Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Wall
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The world was silent.
The killing intent of the man raising his sword before me faded away.
The fear trembling from Kang I-seon over there had vanished too.
Target Detection was illuminating only me.
So I felt tranquility.
"This is as far as you go."
The man flashed a bright smile.
He had more power than I did.
But from the start until now, I hadn't doubted my victory for a single moment.
I gripped the club tightly in my fist and raised it overhead.
Shiiiik—thunk!
The man's sword came slashing down vertically, embedding itself into my club.
I'd blocked it.
Mana flowed through my club as well.
I hadn't blocked it completely, but it didn't slice through like before.
"Huh?"
The man looked flustered.
I immediately lifted my foot.
Thwack!
I kicked him straight in the balls.
Someone had kindly pointed out the spot for me.
Weak Point Grasp (Lv. 40 General Skill)
Grasps the weak points of all enemies.
This was a level 40 general skill unlocked after the level restriction lifted.
I'd known that spot was his weak point even without the skill.
"Gaaahhh!"
The man's face twisted in agony.
I reached out, grabbed his hair as he doubled over at the waist.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
I dropped the club and swung my fists.
I consciously channeled more mana into my punches.
My fists quickly pulverized his face.
Thump.
The fight was over.
I stood up, watching his legs give out.
I expanded my narrowed Target Detection again and picked up the sword the man had dropped.
It was heavier than expected.
"Get up."
I lightly pressed the sword tip against his heart.
"I said get up."
I woke the unconscious man.
"Ugh... ah... heh. Heh heh. Puhahaha!"
He opened his eyes, looked at me, and burst into laughter.
"Ha, this is ridiculous. Out of nowhere?"
I silently looked down at him.
Target Detection confirmed he'd lost all will to fight.
"Talk about bad luck. You just had to fight me right when you broke through the wall?"
The man spat blood-mixed phlegm and struggled to continue.
I nodded.
He was right.
'Everything was already prepared.'
Now that I'd surpassed level 40, I understood.
Why I'd been restricted by the level limit.
It was a matter of balance.
'Did I level up too fast?'
Leveling up boosts physical abilities and increases mana.
Fundamental Skill awakeners adapt to those changes.
The problem was my leveling speed was too quick.
The System had indirectly set a limit at 29, but I'd blown past even that long ago.
Plus, level 40 was a kind of singularity.
Mana exploded in quantity.
'My mana control was lacking, so that's why the restriction hit.'
I'd felt it when I punched the guy just now.
If I'd pushed more mana in, my fist would've shattered.
Up to now, unconsciously using mana had been fine, but from 40 onward, I needed to consciously control it.
'In the end, the level restriction was a safety device for humans.'
Especially for someone like me, whose physical stats rose even more with levels—if I overused the increased mana, something bad could happen.
Not a perfect analogy, but like cramping from gripping too hard.
So the balance was off.
Like a child holding a dangerous weapon.
Leveling up doesn't automatically improve mana control.
"You're... not a Luseter knight, are you?"
"Does that matter?"
The man wore a hollow expression.
"No, not affiliation. You seem more used to bare-handed fighting."
"And?"
"You channeled mana into a weapon. Do you have any idea how absurd that is?"
To reach level 40, you need to consciously handle mana.
In a way that suits you.
Awakeners practice this through skills.
I'd done it.
So naturally, I could channel mana into a weapon.
"Isn't that obvious? It's my mana."
"No, that's not how it works! If you're using fists, channel it into your fists. Why a weapon? That's a whole different issue."
Even with death staring him down, the man fixated on how I'd used mana.
"That's why knight aspirants sleep hugging their swords."
"Why?"
"To get used to it. The sword has to feel like an extension of your body to channel mana into it. But you..."
The man paused briefly before continuing.
Stalling for death or genuinely baffled?
'No, he really can't comprehend it?'
Listening to his explanation, I realized the difference in our perspectives.
This world had no Fundamental Skills.
They grew strong purely through training.
They accepted mana to surpass human limits, with clear boundaries defining those realms.
Earth's awakeners strengthened differently.
"You jumped the wall in front of you and the ones down other paths too?"
It must be frustrating from his view, but I couldn't provide answers.
Instead, I achieved my purpose in waking him.
"Do you have comrades? Anyone coming here?"
"What? Ah... heh heh heh. You're really just a passerby, huh?"
I sensed regret from him.
"None left. Just me."
"I see."
I tightened my grip on the sword.
I pierced his heart, which looked ready to give out even without my help.
"I won. You lost. That's it."
I told him, still confused to the end.
This was the key point, yet he'd been dwelling on irrelevancies.
The last emotion I sensed from him was irritation.
We cleared the gate normally and came out.
The emergency mission was canceled, and Kang I-seon and I found Energy Stones in another passage.
We'd gained a lot from this gate.
We salvaged clothes made from beast hides and gear infused with mana, plus some metal equipment.
We even got weapons.
The longsword from the guy in the cave and a few daggers from corpses were gate-passable gear.
I also grabbed a magic wand-like mana rod.
But the proudest gain was...
"Congratulations!"
"Yi Hyun, you're amazing."
My growth.
When I shared the news of breaking level 40, Jang Ho-seop and Soo-jung cheered like it was their own achievement.
"Uncle, your injury..."
"It's not deep."
Seoul was nighttime when we exited the gate.
It was bedtime for everyone, but they all gathered upon hearing about my injuries.
Now I was getting treated in my living room.
I had cuts from head to toe in places.
Fortunately, all wounds were shallow with clean cuts.
"Bro, it must've been a real tough opponent. For you to get hurt this bad..."
"Yeah. Stronger than me. Around level 50 in our terms."
"Whoa... You're lucky to be back alive."
The group was stunned.
Even so, Kang I-seon's hands stitching my wounds didn't shake.
Kang I-seon's skill handled bones.
She could mend breaks without cutting flesh.
So right now, she was treating me manually, without her skill.
'Handy having a doctor.'
I stood there in just my underwear.
After local anesthesia, she was treating just enough to keep wounds from reopening.
I'd also received purification from Seol-hee.
Tomorrow, I'd head to Yongsan Station for healer awakeners there.
"The gate's difficulty was low overall, but an emergency mission popped up."
I briefly recounted what happened inside the gate to the group.
Then explained how I'd broken the level restriction.
To do that, I first shared what the dead man told me.
"Luseter divides mana users into clear realms."
"Oh? Go on."
"There are distinctions by mana usage too, but I'll limit it to physical fighters."
Jang Ho-seop listened intently, intrigued.
The others focused without a hint of sleepiness.
"We know mana appeared on Earth intellectually."
"Yes."
"But knowing it in your head versus experiencing it firsthand are different."
Luseter folk knew mana existed in the world too.
Not everyone could accept it, though.
"Those who instinctively sense, accept, and use mana are called Aura Users."
"Oh, so we're all Aura Users then?"
"Yeah. Aura Users have stages too, but broadly speaking."
Still, we differed from them.
Luseter people sensed and accepted mana through training and education.
We grew via skill awakenings and experience gains.
"Are we cheating somehow?"
"Cheating... you could see it that way."
I just saw it as a difference in methods.
"Anyway, we skipped the stage of sensing mana."
"Ah... yeah."
"After Aura User comes Expert, and to advance realms, you need conscious mana control."
Jang Ho-seop caught on quick.
"So to hit 40, we need to sense mana first?"
"Yeah. We're just using skills blindly. We accept mana but don't truly understand it."
Our skills and their realms were different concepts.
Mana wasn't all the same either.
"Skills are just skills. Think of them as granted powers."
"Got it."
"Just realize you're all using mana."
We were all ready for the next realm.
Like I had—just comprehend it.
Then we'd be prepared to cross the wall.
"So bro skipped two stages at once? Without knowing anything?"
"Not totally clueless. I was using skills, after all."
Jang Ho-seop shook his head.
The others looked unsure about my phrasing.
"Look. Skills are skills. Us using mana is like this."
I curled my middle finger like for a knuckle flick.
Channeled more mana into my hand.
Then smacked the armrest of Jang Ho-seop's chair.
Crack!
The wooden armrest shattered effortlessly.
"Whoa! S-scared me. Crazy."
Jang Ho-seop jumped.
"Reflect on your own skills. It'll help."
They stared at the armrest in disbelief.
Respect and awe toward me swelled further.
I'd become something truly beyond ordinary.
"Chicken or egg... but feels like you and I got the short end."
"Why?"
"Safe zones don't let skills level up. So I figured skills had default values."
He had a point.
For instance, Yu-na or Bom-i noona might break 40 easier.
Yu-na researched and used her skills more than anyone.
Bom-i noona used hers tons with Mana Stones.
That's the foundation for sensing and handling mana.
My skills ran 24/7, but they actively used theirs—that differed.
"You get it now, at least."
"Yeah. True. Nice having a trailblazer."
Or Yu-na and Bom-i might have different conditions.
Unlocking varied per person.
"Then why'd the System mention gates?"
"Guess... experience. Gates beyond have denser mana too."
"You can sense that?"
"Yeah. Felt it. Luseter's mana density is definitely higher than Earth's."
The cave guy had said I was "up against the wall" just by looking.
Luck out, meet a strong one for advice.
"Or fight and feel something, like me."
"Uh... bro, that's probably just you? No confidence here."
Jang Ho-seop shuddered.
Then Kang I-seon, silently treating till now, finally spoke.
"Right. Normally, you'd flinch at a blade to the face... but Yi Hyun didn't."
She started bandaging me.
Emergency treatment nearly done.
"Even with experience... pondering mana mid-fight? That's not normal, in my view."
Jang Ho-seop glanced at me after her words.
So did the others.
"I think Yi Hyun's got issues. Right?"
"No issues. Just a bit different."
"Could see it that way."
Kang I-seon nodded at my reply.
Muttering that in this situation, someone like me might have a survival edge.
She'd guessed something without me telling.
"Uh... I-seon."
"Yes."
"Maybe soften your words a tad?"
Jang Ho-seop chimed in toward her.
"Huh? How?"
"Bro might get upset."
"What? Yi Hyun's upset? Did I mess up again..."
I said I was fine and sent Kang I-seon off.
I really was.
Her words were blunt, but her feelings toward me brimmed with goodwill.
"Everyone tired?"
"You had it worst, bro."
"Other talk tomorrow... last, check the Spirit Stone."
Now just my core party remained in the living room.
"Oh yeah! Spirit Stone can level up too?"
"Yeah, noona. Bring all the Energy Stones."
Time to raise the Spirit Stone to level 4.
This time, using Energy Stones as materials.
Energy Stones could substitute for sacrifices or Mana Stones in level-ups.
So securing lots from gates reduced Spirit Stone consumption.
I went to the hall and fed Energy Stones to my Spirit Stone.
The next day.
I woke early dawn and arrived at Yongsan Station.
Now they escorted me straight to Kang Hye-seon without checks.
Spirit Stone still leveling.
Took way longer this time.
"Yi Hyun, heard you got hurt. Let me see."
We'd set up a hotline with Kang Hye-seon's faction and Sami.
Jang Ho-seop picked an old post for secret comment contacts.
I'd messaged late last night; she'd already checked.
"Not serious."
My ear showed it most.
Kang Hye-seon grabbed my hand worriedly and led me.
We headed to the infirmary.
Yongsan had more healers, plus doctors.
They'd reattached Jang Ho-seop's arm together.
My scratches were nothing.
Treatment done quick in the infirmary.
"How'd it go?"
Kang Hye-seon waited outside, asking the lead doc.
"All good. Scarring might be an issue..."
"Oh..."
Kang Hye-seon looked upset.
Heading to her office, I asked what I'd missed earlier.
"Hye-seon."
"No breakfast? With me... yes?"
"Why are those people locked up like that?"
Station corner.
A shop with a convenience store sign.
Iron bars installed somehow inside.
About 20 handcuffed people sat within.
"Ah... that's the jail."
Her answer left me dumbfounded.
If that's jail, those inside were prisoners.
A thought flashed through my mind simultaneously.