The clash between Muyeon and Instructor Han never reached its conclusion.
Because someone else was watching.
High above the shattered courtyard, on the roof of the training hall, a figure stood silently.
No presence.
No sound.
Only observation.
A man in dark gold robes, his face hidden beneath a half-mask.
He watched the battlefield below.
Instructor Han.
Jin Muyeon.
The broken ground.
The lingering killing intent in the air.
"…Interesting," the man murmured.
His voice was calm. Controlled.
Not surprised.
Amused.
Below, Instructor Han's final killing aura surged again—
But before it could land—
The masked man raised one finger.
And everything stopped.
Not physically.
But forcefully suppressed.
The entire battlefield froze under an invisible pressure.
Even Instructor Han's aura collapsed mid-air.
Muyeon staggered.
"What… is this…?"
Instructor Han's eyes widened.
"…Elder?"
His voice dropped instantly.
Respect. Fear.
The masked man stepped forward.
And in a single movement—
He descended into the courtyard without jumping.
Without sound.
Like gravity itself bent for him.
Muyeon's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Not Instructor-level danger.
Something far beyond.
The man looked at Muyeon.
Then at Instructor Han.
"…Enough."
Instructor Han immediately knelt.
Head lowered.
"I apologize, Elder Seo."
So that was his name.
Elder Seo.
Muyeon wiped blood from his lip.
"…So there's someone above even you."
Elder Seo turned his gaze to Muyeon.
Long silence.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"You're the one causing all this chaos."
Muyeon didn't answer.
He didn't kneel.
Didn't lower his head.
Elder Seo tilted his head slightly.
"…Bold."
Then he raised his hand.
A flick of energy spread outward.
And suddenly—
A floating screen appeared in the air.
Not like the system.
Something different.
Larger.
Structured.
[MURIM RANKING SYSTEM]
Muyeon's eyes narrowed.
A massive list appeared.
Names. Rankings. Power levels.
At the top:
1. The Heavenly Emperor — ???
2. Sword Saint of the North — ???
3. Abyssal Demon Lord — ???
Then lower:
87. Instructor Han — Outer Cult Elite
Muyeon froze slightly.
"…He's only 87?"
Instructor Han didn't respond.
He didn't dare.
Elder Seo continued calmly.
"This is the world you now stand in."
A pause.
"Murim is not equal."
"It is ranked."
The list shifted.
A new entry appeared.
[NEW ENTRY DETECTED]
Jin Muyeon — Unranked
Muyeon frowned.
"…Unranked?"
Elder Seo nodded.
"Yes."
"Because you are not yet worth measuring."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Muyeon's face.
"…Good."
Elder Seo observed him closely.
"Most would feel insulted."
Muyeon replied simply:
"I don't care about the rank."
A pause.
"I care about reaching the top."
A flicker of interest appeared in Elder Seo's eyes.
Instructor Han stiffened slightly.
"…Elder, he is dangerous."
Elder Seo raised a hand.
Silence him.
And Han obeyed instantly.
Then Elder Seo looked back at Muyeon.
"You fight like someone who has already died once."
Muyeon didn't deny it.
Because it was true.
A long pause.
Then Elder Seo spoke again.
"You will be monitored."
"If you survive… you may be assigned a rank."
He turned slightly.
Preparing to leave.
But then—
He stopped.
"…One more thing."
He glanced back.
"If you ever reach the top 10…"
A faint pause.
"…the world will notice you."
Then he disappeared.
Like he was never there.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Muyeon nearly collapsed—but stayed standing.
Barely.
Instructor Han slowly stood.
He looked at Muyeon differently now.
Not hatred.
Not arrogance.
Something closer to… caution.
"…You drew Elder Seo's attention."
Muyeon exhaled slowly.
Blood dripped from his arm.
His body was still in pain from Blood Pulse.
But his eyes were sharp.
Alive.
"So what?" Muyeon said quietly.
"I just need to climb."
He looked at the fading ranking list in the sky.
The names above him.
The monsters beyond his reach.
Then he smiled.
"…One step at a time."
[System Notification]
[Main Path Updated: Ascension Ranking Route]
Objective: Break into Top 100 → Top 10 → Top 1
Muyeon clenched his fist.
"This world…"
"…finally has structure."
And somewhere far above the Murim world—
Something else was watching too.
Something that didn't belong on any list.
End of Chapter 6