The Armor Chooses Its Master
"Th-then... it can change into something other than armor?"
Kim Jun stammered in his excitement.
As the maker of the Yeon Ga armor, Yeon Un-jae found that expression and behavior to be the highest praise.
"Of course."
With a single gesture from Yeon Un-jae, the scales forming the Yeon Ga armor flew forward, assembling into a round shield.
Next came a long spear.
And it could even transform into a whip undulating over a blue sea.
Seeing Kim Jun's face light up as he committed every change of the Yeon Ga armor to memory, Yeon Un-jae nearly handed over this precious item right then and there.
If Kim Jun had been from the Yeon family...
He would have clad him in the Yeon Ga armor without a second thought. And he would have taught him how to wield it properly.
This extraordinary armor was powerful enough to rank in the top 10 among famous armors. The sole reason it had slipped to 37th was a lack of real combat experience.
The Yeon Ga armor, born from Yeon Un-jae's hands, had never once entered a dungeon. No one but Yeon Un-jae had ever worn it.
Because of that, those who sought to undermine Yeon Un-jae's abilities spat venom that the Yeon Ga armor was useless in actual battle, dragging what should have been a 7th or 8th place ranking down to 37th.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him.
What if he tied the Yeonhyangcho model change to the Yeon Ga armor?
It was a decent notion, but Yeon Un-jae decided it needed more careful consideration.
With a wave of his hand, he returned the Yeon Ga armor to its place on the wall. Kim Jun watched in awe as the scales clattered over the mannequin's body, reconnecting with a metallic rasp.
"Don't you want to become the owner of that armor?"
Kim Jun's eyes widened as he stared at Yeon Un-jae. A flicker of possessiveness danced in his gaze.
Who wouldn't want the Yeon Ga armor?
"Join the Yeon family. Then, I'll give it to you."
The excitement faded swiftly.
Yeon Un-jae was surprised once more. Emotions, especially the burning desire for something, weren't so easily quelled.
"Thank you for broadening my horizons."
Kim Jun drew a clear line.
That very attitude only made Yeon Un-jae covet him more.
I suppose I'll have to change my plans. I was just going to extract the inner energy and memories of Chung-jae dwelling in that boy's body. But to succeed as a Raider, innate talent matters, yet self-control is far more decisive—especially in combat. In that regard, this boy... has exceptional gifts.
To claim Kim Jun, he would need to dismantle Uramata. Kim Jun wouldn't leave on his own.
The problem was Uramata's new master, Yoo Wan-seop—the most perfect, nearly complete Raider he'd ever seen.
Fortunately, Uramata was a small guild. He could nip its explosive growth in the bud.
No need to act directly.
Once Yoo Wan-seop's decision became known, the Dungeon Association and Jushin wouldn't leave Uramata alone. He just had to bide his time and snatch Kim Jun when the opportunity arose.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Yeon Un-jae stepped in front of Kim Jun.
"The skill I'll teach you today is Cheon Noe Byeok. It's originally an area-of-effect attack skill, but with a slight modification, it can serve perfectly as a tanking skill. Watch closely."
Yeon Un-jae first spread his legs wider than shoulder-width.
He lowered his center of gravity and raised both hands forward.
The Cheonnoe Heart Technique and Yeonwon energy writhed in his dantian, surging through his energy meridians and gathering in his arms.
Flash.
Krzzzzzt!
A lightning barrier five meters wide and two meters tall materialized.
It was Cheon Noe Byeok.
Black scorch marks marred the bluish floor beneath the Cheon Noe Byeok, but he paid them no mind. The unique restorative properties of the Blue Rackum oak would erase them in a few days.
The lightning wall vanished after just three seconds.
The drawback of Cheon Noe Byeok was its short duration. But its strengths—serving as both tanking defense and damage-dealing offense—were unparalleled.
According to the Dungeon Association's official ratings, Cheon Noe Byeok's defense index was 7.8, while its attack index soared to an impressive 15.9.
Kim Jun's mouth hung open in awe.
Yeon Un-jae taught him the method in detail.
Yeon family warriors found Cheon Noe Byeok challenging for two reasons.
First, it required profound Cheonnoe Heart Technique cultivation—at least twenty years, ideally thirty—to even attempt. Mishandling it without sufficient inner energy risked qi deviation.
Second, even with ample Cheonnoe Heart Technique, the energy had to accelerate through the meridians at a precise high speed to manifest. Cheon Noe Byeok's power scaled directly with that flow speed.
These issues didn't apply to Kim Jun, who had absorbed Yeon Chung-jae's inner energy and been reborn with a body of infinite potential.
Of course, mastery of any skill demanded relentless practice. For real combat, it also required bold resolve and precise timing.
"Now, you try."
"Yes, Master."
Kim Jun assumed the stance.
Yeon Un-jae stepped back, hands clasped behind him, eager to gauge the boy's capacity.
Even Yeon Chung-jae, hailed as one of the greatest geniuses of his era, had struggled to conquer Cheon Noe Byeok.
Kim Jun lowered his center and extended his arms forward.
Krzz...zt.
Sparks erupted from his right hand, but his left trembled uselessly. The inner energy had biased rightward, throwing off the balance.
A touch disappointing.
Yeon Chung-jae had formed the shape perfectly from explanation alone. It had merely taken three days to refine for combat.
Kim Jun tried again.
This time, sparks flew only from his left.
Deep in thought, Kim Jun attempted Cheon Noe Byeok once more. Sparks emerged from both hands, but faintly. Focusing on balance had slowed the flow.
His face was clearer, more focused than ever, as he iteratively refined and deployed Cheon Noe Byeok.
He's completely immersed.
Yeon Un-jae held back from interrupting with more guidance. He didn't want to shatter that concentration.
Following a map to the destination was quickest, but discovering the path oneself yielded greater rewards.
The family head quietly retreated to stand near the wall.
Kim Jun's eyes still burned with fervor after nearly thirty attempts.
Only then did Yeon Un-jae realize Kim Jun's talent differed qualitatively from Yeon Chung-jae's. Where Chung-jae found shortcuts intuitively, this boy progressed steadfastly, persistently carving his own path.
On the 58th try, sparks from both hands linked in front, forming a wall-like shape.
Yeon Un-jae expected cheers.
But something dissatisfied him; he immediately launched the 59th.
Yeon Un-jae understood why—no joy because he didn't grasp why it had worked. He rejected fluke successes.
Reaching 100 attempts, Kim Jun maintained his initial focus.
Yeon Un-jae summoned the Yeon Ga armor with a gesture.
Beetle-like scales flew to him, stacking on the floor into a chair shape.
Seated with arms crossed, he observed his disciple's practice.
By over 200, Kim Jun was drenched in sweat. Droplets puddled on the bluish floor.
Gasping roughly, he pressed on with Cheon Noe Byeok training.
Three hours straight, no breaks.
Yeon Un-jae watched without intervening. The boy had intuitively grasped key precautions through repetition—in under three hours.
Footsteps echoed.
Yeon Un-jae glanced at the North Bright Hall entrance.
It was Young Master Yeon Jong-ho, bruises swelling around his eyes—likely from training under Choi Min-su's team.
"Grandfat..."
"Shh!"
Yeon Un-jae pressed a finger to his lips.
Yeon Jong-ho's eyes widened as he approached. He recognized the figure sweating through martial arts training in the hall's center—forbidden even to him, the young master Yeon Un-jae cherished.
And the technique: Cheon Noe Byeok.
Last year—or was it the year before?—Yeon Jong-ho had begged to learn it. Unable to meet either prerequisite, Yeon Un-jae had refused. Teaching it would push the boy toward death.
His grandson stared, expectant.
Yeon Un-jae knew the plea but ignored it deliberately.
He wanted the young master stimulated by Kim Jun, to learn proper training diligence. But the twisted expression and venomous glare suggested his heart veered wrong.
Knowing his grandson's nature well, he wouldn't resent his grandfather. Instead, Yeon Jong-ho glared murderously at the intruder—Kim Jun.
Hatred was a fine stimulus, a useful drive.
Yeon Jong-ho stood glaring, poised to charge.
Definitely different from usual. This could be the crack in his shell.
Yeon Un-jae let the young master storm out. He hoped the boy would burn that hatred into growth.
After surpassing 300, even Yeon Un-jae lost precise count.
By over 400, sparks from both hands began forming true Cheon Noe Byeok shapes.
Not luck this time.
Successes increased—one in three produced a glowing wall.
At 500, it was one in two. Speed, size, duration still needed work, but the rate hit 50%.
Utterly opposite Yeon Chung-jae's style.
Chung-jae pondered deeply, solved analytically, then embodied breakthroughs step-by-step. Stalled, he'd sit motionless for hours or pace, unraveling knots.
Chung-jae mastered Cheon Noe Byeok with his mind; Kim Jun bulldozed obstacles with brute persistence.
His legs now trembled.
He could collapse any moment. Over 500 relentless attempts without rest... not fainting showed miraculous willpower.
Then, tension drained from Kim Jun's body.
Yeon Un-jae shot up from his armor-chair.
Kim Jun slowly extended his hands forward.
The motion was languid, weak—yet to Yeon Un-jae, a perfect Cheon Noe Byeok. Superfluous steps stripped away, pure Cheonnoe Heart Technique surging forth.
His hunch proved right.
Krzzzzzzt!
A massive Cheon Noe Byeok scorched the Blue Rackum floor and starlit ceiling alike.
The overwhelming power hurled Kim Jun backward.
Yeon Un-jae urgently gestured; beetle-scales swarmed, cushioning him before wall impact.
Kim Jun slammed hard enough to dent stone, but the Yeon Ga armor absorbed most.
Standing, he looked to the family head.
"Master, I did it!"
Yeon Un-jae nearly praised him. A true master doesn't coddle growth.
"Still pathetic. One lucky success—how would you use it in battle?"
Lowering his head, Kim Jun then noticed the Yeon Ga armor on him.
His eyes widened at Yeon Un-jae.
"How's the Yeon Ga armor?"
"Feels like I'm not wearing armor at all."
"Heh, the best armor feels that way. If it hinders movement, it's not properly made."
Seeing Kim Jun gaze rapturously at the Yeon Ga armor, Yeon Un-jae resolved to use him to shake not just Yeon Jong-ho, but the entire Yeon family.
Yeonhyangcho sales kept their finances ample.
Falling sales wouldn't topple them.
Thus, ambition for strength stagnated, core-hunting zeal waned, and desperate drive vanished.
Gifting the Yeon Ga armor—crafted by the family head himself, denied to all—to an outsider would jolt everyone awake.
"Seems that one likes you."
Not as picky as the Cheonroegeom, but the Yeon Ga armor chose its wearer.
Sparks flowing freely over it suggested approval of the new master.
Naturally—an old man dust-gathering in a back room, or a young Raider risking life in dungeons? The armor preferred the latter.
"Agree to one condition, and it's yours."
Kim Jun's face darkened.
Yeon Un-jae smiled.
"Not joining the Yeon family. Many here crave that armor. Suppressing their discontent blindly isn't wise. So, exactly one year from now, a Yeon family member will challenge you to reclaim it. Defeat them and keep it. The next year, another will come. Understand?"
Kim Jun pondered, then nodded slowly. His eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
No dread of challengers—like a child awaiting birthday gifts, anticipation lit his face.
Yeon Un-jae chuckled, pleased.
Stepping close, he raised a finger.
One scale detached, flying to him.
Grasping the beetle-like scale, he eyed Kim Jun.
"Drip a few drops of blood on its back."
Kim Jun bit his thumb without hesitation. Crimson drops fell onto the scale, instantly absorbed.
Yeon Un-jae cupped it in both hands, activating a magic circle.
This declared a new master for the Yeon Ga armor. The scale he called 'Alpha' rubbed its wings, chittering; the rest echoed in chorus.
Alpha returned to its place.
As it rejoined, the Yeon Ga armor's color shifted—from pitch black under Yeon Un-jae to deep blue for its new owner.
"Now, move the armor back. Will matters more than gestures."
Kim Jun pointed at the wall. Scales scraped noisily, but none flew.
Yeon Un-jae waited patiently.
After ten tries, two or three lifted. By the fifteenth, dozens; soon the entire armor swarmed as beetles to reclothe the mannequin.
Still dazed, Kim Jun stared blankly.
Yeon Un-jae felt a mix of satisfaction and reluctance.