Chapter 777: Come up one by one.

A pitch-black background entered my vision.

Even though I tried to see something, I couldn’t see anything. Only darkness, scorched black, filled the space.

What could this be?

What is this bizarre background all of a sudden?

Just as I was questioning the sudden situation.

‘Ah….’

I belatedly realized what was happening.

I realized I must have been closing my eyes.

‘…When did I start closing them?’

I’m sure I was touching the magic stone just a moment ago.

How did it get like this?

I felt something strange.

“…Hmm?”

I immediately tried to lift my eyelids, but strangely, they wouldn’t move well.

Since they weren’t completely immobile, I forced myself and opened my eyes.

“Tsk.”

Only then did the familiar ceiling come into view.

It was the ceiling of the warehouse I had entered earlier.

This means… I was lying down.

‘What happened?’

I couldn’t remember what had happened.

The last thing I remembered was when I was using the Sky-Absorbing Magic technique on the magic stone.

‘Back then, surely….’

As if the Sky-Absorbing Magic had activated properly, energy poured down from the magic stone.

I don’t remember anything after that.

“…”

Seriously, what happened?

First, I tried to sit up to check the situation.

Just then.

Woong-!

“…!”

As I placed my hands on the floor to get up, I felt a vibration from my body.

The starting point was my heart. The sudden sensation instantly engulfed my entire body.

“…Kkeu….”

I swallowed a groan in the overwhelming pain. Why the hell is this happening now?

Energy was circulating throughout my body along the meridians.

Sensing something was wrong, I tried to control it.

‘Crazy….’

It wasn’t even controllable. The energy swirled around in all directions as if rampaging.

It was rough and intense.

It was a good thing my body was strengthened; otherwise, instead of enduring it, my body would have exploded instantly.

All I could do now was endure it.

“Kkeu…eu….”

As I endured the pain and groaned for a long time, the agony slowly began to subside.

The energy hadn’t calmed down, but the speed at which it coursed through my body decreased.

The vibration felt from my heart also lessened.

Thanks to that, I could move my body a little.

“…Fuck.”

After spitting out a curse, I carefully examined my body.

There didn’t seem to be any noticeable changes…

Pasak-!

“Hm?”

I stopped moving and felt something under my feet.

I lowered my gaze to check.

“What is this now?”

Something was scattered all over the floor. Something so transparent that you’d miss it if you didn’t look closely.

I reached out and picked one up.

The first thing I felt was a slippery texture.

It was translucent and unidentifiable, yet it felt familiar.

“This….”

I wondered where I had seen it before.

‘Aren’t these scales?’

They felt very similar to the scales possessed by snakes or monsters of that kind.

However, I had never seen scales this transparent before.

And it was strange that they were scattered all over this floor.

Moreover.

‘Where did the magic stone go?’

Putting aside these unknown scales.

The white magic stone that had been absorbing energy was nowhere to be seen.

It wasn’t just the white magic stone.

‘Where did the red magic stones go?’

Not only the white ones but also the red magic stones scattered everywhere were gone.

The white magic stone might be gone because I tried to eat it.

But where did the red magic stones go? Perhaps someone came in while I was unconscious?

‘But there are no signs of that.’

It was an incomprehensible situation.

Figuring these things out one by one, I turned my head.

Then.

Pasasok.

“…!”

I suddenly felt a reaction from the scale in my hand.

The translucent object that had been held firmly instantly crumbled.

Not just the one I was holding, but everything scattered on the floor disappeared.

“What the hell is this now….”

To disappear before I could even properly examine them.

It was an utterly absurd situation.

What on earth happened while I was unconscious?

And why did I lose consciousness in the first place?

Only questions filled my mind.

However, the important thing here was.

‘Did I properly absorb the energy?’

The energy that came from the white magic stone. Did I manage to consume it?

That was the problem.

Judging by the energy coursing through my body during the preceding pain, I seemed to have consumed it.

‘Then, what about the internal injuries?’

How exactly was my body’s condition?

It was a level that would normally require about three months of rest.

I had expected that consuming the magic stone would reduce that time by at least one or two months.

So, before circulating my energy to check this.

‘Hmm.’

I hesitated for a moment, worried that using my energy might cause another rampage like before.

That was a significant concern, but…

‘Still, I can’t just not check.’

Since there was no other way for now, I gently drew up my energy.

Woo-oong.

The energy that slowly emerged settled into my meridians.

It began to slowly circulate through my body.

Fortunately, I felt no pain.

Also.

“Huh?”

My eyes widened as I assessed my body’s condition.

I wondered how much the internal injuries had decreased… but this.

“They’re all healed…?”

It wasn’t just reduced; my body had completely recovered.

No, it wasn’t just recovered; it seemed even better.

“Huh?”

How could this be?

‘Did I undergo a transformation?’

I had experienced something similar once before when I became a dragon, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Could I really have suddenly undergone a transformation just by consuming the white magic stone?

It wasn’t a very convincing thought.

I raised my arm and sniffed my clothes.

‘No foul odor.’

The expulsion of waste products, one of the processes occurring during transformation.

As all the impurities within the body were expelled, a foul odor would seep into the clothes.

But there was no such odor from my body.

‘I don’t usually accumulate impurities anyway, so maybe there wouldn’t be any.’

When I became a dragon, any impurities that accumulated in my body were automatically purified.

It reached the point where the ‘Esteemed Fist’ jokingly called it a perfect body.

So perhaps the lack of odor even after a transformation wasn’t strange.

Or maybe it wasn’t a transformation at all.

Whatever the case, something had definitely changed.

‘There shouldn’t be any further benefits from increasing my internal energy now, right?’

Since I had consumed quite a lot after regressing, the amount of my internal energy already exceeded that of my previous life.

I knew from experience that beyond a certain point, it only increased firepower, offering no further benefits to my cultivation level or physical body.

It should have been like that.

“…What on earth is this?”

What kind of fortuitous encounter is this?

I couldn’t just be happy about it without knowing the reason.

I clenched and unclenched my fists a few times and turned my head.

Setting aside my condition, I needed to know how much time had passed.

Kkiiik.

I opened the warehouse door and went outside.

It wasn’t night yet.

The sunset was faintly visible, and seeing it.

‘If a day hasn’t passed, it means not much time has gone by.’

A day, or even several days, likely hadn’t passed.

My physical senses suggested the same, and besides, if that much time had passed, I wouldn’t have woken up in the warehouse.

At most, maybe a couple of hours had passed.

Let’s assume the time is roughly like that.

‘Then why did I suddenly faint….’

Uptuk.

As I took a step while gathering information.

After just one step, I had to freeze in place.

Seuk.

I raised my hand and covered my head.

I couldn’t help it.

-Geugeuk. Geugeugeuk-!

-So what I’m saying is….

-Mom! You know Mom…!!

-No, well, this time, Mr. Yeon said….

“…”

Sounds were coming from all directions.

Not only the sounds but also the sensations felt on my skin were greatly amplified.

Hu-oong-!

The feeling of the wind was clearer.

I could feel every single texture brushing against my skin.

Sensing the change, I immediately confirmed it.

‘My sensory perception has grown.’

Much more than my original senses.

It seemed to have increased by at least double.

I immediately circulated my energy to reduce my sensory perception.

The sudden influx of information caused my body to react uncontrollably.

I felt like I was going to throw up, so I had to block my sensory perception for now.

As the sounds lessened and the sensations faded, I finally felt better.

“Ha….”

Seriously, what the hell is going on?

Did this really happen just from consuming the white magic stone?

‘My cultivation level doesn’t seem to have increased. But my sensory perception grew this much?’

Not only the range but also the clarity is different.

‘It’s not bad, but….’

The wider and deeper the sensory perception, the better.

As a martial artist’s cultivation level increases, their sensory perception usually grows along with it.

And developed senses have many uses, so it is indeed an advantage.

But I don’t understand why this happened.

The proper sequence is for cultivation level to increase, then sensory perception develops.

It’s just baffling that only the sensory perception has developed this much.

‘Could it be that my cultivation level increased, but I just don’t know it?’

That’s impossible.

I checked when I circulated my internal energy earlier to assess my body.

There was definitely no change in my cultivation level.

However.

‘Just in case, maybe I should check one more time.’

I hadn’t looked properly, so thinking I might have been mistaken, I moved my hand slightly.

It would be faster to conjure flames than to circulate energy through my body.

So, the moment I prepared to conjure flames.

“…”

I couldn’t actually unleash the flames above my prepared palm.

Was it because the flames wouldn’t come out? No.

It was the opposite.

‘This… if I unleash it, I’m fucked.’

I knew it instinctively.

I knew that conjuring flames right now would screw me over.

It’s not that my body would have a problem.

But.

‘I don’t think I can control it.’

I could feel that the unleashed firepower would be unmanageable.

Because I sensed that, I couldn’t bring myself to unleash the flames.

‘What is this fucked-up situation?’

My cultivation level hasn’t increased.

Yet, I know my firepower has surged.

What kind of nonsensical story is this?

I don’t know either.

But my body reacted that way.

Just how much has my firepower increased?

I wanted to unleash flames right away, but nothing is as dangerous as being unable to control them.

‘This whole area might burn down.’

Normally, the basics involve controlling everything to prevent any damage from the flames.

Being unable to control them is akin to wildly firing flames.

To confirm this, I’d probably need to go somewhere secluded.

“Hmm….”

Seriously, what happened?

It’s certain that some fortuitous event occurred… but since I can’t figure it out, it’s just frustrating.

‘…If I don’t know, I should at least try to figure it out.’

Yes, if something has changed, investigating it is the best course of action.

As I mentioned earlier, let’s go somewhere secluded and check various things.

As I thought that and prepared to leap.

Woong.

Something caught by my sensory perception grabbed my ankle.

Someone was approaching this way.

At first, I thought it might be Nari.

‘No.’

Nari doesn’t move so openly. Besides, if she were coming, her demonic energy would have reacted before any presence.

Then who could it be? My curiosity didn’t last long.

Tak.

Someone landed lightly near my location.

“You were here. I’ve been looking for you for quite a while.”

“…What is it?”

A middle-aged man appeared, his white hair fluttering.

The identity of this person was Namgung Hyung, Woo Hyuk’s teacher, known as the ‘Mad Hermit Swordsman’.

It was an unexpected appearance.

“You were looking for me?”

Namgung Hyung had been searching for me.

That itself was strange, but Namgung Hyung’s expression was particularly odd.

His expression as he looked at me showed a mixture of suspicion and pity.

Emotions that are difficult to reconcile were combined.

What kind of expression is that?

“Hermit Swordsman. What’s the sudden matter?”

“No, well… uh….”

“…?”

“First, there’s something I wanted to ask. Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“Just how old were you when you did it?”

“…What?”

What kind of question is that?

Asking how old I was when I did it.

I couldn’t grasp the intention behind the question at all.

“…Hermit Swordsman. Your explanation seems rather lacking.”

“Hmm, well… uh… No. It’s a bit difficult to explain… For now, it would be best if you see it for yourself.”

“What is….”

“Ah, and if you try to run away, Miss Moyong told me to tell you this.”

“What did she say…?”

“She said if you don’t come quickly, she’ll really kill you.”

“…”

I don’t know what’s going on.

I don’t understand what the Hermit Swordsman is saying, nor the situation.

“…Let’s go for now.”

It seems best to go right now.

Thinking so, I started walking.

---

The place I arrived at, following the Hermit Swordsman, was none other than the residence of the Divine Healer.

While called a residence, it was actually where the Divine Healer practiced medicine.

It was also where Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah were located.

Thanks to that, I was very familiar with the place, having visited often…

‘What is it.’

Unlike usual, I felt an unusually large number of presences in the residence.

Normally, there would be about five at most.

But now, I sensed over ten people.

What were they doing to have so many people here?

“What exactly is going on?”

I immediately asked the Hermit Swordsman.

“…Hmm. Isn’t it because there’s something interesting happening?”

The Hermit Swordsman replied evasively, as if it were difficult to explain.

Meanwhile, the glances he kept stealing towards me were particularly bothersome.

‘What is it, really.’

What could be happening inside to cause this?

And why was I called here?

It was nothing but a situation I couldn’t comprehend.

Especially since Moyong Hi-ah, who had been avoiding me lately, sent word that she’d kill me if I didn’t come, I figured it couldn’t be a good situation for me, whatever it was.

‘Should I just run away?’

This wasn’t about curiosity anymore; wasn’t it better just to escape?

My instincts told me so. But it was already too late.

As soon as we arrived, the Hermit Swordsman opened the residence door.

As the door opened, the situation inside came into view.

Familiar faces gathered in abundance.

There was the Divine Healer, the owner of the residence, of course, Baekryeon Sword, whom I hadn’t seen often lately, Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, who were receiving treatment. And then, Tang Soyeol and Moyong Hi-ah, who had apparently summoned me.

‘…They’re angry?’

Moyong Hi-ah’s expression clearly showed she was furious.

Even Wi Seol-ah and Tang Soyeol looked uncharacteristically displeased.

What could have made them so upset?

Could it be me?

As a bead of cold sweat trickled down my temple out of anxiety.

“…Huh?”

I saw a sight I couldn’t believe.

Amidst the angry women, Namgung Bi-ah sat calmly.

Someone was sitting on Namgung Bi-ah’s lap, her usual expressionless face betraying nothing.

Judging by how lightly they were sitting, it looked like a child.

I wondered what child was suddenly sitting on her lap, but the problem was.

“…Who the hell is that kid.”

The child sitting on Namgung Bi-ah’s lap looked remarkably like someone.

Eyes that didn’t look friendly, an impression of someone who received terrible upbringing.

A face full of worldly complaints and upturned eyes…

‘…It’s me?’

Not just similar to me, but strikingly so.

No, it wasn’t just similar.

It was at a level where one could say they copied my childhood self and brought it here.

Is this an illusion?

Just as I was about to rub my eyes at the unbelievable sight.

“Ah….”

The child Namgung Bi-ah was holding made eye contact with me.

At that moment.

“…Da…ddy….”

“What?”

The child said that towards me.

All the murderous gazes in the room turned towards me.