Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 6
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 6】
Chapter 6: Bloodline is Peculiar (3)
An officetel in downtown Seoul.
“This damned bastard!”
Kwon Ji-seok hurled his smartphone across the room in irritation. It smacked against the wall and crumpled like paper.
“How dare that lowborn scum disrespect me?”
Kwon Ji-seok couldn’t shake off his fury. For someone born into the Heukcheon Group, such humiliation was entirely unprecedented. Most people scrambled to bow before him.
“Master, please calm yourself. On such a joyous day, surely you shouldn’t let your emotions be disturbed by some uncouth fool.”
A man seated beside him attempted to soothe his anger.
He was a possessor of the Inferior Black Dragon Bloodline, belonging to the Heukcheon Branch Family.
“Exactly. That ignorant wretch isn’t worth your attention, sir.”
A young woman set a glass of water before Kwon Ji-seok as she spoke.
She too was from the Heukcheon Branch Family, carrying the Mixed Black Dragon Bloodline.
It wasn’t just these two. The five men and women gathered in the officetel with Kwon Ji-seok were all blood relatives of the Kwon Family.
They hadn’t assembled merely for social purposes.
“Rather than wasting energy on that fool, wouldn’t it be far more productive to review our plan once more?”
Kwon Ji-seok’s clan would be established very soon.
These people were to be the core members of that clan.
“The Master has repeatedly said so himself. Our true rival is Kwon Chan-seong.”
Kwon Chan-seong.
The eldest son of Kwon Hyuk, Vice Chairman of the Heukcheon Group. In other words, Kwon Ji-seok’s older brother.
If Kwon Hyuk was considered the successor to the Heukcheon Group, then Kwon Chan-seong was the most likely candidate to become Kwon Hyuk’s successor.
Therefore, Kwon Ji-seok had to surpass him if he ever hoped to become his father’s heir.
“So we’ve been thinking about it continuously since yesterday. For the first dungeon, we were considering somewhere near Busan rather than Seoul…”
“Hey, we’ll talk about that later.”
That later.
The blood relatives’ expressions stiffened slightly.
The reason they followed Kwon Ji-seok was because of his ambition to claim the throne of the Kwon Family.
Yet he was dismissing their plans for the first dungeon conquest—the very gateway to that ambition—as something to discuss later?
“That bastard Kwon Hyun-moon is entering Yong Hyun Moo Go. How far do you think he’ll progress in mastering the secret techniques?”
The blood relatives’ expressions brightened.
They’d thought Kwon Ji-seok was acting recklessly again, but that wasn’t it at all.
He’d made this calculation: containing Kwon Hyun-moon was just as important as surpassing his older brother Kwon Chan-seong.
It was only natural. No matter how lowborn Kwon Hyun-moon’s origins were, as long as he possessed the True Black Dragon Bloodline, he couldn’t be dismissed outright.
“Yong Hyun Moo Go allows hunters to master secret techniques based on individual aptitude, regardless of bloodline purity.”
“According to our investigation, Kwon Hyun-moon was nothing more than a third-rate hunter on the outside.”
“No matter how generously you assess him, you cannot claim he possesses exceptional talent.”
The Heukcheon secret technique, Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Martial Arts, was an SS+ grade skill.
Three beginner forms.
Six fundamental forms.
Three advanced forms.
All twelve movements of the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Martial Arts were designed to maximize the power of the Black Dragon bloodline.
The reason the bloodline members of Heukcheon are regarded as the strongest is precisely because of the Black Dragon bloodline combined with the Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Martial Arts.
“Of course, he’ll master the beginner forms… and perhaps acquire one or two of the fundamental forms.”
“Among the fundamental forms, it will probably end with the Heavy Strike and Consecutive Strike techniques. The Counter Strike is surprisingly difficult to master.”
The bloodline members began discussing the matter with genuine seriousness.
The Black Dragon Twelve Ascendant Martial Arts grow more powerful as you progress through the later techniques.
Among those of the same bloodline, whoever mastered more of the secret techniques was naturally stronger than those who mastered fewer.
Kwon Ji-seok still wore a dissatisfied expression. Then he singled out one person directly.
“Hey, what did you acquire?”
“Pardon? You mean me? I…”
The bloodline member’s face flushed crimson.
“…I barely managed to master only the beginner form.”
“Ha.”
Kwon Ji-seok let out a scoff. The bloodline member’s face grew even redder.
“How far did you get?”
“Yes! I mastered two of the fundamental forms!”
“What about you?”
“I mastered all of the beginner and fundamental forms.”
Exclamations erupted. To master all the fundamental forms when even acquiring one was rare—this person undoubtedly possessed talent worthy of being called genius.
Yet for some reason, Kwon Ji-seok’s expression darkened again.
“So that’s all you have to say?”
Irritation colored Kwon Ji-seok’s voice. The other bloodline members looked flustered and uncertain.
“Nothing more? Is there nothing more?”
Only one person perceptive enough caught Kwon Ji-seok’s intent.
“How far have you mastered the secret techniques, elder brother?”
The moment the question was asked, Kwon Ji-seok’s expression brightened.
“Ah, why ask such a thing.”
Despite his words, Kwon Ji-seok was grinning foolishly.
“I’ve mastered the beginner forms, the fundamental forms, and even one of the advanced forms.”
“Is that truly so? How remarkable!”
“Remarkable, my foot. Heh.”
The perceptive bloodline member eagerly praised Kwon Ji-seok. He laughed loudly, clearly satisfied.
Meanwhile, the other bloodline members watched the two with cold, distant expressions.
Now I understood.
Kwon Ji-seok had never asked those questions out of genuine concern for Kwon Hyuk.
He was simply revealing his superiority and deriving satisfaction from it.
How could they be expected to trust and follow someone like this merely because of pure bloodline?
Worry settled across the faces of the blood relatives.
* * *
【Unlocking the vault of owner ‘Kwon Hyun-moon’.】
The moment the message appeared, another window materialized.
【Acquiring ‘Mystical Dragon Ascension Art’.】
“Mystical Dragon Ascension Art?”
【This secret manual is the original source of ‘Black Dragon Twelve Successor Martial Arts’.】
Since I didn’t know exactly what Black Dragon Twelve Successor Martial Arts was, I simply assumed this was the superior version.
I opened my status window to examine the Mystical Dragon Ascension Art.
Mystical Dragon Ascension Art
-Grade: SSS+
-Composed of introductory, basic, and advanced forms.
-Upon perfect mastery of all techniques, you can acquire ‘Transcendent Technique’.
“SSS+…”
I stared blankly at the skill window for a long moment.
Throughout my time as a Hunter, I had never acquired a single decent skill, yet now I possessed an SSS+ grade skill in my hands.
Though I hadn’t tested it yet,
since this was said to be a secret manual that any blood relative of Heukcheon Group must master, its power was as good as guaranteed.
【Inheritance of ‘Mystical Dragon Ascension Art’ is complete.】
【Proceeding to the awakening ceremony for the true Black Dragon Bloodline.】
The fine granules scattered across the floor began to move.
The granules gathered toward the center of Yong Hyun Moo Go and formed a wooden puppet.
【Defeat the guardian of ‘Yong Hyun Moo Go’ in combat.】
Contrary to its grandiose name, the wooden puppet’s appearance was utterly shabby.
“Is this to test the skill?”
I selected the introductory form of Mystical Dragon Ascension Art, and sub-options appeared labeled as striking technique, consecutive strike technique, and blocking technique.
I approached the wooden puppet, took my stance before it.
Mystical Dragon Ascension Art Introductory Form
Striking Technique Iron Resonance Hammer
A fist brimming with fierce force shot toward the wooden puppet’s face.
In that instant, the wooden puppet’s eyes blazed with light.
The wooden puppet deflected my fist with the back of its hand. I panicked and hurriedly tried to brace myself.
But.
Before I could, an impact struck my chest. My body rocketed skyward.
* * *
“Speaking of Yong Hyun Moo Go, how many attempts did it take you to defeat the gatekeeper?”
One of my clansmen seized the opportunity to ask, since the topic had naturally arisen.
“The gatekeeper of Yong Hyun Moo Go… you mean that wooden club puppet?”
“Ah, I remember now. That was the trial prepared for the true awakening of the Black Dragon Bloodline, wasn’t it?”
The Black Dragon Bloodline wasn’t merely a matter of appearing in the status window.
There was one more process required—drawing forth the power of the dragon itself.
The gatekeeper of Yong Hyun Moo Go existed precisely for that purpose.
“I believe it took me around ten attempts.”
“I think it was five for me.”
My clansmen spoke one after another. Kwon Ji-seok, who had been listening silently, finally opened his mouth.
“You fools. The number of attempts against the gatekeeper of Yong Hyun Moo Go isn’t what matters. Time is what counts.”
“Time?”
“Right. How many minutes after the assimilation from the Black Dragon Bloodline began did you bring it down? That determines the true value of the Black Dragon Bloodline you possess.”
The Black Dragon Bloodline varied in power even within the same grade.
Even among mixed-bloods, not all were equal—some were simply superior to others.
“If we’re talking about time… I believe it took me around 25 minutes.”
“Mine was 19 minutes.”
“How many minutes was it for you, brother?”
The perceptive clansman didn’t miss this opportunity to flatter me.
“Me? Only 5 minutes.”
“As expected of you, brother! Remarkable!”
Kwon Ji-seok swelled with pride. The perceptive clansman lavished praise upon him without restraint.
“Ah, it’s nothing special. Any pure-blood should be able to manage that much.”
“Now that you mention it, Kwon Chan-seong defeated it in just 3 minutes, didn’t he? Truly a prodigy unmatched in the history of the Kwon Family.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s expression darkened once more. The clansman who had brought up Kwon Chan-seong’s name suddenly felt the temperature drop.
Kwon Ji-seok pointed at him and spoke.
“Hey, don’t ever mention that bastard again.”
* * *
“Ugh!”
Fists slammed into my body from every direction. I screamed, my form hurled backward by the impact.
“This unlucky bastard.”
Staring at the wooden dummy before me, curses were all that escaped my lips.
The wooden dummy shifted lightly on its feet, waiting for me to make my next move.
Twenty times.
That was the count of how many times I’d charged at the wooden dummy and lost.
“Ptui!”
I spat onto the floor and rushed forward again.
Mystical Dragon Ascension Art – Foundational Form
Forceful Strike Style – Iron Resonance Hammer
The wooden dummy simply shifted its stance, evading the fist I hurled at it.
Now.
My eyes gleamed with intensity. This was the move I’d been waiting for.
Mystical Dragon Ascension Art – Foundational Form
Consecutive Strike Style – Chaotic Flurry
I unleashed a barrage of punches in rapid succession. The skill-enhanced attacks were terrifyingly fierce.
But.
The wooden dummy deflected every single strike with ease. As I gritted my teeth and prepared to activate my next skill, a fist drove into my jaw.
My brain rattled, and I felt my legs give way beneath me.
The dummy’s foot swept across my chest. I flew backward like a puppet with its strings cut, utterly powerless.
That made twenty-one.
Even I, who had lived with such venom coursing through me, couldn’t help but feel my resolve crumble at this point.
I lay sprawled on the floor in defeat.
“Damn it. How does it not lose even once?”
To leave Yong Hyun Moo Go, I had to defeat the gatekeeper.
But no matter how many times I threw myself at it, the gatekeeper showed no signs of falling.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, a hollow laugh escaped me.
“Nothing’s changed from the old days.”
My overall stats had risen through the Healthy Acupoint.
I’d acquired the Mystical Dragon Ascension Art at Yong Hyun Moo Go.
Yet compared to my past self as a third-rate hunter, nothing had fundamentally changed.
I had no talent.
I realized this harsh truth the moment I entered my first dungeon.
Back then, even a single goblin charging at me felt overwhelming.
It wasn’t just me either. All the rookie hunters felt the same way.
But not all rookies were created equal.
Some, despite being newcomers, sliced through goblins like they were nothing.
It was as if they already knew exactly how the monsters would move and precisely how to respond.
That’s when I understood.
That he possessed no talent whatsoever.
“Even so, this is ridiculous. I’ve mastered a secret technique and look at the state I’m in.”
I had acquired an SSS+ ranked skill, yet I wasn’t utilizing it to its full potential.
What characteristics each skill possessed. In what situations they would be most effective.
My talent was far too meager to wield a skill mastered less than an hour ago with any proficiency.
“Hey, you said I have to beat you to get out of here, right?”
I asked the wooden dummy. Of course, the wooden dummy offered no response.
“My philosophy is simple. If you lack skill, then you compensate with persistence.”
I rose to my feet again. I charged toward the wooden dummy.
The wooden dummy responded immediately. It swept my thigh as I lunged toward its head.
“Ugh!”
The impact, like a whip across my head, buckled my knees involuntarily.
My head lowered. The wooden dummy seized the opportunity.
The dummy’s front leg rotated. A clean spinning back kick flew toward my temple.
The moment I sensed my twenty-second defeat approaching, an emotion flooded my mind.
Rage.
Pure fury at this cursed reality, at my own heavy, useless body.
The instant that rage consumed me, something changed.
【The ‘True Black Dragon Blood’ awakens from deep slumber.】
【Synchronization Rate 0% → 1%】
【Your eyes open to the dragon’s instinct.】
It felt as though someone had seized the back of my head. My neck snapped backward of its own accord.
I watched the wooden dummy’s heel pass perilously close to the tip of my nose.
The missed kick threw the dummy’s stance into disarray.
In that instant, without a moment to think, I lunged forward on pure instinct.
I drove my shoulder into the dummy. It crashed to the ground with shocking ease.
Mysterious Dragon Ascension Art – Foundational Form
Crushing Strike – Thousand-Pound Hammer
I raised my leg and brought it down with all my strength. The wooden dummy’s head shattered, and the floor trembled.
【You have achieved victory against the gatekeeper of Yong Hyun Moo Go!】
【It took 52 seconds.】
I clenched and unclenched the fist that had obliterated the wooden dummy.
“…What was that just now?”
The judgment of the situation, the movements against my opponent, the application of skills—
All things utterly impossible with my talent.
“They said if you have Black Dragon Blood, you can wield the power of dragons…”
It had been vaguely packaged in obscure language, so I hadn’t fully grasped it. But now I could understand.
The power of dragons transforms the person themselves.
Even someone without talent like me could fight like a seasoned warrior with Black Dragon Blood.
“But earlier, there was something about synchronization rate or whatever.”
Kwon Hyuk opened his status window to check the Black Dragon Blood. A newly added entry appeared.
1. Black Dragon Blood (黑龍血)
-Assimilation Rate: 1%
-You acquire an ability each time the assimilation rate reaches a multiple of 10.
“An ability…?”
Kwon Hyuk tilted his head in confusion.
【’Vitality Blood (健康血)’ has detected movement!】
【Intense exercise detected! All muscles throughout your body are being trained!】
【All stats increase by 3!】
【’Vitality Blood (健康血)’ has detected injuries!】
【Extensive bruising detected throughout the body, along with minor fractures!】
【Your body is in poor condition! Vitality Blood’s effects are activated!】
【Natural recovery rate increases by 100%! Increases to 300% during restful sleep!】
【Strength and stamina increase by 0.01 per minute until full health is restored!】
“Huh…”
I never knew Vitality Blood had such capabilities.
“My bloodline is a thug.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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