Episode 606
Chapter 156: Purification of Chaos (10)
‘How many times have I passed out now?’
The moment Jin opened his eyes, he saw his brothers looking down at him with their usual worried expressions.
“You’re awake, Brother Jin.”
“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard that line. Honestly, I’m getting tired of losing consciousness. How long has it been this time?”
“Two days.”
“Sigh.”
Defeat. Or was it anger? Those feelings burned in Jin’s chest like a blazing furnace.
No matter how many gulps of cold water Nata handed him, the heat inside wouldn’t subside. The more he thought about it, the more furious he became—chaos was infuriating to the point of madness.
“What exactly happened inside? You barely spent a minute or two in there, and you came back like that? And it wasn’t just anyone—it was you, Brother Jin…”
“Let me explain first.”
“There’s not much to say. It was over in a single blow.”
“The place was his pocket dimension, and he had grown even larger. He was right in front of me and took me down with one strike. He even read my thoughts—just like I did to him outside.”
Jin’s explanation was brief but clear. The fight was truly decided in one hit.
“He said that my spirit energy wasn’t much of a threat in there. That damn creature could talk, too. He mocked me, asking how I liked his powerful front paw strike… I’ve never been so helpless before.”
“Is this really the first time?”
Ban sat on the edge of Jin’s bed and spoke.
Unlike the serious expressions of the other brothers, Ban seemed almost amused by the situation, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“When Brother Jin first came here, most of us thought he was just a reckless genius. Probably because he hadn’t experienced many defeats outside, we assumed his mental strength was weak.”
“Brother Warrior.”
“But in truth, Brother Jin was no stranger to defeat. When he first arrived at Laprarosa, he was helpless against the other brothers until he left.”
“That’s true.”
“So don’t put too much weight on this loss.”
Jin felt a sudden clarity wash over him.
Ban was right—he had already endured countless defeats. He had faced despair and absurdity far worse than having his power drained by chaos.
Compared to the cursed days before his regression, this was a situation he could ‘manage.’
“Brother Jin.”
“Yes, Brother Warrior?”
“Just one question. Do you still want to face that creature alone, relying only on your own strength, without our help?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then training starts now.”
Ban was straightforward and decisive.
“You have three years. Within that time, my brothers and I will personally train you so you can defeat him. And every time you reach a certain level, you’ll have a rematch with him.”
The Lords of the Underworld had never experienced the chaos inside the pocket dimension like Jin had. They could only guess the creature’s power based on his description, and even Jin couldn’t be sure because the gap was so vast.
What was certain was that, for now, the creature could utterly crush Jin in an instant.
This wasn’t something a day or two of training could fix. Jin had to face death every time he entered that space.
“Whether by luck or some other reason, Brother Jin has survived and returned. Even if you lose the next fight, survive and escape again.”
It was obviously dangerous, but the Lords recalled Ban’s words.
“Hmm, I worry about Brother Jin, but as Brother Warrior said, training is always risky….”
“If Brother Jin insists on fighting alone, there’s no other choice.”
Jin and the Lords quickly agreed with Ban’s plan.
“Also, the other brothers will train alongside Brother Jin.”
“Brother Ban, when do you expect the next rematch?”
“One month from now.”
It was far too soon to close the gap. Even the Lords looked doubtful, but Ban was firm.
“Fight again in a month to gather more intel on him. Reconnaissance, assessment, combat, escape—only Brother Jin can do this. It will be a long and dangerous battle. Everyone, move to the Second Training Ground.”
That month became the most hellish time in Jin’s life.
And it was only the beginning.
‘I never thought I’d wish the next day wouldn’t come because training was so brutal…’
He shuddered as he vomited bile.
The Lords’ training was already far harsher than anything a human could endure. But the ‘Warrior’s’ standards were even higher.
Most of the other Lords looked dazed and near death, but they recovered quickly after a few hours of rest. Jin, however, was constantly drained and barely holding on.
Ban reminded him mercilessly that the rematch was approaching.
“Brother Jin will rest for one day and enter the gate tomorrow. Training ends for today.”
Jin almost misheard her voice as an invitation to rest behind the gate.
He stumbled out of the Second Training Ground toward the Central Training Ground—Ban naturally assumed he was going to rest in his room—but was stopped by Tantel and Shaku standing guard. Without them, he might have walked straight into chaos again.
“Brother Jin, rest behind the gate? Brother Warrior wouldn’t say that!”
“It’s part of the training… part of the training…”
“Let me check. Hmm, he’s collapsed.”
“Ugh, let’s move him to his room.”
When Jin opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar ceiling.
‘Brother Warrior said to rest behind the gate…! No, something’s off. Did I mishear?’
Ban chuckled softly at Jin’s panicked state. But the moment their eyes met, her smile vanished.
“Let’s go. Round two.”
As always, all the brothers waited by the gate. After the hellish training, the Lords were sharpened like swords.
Jin had only slept for one day. Naturally, his fatigue hadn’t lifted, and his body felt as heavy as if submerged in water.
He had to fight round two in that state.
‘At this point, I think Brother Warrior Ban might actually be trying to kill me.’
Jin’s blind faith in his brothers—especially in Ban—was the only thing keeping him from screaming that this was madness.
“I’m going.”
“Good luck.”
“Come back alive, Brother Jin!”
The moment he stepped through the gate, it was just like before. Darkness spread out, and the creature’s voice echoed.
[Oh, you’re here?]
A surge of rage replaced all the exhaustion as Jin faced chaos again. It was time to test the results of his hellish training…
Jin emerged from the gate exactly three minutes later.
[Seriously, rookie. When do you think you’ll actually fight a proper fight? Yawn, so boring.]
The creature mocked him again before the rift Jin had sliced with his spirit sword could close.
“Brother Jin has returned alive!”
“Brother Otu, heal him!”
The Lords fussed, but Ban spoke calmly.
“Three minutes. Much better than last time.”
“Brother Warrior, but Brother Jin’s injuries are worse than before. He was lucky to escape again. Shouldn’t we postpone the third round…?”
“No. The third round will proceed as scheduled in a month. Brother Otu, do whatever it takes to ensure Brother Jin can train through the night.”
Jin felt like he was caught between two devils—the chaos beyond the gate and Warrior Ban.
Still, alongside his anger, a strange feeling stirred inside him.
‘For some reason, Brother Ban seems absolutely certain I won’t die. Am I imagining it?’
There was no time to dwell on it. Boras healed Jin enough to move by nightfall, and the hellish training resumed immediately for the next month.
“I’m going…”
[Another idiot came back. You got lucky last time, huh? Today, you die!]
He survived again.
“Two minutes thirty-four seconds. Even shorter than last time!”
“But the injuries are less severe. Brother Warrior’s escape training over the past two months is paying off. Brother Jin, you shortened the fight by escaping at the right moment, right?”
The fourth round, a month later, followed a similar pattern.
Each time, Jin was defeated easily, and chaos narrowly missed finishing him off.
“Three minutes fifty-seven seconds!”
[Heh, keep coming all you want!]
“Four minutes twelve seconds!”
[No, no. You won’t cut a single scale that way.]
“Twelve minutes thirty-six seconds! And this time, Brother Jin returned with only one broken arm!”
“Only? Only? Want me to break you once more?”
[You’re dodging my powerful front paw strike pretty well now. But what to do? You haven’t even seen my ultra-strong tail whip yet.]
“Eighteen minutes twenty-seven seconds…!”
[Tch, you keep running away so well… Next time, I’ll send you to the afterlife!]
By then, a year had passed.
Jin had begun to face chaos with some mental composure. Though still small, hope was starting to flicker.
“You keep letting me slip away. After watching you for a year, you sure talk big. See you in a month—wait with your neck stretched out. Keep my energy safe.”
[No way, no way! Ebe-be-be-bup!]
Jin couldn’t help but let out a small laugh—the first in a year.
“Oh, Brother Jin has finally returned without serious injury! Any effective hits?”
“Not yet. I managed to scratch him a few times, but I didn’t deal any serious damage.”
“That’s something, Brother Jin. Well done!”
That day, the Mingwang clan was practically ready to throw a celebration just seeing Jin return unharmed.
A few brothers even wiped away tears, recalling the brutal training Jin had endured.
Ban, too, ruffled Jin’s hair for the first time and praised him warmly.
“Good job, Brother Jin. Next time, you’ll be able to truly threaten him in battle.”
“I agree, Brother Tushin. I’ve regained some strength from him, and one of the ultimate techniques I’m mastering with the Spirit Sword is about to reach its peak…”
Jin’s gaze drifted beyond the door, fixed on empty space.
Suddenly, Chaos found himself wondering what Jin might be doing over there when he wasn’t around.