The arena reeked of sulfur and blood.
Jae-won crouched low on one knee, lungs burning, fingers trembling around the dagger he'd picked off a fallen goblin. His leather armor was half-melted, body streaked with burns, and his hair smoldered at the ends.
Across from him, the Infernal Herald stood tall—an obsidian-skinned giant wrapped in flame. Crimson light pulsed in its chest, where molten veins fed into a glowing core. It was barely damaged. Only scratches from earlier dodges.
He wasn't strong enough to win in a fair fight.
Good thing he had no plans for that.
> "You are weak," the Herald boomed. "You are not chosen."
Jae-won forced himself up.
> "Then I'll take what I need."
---
BOOM.
The Herald moved like a meteor. Its fire-forged glaive tore through stone and shadow. Jae-won ducked, letting the weapon scream past his head, and exploded forward with Heaven-Shaking Step.
He closed the distance in a blink and slammed a punch into the Herald's gut.
[You have dealt 9 damage.]
Nothing. The thing didn't even flinch.
---
Predator Eye: Active.
His vision shifted. Weak points flared in subtle pulses—elbow joints, lower spine, and… there it was.
The core in its chest. Pulsing, unstable. If he could get it—
Another glaive swing forced him back. The Herald advanced with relentless heat, flaming cracks spreading beneath its feet.
> "Your flesh is soft. Your flame is false."
Jae-won's lips peeled back in a grin.
> "Then let me borrow yours."
---
He rushed in again, zigzagging, baiting an overhead swing—then dove beneath it, slid across heated stone, and jammed his left hand into the Herald's chest, fingers finding the glowing orb.
[Warning: Core incompatible. Mutation risk: High.]
[Do you wish to absorb the Flame Sigil Core?]
He didn't even blink.
> "Absorb."
---
Fire invaded him.
Every nerve ignited. He felt skin blister, blood bubble, muscle tear—then rebuild, fiercer. His body wasn't resisting the flame. It was becoming part of it.
He screamed once, then forced his mouth shut.
He would not break.
---
[Flame Sigil Core absorbed.]
[New Trait Acquired: Emberheart]
[Passive: +Fire Resistance | Fire-based skills gain bonus damage. Absolute stat enhances fire affinity.]
---
The Herald staggered, its chest hollowed out, flames sputtering.
It roared—more rage than pain—and charged in one final time, glaive high, lava pooling around its feet.
Jae-won met it head-on.
His right fist ignited—not with magic, but with stolen will—and he leapt.
CRACK.
He drove his fist into the creature's skull. Stone cracked. Fire burst upward.
The Infernal Herald collapsed, its flames dying like the last breath of a dying god.
---
[Infernal Herald Defeated.]
[EXP Gained.]
[Level Up! +6 Stat Points Awarded.]
[Level Up! +6 Stat Points Awarded.]
---
High above, celestial thrones stirred.
> [Constellation: "The Monkey Who Defied Heaven" erupts with laughter.]
[Constellation: "The Pale Dancer of Twilight" whispers: 'Fire born from defiance… how poetic.']
[Constellation: "The One-Eyed Lord of the Frozen Throne" watches silently.]
And then—
> ["The Monkey Who Defied Heaven" sends you a Gift.]
A flame-wrapped box materialized before him. Small. Intricate. Dangerous.
Jae-won stared at it, still steaming, heartbeat slowing.
> "Guess someone liked the show."
He sat down cross-legged beside the box.
Not to rest.
To prepare.
---
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – KIM JAE-WON]
Level: 10
Class: Apex Conductor
Core Stat – Absolute: 70
Stat Points Available: 0
Skills:
Adaptive Flow (Unique)
Predator Eye (Active)
Heaven-Shaking Step (Active)
Traits:
Bone Plate (Passive)
Emberheart (Passive – Flame Sigil)
Titles:
First Breaker
Bone-Fused
Arena Challenger
Fire-Eater
Status: Unbound
EXP to next level: 0/150
---