Trait Hoarder-Chapter 215 Succession – Part 2
Succession – Part 2
Gu Hyungwon crawled forward on his knees.
“W-wait. Warrior Kim. I was wrong.”
A pathetic sight.
How long had it been?
Only a few months ago, when we first met, he had radiated the overwhelming presence of a raging storm. Now, he was unrecognizable.
Gu Hyungwon pleaded desperately.
“I’ll compensate you. If you want me to be your slave, I will. If you demand my entire fortune, I’ll gladly give it up. Just, please… please, spare my martial arts.”
His eyes trembled like the aftermath of an earthquake.
Terror and desperation were etched into them like thorns.
It was inevitable.
He was a Level 7 superhuman.
A Swordmaster who had reached the Ultimate Realm.
In my original world, that wasn’t just the equivalent of a congressman—it was closer to medieval nobility, with all the privileges that entailed.
And now, he had to lose all of that.
Not only would he be weaker than an ordinary person, but he would spend the rest of his life in frail misery.
That was why he was begging.
Even as a slave, he wanted to remain a superhuman.
But I slowly shook my head.
I met the Legion Commander’s gaze and spoke.
“Legion Commander, I want the same punishment for him.”
“You’re ruthless. But yes, you’re right.”
A death sentence delivered right to his face.
Gu Hyungwon’s mouth hung open.
The Legion Commander, however, remained indifferent.
“If you lack resolve, you’re no real man.”
“Warrior Kim! Grandfather!”
Gu Hyungwon’s cries were desperate.
But it was useless.
The Legion Commander shattered his dantian without mercy, and Gu Hyungwon sobbed like a child as he was dragged away by the adjutants.
The office fell into a chilling silence.
“Hoo…”
The Legion Commander exhaled heavily as he sank into his seat.
“They say the darkest place is under the lamp. I was so focused on the wrong things that I didn’t even realize the ground beneath me was crumbling.”
“I apologize.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Enough. You should all keep this in mind. You’ll have to atone for your crimes soon. If something like this happens again, I will deliver the exact same punishment.”
“We understand.”
“I’m exhausted. Everyone, leave—except for Warrior Kim.”
“Yes, Legion Commander.”
The officers filed out like receding tides.
The Legion Commander slumped into his chair, fatigue written all over his face.
I bowed slightly.
“I apologize for the disturbance.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. The problem was my foolish children. Hah, I should have raised them properly when they were young.”
“Was that even possible at the time?”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
He let out a deep sigh before shaking his head.
“Anyway, I owe you an apology. Those idiots caused you trouble.”
“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t hurt at all.”
“Even so, I should give you something in return. Warrior Kim, thanks to you, I was able to cut out the cancer within my corps. As a reward, I’ll take a look at your swordsmanship.”
My sword?
I must have made a strange expression without realizing it, because the Legion Commander chuckled.
“I’m not asking you to become my disciple, so don’t make that face. You don’t have a master, which means your swordsmanship is bound to have impurities. Even if you’ve become a Swordmaster and reached the Ultimate Realm, you’ll need to refine it if you ever want to reach Level 8.”
‘Well… my level-ups come from accumulating traits, so that doesn’t really apply to me…’
But this was an act of goodwill on his part.
There was no reason to refuse.
“I would be honored to receive your guidance.”
“Tch, tch. You little brat. Back in my prime, warriors and swordsmen from all over the country would pack a hundred trucks just to learn a single technique from me!”
“They still do. Honestly, isn’t the entire Eastern Army practically made up of your disciples?”
“Hmph. You at least understand that much… Tch. Follow me.”
The Legion Commander stepped into a private elevator inside his office.
A spacious lift descended over a hundred floors underground.
At the deepest level, a secret training hall awaited.
It was a personal facility reserved exclusively for the Legion Commander, inscribed with layers of reinforced and protective magic arrays.
Standing at one side of the hall, the Legion Commander drew his sword.
“Now then, Warrior Kim. Attack me with your strongest strike.”
“Are you sure?”
“You brat. If you can so much as graze a strand of my hair—or even my sleeve—I’ll give you a compliment. No, wait. Want to make a bet? If you manage to touch my sleeve, I’ll give you a building similar to the one Jeongju gave you. How about it?”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Listen, kid. Level 7 is just the beginning. You talk about reaching the ‘Ultimate Realm,’ but you have no idea how different it is from Transcendence. The gap is on a completely different scale.”
I already knew that.
I just had to look at the Thor Cult’s Pope.
My Thunder could destroy a factory at best, but the Pope had unleashed one powerful enough to wipe out an entire small city.
Even the Sun Mage Tower Master, whom I had observed with my Insight, was at a similar level.
“Hoo…”
I was curious.
Mars—Nephilim—Kalaratri.
How well would that combination fare against a Level 8?
[Mar’s Swordsmanship] [Close-Combat Mastery] [Grand Assault]
[Giant’s Strength] [Vajra Body] [Undying]
I activated my Mars build, restructuring my entire trait composition.
A sharp and overwhelming aura surged through my body.
I had openly switched my traits.
“Oh-ho.”
The Legion Commander let out a quiet murmur of admiration.
“So that’s the infamous Heavenly Demon Physique.”
He had probably seen it before.
When I fought the former Hunter Association President one-on-one.
But since the Legion Commander was a warrior-type superhuman without traits like Insight or Sixth Sense, he wouldn’t have been entirely certain.
“Hm…”
With a curious expression, he tapped his chest.
“This is truly bizarre. Kid, do that again a few more times. I want to check something.”
‘Why is he acting like this?’
I wasn’t sure, but I nodded.
“Understood.”
[Nephilim Sword] [Master of the Blade] [Mana Soul]
[Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art] [Thor Cultivation Technique] [Focus]
I switched to my Nephilim build.
[Kalaratri] [Sword Flash] [One-Man Army]
[Insight] [Sixth Sense] [Dance]
And then, the Kalaratri build.
The Legion Commander let out a hollow laugh.
“Heh.”
Then, whoosh—he unleashed his presence.
His [Battle Merchant] trait activated.
A blade-like surge of mana swept over me.
Like a storm, or a tidal wave, it eroded my very being.
If I hadn’t immediately switched to my Mars build, or my Trinity build, I would’ve collapsed on the spot.
‘What the hell?’
Something was off.
Was the Legion Commander’s [Battle Merchant] always this strong?
It felt far more overwhelming than before.
If he had been this powerful when we first met, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand him. I would’ve been forced to submit.
“I’d heard that the Heavenly Demon Physique was incredible, but seeing it firsthand… it’s astonishing. What I’m using now is my Unique Ability. The mages were kind enough to call it [Hero].”
Hero!
One of Arcane Seoul’s most powerful traits.
It granted an overwhelming boost when fighting someone of a higher tier.
A god-tier buff against boss monsters and high-level villains.
It had limitations, sure, but the sheer amplification far exceeded even One-Man Army.
To match it, you’d need One-Man Army combined with Giant’s Strength and Vajra Body.
“I’ve heard about your Unique Ability as well, Legion Commander. But you’re saying it’s activating? Against me?”
“That’s right.”
The Heavenly Demon Physique, the Omnipotent, derived their power from the soul.
Since my soul’s tier was high enough to be exposed when I switched traits, the Legion Commander’s ability must have recognized it as a worthy threat.
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“I can’t afford to hold back, then. Come at me with everything you have. Right now, I’m twice as strong as usual.”
Twice as strong?
That’s a straight-up cheat ability.
[Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art] [Black Tiger Invincible Mind Art] [Master of the Blade]
[Rampaging Train] [Battle Merchant] [Hero]
The Legion Commander’s trait window.
All high-tier traits, and [Hero]’s mana circuits were glowing, flickering ominously.
If I lost focus for even a moment, my sword would be knocked away.
I tensed my core and kicked off the ground.
Tak!
A light dash.
Then, using [Grand Assault], I abruptly changed direction.
A feint, followed by a direct charge.
Mars Swordsmanship bared its fangs, aiming straight for the Legion Commander’s heart.
“Excellent!”
The Legion Commander let out an exclamation of admiration.
Then came his counter.
A single thrust.
Or rather, a flash of light.
I recognized it instantly—Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art’s Black Tiger Thunderclap.
A simple thrust, slow and deliberate.
Yet somehow, that one attack devoured the entire world.
“Damn it!”
I switched to my Nephilim build.
Black-and-white sword energy erupted.
Of course, I followed the attack trajectory laid out by Mars Swordsmanship.
But I knew.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Even if I executed the technique perfectly, I wouldn’t be able to deflect that counter.
Boom!
The Legion Commander effortlessly overwhelmed me.
Black-and-white sword energy?
An ultimate sword technique?
None of it mattered.
His counter carried a pure and supreme sword principle.
That principle, that sword will, shattered my Nephilim Sword and crushed me under its weight.
Kalaratri activated.
I became lightning and slipped through.
Even as I evaded, I pushed forward, seeking an opening to counterattack.
An attack that seemingly transcended space itself.
Thud!
But just before I could land my strike—
Darkness.
Even while using Kalaratri, even while in an invincible state, I felt a searing impact that sent me flying.
“Gah!”
Blood sprayed.
Like a fountain, it splattered through the air.
I barely clung to consciousness.
Equipping [Grand Assault], I stabilized my balance midair, using [Undying] and my recovery traits to heal myself.
“Damn! Are you alright? I got carried away.”
“I’m fine. What… what did you do just now?”
“What do you mean? It’s just a variation of incorporeal and elementalization techniques. But if you properly master sword energy, you can still land a hit. Not just me—any Level 8 would be able to do the same. If you’re going to rely on that trick, use your head a little more. Got it?”
He called Kalaratri a “trick technique.”
But it was a valuable lesson.
If I hadn’t learned that it didn’t work against Level 8s, I might’ve used it recklessly and gotten myself killed.
If I ever had to fight a Level 8 boss, I’d have to stick to raw burst damage and elemental attacks.
Like the Saintess, for example.
Or the Saintess.
…Yeah, mostly the Saintess.
“And another thing. When you use that Heavenly Demon Physique, I’m noticing some flaws.”
“Flaws?”
“There’s a slight hesitation.”
“What? That’s not possible.”
“What do you mean, ‘not possible’? I see you better than you see yourself, kid!”
“My movements are fine, aren’t they? I’m fully aware of what I’m doing.”
“No, that’s not the issue.”
The Legion Commander tapped his temple.
“It’s your thoughts. There’s a brief disconnect. Your movements flow smoothly, but your mana flow stutters—just for a split second.”
“My mana flow?”
“Yeah. For about 0.01 seconds.”
0.01 seconds?
That’s barely anything.
The Legion Commander must’ve read my mind because he immediately shot me a sharp look.
“0.01 seconds is more than enough time to get your head sliced off. Think about your enemies.”
Yeah.
The Saintess.
And the incomplete, resurrected Old Father.
If I wanted to stand against them, I couldn’t afford even the smallest weakness.
I bowed deeply in gratitude.
“Thank you for your guidance. This has been a great help.”
“Hah. We’re just getting started.”
“…Excuse me? You’re saying there’s more?”
“Of course, you idiot. If I weren’t going to teach you properly, I wouldn’t have started in the first place. Now—come at me again.”
Eight days.
That was how long I trained under the Legion Commander.
A master’s presence made a world of difference.
By the third day, I could perceive the flaw in my mana flow.
And after five more days—on the eighth day—I had completely corrected the mana disruption caused by trait switching.
I could now switch traits naturally.
No need to focus my mind.
No need to consciously think, I need to switch from this trait to that one.
It was as effortless as breathing.
As smooth as flowing water.
That alone was an enormous improvement.
But on the final day, the Legion Commander gave me an unbelievable gift.
“Turn around and sit.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. Clench your teeth. Don’t speak. Don’t make a sound.”
“What do you mea—ugh?”
“I said shut up.”
The Legion Commander placed his palm against my back.
Right on the Myeongmun-hyeol point—between the second and third lumbar vertebrae.
A surge of heat flooded my body.
The fierce mana of Black Tiger Invincible Mind Art, the very essence of its internal energy, was pouring into me through that acupoint.
My lower abdomen, which had been empty—only partially connected to my mana circuits—
It was being cleansed, completely cleared out, and forcibly reconstructed into a proper dantian.
It burned.
Like molten lava searing my core.
Like a red-hot iron stabbing into my gut.
A groan almost escaped as my mind blurred, but I held on.
Because I knew exactly what this was.
And because I knew that if I lost control and made a sound, both the Legion Commander and I would be in danger.
Forced Energy Transfer.
Also known as Internal Energy Transmission.
‘Why… Why would he go this far…?’
The answer came soon enough.
Within my newly formed dantian, something wriggled into place.
A mana circuit wrapped around my newly acquired internal energy.
The moment I realized what it was—
[Hero]
The Legion Commander hadn’t just given me his refined mana.
He had passed down his Unique Trait.
A power forged over decades.
A trait shaped by his struggles—fighting for independence, battling the People’s Army and the Chinese forces in the Korean War—everything he had ever built up.
[Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art] [Black Tiger Invincible Mind Art] [Master of the Blade]
[Rampaging Train] [Battle Merchant]
Of the six mana circuits in his trait window, one was now empty.
Eventually, it would be replaced by something else.
But whatever that new trait might be, it would never match [Hero]—one of Arcane Seoul’s most powerful abilities.
“Legion Commander…”
The Legion Commander had aged dramatically in an instant.
Deep wrinkles lined his face.
He no longer looked like he was in his forties.
Now, he resembled Old Man Gu—his eldest son.
I couldn’t help but bow my head.
“I’m sorry. Because of me…”
“Hmph. I did it because I wanted to. No need for apologies.”
The Legion Commander jabbed a finger against my stomach.
“You won’t be able to use it for now. It needs time to settle, so I sealed it. When you reach Level 8, drink Nectar to awaken your dantian. That’s when the [Hero] ability will activate.”
And my dantian would be fully unlocked as a bonus.
My mana had always originated from my heart, but having a dantian wasn’t a bad thing.
Dual cores.
Two hearts.
Two engines.
I bowed even deeper.
“Thank you, truly. How can I ever repay this kindness?”
“Forget it. If you really feel that guilty, take down that damned Heavenly Demon someday. You know what they say—if Japan is Korea’s enemy for a hundred years, then China is our rival for a thousand.”
“So that saying exists in this world too.”
The Legion Commander downed an Elixir and a Nectar in quick succession.
Like turning back a biological clock, his youth returned.
From a dying man in his eighties, he recovered to his early fifties.
Not perfect, but healthy enough.
Seeing that, I finally felt relieved.
“Here, take this.”
“What is it?”
“Put it on.”
The Legion Commander tossed me a black tracksuit.
Pure black.
Adorned with a barely visible black tiger stripe pattern.
Against the dark fabric, the stripes blended in so well that they were almost impossible to see.
I changed out of my tattered, battle-worn tracksuit and slipped on the new one.
The moment I did, a strange sensation settled over me.
Comforting, yet brimming with power.
This wasn’t an ordinary piece of clothing.
“It’s the Black Tiger Attire.”
“What? Black Tiger Attire? That’s a martial robe, isn’t it?”
“I extracted the magic circuits and reforged them into a tracksuit.”
“This is too much.”
“Too much? Once I decide to back someone, I go all the way. Compared to everything else I’ve given you, a piece of clothing is nothing.”
“But…”
“No buts. There’s only one condition.”
The Legion Commander raised his index finger.
His upright finger pointed straight to the sky.
“The Celestial Throne. Or rather, the World’s Strongest. These days, they call it Earth’s Strongest, don’t they? Reach Level 9 while I’m still alive. That’s how you’ll repay me—for the internal energy, for the ability, for the clothes.”
The Legion Commander wouldn’t live much longer.
With the energy transfer, he would die even sooner.
At most, three years.
At the earliest, within one year.
A sudden weight settled on my shoulders.
But looking at his mischievous grin, I couldn’t refuse.
I gave my word, solemn and heavy with sincerity.
“I will reach Level 9 and live up to your expectations.”
“Damn right you will. You’d better.”
The feeling of resolve lasted only a moment.
Three weeks later, I returned home, briefly adjusting my tracksuit and touching my lower abdomen.
Then—
A breaking news alert blared from the television I had left on.
[Breaking news. A massive, unexplained explosion has occurred at Shinwha Hospital in Songpa District. Hundreds are reported dead or injured, and at least several hundred more are believed to be trapped under the collapsed hospital building…]
A hospital bombing.
The final precursor to the zombie outbreak.
Episode 2 was about to begin.
