Chapter 105: A Scammer's Winning Strategy (7)

A torrent of blue lightning crashed down on Cheon Woo-Seong.

Ptzzzz!

The black wings bounding him were torn to shreds, exposing him entirely.

“

Huh?

What...?”

Wrapped in a glowing light, he blinked at Kwon Oh-Jin and then at the lightning crackling all around himself.

Kwon Oh-Jin tossed his broken spear aside and clenched his mangled hand, which had been crushed under the strain of extreme mana compression.

“What does it look like, motherfucker? It’s an express ticket to your mom.”

He ignored the throbbing pain in his arm and threw an all-out punch. His fist, brimming with condensed lightning, pierced right through Cheon Woo-Seong’s chest.

Gush!

“K-Kugh!”

Blood spilled from his mouth as his heart was ripped from his body and pulsated in Kwon Oh-Jin's grasp.

“W-Why...?”

His wide eyes darted about in confusion before he finally collapsed onto the ground.

“Haa...”

Kwon Oh-Jin looked down at Cheon Woo-Seong, who lay helplessly on the ground.

“M-Mom... Mom...”

Despite having his heart torn out, he desperately clung to life. Perhaps it was a perk of being on the brink of ascending to nine-stars.

Kwon Oh-Jin clicked his tongue as a bitter sensation wrapped around him like he was trudging barefoot through muddy water.

What’s so great about a mom, anyway?

Having been abandoned at birth by parents whose faces he couldn't remember, he couldn’t understand Cheon Woo-Seong’s woe.

“M-Mom...” he whimpered.

“Shut the fuck up, dude.”

Kwon Oh-Jin sighed and searched through Cheon Woo-Seong's belongings.

Just as I expected from a mama's boy.

Cheon Woo-Seong carried a photo of his mother hidden within a notebook. She looked like any other Korean woman passing by on the street every thirty seconds. To Cheon Woo-Seong, however, this plain woman with permed hair must have meant the world.

Transformation.

Crack, crack!

Cheon Woo-Seong’s dim eyes lit up with a spark.

“

Huh?

M-Mom?”

Kwon Oh-Jin, whose face had changed form, simply looked down at him wordlessly.

“

H-Haha

... Mom!” Tears streamed down Cheon Woo-Seong’s face. “I... I missed you. I really... really...”

His trembling hand weakly reached out toward Kwon Oh-Jin.

“I’m... sorry, Mom...”

His outstretched hand dropped limply to the ground, never reaching his mother's face. The light faded completely from his eyes, and silence fell over the tunnel.

Kwon Oh-Jin clicked his tongue again, approaching Cheon Woo-Seong’s lifeless body.

This kind of shit really isn’t my thing, but letting his last moments play out in an illusion... isn’t too bad, I guess.

He reached out and mumbled, “Now, let’s see.”

Black Heaven.

Black clouds rushed into the gaping hole in Cheon Woo-Seong’s chest.

Kwon Oh-Jin felt slightly doubtful if it would work on a body without a heart, but his concerns were quickly dismissed as mana flowed into him through the clouds.

Rumble.

Impressive.

Cheon Woo-Seong’s mana was on another level compared to Park Geon-Woo, another eight-star Awakener. The massive quantity was one thing, but the quality itself was much more intense.

Mana this potent... is good news for me.

Kwon Oh-Jin, who'd been constantly struggling with the limitations of his narrow mana circuits, could now significantly amplify his power output.

Just when he intensified the black clouds to absorb more, his Stigma emitted a bright glow that enveloped him whole.

Woong!

This is... the same as what happened with him earlier.

A searing pain tore through his chest, like it was burning from the inside out.

“Kugh!”

Not long after, a sixth stroke etched itself beside his Stigma, followed by a surge of strength coursing through him.

Ring!

[The Stigma of Lyra has been promoted to six stars!]

“Haa.”

He suddenly underwent physical growth. His bones became sturdier, and his muscles tougher. He felt as though he could rip steel poles apart with his bare hands now.

He smirked as realization dawned on him. Physical growth meant that his mana circuits also expanded.

He summoned blue lightning that flared violently in his hands.

Crackle!

“Fuck yeah.”

Now that he was a six-star Awakener, the amount of mana he could control at once increased dramatically.

Though with my mana reserves, I'm still trying to drain a hundred-ton water tank with a garden hose.

However, that didn’t mean he was any weaker than other Awakeners of the same rank—far from it. His strength came from the sheer, overwhelming volume of mana he possessed.

My goddess is going to lose it again.

He'd advanced to six stars in under a year since awakening. This ridiculous growth rate would have people wondering if he'd cheated somehow.

“But I still have a long way to go.”

It was far too early to be satisfied. To keep up his pretense as the Heaven-Defying Star and become humanity's savior, he needed even more power.

I have to be strong enough that no one will dare challenge me. Strong enough that no one can touch what's mine.

Just as he was solidifying his resolve, a familiar sensation washed over him and the scene before him shifted.

“

Hmm?

More memories?”

Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes, focusing as Cheon Woo-Seong’s memories began to flow in.

Deep in a forest, Cheon Woo-Seong asked,

“Why do you need this?”

An old man with wrinkled skin smiled gently at him.

“Hahaha, you don’t need to know. More importantly, is it going well with the plan?”

“Yes. Once this operation succeeds, I’ll have complete control over the association.”

“Hahaha, you’re doing well.”

Cheon Woo-Seong’s gaze wavered.

“Father... Are you sure about this?”

“Woo-Seong.”

The old man tenderly placed his hand on Cheon Woo-Seong’s cheek.

“Have you forgotten what happened to your mother?

Cheon Woo-Seong’s expression stiffened.

“Th-That’s...!”

“Hahaha. Don’t think about unnecessary things.”

The old man gently caressed Cheon Woo-Seong’s hand.

“All you need to do... is listen to me.”

Cheon Woo-Seong’s eyes turned foggy like he'd been hypnotized.

“Yes... Father.”

The memory ended with Cheon Woo-Seong bowing deeply before the old man.

Ring!

[Some of Awakener Cheon Woo-Seong’s records have been inherited.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin has fully absorbed the Stigma of Owl Nebula!]

[The Black Heaven has acquired the Domination trait.]

[Kwon Oh-Jin can now exert dominance over other Awakeners bearing the Stigma of Owl Nebula.]

“Oh.”

I can exert control over other Awakeners now. Is this because I kept absorbing that Stigma?

Although he hadn’t tested the skill yet, it seemed like it would be highly useful.

Speaking of which...

He narrowed his eyes, recalling the face of the old man in Cheon Woo-Seong's memories.

The King of Owls, Cheon Do-Yoon. So he’s the one who instigated Cheon Woo-Seong.

Kwon Oh-Jin considered the possibility that Cheon Woo-Seong had remained a little boy in spirit because of Cheon Do-Yoon’s manipulation.

What is that man scheming?

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The fragments of their conversation indicated that Cheon Do-Yoon was searching for something, but the beginning of their discussion was a blank space.

“Hmm.”

He furrowed his brow. No matter how much he pondered, there simply wasn’t enough information to figure out what Cheon Do-Yoon was planning.

I guess I can only stay cautious for now.

Cheon Do-Yoon was still an opponent beyond Kwon Oh-Jin’s capabilities.

He’s probably a high-ranking Awakener like Isabella, albeit three ranks lower than her as an Executor. He must be insanely strong to have earned that title and lead one of the Black Heaven's factions.

If I could just use Isabella...

He shook his head. The risk was far too great. Isabella was too formidable for him to control.

In that case...

His eyes glinted sharply.

Do I have to build as much strength as possible before Cheon Do-Yoon makes his move?

The only way forward was for him to grow strong enough to hold his own against a high-ranking Awakener.

“Hmm.”

A way to quickly get powerful, huh? I do have an idea. I don’t know if it’ll work, but... it's definitely worth a try.

“Alright, let’s start by getting in touch with Jun-Man.”

He stood up with a smile.

Should be a pretty sweet reward coming my way.

Not only had he come up with a plan to capture Cheon Woo-Seong, he'd also succeeded in taking him down as he tried to escape. His contributions were leagues ahead of anyone else’s. The association chairman would undoubtedly reward him appropriately, no questions asked.

I wonder how much he'll give me?

He chuckled, excited just thinking about it. He wasn’t in dire need of money, but one could never have too much.

“Well then...”

As he moved to retrieve his phone from his pocket, a sharp pain shot through his arm.

Throb!

“Argh!”

He glanced down with a frown at his battered arm.

It’s completely wrecked.

In the chaos of the battle and the rush of victory, he’d completely forgotten about his injuries. Now, he felt the full extent of the damage. Every part of him was aching and worn down.

“Ugh.”

Wounds often started hurting the moment one became aware of them. As his condition dawned on him, so did a crushing wave of pain and fatigue.

Fuck.

Unable to hold himself upright, he collapsed onto the ground.

Thud.

“I need... to call...”

He tried to activate the Stigma of Aquarius to heal himself, but it was too much for him at the moment.

Woong!

Blue sparks unsteadily flickered at his fingertips.

I’m so damn sleepy.

“Just need... five minutes...”

In the ravaged underground tunnel, he leaned against the wall as his eyes drifted closed.

***

“Don’t you think this is a bit much?” a woman uttered, her high heels clacking sharply against the floor in frustration. “How could he not even send me a single text?”

“Th-That's...”

The woman bit her lip, crossing her legs and running her fingers through her shimmering platinum blonde hair. She glared at the elderly man kowtowing before her.

“Do you think I didn't take care of him right? I stayed by his side the entire time, nursed him back to health, and even cooked for him.”

“Y-Your Majesty, you did everything you could have.”

“Then, do you think he doesn't fancy me?

“That would never be the case!” The elderly man shook his head vigorously with wide eyes as if the very notion was absurd. “How could any man in the world not fall for Your Majesty’s stunning beauty?!”

Contrary to his tidy appearance, veins bulged in his neck. His neatly groomed gray mustache quivered.

“Then...”

Her eyes gleamed with intensity as a dark blood-red aura surged around her, pulsing outward and rattling the mansion to its core.

Rumble!

“Why hasn’t he contacted me?” she demanded.

“Th-That's...”

“Wasn’t it you, Roberto, who told me I should wait patiently instead of reaching out first?”

“M-My deepest apologies, Your Majesty!”

Roberto bowed deeper and nervously swallowed, his ironed butler’s uniform now soaked with sweat.

“Well, whatever.” Her pale skin shimmered like a precious jewel through the folds of her dress as she remained gracefully seated on a fancy chair. “If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll just have to go see him myself.”

Isabella licked her crimson lips.