Chapter 07 ….
EX-Class Reincarnation
[■ Contribution Rank 1. Martial God (100%)]
[■ Congratulations.]
A ranking board hovered in the sky. Normally, there would be a hundred names listed, but here, there was only a single line.
Martial God.
I just stared at that name in a daze.
‘…Whoa.’
What the hell is going on…?
I couldn’t hide the trembling in my eyes as I looked straight ahead. I could see the area reduced to a wasteland. Just one punch.
The aftershock of that single strike that cut through the air.
It had wiped out the monsters that had been rushing toward the reincarnators, and even the rift that had spawned those monsters.
‘…Fifty times power increase, huh?’
A 5,000% increase in power. It was obviously an enormous figure, but I hadn’t expected it to be this devastating.
Ssshhh.
I could feel the heat emanating from my fist. Steam was rising from the cross-section of my punch.
Pa Cheon Mu.
A skill I gained as my reincarnation rate increased when I remembered my past life. Yes, a skill.
‘…This is a skill.’
Reincarnators inherit the techniques they used in their past lives. My Pa Cheon Mu should be the same.
‘…Is this even possible?’
Could a single strike really end a gate?
Originally…
‘I’ve never even heard of buffs being given to stats just because the grade doesn’t match.’
Everything I had studied, and all historical records of gates opening for centuries, had no such precedent.
No record of increased gate difficulty…
No record of someone receiving a specific buff.
‘Seriously…’
What was my past life? What is the true identity of this so-called EX-Class, a rank I’ve never even heard of? I was pondering these things when suddenly—
Ding!
An alarm sound stopped my thoughts.
[■ Congratulations!]
[■ Hidden Mission. Achieved over 50% contribution in clearing the gate. Special reward: “I’ll Finish It Alone!” completed.]
‘Huh?’
A hidden mission? What’s that?
[■ Checking 100% contribution reward. The higher the success rate, the stronger the reward.]
[■ Rewards will be received upon returning to the real world.]
The system window stayed open. I had earned a reward?
‘…They give this for earning all the contribution alone?’
Had there really been such a thing? I had heard that gates vary greatly and that all participants receive rewards upon clearing, but I’d never heard of this before.
Hidden mission…? Something I’d never experienced before.
This is confusing. Where do I even start thinking? Just then—
“…Hey!”
A sharp voice pierced my ears. I turned my head to see the Black Night Witch who had spoken to me earlier.
“Who… exactly are you…?”
Her face was full of bewilderment.
“…What are you? You look at least S-Class. Why come as a D-Class? Could it be that you…?”
She swallowed her last words. She thought I looked S-Class? Probably a misunderstanding caused by my recent strike.
“…No… never mind. What exactly are you doing this for?”
My shoulder itched slightly. I raised my hand to scratch it even as she spoke.
Flinch!
I saw the Black Night Witch flinch. She was scared. She must have realized she’d revealed it, because her face instantly turned red.
“…Heh…”
She reacted as if frustrated.
“100% contribution… That’s a number I’ve never seen before.”
“Who is that person? Martial God? Have you heard of them?”
“First time I’ve heard. What’s their rank?”
“Wait, Martial God?”
Just as the conversation continued, someone seemed to recognize the name.
“If it’s Martial God, that’s the person. The one who caused a stir in the community recently.”
“Community? Community… Ah!”
That was the trigger.
“The Black Name.”
“…The haughty magician who made themselves known?”
It was an anecdote that briefly heated up the reincarnator community—a color appearing for the first time in history, crashing the community servers.
That incident had sparked reactions even now.
The Black Night Witch narrowed her eyes, seemingly aware of it too.
“…That’s the person. The Black Name. What’s their rank? Did you come here knowing everything?”
What had I supposedly “known”? She seemed completely mistaken.
“Who exactly are you—!”
The Black Night Witch exploded in anger again. Why so furious? Just then—
Ding.
[■ Gate has ended.]
[■ Mind returns to the real world.]
[■ Thank you for your efforts.]
With the system message, my consciousness instantly snapped back.
Gates had first appeared centuries ago.
A system suddenly appeared on an otherwise normal Earth.
It warned humanity:
[■ If the gates are not blocked, contamination levels will rise.]
[■ If contamination reaches 100%, Earth will be destroyed.]
[■ Save the Earth.]
If gates were not blocked, Earth would perish.
Many didn’t understand this sound at first, but soon realized.
Reincarnators who didn’t enter the gates saw contamination rise.
[■ Earth’s contamination has exceeded 10%.]
[■ Disasters manifest.]
Because the gates weren’t blocked, contamination rose beyond 10%. That day, half of Russia disappeared.
Monsters invaded Earth, devouring not only reincarnators called superhumans but also ordinary civilians.
For over half a year, battles raged. The invasions were repelled, the monsters cleared, but half of Russian territory was lost.
That’s when I realized: if just 10% causes this… what would higher contamination levels mean?
People finally became vigilant. Superhumans began blocking the gates.
[■ Contamination: 24%]
The current contamination of Earth.
After 10%, another disaster struck in the Pacific. But this time, preparation prevented major damage.
The Earth’s survival was at stake. This was why reincarnators, called superhumans, were so valuable and heavily relied upon.
The gates were spaces they longed to enter. Proof of being a superhuman, a dream come true.
“…Ah…”
Finally, I could enter a gate.
I gasped as soon as I opened my eyes.
Gates were spaces for consciousness; the body remained in the real world.
Returning caused a strange motion sickness—which was true.
‘My stomach feels awful.’
I rose slightly, feeling discomfort. Outside, it was still dawn.
“…Ugh.”
I rubbed my stomach to ease it.
I still couldn’t believe it.
‘I really went through a gate.’
Was it real? Everything felt like a dream. While staring blankly—
Ding.
[■ Congratulations on clearing the gate.]
[■ Receive rewards according to your contribution.]
[■ Would you like to receive your reward now?]
“Ah.”
The system provided proof it wasn’t a dream.
‘Reward.’
Rewards granted for clearing the gate. [Y/N] buttons appeared. I cautiously pressed Y.
Ding-ding!!
A loud alarm struck my ears as light sparkled before me.
Things began spinning in front of me.
Simultaneously:
[■ Combined with hidden mission reward. Reward strengthened.]
Did I earn over 50% alone? The hidden mission reward combined with this.
Thunk.
A box fell onto my thigh.
“What?”
I squinted. About 30 cm across. A sudden box? What the hell?
[■ Pandora’s Box.]
Even the name was curious. Pandora’s Box.
‘They want me to open it…?’
Was it really okay? I stared at the box.
[■ It will provide the opener with the item they need most.]
Helpful explanation. It would give me the item I needed most?
‘…What could that be?’
I had no idea. Curious, I slowly opened the box.
The lid lifted. Inside was pitch black, as if hiding the object.
‘Is there even anything in here…?’
I reached into the darkness. Then—
‘Oh.’
Something was caught. I pulled it out.
‘…A handle?’
A handle of some kind. Not something that should fit inside a 30 cm box.
As the object became more visible:
[■ S-Class Noble Phantasm.]
The grade appeared.
‘Insane.’
S-Class Noble Phantasm?
‘…Is this real?’
Items sometimes appear as rewards from gates, called Noble Phantasms.
S-Class meant… national-level. Managed by entire nations. Priceless.
And now, it was in my hand? As the item I needed most?
Excitement surged. I tried to pull it out—but—
Grab.
‘Huh?’
Something grabbed my wrist. I couldn’t see it, but I felt it.
[Impossible.]
[If I’m going to give it, I should give it properly.]
[This box is too small to give this.]
A familiar elderly voice.
Bang!!
“…!!”
My hand was pulled back into the box. I dropped the handle. My S-Class Noble Phantasm…!
Panicking briefly, my hand fumbled in the darkness and caught another object.
It was a light green orb.
I lost my S-Class Noble Phantasm… and pulled out this tiny orb?
I felt my anger rise—then—
[■ SS-Class Noble Phantasm.]
Seeing the grade, my anger vanished.
“…SS?”
SS-Class Noble Phantasm. Only one in the world.
‘In the US.’
One existing on Earth, managed in America.
‘This orb is SS-Class?’
What was it?
[■ Illusion of Korca [SS]]
Of course, I didn’t recognize the name. Then—
Flash!!
The orb emitted light and—
Pierce!
“Gah!?”
It shot into my chest near my heart. Heat surged.
“Ugh…!!!”
I collapsed clutching my chest. Pain like nothing else.
[■ Korca’s illusion merges with the body.]
[■ Korca notices traces of itself.]
[■ Korca curses the human trying to claim its trace.]
Ding.
[■ Korca’s curse fails.]
[■ Korca is bewildered.]
[■ Korca tries to locate you using divine power.]
Ding-ding.
[■ Fails due to rank difference.]
[■ Recoil of tracking is transmitted to Korca due to rank difference.]
[■ Korca screams.]
[■ Korca collapses in pain. Merging succeeds.]
Unfathomable messages exploded. The unbearable pain subsided instantly.
“Ugh… haah…”
Cold sweat dripped as my eyes darted. More messages appeared.
[■ Illusion of Korca [SS]]
[■ Low synchronization rate prevents full power manifestation.]
[■ Effectiveness reduced.]
[■ Easily discerns the essence of those under the Four Deities.]
[■ Conversely, those under the Four Deities cannot discern your essence.]
[■ Effects sealed.]
[■ Effects sealed.]
[■ Effects sealed.]
The system window overflowed. Too many to read. My mind was a mess.
“…Ugh.”
Clutching my still-aching chest, I managed to stand. Then—
Knock-knock-knock.
Someone knocked outside.
“Reincarnator Lee Jinwoo…!”
An urgent nurse’s voice. At this hour? Here for a checkup?
I glanced at the door, exhausted.
“The association president has arrived…!”
“…Huh?”
Who came…?
