Chapter 287

Words : 2526 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 287 Fwoosh- Se-Hoon slowly emerged from the void in space, scattering sparks; his entire body was engulfed in flames, ablaze. How... is that even possible...? Watching him emerge from up close, the Vermillion Bird gaped in shock. Se-Hoon had just broken through the strange spatial ability the Vermillion Bird had been powerless against for months. And since it was Ludwig of all people casting the spatial skill, the Vermillion Bird had thought no one could counter it. Yet... the figure before him had just done so, burning through it effortlessly to escape. “What a monster...” the Vermillion Bird muttered inadvertently, overwhelmed. It now considered Se-Hoon to be an absurd being with unmatched talent and power, deeming avenging itself against such an overwhelming opponent impossible. This... is unexpected... Similar to the Vermillion Bird, Ludwig was surprised as well, albeit slightly. He had thought that by putting Se-Hoon inside a Whitespace, he could handle the flames without much issue, but the area of Whitespace couldn’t withstand his flame at all, ending up consumed by them. Even the Sacred Craftsman couldn’t easily break free from the Whitespace back then. Which means... Though Se-Hoon could perceive the Whitespace fundamentally, making his escape possible, Ludwig still let out a low chuckle, having realized something else as well. If they were to compare in terms of aptitude for the Sacred Craftsman’s power directly, the Sacred Craftsman would undoubtedly surpass Se-Hoon. However... in terms of sheer strength, Se-Hoon might actually be stronger. Reminded once again that power wasn't always the deciding factor in every situation, Ludwig gazed at Se-Hoon. “Lee Se-Hoon. Can you hear me?” “...” Despite Ludwig’s call, Se-Hoon remained silent, staring blankly at the flames that clung to his body as if ready to consume him entirely at any moment. Seeing that, Ludwig was preparing to intervene, suspecting that the Sacred Craftsman's power had overwhelmed Se-Hoon, when Se-Hoon softly stopped him. “...Just a moment.” Se-Hoon closed his eyes. Fwoosh- The flames on his body roared, as if resisting, but they inevitably began slowly moving toward his left hand. Soon, the other parts of his body returned to normal, leaving only his left hand blazing intensely, looking like a fiery outline. “...Phew.” Having successfully contained the Sacred Craftsman’s flames within his left hand, Se-Hoon glanced at the Vermillion Bird, who was hovering nearby. “Make sure to take this in properly.” “...What?” But without the luxury of a second explanation, Se-Hoon immediately conjured the Celestial Infinity Blade, focusing especially hard to avoid losing concentration. Then, upon seeing a golden sword materialize in midair, he directed his gaze toward his left hand. Slice! With one swift motion, the golden blade severed his wrist, sparing the rest of his arm from the flame. “?!” Watching the burning hand fall, the Vermillion Bird finally understood Se-Hoon’s intention, swiftly sending its feathers flying the moment it did. Fwoosh! The fiery plume encircled the falling flames, returning to the Vermillion Bird, which then wrapped its own body around it. Woong- The Vermillion Bird was now the red orb it had first appeared as once again, a sign it was absorbing the Sacred Craftsman’s flames. With the flame no longer clinging to his body, Se-Hoon exhaled a breath of relief. This feels much better. Cutting away the fire seemed to have cleared his mind slightly. Of course, he could have ended things by just removing the Hero’s Ring, but he chose to summon his newly acquired fire mana, Sacred Flames. Fwoosh- Crimson flames, translucent and red, ignited from his wound. Seeing the shapeless flames, Se-Hoon used Soul Honing, and not long later, the flames took on the shape of his severed hand, becoming more and more indistinguishable from the original as time passed. Whoosh! The moment they were indistinguishable, the golden aura surrounding him dissipated, bringing along with it the boundless potential and omnipotence he had felt just moments before, replaced by a faint sting across his body. It now felt like he had sustained minor burns. However, his left hand, in particular, throbbed with excruciating pain, enough to make even him grimace. The backlash is... definitely there. He swiftly circulated Sacred Flames throughout his body, deciding to not endure the unceasing pain and heat. Boom! Circulating through his body, the fire mana burned away the remnants of the Sacred Craftsman’s flames left. And although the pain was still intense, it was more bearable compared to the previous agony, which allowed him to press on with his work. Then finally, when he erased all traces of the remaining flames, he created a hammer with his synesthetic mindscape and struck his overheated body with all of his might. Clang! The accumulated heat discharged in an instant, along with the pain that had plagued him. My left hand... seems okay. Clenching his left hand, he tested how his left hand was moving smoothly without a hint of discomfort. Meanwhile, Ludwig, who had observed the whole process, had become quite intrigued. “You... use quite a unique technique.” Not only could Se-Hoon regenerate his damaged body, but he could also adjust it on the spot. While the former was common, many having regeneration abilities, the latter was different. Adjusting one’s body quickly—even if it lasted temporarily—wasn’t an effortless feat. He seems comfortable with it, even moving more efficiently than before.... Perhaps that is also how he had leveled up so rapidly. Ludwig was convinced that such a dangerous technique of refining one’s own body, combined with Se-Hoon’s calm acceptance of it, had forged Se-Hoon into the person he was now. Oops. Did I show too much of my skill? Se-Hoon thought, noticing Ludwig’s interest. But when they met eyes, Ludwig quickly waved it off. “There’s no need for you to explain in detail. It should be an incredibly valuable skill for you, no doubt.” “Are you sure?” “I am well aware that it’s not wise to probe too deeply with allies. Also, pushing for answers could mean losing an excellent student like you.” Unlike the Seeker, who sought every answer to her curiosity, Ludwig knew when it was appropriate to do so. Satisfied by the difference, Se-Hoon nodded. “Okay. Thanks for being understanding.” “Don’t think too much of it. Also, how are you feeling? It seemed like you went through quite a lot back there.” “Well...” But just as Se-Hoon was about to answer Ludwig’s question, a notification message appeared. [The effect of ‘Soul Honing’ significantly boosts all stats.] [Skill ‘Ruler of Flames (A)’ has been absorbed by ‘Guardian of the Sacred Flames (A+)’.] Although Se-Hoon just briefly glanced at the notification messages, intending to review it later, Ludwig allowed him to do otherwise. “Looks like you acquired something new. Don't mind me—go ahead and check it out. There's no rush.” “Hm... Alright, let me have a quick look, then.” Thanking Ludwig for his patience, Se-Hoon pulled up his status window for the first time in a while. [Lee Se-Hoon] [Strength - A (261) Stamina - A (278) Mana - S (305) Agility - A (292)] Wow, this is quite a boost. His strength and stamina, originally both at B-rank, had risen to A-rank, and his agility was close to reaching S-rank. Most notably, however, was his mana—his already highest stat—had now reached S-rank. It was a staggering growth rate. Looking at it this way, Soul Honing really is OP, Se-Hoon thought with satisfaction. He examined his newly acquired fire mana and skill next. [Sacred Flames]『A+』 [A transparent type of fire mana formed by highly refined flames. It’s adept at assimilating with objects, and its firepower can be increased by “offering” material to it.] [Guardian of the Sacred Flames] 『A+』 [Granted to those tasked to protect the noble flame, it provides overwhelming resistance to flames and dominance over weaker flames. When the user is infused with Sacred Flames, their strength magnifies along with their resistance to flames. *Grants extreme resistance and control over flames. *When infused with Sacred Flames, it grants the user complete flame resistance and superior physical abilities. However, extinguishing the Sacred Flame after may lead to irreversible physical damage.] The skill and fire mana had developed in tandem, both likely resulting from his handling of the Sacred Craftsman’s flames. But while each of their effects was impressive, Se-Hoon’s expression soured upon reading the details. Offering material, huh... Under normal circumstances, he’d dismiss it as a coincidence, but now that he knew Offering’s current leader was the Sacred Craftsman’s disciple, the phrasing struck an uneasy chord. Perhaps he had used the Sacred Craftsman’s power. Considering the Sacred Craftsman had trusted his disciple enough to leave a legacy with him in the last timeline, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of his flames were diverted. However, Se-Hoon shelved the thought and turned to Ludwig. It was too early to come to any abrupt conclusions just yet. “I’m done.” “Did you gain much from it?” “Yes, I acquired quite a few abilities related to fire, which should aid a lot when forging.” Now he could attempt techniques previously impossible with his weaker fire mana, and, more importantly, use stronger skills in combat. Ludwig smiled at Se-Hoon’s confident reply. “That’s good to hear. Now, for the remaining matter...” Both of their gazes shifted toward the Vermillion Bird, which was now a massive sphere of flame. Woong- A new flame was slowly spreading outward from the center of the sphere. The Vermillion Bird was being cautious not to absorb the flames too quickly, instead adapting to them gradually. And not long later, the sphere’s color changed completely, becoming a translucent red, like shards of glass. The sphere then slowly parted to reveal a creature enveloped in flames, now sharper and more defined than the previous Vermillion Bird’s form, with a body that resembled a perfectly crafted statue. Now it’s got an extra eye. The first thing Se-Hoon noted was a newly formed third eye on the Vermillion Bird’s forehead, a glossy orb that seemed attuned to the Sacred Craftsman’s Flames. It was still similar to its previous form, but it was clear the Vermillion Bird had undergone a significant transformation. “How does it feel? Think you can handle it?” Se-Hoon asked evenly. At his words, the Vermillion Bird gave him a sidelong glance before turning away haughtily. “It’s not bad. I’ll graciously use this body.” Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes. The Vermillion Bird was being quite arrogant, despite being so quick to devour the flames earlier. Maybe I should let Eun-Ha give him the full treatment to bring him down a notch... Given the Vermillion Bird’s monstrous nature, there was no telling when it might act out, so Se-Hoon resolved to put it in its place soon. “Here, take this.” Just as he had that thought, the Vermillion Bird flicked a feather, which drifted over to Se-Hoon’s hand. Fwoosh! Bursting into flames, the feather morphed into a red orb the size of his fist, from which Se-Hoon sensed an oddly familiar presence from. [Blossoming Flame] [Tier: Legendary] [Quality: Excellent] [A special metal imbued with pure flames. Once a powerful sword, it has now lost all function, becoming a raw material that holds flames. If the flames are not properly controlled, even after attempting any alterations, it will eventually revert to its original state. *Absorbs nearby mana to sustain the flame *Reverts to its base state if the user fails to control the flames] It was an item with unassuming properties for its rank, but Se-Hoon’s eyes widened when he read further. “The Fire Heaven Greatsword...?” The Fire Heaven Greatsword was one of the Five Element Equipment that In-Cheol and the Vermillion Bird had absorbed. However, it was now in Se-Hoon’s hands, having been restored to its raw form. “He wanted me to give it to you, saying you’d know how to make something of it.” Staring at the orb in his hand, Se-Hoon’s expression softened. He’s true to his word. Before he regressed, Se-Hoon had some reservations about using objects made by Offering, but because In-Cheol had now freed all of the souls trapped within, there were no issues with the material in his hands. Se-Hoon pocketed the Blossoming Flame and looked at the Vermillion Bird. “Thanks. I’ll put it to beneficial use.” “Just don’t get the wrong idea and start acting cocky. I’m now a force beyond normal S-rank beasts—” “By the way, if Professor Kim left it for me, were you holding it all along? If that’s the case, why didn’t you mention it sooner?” “...” The Vermillion Bird froze, however, that reaction just confirmed Se-Hoon’s suspicion. “You were planning to keep it from me, weren’t you?” There was no other reason it wouldn’t have mentioned it at the start unless it intended to withhold it. Under Se-Hoon’s keen gaze, the Vermillion Bird’s eyes darted around nervously before it blurted out, “Ah! I think I need more time to stabilize in this new body. Don’t expect me to appear again for a while. See you later!” Fwoosh! With that, the Vermillion Bird transformed back into a sphere and vanished. Exasperated, Se-Hoon shook his head at the hasty retreat. “That thing’s personality has changed, hasn’t it?” Its tone was more arrogant, and it was acting even bolder than before. Ludwig stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Seems like the process of absorbing the new flames impacted its personality.” “Oh. So that personality is from the Sacred Craftsman, then?” “What are you talking about? It’s not from the Sacred Craftsman—he’s picked up traits from you.” “...Pardon?” Se-Hoon stared at Ludwig blankly, taken aback. But in response, Ludwig just matter-of-factly explained, “While you did refine the Sacred Craftsman’s flames, it’s still just some form of pure energy. If anything influenced the Vermillion Bird’s personality, it would’ve been you.” “...” “From where I stand, it seems quite similar to you. Don’t you think so?” Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes. How could anyone think someone so sophisticated as him could be compared to such an arrogant, shameless chicken? He may be the Chairman, but he sure speaks his mind... Annoyed, Se-Hoon glared at Ludwig, who immediately sensed the tension and smoothly shifted the subject. “Anyway, how did the flame’s quality look?” “...What do you mean?” Ludwig gestured toward the flames enveloping the Vermillion Bird. “I understand it now resembles the Sacred Craftsman’s flames more closely, but I’m curious as to how close.” Se-Hoon turned his gaze back to the Vermillion Bird, contemplating the answer. Hmm. It’s still hard to tell. While the flames now exuded a sense of power, could he really say they were a true recreation of the Sacred Craftsman’s power? Lost in thought, a possible solution soon came to Se-Hoon’s mind. “It might not work, but... there’s a way to find out for sure.” “Oh? And what’s that?” Se-Hoon grinned. “To get it inspected by the Sacred Craftsman himself.”

Chapter 287

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