If it was the Taranon dimension, then Soohyeok was already familiar with it.
It was a portal that appeared around Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, rated as a level-6 threat, and currently designated as a containment zone with a substantial number of guardians deployed.
A large-scale world… They haven't been able to destroy it because the Cosmo Energy source hasn't been located yet.
There were rare cases like this.
In some vast dimensions, the Cosmo Energy source remained undiscovered, making it impossible to close the portal. Taranon was one such place. What made things trickier was that boss monsters in such dimensions rarely revealed themselves.
"They've been sending hunters in regularly, but still haven't found anything."
"Hasn't it already been over three months?"
"People are already fed up. Wasn't that portal near an industrial complex? Most folks there basically lost their jobs overnight. It's impressive they've held out this long. The factory owners have already raised hell."
"Still, what can you do? The portal's already open."
As Soohyeok scraped the last bite from his bowl, he nodded. He had known about Taranon for a while, but he never bothered going there.
From his perspective, it wasn't worth the effort. Sure, if he could clear it, it would be a massive opportunity—but how was one person supposed to search an entire continent-sized dimension? That kind of job was meant for guilds. For Soohyeok, it was like a rice cake he couldn't eat—tempting but pointless.
"Logically, yeah, but people don't always act on logic. Anyway, that's not the important part. You heard the association teamed up with Elvenheim, right?"
"Yeah, I heard. One of their elf instructors dropped by recently. She was insanely beautiful—man, I thought I was dreaming."
"Watch your mouth, man."
The colleague who rebuked him lowered his voice.
"I heard from some rumors—Elvenheim developed a new magic device that can track the Cosmo Energy source."
"They can track Cosmo Energy?"
The staff member's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah. Well, not pinpoint it exactly—but they can narrow it down to an island-sized area."
"Damn, that's huge!"
A continent and an island were vastly different in scale.
If the device worked, they could finally clean up Taranon—and possibly other large-scale dimensions too.
Soohyeok, who had been about to stand up, froze.
His ears sharpened, tuning into their conversation.
"Looks like the association will issue an official notice soon."
"To recruit hunters?"
"Yeah. It's the fastest way to wrap things up."
"But if it's island-sized, that's a job for guild-level teams, right?"
"Exactly. And that's what bothers me."
The employee, now distancing himself again, clicked his tongue.
"If someone like No-Name could take this on… it'd be a huge break."
A huge break indeed.
Soohyeok's eyes burned with intensity as he listened.
I'll have to be away from home for a few days, but…
Even with an ATV, it'd take time to comb through an island.
He wouldn't be able to return home for a while—but if he pulled it off, his rank would definitely go up.
Tuning out the crowd, Soohyeok got up and headed outside.
He took out his phone and dialed Oh Shinwoo's number.
But the call didn't connect.
Instead, he received a message: In a meeting. I'll call you later.
In a meeting.
No doubt it was about Taranon.
Soohyeok didn't rush.
He wouldn't be able to move today anyway.
He still had to talk things over at home and prepare.
The association probably needed more time to calibrate and deploy the new magic device too.
Still, I need to move faster than the guilds.
Maybe if he were more advanced, he could try to take on the whole island solo. But for now, his abilities weren't quite there.
A guild would move faster.
If he wanted to beat them to it, he needed Oh Shinwoo's help.
Fortunately, this was the kind of proposal Oh Shinwoo wouldn't say no to—he'd been wanting to build hype around No-Name.
Their goals aligned.
It was a perfect setup.
***
On his way home, filled with expectations about the Taranon dimension…
A tall middle-aged man with an eye patch appeared in front of Soohyeok.
"Park Moogi."
The man handed Soohyeok a business card, worn on his right hand like a ring.
One of only five known 12th-rank Awakeners in South Korea, he was the head of the Imugi Guild—where Soohyeok once had a tense training conflict with the Black Cloud Witch, Jeon Sujeong.
Soohyeok took the card, confirming the name, and looked at the man.
"Yang Soohyeok."
A curt greeting. A curt reply.
A flicker of irritation crossed Park Moogi's one visible eye.
Then, a smirk crept onto his lips.
"You've earned the arrogance. At your age, with your skill and talent."
Nodding as if he understood, Park Moogi tried to put a hand on Soohyeok's shoulder.
But Soohyeok casually dodged it.
"Don't think we're close enough for that."
He smiled as he spoke.
They were now standing within striking distance of each other.
Meaning—if either of them wished—it could turn into a fight instantly.
Park Moogi got the message loud and clear.
And burst into hearty laughter.
"Puhaha! You're even more arrogant than I thought, No-Name—no, Yang Soohyeok."
Of course, those in the know already knew.
They just didn't say it out loud.
Even so, Soohyeok didn't bother replying to Park Moogi's provocation.
There was no need to confirm what wasn't public knowledge.
"You don't seem the type to enjoy long chats, so I'll cut to the chase. Do you know why I'm here?"
"No idea."
"Your speech is pretty blunt."
"So is yours."
"…I'm Park Moogi."
"So what? You think you can pull rank on me with that?"
Soohyeok smirked.
"This line of work isn't about status—it's all about skill, isn't it, Park Moogi?"
Park Moogi's gaze turned sharper, more predatory.
"You're right. Which is why—before we talk, I should probably show you what skill really means."
It was in that moment a shadow burst to life in the narrow space between them.
Soohyeok evaded with the Taeguk Palseonbo footwork.
A shadow shaped like a black dragon instantly followed him.
'Psychic type. Shadowplay. Definitely a pain.'
Awakeners are typically divided into two main types—physical and psychic.
If Soohyeok was the physical type, then Park Moogi was without a doubt a psychic. His signature? Shadow manipulation—Shadowplay.
It was a rare and powerful ability.
"You dodge well. Though at best, you're a slippery eel."
As Soohyeok effortlessly avoided the incoming shadows, Park Moogi let out a deliberately exaggerated yawn.
A clear provocation.
A vicious smirk crept across Soohyeok's lips.
'He's mocking me?'
Back on the Hwan continent, no one dared.
A loser who can't even control his own aura properly was mouthing off now?
"You bottom-tier loser—can't even contain your own energy."
Even when hundreds of fighters on Park Moogi's level came at him back then, they couldn't lay a finger on his clothes.
"What was that?"
Just as Park Moogi voiced his confusion, Soohyeok charged straight at the dragon-shaped shadow.
The dragon's jaws opened, aiming to pierce Soohyeok's neck in one swift motion.
Crunch—!
But it bit nothing but empty air.
Soohyeok had vanished—even from Park Moogi's sight.
Startled, Park Moogi scanned the area rapidly.
'Left?'
There was Soohyeok.
'No—right?'
He was there too.
Then suddenly, Soohyeok appeared directly in front of him, fist clenched, muscles coiling.
Shock flickered across Park Moogi's face.
"You're… more than I expected."
He was glad he came in person.
With that, a second psychic ability surged from his body.
Whoosh—!
Black flames erupted in all directions, incinerating the fake Soohyeoks closing in.
He wasn't just a shadow esper—Park Moogi was a dual esper, capable of wielding more than one power.
If he only had Shadowplay, he would've never become the head of Imugi—one of the Three Great Guilds.
But then—
The roaring black fire split apart as Soohyeok's foot lashed out from thin air.
Wind Severance Kick – Pungjeol
Even if it's psychic flame—fire is still fire. Disrupt the air itself for a moment, and it can be cleaved.
"Huh…"
Park Moogi let out a low groan of disbelief.
Then he leapt backward, riding his own shadow.
A movement no ordinary human could track.
Impressive—yet Soohyeok remained composed.
He landed with ease, having anticipated it all.
Now Park Moogi was the one rattled.
'A kid who's only been awakened for, what, two months?'
And still a Silver Ring.
Meanwhile, Park Moogi was one of just five Platinum Ring holders in Korea—and a guild master at that.
He was supposed to dominate, not retreat.
'Me? Retreating?'
His pride began to crack.
Meanwhile, Soohyeok planted his feet, lowering into a horse stance.
He drew both fists back past his shoulders, condensing energy.
A month's worth of training—his upper, middle, and lower dantians all activated at once.
Using the energy from his upper dantian, Soohyeok projected a vivid blue glow around his fists.
Then—with the force from his middle and lower dantians—he struck the air.
Shaolin Secret Art – Hundred-Step God Fist.
Crack—!
[You have mastered SS-rank martial art: Hundred-Step God Fist!]
As the notification rang in his ears—
Boom—!
A pale blue shockwave tore through the air, barreling straight toward Park Moogi.
Park crossed his arms into an X and summoned a shadow shield to block.
KABOOM—!
The impact exploded.
Cracks split the shadow barrier, blood oozed from Park's sturdy forearms.
"Kh…!"
As he gritted his teeth and raised his head—
Soohyeok had already appeared beneath him, leaping up, and pointed a single finger at the center of Park's chest.
Tap.
No force. But the threat was unmistakable.
"Right here. A clean strike, and you're dead. That's a blood-letting point."
His voice now held a terrifying chill.
Something violent burst from Soohyeok—not physical, not psychic.
It was his presence.
The sheer force of being.
The overwhelming aura engraved into the soul of the once-greatest martial artist of the Hwan Continent.
That weight pressed down on Park Moogi's shoulders.
The realization that he could die here gripped him.
"I told you—skill is everything in this world. If you don't wanna get killed, keep that rotten mouth shut, you little punk."
Park Moogi clenched his jaw.
Silent.