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nIt happened when he was teaching Cayman. Cayman had asked what ‘Awakening’ was, and Chunghuh answered.

n-Being awakened, is like being given sight.

n-What do you mean?

n-The ability to see means power itself.

nCayman didn’t understand, but Jaehwan did.

nBeing Awakened was being allowed to see the truth of the world. Awakeners looked at the ‘rating’, the truth of the world, and the particles that composed the world. They knew how to read the data that Adapters could not see. It even allowed them to look at themselves in a very different way.

nThat was the 3rd step of being Awakened.

nIt basically meant freedom from bodily limitations, and to see things differently. That was why it allowed them to bring energy from the world itself to grant them infinite amounts of Spirit Power.

n-You have to worry about being blinded.

nChunghuh reminded Jaehwan multiple times.

n-Awakeners can see all, but sometimes it does you no good.

n-What do you mean?

n-One who sees it all becomes blinded eventually.

n-I don’t get it.

nJaehwan did not understand. But now he knew.

nWhere am I?

nHe blinked his eyes, but he couldn’t see anything. His body was heavy and he felt nothing. Then, he realized where he was.

nThis was a space.

nWhy was he in space? Wasn’t he fighting against himself until just now? However, there was no one around. It was pitch black.

nThen he saw a light.

nA star? No, it wasn’t a star. Jaehwan focused to see what it was. After looking at it for a long time, he finally realized what it was.

nIt was his memories.

n-Jaehwan, are you going to try again?

nThe memory of meeting Jay in the Tower of Nightmares.

n-Who are you, really?

nThe memory of meeting Mino in the forest.

n-What do you think I lack?

nThe memory of Meikal…

nAll of his memories and stories were stuck together in the form of a star. It shone continuously upon Jaehwan, but it was too far for him to reach.

nJaehwan then realized what the space was.

nIt was his consciousness.

nThe memories kept sending him light and messages, but he couldn’t see or hear any of them. He didn’t want to. He was just too tired. That was when Jaehwan realized what Chunghuh had talked about.

nOne who sees too much becomes blinded.

nOne who hears too much becomes dull.

nHowever, Jaehwan did not want to change anything. He quietly crouched, floating within the vast cosmos. It was comforting.

n…

nI did my best.

nNobody would have come this far.

n…

nJaehwan was comfortable there. But then he realized he was still holding onto his sword. As he tried to let go, the silence broke from a vibration.

nIt was a cry. A cry from the sword. It didn’t ask or force anything on Jaehwan. It just cried.

nJaehwan listened to the sound for a long time. He felt that the sound of crying would give him an answer.

nWho am I?

nThe sword answered.

n—

nWith a vibration. It wasn’t even an answer, nor was it a message. It was unexplainable and unreasonable, but it was an answer. It wasn’t the right answer, but a response that did not put Jaehwan into loneliness. Jaehwan held onto the sword. Then, he felt something new filling his heart.

nHe closed his eyes and opened them again.

nThen the stars asked him.

n-Who are you?

nJaehwan looked down at his sword. Who am I? He did not know the answer.

nBut he could still respond to it.

nJaehwan walked toward the light. The light looked at him. The sword moved.

nIt wasn’t a stab, nor slash.

nIt was just a line.

nJaehwan followed the line. The stars were connected, and memories came back to its place. Jaehwan, as he traveled through stars, went through all of those memories. His memories, long forgotten with over a thousand years of stabs, were now coming back to him.

n‘This is me.’

nJaehwan opened his eyes again. He felt like he was full of energy.

n‘I’ve reached the next step.’

nThe 4th step.

nHis first step allowed him to find the faults of the system, the second allowed him to understand, and the third freed him from the system.

nThen what was the fourth? He couldn’t find the keyword that defined the 4th step yet. So, he didn’t know what power it held. He just knew he had reached a new level.

n‘But I need to get out of here.’

nIt was apparent that 7th gate was finished as he couldn’t find any more of himself. As the skill name suggested, however, there should’ve been the 8th gate. Jaehwan looked around and found a door in the corner of the room. There was another room.

n‘So, this is the 8th gate.’

nHe walked in. It was empty, other than a table in the center. On top of it was a book.

nRecord of the Depth

nJaehwan then realized the 8th gate wasn’t a trial, but a place for a reward. He opened the book.

n-This is a memory of my failure. I send my message to you who finished all the Gates of Hell.

nJaehwan thought, ‘I guess it’s the records of the Nightmare that created this skill.’

nJaehwan flipped through the pages. As he did so, he couldn’t believe what he had read. The contents were unexpected to say the least.

n-I still remember the day when the Depth Expedition Team first departed.

n“This is…”

nThe book contained the records of the Depth Expedition Team, 900 years ago. Jaehwan flipped through the pages and turned to the end of the book. The author’s name was at the bottom. As he stared at the name, he felt he was struck by a bolt of lightning. It was the name he had been looking for all this time. The being that had led him to .

n-Mulack Armelt.

nA sharp slash destroyed two Dead Men. Chunghuh cursed.

n“…God dammit.”

nHe had Jaehwan in one arm, and Sirwen on his back, tied to his waist as he flew up in the sky. He swung his sword yet again. Chunghuh then stepped on the head of the Dead Man he had just killed before it disappeared and jumped towards a high building nearby. Chunghuh broke into the window and placed Jaehwan and Sirwen on the floor.

n“Kid! Wake up!”

nIt was obvious that the skill had been broken as Sirwen fell unconscious, but Jaehwan was not waking up.

n“HEY! You!”

nThe Nightmare also didn’t seem to want to wake up either. He had been carrying her just in case, but it seemed that both the caster and the target were unconscious.

n‘We don’t have time!’

nThe situation was dire. There were multiple beings with powerful spirit energy already at the outer walls of Manticore.

n‘Palace of Reincarnation.’

nHe had already sent an emergency message to Gorgon. If they were caught in their ambush, it had to be an all-out war. And if they didn’t need to worry about being found out, they could use the teleport station and it would allow them to come within a few hours. At least there should be a few more Awakeners to fight.

n‘Maybe we have a chance.’

nChunghuh tried to calm his mind, but the powers that were approaching were too great. As they got closer, Chunghuh found out that the power of the enemy was greater than he imagined.

n‘…Impossible.’

nLesser General? No. It wasn’t the power of a mere Lesser General.

nChunghuh peeked out through the broken window. There were Generals moving in. And as he looked on, Chunghuh felt his body shake in fear.

n‘No… why is HE in ?’

nThere was a being that should not be there.

n‘It can’t be! The Palace does not have a Greater General!’

nA Greater General or higher was too important of an asset to spend time in . They didn’t die often and was given priority to be revived if they did. However, they were here.

nThe 2nd rank of three General ranks.

nEven among them, he was one of the top as an 11th stage Adapter and a member of the Renowned Family Sameng.

nSameng Garam.

nHe, two other Greater Generals, and tens of Lesser Generals were flying towards Manticore. In the next moment, Garam found Chunghuh hiding within the building.

nThere you are.

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