Chapter 68 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 68: The Inheritance Ceremony (1)

Transcending one’s limits refers to a phenomenon in which one's bones, organs, and every component of the body are entirely renewed.

A body that has undergone such transformation experiences a complete enhancement of its abilities. But it's not as simple as just gaining strength or improving mana control. The very foundation of life is altered. One's essence as a living being is elevated to another tier of existence.

It’s said that a person's combat ability increases at least three to four times through this transformation.

Because of how extraordinary this is, only a handful of individuals among the world’s top-ranked hunters have ever experienced it.

“I mean, I’m definitely interested... but why are you asking me this?”

Nomura Masataka glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice to a whisper.

“After years of research, Takamine Hospital has finally developed a procedure to induce rebirth and transformation.”

“...Are you serious?”

As Kwon Hanul reacted, Nomura Masataka smiled, seemingly pleased.

“Of course, it’s no easy feat. We have to mobilize every artifact and piece of equipment in the hospital, not to mention an enormous amount of elixirs. After a single procedure, all our relics need to be shut down for maintenance, and the hospital has to close for over a month.”

Takamine Hospital is considered one of the world’s top medical institutions. Shutting it down even temporarily speaks volumes about how demanding the process is.

“In spite of that, what would you say if I offered the procedure to you?”

“To me?”

“Yes. I like promising young talents like you. Especially since you’re of Hyukcheon blood—there’s nothing wrong with investing in you. However…”

Nomura Masataka’s eyes shifted.

“As I said, rebirth and transformation isn’t something we can just hand out. It puts a massive strain on the hospital—so I can’t offer it lightly.”

“In that case, I’ll pass.”

Hanul refused without hesitation, causing Nomura Masataka’s expression to falter slightly.

“You’ll pass?”

“I can’t ask you to put the hospital under such strain just for my benefit. Besides, I’m on assignment right now. I don’t have the capacity to be distracted by anything else.”

Nomura Masataka went silent for a moment before smiling again.

“You’re right. Still, if you ever change your mind, come find me.”

“Understood.”

“It was an honor meeting you.”

With that, Nomura Masataka turned and left.

“Hayun, do you think he was telling the truth?”

“To be honest, it’s hard to believe. If Takamine Hospital really had developed a method for rebirth and transformation, there’s no way it wouldn’t have leaked.”

Joo Hayun had a point.

This kind of transformation is in a different league from common encounters with mystical phenomena. Even world-ranking hunters would kill to obtain it.

“That said, we can’t dismiss it completely. Rebirth and transformation has long been the Takamine family’s greatest ambition. If they recently succeeded…”

In other words, it might be true after all.

“Then why did you refuse so quickly? It didn’t sound like there was any harm in hearing him out.”

“He was clearly trying to probe me, and I didn’t appreciate it.”

It was obvious that Nomura Masataka wasn’t speaking from a place of pure goodwill.

The entire time, he’d been carefully observing Hanul’s reactions—dangling rebirth and transformation as bait to test him, to get something out of him.

“Besides…”

Thanks to the power of his clan bloodline, Hanul could see the truth more clearly.

Nomura Masataka’s psyche was completely tainted by greed and arrogance.

“He’s not someone to be trusted.”

* * *

Hanul entered the banquet hall alongside Joo Hayun.

“Oh! You’re here!”

Mei Hong rushed over to him.

“Did you spot anyone suspicious?”

“No, no one so far.”

Hanul had already asked Mei Hong to keep an eye on the guests—just in case Frederance tried to pull something.

While he was chatting with her, Takamine Ryoko and Goriki Nana approached.

Hanul bowed first and spoke politely.

“Lady Takamine Ryoko, congratulations on officially inheriting the family.”

“Thank you for the kind words.”

As Hanul raised his head, he examined the two women.

Unlike Ryoko, who had kept her appearance elegant and understated, Nana was dressed flamboyantly with makeup that bordered on excessive.

“Seeing you all dressed up like this... I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Goriki Nana scanned Hanul from head to toe.

Her stare gave him chills. He never thought he’d feel this creeped out by a woman’s gaze.

Trying to change the subject, Hanul asked Ryoko, “There aren’t as many guests as I expected.”

“That’s normal. Inheritance ceremonies are usually small, with only family members and hospital officials in attendance.”

Hanul glanced around the hall. They had brought in an entire orchestra for live music. It didn’t exactly feel “small.”

“H-Hanul!”

From across the room, Kwon Hudon came rushing over with Rockbreaker in tow.

Hanul excused himself from Ryoko and walked over.

“How’s the team?”

“Y-Yeah, I deployed them just like you said. Teams One and Two are patrolling outside, and Team Three is stationed indoors.”

“Good work.”

Hudon looked slightly relieved at the compliment.

“Rockbreaker.”

“What do you want?” Rockbreaker replied curtly.

“If something goes down—I’ll be counting on you.”

“Not sure I’ll even get the chance to step in. With Little Dragon and those other two hotshots around, there won’t be much left for me to do.”

Even now, Rockbreaker spoke mockingly. Hudon looked uneasy beside him.

“Well then, Captain, let’s go do our job.”

“I-I’ll catch you later, Hanul.”

Hanul didn’t seem too bothered by Rockbreaker’s attitude.

They clearly didn’t like each other. As long as Rockbreaker did his part, Hanul had no complaints.

—Ahem.

Suddenly, a voice rang out across the banquet hall.

Nomura Masataka had taken the stage and was holding a microphone.

—“First of all, thank you to all the guests who joined us today.”

Everyone’s attention turned toward him. He looked around the room, almost as if he were savoring the moment.

—“Standing here today reminds me of the previous family head’s inheritance ceremony. Back then, I wasn’t on this stage—I was looking up at the late head from below.”

He paused, seemingly reminiscing.

—“And now, I’m standing here, announcing the beginning of a new ceremony. It’s deeply moving.”

His speech dragged on—stories of his youth, the former head’s death, how hard he worked after becoming director.

If you listened without context, you’d think this ceremony was for him, not Ryoko.

—“Now, Lady Takamine Ryoko will step forward.”

Nomura Masataka stepped aside as Ryoko climbed the stairs to the platform.

She took the microphone and prepared to greet the gathered VIPs—when suddenly—

[Emergency!]

A frantic voice burst through the tiny earpiece in Hanul’s ear.

[En-Enemies have appeared outside the barrier— WH-what is that thing?! Aaaaaah!]

A deafening explosion shook the entire mansion, followed by the sound of hundreds of windows shattering.

Joo Hayun turned to Hanul, her voice urgent.

“Mr. Hanul—the barrier has been breached.”

There was only one thing that could mean:

The assault had begun.

From outside the mansion came the sound of screams and weapons clashing.

Kwon Hanul hesitated. After that first attack, the enemy had remained quiet. And now they were attacking with such brute force?

“Feels like a trap.”

“That’s the most likely explanation,” Joo Hayun agreed.

Frederance was a cunning man. He wouldn’t do something like this without a plan.

“What do you want to do?”

Without hesitation, Kwon Hanul replied to Hayun’s question.

“There’s no need to play into the enemy’s hand.”

In this kind of situation, staying put was often the smarter move than rushing in blindly.

Trying to smash through a trap head-on was exactly how one got caught in it.

“Kwon Hudon!” Hanul called out. Hudon looked up from nearby.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Take the team and protect Takamine Ryoko and the guests. Don’t move from the banquet hall unless you have to.”

Right now, the safest place was inside this mansion.

Ever since Joo Hayun had reinforced the barrier, they’d searched the interior thoroughly multiple times.

“W-What about you?”

“Me?”

Hanul’s lips curled into a savage, almost beast-like grin.

“I’ve got some unwanted guests to greet.”

When he stepped outside, he saw Kwon Hudon’s team locked in battle with the invaders all over the garden.

But the appearance of the attackers was grotesque.

Some had grotesquely swollen limbs, others had skin discolored in unnatural hues.

Their eyes were glassy and vacant, and green drool dripped endlessly from their mouths. No matter how you looked at them, they were anything but normal.

“Gah!”

“Kraaah!”

But even more shocking—Hudon’s team was being overwhelmed.

Every time the creatures swung their limbs, a member of the team was sent flying, coughing up blood.

“…Am I really seeing this right?”

These team members were handpicked by Kwon Mi herself. Their skills were not to be underestimated.

And yet they were being beaten—no, crushed—without standing a chance?

“Ughraaah!”

One team member was grabbed and slammed into the ground by a monster. The creature climbed atop him, raising its fists to pummel him.

If Hanul just stood there, that guy was going to die.

He immediately unleashed a volley of magic bullets.

Dozens of rounds struck the monsters’ bodies. The creatures screamed and staggered backward.

But that was all—they retreated, but none went down.

Even powerful magic bullets, potent enough to pierce reinforced aura, hadn’t penetrated their skin.

As Hanul stared in disbelief, Joo Hayun explained, “…They’re Homunculi. Products of a Puppeteer’s craft.”

“A Puppeteer?”

“A villain affiliated with Pandemonium. He takes pleasure in horrific experiments that fuse humans with monsters.”

She pointed toward the creatures.

“All of them have been enhanced using monster physiology. And from what I can tell, they’ve used poison to push their bodies past normal limits.”

“They’re using poison too?”

“Yes. Normal strength won’t cut it against these things.”

Even as they spoke, Hudon’s team continued to be overwhelmed.

It had reached the point where standing by was no longer an option.

“Get the injured out of here! Take them inside the mansion!” Hanul shouted.

The team began dragging their wounded back toward the building.

“Let’s wrap this up quickly and go find Frederance.”

Hanul opened his subspace pocket and slipped on a pair of leather gloves. Mei Hong drew her sword beside him.

But Joo Hayun remained motionless, her gaze fixed far off into the distance.

“Hayun?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kwon,” she said suddenly.

“Someone’s calling for me. I have to go.”

Her expression was grim—uncharacteristically so.

“Does it have to be you?”

“It’s the one who shattered the barrier in a single strike. I’m the only one who can face them.”

Apparently, Frederance wasn’t working alone. Hanul nodded, concern in his eyes.

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

Cloaked in mana, Joo Hayun vanished.

The moment she disappeared, Hanul turned his glare on the monsters.

“Alright then. Time to do our part—”

But at that moment—

“---!”

“---!!”

“---!!!”

The homunculi let out a series of incomprehensible, monstrous howls. Black veins bulged across their bodies as the poison’s effects intensified.

They all charged at Hanul at once.

Each creature had a different form, and seeing them charge in unison was grotesque beyond words.

“Ew.”

Mei Hong recoiled, sticking out her tongue in disgust.

Hanul stepped forward.

“Stay back.”

His forehead split open down the center, revealing a new eye.

The moment the authority was released, the homunculi’s movements slowed dramatically.

In fact, everything around him slowed—the whole world. Even specks of dust in the air seemed frozen in place.

Hanul summoned his Dragon Demon Aura. He converted every bit of mana in his body into this enhanced energy.

There’s a difference between how much mana one has and how much they can control at once.

Even if you possess 100 units of mana, most people can only wield about 30 at a time.

But right now, Hanul was controlling all 100.

<‘Dragon’s Eye’ now governs the surrounding environment.>

That was the power of the authority he had awakened.

He gathered the entirety of his Dragon Demon Aura into both hands. Bending the second knuckle of his fingers, he loaded magic bullets.

If regular bullets couldn’t pierce these things, he just needed to amp up the firepower.

Black Dragon Ascension Art: Peerless Form

Modified Dragon Demon Bullet Technique

Black beams of energy shot forth, piercing straight through the homunculi one after another.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]