Rank. The most objective indicator of a superhuman's strength. Then, how is rank determined?

The answer is that a superhuman's rank is determined by their combat power. In other words, a combination of stats, traits, and skills collectively decides the rank, as combat power is ultimately derived from the interplay of these elements.

"Wow, so if traits are as rare as stars in the sky and skills are as hard to come by as beans in a drought, that means the only thing left to raise is stats to increase combat power, right?"

It wasn’t wrong. While Sungshik had the unusual ability to continuously acquire new traits, for most people, the trait they received upon awakening was both their first and last. Skills were also typically tied to these traits, making the avenues for acquisition limited.

As a result, increasing stats was the fastest way to enhance combat power.

"So, how do you increase stats?"

"Just by going into gates, hunting monsters, and repeating training, I guess?"

Exactly. It was later revealed that stats increased when one consistently challenged their limits. Similar to physical exercise, where muscles grow by pushing to their limits, stats improved through rigorous training and battles against monsters that were at least as strong as, or slightly stronger than, oneself.

Even though Sungshik possessed high-grade traits and skills, his rank was still at 1-star because his stats were too lacking.

"So basically, to fully utilize traits and skills, you need stats to back them up. And while high-intensity training is good, combat with monsters where you skirt the edge of death raises stats even faster. On top of that, it will eventually be revealed that defeating monsters in gates or clearing gates accumulates rank experience points."

Rank experience points. While raising stats could lead to rank-up, increasing rank could also elevate stats.

This concept was discovered globally after the gate breaks. Superhumans ranked up as they tackled gates, a phenomenon triggered when the experience points gained in the gates reached a critical threshold. That’s why Sungshik planned to immediately clear low-grade gates in Korea to rank up as soon as he returned.

"Sungshik~ It’s such a shame we have to return to Korea from Japan so soon. We didn’t even get to do proper sightseeing."

"Yeah, it’s a bit disappointing not to have visited any tourist spots."

With the Tenri Academy attack and Kim Hoyun’s disappearance making headlines, the Korean exchange students were sent back early, just two weeks into the program. Initially, the mood was somber due to Kim Hoyun’s disappearance, but since it was discovered that he had followed a mysterious man, it was treated not as a disappearance but as an unauthorized departure.

As a result, all individual activities of the remaining exchange students were banned. This left Kim Subin voicing her disappointment to Sungshik about missing out on sightseeing in Japan.

'A little healing would’ve been nice, but it can’t be helped. Besides, the Revolutionary Knights group feels unsettling. It’s better to return quickly and focus on gaining strength.'

"Hmm, I wanted to delve deeper into Japanese samurai swordsmanship and traditional martial arts, but it’s a shame I couldn’t."

"Wow, Moonguk, you’ve been hard to find lately—was that what you were busy looking into?"

Kim Subin stuck out her tongue at Choi Moonguk’s obsession with martial arts.

"I didn’t get much done. I only managed to study the representative swordsmanship style, ‘Flying Heaven Sword Style.’ It’s a pity; I’d like to stay here a few more months."

"Thumbs up. Respect, Choi Moonguk. You must’ve been the Supreme Martial Lord in a past life. When we go back tomorrow, why don’t you stay here and learn more?"

"Hmm? That doesn’t sound like a bad idea."

Kim Subin looked exasperated at Choi Moonguk’s serious reply.

"Ugh, Sungshik, Moonguk is seriously a martial arts freak."

"What insolence! This fiendish woman! Must I display my true martial prowess for you to come to your senses?"

"Ack, get away from me."

Watching the two bickering, Sungshik smiled faintly. His previously complicated thoughts seemed to momentarily clear.

'Why couldn’t I enjoy these small pleasures of everyday life in the past? Let’s take a proper rest today and not think about anything else.'

"Hey, why are you two being so chummy? Why don’t you include me as well?"

Sungshik jokingly approached the two, his expression noticeably softened.

"Principal, I’d like to apply for the Gate Experience Program."

The Gate Experience Program was a special system provided by the Superhuman Academy. It allowed students to gain practical experience by permitting them to use gates managed by the academy.

Typically, the Superhuman Academy consisted of a three-year curriculum, and the program was established for students nearing graduation to gain real-world experience. Hence, most participants were third-year students.

"Sungshik, are you applying? While I acknowledge your excellent theoretical skills, actual combat is no joke."

The principal flatly refused, and it was understandable. Advancing to the third year at the Superhuman Academy wasn’t simply about spending time—it required meeting rigorous criteria, including reaching a 2-star rank.

"Even though F-grade gates are filled with 1-star monsters, it’s dangerous for someone like you with no real combat experience."

The principal’s words were undeniably true—for anyone other than Sungshik.

When it came to real combat experience, no one in the current timeline had more than Sungshik. With his ability to wield more than 100% of his potential, there was no situation he couldn’t handle, even alone.

"Moreover, there are currently too many applicants for the program. All the third-year students are applying, but we’re short on instructors to guide them."

The program didn’t allow participants to enter gates alone. Teams were formed with a supervising instructor and a set number of students. Hence, while there were plenty of applicants, the shortage of instructors created a bottleneck.

"Well, I’ll handle that on my own. The issue is the lack of personnel, not the gates themselves, right?"

Although gates spawned randomly, regions generally saw gates of a consistent level reappear. As a result, the Superhuman Academy mainly managed areas where low-grade gates frequently appeared.

“That may be true, but don’t you have no experience with gates? Entering one alone is extremely dangerous.”

“I’ve thought it through. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Seeing how confident you are… Oh, I see. Have you perhaps advanced to 2-star recently? If that’s the case, I might reconsider.”

“No, I’m still 1-star.”

At Sungshik’s reply, the dean looked at him as if he were a madman ready to throw away his life.

“Good heavens, you’re practically asking to die. What on earth are you relying on? Do you think just because you scored perfectly in theory, real battles will be a joke? Theory and practice are worlds apart.”

The dean let out a deep sigh. Watching him, Sungshik gave a sly grin.

“You’re aware of Lord Yun Gardes, with whom I’ve recently formed a connection, aren’t you? I’ve received solid training in gate strategies from his organization, ‘Noah’s Ark.’”

“What? How did you…? Wait, Yun Gardes is part of ‘Noah’s Ark’?”

‘Noah’s Ark’ was a group shrouded in rumor and secrecy, so the dean was utterly shocked. Even more so to learn that Yun Gardes was affiliated with it.

“Oh, I assumed you’d know since you’re acquainted with him. It seems I’ve made a slip of the tongue.”

It wasn’t really a slip of the tongue. Sungshik and Yun Gardes had already coordinated this explanation to obtain the dean’s permission.

“No, no, not at all. Hmm… Well, if that’s the case… Very well. If he’s involved, I trust there’s a reason.”

The dean granted permission surprisingly easily upon hearing Yun Gardes’ name. Though the ease left Sungshik feeling hollow, he was satisfied to have achieved his goal.

“Thank you for understanding such an unreasonable request.”

With a bow of gratitude, Sungshik left the dean’s office.

‘Building a connection with Yun Gardes is proving to be incredibly helpful.’

Feeling indebted to Yun Gardes, Sungshik silently expressed his thanks.

‘God bless you, Yun Gardes.’

“Ugh.”

A middle-aged man, his body covered in wounds, barely managed to stay on his feet as he spoke with great effort.

“Huff… Huff… Why would someone as powerful as you associate with such an organization?”

“Hmm, calling it ‘such an organization’ is quite rude. Everyone has their own convictions. I’m merely following mine.”

“Kuh, so… what you desire is the destruction of humanity?”

“Well, to someone like you who doesn’t know the full story, it might seem that way. But I have no intention of explaining myself to you. That said, you’re impressive. I didn’t expect the ‘Seeker of Truth’ to also be so strong in battle.”

Indeed, the man standing there, his body riddled with injuries, was none other than Yun Gardes, known as the ‘Seeker of Truth.’

“Hah… Hah… In a world that’s changed this much, wandering alone with a weak body would’ve sent me across the River Styx long ago. But what exactly are you trying to accomplish by taking those relics, both in Japan and here in Russia?”

“Hmm, I don’t know the specifics either. I came to retrieve them at the behest of my leader, but I’m curious myself about their purpose. By the way, doesn’t ‘Noah’s Ark’ have a number of shamans? It seems even they couldn’t figure out what these relics are for.”

The masked man who had killed Shiriya Ken in Japan and looted relics from the Isonokami Shrine was the same person who had cornered Yun Gardes this time.

‘To think someone this strong is merely following orders…’

From the masked man’s words, Yun Gardes inferred that he was acting solely on the orders of his organization’s leader, and he couldn’t help but be astonished. Someone with such overwhelming combat ability was nothing more than a pawn.

‘And furthermore…’

“Do you even know which group I’m affiliated with?”

“Of course. ‘Noah’s Ark,’ isn’t it? I’ve heard of it a few times.”

This was a shocking revelation.

While the existence of ‘Noah’s Ark’ as an organization was somewhat known in rumors, the fact that Yun Gardes was a member had been carefully kept under wraps. That the Revolutionary Knights already knew this raised alarming suspicions about the organization’s intelligence-gathering capabilities—or possibly the presence of a spy within.

“Well, more importantly, we’re out of time. I hear people approaching from the commotion. If you stand in my way like Ken did, I won’t be able to show you mercy.”

“Kuh… I value my life, so I’ll stop here.”

“Unlike Ken, you’re a wise man. Truly deserving of the title ‘Seeker of Truth,’ ha ha. I have a feeling we’ll meet again someday. Until then.”

As Yun Gardes took a step back, the masked man disappeared into the shadows with lightning speed. It was truly astonishing.

Moments later, Russian superhumans arrived at the scene where Yun Gardes had collapsed in tatters. They were shocked at the sight of him.

“What is this? Yun Gardes, are you all right?”

“Hah… Hah, I’m still alive. But I’m a bit dizzy… Please… let me rest for a moment…”

With those words, he surrendered to unconsciousness.

‘Ken… That stubborn friend, he must have resisted to the very end against that monster.’

With regret for Ken’s fate and the thought that perhaps he, too, could have survived if he hadn’t resisted, Yun Gardes’ consciousness faded.

[Breaking News: Relic stolen from Russia’s Burten Museum.] [Is the perpetrator of the Russian museum heist the same as the one who attacked the Japanese shrine?] [Russian government remains silent. What exactly was the relic stolen from the Burten Museum?]

The attack on Russia’s Burten Museum and the theft of its relic had caused a major stir, especially since it followed a similar incident in Japan.

“Hmm, this is certainly different from my previous life.”

In his past life, such events had never made headlines. The situation was clearly diverging from his previous timeline. But Sungshik no longer felt surprised by these deviations.

“Things seem to be changing a lot, but in the end, I just have to focus on myself.”

With his regression, the future’s trajectory was inevitably altered. What mattered most was not how the future changed, but how Sungshik himself would evolve.

“And the key to that evolution is ‘power.’”

Standing at the entrance to an F-class gate, Sungshik took a step inside.