About 10 years ago? When I was in high school, dozens of civilians entered a Gate with government approval.

It was China, probably.

The Gates are places where even hunters become corpses if they let their guard down, yet they let civilians in—truly the Miracle Continent indeed.

On the day of the departure ceremony for this insane venture, their identity was revealed in interviews with foreign press.

The Chinese Martial Arts Federation.

In other words, modern-day martial artists. Made up entirely of non-awakened people, they declared solemnly to hundreds of cameras while their robes fluttered:

“Today, China’s thousand-year martial legacy will make its glorious revival.”

Glorious it was. Their faces decorated the front pages of various news outlets in massive headlines within just half a day.

• 25 Members of Chinese Martial Arts Federation Wiped Out in F-rank Gate. Over Half Confirmed Dead from Goblin Poison Darts…

I don’t know how impressive their thousand-year martial legacy was, but that incident humiliated China and left the Chinese Martial Arts Federation in name only.

They got absolutely wrecked.

The continent’s top martial artists died from goblin poison darts, and Tai Chi masters got their asses handed to them by MMA fighters.

That’s reality. I thought the scenes from novels and movies were just fiction, packaged with media hype and mysticism.

But now…

I’m not so sure anymore. The movements Hyeok Mujin showed were ‘real’.

As I learned martial arts myself, my doubts gradually turned to certainty. There were no weak, flimsy martial arts like in reality anywhere here.

The martial arts here are systematic and incorporate countless movements. They’re incomparable to real-world martial arts or boxing.

How is this even possible? Just because it’s a game?

Inhale… Exhale…

I feel the energy outside my body with each breath. And draw it in.

Compared to the 10-year internal energy rotating through my meridians, it’s merely a speck—a small, weak energy, but I’m in no position to be picky.

One cycle, two cycles…

I continued circulating energy following the Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts’s formula. It felt as natural as if I’d been training since childhood.

Shoulder Well, Elegant Pattern, Phoenix Eye, Cave Entry…

Names of meridian points I’d never heard or seen in 27 years flash through my mind and disappear. Hundreds of meridian points have been imprinted in my mind this way. How far do the system’s capabilities extend?

It’s bizarre when you think about it.

The human brain isn’t a computer.

But the system input information into my brain as if copy-pasting files. The same goes for other martial arts.

Is this kind of phenomenon possible? Just because it’s a game?

No. Focus on energy circulation first.

I steadied my breathing again and guided my internal energy. Only after circulating the 10-year internal energy exactly twelve times according to the Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts’s formula did I open my eyes.

Ding.

• Energy circulation complete
• [Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts] proficiency increases slightly
• Small amount of turbid energy expelled

“Phew.”

Reaching 3-star Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts is just around the corner.

Maybe because I started from scratch, but it feels like pretty decent progress.

Or it could be thanks to the item.

I looked at the ring on my right middle finger.

The item I received as a reward for achieving [Unity of Self and Technique].

[Clear Mind Ring] 

• Type: Ring 
• Grade: None 
• Restrictions: None 
• Description: A very hard ring of unknown material. Stabilizes the wearer’s mind and aids concentration.

Clear Mind Ring. Though different in form from what I know, the effect is similar.

Since putting this on, the time it takes to enter energy circulation has shortened, and the proficiency gained has increased.

It’s good, but…

Something feels off. Let’s say logging out is some tech geek stuff I don’t understand. But things like martial art formulas and this ring, the Clear Mind Ring—something about them just doesn’t sit right.

Like they’re being forcibly injected, you could say?

Though it helps me survive, it’s clearly not a pleasant feeling. This game is fucked up in many ways.

“What the hell is Seong Jin-ho doing? Some goshiwon supervisor he is.”

He should’ve woken me up for some hangover soup at least.

But maybe nothing’s changed yet. Maybe not.

At minimum, my real self is still alive. That’s why I can still exist as a player in this game.

Alive both in reality and in the game. And I’m definitely going to survive.

My life is too precious and my burdens too heavy for some bullshit death like this.

I can’t die here.

I gritted my teeth and assumed the lotus position. Maybe it’s the Clear Mind Ring’s effect, but my mind gradually settles and my breathing stabilizes.

Starting with the movement of internal energy in my danjeon, I began what must have been my umpteenth energy circulation.

Second day in the training hall.

I devoted myself to training without rest.

I obsessively focused on spear art and movement art, and whenever my internal energy was depleted, I immediately started energy circulation.

Ding.

• [Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts] has risen to 3-star
• Internal energy becomes purer and more efficient energy circulation is possible

3-star Jin Family’s Cultivation Arts. Slower than the other two, but not bad.

No, that’s what I’m trying to tell myself anyway.

Gotta hang in there somehow.

At least while training martial arts, I could shake off the negative thoughts.

Shik, swishh.

I executed the forms of the Jin Family’s Spear Arts in sequence. Since realizing its connection with the Jin Family’s Footwork Arts, my attacks have become more precise and sharp as they sweep the space before me.

I was picturing someone in that empty space.

Hyeok Mujin.

The first real martial artist I met in this game, a level 20 powerhouse who played with me like a child.

Could I beat that bastard in my current state?

The moment that question arose.

Ding.

• New feature [Training Mode] activated
• You can summon phantoms of opponents you’ve fought. However, opponents more than 10 levels above you cannot be summoned
• Currently summonable opponents: [Lv.20 Hyeok Mujin], [Lv.10 Thousand Strength]

Training Mode? I can summon phantoms of opponents I’ve fought? After brief hesitation, I decided to test the new feature.

“Summon Hyeok Mujin.”

• Summoning [Lv.20 Hyeok Mujin]

As soon as the system notification appeared, a transparent figure suddenly rose up. The Jin family’s navy martial outfit and those distinctive caterpillar eyebrows. Standing there with eyes closed, the figure was the spitting image of Hyeok Mujin.

“Holy shit, it’s real.”

I cautiously approached and tried to touch Hyeok Mujin’s body. But maybe because it’s a phantom, my hand passed right through him.

Alright, safety test passed.

• You can partially adjust the summoned target’s level.

“Let’s start with half of Hyeok Mujin’s strength.”

• Loading [Lv.20 Hyeok Mujin]’s data. The phantom will display 50% of the original’s ability.

Simultaneously, Hyeok Mujin’s phantom opened its eyes. As if mimicking his personality too, he stares at me with that insufferable look.

• Would you like to begin training?

“Hell yeah!”

Ding.

The system notification is the starting signal. I rushed in like lightning and thrust my spear. Though it’s just a fight with a phantom, I poured out my internal energy without holding back.

First form.

Advance and thrust, then twist the spear shaft to start. If the enemy can’t dodge this first attack, it’s over for them.

Swaaak-

But Hyeok Mujin slipped away like an eel. The moment that makes my next move meaningless.

Let’s see you dodge this.

I continued executing the spear art.

Though the sound of air being torn rang out, Hyeok Mujin dodged everything.

For a moment, a mocking smile seemed to flash across his translucent face.

“Fighting so crudely won’t cut it. A martial artist should properly use martial arts.”

The same lines he taunted me with last time while toying with me. Though it’s just an illusion I created… damn, this is pissing me off.

If you’re so confident, stop dodging and come at me.

As if receiving my thoughts, Hyeok Mujin glided forward to attack. But this is a fight between spear and fist. If I allow his attack now, those seven years might as well have been spent digging holes.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Whoosh-

I swung the spear shaft. If this were real instead of a phantom, there would have been a thud. Even if he’d dodged, he would have failed to close the distance.

Let’s see how long you can keep dodging.

The second form began. Under the barrage of attacks, Hyeok Mujin couldn’t even think of approaching and had to backpedal.

Combat is all about flow. I rode that flow while Hyeok Mujin got swept away.

Looking at Hyeok Mujin rolling on the ground with an exhausted face, I thought:

Weak.

I could see through his movements.

The Hyeok Mujin projected here is a fist fighter. Watch the feet and you can read the movements, predict the next action. His fists won’t reach me.

Swish swish swish!

In an instant, three consecutive thrusts.

An attack impossible for F-rank hunter Jin Tae-kyung. But for martial artist Jin Tae-kyung with his internal energy raised, it’s possible.

• “ARGHHHH!”

Hyeok Mujin seemed to scream as his chest was pierced.

Without hesitation, I drove the spear shaft deeper and twisted. The spear blade crushed his chest bone and split his heart. The fallen Hyeok Mujin’s form slowly faded.

“Ah. This is too easy.”

To think the match would end so quickly, not even five minutes in.

What’s more, I maintained the upper hand throughout and it ended anticlimactically.

Was half strength too weak?

I pondered while recovering my depleted internal energy through circulation.

Hyeok Mujin is level 20 and a martial artist who’s trained for at least several years. He can’t be this weak.

Alright, again.

I stood up gripping the spear.

I closed my eyes and imagined a new Hyeok Mujin.

180 centimeters tall. Lean muscles and that insufferable gaze.

I injected the movements I saw back then. When I opened my eyes, a phantom exactly as I imagined stood before me.

But it wasn’t over yet. Hyeok Mujin needed to be stronger.

Your physical abilities surpass mine.

As I injected a few more conditions, Hyeok Mujin’s phantom smiled pleasantly. He gained much greater speed and tireless stamina.

“Yeah, this is more like it.”

That was the starting signal. Towards Hyeok Mujin charging in like a bolt of lightning, I thrust my spear.

Swish swish swish!

Woong. Bang!

The spear blade tore through the air. The buzzing sound of the disrupted air brought forth a gust of wind. The final killing move of the Jin Family’s Spear Arts. Heavenly Piercing.

• “Kuheh…”

Hyeok Mujin’s phantom looked down at his pierced chest. The look of disbelief. Soon his knees buckle and the phantom dissipates.

“This isn’t right.”

I scratched my head while receiving the message about increased Jin Family’s Spear Arts proficiency.

Why am I still winning?

Either the system is mistaken, or…

Have I just gotten that much stronger?

I shook off the thought that suddenly occurred. No way. I’m no once-in-a-century genius. I’ve only learned a couple martial arts.

This isn’t very effective at this rate.

What’s the point of a simulation to test how I’d fare against a strong opponent if I keep winning?

If I at least knew what martial arts Hyeok Mujin learned, I could recreate their power… wait a minute.

“There’s an easier way.”

Jin Family’s Footwork Arts and Jin Family’s Spear Arts. What if I applied these two to the level 20 Hyeok Mujin?

I could also analyze the strengths and weaknesses from a third-person perspective.

Yeah, that’s better.

“You think so too, right?”

Hyeok Mujin’s phantom, who had appeared again without me noticing, grinned and nodded.

“Alright, let’s go another round.”

I raised my spear at an angle and stepped forward with my left foot. The phantom mirrored the same stance.

• You’ll regret this.

“Shut the fuck up with that regret bullshit.”

Now I’m even talking with phantoms. Anyone seeing this would say I’m absolutely nuts.

• You’re nuts.

…It’s my imagination but it’s still pissing me off.

“You’re dead.”

Without hesitation, I pointed my spear at him. Same weapon, same martial arts—this looked to be an interesting fight.

• Interesting? You really are nuts.

Ah, right.

To find this situation interesting. I must be pretty nuts myself.