Chapter 24

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 24: The Gathering of Bloodlines (1)

Kwon Hanul headed straight to the conference hall.

True to the Hyukcheon Clan’s signature style, every building was constructed in the traditional hanok style. The conference hall itself was reminiscent of a royal audience chamber from the Joseon Dynasty.

The overwhelming grandeur of the place made it feel as though history had been resurrected.

The only difference was that this hall was built on a much larger and grander scale.

Inside, about ten people had already gathered, though it seemed not everyone had arrived yet. Even after Kwon Hanul stepped in, more figures continued to trickle in.

To his surprise, every single one of them was of pure blood. He could tell thanks to the unmistakable presence of the True Black Dragon Blood.

"I see a lot of unfamiliar faces."

"Not all purebloods reside within the Hyukcheon Clan. Most of the ones you see here have come from different regions for the upcoming team battle."

Joo Hayun gestured toward the purebloods as she spoke.

"Some are elders from past generations, while others come from bloodlines that, while not direct descendants, have still managed to maintain their purity."

That made sense. The Hyukcheon Group couldn’t possibly sustain itself if only the chairman’s direct bloodline remained pure.

Just then, the crisp sound of high heels echoed through the hall.

A middle-aged woman in a crimson suit strode in with an air of authority.

It was Kwon Mi—Kwon Hanul’s aunt.

"Thank you all for gathering here. I am Kwon Mi, and I’ll be overseeing this operation."

Given that Kwon Mi was in charge of Hyukcheon Group’s diplomatic affairs, this appointment was only natural.

For Kwon Hanul, however, this was an unfortunate turn of events. Of all people, the one assigned to lead the team battle had to be the very person who despised him.

"As you all may be aware, tensions have arisen over the ownership of a dungeon between us and the Mei Family. The Mei Family has proposed a team battle to settle the dispute—the winning side will claim the dungeon as their own."

At her words, the expressions of the gathered purebloods darkened.

"The likes of the Mei Family dare to challenge Hyukcheon?"

"They've grown bold. Back in my day, they wouldn’t have even dared to speak out of turn against us."

"It seems we’ll have to remind them of their place soon."

"Is that enough? Why don’t we wipe them off the map entirely?"

Kwon Hanul was taken aback by their reaction.

They weren’t just expressing anger for the sake of appearances—they were genuinely outraged and found the Mei Family’s actions laughable.

For a moment, he wondered if they were underestimating the Mei Family too much. After all, they were the rulers of the Chinese continent.

‘No… this reaction makes sense.’

This was the Hyukcheon Clan.

No matter how formidable the Mei Family had become, they were still nothing compared to Hyukcheon.

Hyukcheon had always been the dominant power of East Asia, while the Mei Family was merely a challenger.

This level of arrogance was only natural.

"I understand how you all feel, but... the chairman has already accepted the challenge."

"The chairman actually agreed to engage with those lowlifes?"

"Why bother? If he just gave us the order, we’d put them in their place immediately!"

"He said it sounded fun."

At Kwon Mi’s words, the room fell silent.

"The Mei Family has always refused to acknowledge the vast difference between them and us. So the chairman sees this as an opportunity to engrain that difference into their very bones."

"That does sound amusing."

"Now that you put it that way, I rather like it."

The purebloods nodded in agreement.

"The Mei Family proposed three rules for the battle. First, each side will select three representatives. Second, the last remaining fighter will determine the victor and claim ownership of the dungeon. Third, only bloodline members who have yet to make a name for themselves may participate."

The purebloods scowled.

The last rule was the problem—it meant they couldn’t personally crush the Mei Family.

"We will now decide our representatives. Elders, if you have any recommendations, please share them."

At Kwon Mi’s words, the purebloods immediately began proposing candidates.

"My grandson has shown great promise lately..."

"My daughter is an exceptional fighter."

The atmosphere shifted abruptly.

Just moments ago, this was a war council discussing how to annihilate the Mei Family. Now, it felt more like a gathering of doting parents trying to show off their children.

"Why is everyone getting so worked up?"

"It’s a rare opportunity to elevate their children’s reputations. If they do well, they might even catch the chairman’s attention."

In other words, this war council had turned into a battleground for political advancement.

Then, without warning, the doors to the conference hall swung open. Sunlight poured into the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Ugh, this is intoxicating."

The one who had entered was an elderly man with graying hair and a full beard.

Despite his age, his physique was overwhelmingly robust—his muscles alone were enough to make him look menacing.

The old man took a long swig from the bottle of alcohol in his hand. His face was flushed red, likely from heavy drinking in the middle of the day.

His conduct was shockingly inappropriate for such a formal setting.

Yet, rather than scolding him, the purebloods gazed at him with reverence.

"Is that… Executive Director Kwon Myung-woo?"

"What is he doing here…?"

Hearing that name, Kwon Hanul felt a jolt of shock.

Kwon Myung-woo.

The younger brother of Hyukcheon Group’s chairman, Kwon Seonwoo.

And the strongest member of the Hyukcheon Clan.

A man of unparalleled talent, he had personally created dozens of S-rank skills.

In fact, most of the techniques practiced by Hyukcheon’s elite hunters were his creations.

"Uncle, what brings you here?"

Kwon Mi hurried over to him, her voice laced with urgency. He took another swig before responding.

"Well, you see… our dear Chairman Kwon Seonwoo gave me a special order."

"A… special order?"

Kwon Mi was the one overseeing the team battle. If even she was unaware of this order, that meant…

"Is there someone named Kwon Hanul here?"

How does he know my name?

The sudden callout caught Kwon Hanul off guard. Raising his hand, he spoke.

"That would be me."

"Yeah, the order was to make sure that Kwon Hanul participates in the team battle. No exceptions."

The purebloods’ expressions hardened.

Among them, Kwon Mi’s face was the most twisted of all.

"…What did you just say?"

She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

"I said, put Kwon Hanul in the team battle. No exceptions."

Kwon Myung-woo repeated himself.

Kwon Mi bit her lip and shouted, "This is absurd! This team battle isn't just about the dungeon's ownership—it’s about the pride of the entire Hyukcheon family! How can you throw him in without a proper vetting process?!"

"Mi, you're saying something pretty amusing."

Kwon Myung-woo downed the rest of his drink and smirked at her.

"You want to verify the skills of someone who had their debut in a Platinum Dungeon? That’s a joke that isn't funny."

At those words, murmurs spread through the purebloods.

"A debut match in a Platinum Dungeon? So that guy is the rumored True Blood."

"As expected of a True Blood. He’s different right from the start. We’ll have to be careful."

"Hmph, it’s nothing special. Even Chan-seong had his debut in a Platinum Dungeon!"

The atmosphere in the conference hall changed.

Everyone was now wary of Kwon Hanul.

Kwon Hanul quietly smiled.

The pureblood elites of Hyukcheon, known for their exceptional skill and influence, were now on guard because of him?

It didn’t feel bad.

No—rather, it felt great.

"That statement is incorrect!"

Kwon Mi shouted, refusing to back down.

Kwon Myung-woo tilted his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Hunting monsters and fighting people are completely different matters! Just because he’s good at killing monsters doesn’t mean he’ll be just as effective in battle against humans!"

Surprisingly, many purebloods nodded in agreement.

"Now that you mention it, that’s true. Hunting monsters and fighting humans require completely different skills."

"Monsters and humans are too different."

There had even been instances where famous hunters were assassinated by second-rate killers.

Because they had no experience fighting against people.

As the room's opinion leaned in her favor, a small smile formed on Kwon Mi’s lips.

"I will personally explain this to the chairman. So for now, let's put this decision on hold—"

"Did you say I haven’t proven myself?"

All eyes turned to Kwon Hanul.

He was stepping forward.

"Who do you think you are? Do you even know where you are right now, acting so arrogantly?"

"Since you claim I am lacking, I’ve come to prove myself."

"What? Prove yourself?"

Kwon Hanul activated his Dragon Aura.

An inky-black energy exploded outward.

The purebloods were utterly shocked.

"My god... how can he have that much Dragon Energy?"

"I've never seen such a sinister presence before."

The purebloods present were all figures who had greatly contributed to the Hyukcheon family.

They had fought on the front lines, securing countless victories and glory for the Hyukcheon Group.

In terms of pure skill, Kwon Hanul was still a step below them.

But even they couldn’t dismiss the overwhelming force of his Draconic Aura.

Kwon Hanul turned to face them and declared, "Step forward, anyone who wishes. I will prove my strength here and now."

* * *

"Ha! Look at that arrogant brat!"

"How dare he challenge us with such words?!"

Outrage erupted from all around, but not a single person stepped forward.

Their pride wouldn't allow it.

They knew that Kwon Hanul was a promising talent within the True Bloodline, but not to the extent that he could compare himself to them.

And then—

"Hahahaha!"

Standing beside Kwon Mi, Kwon Myung-woo suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Look at this cocky brat. What? Challenge me? You think I’d actually bother to fight you? Hahahaha!"

A surge of Dragon Combat Aura flared from Kwon Myung-woo. The sight left Kwon Hanul slightly taken aback.

‘Wait, he's the one fighting me?’

Kwon Myung-woo was one of the pillars of Hyukcheon, standing alongside Kwon Seonwoo, and was widely regarded as the strongest among them.

Hanul had always wanted to test his strength against him—someday. But not now. There were still too many areas where he wasn’t perfect yet. Right now, he wasn’t just hesitant—he wanted to refuse outright.

‘I should find an excuse to back out…’

But Kwon Myung-woo didn’t give him the chance.

"Seeing is believing! Let’s start right now!"

He closed the distance in an instant, unleashing a wave of Dragon Combat Aura. In the same fleeting moment, Kwon Hanul responded with Dragon Demon Aura. Their clash ignited the battlefield like two raging flames meeting head-on.

But then—

‘My Dragon Demon Aura… is being overpowered?’

It was shocking, to say the least. The Dragon Demon Aura was supposed to be a superior force compared to Dragon Combat Aura.

And yet, it was being pushed back?

"You dare let your guard down before me? That’s some nerve!"

Kwon Myung-woo swung his fist. It was a simple punch, devoid of any complex technique—

But—

‘I can't block it head-on.’

Hanul realized it instinctively. He crossed his arms and lifted his body slightly.

A split second later, his body was sent crashing into the ceiling.

With a deafening impact, dust rained down from above.

Kwon Myung-woo looked up, visibly perplexed.

"Huh? That was way too light."

Still staring at the ceiling, he called out—

"Hey?"

At that moment, the grin on his face vanished.

From the shattered ceiling, Hanul came soaring down—his heel plunging straight toward Myung-woo.

With his forearm, Myung-woo blocked the strike. The collision echoed like steel beams slamming together.

"Oh-ho."

A smile crept back onto Myung-woo’s face.

"That was a solid hit."

"You won’t be saying that for much longer."

"And the kid’s got spirit too!"

Myung-woo threw another punch.

Logic screamed at Hanul to dodge. But his instincts told him the opposite.

He didn’t hesitate.

He braced himself and took the blow head-on. Even though he managed to block it, his entire body felt like it was about to shatter.

"Oh-ho?"

Myung-woo raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Hanul retaliated with a punch of his own.

Myung-woo blocked it with his forearm. Between their locked fists, Myung-woo’s grin was visible.

"You actually think you can go toe-to-toe with me in a slugfest?"

"Why not?"

"Hah! Arrogant brat!"

Myung-woo let out a hearty laugh and swung his fist again.

Hanul clenched his teeth and met him head-on.

Fist and forearm clashed relentlessly, the repeated collisions shaking the entire conference hall as if an earthquake had struck.

"T-This can’t be…"

"I-It’s unbelievable!"

The Purebloods watching from the sidelines could hardly believe their eyes.

"He’s actually trading blows directly with him…"

Those who knew Kwon Myung-woo’s true strength had already realized it—

He wasn’t going all out against Kwon Hanul.

But even so—

Even if Myung-woo was holding back, his punches weren’t something anyone could simply "take" just because he was going easy.

"As expected of a Trueblood!"

Myung-woo's punches grew even heavier. Hanul blocked them, but his knees buckled under the force.

Grinding his teeth, he forced himself to straighten up and countered with an uppercut aimed at Myung-woo’s chin.

Myung-woo caught it with his palm—but it wasn’t a light hit.

He was pushed back—just slightly.

"Ha!"

"Hah!"

Both of them grinned, their smiles widening almost unnaturally.

The spectators were left in stunned silence.

"T-They’re both… enjoying this."

Every single member of Hyukcheon was driven by battle. It was in their Black Dragon Blood—their nature.

But even among them, no one laughed in the middle of a brutal slugfest like these two did.

It meant that their fighting spirit—their thirst for combat—was on a completely different level.

"Kid! You look like you're struggling. Why don’t you rest?"

"If anything, you should take a break, old man. You must be getting tired at your age."

"Hah! You cheeky brat!"

Hanul raised his fists once more.

And then—

"This is fun! But if we keep going, you’re going to be in real danger!"

He could still fight.

Just as Hanul was about to shout that out—

A knife-hand strike flashed like lightning.

In an instant—

Everything went dark.

He couldn’t even see it, let alone react.

The strike slammed into the back of his neck.

And just like that—Hanul crashed into the ground.

Hanul’s body hit the floor. The impact shattered the ground, sending dust billowing into the air.

"Hahahaha!"

From within the dust cloud, Myung-woo’s hearty laughter rang out. His voice alone was enough to make those who heard it feel exhilarated.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I’ve never seen someone so perfectly suited for Hyukcheon!"

He turned to the gathered Purebloods, his sharp gaze making them flinch.

"I, Kwon Myung-woo, personally vouch for him! This boy is more than enough to bring glory to Hyukcheon in the upcoming team battle against the Mei Family! No—he exceeds expectations!"

As if to drive his point home, Myung-woo shouted once more.

"If anyone disagrees, step forward! I’ll personally convince you!"

But there wasn’t a single Pureblood bold enough to challenge the strongest elder of the Hyukcheon Group.

With silence as their only response, Myung-woo turned to Kwon Mi.

"Seems like no one has any objections. What do you think?"

Kwon Mi bit her lower lip. She had more than enough complaints—but voicing them was impossible.

"…Fine. I’ll acknowledge him as the representative."

"Hahaha! Now that’s the right attitude!"

Myung-woo burst into laughter once more.

And then—

A woman stepped forward.

"Elder, if I may speak?"

"Hmm? You got a problem with my decision?"

"Of course not. I’m just… concerned."

"Concerned?"

The woman, Joo Hayun, pointed at the ground.

A massive hole was left where Hanul had crashed through.

"Kwon Hanul… still hasn’t gotten up."

A brief silence followed.

Then—

Myung-woo hastily dropped to his knees and started digging with both hands.

"D-Did I hit him too hard?! Hey! You better not be dead!"

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]