In my previous life, I died after spending 60 years in this world.

And as I slowly reached the same amount of time in my second life, I somehow knew I was reaching the end of my life. I can’t explain how I knew. It was just a feeling that striked while I was training. A tingling down my spine. A pressure on my chest. A crack in my wooden sword. The heavens were sending me all the signs, waiting for me to recognize it.

I looked up at the clear blue sky.

Compared to how my previous life ended, you could say I succeeded in this one. I was living in a bigger house, had money, fame, and most importantly, discovered my love for Mu.

If I had any regrets… it would be that I would pass on before seeing Minho reach the next rank. 

‘I wonder, what could possibly be after the peak rank?’

The ranks of a muin known to man, were divided into 4 levels.

The 3rd rate, 2nd rate, 1st rate, and peak rank.

No one had ever seen or heard of a rank above the peak rank.

Those who reached the peak rank were able to jump over 20 meters in the sky and could fire out sword ki from their swords. Already at that point, muins would seem like otherworldly beings to normal humans. 

‘Perhaps in the next rank, Minho will be able to fly and cut through the skies like the great beings.’

If I were to miss out on this… I would regret it even in death.

“Yun, you’re still practicing the basic swings? Why haven’t you moved on to the other skills I taught you?”

I stopped my wooden sword halfway and looked at Minho.

His hair was completely grey now and his face was filled with wrinkles. I could see his one remaining eye was cloudy and slowly losing its sight.

I smiled sadly at him.

Throughout the years of training with Minho, he created many new mugongsuhs. They were original skills that Minho created once he reached the peak rank. I knew he had a talent for it, because each one of them was better than the mugongsuhs that we could find in this world.

“Even if I practiced them, I can’t use them perfectly without ki.”

Minho’s expression darkened, but I smiled. 

“But these basic movements… they don’t require any ki. I can make them completely mine.”

“I’m sorry… I never managed to find a way to heal you.”

I shook my head.

“It’s okay, Minho. I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me. If it weren’t for you, I would never have broken through the 3rd rate.”

“…”

Minho fell silent for a moment. He looked like he had something to say. I tilted my head and waited for him.

“I’m going to the Chungun clan.”

“…! Have you completed it?”

Minho nodded.

The Chungun clan was where the sorcerer that Minho had lost to was from. Once he was ready, he planned to go to the clan and request a rematch.

“I’m afraid once I go, I won’t be back.”

I knew exactly what he ment. 

“I’m going with you.”

“…”

With the remaining time I had left of this life, I’ll die after I see what new heights Minho has reached!

“Take this.”

Minho pulled out a book and handed it to me. I carefully held it with shaking hands and read the hand written title on the cover. 

“Wolgangbitchun”

“It means reaching the heavens. It’s the name of the new skill I created that got me a foot over to the next rank.”

I opened the book and started reading the pages. Minho waited until I was completely done with the book. I couldn’t understand any of it because the level of the skill was too high, but after all these years of reading mugongsuhs, I could tell it was an unbelievable skill. One that shouldn’t be possible for humans. 

“I’ve decided to call the next rank Upper Peak. To be honest, I couldn’t completely reach the next rank yet… but it should be enough to show you.”

I could tell that Minho knew I was going to die soon. I was grateful that he was trying to show me before I ran out of time. 

The two of us left the house, leaving behind everything except our swords. 

As we made our way to the Chungun clan, the people whispered behind our backs. We were both missing our left arms, and Minho was even missing an eye. I imagine our physical appearances were quite terrifying.

When we arrived at the front gates of the Chungun clan, Minho let out a lions roar with his ki. His voice echoed loudly through the air.

“I’ve come to challenge Sorcerer Kiha of the Chungun clan!”

Immediately after Minho’s voice rang, I felt multiple presences from behind the gate. 

The force of their presence enveloped and examined us. 

The gate doors swung open by an unknown source, and I saw a group of men standing in front of a building. They were dressed in white traditional clothing, and the man standing in the middle was holding a fan in front of his face.

The man was looking at us and I felt his powerful presence gripping around my neck. I tried to resist it, but the grip grew stronger and I struggled to breathe.

SHIIING

Minho pulled out his sword and swung it in front of me, releasing me from the suffocation.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

I fell to the ground and caught my breath.

I could hear the man with the fan speak in a surprised tone. 

“I see… you’re able to see it now?”

“…Just a bit.”

Minho responded softly but I could tell he felt great pride.

I was surprised that Minho was able to cut the man’s presence. Although it was much weaker than Ikol's and Hayul's, it was still an invisible force.

‘Is this what becoming upper peak means..? To be able to cut something you can’t see…’

My heart started to beat faster.

The man in the middle closed his fan and spoke.

“Kiha.”

“Yes, teacher.”

“Show him the difference between us and mortals.”

“…I understand.”

A boy standing next to the man walked forward. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

The boy was at most, in his upper 20s. Which ment… He was only in his teens when he defeated Minho.

I stood up and looked at Minho. There was not a hint of shame on his face. His expression was calm and he seemed relaxed, but as his friend who’s seen him for a lifetime, I could see in his eyes that he was afraid. 

Not afraid of death… but afraid that his Mu would fail to reach the power of sorcerers. 

The boy, Kiha, wore no expression when talking to his teacher, but when he faced Minho his face scrunched up with anger.

“I told you I’d kill you the next time I see you. Was taking your arm and eye not enough to show you that you mortals will never reach us?”

Kiha spit out threatening words at Minho, but Minho simply held his sword in front of him.

Kiha shook his body with anger, thinking that Minho was ignoring him.

While I knew it was the complete opposite.

Minho was entering a state of complete concentration, in order to fight Kiha with everything he’s got. He was showing his opponent the highest form of respect.

Minho’s ki flowed into his blade as he swung his sword and fired a powerful sword ki. Kiha stayed completely still, and my eyes widened at the sight of Minho’s sword ki dissipating an arm away from Kiha. 

Minho seemed to have expected it, but fired more sword kis at Kiha. All of them dissipated before reaching him and his angry expression changed to one of uninterest. 

“Has nothing changed in 10 years?”

With that one sentence, Kiha swung his arm in front of him and an invisible force collided with Minho’s sword ki. 

CRASH!

It easily broke through the ki and flew straight at Minho. 

Instead of choosing to block the attack, Minho avoided it by jumping to the side, pushing me away at the same time.

BOOM!

The blow caused the dust to fill up the air and when it cleared, my jaw dropped at the sheer destruction.

The ground where Minho was standing, now had a hole of 20 meters wide. 

‘This is the power of a Yongi sorcerer…!’

I trembled at the sight.

During my time in the war as chief strategist, I wondered why there were never any sorcerers. Now I could understand the reason. If kingdoms started using them in their armies… it would lead the world to ruin. 

In earth terms, it was equivalent to using atomic bombs.

“Do that again.”

Minho walked away from me so that I would be safe from the fight. He held his sword in front of him and looked straight at Kiha. I couldn’t believe it but Minho’s eyes were filled with hope. Even after witnessing such power… he still didn’t give up.

Kiha swung his arm again and fired another attack. Although I couldn’t see it, I felt it ripping through the air and everything in its path. The sound of the attack boomed through the air. 

And before it, I saw Minho holding his stance. He wasn’t running this time. 

I gripped my fist tightly and for a moment I thought I heard Minho’s voice.

“Wolgangbitchun.”

In the next moment, Minho completely disappeared from my sight.

“What?!”

I could hear Kiha’s surprised voice. Even he couldn’t trace Minho’s location.

Kiha’s attack destroyed the area where Minho was, while Kiha looked around and spread his presence thin to find Minho.

“How is this possible…”

For the first time, Kiha seemed fazed.

Even his presence couldn’t find him!

I trembled, overwhelmed with emotion before the skill that Minho created.

It was only when Minho appeared right in front of Kiha, that he sensed him.

Minho swung his sword as soon as he appeared, and cut through Kiha. They were now back to back and Minho slowly turned around to face his opponent.

He had a large smile on his face.

A few drops of blood dropped from Minho’s blade, and I could see a small cut on Kiha’s right cheek. 

“HAHAHAHAHA! Did you see that, Yun? My Mu broke through!”

Minho broke out into a refreshing laughter and Kiha looked at him with contempt.

“A wound like this is nothing.”

As if to prove it, Kiha wiped his hand over his cut and it disappeared.

“Kiha, stop playing around.”

Kiha flinched at his teacher’s sudden order and nodded sternly.

He clapped his hands together in the form of a prayer and murmured a chant.

For a second, I thought I saw the world flip over. The sky and ground were switching positions and the tears in my eyes flowed backwards.

Thud!

I soon realized it wasn’t the world that turned, but my head which was cut off from the rest of my body. 

I could also see Minho’s head rolling on the ground, still smiling brightly with pride.

‘Thank you Minho… I can see it now. There is no end to Mu. Its potential is endless.’

I felt my life fade with my last thoughts of gratitude and joy.

‘I thank the heavens for giving me another chance at life…’

That was the end of my second life.