Kwon Oh-Jin lay on the couch and opened up his status window.
“Open Heaven, huh...?”
The trait's description remained an incomprehensible string of text. He narrowed his eyes, recalling the moment he had used the trait instinctively.
Was it 'Those who pass by me into the Garden of Lamentation?’ Felt more like an incantation than a meaningful phrase. It definitely said that a portion of Open Heaven was unlocked...
With such an incomplete skill, he had utterly crushed Cheon Do-Yoon, a nine-star Awakener, before the man could even lift a finger.
Of course, Cheon Do-Yoon hadn't been at his full strength. Their previous skirmish had exhausted him, and he'd also lost the source of his power, Noctua, because of Vega.
But even so, this O.P. skill came in clutch.
Kwon Oh-Jin had never fully understood the Celestials' turmoil over the Black Heaven when they called it a world-ending force or whatever. However, he had now witnessed the Black Heaven's colossal might firsthand.
This isn’t something I can just use recklessly like Exceed.
While using Open Heaven, he had felt as though his entire form was dissolving. His fingertips had gone numb as if he were merging with the black clouds themselves.
If it’s just pain, I can push through like I do with Exceed.But this is different.
He remembered how his consciousness gradually faded into the Black Heaven like ink spreading in water. If not for the brilliant shine of the Stigma of Lyra within the abyss, he could have possibly never returned. This wasn’t something he could just overcome with sheer willpower.
“I should only use it as an absolute last resort,” he muttered.
Maybe one day, I'll be able to use it without the drawbacks. But for now... it's too dangerous. Well, it’s not like I can use it even if I want to.
The incomplete power he'd drawn from Song Ha-Eun's Draconic Eye had fully dispersed over time. If he wanted to use mana from the Dragon Vein again, he would have to absorb some of her power like recharging a drained battery.
I'll have to absorb some of her power every time like a rechargeable battery if I want to utilize the Dragon Vein's mana... but that’s not an option. I don't know what kind of side effects the Black Heaven might have on her.
His reign over the Dragon Vein's mana would naturally increase as his enlightenment of the Black Heaven advanced. Eventually, he would be able to use Open Heaven without relying on anyone else.
“Alright. Until then, Open Heaven is off-limits.”
Of course, it would be a different story altogether if he ever found himself completely screwed without it.
Now then... let’s sort through the other information I got from Cheon Do-Yoon.
First, the matter of the Black Stars.
He said the Black Star Celestials were Celestials who had been exiled by the rest, cast out with the derogatory term False Stars.
Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow.
“Is that how the False Star Cult eventually comes to be?”
Something felt off like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit. The information from Cheon Do-Yoon was too limited to draw any solid conclusions.
At least I have a lead now.
He could focus his investigation on the exiled Celestials, potentially allowing him to find a way to counter them.
Next up, he recalled the information on the Black Star Society's involvement with the Demonic District. Most notably, he had acquired a fair bit of intel on the bustling Seahorse faction.
“I’m gonna need to sort all of this out,” he grumbled, glancing around for a pen.
Suddenly, the bedroom door creaked open, and Song Ha-Eun stepped out, still drowsy.
He walked over to her. “Are you feeling any better?”
“Ah... yeah. I’m fine now.”
After reaching nine stars during the recent battle, she had collapsed from the sheer strain of internal reconstruction. This phenomenon often accompanied ascension to the highest ranks of Awakening.
They say aging stops completely at that point too, don’t they?
In the most literal sense, Song Ha-Eun had just taken her first step beyond the limits of humanity.
“So, what’s it like being a nine-star? Do you feel any different?” he asked, his eyes gleaming curiously. There was little record of how this rare breed of Awakeners changed upon ascension.
“Yeah. It’s definitely a huge leap from when I hit eight stars.”
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “How do I put this...? It’s like I shed my skin or something. I got stronger, obviously, but my mana circuits expanded like crazy, too. I can move mana exactly how I want, instantly.”
Nine-star Awakeners really are on a whole different level, he thought.
“I’m still getting used to it since I just ascended..." she said. "But yeah, I feel amazing.”
“Damn... I never thought I’d actually become a high-ranking Awakener.” She tugged her shirt down and glanced at the nine strokes etched on her chest in disbelief.
Why does this woman keep flashing me? Thank you, Lord—wait, no, what?
Even though it was only the upper part of her chest, his eyes couldn’t help being drawn to her smooth, porcelain skin.
Noticing his gaze, she smirked. “What, you trying to burn a hole through my chest with those eyes?”
Before he could answer, she pinched his side playfully.
“I mean, how am I not supposed to look?” he shot back.
It wasn’t just anyone. This was the woman he loved standing before him in such a vulnerable, intimate moment.
Still holding her shirt down, she leaned in closer and pressed herself lightly against him.
“Are you just gonna look?” she murmured, blushing slightly. “I mean... we’re, y’know... officially dating now.”
She fidgeted nervously as her cheeks flushed a deeper red. After hesitating for a moment and avoiding his gaze, she gulped. “Do you... wanna touch it?”
Holy shit. When did she get so bold?
“... Later,” he answered.
“What?! Why?!” she screamed. “I-I barely managed to say that without dying from embarrassment!”
“We don’t exactly have time to mess around right now.”
“What do you—Oh. Right.”
The realization suddenly sank in. Just because they had achieved something they'd desired for so long didn’t mean they could relax. There was another precious person in their life now.
“Have you heard from Vega yet?” she asked.
He shook his head grimly. “No.”
Vega had been forcibly dismissed by the Celestial restrictions for using her power beyond the allowed limits to protect him and Song Ha-Eun.
“... She hasn’t disappeared forever or anything, right?” Song Ha-Eun anxiously asked.
“She didn’t perish,” he replied. The power of a Stigma came from its Celestial, and he still possessed the Stigma of Lyra. “She’s probably not in great shape, though."
He rubbed the silver pendant hanging around his neck with a bitter expression. In the past, activating a mere blessing had bound her to the Sanctum for a whole month. He couldn't imagine the consequences that would come with her having fully unleashed her might this time.
“I was planning to head to the Sanctum soon, anyway,” he declared, having already sorted out the most urgent matters on his plate.
“I’ll go with you,” Song Ha-Eun said.
“Okay. Let’s get ready and head out right now.”
Although he'd originally planned on sorting through all the information from Cheon Do-Yoon first, checking up on Vega seemed like a better idea.
Song Ha-Eun grinned mischievously. “Hehe, I can’t wait to rub this in her face.”
Her shoulders trembled in excitement as she imagined Vega’s reaction once she found out they were dating now.
“Ah, about that. We need to keep it a secret from Vega,” he declared.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“There are a few things I told her before.”
“Things?" Song Ha-Eun tilted her head in confusion. "What kind of things?”
“I lied that she and I were lovers in my past life.”
Song Ha-Eun’s jaw dropped. “What the hell did you just say?”
Memories of Vega’s remarks and possessive attitude toward Kwon Oh-Jin flashed through Song Ha-Eun's mind.
“S-So that’s why that bitch kept spreading her legs for you!” She shot him a fierce glare. “Why the hell would you lie about something like that, you dumbass?!”
“It was the only way to deceive her.”
“Still... this is... this is—!” She clenched her fists and trembled. “This is cheating! Cheating!”
What the hell is she on about now?
“That silver-haired bitch is trying to steal my Oh-Jin!”
“Look, Vega does care about me, yes. But I’m sure it's not because she has romantic feelings for me.”
It's probably more like a mother watching her child grow up.
Song Ha-Eun paused before asking, “You really believe that?”
“Just because we were lovers in my past life doesn’t mean those feelings transfer to this life.”
But Vega probably assumes I'm having complicated feelings over my past relationship with her. Complicated feelings from seeing both her past and present selves. If she finds out I'm suddenly dating Song Ha-Eun now, she might start sensing that something is off.
“But still, how—Ugh, never mind. What’s the point of arguing over this?” Song Ha-Eun sighed and shook her head. Then, she suddenly glared at Kwon Oh-Jin again. “Wait a minute. Don’t tell me... Isabella too?”
“Ah. Yeah, we need to keep it a secret from her as well.”
The Leech Queen was unusually obsessed with him. Though her feelings were likely less romantic and more predatory, it was best to keep things quiet until he fully understood her intentions.
Song Ha-Eun despondently stared at him. “Great. Now that blonde bitch too...”
Why the hell is this bastard so popular? she thought. This is rich coming from me, but Oh-Jin's not exactly a chick magnet. So why's he got a Celestial and a talented princess-bitch falling for him? No, wait... She’s also called the Leech Queen or whatever, isn't she?
Song Ha-Eun had finally heard about Isabella's true identity after Kwon Oh-Jin divulged everything to her about the Black Heaven and Lee Shin-Hyuk.
“Can I punch you in the face really hard? Just once?”
She let out another heavy sigh before wrapping her arms tightly around his.
She had marked her territory ages ago. No one was taking him away from her now.
“Ugh, whatever," she grumbled. "Let’s just get going.”
She clung tightly to him as they headed toward the Sanctum together.