Kang Oh spent more than two months in the underworld. During that time, several events happened on the continent.

His guild, 'Going as Three', had dropped from first place; the Gold Heart Guild had supplanted it. 

Gold Heart was the fusion between Wang Seorim's Geumsan Store and Arthand's Steel Heart Guild.

Kang Oh was actually at fault for this. To be more specific, both Wang Seorim and Arthand had been feeling threatened by the Kang Man Group.

Also, 'Going as Three' didn't just consist of Kang Oh, Eder, and Sephiro anymore. It included people he was close to such as Nile, Bart, and Helena. Bart's close friends and the Witch's Forest's high rankers were also included. It was filled with a small minority of the strongest, most elite players.

However, Kang Oh had also joined forces with Man Bok, and created the Kang Man Group. To their competitors, it looked like Kang Oh had established the most elite fighting force, and was now trying to take over the business world.

It was actually due to Kang Oh and Man Bok's names that the Kang Man Group was able to slowly eat away at the Geumsan Store's business.

In response, Wang Seo Rim and the Steel Heart Guild joined forces. It was the combination of Arth's greatest merchant and craftsman. 

Essentially, they controlled production and the means to distribute it effectively!

The incredible synergy between the two groups propelled them to the top of the ranks.

With this, the Geumsan Store was able to maintain their position at the top of the business world, as well as put a brake on the Kang Man Group's momentum.

The Steel Heart Guild, which had never been at the top before, had finally become the strongest guild.

However...!

Gold Heart wasn't able to keep its position for long. Storm Breaker soon replaced them as number one.

Storm Breaker was exactly as advertised; it was the combination of both the Storm and Breaker guilds.

Neither of the guilds cared about the conflict between the Kang Man Group and the Geumsan Store, but they had to get involved once Steel Heart joined the picture.

Individually, Storm and Breaker were both too weak to compete with the Kang Man Group or Gold Heart.

Thus, the Storm Breaker Guild was formed!

After that, they united the large guilds, which had weakened due to the Dungeon Liberation Movement, and created an ultra-large guild under their banner.

People likened it to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Kang Man, Gold Heart, and Storm Breaker would battle for supremacy!

However, Kang Man was suspiciously silent.

If Kang Oh decided to get involved, then countless people would come running like gathering clouds.

That was proven in the Dungeon Liberation Movement and the Siege of Saw Rock Fortress. Kang Oh's name possessed incredible power and influence.

And yet, Kang Oh seemed to have little interest in this war. In a way, he was similar to Valan.

He was the strongest, yet he walked his own path.

It wasn't in his character to do something by relying on the power of a large organization.

Kang Oh just wanted to be left in peace. At the top, that is.

* * *

Kang Oh, alongside Eder, headed for the Holiseum. Nile, Sephiro, and Asu didn't come along. They didn't have a personal connection with Valan, after all.

Creak.

They opened the door.

There was a young man inside.

Kang Oh immediately recognized this man as Valan.

Although he recognized his face, his eyes were a dead giveaway; there's no way he wouldn't recognize that intense gaze of his.

That's right. Valan had gotten younger. Plus, he didn't see a wound on his chest, nor was he missing an arm anymore.

The Resurrection Stone was that amazing.

After all, it had gifted Valan with a younger, more robust body.

"Have you gotten younger?" Kang Oh smiled. 'You haven't just gotten better. You've been rejuvenated!'

"It's all thanks to Dr. Eder." Valan slightly bowed his head at Eder, who'd followed Kang Oh inside. Eder just smiled.

"You have two arms, and your chest wound is gone. I'm glad."

"Haha."

His laugh was bizarre. Although he laughed like an old man, it sounded weird coming from such a young man.

"You look much better too. You've gotten stronger." Valan narrowed his eyes.

"No one can push me around anymore. Not even you." Kang Oh unleashed incredible pressure. 'I wasn't playing around in the underworld.'

"Cheeky brat." 

"I have a right to be. That's how much stronger I've gotten."

Kang Oh felt like a new man. To think he'd be speaking like this in front of a completely healed Valan! As expected, you couldn't act tough without the strength to back it up. 

"I wouldn't go that far."

"Want to try me?"

"You want to fight me?" Valan pulled out his steel sword.

Kang Oh couldn't pull his eyes off of it. It was because he'd seen an ordinary steel sword transform into a holy sword in the underworld.

"Is that sword Max Perado?"

"Max Perado? You mean the one that's part of the Max Series?"

"Yes."

"It isn't."

"May I take a quick look at it?"

"I'm telling you, it's not." Valan furrowed his brow.

"You know I'm right. That's why you're not showing it to me."

"Seriously, it's not."

"Then show me."

"Tch."

Kang Oh took the steel sword and checked its item information.

[Steel Sword]

It looks like an ordinary steel sword.

Rank: Unknown.

Abilities: Unknown.

Minimum Requirements: Unknown.

"It is Max Perado!" Kang Oh yelled.

"What?" Valan scowled even harder. "It's actually Max Perado?"

"You didn't know?"

"Does it look like a legendary sword to you?"

"You're right about that, but..."

Kang Oh couldn't understand it. Why didn't Valan know that his sword was the legendary Max Perado?

Then, he remembered something he'd learned during his time with Javen.

'Max Perado reveals its true form when its chosen hero is in danger. Until then, it's just a regular steel sword.'

"Have you never been in danger before?" Kang Oh muttered.

The steel sword didn't react at all.

Kang Oh stared at Valan. "Master Valan."

"What?"

"Have you ever been in great danger ever since you've picked up this sword? Or have you ever been at the brink of death?"

"No, not after I started using that sword."

"Even when you fought against Sraka?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

'Why would I have trouble with someone like Sraka?', his expression seemed to say.

"Haa." Kang Oh was absolutely speechless.

He felt sorry for Max Perado. Valan was so strong that the sword never had a chance to reveal its true strength.

"Where did you get the sword?"

"I picked it up at a nearby smithy."

He had picked at random, but the holy sword had chosen him.

"Have you ever performed maintenance on it?"

"No."

"You never thought that was strange? That an ordinary steel sword could withstand your power?"

"Only a poor swordsman lets their sword get damaged. If you're skilled enough, then your sword won't get damaged."

"Haa."

'Poor holy sword.'

"That sword is definitely Max Perado."

"So what?'

"It's the Max Perado. The legendary holy sword!"

"Demon Sword Ubist was originally Max Gemina."

Valan had used the greatest of swords too. However, he didn't have a reason to do so anymore. Whatever sword he wielded would become the strongest sword, after all.

"Gemina and Perado are completely different. Gemina is a fine blade and all, but it's no holy sword."

"They're the same to me."

"We have to awaken the holy sword no matter what. I came back after seeing the legendary hero wielding the holy sword's full power firsthand! It was absolutely incredible."

Kang Oh planned on bringing Valan along with him during his Inarius hunt.

What if Valan came with an awakened Max Perado? They would be able to take it down much easier.

"The legendary hero... I heard about him from Dr. Eder, but are you actually talking about the Hero Javen?"

"I am."

"Is he strong?"

"He is."

"Him versus me."

"Javen," Kang Oh said instantly. He didn't hesitate for even a second.

Valan furrowed his brow.

"Javen uses the holy sword while you don't," Kang Oh added.

If nothing else, Valan was incredibly self-confident. 

"Only weaklings rely on their equipment," Valan said furiously.

"Javen was the most skilled Grandmaster in the underworld. When you add the holy sword to the mix, then it's obvious that he'd win."

"That so? I want to fight him." Valan licked his lips.

"I'm sure you'll get your chance someday."

When he died, he'd get his chance. Though he wasn't sure when that'd be.

"So there are a ton of strong people in the underworld?" Valan's eyes gleamed.

"That's right."

"Tell me more."

"Mm, so..."

Kang Oh began to tell him about his experience in the underworld.

"Kunta, Khan, Dragon Knight Valdes, and Archmage Lacia. They're all legends that I'd heard stories about when I was young." Valan rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

It was obvious what he was thinking about.

'Is there any way I can go to the underworld?'

"I'll ask the Goddess of Death if you can go."

Before he went on his journey, Kang Oh had spoken to the Goddess of Death. She had given him permission to use the Resurrection Stone on Valan, acknowledging his efforts as the Guardian of the Continent.

She may give her permission this time too.

"Really?"

"But I have a condition."

"Name it."

"Please help me kill Inarius."

"That lizard that's called the Evil Dragon?"

"Yes."

"Fine."

The contract has been established.

"Alright, follow me. Let's see how much better you've gotten." Valan stood up.

"Sounds good to me." Kang Oh grinned.

He truly has been...

Waiting for this moment for a long time.

* * *

Eder watched Kang Oh and Valan's duel.

Kang Oh held Ubist in his hand, while Valan held Max Perado, disguised as an ordinary steel sword.

It didn't feel very tense. Both of them looked extremely relaxed.

Kang Oh and Valan slowly walked towards each other.

Once they got close enough for their swords to touch, they simultaneously swung their swords.

It didn't feel like they were doing anything special.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

They repeatedly exchanged blows.

Kang Oh's body burst with shards of light. However, Valan's body did the same.

"Good, very good." Valan smiled.

Kang Oh did the same.

Demon Sword Ubist gradually got faster. He was using Mad Wind's Sword.

Valan's sword didn't get any faster. Instead, he minimized his movements and easily blocked Kang Oh's blade.

At some point, Eder wasn't able to track Kang Oh's blade. All he heard was the metallic 'clang' from Valan slightly tilting his blade.

Kang Oh looked completely focused. He put everything he learned into each of his blows.

Valan's lips were tightly shut too. His smile had obviously disappeared.

Both of them focused entirely on their blades. Within the silence, all that could be heard was the sound of their blades.

However, no duel could last forever.

Valan, who had focused on defense, swung his blade upwards.

Divide the Sea!

Kang Oh swung downwards. He also unleashed a Divide the Sea.

The two lines overlapped.

Gulp.

Eder swallowed and didn't blink.

What would the result be?

Bam!

Kang Oh's body burst with shards of light, and he fell to one knee.

However, he didn't look disappointed, and he hadn't given up either.

Bam!

Shards of light belatedly burst from Valan's chest. He took a step back.

"Hehe."

"Hahaha."

The two laughed simultaneously.

Eder looked dumbfounded. 'What's going on?'

He couldn't help himself and said, "What is this?"

Unfortunately, he didn't get an answer back. That's why he asked a follow-up question.

"Who won?"

This time too, no one answered him. Instead, Kang Oh and Valan readied themselves and then continued their battle. 

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Then...

Burkan quietly walked in, stood beside Eder, and watched their duel.

A short while later...

"A Grandmaster..." Burkan whispered.