Chapter 27: The Heart of Darkness

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“Is it truly fine for you to distribute blessings so freely?”

Blessings?
What’s she talking about? I’ve never done anything like that.

At Kiriel’s words, I tilted my head in confusion.

“Earlier, that kid he was stronger than I expected. ”

“A hunter whose victory or defeat even I couldn’t predict…”

“Huh?”

“Surely, you’re not unaware? You’ve been bestowing blessings regularly on Cheon Yeoul, whom you live with.”

“Are you referring to head pats?”

Well, I always gave her head pats.
Good kids deserve pats on the head.

It wasn’t difficult.

Especially since Cheon Yeoul often returned home battered from work outside.

She deserved the extra care.

I must have patted her head dozens of times.

“Exactly, my lord. Your blessings carry extraordinary divine power.”

” I even assumed you were intending to make her your apostle.”

“Apostle? What’s that?”

“You don’t know? An apostle of yours would be able to wield your divine power limitless divine power,

the might of the Angel of Merciless Retribution.”

“Wait… I was the Angel of Merciless Retribution?”

“Are you unaware of the name you bore in heaven, my lord?”

“Well, I’ve always been a bit… listless.”

“As expected of you, my lord. ”

“You emphasize your listlessness, but it is merely a thin veil to conceal your boundless greatness and humility. ”

“Though you act unassuming, you possess depths and breadths no one can fathom. I am simply in awe.”

Kiriel’s eyes were filled with reverence and admiration.

Even for someone as oblivious as me, this was overwhelming… way too much.

Feeling awkward under her gaze, I turned my head.

Kiriel murmured, “Ah, even your bashfulness is endearing.”

“Well, if blessings are a thing, I guess it means she won’t get easily beaten up, right?”

I had no idea what kind of blessing I supposedly bestowed, but it must have been something good.

Maybe?

The Great Upheaval

When the [System] emerged, it brought with it the discovery of mysterious energies like mana, qi, ether, and chakra.

Naturally, humanity had no prior knowledge of these.

The world’s elite researchers and renowned professors found themselves facing the collapse of long-established scientific principles.

“Damn it! Isn’t the total energy within a system supposed to remain constant?”

“How is this fire technique working without the three key components of combustion?”

“We’ve found perpetual motion! A machine operates without any external power source!”

“What’s the principle here? We need a new theory to define mana.”

“Or maybe it’s just… magic? You idiots.”

Theoretical physicists and mathematicians grappled with the realization that no existing equations or laws could explain mana.

Were they really left with no choice but to lump these phenomena under the vague term “magic”?

The only entity capable of comprehending and managing this enigmatic resource called mana was the [System].

The [System] granted [Skills] to awakened individuals.

Even if an individual knew nothing about the mechanics of magic or mana,

the [System] ensured they could wield their [Skills] through [World Correction].

This was why China’s top guild, Taesan Bukdu, commanded global prestige.

Its guild master, Cheon Ocheon, was one of the few on Earth who could use martial arts without relying on [Skills].

Naturally, countless Chinese citizens were desperate to join Taesan Bukdu.

After all, even those who hadn’t awakened could potentially become hunters.

Joining Taesan Bukdu wasn’t just about learning martial arts; it was the realization of a dream for countless Chinese youth.

Parents told their children, “If you join Taesan Bukdu, our family will thrive for generations,”

while young people yearned to master martial arts and make a name for themselves.

However, not all energy in the world was as benign as mana.

There was Maqi  a destructive and malevolent force, fundamentally different from mana or qi.

It was a cursed energy that surged from the dark depths of the world.

While mana flowed through all life and nature, embodying vitality and harmony,

Maqi was the shadow the dark residue of souls, the twisted reflection of everything that existed.

Despair consumed those unable to save themselves, and Maqi fed on that despair, growing stronger.

Pain bred more pain, and in this endless cycle, Maqi flourished.

When emotions like despair, agony, rage, and fear reached their peak, Maqi bloomed.

It corrupted both the body and mind of its host, leading them down the path of destruction.

The cultivation of Maqi, known as Magong, deteriorated its user’s mental state.

Its immense power was intoxicating, often driving practitioners to irrational choices or a state of sadistic pleasure.

The only exception was when Magong was granted as a [Skill] by the [System], as it was perfectly tailored to the user, eliminating side effects.

However, there were beings like Blood Fiend who wielded Magong without the System’s intervention.

“Humans are inherently evil. None can deny this truth.”

The Blood Fiend, CEO of Blood Tube a sinister media platform controlling the underbelly of the world exploited violence, murder, rape, and torture for commercial gain.

This malevolent network produced grotesque content that spread across the globe,

infecting humanity with corrupt energy.

“Is this not humanity’s true nature? Hypocrites who enjoy cruelty and suffering while denying it to themselves.”

Viewers addicted to Blood Tube’s gruesome content grew desensitized to violence,

demanding ever more shocking and horrific scenes.

Ultimately, humans were drawn to evil.

Their insatiable greed fueled the platform’s endless reproduction of its vile content.

Blood Tube harvested despair and pain in real time,

converting those emotions into Maqi and channeling it to the Blood Fiend.

“Cheonma.”

Blood and Maqi.
Blood Fiend.
The name resonated with chilling authority.

“She’s promising fit to be my disciple.”

Within Blood Tube, numerous channels boasted high viewership,

their owners rewarded with wealth, secret techniques of Blood Demon Divine Art, and blood crystals.

But the Blood Fiend was rarely impressed.

Few truly grasped the nature of Maqi or were prepared to be fully consumed by its darkness.

Candidates worthy of becoming his disciple were scarce.

“Even the White Lotus Cult Master seems to covet Cheonma after losing his priestess.”

After all, isn’t it more fun to steal what belongs to someone else?

Dragging an arrogant opponent into despair created the most potent Maqi.

“Even the White Lotus Cult Master is nothing but content for me to exploit.”

Attempts to hinder the Blood Fiend were futile.

A war with the White Lotus Cult would only serve to enhance the Blood Fiend’s power.

How many views would a live dissection of the White Lotus Cult Master garner?

“More. More. I need more views.”

The Blood Fiend, one of the six leaders of the world’s most heinous criminal syndicates, rose to his feet.

In the dim room, faint flickers of light struggled to penetrate the oppressive darkness.

“Sunbae-nim. Sunbae-nim, are you awake?”

A trembling voice pierced through the silence.

“Mm… Soul? Is that you?”

“what do we do? Your hair has gone completely white… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.

This is all my fault… I… I wasn’t any help… Huahhh…”

Baek Soul’s voice trembled with guilt and fear.

She tried to speak, but her sobs interrupted her words, making them incoherent.

The sight before her was too horrific to process.

Her mentor’s shoulder had a gaping hole, and one arm twisted unnaturally,

as though it had been crushed and warped beyond recognition.

“Ugh…”

Injuries were nothing new to Cheon Yeoul.

She began assessing her condition.

Her vision was gone.

Her body was bound, unable to move freely.

Clink. Clank.

Every attempt to shift her limbs was met with the chilling sound of iron chains clashing.

The cold metallic resonance intertwined with the frigid air of the room,

deepening the suffocating despair and oppression.

“It’s okay… Just speak slowly. What happened?” Cheon Yeoul’s calm voice tried to soothe the panic.

“They… They captured us. It’s… Blood Tube…”

“Blood Tube?” Cheon Yeoul’s expression tightened. “No… This can’t be… Is this their base of operations?”

As a Hunter, she was well aware of Blood Tube.

The organization wasn’t just a cesspool for monsters it was also a haven for villains.

Capturing them was one of the Association’s missions.

‘Blood Fiend… the most elusive and dangerous villain… A nightmare whose identity has never been revealed.’

Her mind raced.

The Blood Fiend.

The apex villain and leader of Blood Tube,

shrouded in mystery, never allowing anyone to uncover their identity.

Only their name circulated among the masses like a haunting nightmare.

If this really was Blood Tube’s headquarters,

then they were standing in the very heart of evil a hub where countless grotesque content was produced and disseminated worldwide.

“Sunbae-nim… What are we going to do now?”

“Soul, panicking won’t help us. ”

“We need to focus on finding a way out. ”

“Let’s take this step by step and figure out what we can do.”

Despite the circumstances, Cheon Yeoul remained calm.

She moved her wrist, testing the weight and strength of the chains.

The restraints were tougher than steel, securely binding her.

‘How can we possibly escape from here?’

Truthfully, no answer presented itself.

At that moment, the door creaked open.

A cold, sinister voice echoed through the room.

“So, you’ve finally awakened?”

An overwhelming, alien force filled the space.

Though Cheon Yeoul couldn’t see, she could sense the presence of someone entering.

Her breath hitched.

The air didn’t flow down her throat; instead, it felt as though it had sunk heavily into her chest.

Her lungs screamed for oxygen, and a suffocating pressure crushed her chest, sending a shiver down her spine.

An overwhelming force filled the room, suffocating and absolute.

“Who are you?” Cheon Yeoul’s voice was sharp but trembling, demanding an answer.

“You…” The voice was deep and commanding. “You are fumbling with dark arts. ”

“While the purest power lies in devouring oneself, the energy you wield is laughably insufficient.”

” Those who thrive on the magic fed through countless views far outclass you. ”

“It is the natural order.”

“So, what do you want from me?” Cheon Yeoul spat, her voice filled with defiance.

“At this rate, you’ll only shorten your lifespan and meet an early demise. ”

“Why not change your fate? Will you not become my disciple?”

The Blood Fiend smirked coldly, his tone less of a suggestion and more of a command.

“Kneel before me in respect. ”

“Refuse, and both of you will serve as sacrifices to Blood Tube. ”

“The world starves for blood and despair.”

” Your agony, your hopelessness, and the death of your friend… What better spectacle could there be?”

“Is that a threat?” Cheon Yeoul’s voice was laced with fury.

“You lack control over your dark arts. ”

“Without the proper method, your martial arts will never reach perfection. ”

“But if you surrender yourself to me and Blood Tube, your power will finally come to fruition.”

Cheon Yeoul faltered for a moment.

‘Perfection? My martial art… my Heavenly Demon Art… could truly be completed?’

Memories of her past flashed before her eyes those days of rejection, of being denied support by the Constellations.

Once, the Constellation known as [Master of Deathly Shadows] had appeared, offering sponsorship of the S-class skill Heavenly Demon Technique.

But that moment had long passed, and the Constellation never returned to her.

“…How do I know you’re telling the truth?” she asked warily.

“I am the one who was once called the greatest in all history an entity who has no equal. ”

“As the Blood Fiend, no one in the martial world dared challenge me. I was invincible,” he declared with a chilling certainty.

To punctuate his words, he unleashed a sliver of his power.

The space trembled violently.

Just his presence alone overwhelmed everything around him, pressing down on the air until every breath felt like agony.

It was power of a scale entirely beyond comprehension.

“This… this aura… what is this?” Cheon Yeoul whispered, her voice strained as the oppressive force bore down on her.

The Blood Fiend merely observed her with a sinister smile.

“I am a Transcender, a being from another world, and the Grandmaster of the Blood Sect. ”

“Your talents and the full potential of your Heavenly Demon Art can only be realized under my guidance.”

” Do not fear the choice before you.”

“Another world? And you expect me to believe that?” Cheon Yeoul retorted.

“Is this world not already overrun by monsters?”

The argument struck her like a hammer. It was irrefutable.

“If you understand, make your decision. Hesitation clouds purpose, but resolve clears the path,” the Blood Fiend said, his tone brooking no dissent.

Cheon Yeoul closed her eyes, wrestling with the turmoil within.

What choice did she have?

None.

“…Fine. I’ll become your disciple,” she said, her voice heavy with resignation.

“A wise decision,” the Blood Fiend said, a pleased smile spreading across his face.

“Now, as my disciple, you shall step into the true world of dark arts. No obstacle shall stand in your way.”

Yet, at that moment,

the Blood Fiend could not have foreseen what lay ahead that this disciple would eventually drain him of everything he had spent a lifetime cultivating.