had all lted away.
In a space where clearly no one had survived.
“This guy is…”
As soon as he saw that face, Seol-Hwi’s brow furrowed.
For so reason, this felt ominous.
The person in front of him now was none other than the one called Death Demon Crazy Mind.
- There was no progression like this. Didn’t you see it too? That Death Demon Crazy Mind was definitely killed by my strike.
“Then what is this supposed to be?”
Kiki-kik.
The middle-aged man let out a strange cry. His eyes were completely crazed, but different from before.
They looked as if he had found soone he hated.
- Could it be…?
At that mont, Shin Yaja seed to have realized sothing and continued speaking.
- Isn’t it that the simulation learned?
“What did you say?”
- The question you asked to the simulation. Didn’t South Dipper Star read the intent of your question and learn from it?
At those words, Seol-Hwi’s eyes widened.
A simulation with self-awareness, to think it was inford by that guy.
He didn’t know. No, he couldn’t even tell if it was possible in the first place.
However, at least in the current situation, Shin Yaja’s thoughts might be much more accurate than his own.
“Was it you?”
As if to prove it, the guy’s question was still full of doubts.
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