Chapter 6

00006 Using the Special Ability. =========================================================================

The burning sensation sliding down my throat was intense. The moment it trickled down and touched the calm mana flowing within my body, the burning sensation showed its first reaction.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The burning sensation, reacting with the mana, soon turned into a fierce flame and began to swell uncontrollably. The aura of the burning sensation was so pure and powerful that I could almost smell the scent of the hidden flame within the bead.

Bang…!

Even that was a rather weak initial reaction. Nevertheless, my body swelled up in various places, spewing out flames. It was evidence that my body, unable to accept the sudden explosive energy, was releasing it outward. Every time it twitched, sparks flew in all directions, and my body jerked intermittently.

Seeing my state, I faintly heard Seraf muttering a spell. I barely managed to raise my hand to her, a signal to not interfere.

Seraf wasn't wrong. Controlling the burning sensation's aura with my abilities was a far-fetched idea. Of course, using the ancient shaman's tattoo might somehow succeed. However, I had no intention of using the tattoo's power yet. More accurately, it would be correct to say that I never intended to suppress the burning sensation through it. The ancient shaman's tattoo was meant to provide a place for the burning sensation's aura to reside, no more, no less.

What I wanted was neither suppression nor control. How could any human accept a power that rivals the hellfire?

But if we change the story to borrowing the power, the situation could be different.

When I opened my eyes, Seraf was faintly visible. She was stomping her feet. It was quite a fresh sight to see an angel like that, but I immediately contorted my face. I knew all too well that this was just a precursor, and that the real thing was about to begin.

Comparing the explosion caused by the burning sensation to a regular explosion is difficult. It's not a material explosion but a pure explosion of energy. It comes with an incomparable aura and pain. And the burning sensation finally began its full-scale activity inside.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Guh. Grunt."

The consecutive explosions made me involuntarily roll my eyes. The pain from the explosions, which had now fully begun, was beyond imagination. Despite the numerous injuries and pain I endured over the ten years of activity in the Full Plain, they now seemed trivial in comparison. The thought of the even more intense pain to come sent shivers down my spine, but the more I felt it, the more I clenched my teeth.

I repeatedly told myself in my mind. I am Kim Su-hyun, a user who has seen the end of the Full Plain. During that period, I had to endlessly endure and be patient. Those ten years, the pride of holding the Zero Code, which no one else could obtain, were not achieved through simple perseverance.

Whether it was the sound of the explosion or Seraf speaking, the surroundings were incredibly chaotic. I couldn't hear anything properly. And with every moment, the burning sensation was steadily growing its aura. Just as it was about to explode again, I mustered all my strength to summon mana and began to support the burning sensation's aura.

With the vast mana reaching 90 adding its power, the burning sensation's aura momentarily halted the impending explosion. And in that moment, however brief, I managed a faint smile. My mana had seamlessly mixed with the burning sensation's aura.

A pure conglomeration of fire. The eternally burning flame. The burning sensation is a willful aura. It is similar to ego equipment, which has its own self and chooses its master, but it has a different will. It can exercise its power according to its own will or not. It has no self but its emotions are alive. And I was now communicating with the aura of fire through the unification of mana.

The current emotion I felt from the burning sensation was bewilderment. Normally, controlling the aura that causes internal destruction is the general approach. However, I was making it easier for the burning sensation to act. I was extending my hand, not to subdue it, but to borrow its power as an equal. I was earnestly calling out in my heart.

'I need you. So, try to wield your power as you wish. Judge for yourself whether I am suitable to be your companion and borrower of your power, and show me the result.'

Then, I finally got a moment to catch my breath. I exhaled a hot breath through my nostrils. Fire trickled out of my nose.

'Alright. I understand.'

And I finally obtained the burning sensation's permission.

After a brief moment of internal adjustment, I guided the burning sensation to a space where it could play, as it was eagerly asking to play. The first target was my right and left arms. I quickly divided the energy and sent it forcefully in both directions. Following the circuits and meridians, the powerful energy began to surge like a wave. And the burning sensation, without giving me a chance to realize it, swiftly occupied even the tiny acupoints at the tips of my fingers.

Bubbling! Bubbling!

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

I felt a pleasant pain as something popped in the meridians inside my body. The holes in the blocked blood vessels burst open with a satisfying sound. Even though I was forcing them to open, the effect was much more significant. It was clearly opening the tiny acupoints at the tips of my fingers, which were difficult to open even with my past body that had reached mastery.

At the same time, a yellowish fluid and black liquid oozed out of the skin on both arms, bubbling and then oxidizing in the air due to the heat. The waste and impurities that had been hidden in the corners of my body were hit by a sudden disaster because the burning sensation's passage was obstructed. Although it would normally be a cause for celebration, I had no time for that now.

Even though I only pushed it into my arms, I felt a dizzying sensation, but I gently calmed the energy and sent it back to the center. Fortunately, the burning sensation, which had already occupied the area, readily followed my will. As soon as all the energy that had filled both arms drained out, my arms hung limply, having lost all sensation due to the immense shock.

I was worried that I might lose my arms, but I had no desire to reverse it. While calming the burning sensation, which was eagerly asking to be taken elsewhere, I quickly guided it to the pathways leading to my legs. As I gently pushed it from behind, it began to descend like a rough wave, having waited for a long time.

Bubbling! Bubbling!

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

The process was the same as with my arms, and the result was identical. The moment the energy that had occupied both legs drained out, my legs also lost sensation and I collapsed helplessly. With my current durability, strength, and mana, it seemed that I could barely maintain my form without my body breaking apart.

Regardless, the burning sensation, like a fish in water, was excitedly causing explosions inside my body. I was on the verge of losing my mind. The pain that was pounding my entire body made me want to faint immediately, but my superhuman endurance was weakly holding onto my consciousness.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With each explosion, my heart raced and my blood boiled. Seeing the burning sensation, which seemed to be asking, "Is there nothing else to play with?" I calmed my mind and asked it to gather more energy. The next step was to guide it to the final obstacle, my head.

For the first time, I felt fear as I approached my head. This was a fear that couldn't be controlled. Whether I opened my head or not, the pain I would feel was unimaginable. At that moment,

'Do you want to stop? You don't have to go up to your head, right? This is enough, isn't it?'

It was as if the burning sensation was whispering in my ear with a subtle voice. I almost nodded but immediately shook my head. While my rationality was screaming to stop, I instinctively gathered the energy and guided it to the pathway leading to my head.

'You're so foolish. You might die?'

"Just this much."

The preparation was complete.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

My head was telling me to stop, but my actions were instinct-driven. As I sent the burning sensation through the pathway for the last time, I shouted in a desperate attempt.

"Don't underestimate me!"

The words slipped out without me realizing, but my will was clearly conveyed. At the same time, the energy in the center began to rotate vigorously. It gathered layer by layer and stopped at the lower dantian near my navel.

At that moment, I mustered all my strength, including the strength I had as a baby, and sent the energy surging upward. Just as the burning sensation was about to pass through my neck in a grand explosion,

"Choke!"

Pfft!

Blood spurted out of every orifice in my body—my nose, mouth, ears, and eyes. My intuition was sounding the alarm. It felt like I was facing death.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The burning sensation's energy, blocked at my neck, was causing a great commotion. If it exploded here, the reality would be terrifying to even imagine. Dizziness enveloped my entire body, and it felt like I was falling into the abyss.

I knew this was the last moment. Even in my dazed state, I gathered the energy circulating around my neck and pulled it back to the lower dantian. Fortunately, the energy moved according to my will.

'I have to break through somehow.'

Once... twice... three times... a total of ten times, I gathered the raging energy and, with the thought that this was the last time, I sent it surging upward to my head with all my strength. The pain that would follow was no longer a concern.

Bang!

A rough impact shook my entire body. My neck was smoothly opened, and the pathway to my head was cleared. Just as before, the burning sensation's energy quickly enveloped my entire head.

*

I couldn't see anything. That was all. My vision, which had suddenly gone blank, was only accepting a white world. I was in a state where I couldn't feel anything, anything at all. It was as if a part of my memory had been cut off and the severed ends were reconnected.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

I barely managed to accept the situation. The burning sensation's energy was rampaging through my head, as if throwing a tantrum for resisting. It felt like my brain was melting.

Pain? Honestly, when I first broke through, it felt like something was being smoothly opened. However, as my vision slowly recovered and my body's sensory awareness gradually returned, I could feel the pain I never wanted to experience again in my life.

'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'

If I could have screamed, I would have let out a full-throated yell. The stimulation that had already surpassed what a normal human could endure was of a different dimension. If I had dipped my head directly into a hot furnace, would it feel like this? If I had doused myself in oil and jumped into a ball of fire, would it feel similar? No matter how many battles I had fought, at this moment, I genuinely wanted to die.

A massive explosion of energy enveloped my entire body, visible even from the outside. This explosion was different from the ones that had occurred so far. The eternally burning flame, starting from my head, was gradually occupying my insides, as if declaring, "You are now mine." The cells where the burning sensation's energy reached were boiling, but now it felt more warm than painful.

After some time, my vision returned, albeit blurry. My body was still immobile. Lifting my heavy eyelids, I saw Seraf staring at me with a pale face.

'Is he still alive...?'

If I had to go through such terrible pain again, I would rather die.

The final step was relatively easy compared to opening my head. I slowly gathered the burning sensation's energy, which had spread throughout my body, and gently sent it to my heart. Whether I was to its liking or not, the burning sensation moved according to my will.

And at that moment, the ancient shaman's imprint magic began to activate. The burning sensation, seemingly satisfied with its wild run, entered my heart. And the moment I felt it settle down,

"Su-hyun! Su-hyun!"

I fainted. Before I could even feel the relief.

============================ Author's Note ============================

1. Typos and context corrections.