The Youth Who Scored a Total Cheat Stigmata (2)

-Ding.

"…Whoa."

My jaw dropped. I'd thought I was used to freebies by now, but even I couldn't help being stunned.

Stigmata are sweet enough on their own, and now it's handing out extras?

Stigmata, in simple terms, are active skills. You tell the system, "Make me something like this," and it whips it up omakase-style to fit. And the power? No need to explain. Just look at Hwang Hee-chan—he snaps his fingers with a Stigmata and quarters a boss mob. That's why he's treated like top-tier from clearing the second hierarchy of Pilgrim's Tower.

And now that kind of skill had plopped right into my lap. Except… with an upgraded hierarchy.

Normally it'd be 2nd Order, so 3rd Order?

A 3rd Order Stigmata, which you need to clear the 3rd hierarchy for. And I got it on the 20th floor. On par with Hwang Hee-chan's now.

-Gulp.

Nah, not even comparable.

My eyes scanned the notification again. Power increase relative to constraints. My heart raced at those words.

Hwang Hee-chan's constraint was exhaustion on use, right?

Stigmata get stronger the harsher the conditions. Slap on "user dies on activation," and it's a true ultimate. But… even with the same constraint, mine's 5x stronger?

This'll carry me up to the 5th hierarchy!!

I immediately raised my arm. I already knew what skill to make with it.

"On Stigmata activation, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can launch a guided sword strike at a target enemy up to my desired range."

Ranged DPS. That's what I needed most right now. Even Hard Tower climbers are told to prep some long-range option. Sure, I had a Rare sword with sword beam, but 10-minute cooldown, and I'd get something better eventually. Better prep ahead.

Now for the constraint…

"Ahem, ahem."

Up to here, I'd planned it all out. No hesitation now. Time for the core of Stigmata creation: the constraint.

"On Stigmata activation, I take damage proportional to range and guidance strength."

The constraint: self-damage. Something no sane person would pick, but…

80% damage reduction and once-daily instant revive from fatal wounds? Totally worth it.

Mythic traits Dragon Armor and Guardian Dragon's Blessing. That's all I needed to bank on.

And the moment I finished speaking—

-Ding.

Whoosh—!!!

The energy on my forearm erupted into flames. Normally a suicidal constraint, so the Stigmata must've powered up big time.

Freebie in reality, though.

"Yeah, make it like this."

I nodded, satisfied. The blue flames roaring up my forearm surged across my whole body.

-Fwoosh!

"Kyaeng!!? Kyeng, kyeng!!!"

Do-hwa must've thought it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠self-immolation or something—she tried fanning the flames with her tails, but her loyal effort did zilch. The fire died down in seconds, sinking into my body.

"Do-hwa, quit the kyenging."

"…Kyaeng?"

While she panicked below, I calmly checked my forearm. A faint burn mark had appeared.

-Ding.

"Okay."

Guided ranged skill acquired. 3rd hierarchy will be a breeze now. Not jumping in right away, but still.

Test the performance?

"Do-hwa, hang back in the summon for a bit. Desummon."

"Kyeng!!"

I unsummoned Do-hwa, pulled a sword from my Inventory, and muttered softly.

"…Space Slash."

Slash— A swing through empty air. Looked ordinary at first glance. But what followed was anything but.

-Crack!

"Oh."

A sword mark etched into the safe zone's stone wall. My blade hadn't even reached it. Deep as if I'd swung right there. About 5 meters away, and…

Doesn't hurt a bit?

Like a fly landing on my hand? Not painful, not even itchy. Safe zone too cramped for a real test.

Still, 20 meters should be comfy.

"Good enough for now~."

I stood up. Power test could wait. Time to head home. That's why I'd planned to portal to the 20th floor's massive safe zone, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but…

-Pause.

Right, courtesy check.

Something crossed my mind. I reached out and summoned my status window. Moments later, the Awakener community popped up.

-Click.

"Okay."

Checked on the chaebol heir trapped on 39F. Gave his soon-tofu mentality a poke. Then—

Kraaack—!!!

I jammed my sword into thin air and yanked down hard.

-Ding.

"Hmm."

Eh, good enough for now?

The Tower's dimensional walls. On 1F, I could only peek through a peephole. Now? Head-sized hole easy.

Hold tight a few more weeks, chaebol kid.

I'll swing by to rescue you soon. On the way up, casually.

* * *

-Ding.

"Ahhh~."

Front of Beginner's Tower. I stretched vigorously. Hero's return—citizens should fetch booze and babes pronto…

-Murmurs.

"Look at that guy, cleared Easy mode and acting all proud."

"Tsk tsk, able-bodied man should hit Normal at least."

"Why'd a loser like that awaken when I didn't…."

"……."

Ah, the world hates Easy Tower climbers, huh.

"Sigh."

Works out fine, though.

I wasn't hurt by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shade. If anything, grateful. Who'd believe the Easy Tower noob is actually national-power-level awakener Ryu Hwi-min? Perfect for hiding my identity.

Now, test the necklace.

Glanced around, then poured mana into the necklace. The artifact 'Necklace of Seclusion'—erases presence based on mana input—glowed faintly.

Result?

"Hello~ Believe in Jesus~."

"…Oh."

The evangelist handing out tissues skipped right over me. Like I was in a blind spot? Up close, they'd notice, but otherwise? Hard to perceive.

Even management bureau staff wouldn't spot me…

-Pause.

Wait, detection trait users might. Don't rely solely on this.

I reined in my growing complacency. Better safe than sorry. Test the bridge before crossing. Mom and Dad's wisdom echoed.

Even if they died in that gate break bullshit.

Literal bullshit, so yeah. Be cautious where you can.

Time to head home.

I strolled leisurely. Mind already in flower fields—planning a move before 3F challenge had me pumped. About to board the subway when…

-Beep beep!!

"Hm?"

Subway announcement as I stepped on. I perked up my ears. Not good news.

Acute break?

Acute break: Gate that bursts before raid teams can enter, ultra-short timer. Rare natural disaster.

My face nearly soured, but

"Phew."

Another guild's on it already. Makes sense—right in central Seoul. Local guild rushed over. No casualties now.

Wanna spectate?

Relaxed, curiosity kicked in. Arirang Guild—top five in Korea. Pass up live combat show? Two stops away? Nah, can't.

Necklace of Seclusion, do your thing!

Dash—!!!

Faster than a delivery bike. Site in no time.

-Chaotic clamor.

"Prioritize civilian safety!!"

"Get back! This is real!!"

"Ooh."

Expected pandemonium, but control's solid. Civilians watching from afar. Awakeners handling mobs smoothly. Boss down in… 3 hours tops?

I was about to pout when—

-Ding.

"Oh?"

Boss info hit my eyes. Instant assessment. Perfect punching bag.

Good level, others tanking. Nice.

I slammed mana into the necklace. Donned the Legendary stealth hat 'Tarnkappe' from Inventory. My body blended seamlessly, turning invisible. Phone cam showed just heat-haze shimmer.

Invisible to others too.

Checked civilians—no stares. Even detection traits probably blind. Legendary hat—rarest globally. Stacked with artifact? Safe to goof a bit.

-Shing.

Let's try it.

Drew Rare sword from Inventory. Unseen by all, I whispered ever so softly.

"Space Slash."