Bae Seung-Woo possessed an Awakened power associated with amplification.

What they had confirmed so far was his ability to amplify his own physical abilities and the power of those around him. It was clear that his power had much more potential, yet for the time being, that was all they confirmed.

It was questionable why someone with such power would be treated in such a lovely way. However, the answer was simple and clear to the group.

They had seen many Awakened individuals, but his power felt particularly peculiar.

“It's true that Neltarid placed a strong restriction on his body,” Willow said.

“I... I don't understand what you mean,” Bae Seung-Woo replied.

“It means Neltarid restricted your power because it was so peculiar.”

Yet, he still didn’t understand what she was talking about.

She added, “You want revenge. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Revenge is a tricky thing. From all the examples I’ve seen, they always ended up ruining themselves too in the process. That being said, you have to do well. Do you understand what I mean?”

Seung-Woo nodded with a complicated expression. He understood their consideration and felt grateful.

“I can't do anything for you,” he said carefully while forcibly steadying his trembling. “And you're still going to help me?”

Willow chuckled at his question. “While you don’t have anything to give me, that's just for now.”

“Pardon?”

“You really don’t think you’ll have something to give once your power fully blossoms?”

Her voice sounded like a devil’s whisper.

He began to get what she was saying. “Then...”

“When the time comes, you can give me whatever you want to. I'm not asking for much, just as much as you feel compensates for the help you received.”

To be frank, it didn't matter to her whether he gave something or not.

“Alright, that's taken care of. Then, shall we undo Neltarid’s seal trickery?”

As she clapped her hands, divine power began to pour out around her.

Seung-Woo, who reflexively almost prostrated himself toward her, looked at Super Ribbon and asked cautiously, “Ummm, Super Ribbon... who exactly is she?”

“She's Evangeline's older sister. And also my twin.”

Although twins wasn’t the perfect word to describe them, it was the best way to explain it to those who had no knowledge of their background.

“And...” She gave a faint smile. “Actually, nevemind.”

When the light flowing from her body permeated into him, his expression instantly hardened.

“Gasp!!! Ugh!!”

Just as she had predicted, breaking the restriction Neltarid placed on him and awakening his talent came with a great deal of pain.

“Guh! Gasp! H-Help me...”

“Just hold on! You can't even endure this much?! Your desire for revenge isn't that weak, is it?”

He had to at least go through this much to even have a chance at revenge.

- Let’s be real, Seung-Woo, we're not on the same level. You’re a perennial low-C rank and I can aim for high-B or even A-rank. There’s no way we’re on the same level! If you truly love me, you should know to let me go so I can live a better life.

Jung Min-Ah had not only dumped Bae Seung-Woo, but also completely denied his entire life’s accomplishments. She had shattered everything about him as if his life meant nothing, like all his efforts were just an illusion.

Connections. Achievements. Losing everything overnight had fueled an intense rage in his mind.

'Yes, I'll endure it! I’ll never back down.'

His eyes shot open, and his spirit began to overcome the pain.

Whoosh!! Thump!!

An immense power abruptly burst out from inside his body before fading back and restarting the process. This cycle continued for about ten minutes.

He eventually collapsed, completely exhausted.

“Congratulations! You are now a fully-fledged Awakened. Though honestly, I don't know if waking up your power was the right thing to do.”

If Neltarid had sealed it, she figured there must’ve been a reason.

However, at the very least, Willow believed that a world that turned its back on someone so upright and kind had to be in the wrong. It was the difference in perspective between a god who possessed boundless emotions and a rigid god who possessed only a fragment of emotion.

As the fainted Seung-Woo lay on the floor, she looked at the others. “Let’s first get him used to using his power. If we do it Dad's way, it should only take a few days.”

* * *

The first day.

“C-can I start?”

“Please do.”

With those words, Super Ribbon, who was standing in the training hall, lightly flicked the sword in her hand. Simultaneously, long, translucent white wings stretched out behind her back, and Seung-Woo stared blankly at her.

Willow yelled, looking utterly exasperated, “What are you doing?! You’ll be dead before you know it if you space out like that!!”

“What? Gaaa!!”

Thud!!!

Before he could finish speaking, a tremendous shockwave flung him away.

In the past, Super Ribbon had unconsciously drawn out Willow's power by wearing a mask. After Willow separated from her, she had eventually reached a level where she could somewhat mimic that power using only her own strength.

“Cough. Cough!”

Faced with the unexpected shockwave, Seung-Woo looked at her with a terrified expression.

“S-Super Ribbon, I... I think I'm going to die.”

“Do you want to stop here?”

He didn't answer.

“Are you sure?” she asked him with an uncharacteristic firmness, and he slowly stood up.

She continued, “Let’s stick to dodging for now. Be careful, though. If you get hit wrong, you'll die. But since Willow is here... as long as you don't completely die on impact, she should be able to revive you somehow.”

Those words were even more terrifying, her tone seeming to suggest that it was okay for him to die, as long as it wasn't permanent.

Thud!!!

He was sent flying into the air yet again.

The second day.

“Come on! Is that all you've got?! Try harder!”

“This is my limit... please...”

“No, no!! We'll do it one more time! You can do it!”

“I never volunteered to be beaten to death!!” he screamed, giving his all to amplify Evangeline's power.

The third day.

“Rinne suggests you surrender to death if you can't run away.”

She approached him nonchalantly with a huge crowbar in her hand as he shrieked and ran away.

The fourth and fifth days were no different. After a week passed like that, a change began to take place within him.

Thud!! Thud!!!

While Super Ribbon was deliberately holding back, he had nonetheless become quite skilled at accurately dodging her attacks.

She stopped unleashing blade energy and clapped her hands. “Wow! You’ve improved so much. Just like Willow said, you have talent.”

“I... guess I do...” he muttered sheepishly, seemingly unable to understand it himself.

Awakened individuals grew strong quickly. It was a core mechanic of the Awakened system.

Of course, there was no way around having a low power ceiling, but even so, he had a higher cap than others.

“Now I understand why Neltarid sealed it. From the perspective of a god with barely any emotions, this is definitely a so-called OP ability.” Willow smiled, looking satisfied. “With this, you'll be able to raise your rank quite a bit just by gaining fighting experience.”

Originally, what they had been doing was just preparation for any situation that might arise.

“Are you ready for the spotlight?”

He wasn't so sure. “C-can I really do it?”

“I'm telling you that you can. Don't worry, even if things don't go perfectly, I have a backup plan.”

She patted his shoulder, then spoke to Evangeline, saying, “Eva, you know that guild we were acquainted with before? The one Dad supports.”

“Umm, yeah. You mean the Balhae Guild, right? The one Soo-Ah’s in?”

“Contact her. Tell her to take this guy with them soon.”

“You think she’ll say yes?”

“More importantly, do you think she’ll say no to a request from you?”

* * *

The Balhae Guild was one of the fairly famous major guilds in Korea. While it was originally a mid-sized guild, after Yeon Soo-Ah got involved with Evangeline and tried to help her, it had suddenly grown rapidly thanks to Davey’s generous support.

Normally, a rapidly growing guild like that would naturally face some opposition. Yet, thanks to the entity backing it, it grew without any interference.

“Ummm. Team Leader?” one of the guild members called out.

“Yes?”

“Is that fellow really okay to be here? I heard he's a low-C rank.”

“Hmm. Honestly, I’m not quite sure. He’s not asking for any specific compensation, just to gain experience alongside us. I might’ve said no if it were someone else, but Eva’s basically family.”

The dungeon they were currently in was a high-B rank gate. A low-C rank fighter would require protection, which could potentially result in casualties.

“Well, we can still cover him somewhat. Squad One, it'll be a little bothersome, but please look after him.”

“Yes... Got it.” Despite the answer, the members clearly weren't exactly thrilled about it.

Sure, Yeon Soo-Ah wanted to help, but since human lives were at stake, it wasn't an easy decision to make.

She clapped her hands together. “Alright everyone. Don’t worry too much. Let’s think of this as a training opportunity!”

She picked up her weapon and entered the gate. Seung-Woo, who had become a freeloader, followed behind, filled with dread.

“Eva, let's start.”

“Okay.”

The scheme of Willow and Evangeline, who secretly entered the gate unlike the others, began as well. The latter instantly raised her Fear, terrifying the monsters and causing them to group up for safety.

“What if something happens?”

“Don't worry, I'll stop any major accidents. This is just a set-up, anyway, intended to spread a rumor about the kind of power he possesses as an Awakened.”

Getting his power evaluated again at the Guild Association was a good option, but that involved a load of complicated procedures.

Instead, they’d thought of starting the rumor first. It was important to attract as much attention as possible.

“In the first place, even if I hadn't stepped in, he would’ve eventually shone.”

Of course, Willow had assisted in rushing his talent along, helping him procure the necessary gear to work as an Awakened and assisting him in entering the gate.

The guild raid went smoothly.

Yes, the guild itself had grown, but since it focused heavily on each member’s individual capabilities, each of them shone even brighter as a team.

“Squad One, to the rear! Squads Two and Three, push in from the sides!! Squad Four, hold for ranged attacks!” Yeon Soo-Ah, the Team Leader, led the raid with her usual stern voice. Her leadership made the raid smooth, as if to prove her skill was more than just a title and rank.

“Wow...” Bae Seung-Woo let out a short exclamation of admiration.

He was impressed by the systematic nature of the raid, unlike the disorganized free-for-alls he was used to. He wouldn't let himself miss the opportunity that had come his way.

A faint aura very, very slowly began to spread from his entire body.

The raid itself progressed without issue. However, once Evangeline's Fear activated, the gathered monsters began to move.

“T-Team Leader! There's an abnormality with the monsters! A large number are swarming us!”

“W-What did you say?! How many?!”

“At least fifty of them!”

There were normally about ten to twenty to fight, so the number was more than double.

Even if the raid team had given themselves some wiggle room with staffing, the sheer force of numbers was something they absolutely couldn't ignore.

“What the hell happened? Has this situation ever happened before?!”

“N-no.”

“Damn it! Can we handle it?”

“We can, but... Squad One looks a little shaky.”

“Pull a few members and evacuate the noob. The rest of us will block the narrow path and clear them out.”

However, the monsters tightened their encirclement, not giving them any chance to escape.

“You gotta be kidding me! What kind of shitty situation is this?!”

Squad One, which was protecting Seung-Woo, had been left at a heavy disadvantage.

“I'm never taking a request like this again.”

Sighing, she decided to hold out as long as possible. “Under the circumstances, retreating’s not an option. Squad One, I know it's a pain, but please just hold on a little longer.”

“Ah. Yes.”

As this unfolded, Squad One was beginning to feel that something was strange.

Regardless, the fight soon began.

Yeon Soo-Ah judged that Squad One couldn’t properly exert their full capabilities under the circumstances.

In truth, she had initially worried about protecting Bae Seung-Woo, ultimately designating the lowest-ranked team as his protection squad.

She knew that if any casualties occurred, the fallout from her superiors would be difficult to handle.

She decisively chose to push for a plan, even if it was risky.

“Huh?”

Then something strange caught her eye.

Squad One was composed of the lowest-ranked Awakened individuals of their organization. Since it was impossible to pull them to the rear, they were fighting the monsters while also protecting Seung-Woo.

Yet...

“What the... Why are they fighting so well?”

Everyone stared blankly at Squad One, which was slaughtering the monsters like fish in a barrel.

Even though their skills and abilities were lower than the guild’s elites, they weren’t several ranks apart. Sure, they generally lacked a bit in physical attributes, but they were still Awakened individuals.

Squad One now showed physical prowess above anything they’d demonstrated before.

“Wh... what the hell! Why’s my body so light?!”

“I’ve been thinking something’s strange...”

The members of Squad One couldn't hide their bewilderment.

Just then, some monsters broke through and targeted Bae Seung-Woo.

“N-no!”

The members, who had been entranced by their own sudden surge in power, screamed, realizing their mistake.

The monsters there were too strong for a C-rank to face, yet he didn't panic. He casually dodged the monster and counter-attacked in return.

Slash!!

Everyone stared blankly at him.

“More are coming!”

Those who were momentarily stunned began to move again.

“This is weird. Why do I feel like I'm stronger?”

Just as those who felt their power rising in real time grew bewildered, a golden stream of energy burst out from Bae Seung-Woo and began to seep into everyone.

They all instinctively realized that the source of their absurd power surge was him. The sight of him amplifying everyone's power by expanding his range reminded them of someone in particular.

One of them remarked, “This reminds me of that time when the Saint of Tionis gave a large-scale blessing. Or am I just not thinking straight?”

“No, I was thinking the same, Team Leader.”

“Do you think we can pull this off?”

“If our power is amplified this much... This will be a cakewalk. We literally can't die.”

“Then let's wipe them out.”

The tables had abruptly turned.

Yeon Soo-Ah changed their formation, and they began to pierce through the encirclement.

“I've never seen an Awakened individual like him in my life! If word about his power gets out, it's going to be chaos.”

Her judgment was accurate.

Drunk on the taste of overwhelming amplification, the raid members went berserk at a speed even faster than usual, clearing the gate and even setting a new record.

Just as Willow and the others had predicted, rumors about Seung-Woo and his amplification power began to circulate in the hunter community.

Naturally, after that incident, Yeon Soo-Ah asked Evangeline about him. “So what exactly is he?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, honestly, it's hard to judge after seeing him just once... but he... seems to significantly boost everyone around him.”

“That's right. It's not much of a personal buff for him, but he amplifies the people around him like crazy.”

She could hardly believe it. “My goodness...”

“What I want is to make sure that he receives the treatment he deserves for his ability.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Hmm. First, please spread the rumors of what happened there. The Association will re-measure his ability and rank soon. Even if he's a support type... with that level of ability, his rank will shoot up, don’t you think?

“You said he’s originally C-rank? A physical enhancement type, if I recall correctly.”

“Yes. But now, that’ll change.”

“What the heck is his ability?”

“Willow called it Amplification, but I honestly don't know if that's all it is.”

“And what do you gain from all this?”

Evangeline smiled shyly at the question. “Do I need a reason to just... help someone?”

‘Well, well, well, it seems like there really is another reason.’

Yeon Soo-Ah gave a wry laugh. “Fine. You're right, I'll help. I just need to spread the rumors, right?”

“Yes. To the point that reporters and scouts will flock to his remeasurement day.”

The plan proceeded step-by-step.

At the same time.

“Huh? Why isn't this working?” Jung Min-Ah, who was checking her power after consuming an expensive elixir, noticed an anomaly in her body. Her power had actually weakened compared to before she took the elixir!

Willow, watching her from afar, muttered coldly, “Everything goes according to the natural order. You received a blessing beyond your worth, but your greed ruined it.”

She then waved her hand to make Bae Seung-Woo's power fade from Jung Min-Ah even faster, silently slipping out of the guild building once finished.

Yuria approached her, as if she had been waiting the whole time.

The additional power she obtained wasn’t hers to begin with, and Jung Min-Ah still didn't know that she was turning less valuable to Park Ji-Hoon by the second.

“Lady Willow, I brought all the information you requested. The food mixed with the elixir you mentioned is also ready.”

Willow chuckled eerily at her report.

“But was all this trouble necessary? If you just retrieve their power...”

“If we do everything for him, will his burning desire for revenge be satisfied?”

Yuria fell silent at the question.

“We're just giving him a push. We will be supporting everything he needs in that process.”

“Lady Super Ribbon is a bit down, apparently. It would seem she feels like she's the only one not doing anything.”

Evangeline was helping him in her own way, and Willow was orchestrating the whole thing.

On the other hand, all Super Ribbon did was briefly spar with him in the beginning.

“That little brat will use her power when we deal with the other guy later.”

“That's a relief, then. But it's quite unfortunate... that she happened to cross paths with you, my Lady.”

Yuria smiled awkwardly and waved her hands as Willow glared at her.