The Northern General’s colossal form crashed to the mud-soaked ground, a final, ragged breath escaping his lips. A silence, profound and alien, descended upon the tent, replacing the thunderous clang of steel and the guttural roars of battle. Kim Hyu-Gi remained, a statue of exhaustion and agony, his improvised sword still clutched in a trembling hand, its edge dull with dried blood and mud. His lungs burned, each gasp for air a searing torment, and every muscle fiber screamed in protest. Yet, beneath the layers of brutal physical pain, a strange, almost ethereal calm began to settle. A shimmer of iridescent light materialized before his eyes, coalescing into the familiar, dispassionate text of the Hell Simulation System. The words pulsed with a cold, triumphant glow, a stark contrast to the visceral horror of the battlefield. [OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: ELIMINATE NORTHERN GENERAL] [SIMULATION CLEARED: THE ENDLESS BATTLEFIELD] [PERMANENT ENHANCEMENTS AWARDED] [HUNTER RANK UPGRADE: F-CLASS -> E-CLASS] [RETURNING TO REALITY IN 3… 2… 1…] Before he could fully process the information, a searing white light enveloped him, pulling him away from the stench of blood and the echoing cries of the dead. The blinding light dissolved as abruptly as it appeared, depositing Kim Hyu-Gi back onto the worn carpet of his small apartment. The familiar, slightly musty scent of his unkempt room filled his nostrils, replacing the metallic tang of war. His eyes, still adjusting, blinked at the dim, natural light filtering through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the afternoon sun. He was sprawled on the floor, exactly where he had been before the simulation consumed him. The dull ache of his previous injuries had vanished, replaced by a deep, throbbing fatigue that ran through his bones. He pushed himself up, a subtle difference in his movements immediately apparent. His limbs felt lighter, his core firmer, a latent strength coiling beneath his skin that hadn't been there before. He walked to the small, grimy mirror in his bathroom, his reflection staring back – the same gaunt face, the same shadowed eyes, but something had shifted. A subtle intensity, a hard-won edge, sharpened his gaze. His hands, though still calloused from the simulation’s brutal training, moved with an unconscious grace, a newfound precision. He flexed his fingers, the small muscles rippling with an unfamiliar power. It wasn't an explosive strength, not yet, but a fundamental increase, a deeper reservoir of stamina and physical resilience. The memory of a thousand deaths, of steel tearing flesh, of arrows piercing lungs, of being trampled under hooves, surged through him. Each agonizing moment was etched into his mind, not as a nightmare, but as a brutal, unforgettable lesson. He hadn't just survived; he had learned. He had adapted. He had broken, only to rebuild himself, stronger, fiercer. The despair that had threatened to consume him in the early stages, the relentless, soul-crushing cycle of death and rebirth, now seemed a distant shadow. He had turned suffering into a weapon, a shield, a forge. But the relief was fleeting. Beneath the nascent pride of his accomplishment, the heavy weight of guilt still pressed down. Kang Hwok. The Guild members. Eight lives trapped, possibly lost, in a vanished C-Class Gate. His E-Class rank, a step up from F, felt insignificant in the face of that overwhelming truth. Was this enough? Was *he* enough? The Awakened Stone, the one Kang Hwok had pressed into his hand, lay on his bedside table, a silent testament to a sacrifice he was still struggling to comprehend. As if sensing his thoughts, the familiar blue interface shimmered into existence again, larger and more detailed this time. [SYSTEM PANEL] [NAME: KIM HYU-GI] [HUNTER RANK: E-CLASS] [STATISTICS] [STRENGTH: 20 (+5)] [AGILITY: 18 (+4)] [STAMINA: 22 (+6)] [VITALITY: 19 (+4)] [INTELLECT: 10 (+0)] [MAGIC: 5 (+0)] [SKILLS] [BASIC SWORDSMANSHIP (ACTIVE) - Lvl. 5: Proficiency in fundamental sword techniques. Increased damage and attack speed with bladed weapons.] [BATTLEFIELD ADAPTATION (PASSIVE) - Lvl. 3: Enhanced awareness and resilience in chaotic combat environments. Minor resistance to fear and pain.] [ENDURANCE (PASSIVE) - Lvl. 2: Improved physical stamina and recovery from exertion.] [STATUS EFFECTS: NONE] [CURRENT SIMULATION PROGRESS: 1/?? (The Endless Battlefield - CLEARED)] His eyes scanned the numbers, a wave of profound realization washing over him. The plus signs next to Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Vitality represented his permanent gains. From an F-Class Hunter with paltry single-digit stats, he now possessed a baseline that surpassed many D-Class Hunters. The skills, too, were more than just names; they were the ingrained muscle memory, the instincts that had saved his life countless times. Basic Swordsmanship wasn't just "basic" anymore; it was the foundation of a warrior forged in hellfire. Battlefield Adaptation and Endurance were equally crucial, silent witnesses to his ordeal. The "1/??" in his simulation progress was a stark reminder that this was merely the first step. The system was a relentless master, offering power in exchange for suffering. He had faced a medieval battlefield. What horrors awaited him next? A grim resolve hardened his features. He had no choice but to continue. For himself, yes, for the new strength thrumming in his veins, but more importantly, for those he had left behind. He would find a way back, or he would die trying. The Hell Simulation System had promised growth, and he would seize every agonizing inch of it until he was strong enough to face whatever stood between him and the truth of the vanished Gate. He closed his eyes, the images of swinging swords and falling bodies still vivid, but now, a flicker of hope, hard-earned and painful, burned in his chest.

Chapter 20: The First Ascent