Chapter 50

Growth

Great Law of Supreme Clarity and Material Accomplishment.

A technique created by the Old Man in his twilight years, when he reigned as the absolute ruler of a world.

Despite its grandiose name, the principle was quite simple.

Inflict pain.

Grow based on that pain.

‘To be honest, it was frustrating.’

No matter how good the effects were, it had only been a feeling so far.

Like the rank upgrading.

Or becoming noticeably stronger, like the martial artists in real martial arts novels.

Nothing changed visibly.

‘But.’

This time, the Old Man spoke with certainty.

Once this procedure is over, I would shed a layer.

The Old Man’s words carry weight.

They are not frivolous.

It means he is not one to make up things to coax me.

“You’ve endured for quite a while. Thanks to that, you’ve experienced countless minor pains like trauma and amputation.”

“……”

“Then let me ask you this. Boy, do you know what the greatest physical pain that tests the limits of humanity is?”

The greatest pain?

After a moment of thought, I blurted out.

“If we exclude mental and miscellaneous things, um… isn’t it causalgia? I think I saw it before.”

“Oh, you’re accurate.”

“Right?”

I nodded.

The pain of being burned by fire.

Just imagining it was horrifying.

Even a brief burn makes all the nerves scream.

Yeah, causalgia is definitely something.

Wait, hold on?

“W-Wait a minute, Old Man?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you asking me this? Don’t tell me….”

As I looked at the Old Man with a subtle expression, he grinned broadly.

Undoubtedly, it was the happiest expression I had ever seen.

“Haha. Don’t worry, disciple. With your training, your senses are already like iron. Surely you can endure it, can’t you?”

“……What does that mean?”

And iron?

Is he talking about Pain Tolerance?

[Skill: Pain Tolerance]

[Rank: A]

[Effect 1: Resists pain.]

[Effect 2: The more pain, the duller the senses become.]

It’s currently A-rank, but still.

Even so.

Not only beatings but burning someone?

“Old Man, I’ve been deeply immersed in forging lately, and I’ve realized something… Even iron melts when heated in a fire, you know?”

“Haha, that’s right. But doesn’t it also give birth to an even stronger monster?”

“……?”

Seeing my openly uncomfortable face, the Old Man spoke again.

“Don’t worry. It will be a completely different method from what you’ve experienced so far.”

“……What kind of method?”

I can’t help but worry.

But let’s hear it first.

“Until now, the Great Law has been forcibly performed, hasn’t it? You trained for 30 minutes without surrendering.”

“Training… You didn’t just beat me to death, did you?”

“Hmph! Listen to me. No, in fact, it’s not really forced! The choice was always yours!”

“…….”

That’s true.

I could have avoided the Old Man’s massage if I had wanted to.

I could have just not summoned him in the first place.

But I clearly summoned the Old Man every day and went through the Great Law each time.

Why?

Just to get stronger.

Because that’s the most certain means I can take.

“That alone makes you different from ordinary people. This isn’t about whether you’re mediocre or a genius. Frankly, even a genius feels pain when hit. Tsk tsk.”

True.

Even geniuses like Einstein or Alan Turing are smart, but they’re not good at enduring pain.

“Hmm….”

“And shall I tell you one more chilling fact?”

“……What is it?”

“Look at the corner of your mouth now.”

The corner of my mouth?

Why is he telling me to look at the corner of my mouth?

Tilting my head, I suddenly paused.

Goosebumps ran all over my body.

“……!”

A smile.

It was a smile.

He was clearly saying terrible things like causalgia and burning someone.

And even though I was on edge about it.

The corners of my lips were slightly raised.

Ah ah ah.

This was not pleasant at all.

Rather, it was sad.

Had I, who was once so ordinary, become a pervert who enjoys pain?

“That’s why you’re amazing. My judgment in seeking a genius was wrong. It was actually fortunate. Meeting a pervert like you.”

No, Old Man.

I don’t think that’s it.

“Geniuses can’t beat those who work hard, and those who work hard can’t beat those who enjoy it. You’re clearly enjoying it.”

“Well, it’s a nice saying, but….”

It sounds very sad, you know?

Anyway.

In fact, the Old Man was not wrong about anything.

‘That’s right.’

I wanted to get stronger.

The world had changed 10 years ago.

From a world where money and power were the top priorities, to a world where only strength is everything.

A world where value judgments are made based on the rank that appears in messages and the rankings on the bulletin board.

This was survival.

To live, I had to become stronger.

Frankly.

Even if a Ranker commits a crime, hasn’t it become an era where it can’t be resolved by law alone!

We hunters.

Were like individual beasts thrown into a cruel wild world.

Were lambs.

But then came a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A way to become a predator.

‘I have to endure.’

How could I not endure?

‘Yeah, I definitely have to endure.’

I gritted my teeth.

Without realizing it, I clenched my fists tightly.

“So, what’s the method this time?”

“This time, it’s not forced. Everything depends on your will.”

The Old Man smiled.

I frowned.

“My will…?”

“Haha, yes, will. The Great Law that will be performed for about 30 minutes from now depends solely on your efforts. If you want to increase the intensity, it will be more painful, and time will flow slower. On the other hand, if you can’t increase the intensity yourself? It won’t be painful, and it will end quickly.”

“Huh, then isn’t it easy?”

“Haha, do you really think so?”

“…….”

“Listen. This intermediate stage is a Great Law that can be passed all at once if done properly. However, if not done properly, it’s a stage that can’t be passed even if you do it for a lifetime. Experience it. Once you experience it, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

Whoosh!

Flames blazed from the Old Man’s hands.

Indeed, Master of Supreme Art.

He can also handle fire magic.

“Will you end it like a man in one go? Or will you be a coward and suffer for a long time?”

“……Well. I think I’ll have to try it to know.”

“Nonsense. Hehe, I know you well.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you’re a disgusting guy. A guy so disgusting that you’ll survive no matter where you’re thrown in the world.”

“…….”

“Hehe, try to bring it out.”

The Old Man’s fire came closer to my eyes.

“The longing for power hidden within you….”

Whoosh!

As the Old Man’s hand moved, the flames surrounded my body.

The beginning of the Great Law.

Whoosh!

I felt it right away.

‘At this level….’

Is it hot?

Yes, it was hot.

It was burning.

The flames surrounding my body felt like they were searing each of my nerve cells.

But, even so.

‘It’s bearable.’

Suddenly, I remembered the day I was first beaten by the Old Man.

I screamed and struggled like crazy while being hit.

It’s actually better now.

It was better than that time.

‘Weak.’

I repeated inwardly.

It wasn’t that I wanted to repeat it, but it was the instinctive whisper of my body.

‘I know it’s going to get stronger anyway.’

The Old Man said.

Everything depends on my will.

Time is more precious than gold.

If it’s just going to end with this warmth, wouldn’t it be better to just go to a sauna?

“Hehe, your spirit is good!”

The faint voice of the Old Man echoed in my ear.

I distorted my face.

Boom!

With the sound of the inside exploding, it signaled that the real beginning was now.

“Haa……!”

I bit my lip.

The pain gradually amplified and began to take over my mind.

‘I can do it. I can do it.’

I closed my eyes tightly and concentrated.

Pain is just the cry of the nerves.

It’s something I’ve felt every day, so it’s actually a familiar sensation.

‘Come on, bring it on.’

If it were a normal person.

They would shrink when they feel pain.

The usual context is to try to avoid it and step back to escape.

‘But.’

I didn’t back down.

Like reaching out to the familiar energy of Wol felt from Bone Five, I let go of myself.

I let him play freely in my body.

‘Do as you please. But, promise me just one thing. Make me a little stronger… let me grow.’

Whoosh!

The fire blazed.

It wasn’t just burning meaninglessly.

‘This is….’

The fire turned over and roamed inside my body.

But the path of movement is familiar.

‘Supreme Clarity Heart Method?’

That’s right.

The fire was clearly moving along the Qi channels of the Supreme Clarity Heart Method.

It was coolly burning the blocked acupoints inside that hadn’t been opened even with the Old Man’s massage.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

It didn’t just burn, it exploded like fireworks.

“Haa!”

The closed eyes opened on their own.

Because I felt a momentary dizzying pain.

It was the beginning of real pain.

“Heuk, heuk!”

Foam came out of my mouth.

At the same time, yellow liquid flowed out of the holes in my body.

Pshhh!

Even that liquid quickly oxidized into the air due to the hot heat.

“It’s waste. The primordial impurities that inevitably accumulate in the body due to the air of the dirty world. Originally, it’s the kind of thing that humans can never wash away with normal methods, but… you’re enduring well.”

It was the process of washing marrow and peeling bones.

“…….”

The pain continued.

The pain, which could not be expressed in words, came and went at least hundreds of times.

All the strength left my body.

Is it all over?

No, it seemed like all the muscles had burned away.

I couldn’t even scream.

A tremendous sense of loss took over my body.

‘Am I going to die like this?’

To be honest, I wanted to give up if I could.

‘It depends on my will, you said.’

But bullshit.

The energy of Wol, which had already tasted my body, did not leave me alone.

Like a puppy meeting its owner after a long time, it wildly explored my body.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Very roughly, too.

It felt like it had been stirring around for almost an hour.

“Give up if you want to give up. Do you know that? Only 5 minutes have passed since the Great Law started.”

Are you crazy?

A curse word popped out.

“Stop if you don’t like it. Hehe, the opportunity isn’t just once. Besides, just removing the waste is a good result.”

The Old Man’s voice sounded subtle and sweet.

I finally understood then.

Why the Old Man said it wasn’t easy.

Originally, temptation is harder than coercion.

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

I pulled myself together.

Yes, the Old Man is a devil.

It’s the whisper of the devil.

There’s only one chance?

I’ve been doing this for almost an hour, and if I give up here?

That’s all going to be wasted?

“Hehe, you’re still disgusting. Indeed, you’re worthy of being my disciple!”

The Old Man laughed heartily as if he was satisfied.

Why does that look so annoying today?

“Cough!”

The pain grew more and more intense.

It was as if a carpet bombing was falling inside my body.

[The skill, ‘Pain Tolerance’ (Rank A), is upgraded by one level.]

[You have acquired the skill, ‘Pain Tolerance’ (Rank S).]

[This skill has room for further growth.]

About 5 hours later, I felt.

Such a message popped up.

But, I didn’t feel anything.

Because my mind and body were already exhausted.

‘Just eat me.’

I turned my body over.

I had already far surpassed the pain that an ordinary human could endure.

Whether I’m hit with a 1,000-ton hammer or a 900-ton hammer, it’s the same pain.

I just didn’t think anything.

I just cried and endured and endured.

How much time had passed like that?

“You tenacious bastard… You managed to endure 30 minutes.”

The Old Man’s voice was faintly heard.

Ah.

Is it all over?

Finally?

To be honest, I had no sensation.

I didn’t have time to think about where I was, how much I had endured, or anything.

I could only see Dagnar’s anxious face and the Old Man’s pleased expression through my blurry vision.

‘Ha, damn it.’

Well done, well done, me!

That’s how I slowly lost consciousness.

[Congratulations!]

[Your rank has grown to B-rank!]

Without even having time to see the new message floating above my vision.