The beginning after the end
Ch 126 as of 22/05/22 - better if no harem, no romance (webtoon and webnovel on Tapas) ** End of season 1, Ch 25 ** End of season 2, Ch 56 ** End of season 3, Ch 85 - ML was King Grey in an advanced, futuristic world. He died under suspicious circumstances. He is reborn as Arthur (Art) Leywin, with parents Alice the healer and Reynolds (Rey) the augmented sword warrior with an affinity for fire. They used to be adventurers. - ML retains his memories and experiences from his past life. - As King Grey, ML was lonely and empty despite the fame and glory that came with his victories and status. - In this archaic world, magic exists. Mana is all around us. - Mana is most commonly used to either augment (enhance one’s body or weapon with mana) or conjure (emit mana to the outside world to bend one’s surroundings to one’s will). - Conjurers must supplement their mana core with ambient mana from their environment to cast a spell. - Alice is a deviant or an emitter. She’s a rare type of mage able to cast unique restorative mana using light magic. - A mage’s first awakening occurs when their mana core manifests. - The mana core sounds similar to the Qi centre. Qi is a life force used to strengthen one’s body and weapon through vigorous training in ML’s past world. Qi only existed inside a person. - ML cultivates his mana inside his body and he does self study from the books in his home once he started to crawl. He awakens his mana core early before he’s 3yo and is considered a prodigy. - ML learns basic mana manipulation and augmentation. - ML receives a wooden sword for his 3rd bday and starts training with Reynolds. - Strength and power is measured by the colour of your mana core. - The mana core is purified as the impurities are filtered out over time. The stages start from black, red, orange, yellow, silver to white. Each stage is split into 3 shades: dark, solid and light. - ML’s parents decide they’ll all go to the floating city of Xyrus to find a proper teacher / mentor for 4.5yo ML. They travel with old friends from the Twin Horns party. Later ML finds out Alice is pregnant. - Adam Krensh, spear augmenter - Angela Rose, wind conjurer - Durden Walker, earth conjurer - Jasmine Flamesworth, dual swords augmenter (A-class) - Helen Shard, archery augmenter and elf? - On the way, the group is attacked and surrounded by a large group of bandits / slave traders. As ML fled with Alice, he saves her from an attack by a mage. ML and the mage fall off a cliff. - ML survived the fall as he was saved by magic from Sylvia, a mana beast who later appears as a giant figure in black armour. - ML finds himself in the beast glades near the elven kingdom of Elenoir. He’s guided by Sylvia’s voice to a hidden cavern. - Beast glades: an expansive, dangerous and uncharted territory with mana beasts of all levels. - Sylvia needs time to prepare a portal for him to return to his family. She lets ML know that she sensed his family and friends are safe. She tells him not to let vengeance and hatred cloud his heart. Don’t let grief and rage corrode his mind. Learn from these experiences and face his future with his gaze forward. Only then will he truly be victorious. - For almost 4mths, Sylvia teaches ML about mana rotation, ie how to absorb mana while moving or fighting. ML practises maintaining a steady inward flow of mana while being able to fight proficiently. - Sylvia is dying from a large wound she sustained from her enemies. She turns into her original form as a griffin / dragon to complete the portal. - Sylvia gives ML an egg and plucks a feather from her wing for ML to wrap around the egg to hide it's aura. She infuses her beast will to ML by marking his arms with runes. Her enemies arrive as she pushes ML through the portal. In a parting message, Sylvia calls ML “King Grey”. - ML finds himself deep in the forest near Elenoir. - ML kills a group of 4 slave traders and saves an elf girl, Tessia Eralith. He takes her back to Elenoir and finds out she’s the daughter of King Alduin and Queen Merial Eralith. - ML explains what happened to the elven royal family. - The portal between Elenoir and the Sapin kingdom is only accessible once every 7yrs, during the summit conference between the 3 races. It’s still 5yrs until the portal next opens. - Elder Virion Eralith, former king and Tessia’s grandpa. - Virion is also a mid-silver core mage. - After testing ML, Virion asks ML to be his disciple. - ML has been having bouts of searing pain from his mana core and those bouts are becoming more frequent. It’s because ML’s 5yo body isn’t coping with the power from Sylvia’s beast will. - Beast Will: A powerful mana beast can pass on their will or inherent ability once, either to their offspring or the person they’re bound to. It allows the receiver to borrow the beast’s abilities upon assimilation. - Beast tamer: mages who have conquered the monstrous beast will inside and can harness the unique abilities inherited from the mana beast. A legacy beast tamer refers to the beast willingly imparting it's mana core to the beast tamer. - Virion as a fellow beast tamer helps ML to assimilate Sylvia’s beast will into his body. ML slowly fuses his bones, muscles and organs with mana. - ML communicates with his parents through a diviner, Rinia Darcassan. She’s a deviant and Virion’s old friend. - ML speaks to his parents in their minds. He lets them know he’s alive and safe. He’s staying at Elenoir to get treated for an illness. Once he’s better he’ll return to them. - 3yrs later and ML is 8yo. - The egg from Sylvia hatches and a black baby griffin / dragon comes out. ML names his new bond ‘Sylvie’. She bit his arm and left a mark that seems to let her communicate thoughts and feelings to ML. The presence of the mark is hidden when it’s covered by Sylvia’s feather. Sylvie most likely hatched because ML had just fully activated Sylvia’s beast will. - The 1st interracial youth tournament among the 3 kingdoms has been confirmed. The portal in Xyrus city of the Sapin kingdom will be open in 4mths time. ML can go back to his family then. - Virion gets ML to focus on training his mana core and beast will. To show ML the 2nd stage, Virion integrates with the beast will of a shadow panther. - 1st stage, Acquire Phase: a beast tamer is able to borrow their beast’s inherent strengths. - 2nd stage, Integrate Phase: when the beast tamer can truly utilise their beast’s unique abilities and characteristics. - With Virion’s help, ML reaches the 1st stage. ML also learns how to conceal his beast will from other mages. - Tessia is sad to see her 1st true friend go. Virion gives ML a pendant with the Eralith House crest to help ML navigate the forest in the future. - ML enters the portal and is teleported to Xyrus city. - ML is reunited with his family and meets his 3yo sister Eleanor (Ellie). His family are staying with their good friends Vincent and Tabitha Helstea, who have an 8yo daughter Lilia. - Lilia is under pressure from her parents to awaken as a mage. They want her to have the opportunities they couldn’t give her as neither of them are mages. - Reynolds is the instructor for the Helstea Auction House guards. - Reynolds now has a dark orange core while ML has a light red core. ML spars with Reynolds in hand-to-hand combat. - ML goes shopping with the ladies and girls. - Beast core: a magical core extracted from a mana beast that’s been killed. It’s used to power up but the effects between cores can vary vastly. A forged beast tamer refers to using an extracted beast core. - 4 basic elements: fire, water, earth, wind - Higher elements (deviants): lightning, ice, gravity, sound - Cynthia Goodsky, a high-silver core mage. She’s the founder and director of the Xyrus Academy, the best and most prestigious magic institution on the continent. - As a favour to Vincent, Cynthia tests ML and finds his magic and combat abilities to be exceptional. ML reveals to Cynthia that he has affinity with all 4 elements (and 2 deviants, ice and lightning). - ML is this world’s 1st quadra-elemental mage. - In private, ML makes a deal with Cynthia that he’ll attend the Academy if she uses her power and influence to protect his family until he’s strong enough to do so himself. - Until ML starts at the Academy when he’s 11yo, ML convinces his parents to let him go adventuring. ML must have a guardian and he must visit his family at least once every 2mths. - ML asks Vincent for some special equipment: a protective cloak with a hood, a suitable sword, and a voice altering mask. - To repay Vincent for his help, ML guides Lilia and Eleanor through special breathing exercises to help them cultivate their mana and awaken. ML imbues them with mana at the start. - 10th anniversary of Helstea Auction House: - The Twin Horns party arrive and are overjoyed to see ML. - The Twin Horns provide extra security at the celebrations. - Nobles and adventurers alike attend the special auction event. - The Halsteas and ML’s family are taken to the VIP suite. - King Blaine and Queen Priscilla Glayder of the Sapin kingdom with their children Prince Curtis and Princess Kathlyn. - The King won the bid for an A-class beast core from a silver coat bear. He also won the bid for the last item, a world lion cub. - Sebastian the royal mage covets Sylvie and schemes to steal her. - The King tries to make ML give up Sylvie as a gift to reward Sebastian for his loyal service. ML counters by asking the King how much would he sell his child for. A royal knight attacks ML who knocks out the knight with a punch to the head. - ML uses his “Static Void” skill to temporarily separate himself and Sebastian from time and space. ML puts Sebastian in his place by breaking his leg. ML faints from overusing his skill. - A royal representative advises that the knight and Sebastian have been fired. A small pouch of gold is given as compensation. - In the huge storage room of the Hestia Auction House, Sylvie helps find a sword for ML. It’s called Dawn’s Ballad and only unsheathes when ML activates his beast will. It absorbs ML’s blood and magically adjusts it's length and weight to suit ML. - ML’s 9th bday gifts: - Custom-made black gloves with 3 healing gems - 2 rings. Arthur wears 1 ring and Alice wears the other ring which has a gem that lights up if Arthur’s mana is very low. - Sound transmission scrolls - ML wants to grow stronger so he can protect the people he loves. In his past life, ML became strong to get revenge. - Jasmine Flamesworth from the Twin Horns party volunteers to be ML’s guardian. Just after his 9th bday, ML goes with Jasmine to the Xyrus adventurers guild hall to take the rank examination. He wears a mask and his alias is ‘Note’. - NB: House Flamesworth is known for it's powerful fire mages. - Jasmine became an adventurer to get away from her family. She doesn’t have any affinity for fire, which made her family see her as inferior. Jasmine has since awakened her affinity for wind. - ML is reminded of his past life where he had a weak Qi centre. - Mock duel for the rank examination: - Elijah Knight, B-Class rank (automatic, didn’t have to do the mock duel). Dark red stage. Raised by dwarves. - Lucas Wykes 11yo, B-Class rank. Light orange stage. Fire affinity. Half-elf blood. He’s from a noble family notorious for their unethical practices to produce powerful mages. - Kaspian Bladeheart, AA-Class rank mage, head of the guild. He intervened to personally test ML. He tried to push ML to reveal all of his abilities and failed. He gave ML a B-Class rank, which ML was satisfied with. - Now that ML is a licensed adventurer, he teleports with Jasmine through a portal to the mana-rich beast glades. Sylvie chooses to hunt and explore on her own, growing over time. ML and Sylvie can still sense each other through their bond. - For 2yrs ML focuses on his sword skills instead of relying on his magic. He realised from the mock duel that he spent too much time honing just his magic skills until they became a crutch. - The rumours are rife among adventurers about the masked swordsman (ie ML). A drunk B-class swordsman confronts ML at a pub. ML slices off his fingers when the drunk attacks. - ML and Jasmine have been swapping wind magic and blade techniques. ML hears that Lilia has awakened. - 11yo ML is now A-Class and at the light orange stage. - He and Jasmine join a new team to explore the Dire Tombs dungeon. When killed, the dungeon’s inhabitants reanimate. - 1st floor: bat monsters come from the ceiling. - Hidden entrance: follow a passage and enter a cavern that has several openings in the ground to reveal the lava below. - Dungeon party: - Brald Landon, AA-class augmenter, Fire, light yellow. - Reginald Bastion, A-class augmenter, Earth, solid yellow. - Kriol Masser, tanker, Water augmenter. - Oliver Hemmbet, A-class conjurer, healing emitter, dark yellow. - Samantha Tempest, A-class conjurer, Water, dark yellow. - Elijah, A-class conjurer, Earth, dark orange. - Lucas, A-class conjurer, Fire, dark yellow. - Jasmine, AA-class augmenter, Wind, light yellow, dual swords. - Oliver is arrogant and careless. He goes ahead and is fried when a random eruption of lava spews forth. - Huge worm monsters emerge and dive back down into the ground. Brald the party leader loses an arm while saving Samantha from another lava eruption. Lucas throws a tantrum about the crippled leader and dead healer. - ML tells Lucas to stop being an ass because right now he’s a liability. Brald wants to push ahead but nominates ML to lead from now on. They exit the cavern and at the end of another tunnel, they enter a lush green cavern shrouded in mist. - The mist seems to cause hallucinations. Kriol runs off towards a vision of his dead fiancée. - The party are confronted by numerous vines that attack and quickly regenerate. Suddenly an Elderwood Guardian (S-class mana beast) appears. Kriol is trapped by the vines that cover the green giant’s body. Reginald goes on a rampage to try and free Kriol. Brald also attacks the giant but both Reginald and Brald are consumed by it. - Lucas won’t risk his life to save everyone. He blasts fire at ML and Jasmine, badly injuring them both. Lucas blasts the ceiling to block the exit, trap everyone behind and give him time to escape. - ML is forced to activate the 2nd phase of his beast will. - Sylvie senses this but ML tells her to stay away. - ML uses a powerful ice spell to completely freeze the Elderwood Guardian and the vines. Then he totally smashes the ice into pieces. - ML faints and the gem on Alice’s ring lights up. - ML wakes up to see Elijah who helped to protect ML and Jasmine when the cavern collapsed. The healing gems on ML’s glove are used on himself and the unconscious Jasmine. - Elijah created the metal dome shelter around them. - Elijah is 11.5yo and doesn’t know who his parents are. - He was raised in Darv by a dwarf elder called Rahdeas. - When he reached the dark orange stage, he woke up to find himself surrounded by black metal spikes. Rahdeas told Elijah it was time for him to leave and explore the continent. - ML tried to save everyone because he promised Sylvia that he’d become a better person and cherish the people around him. - Samantha is found unconscious under another metal shelter created by Elijah. She’s holding ML’s mask and the Elderwood Guardian’s mana core. Sylvie crashes through the ceiling to pickup the 4 dungeon survivors. Sylvie has grown a lot from hunting mana beasts and eating their cores. - The others insist ML takes the Elderwood Guardian’s mana core as he alone was the one who killed it. - Elijah and Jasmine go to the adventurer’s guild for help. - ML stays behind with Samantha and Sylvie. He uses the Sound Transmission Scroll to send a message to his family to reassure them that he’s safe. Then he uses some of the Elderwood Guardian’s mana core to heal his body. - 4 dead, 4 critically injured, 1 traitor. Lucas’ insubordination and betrayal led to the deaths of their party members. - The guild investigates the dungeon, retrieves the bodies and obtains testimonies from the survivors. At the hearing into the dungeon tragedy, Lucas is given a very light punishment. - He’s stripped of his A-Class rank and banned from listing as an adventurer again. His family’s power and connections let him walk free from his atrocities. - ML made a secret deal with Kaspian to protect the people he cares about until ML is strong enough to take on the entire Wykes family. The head judge declares that ML may not go anywhere near Lucas or his family during Lucas’ attendance at Xyrus Academy. ML owes the guild a favour for agreeing to this charade. - Kaspian gave ML a large bag of gold which ML spent on a dimension ring with a small inventory space. - Sylvie transforms to disguise her true appearance. - Jasmine leaves for another quest with the Twin Horns. - Lilia has recently started attending the Xyrus Academy. - ML invites Elijah to stay with his family. - ML gives the S-class mana beast core to Reynolds. - Later Reynolds absorbs all of the mana to reach the solid orange stage but the core doesn’t crumble, so he gives it back to ML. The core contains a beast will. ML can’t assimilate this 2nd beast will or else it’ll be destroyed by his dragon will. - ML asks Vincent to sponsor Elijah so he can attend the Academy. - Vincent introduces ML to Gideon, a famous researcher and the greatest inventor and artifact craftsman in the history of the continent. Gideon is like an eccentric, mad scientist. - The royal families have been asking Gideon to find a way to travel long distances across the ocean. There’s evidence of a new continent beyond Dicathen. - The over-reliance on mana in this world has stunted the development and advancement of non-magical technology. - ML uses knowledge from his past life to draw an initial design for a steamboat. ML agrees to complete the design when Gideon offers 2 phoenix wyrm pendants that were made for the royal family. A protective cocoon is conjured around the wearer of this artifact. If the cocoon breaks, the wearer will be transported to a safe location. - NB: Phoenix wyrms are S-class mana beasts as rare as dragons. They have the unique ability to preserve their own lives and protect themselves from danger. - While in town, Elijah and ML stop a group of 5 nobles from bullying a dwarf student. Princess Kathlyn saw ML from her carriage and stops a lethal magic attack on ML from Jamiel Tridant, the group’s leader. - ML contacts Cynthia with a 2-way communication scroll. He uses his influence with Cynthia by making his attendance at the Academy conditional on this group being expelled for racial bullying and using lethal magic in the city. She agrees right away. - Everyone is gathered to hear an important announcement from the 3 royal families about unifying the continent. - On the Dicathen continent, there are 3 kingdoms: Sapin, Elenoir and Darv. The royal families of Sapin (human), Elenoir (elf) and Darv (dwarf) announce a continental alliance. There is evidence of a new continent that brings opportunity and possibly danger. - They assign 6 white core mages to represent and protect the continent as the 6 Lances: - Alea Triscan, an elf - Varay Aurae - Olfred Warend, a dwarf - Aya Grephin, an elf - Mica Earthborn, a dwarf - Bairon Wykes, older half brother of Lucas - The Council: the Kings and Queens of Dicathen - There’s a surprise bday party for Eleanor with many guests invited. ML leads Ellie in the 1st dance and uses wind magic. - Tessia left a surprise gift for Ellie. It’s an elven bow. - ML gives Ellie and Alice the phoenix wyrm pendants. - Gideon is at the party and offers a deal to ML. He’ll be ML’s personal benefactor for any artifacts or goods ML needs. In exchange, ML will let Gideon pick his brain from time to time. - Later at ML’s request, Gideon gives ML a bracelet artifact that lets him hide 2 elemental attributes. - 12yo ML with Sylvie and Elijah start at the Academy. - Elijah is enrolled as a battle mage while ML is a scholar mage for Earth and Wind (ie dual-elemental mage). - Virion and Cynthia are close friends. Tessia is Cynthia’s disciple. - 13yo Tessia is the student council president. Lilia is the secretary. - There are issues of racial discrimination and discrimination against scholar mages in the Academy. - The school emblem badges given to the students are artifacts that can conjure barriers around their users for sanctioned duels within the school. ML distracts a senior student from crushing a dwarf student’s arm. Tessa wrongly accuses ML of causing a fight. - Clive the student council VP grabs ML’s shoulder and gets flipped onto his ass. - Cynthia visits ML in his dorm room. He asks to be allowed to attend higher level mana theory classes on deviants. She agrees and also offers to give him a pass to observe the top upper class mages’ mock battles, and access to a private training facility. - In exchange ML will join the new disciplinary committee, which also includes Prince Curtis and Princess Kathlyn. The committee members were chosen for their strength. ML is given a customised black DC uniform. - The other disciplinary committee (DC) members: - Claire Bladeheart, 6th year battle mage and DC leader. Her uncle is Kaspian who trained her from the time she awakened. - Theodore … gravity deviant - Kai Crestless, 4th year - Doradrea Oreguard, 1st year and a dwarf - Feyrith Ivysaar III, 1st year, an elf that ML met in Elenoir. - NB: Grawder is the A-class world lion bought at the Helstea Auction House and given to Prince Curtis. - Cynthia says the student council are the shields while the DC are the swords of the Academy. The DC will be responsible for upholding peace and safety for all students, and enforcing rules in the school grounds. They will resolve and prevent disputes between students. Punishments will be enforced for troublemakers. - Elijah is shocked that Tessia is ML’s childhood friend. - ML meets up with Tessia. He gives her the S-class beast will in the mana core from the Elderwood Guardian. Now a dual-elemental mage, Tessia’s abilities are the most compatible with this beast will. - Practical Mana Manipulation class: - Geist the professor was drunk in town and had a confrontation with ML. Because of this, Geist tries to humiliate the DC members (ML, Kathlyn, Feyrith) in his class. - ML saves Kathlyn from getting seriously injured by Geist’s attack. Then ML completely overpowers Geist. - Later Cynthia asks ML to be the acting interim professor position for the mana prac class. An investigation was launched and Geist was dismissed. Kathlyn provided her testimony. - Cynthia thinks this is a good opportunity for ML to build his reputation. ML agrees to give it a try. - NB: Cynthia is bonded with a mana beast called Avier. - The Basics of Artificing class: - Manipulating and coding mana to objects for specific uses. - Gideon is the surprise professor for this class. - Emily Watsken 12yo who loves artificing. - She created the projection display artifact. - Team fighting mechanics (1) with Prof. Glory (A-class) - Glory tries to set up ML to fight against the other disgruntled students. Instead Curtis suggests a team mock battle with the DC members on one team. Tessia, Clive and Lucas Wykes are on the other team. - ML fights against Lucas and his fire magic. - ML innovates with his wind magic to create a thin vacuum barrier around his body that puts out the fire as it hits him. - Tessia faints due to the pain caused by the beast will assimilation from the core ML gave her. He uses his Static Void skill to give him time to get to Tessia. ML is low on mana so he uses his body to shield her while taking the full brunt of a powerful attack from Curtis who released his beast will. - ML is in a private room recovering from his injuries. - He’s visited by his family, Tessia’s family and Virion. - Virion helps Tessia to stabilise the beast will assimilation. - Tessia surprises ML by kissing him during another visit. - When ML is almost fully recovered, he’s taken to his personal training room by Cynthia and Gideon. - Tobi: Training Operator and Blast Inductor - ML’s 1st mana prac class ended well. At the start ML used his intimidating aura to get the students to behave. - He posed interesting questions to the students. - He tried to break down the preconceptions of how a conjurer vs an augmenter uses and absorbs mana. - After class, Kathlyn approaches ML and apologises for what happened with Sebastian and how her father and Curtis treated ML. - Tessia gets angry at ML when she asks him about the kiss and he doesn’t take it seriously. Later they apologise to each other. - ML admits he’s been running away rather than facing Tessia’s feelings head on. ML says he can’t have a relationship with her right now but maybe when they’re older. He kisses her on the forehead. (me: blergh) - Lucas and 2 noble lackeys, Charles and Marcois, follow and confront ML after class. Marcois starts to show odd behaviour and erratic mana fluctuations. Marcois attacks ML with abnormally strong magical capabilities. After Lucas and Charles leave, Sylvie briefly transforms into a dragon and knocks out Marcois. There are bloody symbols on Marcois’ back. - Marcois is the 2nd incident of a student leaking mana with bloody symbols engraved down their spine. Marcois later dies from excessive mana leakage of the core. Kai of the DC is acting suspicious. - Lances Alea and Bairon meet with Lance Varay. - Traces of mages not from Dicathen have been found in the deepest levels of some dungeons. Mana beasts in the beast glades / and dungeons (?) have been behaving strangely. Alea is sent on her own to investigate with her sensory magic. She discovers a huge, mutant / deviant (?) 2-headed Hades Serpent guarding a tunnel and calls for backup. 50 battle mages teleport to Alea. - The Council has banned excursions into almost all of the dungeons that Professor Glory usually takes her class, as the Lances are currently investigating the dungeons. - Professor Glory’s class go on an excursion to a low level D-class dungeon called the Widow’s Crypt. - ML, Tessia, Claire, Curtis and Lucas are in this class. - It’s strange there are no mana beasts on the 1st floor. - Glory and the class are suddenly faced with a horde of E-class mana beasts. Glory kills them herself. This is unusual behaviour for these beasts who tend to be in small groups. Glory wants to leave the dungeon. Lucas dismisses Glory’s concerns by abruptly casting his deadly fire magic to persuade the class who opt to stay and train. - As the students head off in their teams, Glory warns Lucas not to do that again or face the consequences. - The beasts keep coming despite the students’ efforts to kill them. Before the students become too exhausted, Glory orders everyone to leave. There’s a sudden explosion and 2 x B-class mana beasts appear from the bottom floor. - Glory fights these beasts that are much stronger than usual. - ML takes charge and gets Delphine, a dwarf student, to use earth magic to fill the hole from the explosion. - ML gets Curtis to focus on his beast will while ML transfer mana to him. Curtis releases his beast will to blast away the rocks that block the entrance. ML ensures all of the students escape from the dungeon (even Lucas). - A gigantic mana beast evolves from a B-class beast that ate the remains of the other one killed by Glory. - ML is forced to reveal all of his elemental abilities as he fights alongside Glory. The gigantic mana beast stabs ML’s leg with a large claw and self destructs. The massive explosion creates a deep chasm that ML falls down. - ML uses his wind magic and survives the fall. The regenerative ability from his dragon will helps ML to recover. - He walks through a waterfall and he’s shocked to see a scene of utter carnage, with dead battle mages everywhere. He finds Alea who is dying after she was blinded, her core was shattered, and her limbs were torn off. - Alea uses the last of her mana to transfer her memories of the final battle to ML before she dies. The battle mages led by Alea killed the Hades Serpent. A black-horned demon appeared and foretold of a war. He blinds and tortures Alea as she listens to the dying screams of her soldiers. - ML embraces Alea in her final moments. He makes graves for the dead then leaves with Sylvie. Through Alea's memories, ML knows there are more demons out there like the ones who attacked Sylvia. - Lucas is invited to join a secret gathering of disgruntled, racist human nobles. The masked leader offers a relationship of mutual benefit. To achieve the goal of shattering the alliance between the 3 races, the leader wants Lucas to get rid of ML. Lucas will be granted the power to do so. Tessia will be his first target. - ML returns home. While in town with his family, he comes across a strange store on his own. ML sees a black cat in the store that runs off. The store owner gives ML a small translucent orb. - ML visits the Academy and gives Cynthia the ID tag he took from Alea. Cynthia will report Alea's death to the Council. - ML goes to the training room and finds Virion with Tessia. She’s covered in vines as her beast will fights back against her body. Virion says something must’ve been wrong with the Elderwood Guardian as the beast will seems to have mutated. - The vine suddenly attack ML and go on a rampage. - The orb appears from ML’s dimension ring and flies towards the vines. The orb somehow frees Tessia from the vines and is absorbed by her body. Virion checks her core and is shocked to find her core has suddenly advanced from the light orange stage to be almost at the initial silver stage. - Virion tells ML about the founding of the 3 kingdoms. - During the beast era, the 3 races were nomadic. They were in good terms and traded with each other. Their numbers dwindled as they were hunted and killed by the mana beasts that roamed the land. - A deity descended from the sky and gave magic tools for the 3 races to overcome the mana beasts. The ancestors of the Glayder, Greysunders and Eralith royal families were given 6 artifacts. - These artifacts were bestowed upon the most powerful subjects of the royal families under a soul oath and knighting ceremony. - As the 1st Lances given the power of white core mages, the 6 artifact users were commanded to spread their newfound knowledge and powers to create the 1st generation of mages. - The mana beasts were pushed back to the area now known as the beast glades. A new era of peace and prosperity began. - Subsequent wars between the races were the result of greed. - The Lances existed in secret and were only made public recently after the discovery of a new continent. - Virion tells ML that Sylvie is a deity. - Deities are beings that are able to ascend from their mortal bodies and fully harmonise with mana. - Cynthia is attacked by a group of mages but she easily defeats them. She has the same markings on her back as they did. - ML tries to find out more info about the orb that helped Tessia. He goes to where the store was but it’s disappeared. Instead another small orb is on the ground with a note. It says to go to the west teleportation gate to know more. - ML enters the gate with Sylvie and they end up in a dimensional subspace. The black cat from the store appears and changes into human form. It’s a deity called Windsom. - The small orb was an elixir pearl that prevented Tessia’s core from exploding. The 2nd elixir pearl is for ML. - The deities refer to themselves as asuras. - Alacrya is the other continent.
My Dear Cold-Blooded King
Read ch 83 on Webtoon as of 05/11/20 ** Completed with 170 chapters - disappointed with how love triangle is panning out - some inconsistencies with plot but overall quite well written and art is pretty good too
Noblesse
Read ch 55 on Webtoon - read ch 141 as of 08/11/20 ** I find the high school characters to be really annoying and they are absolute magnets for the worst kind of trouble! They seem to have the damsels-in-distress role down pat in this webtoon. Surely greater character development later? ... - 1st arc: introduced to large organisation (The Union) that conduct secret interspecies / mutant experiments for many years. Key figure is Dr Crombel who seems to be more than just a researcher as he’s also powerful in combat. “Failed experiment” M-21 (werewolf heart) survives and stays at Rai’s home. Possibility of “awakening” and evolve further. - 2nd arc: Special forces unit called DA-5 sent to investigate Dr Crombel’s visit to Sth Korea. 2 x vampire nobles also arrive (Regis, Siera) and stay at Rai’s home. After DA-5 defeated, ex-members Tao and Takeo invited to stay at Rai’s too.
Unordinary
Read ch 94 on Webtoon as of 13/11/20 ** I hate bullying in all its grotesque forms so in this I seriously want the ML to totally bitchslap the fuck out of all those trash students. Such bullshit behaviour by them! Grrrrr makes me so pissed off.
Berserk of Gluttony
Ch 39 as of 18/03/22 - it’s Asuna and Kirito! - DROPPED. Lost interest - ML is Fate Graphite - Gluttony skill: Consumes the souls of those killed, granting their stats and skills. The more ML kills, the stronger he’ll become. The stronger he gets, the more he wants to consume. If he doesn’t kill, he could lose control due to his intense hunger and attack anyone. - With this skill, ML can’t gain any XP (experience points). So he can’t level up or join any parties as his level remains low. - Starvation boost: (temporary) - Night vision activated through reddened eyes - Paralyse with fear anyone with lower stats (status points) - Ability to detect prey through smell - FL is Roxy Heart, a holy knight and a noble - Her father, Duke Mayson Heart died recently while fighting the dragons and monsters in Galia. - Aisha Heart, FL’s mother who was a commoner. Her body seems weak and frail. She lives outside of the main estate, in a mansion on Heart territory. Seyfert the capital city: - ML has been working as a gatekeeper under House Brerick. - He’s constantly abused and tormented by Rafale Brerick, a holy knight and his siblings. - After ML reported robbers to FL, he managed to kill one that was badly injured and escaping. ML increased his stats and gained the skills of Mind reading and Appraisal. - ML accepts FL’s offer to work under House Heart. - ML buys a black sword that was treated like trash, just like ML. He can hear the sword’s voice. It’s called Greed. - ML kills goblins and gains the skills Strength and Stamina reinforcement. His stats increase considerably. ML earns money from killing goblins and buys new clothes. - ML saves an orphan girl who was kidnapped under orders from Chad Brerick. ML gains the skills Concealment, One-handed sword, and Art-sharp edge. - ML works at the Heart estate by day, and goes hunting at night. - ML fights hobgoblins and defeats the goblin king. His added stats are huge and he’s gained the skills Auto recovery and 2-handed sword. ML gave the goblin king’s ear as a secret donation to the orphanage. - ML has enough stats to release Greed’s 1st form, a large black bow. Any subsequent forms will require even greater stats to be sacrificed. In this way, ML and Greed can grow stronger together. - ML is in town with FL, and he buys a skull mask that has the ability to conceal one’s identity. ML buys a gem stone for FL. They help a lost boy find his mother. - FL takes ML with her to visit the family territory, help with the harvest, and ward off monsters. She visits her mother. - At night ML secretly hunts the kobolds before they invade the territory. He gains the skills of Close combat, Vitality and Agility reinforcement. - ML learns FL will be sent to Galia soon. It was proposed by House Brerick and the other nobles supported it. - Chad Brerick was sent to find the monster that was killing all of the goblins. In half starvation mode, ML kills his men then reveals his true identity before killing Chad. ML gains the Holy sword art: Grand cross. - Greed’s 2nd form is a large black scythe. - FL departs for Galia. ML also leaves soon after to follow her and secretly support her. He arrives in the southern city of Tetra. - ML’s hometown is nearby. His mother died when he was born. - His father had a spear skill and protected the village from monsters. 5yrs ago his father died from an illness. Seen as a useless orphan, ML was banished by the village chief and driven away by the villagers. - ML agrees to help Seto, the village chief’s son. Seto changed for the better after the birth of his daughter. His wife was killed by the gargoyles terrorising the village. - At night the gargoyles return and use fire bullets to fight ML, which decimate the village. ML protects Seto’s house and kills the gargoyles. Seto decides to leave with his daughter. ML gains the Fire bullet skill. - As ML continues on his travels, he’s joined by a Galian girl called Myne the Wrath. She also owns a Deadly Sins weapon called Sloth, a huge axe. - They arrive at a town governed by a holy knight. - Travellers are segregated from the residents and there’s a strict social class system using tattoos. - ML hunts sandmen at night. He saves a large group of mercenaries from the boss monster. ML gains the Sand / dust magic skill. - Aaron Barbatos, an old holy knight, a swordmaster and the village chief. His wife and son were killed by monsters while he was away fighting in Galia. - At the next village, ML is challenged for a duel by Aaron. Although ML lost, Aaron allows ML and Myne to stay in the village on the condition ML trains under Aaron. - ML and Aaron go to the nearby castle to destroy the undead monsters there. That castle used to be Aaron’s. - ML faces the Lich boss monster while Aaron subdues his family and servants. Together they use Grand cross and defeat the Lich which frees the souls of Aaron’s people. Then they work to clear out the rest of the undead from the castle. - ML promises Aaron to return on his way back. - ML and Myne defeat a group of orcs when they arrive in Galia. - The dragons and monsters destroyed Galia 4000yrs ago. - Myne takes ML to her birthplace to fight a giant chimera called Haniel. A human sacrifice was used as the core to create Haniel. Myne needs ML’s skill to consume the soul to prevent Haniel from regenerating. ML draws on half starvation mode himself and sacrifices more stats to Greed in order to defeat Haniel. - Greed’s 3rd form as a black shield is released. - ML saw the memories of the human sacrifice and discovers she was someone that Myne knew. ML asks Myne to kill him if he succumbs to a total berserk state. - Babylon the defence city: a garrison town in Galia. - ML meets Elise who has the Lust skill. - Elise says FL needs to die in order for more people with special powers to be born. Elise is just a bystander but others will be out to harm FL. - Now on his own, the masked ML killed orcs for money to pay for new equipment. He saves FL’s camp when they’re attacked by 4 giant fire salamander monsters. He travels with them until they reach the Great Valley. - FL’s group are attacked by 3 giant prototype chimeras with monsters used as their cores. The masked ML helps to defeat the chimeras but he, FL and the last chimera fall down a deep hole. - ML finds the badly injured chimera and destroys its core. - ML notices the same strange markings on the chimera as on the salamanders. ML and FL safely find their way out. - A horde of monsters advances towards Babylon. - The royal army led by FL ride out to meet them. - Greed senses a large monster underground. ML discovers it’s a giant slime that uses corrosive magic. ML destroys its core and gains its magic skill. ML is faced by multiple slimes created from the Deadly Sin weapon used by a masked man who suddenly appears. The weapon is a black bayonet called Envy. - While fighting, ML destroys the man’s mask to reveal Alistair Northern. He’s a holy knight under FL. His family have been defending Babylon for generations. - Alistair uses a whistle to call forth a celestial dragon. - ML gets over to the royal army and uses the black shield to block the blast from the dragon. ML’s mask is destroyed and reveals his true identity to FL. - Alistair is perched on the dragon’s head. ML immobilises the dragon using a variation of Grand cross. ML sacrifices his left arm to defeat Alistair using illusion magic. The dragon breaks free and ML has a colossal battle that carves another valley across the land. - With the dragon defeated, ML gives over most of his stats to activate Greed’s 4th form (a black spear) and also stop ML from being completely consumed by his gluttony skill. - Myne arrives to kill ML but is stopped by FL. - ML recovers back in Babylon and is unconscious for a week. - ML is taken away by Elise and Myne to restore his arm. - For a month ML is forced to go on large scale hunting raids in Galia to exponentially increase his stats and his proficiency in using the secret arts of Greed. He restores his arm using Greed’s 4th form secret art: Twilight healing. It can cure any injury or disease. - ML and Myne return to see Aaron. Construction has started around the castle and they help with the rebuilding. - ML agrees to be adopted by Aaron and become his noble family successor. ML’s name changes to Fate Barbatos. - ML, Aaron and Myne travel together to the capital. - On the way, ML stops by the Heart territory and uses his healing skill to completely cure Aisha. - Aaron and ML go to the royal palace for an audience with the king. There are many holy knights present. Aaron introduces ML as his heir and the killer of the celestial dragon. - The holy knights scoff and mock ML. Rudolph Lanchester challenges ML to a sword fight. Rudolph loses his eyes to ML, then he is killed by the king’s personal White Knights. - The king gives permission to ML for powerless people in the capital to be accepted into his territory. - The neglected Barbatos residence in the capital is next door to the Heart estate. - ML is notified by the nun from a church in the slums that powerless people have disappeared after going to the military district. The Brerick family invested in the church under the condition that people from the slums came to work for them at night. This time no one returned except for one who managed to escape and said the others were killed. - ML infiltrates the Brerick research facility inside the military district. He discovers mutant goblins are being fed the remains of the poor people. He finds Memil Brerick drugged and unconscious. When he tries to leave, he’s faced with the mutant goblins. - Greed identifies the monsters as nightwalkers. They’re corpses that move from tethered souls and are poison to the gluttony skill if ML kills them. Nightwalkers can infect others when bitten or scratched. - ML enters a lab room full of specimens in containers. ML sees Chad Brerick who opens his eyes and attacks ML. Chad is a nightwalker after being restored using monster parts. - Aaron suddenly appears to help ML. While fighting Chad, they find another room full of women in containers. Aaron recognises one as Lina Brerick who died over 10yrs ago. - Rafale arrives and says Lina was his mother who was abandoned by his father because she was a powerless commoner. His younger siblings were born from another woman. - The nightwalkers were created using Rafale’s blood, which is why he can control them. Rafale used Memil as his backup blood supply. When Rafale is injured or killed, the nightwalkers are also affected. - Rafale has Vanity the black spear, a Deadly Sins prototype weapon. It doesn’t have a heart like Greed. It requires the blood of the user to activate its power. - Rafale’s body is possessed by an undead archdemon. He opens rifts using dark magic to allow dark matter to enter and explode. - Elise arrives with the White Knights and holding Envy. She reveals her true identity as the ruler of this kingdom. She sends Aaron and the knights away to evacuate the city. - Myne appears when a massive rift is created. She closes it using Sloth and brings down the archdemon as well. - ML uses Greed to separate Rafale and Shin, the one possessing him. Myne has been pursuing Shin and they both disappear. - Elise explains to ML that long ago she and Envy established the kingdom and ruled together. They parted ways after an argument with Elise travelling to achieve her goals and Envy left to rule using a proxy body. - After an investigation into the research facility, the Brerick family are punished. They’re stripped of their title, expelled from the holy knights, and their properties seized. - Aaron is bringing Memil into the household as a maid. - ML and Aaron visit FL at her home. Aisha makes a surprise appearance.
White Blood
Ch 73 as of 19/07/21 on Webtoon - Ch 88 here ** Completed with 92 chapters “With great power comes great responsibility.” - No one knows where the vampires came from since they appeared 10yrs ago. But now they’re a real threat to society and daily curfews aren’t stopping them. - FL is Hayan Park 20yo and is a rare, white-haired pureblood vampire (since birth). All she wants is a normal life. She lived in the orphanage since she was 10yo, doesn’t remember anything before then, and didn’t go to school as a child. - FL was childhood friends with an older boy who was the victim of bullying. When she helped him by scaring off the bullies as a vampire, he called her a monster. - FL goes to college now and is struggling to make friends. Father Michael, the priest in charge of the church and orphanage is under pressure to sign the properties over for redevelopment. - The other orphans are 2 young children, Yerim and Yunsu. - FL meets ML, genius Detective Euntae Hwang 28yo from the vampire task force. He suspects she’s a vampire and befriends her. - FL manages to keep her vampire instincts under control with the help of a crown of thorns given to her by Father Michael. He said it would help her not to lose herself. - Vampires can’t eat normal food. They can only consume blood and beverages. Vampires recover right away from any injuries. - Vampires can’t use their full powers during the day when the sunlight is strongest. - Newly bitten mixed-blood vampires have 5yrs before they die. Their lives can be prolonged if they join a group led by an Angel of Death. The blood of a pureblood vampire holds the key to prolonging the lives of mixed-blood vampires. - The “Angels of Death” are the Kings and Queens who rule over the vampires in this country. They’re 6 leaders with extraordinary powers who can keep the other vampires in check after they’ve received the pureblood of the vampire “God”. - The Angel of Death Lucian (was Woojin Lee) comes looking for FL at the church. The vampire leaders have been waiting for FL’s heart to mature. - Father Michael is a former elite soldier called Myeongsu Choi. - He became a priest after an innocent child was killed while he was deployed overseas. He took in FL 10yrs ago when he found her collapsed in the snow with bloodied clothes. He soon realised that she was a vampire. - Father Michael moves FL and the other orphans to a new location. Back at the church, he faces Lucian’s minions head on with traps and a flamethrower, but he dies against Lucian. - Father Michael refuses to let FL save him and expose herself as a vampire. He tells her to survive and protect the others. - Later FL finds the last letter to her from Father Michael. - He says he was a lost soul wracked with guilt but found a new purpose in life after meeting FL. - FL declares war against all vampires. She breaks into the Red Bomb Club owned by Lucian and vaporises him. - FL approaches ML for help to take down all vampires. - They retrieve vital info about the vampires from within the police dept. Vampires have infiltrated all areas of society. - The next Angel of Death to investigate is Sahan, a high school counsellor with the fastest growth rate of vampire followers. His special power is hypnosis and mind control. In their fight, Sahan's ability helps FL bring back some repressed memories while awakening her own latent powers (ie hypnosis). - FL discovers ML is a vampire. He has a human younger sister Haeun who also knows he’s a vampire but she doesn’t know why. Their parents became vampires 5yrs ago and to save his sister, ML became vampire. He now only has 6mths to live. - Sahan escapes from prison but is turned to ash when he interrupts an Angels of Death meeting. - Angel of Death Ash (actress Song AYoung) can alter her appearance and sucks life force by touching another’s lips. She pretends to be FL and goes public as a vampire. Another awakened ability where FL changes to Ash’s old identity, FL defeats Ash by emphasising her guilt in killing her best friend and taking on her persona. Ash accepts her punishment to live on as her old self. - FL remembers the death of her pureblood parents and a warning to her to never be found by “him”. - FL and ML hit the road to find out more on the 0101 Project and the mysterious pills, made by the Angel of Death Mamon who owns a pharmaceutical company. - They stop at a village along the way and visit Yohan Seo, a priest and FL’s childhood friend who was bullied. - Bangsan Market Incident: “God” appeared shrouded in flames, turning people into vampires with his blood. He also killed FL’s parents. This was the 1st vampire incident in the country. - Turns out “Yohan” is “God”. FL’s parents saved him from the brink of death after Yohan was beaten up by local gang of thugs and FL begged them to. He drank her father’s blood and became part of their family. Before they were about to move away together, Yohan killed the bullies at school and killed FL’s father who went to stop him. Yohan ate the father’s heart. He killed the mother when she went against him. Her heart was glowing brightly at the time. - FL was told by her mother to run far away and forget all about what happened. The trauma and possibly hypnosis had suppressed her memories (tbc). - A mixed blood vampire’s power when they transform is matched to the size of their ambition. Yohan must’ve had immense ambition to have enough power to overcome 2 pureblood vampires. - ML nursed FL while she was unconscious for 2wks. - Angel of Death Vael intercepts the pair as they hit the road again. He wants to switch allegiances (more like he’s a double agent). He wants FL’s blood in exchange for the info he provides. - FL’s heart is now glowing, indicating it is ripe enough to be eaten. - Project 0101 is the anti-vampire vaccine that is secretly made of vampire blood, turning normal people into vampires when taken for 3mths. The vaccine taken by vampires increases abilities tenfold. - Mamon has a history of sex crimes against women and has kidnapped couples active on social media taking the vaccine. FL and ML infiltrate the factory by posing as one of these couples. They fight Mamon but Yohan interrupts them over the PA system and says he can block her powers if he’s nearby. - FL confronts Yohan who says because he couldn’t eat her mother’s heart, he’s only half pureblood. That’s why he needs FL’s heart to be complete. FL blacks out and unleashes immense power, injuring Yohan who escapes. She then injures ML. She regains her senses only when ML puts the crown of thorns on her head. - At a rest point, FL notices ML’s poor condition and offers her blood for him to drink and extend his life. ML refuses (NB: any vampire close to death that drinks Yohan’s half pureblood will die). - On the road, Vael attacks them under orders from Yohan to test his loyalty. ML appears to die but is saved by Vael. The reason Vael needs FL’s pureblood is to save his animals who don’t have long to live. Vael believes Yohan will get rid of him as the Angels of Death were used to awaken FL’s abilities and he’s no longer needed. He’s been saving the people speaking out against the vaccine and kept them in hiding. - Yohan knows about the people in hiding and orders Vael to kill everyone at the end of his comeback magic show. Yohan sits among the audience and is invited up by Vael who tries to reveal on live TV that Yohan is a vampire. Vael’s lion Daniel joins the fight after being revived by FL’s blood, and lastly FL joins in as well. - Yohan manages to escape but Vael is exposed publicly as a vampire. FL and ML help Vael escape from the police and he spends Daniel’s last moments with him. - Yohan plans to turn everyone into a vampire on Jan 1st. There’s still a factory on Jeju Island and FL with ML board the freighter ship heading for it. They face the last Angel of Death Gore, a cannibal and a gangster. FL destroys him. - Levi is Yohan’s secretary and lover. She can read minds and has set up a mind game trap in a hotel on the island. The walls and sprinkler system are filled with acid. ML guides FL using CCTV. - To help, Ash and Vael turn up to fight the never ending stream of vampires. - FL meets ML and they run together until he collapses as his time is up. FL bites her lip until it bleeds and kisses him to revive him. Vael takes ML out of the hotel before it collapses. - The final battle against Levi shows how twisted her love is for Yohan compared to FL’s pure love for ML. Yohan says his final goodbye to Levi who knows Yohan only feels sympathy for her, not love. FL faces off against Yohan. - Yohan tells his life story to FL up to the murder of her parents. He was always abused, neglected, bullied, unloved. He only experienced peace and happiness with FL and her family, but he decided all humans were evil and he needed power to kill everyone.
Castle
Ch 95 as of 17/02/22 - this ch was cut short? ** all (mostly male) action with great visuals ** typical revenge plot, started off by bullying etc ** confusing to keep track of who’s who - ML is Kim Shin, a Korean contract killer. - His alias is “Amur Tigro” (Black Dragon River Tiger) - He became a legendary killer in Russia and led the strongest team of assassins. - ML’s father was a detective who was murdered 8yrs ago after going against “Castle” alone. It’s a secret organisation that’s a national crime syndicate with a global reach. - Lisa, Bar Iskra’s madame, contract broker (Russia). - Marina (Poisonous Toad), Iskra informant. - Krot (Mole), past killer for Bar Iskra, now Korea-Japan broker. - Shire (giant horse), Krot’s bodyguard, Iskra killer. - Medvedi (Bear), Iskra affiliated killer, manager of an illegal fighting ring in Club Ballerino. - Gustav, current top Iskra killer, has never been defeated. - Kang Min-Seong, the Master / Teacher and an assassin. - Seo Jin-Tae (Magpie), ML’s RH man, Iskra killer, main weapon: knife. He has a younger sister, Jin-Ah. - Pi Woo-Jin, 1st disciple of Kang Min-Seong. - Kim Dae-Geon, 2nd disciple of Kang Min-Seong, ex-Director of DS Security (Rank 2). - Cha Soo-Min, Bujin Faction, daughter and substitute boss. Castle killed her father, the previous boss. - ML returns to South Korea and goes to Hoeam, the city with the highest crime rate in the country. He plans to take over the city. - ML tries to recruit Pi Woo-Jin to help him in the fight against Castle. ML tells Pi that Kang Min-Seong was murdered by Castle. (Oh Do Hwa killed Kang Min-Seong?) - ML meets Cha Soo-Min and offers a business proposal. - He needs to borrow the influence of her gang, the Bujin Faction (previous boss of Hoeam) to obtain as much info and power in the area as he can. Cha Soo-Min agrees on the condition ML protects the junkyard. - 4yrs ago Kim Dae-Geon, Pi Woo-Jin and Cha Soo-Min were good friends. After Cha Soo-Min’s father refused to help Kim Dae-Geon’s drug addict brother, Pi Woo-Jin took Kim Dae-Geon to the Orient Faction HQ. Pi fought most of the men there and was exhausted. Yun Deok-Su appeared with Kim whose face was cut up. Instead of finding his brother, Kim said it was over and left with Pi. Kim disappeared for 2yrs then reappeared beside Yun as his dog. It’s likely Kim did a deal to protect his brother and everyone else. - Kim Jae-Hoon, President / CEO of Hasung Construction. - Kim Tae-Hoon, Kim Jae-Hoon’s older stepbrother - Kim Yong Sung, stepfather of Tae-Hoon (1st wife) and father of Jae-Hoon (2nd wife). To - DS Security (was Orient Faction), took over Hoeam 2yrs ago. - Yun Deok-Su, President of DS Security (was Orient Faction). - Kang Chang-Seok, RH man of Yun Deok-Su, DS Security. - Shin Tae-Jin, the cleaner (assassin) - “Barista”, SE Asia’s largest drug dealer, Baek Do-Chan‘s left arm. 7 Pillars of Castle: - Choi Min Wook, founder, head, and largest shareholder of Castle. - Kim Tae-Hoon, Chairman of Hasung Group. - Yoo Woo Sung, CEO of Huajin Consultancy, member of the Chinese Triad Black Dragon division. His brother is Liu Kai, head of Guangzhou. - Kim Hwang, Chairman of Gold Capital. - Im Mu Yol, CEO of Mori Investment Trust, former yakuza. - Chun il Do, CEO of Hotel Castle. - Baek Do-Chan, former Russian assassin “Python”, President of Advanced Trade Corp. He’s the symbol of strength for Castle. 10 Representatives of Castle: - Nam Goong-Hyuk (Jackie), Director of Sunjin. - Oh Do Hwa, 2nd-in-command / VP at Mori Investment Trust, and a top yakuza (cleaner / assassin) from Yanagawa Gumi. - Choi Dal-Cheon, President of Gold Capital. - Ryu Ji-Hak, Director of Hasung Group. - Castle VIP: Kim Sun Kyu, presidential candidate, Innovation Party. Once elected, Castle will have the Private Arms Act changed so they can legally have guns. Currently gun ownership is prohibited in South Korea. - Yun Deok-Su ordered Kim Dae-Geon to take over the junkyard and get rid of the Bujin Faction. Kim and his men go and are faced by the Bujin men, ML and Jin-Tae. Kim and ML fight 1-on-1. ML uses the fight to test Kim’s abilities then ML quickly finishes the fight and defeats Kim when he’s seen enough. - With help from Cha and Kim’s direct subordinates, ML convinces Kim Dae-Geon to join him against Yun Deok-Su and Castle. - All out gang warfare erupts in the streets between DS Security and Bujin Faction. Jin-Tae helps reduce the numbers with his skills. The battle is over when ML knocks down Yun Deok-Su in a series of punches. Everyone is shocked and stops fighting. - ML’s group have now taken over the north borough of the city. - South Borough Hope Young Adult Group: A vigilante corp formed to protect the weak and the merchants of Hoeam. - Yi Seul, President of South Borough Hope Young Adult Group, Director of New Hope. - Kim Dae-Geon approached Yi Seul on his own 1st. - Kim invited Yi Seul to visit ML and see for himself. - Yi Seul met ML who asked Yi Seul to lend his strength to ML so he could go after Castle. A former member of Yi Seul’s group was brought in to reveal he’d stolen money from the group and had joined DS Security instead. Difficulties with funds and business for Yi Seul’s group were due to secret actions taken by Kim Jae-Hoon to destroy them. - Yi Seul has a fight with ML and is defeated right away. - Yi Seul’s group agree to an alliance with ML’s group. - Kim Jae-Hoon had thought ML was dead. He calls ML. ML tells Kim to keep his men away from ML’s territory and ML will have control over all of Hoeam. - Kim Jae-Hoon sends a large force of men (his “cleaning crew”) to kill ML and his group. No one is there. ML predicted this and he’s with 2 teams at the Hasung Construction head office to attack Kim while most of his men are 30mins away. - Kim Jae-Hoon and ML attended the same high school. - Kim was the king at that school. No student or teacher could touch him. He had power and he used it to destroy ML and his father. - Kim 1st saw ML talking to a girl he fancied. - Then ML later saw the same girl being handled roughly by Kim’s stooges and ML stepped in to stop them. - ML beat up 2 thugs and was defiant towards Kim. - ML’s dad was framed for bribery and was demoted. - Kim provoked ML at school by saying he’d make his dad lose his job unless he kissed his feet and begged for forgiveness. ML punched Kim and his group of lackeys attacked ML. - The police arrested ML only. He was charged with assault and sent to juvenile detention. ML’s dad alone investigated Hasung Construction and discovered the existence of Castle. He was then murdered. - On the ground floor, Jin-Tae, Yi Seul and his men stop the security guards from entering. Jin-Tae can take on many of them at a time. - Nam Goong-Hyuk was visiting Kim Jae-Hoon at the time. Nam goes to deal with the intruders on the top floor. Kim Dae-Geon and Pi Woo-Jin fight Nam together so that ML can slip past. - The lights go out and ML kills the 10 bodyguards outside of Kim Jae-Hoon’s office. ML enters and avoids the bad shot by Kim with a handgun. ML takes the gun from Kim and shoots the glass windows so they shatter. ML forces Kim to the ledge and pushes him out. - Kim dangles from his hands that are tied. He defecates himself and calls for help. ML says it’s too easy to kill Kim considering the things he’s done. He wants Kim to live in fear for the rest of his life. - ML’s teams escaped safely. The cleaning crew returned too late. - Kim seems to have gone insane. An employee working overtime took a photo of Kim and posted it online where it went viral. - The Hasung Group assign Shin Tae-Jin to assassinate ML and Jin-Tae. Shin arrives at the junkyard and is attacked by ML. As they fight, Shin gives up and wants ML to kill him. Shin is stabbed and faints but later wakes up after being treated. - ML gets in Kim Tae-Hoon’s car after Jin-Tae blocked it on the road. While they’re soon surrounded by more Hasung men, ML produces Shin Tae-Jin’s bloody knife. - ML has control of Hoeam and had his revenge on Kim Jae-Hoon. ML knows the Hasung group could finish off ML and his group at any time. ML offers to do any task Kim Tae-Hoon asks of him in exchange for Kim Tae-Hoon’s help. Kim Tae-Hoon will consider ML’s offer and contact ML later. - ML tells Shin that the Hasung Group and Castle think he’s dead now. ML offers to help Shin with a new life in exchange for info on Castle. Shin says the 10 representatives support the 7 pillars of Castle and were chosen by the 7 pillars. Nam is 1 of those 10. - ML wants to take down the 10 representatives next. - Shin says ML will need at least 5 world class fighters to defeat Castle. ML plans to attack Castle in 6mths time. - Komodo, an Iskra affiliated killer in Russia hears Python is gathering useful killers. Komodo goes to test Python’s abilities but ends up being tested instead. After being easily defeated by Python, Komodo accepts the offer to join him and pledges his loyalty. - After being defeated by ML in a fight to improve his skills, Pi Woo-Jin wants to train in Russia. - Cha Soo-Min, Kim Dae-Geon and the Hope Young Adult Group will stay in Hoeam to reorganise businesses and families. They’ll also absorb the remaining forces that have scattered. Kim is in charge of all decisions while ML is away. - ML wants to extend the search for strong people who are hostile to Castle. ML, Jin-Tae and Yi Seul will travel separately outside Hoeam to rally and recruit these people. - Kim Dae-Geon pleads with Shin to help train him. Kim wants to study the 10 representatives for any loopholes they can use. - Gu il Hwa of Cheonan. Wang Dok-Pil the Great Boss of Daejeon was like a father figure to Gu. Wang was crushed by Castle. - Yi Seul met Gu in jail 8yrs ago. He helped Gu when he was about to be attacked by other prisoners. Yi Seul found Gu in Cheonan at the Bar Bambino that he mentioned wanting to open with his men. Over the years Yi Seul knew Gu was leaving gifts at the New Hope children’s nursery that Yi Seul ran for abused kids. - Yi Seul asks for Gu’s help to fight Castle. Gu agrees and will be introduced to ML soon. - Pi Woo-Jin arrives in Russia. ML arranged for Lisa to be Pi’s guide. He asks to go see Medvedi as advised by ML. When Medvedi hears from Pi that he wants to surpass ML, Pi is put into the ring that night as a test. After Pi defeats his 1st opponent, Medvedi says he’ll grow stronger if he survives the ring. - Kwak Joong Heon, was the Beast Killer of Busan. - He and his men lost limbs and eyes to Castle. They’re broken mentally and physically. - Pyo Yong / Pong the “Busan Kid”, leader of Pinout, 2nd largest gang in Busan. He was trained by Kwak Joong Heon. (He might be the son of Kang Min-Seong?) - He thinks he was abandoned by everyone. He doesn’t know the truth that his father was killed and his uncles disappeared to protect Pyo from Castle. - Mo Seung Gyu, leader of the largest gang in Busan. He betrayed Kwak Joong Heon and wants to be acknowledged by the Mori Investment Trust and Castle. - ML and Jin-Tae go to Busan and meet Krot for local intel. Krot tells them that Busan is still ownerless. He warns them that Mori Investment Trust are making moves. - ML and Jin-Tae try to meet Pyo but he and his gang attack as they think they were sent by Mo. ML and Jin-Tae defeat them and leave a business card. ML is impressed with Pyo’s skills and sees potential. - Kwak Joong Heon had his men test ML and Jin-Tae to confirm they were students of Kang Min-Seong, and not from Castle. He explains that they just want to protect Pyo and tells ML to go away. - ML declares to Kwak and his men that ML will take over Busan. - Mo approached Oh Do Hwa to ask to work under Mori Investment. Mo is told to prove himself worthy by taking over Busan in 3 days. - Pyo is betrayed by some of his gang and attacked by Mo’s men. Pyo’s friend helps him and contacts ML. Pyo had fainted and wakes up. He learns the truth and wants revenge. He apologises to ML and asks to join him. ML tells Pyo to defeat Mo, be Oh Do Hwa’s dog and become the successor of Busan. - Pyo attack’s Mo’s base with some of his gang and Kwak’s men. Pyo makes it to Mo’s office and fights Mo. - ML intercepts Oh Do Hwa before he gets to Mo’s base. - ML fights Oh and his aide together, then is helped by Shire and later by Jin-Tae. ML ends the fight after checking Oh’s skills and retreats. ML won’t be contacting Pyo for awhile. - Pyo knocks down Mo. Oh arrives and Mo asks for help but is killed. Pyo faces Oh as the last man standing and offers to manage Busan for him. Oh is suspicious of Pyo but accepts him for now. - Kwak Joong Heon gives ML a journal with all the info he knows about Castle. - Krisa (Rat) / George Silva, Iskra killer, ML’s close friend. - After a month, Pi Woo-Jin has been on a winning streak since he started fighting in the ring. He met his match against Krisa. Medvedi stopped the match and declared it was Pi’s defeat. - Secretary Oh. Former aide to Kim Jae-Hoon, now works for Kim Tae-Hoon. In response to ML’s offer to Tae-Hoon, Secretary Oh met with Kim Dae-Geon and Cha Soo-Min. Before leaving, she tested Dae-Geon’s reflexes herself with a samurai sword in the office. - Secretary Oh suspects Shin Tae-Jin isn’t dead and decides to look for him before he causes trouble for the Hasung group. - In Hoeam, Kim Dae-Geon arrives at the place he trains with Shin Tae-Jin to find a stranger waiting for him. It’s Ryu Ji-Hak and Kim is no match for him when they fight after Kim refuses to answer his questions. Shin arrives and Ryu says he didn’t come to kill him this time. Ryu warns Shin that Secretary Oh knows he’s in Hoeam. - Shin leaves that night on a ship arranged by Kim. - Shin arrives in SE Asia and goes to get a fake passport from the black market. There he meets Barista who’s stocking up on weapons to take out ML’s group. Shin decides to kill Barista to pay his debt back to ML. Barista has his men chase Shin through a village. Barista pays the many beggars to also go after Shin. - In their final showdown, Shin injures Barista but ultimately dies at Barista’s hands. - A few years ago, Shin and Barista were part of the team Baek Do-Chan led to go after Kang Min-Seong in Russia. - They were under orders to kill everyone. Shin tried to spare the young son of a hunting couple he killed. Barista was stopped by Shin from killing the boy. That boy took his parents’ rifle and shot Shin in the back, then he took his own life. - Shin was in debt to the Hasung group who paid compensation for this incident. - ML meets Kim Tae-Hoon on a secluded private beach. - They’re surrounded by Hasung men. Kim now knows ML’s true identity and background. ML offers to kill Baek Do-Chan in exchange for financial backing and intel from the Hasung group. Kim agrees to be allies for now. - Pi Woo-Jin has been undergoing training sessions in Club Ballerino’s basement. Lisa assigns Pi’s 1st mission against a young, violent gang. Pi is unable to pull the trigger of his gun to kill someone. Another Iskra killer called Black Mamba was sent by Lisa to take over as she knew Pi would fail. - Gustav found out from Lisa that ML is in Hoeam. - An Iskra spy notified ML that Gustav is in Hoeam. - The spy arranged a private location at an abandoned water reservoir for them to fight. ML will use this fight as a test before facing Baek Do-Chan. The fight began with guns then switched to knives. They’re interrupted by a gun shot. 3 of Iskra’s killers arrive to stop the fight: Aquila, Frigate and Shamo. - After Gustav leaves, ML chats with Aquila who wanted to know what ML was doing in Korea. ML talks about Lisa’s intentions with setting up this fight between him and Gustav. Lisa wants ML to take out Baek Do-Chan to save Iskra from having to do it. She also wants ML to help her get into Castle. Her ambition has always been to form a large scale cartel with even greater power and money than what Iskra has now. - Pi is looking for the boy Alexia who usually helps him at the club. He finds out Alexia’s mother sold him to a gang who traffick organs from healthy children. He goes to the hideout and kills the whole gang. He frees Alexia and the other children. - Jin-Tae is in Suncheon to recruit Yeo Min-Soo who has bad history with Gold Capital due to Choi Dal-Cheon. Jin-Tae fights Yeo to test him and is impressed with his skills. He explains why he’s there and asks Yeo to join in the fight against Castle. - Yeo lost an eye to Choi to save and protect his men. He was able to stand the pain and make no sound while his eye was gouged out by Choi. - Marina contacts Jin-Tae to warn him about Yoo Woo-Sung. - She says Yoo is secretly the younger brother of Liu Kai, the head of the Chinese Triad in Guangzhou. - (Jin-Tae’s family have bad history with Liu Kai?) - Marina suggests it would be safer for Jin-Tae and his family to go back to Russia. - Yakuza from Japan arrive at Busan. They’re from Mori Investment. Hide leads them and is considered Oh Do Hwa’s successor. Hide suspects Pyo is the baby that Kwak Joong Heon’s gang were protecting. Hide reveals to Pyo that he knows Pyo has been secretly training under Kwak and his men. Hide gives Pyo a pair of knives to improve his skills with. - Barista arrives in South Korea, smuggling in many of his men. - In Hoeam, the men under Kim Dae-Geon were instructed to stamp out the drug trade in the city. During what they thought would be an easy drug bust, the men are surrounded and Barista makes his presence known. - Kim Dae-Geon receives a desperate call about the attack on his men. He notifies Yi Seul, telling him to take Cha Soo-Min somewhere safe and gather the other men. When Yi Seul meets Cha, she senses an all out war brewing and calls for everyone to be ready. - Kim goes to check it out himself 1st. He finds an abandoned factory that’s been turned into a hideout. - Kim recognises Barista and sees his men bleeding badly while they get beaten up. Kim decides to take on Barista. - Kim’s closest subordinate was killed before his eyes. He recognises Shin’s knife that Barista is using and realises Shin is dead. Against the odds and on the brink of death, Kim Dae-Geon kills Barista after an intense battle. Kim’s men used their last strength to stop Barista’s men from shooting Kim. - Cars pull up and Baek Do-Chan has arrived with Nam Goong-Hyuk and Komodo. Kim Dae-Geon commits suicide by directly challenging Baek and charging at him. Kim is crushed by Baek. - Barista grew up with Nam Goong-Hyuk and another friend called Noah in a 3rd world country. Poor and hungry, they took a job as teens to kill someone. At the house, everyone was already dead and the boys met Baek Do-Chan for the 1st time. - Nam asked Baek to take them with him or else kill them. Baek said if they take over the area in 3yrs, he’ll take them under him. - After 3yrs, the trio had 1 last gang to destroy before claiming the whole area. Noah saved Barista’s life but was killed instead. - Noah’s last wish was for Barista and Nam to run away and stop killing people. - ML and his group are gathered in the office when a delivery arrives for Kim Dae-Geon. The large box contains Kim’s head and a letter from Baek Do-Chan. It tells ML to meet at the pier at Incheon Port in 3 days if he wants to collect Kim’s remains. - ML and his group hold a funeral for Kim Dae-Geon. All recruited allies attend. One surprise attendee is Ryu Ji-Hak (who seemed to pay his respects on behalf of Shin Tae-Jin as well). - ML secretly meets with Kim Tae-Hoon. ML will proceed with the pier meeting but plans to take advantage of it. ML introduces Lisa as the joker who will shake up the board. - ML proposes a plan to destroy Advanced Trade, Mori Investment and Gold Capital, with help from Hasung and Iskra. - All of the recruited allies have gathered at the junkyard after the funeral. ML speaks to everyone, asking all to give him their strength to defeat Castle together. ML gets on his knees before them and says he will put his life on the line but he can’t do this without everyone. - One by one the recruited men also get on their knees and vow to follow ML. With everyone united, ML gives the new organisation the name “Baek-yi” (100 white ants / termites). Incheon Port: - 200 Advanced Trade men are at the pier. - 30 from the Death Squad are on the ship. Komodo, Nam Goong-Hyuk and Baek Do-Chan are also on the ship. - The main force of Baek-yi under Yi Seul are at the pier and engage in battle with the Advanced Trade men. - Ratel (Honey badger), Medvedi, and Krisa from Iskra join Jin-Tae, Pi Woo-Jin and ML to infiltrate the ship. - Im Jong-Tae, illegal info broker of Incheon Port. - He has bad history with Advanced Trade and he lost money so his family are suffering. He provides ML with maps of the pier and blueprints of the ship. Mori Investment Trust HQ: - Oh Do Hwa has summoned all his men together. Hide and the other yakuza are with Oh on the top floor. Pyo is called up by Oh from the car park where most of the men are. - Sensing danger, Pyo attacks the men in the lift and gets off on another floor. Hide tricks Oh and betrays him. Iskra sent Frigate and Shamo to help Pyo’s group in the car park. Some of Kwak’s men also arrive. - That night after the funeral, ML met secretly with Hide. Gold Capital HQ: - The Hasung men make a surprise attack. ML sent Yeo Min-Soo to deal with Choi Dal-Cheon. - Medvedi and Ratel are attacked by the Death Squad. - Baek Do-Chan joins in the attack. ML arrives to fight Baek before Medvedi is almost killed. - Jin-Tae is fighting Komodo. - Krisa is fighting Nam Goong-Hyuk.
Shadow Squad
** DROPPED. Very slow burn, disjointed Read ch 23 as of 04/01/21 - also on Tapas
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