Lee Hyeon-do's geomgi split the sky.This was no ordinary strike.It was a force that threatened to tear space itself—a power that cleaved the sky in two.
The Ma-gyo's leader conjured a false image, dodging the geomgi.Left hand, jangbeop. Right hand, geomgi.The energy at her fingertips had already surpassed human limits.
Their clash shook the heavens, split the ground.
Days passed, yet their battle did not end.If anything, both could sense it was time to finish.
They stood at the level of Shingeom-hapil (Divine Sword Unity)—Each swing seemed to distort the very laws of the world.
"It's time to end this.""Yes. Now."
They were the strongest.There was nothing more to hide, nothing left to avoid.Only the final blow remained.
When their swords fell—
The sky split apart.
A hidden gate to another world opened.Beyond it was another sky.Within the black mist, a colossal presence moved.A forbidden symbol appeared on the other side of the sky.Was it a warning left by the gods, or a remnant of a forgotten world?
No one knew what it meant.
The result?No one was victorious.
On the threshold of sinseon, at the peak of Murim—Neither could decide the outcome.They slowly collapsed, unable to claim victory.
"Their swords stopped in midair.In that moment, all sound vanished.And finally—even the heavens wept."
Chapter 1: Awakening
"I definitely died."At the gate of sinseon, at the end of the Musin's path—Yet… why am I awake?
Consciousness drifting in darkness.The sensation of floating through the void.Does my body still exist?A hand reached out.
The feeling of skin.The beat of a pulse.
"I'm still alive."
But… who am I?
Familiar Murim scenery. But something felt off.The air was cold, the sky dark, even the wind was silent.No—there was no wind.
"Something's wrong."
I needed a mirror.Or at least water.I rushed outside.Under the night sky, a small pond glimmered.
Carefully, I looked into the water.And then—
The face reflected wasn't mine.
"This… isn't my face.""Who am I?"
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my shoulder from behind.My body tipped over, someone trying to throw me down.
But I didn't fall.My body instinctively read the movement, used the force, and reversed it.
Thud!
A burly man hit the ground.People around stirred.
"Is that guy crazy?""Seung-chan, run!"
Seung-chan?
The people around me called me that.I quietly muttered, pointing at myself,
"Is my name Seung-chan? But I was Lee Hyeon-do. Then… who am I, really?"
The big guy stood up, looking bewildered, then clenched his fists and stomped over.A huge fist came flying.
I dodged.My body reacted before I even thought.
Familiar, yet unfamiliar.Too light. Too fast.Is this my body? Or just a memory lingering?
He swung again.I dodged easily, thinking:
The strong are strong, the weak are weak.But… am I strong, or weak? Maybe in this world, I'm the weak one.
Chapter 2: Instinctively
I walked away, leaving the murmurs behind.Home…
But, where is my home?Who am I?
My feet moved unconsciously.But my memory was empty.My mind, foggy.Where do I go?
At that moment, someone from the crowd stood in my way.
"Seung-chan, what's wrong?"
I looked at him.A strange face.Unfamiliar tone.But he called me by that name.
"Who?"
His expression turned awkward.
"What do you mean, who? It's me, Dae-han! You've been acting strange all day."
Dae-han?I'd never heard that name before.But this body seemed to know him.Words slipped out naturally:
"Dae-han… where's my house?"
He looked even more puzzled.
"What? Did you hit your head? Your house is over there! Go past that house, turn right, then left! Seung-chan, what's going on?"
I nodded.Location didn't matter.There's no way this was my home.
"Lead the way."
He hesitated, then reluctantly started walking.
"Uh… okay…"
Following his steps, I thought again.Am I Seung-chan?Or am I still Hyeon-do, apex of Murim?
I looked at my hands.They felt light.But the strength within was unchanged.I hadn't changed.
I was still strong.Still—
The peak of Murim.
Chapter 3: There Was That Person...
In Murim, there were those called legends.Some, heroes.Some, villains.Some, simply eccentrics.
One of them.He was always training in that place.As if seeking enlightenment, severed from the world—
A man trying to become Buddha.
A Buddha, in Murim?That's odd.
He was there.Years ago.Decades later.
Never moving, never leaving, never changing his spot.
He was training.Or waiting.
For what?
For whom?
Seung-chan decided to find him.Was it coincidence?Or destiny?
His place was not far.As Seung-chan walked toward him, he muttered,
"Why doesn't he leave that place?"
Now—
It was time to find the answer.