With Kim Muhyuk as the last participant, the first-rate license exam came to an end, and an announcement played over the speakers.

“After we restore the sparring platform, we will begin the scheduled pinnacle-expert license exam. Honored guests, we would appreciate it if you could wait a moment.”

They’d already done enough just by attending to preserve the Martial Alliance Leader’s dignity, so no one would have dared criticize them even if they left midway.

And yet, among the prominent figures from every field—people too busy to waste even an hour—there weren’t many who actually got up to leave.

Even those who’d planned to go simply stayed put and started talking to the people beside them.

“This... looks like the Korean martial world is about to be shaken up.”

“Five rising talents passed the first-rate license exam, didn’t they?”

“And the exam itself felt far harder than last year.”

“That rising talent who came out last—Kim Muhyuk—apparently doesn’t belong to any sect yet.”

“Is that true?”

None of the rising talents who had finished the exam left either.

Even those who’d been carried to the infirmary came back after nothing more than emergency treatment.

They said it was because they wanted to watch the pinnacle-expert license exam that would start soon, but...

He’s my age, and he’s a pinnacle expert...

I didn’t even see what happened at the end.

I still can’t get rid of the chills.

That was just an excuse. Everyone’s eyes kept sneaking toward the one existence who had done what no one had ever managed to do until now.

“Whew...”

Kim Muhyuk had his eyes closed, quietly replaying his fight with the Martial Alliance Leader.

No one could bring themselves to speak to him carelessly—until—

“Hey—You cheap bastard!”

Shin Kangheon showed up with his forehead wrapped in bandages and marched straight up to Kim Muhyuk to pick a fight.

“You better be grateful to me.”

“What is it now?”

When Kim Muhyuk opened his eyes and looked at him with a clearly annoyed expression, Shin Kangheon planted both hands on his hips and lifted his chin shamelessly.

“You seriously asking because you don’t know? I went out first and tired the Martial Alliance Leader out for you!”

“...Is this guy actually insane?”

Kim Muhyuk made a dumbfounded face, then grinned and started needling him.

“I guess. You wouldn’t want to admit it. I endured ten techniques, but someone else got planted into the floor after only three...”

“Yeah, sure. You don’t ever think it would’ve been the other way around if you’d gone first and I’d gone last?”

Shin Kangheon snorted and tried to bite back, but this kind of argument was exactly where Kim Muhyuk was always a few moves ahead.

“Hold on. Don’t you hear something weird? Like some first-rate nobody running his mouth at a pinnacle expert...”

“AAAGH! You’re pissing me off for real!”

Thanks to Shin Kangheon exploding in rage, the stiff mood around them softened.

Seeing the two of them—absurdly strong, yet bickering like children—made the surrounding rising talents burst into laughter.

A little later, Oh Jungmin and Song Junho returned too—unlike Shin Kangheon, who’d bolted out mid-treatment, they’d finished properly before coming back—and they offered their congratulations.

“Muhyuk, you were unbelievable. Can’t you get strong a little slower?”

“Just wait. I’m getting a pinnacle-expert license next year too!”

“But what happened at the very end?”

Maybe Kim Muhyuk’s fight had lit a fire under him—Shin Kangheon stayed there too, and the three of them, faces flushed, talked excitedly for a long time about Kim Muhyuk’s match.

And it wasn’t just them.

“What...?”

A chill crawled up Kim Muhyuk’s spine. He turned around—and the moment he did, Yang Hayun, who’d been staring holes into him, snapped her head away.

In the brief glance he caught, for some reason, her eyes were wet with tears.

You could’ve just talked to me...

Uneasy for no good reason, Kim Muhyuk realized that even though the exam was over, a huge number of people were still watching him.

From all directions, he kept hearing the name “Kim Muhyuk” without pause. It was enough to make his ears itch and his face burn.

“Ugh...”

Faced with a level of public attention he’d never experienced in his life, Kim Muhyuk scratched his cheek.

If someone asked whether he hated it... no, he didn’t.

Being recognized in an official setting made him genuinely happy and proud.

And the reason he’d closed his eyes earlier was partly to review his spar with the Martial Alliance Leader—and partly to steady the emotions that were swelling up inside him.

So this is what it feels like. Standing on a sparring platform with so many people watching...

It felt like taking another step toward the goal he’d dreamed of since childhood.

It even felt like he’d cleared the first gate on the road to the World’s Strongest Sparring Tournament.

Even if today’s bout had been an exam rather than a tournament, proving his martial arts in front of countless eyes was the same.

Kim Muhyuk met the gazes turned toward him and gave an awkward smile.

“Looks like I’m done living quietly.”

Part of him was worried, too.

His plan had been to hide his skill and conceal his constitution until he was certain he was fully prepared.

He didn’t want excessive attention to interfere with training, and he also judged it could make responding to possible contact from the Heavenly Demon Cult more difficult.

Am I prepared enough right now?

Even after reaching the realm of a pinnacle expert, Kim Muhyuk didn’t get arrogant.

Because even he—the regressor—couldn’t precisely predict what would happen from here on out.

So much had already changed, and there was no guarantee the future he remembered would keep unfolding the same way.

And yet, strangely, he didn’t feel very anxious.

A moment later, he realized why.

Because I’m not alone anymore.

Unlike his past life, he had family at his side now, along with his master and friends.

And unlike before, he could also receive help from the Martial Alliance, still standing strong.

Alone, it might be impossible—but with them, he felt confident they could change even a bleak future.

Not a world ruled by the Heavenly Demon Cult’s brutal law of the jungle... but an ordinary future where even ordinary people could smile.

Kim Muhyuk lifted his head, looked up at the sky, and murmured to himself.

“I might be the most watched rising talent in Korea now... but this is just the beginning. The world’s full of monsters even worse than me.”

“What’s he even saying? What a smug bastard.”

“You know you’ve got a face I want to punch right now, right?”

“The camera’s filming over here...”

As the three of them surrounded Kim Muhyuk and piled on the insults, a familiar voice came from behind them.

“Hoho. So the protagonist has completely changed, huh?”

“Martial Alliance Leader.”

Yeo Pilgeuk wore a pleased smile as he looked over Kim Muhyuk and the rising talents who had taken the first-rate license exam, offering words of encouragement.

“You all worked hard. Regardless of the result, I hope it was time you could take something away from. Train harder—and next year, surprise the world even more.”

“Yes!”

At the young talents’ forceful reply, Yeo Pilgeuk smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

“Good. There’s still plenty to see, so look forward to it.”

Turning away, Yeo Pilgeuk walked toward the martial artists waiting for the pinnacle-expert test.

“Next is your turn. I look forward to seeing each of you prove your qualifications with the martial arts you’ve built.”

“...Yes.”

“We will remember that, Martial Alliance Leader.”

The eight first-rate martial artists participating in the pinnacle-expert license exam gave crisp fist-and-palm salutes as they answered.

But a moment later, when the pinnacle-expert license exam began, the unexpected happened—again and again.

“I will forfeit.”

“I will also forfeit.”

“Having keenly realized my own lack...”

Out of the eight participants, three did not step onto the sparring platform at all and forfeited.

All of them looked unwell, but the Martial Alliance Leader didn’t ask why or scold them. He only gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“I see. Understood.”

Of the five remaining participants, four gathered their courage and challenged the Martial Alliance Leader—but none of them could withstand his ten techniques.

“Next!”

“Next!”

“Neeext—!”

Any other year, all four would’ve been strong enough to pass the exam without question.

But in the final three techniques, their resolve broke.

“Isn’t the pinnacle-expert standard a bit too high? If we’re matching the Martial Alliance Leader’s standard, then half the pinnacle experts listed in the registry should be returning their licenses.”

Na Ilcheon, the Azure Sky Sword Elder, laughed as he made a pointed joke.

The other sect leaders of the Eight Great Sects wore displeased expressions as well.

But they couldn’t argue with a result judged by the Martial Alliance Leader.

“After what we just saw someone endure...”

“In the end, this is all because of that child.”

With complicated eyes, the sect leaders of the Eight Great Sects looked toward Kim Muhyuk.

The existence who had naturally become the passing standard for the pinnacle-expert license exam.

Three first-rate martial artists, burdened by that standard, had given up before even trying.

Four had dared to step forward—but their capabilities had fallen short.

“...A small inner demon must have already taken root in their hearts.”

At Jang Jinmyeong’s low murmur, the sect leaders gave faint nods.

His voice was trembling in a subtle way, but no one had the spare attention to notice.

Becoming a pinnacle expert on your first license exam is abnormal in the first place.

Is this not the return of Richard Han?

If it were me, my heart would’ve broken too...

They recalled Richard Han’s youthful face and frowned.

A monster who had driven countless martial artists—once called geniuses among their peers—into despair.

The year he appeared, it became the year with the most martial artists forfeiting the license exam since the exam’s creation.

Would the same thing happen again?

“The Azure Sky Sword Gate’s First Direct Disciple, Bu Yeonha, requests instruction from the Martial Alliance Leader!”

At that moment, Bu Yeonha lightly sprang onto the sparring platform, calmly raised her sword, and took her opening stance.

Unlike those who had despaired and quit, she seemed to have gained something from Yeo Pilgeuk and Kim Muhyuk’s exchange—her eyes sparkled.

And she even smiled with ease.

“The spotlight keeps focusing on one junior. I’m going to steal it all.”

“Hahahaha! I like that bold ambition! We’ll begin at once!”

The Azure Sky Sword Gate’s solemn sword and the King of Fists’ fists collided in rapid succession.

In the blue sky, thunder crashed again and again, and lightning-like sword aura spiraled out in every direction.

KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA!

She looked as if she’d suffered injuries both large and small, but Bu Yeonha endured all the way to the tenth technique—Golden Dragon Ascends to Heaven.

Even after the spar ended, she stood proudly on her own two feet.

Yeo Pilgeuk nodded, smiling with clear satisfaction.

“Congratulations on becoming a pinnacle expert.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Only after Bu Yeonha stepped off the sparring platform on her own two feet did she finally slump down onto the floor—and she received a standing ovation from the prominent figures.

The first—and last—pinnacle-expert exam passer after Kim Muhyuk.

“Heh-heh. That child is my granddaughter! The future of our Azure Sky Sword Gate!”

“Ah... yes...”

Na Ilcheon stood up without the slightest embarrassment and bragged about his granddaughter to everyone in sight, while the sect leaders of the Eight Great Sects nodded with strained expressions.

Because among the Eight Great Sects, in the end, no one became a pinnacle expert except Bu Yeonha.

“Now, all exams are concluded!”

With Bu Yeonha as the finale, the license exam that had set the hearts of its watchers burning came to an end.

Just as Yeo Pilgeuk had said, it hadn’t even taken a full hour.

Yeo Pilgeuk spoke to the prominent figures who still hadn’t left—and to the cameras.

“After a brief rest, there will be a license qualification award ceremony. And also—!”

The Martial Alliance Leader’s piercing gaze looked as if it might swallow the camera whole.

“There will be a major announcement to change the Korean martial world in the right direction!”

The Martial Alliance Leader promised a bombshell.

At his unexpected words, the sect leaders of the Eight Great Sects looked at one another in alarm.

“Did you get any advance notice?”

“...I received nothing.”

“Me neither...”

They couldn’t guess what the Martial Alliance Leader intended to do.

They assumed it would be in the same vein as how he had unilaterally changed the license exam, but instinctively, they were seized by an anxiety they couldn’t name.

Heat hotter than ever.

Countless eyes focused too intensely.

That was why they couldn’t recklessly step forward—and why they realized this situation, too, was exactly what the Martial Alliance Leader intended.

“What in the world is he planning...?”

They understood they couldn’t escape the stage the Martial Alliance Leader had prepared.

*****

“Whew... whew...”

In his waiting room, Jang Jinmyeong, the sect leader of Sun and Moon Gate, kept his eyes closed and steadied his breathing.

Recently, it had become increasingly hard to control his emotions.

Killing intent kept bubbling up, and he wanted to burn everything down.

He knew the reason himself, but he couldn’t stop.

Because he was already so deeply enthralled by a demonic art that there was no way out.

“My lord.”

At that moment, a man in a black martial robe appeared like smoke inside the room and prostrated himself.

Jang Jinmyeong opened his eyes and glared at his confidant with bloodshot eyes.

“Black Swallow! Do you know where you are, showing up here? If your presence is discovered—”

“Our headquarters was attacked.”

“...What did you just say?”

As Jang Jinmyeong froze in place, Black Swallow spoke quickly.

“The Glacier Priestess betrayed us. She led the yin-cold lineage martial artists and attacked us. Somehow, she also discovered our safe house. The fact that our communications were cut first makes it clear this was a preplanned operation. I barely escaped alone to deliver the news to you, my lord.”

Now that he looked, blood had spattered Black Swallow’s clothes.

“The Glacier Priestess... Hyun Eunha betrayed us?”

“My lord. You must hide yourself immediately.”

For a long time, Jang Jinmyeong said nothing.

He raised a hand and covered his face—then began letting out a strange, broken sound.

“Heh... heh... hehahahahahaha!”

When he lifted his head and burst into laughter toward the ceiling, his face was already twisted like an evil spirit.