The Regressed Martial God Monopolizes Everything - Chapter 16

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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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Episode 16. The Palbongsan Gate (1)
Someone fell into step beside Jung Hyun-soo after parting ways with Kim Chun-sik.
“Hello, I’m Kang Mi-na, a reporter with Daehan Ilbo. You’re Hunter Jung Hyun-soo, correct?”
She was a reporter with a striking hime cut, offering her business card.
Her face was familiar. She was the kind of journalist who sought out sensational stories with her outstanding looks and drew crowds wherever she went.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I was really impressed by the activities reported on Hunter Net. Would an interview be possible?”
Kang Mi-na met Jung Hyun-soo’s gaze and flashed a smile.
She had the sort of beauty that could make men fall over themselves, but to Jung Hyun-soo she was simply an annoying reporter.
“No, I’m afraid I’m rather busy.”
At that, Kang Mi-na’s eyes gleamed.
“Hunter Jung Hyun-soo, the people are showing great interest in your future direction. Would you mind sharing just a few words about it? The promising rookies who climbed the tower with you have already begun clearing Gates.”
Garam had produced Jung Hyun-soo with great fanfare, and amid that humiliation, Song Gwang and other promising Hunters had begun receiving extensive coverage.
“Hunter Chae Mu-hyeon with Song Gwang has already begun clearing D-rank Gates. Is there perhaps a reason you haven’t entered a Gate yet?”
“Yes, my skill isn’t sufficient.”
“Come now, surely not. You defeated Ling Wei-hao.”
Kang Mi-na’s eyes glinted with interest.
“I heard from an Association official that you applied to clear the Palbongsan Gate today. Is that true?”
That was the real reason she’d sought him out.
“Are you sure clearing Palbongsan at a time when expectations are running this high is truly the right move?”
It was certainly the kind of story that could stir up attention.
It wasn’t the typical move a spotlight-hungry rookie would make.
“Yes, well. That’s what I did.”
“Why?”
“Does a Hunter need a reason to clear a Gate?”
It was a fair point. But it wasn’t the answer Kang Mi-na was looking for.
“There’s truly no special reason?”
“No, not really.”
“Then is there perhaps a schedule set by Garam for the clearing? Regarding personnel selection and such?”
Jung Hyun-soo let out a small laugh as he answered.
“I’m going alone.”
Kang Mi-na’s eyes widened.
No matter how low the rank, a Gate was a Gate.
In the current Hunter market, parties were assembled and achievements within them were distributed and credited accordingly.
“You’re attempting solo play? On the Palbongsan Gate?”
It was a scoop, something she hadn’t even dared hope for.
“So you’re saying you’ll follow in the footsteps of Alexander and President Sun Woo-hyeon, taking up that same challenge?”
“That’s where we end this.”
Jung Hyun-soo spoke curtly, drawing a firm line.
Normally Kang Mi-na would have pushed past that boundary, pressed harder, but something indefinable made her uneasy, and she had no choice but to stop her interview.
And so Jung Hyun-soo disappeared into the crowd.
Wearing a training suit and three-striped slippers, moving between the streets where others in similar attire came and went.
* * *
Information poured into Hunter Net constantly. Interest in the Hunter community, which now dominated the world, was naturally high, and particularly the attention on Jung Hyun-soo, who could be called South Korea’s hottest topic, was at an exceptionally intense level.
But as days passed with no major follow-up reports,
and news came that other rookies had entered Gates, yet there was no mention of Jung Hyun-soo, and the speculation was burning hot on all sides.
└Was he a fluke from the start?
└The fluke is exposed now and he’s scared of getting caught. Man, his Cradle scores and reputation already got leaked lol
Negative sentiment had begun to surface recently.
Though people had hoped for the birth of a savior, the known facts left something that clearly didn’t add up.
Questions about why Jung Hyun-soo’s abilities had suddenly skyrocketed when he’d been scraping the bottom in Cradle.
— If it were really his own skill, he should keep working. What kind of person doesn’t row when the tide comes in?
— Was it just luck?
└So how do you explain Ling Wei-hao then? You calling that luck too? lol
On Hunter Net, opinion criticizing Jung Hyun-soo and positions defending him were engaged in sharp exchanges.
— Then clear a Gate as cleanly as Chae Mu-hyeon does.
It was at that moment, amid the ongoing complex debate,
— Breaking news) Jung Hyun-soo update just dropped!
[SSS-rank Miracle from Garam’s Jung Hyun-soo! Applies to Clear ‘F’-rank Palbongsan Dungeon!]
People flocked to the link left in someone’s comment.
— What? You’re going into an F-Rank Gate?
— Looks like you got scared. F-Rank lol
— Still, if you’re going to attempt Palbongsan, supposedly the hardest F-Rank Gate, at least get your act together. Other kids are already prowling around D-Rank. What are you doing? lol
— Does Garam really have no talent? I mean, he’s your actual son, right?
└You idiot lol. Because I care about my son, I’m sending him to F-Rank so he can clear it safely.
At first, the comments were flooded with mockery.
Then one.
— You bastards got no eyes? Didn’t you read the article? He’s doing Solo Play, you morons.
A brief silence fell over the comments as the top reply shot up instantly.
And then came the explosive response that followed.
— Holy crap lol lol. Solo Play challenge?
— He’s lost it lol. Solo Play on Palbongsan Gate? So Song Gwang, who hid away claiming to be scared—those garbage Song Gwang Guild employees—where’d they all disappear to? lol
— Alexander in the opposing corner lol
└What about the Association Chairman?
└└Same Korean, though lol
— You Western old-timers bragged so much about having the foresight to pick Sun Woo-hyeon and Alexander early, but you all got completely left in the dust lol
The public erupted once again at what was essentially a brazen charge—his Solo Play declaration.
Especially since Jung Hyun-soo was walking the legendary path that Alexander and Sun Woo-hyeon had forged, yet with even better results than either of them to date—it was impossible for people not to be stirred.
— Shit, where’s Garam’s stock?
— This is the bottom! I’m going all-in lol
A few savvy traders immediately anticipated Garam’s stock price and rushed into the market.
— Wait, what? Garam never went public in the first place?
└Yeah, it’s the only unlisted guild among the top ten lol
As it turned out, Garam was a massive guild that had never filed for an IPO on the stock market.
* * *
After a brief outing, Jung Hyun-soo returned and immediately began training.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
From his clash with Ling Wei-hao, he felt it acutely—his vessel needed far more tempering.
It wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.
Increasing one’s Mana and acquiring high-level skills might be possible in theory, but making them truly one’s own,
molding them in the direction one desired—that ultimately demanded years of accumulated effort.
To heighten the intensity of his adaptation, Jung Hyun-soo wielded a Training Great Sword as tall as his torso, swinging it repeatedly.
He held the heaviest weapon and moved it faster than anyone else could.
His philosophy was simple: nothing could match the destructive power that achieved.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, which pooled on the ground beneath him.
Even so, Jung Hyun-soo did not stop swinging.
How much the power of Cheon Pae Gwi Wang Mu had risen based on Pae Cheon-gi was equally important.
He had to constantly check his own peaks and valleys so he could respond optimally in actual combat.
Crash!
The Training Scarecrow split clean in half—a result achieved through pure strength alone, without Pae Cheon-gi this time.
After a moment of relentless practice like a whirlwind, Jung Hyun-soo immediately sat down in a cross-legged position.
Having squeezed out all his strength, he now pursued rest and recovery by practicing an opposing martial art.
Hyeon Cheon Gwi Won Gong.
It was an art of erasure grounded in the power of the Void.
If perfected, it would grant an ability close to nullifying an opponent’s power, and it was a martial art of particular use against mages.
Concentrating his spirit and drawing up Hyeon Cheon Gwi Won Gong, black shimmer began to faintly rise from his palms.
The key lay in controlling this energy with exquisite precision.
Focusing his remaining spirit, Jung Hyun-soo shaped the black energy into a circle within his palm, then reformed it into various shapes and released it forward as he tested his control.
Boom!
The flame of the Mana Circle that had been illuminating the training hall vanished.
‘So Sun Woo-hyeon was right to fear us.’
This was truly a hard counter to mages. And now he possessed Hyeon Cheon Gwi Won Gong.
Garam would not disappear as before, so he found himself keenly anticipating what expression Sun Woo-hyeon would wear.
It was then.
“You’re back, sir.”
“You said you hated media exposure, so what’s all this about?”
“I just dislike going on broadcast and running my mouth. Though I’d say I was being rather filial toward Father, wouldn’t you?”
His Solo Play declaration naturally elevated Garam’s value and brought it into the spotlight—that much was certain.
“There’s more work now. Especially the PR team—they can’t leave thanks to someone.”
“Father will handle the financial aftercare well enough, won’t he?”
Jung Cheol regarded his son with quiet intensity, watching him dance around the subject.
“So you’ve already grasped the nature of the Void.”
There was genuine astonishment in his voice.
Even if it wasn’t the true essence of the Hyeon Cheon Gwi Won Gong, to comprehend its directional pursuit through nothing more than a single secret manual and its formulaic verses was nothing short of shocking.
Though Jung Hyun-soo himself was encountering this martial art for the first time, his experience of staking his life on it and catching a glimpse of its culmination—his insight—had been immensely helpful in interpreting the difficult teachings of Hyeon Cheon Gwi Won Gong.
“I was fortunate.”
“Don’t reduce it to mere fortune. Your achievement is genuinely remarkable.”
For Jung Cheol, it was also a relief.
“I’ve submitted your application for Solo Play out of respect for your will, but you absolutely must not overextend yourself. I don’t wish for you to become a celebrated hero—I only ask that you do your part as one person.”
“Yes.”
Jung Hyun-soo listened closely to his father’s words.
He found himself agreeing with what his father said, even if he had no intention of following that will.
“Remember this: recklessness is forbidden.”
As a Hunter, one must always accept risk, but in the end, a parent’s heart knows no exception.
“Yes.”
“If anything happens, send up a Distress Signal.”
“Yes, I will.”
And so, time flowed on once more alongside Jung Cheol’s admonitions.
In that time, Jung Hyun-ah seemed to have felt something from the tower, living her day with fuller purpose.
When they crossed paths, there was a certain distance, but it wasn’t the complete dismissal of before.
“Take… care of yourself.”
Huff. Huff.
With his sister’s send-off behind him, Jung Hyun-soo headed straight for Hongcheon.
“I’ve arrived!”
The moment he stepped through the Magic Formation, a burst of camera flashes erupted.
“Hunter Jung Hyun-soo! Please look this way!”
“Is it true you’ve announced a Solo Play of the Palbongsan Gate today?”
“Could you tell us the specific plan?”
“You’ve become famous lately for completely selling out Training Tracksuits and Three-Striped Slippers—how does that feel?”
“Are you trying to follow in the footsteps of Alexander and Sun Woo-hyeon?”
“According to records, a raid party that entered two days ago never returned. Are you really going in alone?”
Faced with the flood of questions, Jung Hyun-soo simply smiled.
“The only thing certain is that the Palbongsan Gate will disappear today.”
And with that, Jung Hyun-soo vanished beyond the Gate.
Continued in the next episode ▶
The Monopolizing Regression Martial God
Author
Cheon Ya
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Contact [email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260515012
※ This e-book is protected under copyright law and reproduction without authorization is prohibited.
Violation may result in criminal and civil liability.
※ Pentagram welcomes precious manuscripts from writers.

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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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