Chapter 344

After spending nearly a month in the desert, Jetoya’s atmosphere had changed completely.

His appearance itself had not changed much, but his eyes and demeanor now carried the unmistakable aura of a seasoned warrior.

And it wasn’t merely superficial.

Jetoya’s inner self had become far stronger than before.

Levin and Brielle had been kind enough to gradually teach Jetoya what hell truly was.

Starting with F-rank Demonic Beasts and steadily escalating to groups of E-rank Demonic Beasts, they had relentlessly pushed Jetoya into hell itself.

Levin and Brielle gave Jetoya, Aaron, and Dominic only the bare minimum amount of rest before driving more Demonic Beasts toward them.

Having followed Zeon and accumulated countless experiences, Levin and Brielle possessed sharp judgment capable of accurately assessing another person’s limits.

Because of that, they were able to push Jetoya and the others to the brink without actually getting them killed.

As a result, the ones suffering to death were Jetoya, Aaron, and Dominic. But hardship was also what made people grow.

They steadily developed in proportion to the hardships they endured.

Among them, Jetoya’s growth was especially dramatic.

His rank had not increased, but he had established a combat style entirely his own.

Jetoya possessed far greater combat instincts than Aaron or Dominic.

Born and raised underground, Jetoya’s senses were exceptionally sharp, and he also possessed the ability to cling to walls and ceilings like a lizard.

Through countless battles against Demonic Beasts, Jetoya learned how to fully utilize that ability and apply it in combat.

Instead of clinging to walls, he attached himself directly to the massive bodies of Demonic Beasts and moved around them.

That kind of instinctive combat sense was something Aaron and Dominic could never imitate.

Above all else, Jetoya possessed an overwhelming desire to grow stronger.

Having suffered countless injustices due to lacking strength in such a terrible environment, his longing for power surpassed anyone else’s.

That was why, even in situations where he was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, he never gave up and fought desperately.

By fighting endlessly like that, Jetoya eventually established his own unique combat style.

The shock Levin and Brielle felt when they first realized this was indescribable.

“So you can fight like that too?”

“He’s a genius. A genuine genius!”

Levin and Brielle fully acknowledged Jetoya’s talent.

Compared to him, Aaron and Dominic’s talents were utterly ordinary. They only improved after being worked half to death, whereas Jetoya grew rapidly in direct proportion to the experience he gained.

The result of that growth was the Jetoya standing before them now.

Even Zeon could clearly sense how much Jetoya had changed.

Zeon looked at Levin and spoke.

“You trained him well.”

“I poured in every bit of know-how I learned from you, hyung.”

“No wonder…”

“At the same rank, no martial fighter would probably be a match for Jetoya.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Especially if the battle takes place underground, in his home territory, he might even be able to defeat opponents above his own rank.”

“You worked hard.”

“Honestly, it made me reflect a lot too. I think I got too complacent just because my rank increased. So I’m planning to push myself again.”

“That’s good.”

“Yes!”

Outstanding talent naturally put pressure on those around it.

Just as seeing Jetoya’s talent had awakened Levin’s competitive spirit.

At that moment, Jetoya bowed deeply toward Zeon and spoke.

“Thank you. For helping me grow stronger.”

“You should thank Levin and Brielle, not me. They’re the ones who did all the hard work.”

“I already thanked hyung and Brielle.”

“Good job.”

“Hehe!”

Jetoya scratched his head awkwardly, his face slightly red.

Zeon watched him quietly for a moment before carefully speaking.

“I’m sorry, but you need to return to Crocodile Cave immediately.”

“Did something happen?”

“Dongdaemun has noticed Remura’s existence.”

“What? How…?”

“I don’t know the exact reason either, but Dongdaemun is searching for Remura while calling her the Saintess. Right now, people sent by Dongdaemun are spread throughout the slums and all across Neo Seoul. And just a little while ago, someone from Dongdaemun entered Crocodile Cave.”

“Already? Damn it!”

Urgency immediately spread across Jetoya’s face.

Levin spoke up.

“Then shouldn’t we head to Crocodile Cave immediately?”

“I can’t go in.”

“What? Why not?”

“Dongdaemun is probably monitoring my movements. If I enter Crocodile Cave and contact with the Dark Saints suddenly gets cut off, they’ll immediately assume I’m responsible. And if that happens…”

“A war will break out between Sinchon and Dongdaemun.”

“Exactly. That’s why I can’t enter Crocodile Cave. You’ll have to go in by yourselves.”

Zeon’s words caused Levin and Brielle’s expressions to stiffen.

The burden of resolving something like this without him was enormous.

If it weren’t for Jetoya, they honestly would not have wanted to involve themselves in this matter at all.

During the past month of brutally training Jetoya, Levin had reflected on himself many times.

Now he had regained his senses, but in the past, he had wandered aimlessly because he believed there was no hope in life within the slums.

Although he eventually came to his senses, the period during which he lost himself had not been short.

The environment where Jetoya had been born and raised was incomparably harsher than Levin’s.

Jetoya was born in a dark underground world where not even a ray of sunlight entered. There was no electricity, so using electrical devices was unimaginable, and he had lived right beside filth and sewage so foul that merely smelling them caused headaches.

Yet despite growing up in such a terrible environment, Jetoya had never once gone astray.

The only thing in Jetoya’s mind was the desire to somehow improve the underground environment and allow its residents to live like proper human beings.

Though younger than Levin, he was far more mature and possessed the qualities of a true leader.

Watching Jetoya made Levin reflect on just how complacently he himself had lived.

‘Just because my revenge was over, I let myself become so relaxed…’

The more he thought about it, the more disgusted he became with his own foolish behavior.

Now it was time to discipline himself once again.

“I’ll take responsibility for Jetoya’s matter and help him.”

“It’ll be quite dangerous. That woman called Chensi of the Dark Saints is the same rank as you, but she’s spent a long time handling work in the shadows. That means she’s intelligent and ruthless.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Levin did not boast confidently. That was why his words felt even more trustworthy.

Zeon looked toward Brielle.

“Brielle!”

“Yeah?”

“Take everything you can carry. We don’t know what we might need.”

“Can I bring Gaia too?”

“If there’s enough room in your subspace, bring her.”

“I expanded it recently. It’s nowhere near your level, Zeon, but there’s enough space for Gaia to rest comfortably.”

“Then that’s fine.”

“Hehe! Great.”

Brielle hugged Gaia tightly and smiled.

Finally, Zeon turned toward Jetoya.

“Jetoya!”

“Yes! Zeon-nim.”

“As you heard, Dongdaemun has caught the scent. If Remura falls into Dongdaemun’s hands, hell will unfold not only on the surface, but underground as well.”

Zeon’s words caused Jetoya’s expression to stiffen.

Remura was still young.

She had not yet fully developed a clear understanding of good and evil. But her mother, Heather, was different.

Her eyes were overflowing with greed.

No one knew what kind of consequences that greed might bring.

“I’ll find Remura and persuade her.”

“Whatever choice you make, I’ll leave it to you. You know Crocodile Cave and her better than anyone else.”

“Thank you. For trusting me.”

Jetoya sincerely felt grateful toward Zeon.

If not for him, Jetoya would never have awakened, nor would he have become this strong in such a systematic way.

More than anything, thanks to the support Zeon provided—including the magic power generator—the lives of the people in the settlement Jetoya led had improved at least somewhat.

Most importantly, despite helping Jetoya so much, Zeon never expected anything in return.

Jetoya knew better than anyone how difficult it was to help others without demanding compensation.

He swore to himself that one day he would repay Zeon’s kindness.

The very day they returned home, Jetoya, Brielle, and Levin immediately headed into the underground sewer.

After sending the children away, Zeon stepped outside alone.

He could feel someone watching him from somewhere.

Just as he expected, Dongdaemun had assigned someone to monitor him.

It was obvious that one of the Dark Saints was using a stealth skill to observe him.

‘How is it that not a single thing deviates from my expectations?’

Zeon smirked faintly as he began walking.

Because of the watcher, he could not go underground himself. But that did not mean there was nothing he could do.

There were still things he could accomplish from above ground.

Under secret surveillance, the place Zeon headed toward was none other than Eaton’s office.

“Huh! Welcome, Zeon-nim!”

The moment he saw Zeon, Eaton immediately sprang from his seat and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.

Thanks to Zeon, he had become the ruler of Sinchon and had survived numerous life-threatening situations.

Even when Sinchon had nearly been overtaken by Dongdaemun, it was Zeon who saved him.

As a result, Eaton’s loyalty toward Zeon had grown incomparably stronger than before.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, Zeon-nim, I’ve been doing well. But what brings you here?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you, Eaton-nim.”

“Whatever it is, just give the order, and I’ll do my utmost. There are plenty of men willing to throw away their lives for your command, Zeon-nim.”

Eaton answered hurriedly.

Zeon smiled as he looked at him.

“It’s not something grand enough to sacrifice lives over.”

“Then what is it?”

“We need to spread a rumor.”

“What kind of rumor?”

Eaton’s eyes sparkled.

“That the Saintess Dongdaemun is searching for is actually an Awakener… and an extraordinary healer.”

“Is that really true?”

“Whether it’s true or not isn’t important. What matters is that many people believe it. You understand what I mean, right?”

“Ah, yes! Of course. If the Saintess is truly an Awakener, then any faction would want to recruit her.”

“Exactly.”

“Everyone will start desperately searching for the healer.”

“Most likely.”

“Heh-heh! You truly are incredible. To think you’d interfere with Dongdaemun’s plans using nothing more than a false rumor.”

Eaton raised a thumbs-up.

He believed Zeon intended to obstruct Dongdaemun by spreading a fabricated rumor.

He never imagined that the Saintess truly was a healer.

Once the rumor spread that the Saintess was actually a healer, not only Dongdaemun but numerous other factions would begin searching for her as well.

After all, whichever faction found and recruited her first would become her owner.

Even if Dongdaemun later demanded they hand over the healer because she was supposedly the Saintess, all they had to do was refuse.

A war between factions could easily erupt.

Countless casualties might follow.

That was why Zeon had originally intended to conceal Remura’s existence.

He did not want Neo Seoul to descend into chaos because of wars between Dongdaemun and the other factions.

But he had changed his mind.

No matter how much he thought about it, the chaos could not be prevented.

Dongdaemun was a group of fanatics.

They would do absolutely anything to fulfill Johan’s orders.

Whether they found Remura or not, conflict with other factions was unavoidable.

In the end, chaos within Neo Seoul was an event destined to happen.

If so, rather than delaying the chaos, it might be better to trigger it sooner.

To deliberately release pressure before all the power condensed and exploded violently.

That was why he intended to spread rumors about the healer.

So the other factions would begin moving in earnest as well.

Most likely, every faction except the West District—which mainly consisted of mechanized Awakeners—would begin searching for Remura.

And once that happened, Dongdaemun would no longer be able to focus all of its attention solely on Crocodile Cave.

Zeon spoke.

“You know, right? The rumor has to spread so secretly that no one can trace its source.”

“Of course. That’s our specialty, isn’t it?”

Eaton grinned broadly, baring his teeth.

From that day onward, an untraceable rumor quietly spread throughout Neo Seoul.

—A high-rank healer has awakened. Dongdaemun’s fanatics are trying to find and monopolize the healer.