Chapter 68: The Unyielding Resolve

– Second-Generation Awakened Ones

1.

The life of Shin Sunggwak, a second-generation awakened one, was nothing short of tumultuous.

“Ten years ago, no one could have imagined the world would become what it is today.”

The gates, mysterious threats, and the monsters they unleashed.
To combat them, awakened ones were dispatched beyond the gates.

Humanity had to give its all to survive, but in the process, the rights of these awakened beings mere weapons in the eyes of the world were trampled without mercy.

We will no longer bow to the unjust pressures of the government! I, Park Ji-o, will create a world where awakened ones can live with dignity!

Please, sir, just this once… We’re soldiers too. We’re only following orders from the state. Please, I beg you… Guh!

Thank you, Sunggwak.

Thanks to you holding the front, we managed to send in the special forces and force the ruling party leader into unconditional surrender. You did what needed to be done.

Every night, Shin Sunggwak would recall those memories, as if to reassure himself he had done no wrong.

“So many died. And so many were killed.”

The revolution for the rights of awakened ones, led by revolutionary Park Ji-o,

who became the second president of the Awakened Association, clashed fiercely with the political forces intent on suppressing them through military might.

Only after countless soldiers and awakened ones perished in the bloody struggle did they bear the fruit of their sacrifices.

“With the blood of the fallen, the Association seized power. The guilds gained recognition for their efforts, receiving administrative zones and flourishing greatly.”

Under the banner of revolution, the Myeongho Guild deployed all its forces: three A-class awakened ones and twenty B-class awakened ones.

The prolonged civil war finally ended with the ruling party leader and veteran lawmakers surrendering,

compounded by the military’s repeated failures to counter monster attacks.

Public sentiment shifted decisively in favor of the awakened ones.

“It’s been a peaceful ten years.”

The awakened ones, through the Association, established their own information network and administrative system, specialized personnel for gate deployments,

and laws and regulations to protect themselves from rampant crime and death. As a result, gate closure rates and overall performance soared.

With the stability restored from monster threats, the national economy and societal development also began recovering, paving the way for modern-day Korea in 2050.

“Of course, such a peaceful era also brought dark secrets to light.”

Shin Sunggwak filled a glass with single malt whiskey, its faint fruity aroma blending with the sound of ice clinking in the glass.

He motioned toward the sofa across from him, inviting the attentive intruder in the shadows to sit.

“Come, have a seat. You’ll need it to see what’s coming.”

If they were afraid, they could turn around and leave.

But before the words even needed to be said, the sound of quiet footsteps echoed as the intruder made their way to the sofa.

In the dimly lit room, the bluish light radiating from the whiskey bottle atop the stand cast an eerie glow.

Only after sitting opposite Shin Sunggwak did the mysterious figure see his face clearly.

“Mana sickness,” Shin Sunggwak said, his voice calm yet laden with meaning.”

” “It’s the reason strong awakened ones, one after another, have retired and become old relics of the past.”

His cracked skin, resembling a parched, cracked field, and the rigid, metallic texture of his hand gripping the glass,

gave him the appearance of someone afflicted by a rare, severe disease.

“This is the fate of hardened-type awakened ones whose abilities make their bodies more durable. The mana we once thought could help us conquer the world now binds our very lives. We call this the endpoint.”

“To recover from the endpoint, there’s only one solution to level up.”

” But as your level rises, the experience required increases exponentially.”

“…”

“And to gain experience, you must use mana. But when an awakened one who has reached the endpoint uses mana, their sickness worsens, and their remaining lifespan shortens. It’s an endless cycle of decay.”

For the first time, Shin Sunggwak’s face was shadowed by profound regret.

“This power should’ve been reserved solely for fighting monsters. Instead, we squandered precious time battling our own kind, time we should have spent climbing higher.”

“…”

“And you? How much time have you wasted in that body of yours? Can you even estimate how much time remains before the endpoint catches up with you?”

“…”

“You’re tight-lipped, aren’t you? Even after hearing the story of a veteran in the field, you say nothing. Are you really planning to fight me to the end?”

Shin Sunggwak realized it then.

Just as his younger self had stood firm for the righteousness of the Association, refusing to bend to external pressure or compromise…

This nighttime visitor, too, had no intention of turning back.

“If a fight is truly unavoidable, then I suppose I’ll have to oblige.”

He exhaled deeply, as though releasing all the air from his lungs in one long sigh.

The Second Generation Awakeners.

Among them, Shin Sungkwak stood as a figure whose life was tumultuous and extraordinary.

“Ten years ago, no one could have predicted a world like this.”

The unknown threats of gates and monsters, and the Awakeners dispatched beyond the gates to stop them.

Humanity had to do everything in its power to survive. In the process, the rights of Awakeners, treated merely as weapons, were ruthlessly trampled upon.

“We will no longer bow to the unjust pressure of the government! I, Park Ji-o, will create a world where Awakeners can live as human beings!”

“Please, sir, just this once. We’re soldiers too, just following orders from above. Please… please…”

“Thank you, Shin Sungkwak. Because you held the line, we managed to deploy the special forces and secure the ruling party leader’s unconditional surrender. ”

“You did what you had to do.”

These were memories he replayed nightly, convincing himself that he hadn’t gone astray.

“I killed so many. So many died,” he murmured.

The political factions, unwilling to relinquish control, used military force to suppress the Awakeners’ demand for rights.

It was only after the Revolutionary Rights Movement, led by Park Ji-o, the second head of the Awakener Association, that things began to change.

This revolution for rights came at the cost of many lives both soldiers and Awakeners.

“On the sacrifices of the dead, the Association seized power. The guilds, too, were recognized for their contributions, gaining administrative districts and expanding their influence.”

The wars under the banner of revolution mobilized even the three A-rank and twenty B-rank Awakeners of Myung Ho Guild.

The long civil conflict ended with the ruling party leader and senior lawmakers surrendering,

as public sentiment shifted heavily in favor of Awakeners due to the military’s repeated failures to counter monster attacks.

“It’s been a peaceful decade.”

Through the Association, Awakeners established their independent intelligence network, administrative systems, and specialized teams for gate deployments.

Legal protections and regulations were enacted to safeguard the previously unprotected Awakeners from rampant crime and death.

This, in turn, significantly increased gate closure rates and overall performance.

As the threat of monsters subsided, national economy and societal development began to recover, ushering in the present-day Korea of 2050.

“But in such peaceful times, even dark secrets come to light.”

Pouring a single malt whiskey with a subtle fruit aroma into a glass filled with ice, Shin Sungkwak gripped the glass in one hand.

Gesturing toward the opposite sofa, he addressed the quiet intruder who had been listening to him in the shadows.

“Come and sit. That way, you’ll see better.”

If they were afraid, they could leave without a word. However, the intruder approached steadily and sat down on the sofa.

In the dimly lit room, under the soft blue glow of a whiskey bottle, Shin Sungkwak’s face, lined and weary, was revealed for the first time.

“They call it ‘Magical Affliction.’ It’s why powerful Awakeners retire one by one, becoming shadows of their former selves.”

His face was cracked like a dried mudflat, his hand gripping the glass revealing toughened skin that seemed metallic. He looked like a patient suffering from an unusual, severe illness.

“This is the fate of Awakeners with hardening abilities. The very magic that once seemed to promise the world now tightens its grip on our lives. We call it the End Point.”

“Once an Awakener reaches the End Point, the only way to regain health is by leveling up. But the higher the level, the exponentially greater the required experience.”

“…”

“Trying to level up worsens the Magical Affliction, hastening the decline. It’s a vicious cycle.”

For the first time, a deep sense of regret shadowed Shin Sungkwak’s face.

“This power should have been used solely for monsters. We wasted so much time fighting our kind, losing the chance to advance upward. And now, this is the result.”

“…”

“What about you? How much time have you wasted with that body? Can you even estimate how long it’ll be before you reach the End Point?”

“…”

“You’re merciless. Even after hearing an old veteran’s story, you refuse to utter a single word. So, you intend to fight me to the end?”

Shin Sungkwak realized it then.

Just as he once stood unwavering in his youth for the Association’s cause, no external force or compromise would sway the intruder before him.

“If this fight is inevitable, I’ll have to face it head-on.”

Releasing a long sigh as if expelling all the air from his lungs, Shin Sungkwak prepared for the confrontation.

A massive wall of mana surged toward Hae Eung Eung like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf her completely.

BOOM!

The floorboards splintered and the ceiling cracked apart. Tables and chairs were flung violently as if they were mere toys.

The wall pressed forward, intent on crushing her under its immense weight.

But Hae Eung Eung’s blade shimmered with a razor-sharp aura.

With three diagonal slashes, precise and swift, she severed the mortar-like connections between the bricks of mana.

Crash!

A triangular hole appeared in the towering wall of malevolent energy.

The severed center, where the flow of mana had been disrupted, crumbled like sand under her charge.

‘It’s a clever technique, I’ll give him that,’ she thought coolly. ‘But it lacks the density and endurance of internal energy. Once the connections are severed, it collapses all too easily.’

Her sharp eyes, keenly observing every movement, spotted Shin Sungkwak through the crumbling remains of the wall.

“Impressive,” he said, his tone even. “For someone so young, breaking through my wall even once is an accomplishment worth praise.”

“…”

“Of course,” he continued, a faint smirk forming on his lips, “I can always create more walls whenever I wish. Still, managing to break one is no small feat.”

Even before the dust had settled, another wall began to form.

This time, it was larger, thicker, and far more ominous.

Hae Eung Eung’s sharp senses caught the subtle truth:

‘He’s using an incredible amount of mana, yet his consumption rate is frighteningly low.’

Years of reckless accumulation of malevolent mana had sapped Shin Sungkwak of his health and freedom,

but it had also granted him one undeniable advantage a near-limitless pool of energy for his abilities.

Hoo…

Hae Eung Eung exhaled deeply, steadying her body.

The breath transitioned into a state of deliberate breathlessness her body entering the disciplined rhythm of the Ha Buk Paeng Clan’s Second-Rate Martial Arts,

Altered Five Tigers Severing Gate Sword (Ha Buk Paengga Iryu Mugong, Gaebyeon Oho Danmun Geom).

The technique, handed down to her in incomplete form by the clan elder Paeng Cheolsan, was a shadow of its original mastery.

Without its core insights, it fell short of its true potential as a pinnacle martial art.

Yet, even in its reduced state, it retained the devastating strength and aggression characteristic of the Paeng Clan.

CRACK!

The strike was swift and unrelenting. Her sword cleaved through the enhanced wall, shattering it entirely in a single blow.

The fragments crumbled like brittle stone, leaving Shin Sungkwak momentarily exposed.

She anticipated a hint of surprise or fear in his expression. Instead, his face remained composed, his voice carrying a tinge of amusement.

“Remarkable swordsmanship. But if you think that alone is enough to bring down this old veteran’s walls, you still have a long way to go.”

Through the haze of crumbled stone and mana, a series of smaller, compressed walls revealed themselves, layered like springs tightly wound and ready to explode.

Stone Wall
Evolution Trait – Multi-Generation (C)

With a wave of his hand, Shin Sungkwak unleashed the dozens of barriers, sending them hurtling toward Hae Eung Eung like a chain reaction of earthquakes.

‘She’s talented,’ he thought, feeling a twinge of regret.

Whatever grudge had brought her here, he could see the potential she possessed.

If only she had chosen a different path, she could have honed her talents and flourished.

Instead, she had thrown herself into a fight against a dying man, sealing her own fate.

‘Even if she survives, she’ll pay dearly. Perhaps she’ll lose an arm. Maybe worse.’

Breaking through the relentless barrage of stone walls wasn’t just a matter of strength it demanded precise technique, speed, and endurance.

No ordinary martial Awakener could achieve it without severe consequences.

Thud.

As the dust settled, Shin Sungkwak’s gaze fixed on the darkened silhouette emerging from the rubble.

There she was.

Her right arm hung limply at her side, visibly injured, just as he had predicted. Yet, despite the pain and the odds, Hae Eung Eung did not flee.

Instead, she stepped forward once more, gripping her sword with her left hand.

“Do you truly intend to see this through to the end?”

Her resolve was unshaken, her stance firm. Switching to a left-handed grip, she assumed the poised stance of the Reverse Sword Technique (Jwasu Geom).

The tension in the air thickened, the dimly lit room now a battlefield where neither combatant would yield.