His eyes closed as if he had blacked out.
In an instant, Kim Min-woo's consciousness scattered. Everything became hazy, as though he had fallen into a dream.
Did I pass out?
Well...
He had been so exhausted that he was on the verge of collapsing anyway. Fainting wasn't exactly surprising.
At that moment, messages appeared before him.
[Beginning achievement calculation.]
[This body possesses the worst possible talent. Bonus modifiers will be applied to all achievement calculations.]
[Achievement "A Hundred-Billion-Won Sparring Match" acquired!]
[Now that's what you call reckless spending!]
[Rank: B]
[Achievement "Just What Are You?" acquired!]
[One of the game's main characters has begun paying close attention to you!]
[Rank: B+]
[Achievement "Overwhelming Combat Persistence" acquired!]
[You demonstrated the will to fight beyond your limits despite your pathetic physique!]
[Rank: A]
[Achievement "A Swordsmanship Genius from the Cradle" acquired!]
[You granted profound enlightenment to over one hundred outstanding swordsmen!]
[Rank: A+]
[Achievement "The Insane Ordinary Person" acquired!]
[You engaged in an intense sparring match with an S-Rank Awakened!]
[Rank: S]
[Achievement "Master of the Sword Saint" acquired!]
[The Sword Saint has begun to confront the wall that once blocked his path!]
[Rank: S+]
[Achievement "Founder of a Sword Art" acquired!]
[During your Awakening, you created a sword technique of astonishing caliber!]
[Rank: ??]
[Calculating total achievements.]
[Combining results...]
[This is an unprecedented, irregular achievement.]
[Existing ranks cannot accurately measure its value.]
[A new achievement rank must be unlocked.]
[Convening council meeting!]
Min-woo's eyes widened at the endless stream of messages.
The highest achievement rank he had ever received before was S-Rank.
These were messages he had never seen at that level.
Don't tell me... it's even higher than S?
His heart pounded.
If he could earn an achievement beyond S-Rank right from the start—
He would be leagues ahead of the original Kim Min-woo, who had begun with the E-Rank skill Whirlwind Slash.
But what kind of meeting are they talking about?
Just as he tilted his head in confusion, a blue message appeared.
This...
He had only seen it once while playing the game.
It was the same type of message that had appeared before entering the sixth stage.
Exactly the same.
〈1. Remarkable. To think someone who has surpassed the limits of their species has appeared.〉
〈1. He has shown us new possibilities. Should we raise humanity's growth ceiling?〉
Soon, messages in other colors began appearing alongside the blue ones.
[2. Is that really necessary? That human is simply an extraordinary exception.]
[3. Zero and one are different. If one exists, then two and three may follow. The possibility itself is what matters.]
[4. If we interfere, then ??? will begin to move as well. It's too dangerous.]
〈1. Without risk, there can be no reward.〉
[3. I agree with her. We have stagnated. This is the time for bold decisions.]
What is this?
The messages were talking to each other as if they were living beings.
It was something he had never seen in his life.
Then—
[2. Even so, I still oppose this—wait. Don't tell me that human is watching our conversation right now?]
[Warning!]
[The beings beyond the veil have noticed the anomaly!]
A chill ran down Min-woo's spine.
His entire body trembled.
〈1. There's no time for idle chatter. We must settle this agenda before he awakens. I vote in favor.〉
[3. I shall place my hopes in humanity. I vote in favor.]
[4. ...To think he noticed us. Very well. Pushing things forward once should be acceptable. I vote in favor.]
[2. Are you all prepared to deal with the consequences? Have you gone insa—]
● Votes in favor: 3. Votes against: 1.
● Agenda approved.
● The worldline is changing!
● Species Overcome!
● The potential of all "humans" has increased dramatically!
● Achievement acquired: "The One Who Opened the Horizon"! This achievement will be added to your existing total!
● Warning! Warning! Warning!
● ??? has detected the anomaly!
● ??? has begun searching for the cause!
● Proceed with caution. ??? will never overlook this incident!
The fragrant scent of medicinal herbs stirred Min-woo awake.
A large tub filled with lukewarm brown liquid.
His body was submerged inside it.
This is...
The Tears of the Sword.
A healing remedy passed down within the Sword Sea Pavilion.
Its primary effects were relaxing muscles, improving blood circulation, and cleansing the body's meridians.
This stuff is pretty expensive.
It was made by combining monster byproducts, spiritual medicines, and mana stones.
He knew it cost a fortune, and judging by how generously they had used it, he had clearly earned quite a bit of favor with the Sword Saint.
"I feel great."
The muscle pain had vanished without a trace.
Even the exhaustion had faded long ago.
As Min-woo rotated his shoulders, a message appeared.
[All achievement calculations have been completed.]
[Final result: EX]
[Job Skill Book (EX) awarded!]
[Please choose your desired class.]
EX-Rank!
His eyes gleamed.
It was the same rank attached to the Dragon Lord's skills.
One Dragon Speech had turned top-tier artifacts into scrap metal.
It was a rank overwhelmingly superior to S.
He couldn't have asked for a better start.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the bathhouse door.
"Who's there?"
"If you're awake, get dressed and come out."
The voice sounded oddly familiar.
Soon, fragments of memory surfaced in Min-woo's mind.
Seo Ye-rim.
The Sword Saint's granddaughter.
Including memories of his former self secretly staring at her with lecherous eyes.
Ugh.
Whatever.
It wasn't something he had done.
That had been the old Kim Min-woo's doing.
There was no reason to feel intimidated.
As long as he didn't act that way from now on, that was enough.
After changing into the clothes hanging nearby, he stepped outside.
"Did you need something?"
"Grandfather told me to bring you to him once you woke up."
"Let's go."
Seo Ye-rim's emotions grew complicated as she watched him calmly take the lead.
Something was different.
Just a little while ago, he couldn't even meet her eyes.
Now he was speaking to her naturally.
And more than anything—
His eyes are different.
There wasn't a trace of lust in those dark pupils as they looked at her.
Had he suddenly gone off to train his mind or something?
Walking through the silence, she finally spoke.
"...That swordsmanship earlier—where exactly did you learn it?"
"I didn't."
"That's a lie!"
The fluid precision.
The perfect distribution of strength.
The seamless connection between techniques.
Even without mana, and despite the poor condition of his body, what Kim Min-woo had displayed was undoubtedly a complete sword art.
A powerful style that surpassed even her grandfather's Wind Sword Technique.
If he hadn't learned it, then—
"Don't tell me... you created it on the spot?"
"I just swung my sword however I felt like it. Calling it a sword art is a bit much..."
Seo Ye-rim was speechless.
Something improvised on the spot had surpassed her grandfather's swordsmanship?
How could that possibly make sense?
Her pupils shook violently.
"H-How is that... even possible?"
Even I couldn't do that.
She swallowed those words through sheer force of will.
"You can't?"
Min-woo tilted his head in genuine confusion.
That single question plunged her into profound despair.
"...Let's go."
She didn't think she could continue this conversation any longer.
Before long, they arrived at the inner residence where the Sword Saint was waiting.
"You've arrived."
"Yes. Thank you for treating me."
"It's nothing worth mentioning."
The Sword Saint chuckled.
"Congratulations on your Awakening. Your brilliant talent has finally gained wings."
Hearing those words, Seo Ye-rim bit her lip.
From the age of seven until now, at twenty-two, she had never missed a single day of sword training.
People around her showered her with admiration and praise.
But her grandfather had always been different.
Not once had the Sword Saint ever told her she had talent.
Until now, she hadn't let it bother her.
After all, no one her age had ever received such praise from him.
But now...
"Take this."
The Sword Saint handed Min-woo a small box.
Opening it, Min-woo caught a fragrant aroma.
Inside was a small crimson pill.
The Sword Shadow Pill.
One of the finest elixirs produced by the Sword Sea Pavilion.
A treasure so rare that even money alone couldn't buy it.
"It looks like a valuable medicine..."
Even as he said that, he casually tucked the box under his arm.
There was no reason to refuse.
Giving enlightenment to the Sword Sea Pavilion's disciples was more than enough to earn a reward like this.
"I'll put it to good use."
"Good. Ah, Min-woo... would you consider becoming my disciple—"
"No."
"...Right, you won't—wait."
The Sword Saint fell silent.
"Do you have no intention of becoming a swordsman?"
"That's right."
"Why?"
The Sword Saint was making a serious mistake.
The only reason Min-woo looked like a genius was because he had used a sword technique created by the future Sword Saint.
And on top of that, a veteran player had been controlling the body.
Of course he looked talented.
But that advantage has an expiration date.
What would happen after he became an Awakened?
Swordsmen relied more heavily on physical ability than any other class.
Eventually, his growth would hit a wall.
After all, Kim Min-woo's physical talent was truly abysmal.
The conclusion was simple.
Kim Min-woo, you're far better suited to being a necromancer than a swordsman.
That was the verdict of a veteran who had survived every battlefield imaginable.
Of course, he had no intention of explaining all that to the Sword Saint.
"I've seen my limits."
"My limits...?"
The Sword Saint's eyes sharpened.
"What exactly did you see?"
"I saw illusion and the boundary beyond it. And between them... the realm of selflessness."
What did that even mean?
Truthfully, Min-woo didn't know either.
He was simply repeating the words the Sword Saint had muttered after surpassing his own wall and creating the Thunderwind Sword Art.
The old man always loved speaking in riddles.
A heavy silence followed.
"Illusion... boundary... selflessness..."
The Sword Saint closed his eyes and murmured softly, as though he had grasped something.
"I realized instinctively that I can't go any further down that path. But I don't want to define my limits so early. Perhaps in a field other than the sword... things could be different."
The Sword Saint slowly closed his eyes.
As expected—
Talking in mysterious nonsense really was the best approach.
"I'll be going now. The donation will be sent shortly."
Leaving the silent Sword Saint behind, Min-woo exited the residence.
Seo Ye-rim stared at her grandfather with uncertainty before collapsing into her seat.
Illusion? Boundary? Selflessness? What is he talking about?
She didn't understand a thing.
Then suddenly, the Sword Saint's eyes snapped open.
"...It's unimaginably distant."
"...Grandfather?"
"Brilliant talent doesn't even begin to describe him. Kim Min-woo is a genius!"
"Is he... really?"
Seo Ye-rim's voice sank.
"Yes. A once-in-ten-thousand-years genius! A true monster has emerged from Ilseong Group. This is no time to sit around. Bring me my phone! Quickly!"
Even the Sword Saint didn't fully understand Min-woo's words.
But he had grasped a tiny clue.
It was an enlightenment of the heart.
If he could make this vague sensation just a little clearer—
He might glimpse not only the next realm, but the one beyond it.
And so, the Sword Saint made a decision.
He would forge a closer relationship with the Ilseong Group, with whom he had maintained a careful distance until now.
That way, he would have more opportunities to interact with Kim Min-woo.
He had long since abandoned the absurd desire to take him as a disciple.
Kim Min-woo had already become a complete seeker of the sword, one who had seen its end.
He doesn't even need to be a swordsman.
Now, the Sword Saint simply wanted to talk to him more.
No—if possible, a lot more.
"Heh heh. Chairman Kim? This is Seo Jin-cheol speaking. The reason I'm calling is..."
As Min-woo left the Sword Sea Pavilion, the bodyguards' gazes converged on him.
Their eyes were filled with countless questions.
Hold it in, guys.
It was time for the most important and sacred task of all.
He didn't have the mental energy for casual conversation.
Fortunately, the bodyguards seemed to sense his mood and professionally held back their questions.
After getting into the back seat of the car—
"Take me to the main house."
He drew all the curtains over the windows, plunging the interior into darkness.
Now it was time to create his EX-Rank skill.
[Using Job Skill Book (EX)!]
[Class selected: Necromancer!]
[Warning: Once your class is chosen, it cannot be changed!]
[Would you like to create the Necromancer's first EX-Rank skill?]
Of course!
A brilliant light erupted.
Then—
[Class change complete: Necromancer.]
[Stats have been generated.]
[Inventory unlocked.]
[EX-Rank skill granted.]