The Rising Martial Arts Genius

Chapter 312: Land of Giants

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍were more than twenty Great Ascension Stage cultivators in the Central Heavens Realm, each comparable to a martial artist who had reached the Immortal Realm.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the balance between the Murim Realm and the Spiritual Realm was maintained because of the existence of Muk Geomyeong, known as the strongest in the Central Heavens, and because the Microcosms of Immortal Realm martial artists held the advantage in terms of compatibility.

One ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Microcosm alone was already troublesome enough to deal with.

But ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍two?

'I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍can't win this!'

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍entire board had to be reset.

In a situation like this, everything he had prepared was useless.

The cultivator, who had believed he could defeat anyone except Muk Geomyeong, was now being completely overwhelmed by Jang Woo-hyun.

Moreover, he wasn't facing only one opponent.

"Die! Die! Uahahahaha!"

As the force blocking his path weakened, the giant charged forward like a madman and swung his axe.

Every strike possessed enough power to split a Floating Continent apart.

On top of that, the golden light covering his body rendered ordinary attacks completely ineffective.

Even earlier, the cultivator had only managed to push the giant back. None of his attacks had inflicted any meaningful damage.

"You damned insects!"

Under the relentless assault of Jang Woo-hyun's sword and the giant's axe, the cultivator escaped by shedding his skin like a snake.

Strangely enough, every time he did so, all of his injuries disappeared, and he became younger.

From somewhere between middle-aged and elderly...

To middle-aged.

Then to his thirties.

Then once again to his twenties.

"Aaaaaah!"

The cultivator screamed aloud as he went berserk.

He drew out every ounce of his power and merged with the world once more, launching attack after attack.

Yet each time, the blades surrounding him severed every stream of energy.

The giant either swung his axe or smashed through the cultivator's spells with sheer brute force.

The golden light surrounding the giant resembled armor made from Qi Projection, much like the Sacred River Flowing Armor Jang Woo-hyun had once used or the techniques employed by Tarun and Tawi.

There was one crucial difference.

The degree of compression.

It was armor layered upon armor, compressed again and again until it reached its absolute limit.

At a glance, the giant wore well over a hundred layers of Qi Projection, each sturdier than the Sacred River Flowing Armor.

The giant used a breathing technique similar to one that absorbed all surrounding energy, firmly binding the aura around himself.

The endlessly compressed armor of Qi had become a weapon more formidable than any Dharma Treasure or Divine Weapon.

It was with that power wrapped around his own body that the giant erased spells and even Microcosms.

"How dare you insects!"

Driven back by the relentless offensive, the cultivator was finally pierced through the chest by Jang Woo-hyun's sword.

The giant's axe followed immediately after, cleaving into his neck.

When the axe had cut halfway through—

Pop!

With a loud burst, the cultivator's back exploded apart.

Leaving behind nothing but another discarded shell, he retreated a great distance.

Just like a snake shedding its skin.

Strangely, even the clothes he wore remained intact.

Having shed another layer, the cultivator looked even younger.

Now he appeared barely in his early twenties.

"You! I'll never forget this!"

The cultivator shouted at Jang Woo-hyun before stretching space itself, clearly intending to flee.

Since Jang Woo-hyun's Microcosm had not yet completely dominated the surrounding area, he threw himself toward one of the remaining openings.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

The giant transformed into a streak of golden light and gave chase.

Jang Woo-hyun also used Shrinking the Earth to close the distance.

"Die!"

The giant hurled his axe.

The fleeing cultivator raised an arm to block it.

Thud!

His arm was severed.

Immediately afterward, he grabbed the severed arm and slashed through the empty air with it.

It was as though he had deliberately sacrificed the arm.

The severed limb tore open space itself.

Before the cultivator could leap into the opening, Jang Woo-hyun reached him and cut off his head.

Slash.

Just as he was about to destroy the severed head and completely shred the neck—

The headless body moved.

It slipped through the rift in space.

The cultivator had chosen escape, even at the cost of severe injuries.

"...Well. He got away."

The cultivator was powerful enough that once he resolved to flee regardless of the damage, catching him became extremely difficult.

"Still, after suffering that much, he won't be returning anytime soon."

The giant crooked a finger.

The axe that had flown away returned to his hand.

"Little Human who practices martial arts... thank you."

The giant approached Jang Woo-hyun.

Standing nearly three zhang tall, with features that looked as though they had been carved from stone, he spoke fluently unlike Po-uk.

"Greetings. I am Gyeong Myeong-un, Great Warrior of the Land of Giants."

Jang Woo-hyun's eyebrows rose slightly at the unfamiliar title.

'Great Warrior.'

He could roughly estimate the man's level.

'Someone comparable to an Immortal Realm martial artist or a Great Ascension Stage cultivator.'

The unique power that erased everything had left a deep impression even on Jang Woo-hyun.

"My name is Jang Woo-hyun."

"What brings a Little Human all the way here?"

Perhaps he was still wary.

Gyeong Myeong-un still held his axe, and golden light continued to surround his body.

"I've come to meet Po-uk."

"Po-uk? That fellow— Hm? Wait a moment. A Little Human who practices martial arts... Jang Woo-hyun? Ah, so it's you!"

The caution disappeared from his eyes.

A broad smile spread across his face.

"The Little Human from the Central Heavens Murim Realm who saved my people. So your name was Jang Woo-hyun. Allow me to thank you once again. Thank you for helping my people."

Now that he knew who Jang Woo-hyun was, Gyeong Myeong-un completely lowered his guard.

---

"...Who is this?"

"This is Gyeong Myeong-un of the Land of Giants."

A giant taller than a two-story building.

Since he had arrived alongside Jang Woo-hyun, no one treated him as an enemy.

Even so, his overwhelming size and the aura he emitted left everyone stunned.

The giants of the Land of Giants never concealed their presence, allowing everyone to clearly feel Gyeong Myeong-un's immense strength.

'It's fluctuating.'

His aura was strange.

There was no doubt it was powerful, yet accurately measuring it proved impossible.

A martial artist's aura was orderly and refined.

A giant's aura resembled an enraged beast that never remained still for even a moment.

One thing, however, was certain.

He was incredibly strong.

Strong enough to make even Seo Ryeom and the other Immortal-Slaying Brigade experts tense.

"Please suppress your aura a little."

Even martial artists at the Boundless Realm would have felt pressured by it.

The weaker members of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade were visibly struggling.

"Hm? My aura? Ah, Little Humans aren't used to this."

At Jang Woo-hyun's request, Gyeong Myeong-un gathered his aura.

"Your bodies are far too frail. You should all train harder."

The Immortal-Slaying Brigade was renowned throughout the Central Heavens Murim Realm.

Yet to Gyeong Myeong-un, they were merely frail little humans.

"We're frail? That's a bit much."

Apparently displeased with his attitude, Mak Ya-wol stepped forward while casually spinning his chain sickle.

Having gone far too long without a proper fight, his pent-up frustration had reached its limit.

He intended to vent it against this new opponent.

Seo Ryeom reached out to stop him by the shoulder.

"Why are you stopping me? You're always complaining that I never step up. Let go. Let's see just how strong he really is."

Mak Ya-wol brushed away Seo Ryeom's hand as though it were annoying and strode forward.

Watching him, Seo Ryeom let out a deep sigh before retreating.

"What? Are you trying to fight me?"

"Indeed. Let's see just how strong you really are."

"Oh! Your body may be frail, but you've got spirit."

"When it comes to spirit, no one surpasses Mak Ya-wol."

"Very well. You may be a Little Human, but perhaps your vessel is large. Then here I come."

"Come."

"Wait a second—"

Before Jang Woo-hyun could finish speaking—

KWAAAAAANG!

The ground beneath Gyeong Myeong-un exploded.

The entire Heavenly Thunder Fortress shook violently.

Moving so quickly that no one could even see him, he instantly closed the distance and punched Mak Ya-wol.

KWAGAGAGANG!

Mak Ya-wol was blasted away.

He smashed through wall after wall of Heavenly Thunder Fortress.

Even the defensive artifacts protecting the outer walls shattered beneath the impact.

He soared through the blue sky before disappearing into the distance.

"Ah... I told you not to break anything."

At Cho-su's dissatisfied muttering, Seo Ryeom glanced around before speaking.

"I'll go bring him back."

Walking toward the hole in the wall, he took out a Flying Apparatus.

'They say if you're stupid, your body suffers.'

Mak Ya-wol was actually more rational and intelligent than Seo Ryeom.

He also caused fewer incidents.

That was why he had once led the Battle Ghost Division of the Baekmu Association.

But there was one thing in which he fell short of Seo Ryeom.

'His lack of awareness is unbelievable.'

Seo Ryeom had never imagined he'd actually charge in.

It wasn't because he or Gongson Jung-rak were cowards.

Jang Woo-hyun had clearly said before leaving.

—He's around my level.

Although Gyeong Myeong-un's fluctuating, unrefined aura made his true strength difficult to judge...

If Jang Woo-hyun himself had said that and brought the man here—

'Then he's obviously a monster on the Captain's level.'

That meant someone comparable to an Immortal Realm martial artist.

'And he actually thought about fighting someone like that...'

Seo Ryeom shook his head.

Someone like Gyeong Myeong-un would certainly have gauged Mak Ya-wol's strength.

He had undoubtedly held back.

However—

'That was by a giant's standards.'

Because giants judged things differently from humans, Mak Ya-wol had ended up flying halfway across the world.

'Hopefully he crashed into something. Otherwise... who knows how far he fell.'

Watching the pitiful sight of the former Division Leader, Seo Ryeom sighed again.

As he flew away aboard the Flying Apparatus, he came to one conclusion.

Mak Ya-wol absolutely must never become the leader of the Baekmu Association.

---

"My apologies. This remarkable fortress... it must have been built by the people of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels. I got carried away and accidentally broke it."

Rather than making excuses, Gyeong Myeong-un immediately bowed his head.

"I know how precious the things they create are to the people of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels. But I couldn't help myself after being moved by that Little Human's spirit."

"...Forget it. Ya-wol was just being an idiot. I'm Cho-su."

Starting with Cho-su, the executives of the Immortal-Slaying Brigade exchanged greetings with Gyeong Myeong-un.

"By the way... I smell something familiar here. Did you grind up one of my people or something?"

"...Was that supposed to be a joke?"

Cho-su asked with a horrified expression.

Gyeong Myeong-un laughed and nodded.

Even his laughter caused the surroundings to tremble.

"We used the stomach of one of our giants."

"Our stomach?"

"That's right. That's why it can cross space."

"Oh! As expected of the technology of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels. Could you show it to me?"

"I don't mind showing you. But getting there with this body would be difficult."

Gyeong Myeong-un stood nearly three zhang tall.

They were currently in the largest training ground within Heavenly Thunder Fortress.

There was enough room for him to stand and move here.

Elsewhere, however, he simply wouldn't fit.

"That's true."

Chuckling to himself, Gyeong Myeong-un slowly looked around before sitting down heavily.

Even seated on the ground, everyone else still had to look up at him.

"Enough with the idle chatter. Let's talk seriously now. Ah, but before that."

Still seated, Gyeong Myeong-un deeply lowered his head.

"First... let me apologize."

"...?"

Question marks appeared above everyone's heads, including Jang Woo-hyun.

"The reason I came here... and the reason I behaved so foolishly after arriving... was to assess all of you. Ah, and the one I sent flying earlier? I admired that he still dared to challenge me, so I simply knocked him away."

"So... you didn't trust us?"

"I'm sorry. I had no choice. I have to protect my people. I needed to see all of you with my own eyes. I had to know whether you were worthy of trust."

Even if they had saved Po-uk, he couldn't place complete faith in people he had never personally met.

"What changed your mind?"

At Jang Woo-hyun's question, Gyeong Myeong-un turned his gaze toward Cho-su.

"There isn't a single madman around you. Every one of them looks at you with complete trust. And seeing someone from the Nation of Mechanical Marvels among your group... I don't believe you'd do anything evil."

People of the Nation of Mechanical Marvels rarely caused trouble.

They spent their entire lives as craftsmen, never harming other races or nations.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of us. Then let me ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"You followed us here without hesitation. But can Woo-hyun really win? What if he loses?"

"You never know until you fight."

Remaining seated, Gyeong Myeong-un straightened his shoulders.

Even sitting down, his massive frame and overwhelming presence resembled Mount Tai itself.

"And even if I lose, it doesn't matter. As long as I can stop the enemy here and remove the danger, that's enough. That is the duty of the Great Warrior of the Land of Giants."

It was clear he would gladly sacrifice himself for the sake of the Land of Giants.

"Isn't that a foolish way of thinking? Wouldn't it be better to fight together with the other giants?"

"Uahahaha! Don't worry about such things. You'll never grow taller if you do. Anyway... let me apologize once again. I'm sorry. I doubted you and your companions."

The enormous head that had towered above descended until it was level with Jang Woo-hyun's chest.

Gyeong Myeong-un's apology was completely sincere.

"It's alright. I understand."

The spells of the sorcerers of the Central Heavens Realm and the techniques of the cultivators could easily dominate souls and manipulate people.

Moreover, the enemy Gyeong Myeong-un had just been fighting was a cultivator.

There were plenty of reasons to be suspicious.

Those cultivators were all insane.

There was no telling what schemes or traps they might devise.

From the Immortal-Slaying Brigade's perspective, they could certainly have been offended.

But looking at it from the other side—

His actions were perfectly understandable.

"Thank you for understanding."

Gyeong Myeong-un raised his head and smiled broadly.

His mouth was so enormous that several people flinched instinctively.

Still, with his apology, everything was settled.

"Now then, let's have a proper conversation. Why did you come all the way here looking for Po-uk?"