Chapter 420

Chapter 420
## Chapter 420

### The Burning Torch (1)

I stroked my jaw in deep contemplation, studying the interface of the system that had materialized in my line of sight.

‘…Karma Shop Ver.3.’

The prior update, 「Karma Shop Ver.2 Update」, had proven to be immense in its utility.

Features like the 『VIP Market』, which catered exclusively with rare commodities for Awakened individuals, and the 『Item Purchase』 section, providing seamless procurement of goods across different dimensions… had both served as indispensable resources.

Naturally, my anticipations for this subsequent iteration were incredibly high…

“…This was completely unexpected.”

Yet, I found myself staring blankly at the newly unlocked catalog with a look of sheer bewilderment.

The structural layout of the marketplace remained largely identical to the version before it, save for a handful of fresh inclusions.

However, as I happily scanned through the unfamiliar inventory, a singular term—a completely new category—instantly arrested my attention.

『Item Purchase – Details』

└Auterica

└Ganghwange

└Earth

‘…Earth?’

The designation of ‘Earth’ had been integrated into a directory that until now had been strictly confined to alternate realities.

“…Does this imply… I can buy terrestrial goods using Karma points now?”

On the surface, it did not appear to be a revolutionary function.

Given my current level of authority and reach, I could effortlessly lay my hands on almost anything I desired without wasting a single point of Karma.

As a matter of fact, utilizing standard human currency—which was far less troublesome to accumulate than Karma—was significantly more economical.

‘…But the financial efficiency isn’t the issue here. What triggered this shift?’

Up to this point, the Karma Shop had maintained a rigid boundary separating itself from Earth.

Typically, an Awakened individual was introduced to this interface only after being pulled into a foreign world.

Furthermore, once they returned to Earth upon amassing 1 million Karma points, the interface would vanish entirely, revoking their privileges permanently.

‘…Granted, I am an anomaly because I managed to… exploit the system’s framework.’

I had crossed over to another world upon triggering my unique trait, yet simultaneously, I had managed to persist on Earth.

That singular paradox was the sole reason the Karma Shop remained accessible to me.

‘…Let’s evaluate this.’

Adopting a serious expression, I pressed the ‘Earth’ tab and began reviewing the available merchandise.

Having interacted with this menu system countless times before, it took very little time to grasp its current parameters.

The realization I arrived at…

“Unbelievable, they actually list military fighter jets and naval aircraft carriers? What on earth is this? A space shuttle? Don’t tell me they are retailing weaponized nuclear warheads…? They actually are?!”

…was that the inventory of the Karma Shop was entirely absolute.

Naturally, the pricing structure was absurdly disproportionate when weighed against the enchanted artifacts sourced from foreign dimensions.

“An adult-stage Dragon Heart goes for under 2 million Karma points… yet a standard fighter jet demands 100,000? A bare aircraft carrier without its fleet exceeds 10 million? Who in their right mind would purchase these?”

Even so, the mere availability of such options, should the necessity arise… was profoundly staggering.

But with tariffs this extortionate, I had zero intention of buying anything from the ‘Earth’ inventory.

I let out a heavy breath, intentionally pulling my focus away from the atomic weapon, whose mere presence on the screen was enough to induce anxiety.

‘…What is the system trying to prompt?’

I felt certain that the system—this immense, unknowable mechanism directing countless realities—possessed a definitive underlying objective.

It was highly probable that my discovery of the system’s structural vulnerability had not occurred by mere chance.

The remainder of the 『Karma Shop Ver.3』 modifications aligned with this theme.

The upgraded 『VIP Market』 now featured an 『Invitation (1,000,000)』, a tool capable of triggering a forced awakening within an ordinary mundane human, alongside a 『Return Ticket (2,000,000)』, which could finance a returnee’s transit back to Earth.

Additionally, utility elements had been introduced, such as 『Odin’s Eye』, allowing continuous surveillance of any terrestrial coordinate at the cost of a constant Karma drain, and 『Hermes’ Footsteps』, which facilitated instantaneous spatial displacement to any destination.

The core concept driving this current update suddenly became crystal clear.

‘…Everything centers around Earth.’

It felt as though I had finally been granted explicit authorization to intervene.

And the catalyst for this operational shift was likely staring right at me from the bottom of the interface.

『Karma Market Share (5%)』

A isolated metric, positioned at the very base of the Karma Shop display.

I narrowed my focus, examining the digits intently.

‘…Market share? Ownership of what? The system itself? Earth? Or the collective dimensions? What transpires when this value reaches 100%? Is the metric driven by accumulating current Karma? Spendable points? Or the aggregate history of points earned?’

My mind churned, generating an unruly torrent of inquiries and potential theories.

I had been entirely consumed by the objective of dismantling the Heaven’s Turn Society… and now, an unfamiliar element had been introduced, a completely new parameters of a game I did not yet comprehend.

Yet even through this haze of uncertainty, an innate conviction took root.

‘…Regardless of the underlying mechanics, I must drive that percentage upward.’

It was unmistakably intertwined with my ongoing endeavors.

After all, wasn’t that precisely what the leader of the Heaven’s Turn Society was pursuing as well?

Despite wielding sovereign, near-deity authority over Earth, that individual continued to traverse alternate dimensions to harvest Karma.

If that pursuit wasn’t merely for personal capability, but rather to satisfy this specific ‘market share’ quota…?

‘…I cannot allow him to claim victory.’

I gave a firm, deliberate nod, cementing my strategy.

I chose to defer the acquisition of the 『Divine Fragment of the Imprisoned Human God』, despite how enticing its current valuation appeared.

I would bide my time until the cost plummeted even lower, reserving it as a definitive hidden trump card for the future.

*Wooong—*

Right then, my mobile device, resting on the adjacent surface, began to pulse with vibrations.

An alert indicating an incoming electronic communication.

A high-priority transmission.

“This corresponds to…”

The origin of the message was labeled ‘CCTV’.

Andrew Weaver, whom I had enlisted to execute various intelligence-gathering operations in exchange for the linguistic comprehension artifact crafted by Howard.

I opened the document, my features tightening with gravity.

The message contained far more than a standard progress report; it was accompanied by multiple digital captures of international journalistic publications.

Thanks to the passive effects of 「Xenoglossy」, I deciphered the untranslated source materials instantly without relying on the provided conversions.

My brow furrowed sharply as I reached the conclusion of the text.

“A demonic entity?”

Accounts detailing a demonic manifestation within Southeast Asia.

It appeared that an authoritative entity was actively suppressing the spread of this data, given that the majority of the original publications had already been expunged from networks.

Furthermore, the intelligence highlighted a highly probable tie between this entity and the Heaven’s Turn Society.

‘…A demon… ’

I tapped my fingers rhythmically against the desktop surface, sinking into deep reflection.

What a remarkable turn of events.

It hadn’t been long since I had engaged in a chaotic conflict involving a multitude of fiends inside the Demon World itself.

‘…If these records are precise, this individual is far from ordinary.’

The presence of demonic forces on Earth wasn’t entirely unprecedented.

Certain humans, when cast into foreign realms, would abandon all morals simply to survive, and entering into a pact with a fiend represented an accessible shortcut to acquiring raw power.

‘…Even though the ultimate toll is exceptionally hazardous.’

Should they be entirely subjugated by the entity they formed an alliance with, they would forfeit their identity as an Awakened individual, transitioning into something akin to an undead thrall.

Consequently, any demonic pact-makers who managed to successfully return to Earth possessed immense personal strength, carrying spirits resilient enough to withstand absolute corruption.

Even those who merely channeled a sliver of fiendish energy were exceptionally uncommon… to say nothing of those who had physically transformed into demons themselves, such as Ken.

‘…And this entity has materialized in the vicinity of Singapore, my subsequent objective?’

The figure designated as a ‘demon’ within Andrew’s intelligence report—exhibiting authentic traits and manifestations—was clearly an elite combatant.

The reality that Andrew, despite possessing the tracking capabilities of his unique trait 「Trajectory Observation」, had failed to locate the target directly, forced to rely on circumstantial analysis and logical derivation, only validated my concerns.

‘…A minimum classification of Marquis-level… Or potentially scaling up to a Demon King ranking.’

The projected danger index fluctuated drastically, but a precise calculation was impossible given the constraints.

Even an information broker as exceptionally capable as Andrew couldn’t extract definitive data without direct visual confirmation.

He had performed admirably under the restrictive conditions.

‘…I should arrange for an increase in his compensation. His operational load is expanding rapidly, and it is vital to maintain high morale among my assets.’

For a brief second, I fancied I detected a distant, pleading murmur in my thoughts, begging for vacation time over financial bonuses…

…but it was undoubtedly a trick of my mind.

Who would ever turn down financial advancement?

“This alters things. I didn’t anticipate crossing paths with them in this manner.”

Andrew’s documentation contained an additional piece of intelligence.

A specific faction that had become the primary target of this demonic entity and its aligned forces.

He had uncovered their existence while tracking the movements of the demon.

‘…It appears there are alternative cells actively resisting the Heaven’s Turn Society. Though their current circumstances seem incredibly dire.’

The ‘Burning Torch’.

An underground resistance network, an alliance of desperate souls waging an isolated campaign against our mutual adversary.

I had successfully located potential confederates.

—

Within the confines of a dilapidated, dust-coated structure littered with broken remnants.

“Cough—! Hack, hack!”

A violent, raspy cough reverberated through the vacant chambers.

The individual enduring the fit attempted to stifle the noise, but their efforts were futile.

It was far from a typical respiratory ailment.

“Are you holding together, Ahn? Perhaps it would be wise to…”

A powerfully built man offered words of caution, but the woman possessing cropped dark hair, resting in a crouched position upon the floorboards, merely motioned in refusal, her fingers clutching a cloth drenched in crimson.

“Huu— Haa…”

A brief interval elapsed.

Regaining her breath, she pushed herself upright. A spark of sapphire fire manifested within her palm, incinerating the biological traces upon the fabric, altering the stain from deep red to a pale ash.

She methodically stored the cloth away, letting out a weary breath.

“Repose is a luxury I cannot claim. The moment I pause, their trackers will close in on us.”

“…But a brief respite might…”

“Absolutely not. Reflect on how many of our allies have perished simply due to a momentary lapse in vigilance.”

The muscular man found himself unable to counter her severe assessment.

Her logic was flawless. Their operational margin was razor-thin.

A single instance of relaxation could result in their demise.

If not for her leadership, their entire cell would have been eliminated long before this day.

“…My apologies. If only my capabilities were sufficient to match that fiend…”

“Cease that foolish talk. Three high-tier superhumans have already lost their lives attempting to bring that entity down. Even a meticulously synchronized ambush collapsed entirely. Stepping forward would merely make you another casualty.”

Her delivery carried a sharp edge, yet her vibrant green eyes betrayed an underlying anxiety.

The adversary that had driven them into deep concealment, scattering their remnants across the territories of Southeast Asia, was an absolute terror.

“Huu— I can only pray the remaining cells have survived… Ah! Curser that treacherous serpent! His methods are utterly foul! Directing a vanguard into a formal challenge! He possesses no honor!”

Ahn, who had been channeling her focus into stabilizing her energy, suddenly flared with intense resentment, unable to suppress her frustration any longer.

Their structural arrangements, their aspirations… all shattered instantly by the unpredicted deployment of hostile reserves.

“Ugh, had it not been for that wretched Oracle seer… we would have neutralized the Executioner…”

They might not have achieved absolute victory, but they could have orchestrated a withdrawal with sustainable losses, consolidated their forces, and formulated a counter-strategy.

Such an outcome would have vastly outclassed their current plight, fleeing across borders from the Philippines into Vietnam, their network shattered.

“…Huu! I must stabilize my emotions. Allowing anger to dictate my actions is a liability.”

She inhaled deeply, forcing her volatile state back into equilibrium.

Her unique trait was the solitary anchor keeping them afloat.

The survival of their displaced compatriots hinged entirely on her stability.

“What is delaying Beki and Ddol? Their scouting run is exceeding the timeline.”

As her inner turbulence subsided, a localized concern arose.

She creased her brow, noting that the duo dispatched for local reconnaissance had failed to return.

Under standard conditions, she could trace their signatures effortlessly, but her current focus was entirely consumed by emitting countermeasures to blind Oracle’s clairvoyance. She possessed no residual power to extend her senses.

“Hold your position.”

“…Jose?”

The burly warrior beside her abruptly shifted his stance, obstructing her path.

*Sniff—*

He drew air through his nostrils, his internal energy surging violently as he delivered a grim, hushed warning.

“A fiendish presence.”

“What?! By what means? Did my brief emotional lapse breach our cover? No, that should be mechanically impossible…”

“Its trajectory is locked onto us. It is closing the distance rapidly.”

Her expression turned completely pale at his confirmation.

The exposure of this safehouse carried catastrophic implications.

It placed not only their immediate persons in jeopardy, but threatened the entire surviving network of the ‘Burning Torch’.

She ground her teeth together, her intellect scrambling for options as the sound of unhurried footsteps echoed closer through the structure.

The approaching entity was making absolutely no effort to mask its approach.

Jose’s anatomy began a radical shift—dense, dark fur erupted across his skin, his muscular framework expanded exponentially, his skeletal architecture reconfiguring—until he assumed the dangerous form of a lycanthropic beast.

Right then, the entry door swung open.

“Huu, at long last. He demands I ‘locate the targets,’ yet provides zero coordinates. What a preposterous assignment…”

A lone male figure stepped over the threshold of the ruined dwelling.

“That insufferable mortal… his management style mirrors our own Demon King… Surely it’s just my mind playing tricks.”

The newcomer muttered to himself with deep irritation, completely disregarding the hostile environment and the lethal intent radiating from the room’s occupants.

Upon registering their glares, he lifted a hand to sheepishly rub the nape of his neck.

“Ahem, greetings—”

Clearing his throat, his manner of speech shifted into an oddly polite register that contrasted sharply with his unkempt appearance.

He activated his intrinsic demonic trait, a unique psychological transmission method designed to communicate clear intent.

“It is a distinct honor to make your acquaintance. My designation is Miyamoto Ken.”

His tone projected a profound sincerity, carrying an underlying warmth that felt entirely surreal given the circumstances.

“I have journeyed here to deliver you from your current catastrophe.”

Regrettably, the core of his communication failed to register as intended.

His diplomatic overture was instantly answered by a massive, fur-laden fist swinging directly for his face.