REAPER SCANS
Legendary Returner’s Survival Guide
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
Chapter 41
My expression flickered with intrigue. The more I got to know this guy, the more fascinating he became.
In any case, he called at a good time. I had something to discuss.
“I spoke with my sister on the plane. She mentioned the Salvation Guild is headed to clear the SSS Rank Gate in Bolivia.”
“Yes. We intended to head there as soon as matters were settled in Korea.”
“You don't need to.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Before proceeding, I needed confirmation of something.
“The watches we’re using for this call, they’re safe from being wiretapped, correct?” I asked.
“Absolutely. Especially with Master Jin’s watch and mine. These aren't standard-issue watches. The cost alone sets them apart from ordinary commercial or government-issued models.”
“How much are they normally?”
“The lower-grade models run about $2000. High-grade watches are around $4000 to $5000. But mine, the Master Jin’s, and yours—despite appearing ordinary—cost roughly $1 million each.
“That’s exorbitant.”
“The price reflects the fact that we established our own network. But why the concern about wiretapping? And why shouldn't the Salvation Guild go to Bolivia?”
The reason was simple.
“Big sis and I will handle this gate alone.”
“…Come again?”
“I said what I said. By the way, I forgot to mention, but we’re not in Switzerland. We’re actually in Bolivia. How do I read that? Eru Aruto? Oh wait, El Alto International Airport.”
“…So, you and Master Jin are already in Bolivia, intending to clear the gate yourselves, secretly, without assistance?
“Exactamundo. You catch on quick.”
“......”
“Something wrong?”
“…If you’re caught, it’ll be no trifling matter. Even if the people want to celebrate the birth of a new hero, blatantly committing a crime could seriously escalate matters.”
He had a point, but there was an easy solution.
“We won't get caught then. Problem solved.”
“Do you have any idea how many people are currently at the Uyuni Salt Flat? Not to mention the thousands of cameras everywhere. You might be able to slip in unnoticed like you did in Texas, but that’s not possible for Master Jin.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that,” I glanced back.
I could hear my sister stirring inside the plane. But there was more than that.
Rumble…
The world pulsed for a split second. Or rather, all the surrounding mana in this area had vibrated.
My sister slowly exited the plane. Her eyes held a new depth, her body radiated vitality.
She offered a gentle smile. I smiled back.
Oh, right. I was on a call.
“Hey, my sister finally woke up. Here, you can speak with her.”
I passed the watch to my sister.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Episode 9
The 《Room of Time》.
Shi-hu's diary mentioned this place repeatedly. The concept was straightforward. Time flowed differently there.
The cause of that was that this wasn't a transfer of the body, but a transfer of the mind.
The mind is an enigma. The ancient adages of Three Jewels (also called Jing Qi Shen) detailed that uniting the mind, energy, and body in harmony could elevate a person to greater powers. However, even in the modern day, we failed to uncover the true mysteries of the mind.
The 《Room of Time》 was a secret art that temporarily separated body and soul. Success granted immense power, but failure carried significant risks.
Shi-hu had adapted the 《Room of Time》. He had typically used it for torture, but this time, he transformed it into a training ground.
Song-yi didn't hesitate to say yes. It was an invaluable opportunity.
After the encounter with the Apostle Karma in Texas, she became acutely aware of her limitations.
Over a hundred of those monsters already existed on Earth. Unseen enemies were the most dangerous. She needed the strength to confront them.
“I’m starting. Steel your resolve,” Shi-hu stated.
She nodded at her brother’s warning.
And then…
A sudden weight pressed down on her.
She slowly opened her eyes as her dulled senses rejuvenated.
Nothingness surrounded her. A white void. That was all that existed.
That was when a light flashed.
Song-yi instinctually tilted her head. However…
Slash!
She couldn’t stop a searing gash from tearing across the side of her face.
Blood sprayed as the sharp pain jolted her mind.
It had begun.
“Attacks will come from all directions. Block, dodge, deflect—this is your choice. Focus solely on escaping. Don’t think about anything else,” Shi-hu had warned her before entering.
Another flash of light.
Psshk—!
She slowly looked down.
Her abdomen had a big hole in it.
She dropped to her knees. If she didn’t listen to her instincts, she would have been decapitated.
She rolled her body to the side, blood splattering all over the floor.
A light beam landed where she sat a second ago.
Shnnk.
Hearing another sound, she quickly got up.
She cautiously touched her cheek. No wound. She then checked her abdomen.
Moments ago, it had been ripped open, but now it was perfectly intact. Even her clothes were undamaged.
A shiver ran down her spine. It was like a dream.
But the pain was real.
She pushed off the ground. Her hair scattered, not from a breeze, but severed by a sudden light beam.
Shi-hu had explained that this was a personally modified 《Room of Time》, but the fundamental principles remained.
In other words, the original 《Room of Time》 was likely a similar training space.
‘…He trained in a place like this? Not just for decades, but for centuries?’
But there was no time to dwell on it.
She ducked and launched herself forward.
Dodging the Light Beams, Song-yi reaffirmed the basics of a ‘Gate C-Runner’.
The first step to clearing a Gate was assessing your weapons. The second, find the gate’s weakness. And the third, create an opportunity.
She summoned her «Spheres of Light»—Not just one or two, but as many as she could.
The randomly appearing light beams collided against the spheres and dissipated, unable to penetrate the spheres.
That meant these light beams were ‘Natural Ki’.
She spun, landing lightly. The instant her feet touched down, she threw her head back.
Slice!
Her chin got cut clean off.
‘…So these light beams can also pop out of the floor.’
Piece by piece, Song-yi slowly gathered information.
Time was abundant, and humans were creatures of adaptation. They adjust to any environment, one way or another.
Song-yi was no exception.
She first dispelled the «Spheres of Light». She couldn't rely on them. No, she refused to rely on them.
And so, she trained through the ‘trial’.
Hours turned into days. Days into weeks.
As time passed, she adapted to the space. All day, she moved non-stop, without a moment to rest.
There was no fatigue. That was the nature of this place.
She even grew accustomed to the pain.
She extended her arm, flames wrapping around her hand.
《Divine Starfire Arts.
3rd Technique - Heavenly Path of Fire》
A light beam flew directly toward Song-yi’s hand, striking her palm. And…
It consumed her entire arm.
She winced. It hurt, but she endured. As mentioned, she was adapting.
Her arm slowly regenerated.
She needed to think.
‘What was the underlying principle behind the «Spheres of Light»?’
‘What exactly was the Transcendent Stage that Shi-hu described?’
‘What did he mean that the power of the soul was Transcendent Ki? And what even is Transcendent Ki?’
It was like the steps to clearing a Gate. She simply needed to analyze it methodically.
At first glance, the attacks appeared like they must be Transcendent Ki. It would only make sense since the space itself was made of Transcendent Ki.
But Shi-hu wasn't an idiot. He wouldn't have placed attacks of pure Transcendent Ki here.
These energies were disguised as Transcendent Ki, but they were in fact Natural Ki. The Energy of Great Nature.
That’s right. This place was the Great Nature.
She was literally standing on top of the answer, yet she hadn't recognized it.
If there is an object before you, you touch it and feel it to understand it.
Song-yi was wrestling with a profound dissonance.
Something that existed yet didn't. Something tangible, yet intangible.
But it was alright because she saw hope.
More time passed.
Song-yi continued dodging. After a month, she started to get used to them.
But that was when the frequency of the light beams increased.
Now they came flying every second.
Another month passed.
The frequency remained constant, but the number of light beams changed.
Initially, there was only one per second. Now there were two at a time.
Another month passed. And another.
After a year, the number of simultaneous light beams exceeded twenty.
There was no discernible pattern. Sometimes, only one light beam would be added each month, sometimes two.
Then, a sudden realization struck her.
‘Why am I only dodging?’
Only dodging attacks in a place meant for enlightenment? How was that right?
As she moved ceaselessly, her mind raced.
Then, a slow smile spread across Song-yi’s face.
It had taken a long time.
She herself expected it to take longer, but that was alright.
Through dodging and being hit, she realized it.
The soul contained so many myriad things that it was unexplainable. As such, the power of the soul was far superior to the energy permeating nature.
So how was it that Unique Awakeners were able to wield that energy so seamlessly?
Song-yi realized that she had been spiraling, lost despite having had the answer right in front of her the entire time.
The System.
The thing they called the System was indeed an important weapon for humans—a weapon that allowed them to confront gates.
However, it was necessary to think of the inverse.
Were humans really using the System as a weapon? Or could it be that the System was in fact using humans as a weapon?
Song-yi came to the realization that she had subconsciously fallen under the control of the System.
This realization, reached at the brink of death, was profound.
Though it was a simple truth, it was the key to unlocking the door that had been keeping her from advancing.
Song-yi stopped moving.
A torrent of light beams slammed into her.
Her body was pulverized. Head exploded. Arms vanished. Legs torn apart. Organs were exposed. Bones shattered.
There was pain, certainly. But the euphoria triumphed over it.
She could feel the energy within the attacks in intricate detail.
It was incredible. She felt like she was soaring through the sky.
She plunged into a bottomless ocean, swimming through the depths of the world.
The ocean inverted. It vanished, replaced by descending clouds.
She soared through the clouds as waves of fire washed over her, warm and comforting.
She finally felt it.
‘This is it. This is the energy I was ignorant of.’
Her body regenerated.
From then on, everything felt intuitive.
She waved her hand, and a massive wall of fire materialized before her.
It was not a skill. She had simply infused ‘will’ into ‘energy’, causing it to ‘materialize’.
The incoming light beams struck the wall and dissipated.
A smile graced her lips.
The space rippled again, erupting with countless light beams.
Song-yi extended her hands.
《Divine Starfire Arts.
3rd Technique - Heavenly Path of Fire》
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
