The very top floor of the Superhuman Academy’s main building. Passing through the secretary’s office in the middle, Sungshik headed toward the central room at the topmost level and knocked on the large door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Creaaak—
As he stepped inside, an elderly gentleman was stroking an orchid in the corner of the room.
“It’s been a while, Principal.”
“Sungshik, it has indeed been a while. You look even more impressive since I last saw you.”
That’s right. Before officially applying for early graduation, Sungshik had come to visit none other than the Principal’s office. The Principal placed the towel he had been using to wipe the orchid on the table and moved toward the central table.
“I’ve heard rumors that you’re dominating the ranking matches. They say you’ve been climbing up with an unprecedented performance. I could tell from our first meeting that you were exceptional, but you’ve truly proven yourself.”
“You flatter me. I was just lucky, that’s all.”
Sungshik responded modestly to the Principal’s praise.
“So, I hear you’re preparing for early graduation. Is that why you’re here?”
“Yes. I’ve met all the conditions for early graduation, so I plan to submit my application.”
“Impressive. The deadline for early graduation is still… let me see, about two months away. And you’ve already fulfilled all the requirements? That’s truly remarkable.”
The Principal praised him sincerely. And rightly so. Once a school year ended and those who had graduated were gone, there were only about three months left before the next academic year began.
The graduation and entrance ceremonies were held simultaneously just before the new academic year started, meaning that those who wanted to graduate early had to complete all requirements within that brief three-month window.
Even with careful preparation, achieving all the requirements in that time frame was extremely difficult—especially since a new rule had recently been added: completing ten gate clearances.
Reaching the top 100 in the rankings, clearing gates, and preparing for the theoretical exam all within just three months was a near-impossible task. Yet, Sungshik had managed to do it all in just two weeks.
“Completing some gate clearances in advance through the gate experience class helped a lot. It’s all thanks to your guidance, Principal.”
“Hahaha, what guidance? It’s all thanks to your own abilities.”
They exchanged humble words, making for a warm atmosphere.
“Still, it’s a shame to see you go. With Park Tae-sik also leaving, it feels like our academy is losing two of its brightest stars.”
“I appreciate the kind words.”
“So, is there something else you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes, actually, I have something important to say.”
The Principal’s experience was evident—he could tell just from Sungshik’s demeanor that he had something else on his mind. Sungshik was inwardly impressed.
‘Experience really is something you can’t ignore.’
He had been wondering when to bring up the topic, but since the Principal had set the stage, it was much easier now.
“Principal, what I’m about to say might sound absurd, but please hear me out to the end.”
“Of course, go ahead.”
As Sungshik adopted a serious tone, the Principal also listened intently.
“In the coming years, the world may face a major upheaval.”
With the atmosphere set, Sungshik began to speak solemnly.
That’s right—before leaving, he had come to warn the Principal about the upcoming gate break. This was the best he could do within his current limitations.
At the moment, the Superhuman Academy’s education system was becoming increasingly complacent in response to the prevailing sense of peace. Practical training was being overshadowed by theory, and the lenient curriculum was turning superhumans into nothing more than hothouse flowers.
There were only two years left until the gate break occurred. He wanted the academy to focus more on real combat and instill a sense of urgency in its students, even if only for those two years. Perhaps, even in a small way, it could plant the seeds of change.
After listening in silence, the Principal let out a long sigh.
“Haa—so what you’re saying is that there could be a global-scale gate break in the near future?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I have heard reports that gate occurrences have been increasing recently. But I never considered the possibility of a full-scale gate break. May I ask what led you to this conclusion?”
Fortunately, the Principal seemed to be somewhat aware of the increasing frequency of gate appearances. That made it easier to explain.
“I heard it from Yun Gardes.”
“Huh… well, if Yun Gardes said so, then I’ll need to take it more seriously. Very well, I’ll get in touch with him and see what he has to say. And I’ll also consider revising the academy’s training guidelines to prepare for the possibility of a gate break.”
Hearing the Principal’s positive response, Sungshik felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
‘As expected, using Yun Gardes’ name works like a charm.’
Before coming to the Principal’s office, he had already spoken to Yun Gardes on the phone.
—“A gate break, huh? Well, our leader had already predicted something like that. Where did you hear about this?”
“Let’s just say I came across some information.”
—“Haha, Sungshik, the more I learn about you, the more mysterious you seem. You’re like an onion—layer after layer.”
“You flatter me. I’ll leave it in your hands, then.”
‘But the leader of “Noah’s Ark” is impressive. If they’ve already foreseen the gate break, they must have great insight.’
At the same time, he found it curious. If they had known about the gate break, why hadn’t they done anything to prevent it?
‘Either their influence is smaller than I thought, or there are other circumstances at play.’
He pondered briefly but soon shook his head. Overthinking might lead to unnecessary biases.
“Then, I sincerely thank you for everything.”
“It is I who should thank you for growing into such an outstanding individual. See you at the graduation ceremony.”
Having conveyed his message to the Principal, Sungshik then proceeded to the academic affairs office to submit his early graduation application.
With two months left until the early graduation ceremony, Sungshik dedicated himself to personal training, focusing entirely on honing his skills. While he aimed to improve his stats through consistent training, he was also preparing himself for something significant.
“Phew, I think I’m just about ready.”
Before Sungshik lay the Legendary “Thousand-Year Ginseng”.
Indeed, before his graduation, Sungshik planned to consume the Thousand-Year Ginseng. It was a medicinal herb on an entirely different level from the Hundred-Year Ginseng.
Even before his regression, fewer than five instances of a “Thousand-Year Ginseng” had ever been discovered. It was that rare and precious. Thus, he had meticulously prepared himself to consume it properly.
Crunch—
Without hesitation, Sungshik placed the Thousand-Year Ginseng in his mouth and chewed. True to its name, its size was even greater than that of a Hundred-Year Ginseng, but with the mindset of not letting even a single root fiber go to waste, he devoured it all.
At that very moment, a massive surge of energy began to stir within his stomach. Recognizing the onset, Sungshik swiftly assumed a lotus position and activated Heaven-Splitting Heart Technique.
—Absorbing the essence of the Thousand-Year Ginseng through ‘Heaven-Splitting Heart Technique.’
“Ugh—”
It was far more intense than he had expected. If the energy flow when consuming a Hundred-Year Ginseng had been like a gentle stream, the energy from the Thousand-Year Ginseng was akin to a raging river in full flood.
Sweat beaded on Sungshik’s forehead. He had never consumed a medicinal herb of such potency before. Even in his past life, he had only heard tales of how extraordinary the Thousand-Year Ginseng was, but never had he been warned of how difficult it was to manage its effects upon ingestion.
Fortunately, he had prepared himself for this moment through rigorous training and conditioning.
Drip—
The continuous stream of sweat pouring from Sungshik’s forehead was a testament to the grueling battle he was enduring.
Normally, a Thousand-Year Ginseng was considered safe for consumption only by those who had reached at least 6-star. However, such information was not widely known, and those who had consumed it in his previous life were all superhumans of 6-star and above.
For superhumans below that level, attempting to consume such a legendary medicinal herb would lead to near-instantaneous mana reflux, devastating their internal energy channels and potentially leaving them crippled—or worse, dead.
However, Sungshik was no ordinary superhuman. In his past life, he had reached 6-star, and now, he possessed the supreme martial art, Heaven-Splitting Heart Technique. This was the sole reason he could endure this perilous trial and gradually absorb the energy.
He lost track of time. When his body was completely drenched in sweat, a radiant light suddenly burst forth from him.
—Congratulations. You have partially assimilated the energy of the Thousand-Year Ginseng! Stats Up! Magic B- → A-
—You have broken through your limits. Congratulations. Rank Up! Your rank has risen to 5-star.
At the same time, a series of notifications rang in his ears. But that was not all.
—You attempted to break through the barrier to 6-star but could not surpass it.
—The remaining energy has been sealed within your dantian.
“Phew—”
The effects of the Thousand-Year Ginseng were astonishing. Not only had he immediately ascended to 5-star, but he had even knocked on the door of 6-star. This was only possible because his understanding had already reached beyond 5-star.
However, while his comprehension and energy were sufficient, his physical body could not withstand the breakthrough, preventing him from advancing further. Yet, he instinctively knew—the barrier would not hold for long.
“Wow, I really thought I was going to die.”
It was no exaggeration. It was fortunate that everything had gone smoothly, but in truth, he had been dangerously close to disaster. Had he known how perilous it was, he would never have attempted it.
“Ignorance is bliss, huh…? Well, I guess it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
In a twist of fate, his lack of knowledge had actually worked in his favor.
“Status window.”
Standing up, Sungshik felt lighter than ever and immediately checked his status window.
Name: Heo Sungshik
Title: Hero of Adversity, One Who Has Touched the Threshold of Transcendence
Rank: 5-star+ (★★★★★☆) (↑)
Combat Power: A- (↑)
Stats:
Strength: B (↑)
Agility: B (↑)
Stamina: B (↑)
Magic: A- (↑)
Traits:
1. [EX Rank] Consumption – LV 5 (↑)
2. [EX Rank] One More Time (Unavailable)
3. [EX Rank] Heaven-Splitting Divine Art – LV 4 (↑)
4. [SS Rank] Pocket Watch – LV 3
5. [S Rank] Hyper-Sense – LV 4
6. [S Rank] Sword Sovereign – LV 5
Skills:
1. [S Rank] Insight (Restricted)
2. [S Rank] Explosive Strike
3. [No Rank] Translation Skill
4. [A Rank] Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts (↑)
5. [A Rank] Heaven-Splitting Eyes (↑)
6. [SSS Rank] Future Vision
7. [B Rank] Wind Scar
“Wow.”
Seeing the updated status window, Sungshik couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration. Several of his stats had jumped by two whole stages in one go.
Rank: 4-star+ (★★★★☆) → 5-star+ (★★★★★☆)
Combat Power: B → A-
Stats:
Strength: C+ → B
Agility: C+ → B
Stamina: C+ → B
Magic: B- → A-
Traits:
1. [EX Rank] Consumption (LV 4) → [EX Rank] Consumption (LV 5)
2. [EX Rank] Heaven-Splitting Divine Art (LV 3) → Heaven-Splitting Divine Art (LV 4)
Skills:
1. [A- Rank] Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts → [A Rank] Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts
2. [A- Rank] Heaven-Splitting Eyes → [A Rank] Heaven-Splitting Eyes
The stat boosts were incredible. Now, he finally understood why people were so obsessed with medicinal herbs.
“The Hundred-Year Ginseng is barely worth calling a medicinal herb in comparison.”
At first, he had merely hoped that he might manage to break through to 5-star. But that had been a complete misjudgment.
Instead of just reaching 5-star, he had even attempted to breach the 6-star barrier. More importantly, he could feel that the energy from that attempt had settled in his dantian, waiting to be awakened when the time was right.
“To directly raise my rank… So this is the true power of a legendary medicinal herb.”
Now, he understood why high-ranking superhumans had desperately sought out such herbs even after obtaining one.
Just as Sungshik was contemplating his next move, something in the system notifications caught his eye.
“Huh?”