The Fourth Specialization (1)
It was two in the morning. I stood on the rooftop. Dinner had been bibim noodles with bacon. Lately, we'd been getting a decent amount of bacon. The expiration dates were getting tight, so we had to chow down quick. No one had touched the canned goods yet—probably some discussion among the group about what to eat first. As long as you store them right, cans last forever. They're our daily bread.
Su-hyeon, Ye-eun, Eun-seo—the four of us scarfed down bibim noodles topped with grilled bacon, showered together with a few hugs, then I came up here to shoot some arrows. I'd just hit max level on Wild Hunter.
I let out a breath. "Status."
Skills
Passive: Soul Tattoo Lv. 3
Passive: Recovery
Passive: Limit Achievement
Active: Hit (Auto-cast)
Active: Acceleration (Auto-cast)
No point holding back. I dumped 1 point into Sense to hit 100, then the last one into Strength. I'd already decided on the next specialization. Last time, I'd tossed my phone and picked one. This time, the other.
... Shadow Warrior.
I tapped the blinking Wild Hunter tab.
▸ Time Regulator (Max)
▸ Survival Expert (Max)
▸ Wild Hunter (Max)
1. Shadow Warrior
2. Space Explorer
3. ??? (Unavailable)
Space Explorer. Honestly curious what that does. ...But nah.
I selected Shadow Warrior.
Shadow Warrior
New skill acquired.
Good. "Status."
Skills
Passive: Soul Tattoo Lv. 3
Passive: Recovery
Passive: Limit Achievement
Active: Residual Image (Auto-cast)
Active: Hit (Auto-cast)
Active: Acceleration (Auto-cast)
The title was blinking. Title upgrade achievement unlocked. No idea how many popped this time. But first things first—check the new skill. I tapped Residual Image.
Active - Residual Image
When using melee weapons, residual images form to always strike the enemy's weak point.
Costs 1 Strength per attack.
Residual images? Weak points... that's the head, right? I tilted my head. What the hell? I've been headshotting without skills this whole time. Why need this?
"...Ah."
A bit disappointing. I glanced at my lifting belt. Two swords hanging there.
"...Tch."
Shing—I drew a sword and swung. Nothing. No circle like Hit. Guess I need a real enemy to test it. Residual image means shadow, right? Always hits weak points, so even if I aim for arm or torso, a shadow thing hits the head too?
...Fuck, pointless. Why would I aim for the body? I've always gone for the head, always will.
"Sigh."
I sheathed the sword and looked up. Dawn sky's clear. No factories running, air's clean. Faint corpse stench carries on the wind, but still a good night for stargazing.
But even under that pretty sky, I felt shitty. Skill sucks ass. Expected more from Shadow Warrior. Damn it.
"Tch."
Roof's empty. Past two AM, makes sense. Folks who wanna play are playing, fuckers who wanna fuck are fucking plenty. Bedtime for everyone. I smacked my lips. "Achievements."
Hm. Three new ones. Tells me... Evil Body kill achievements that give tattoos hit at zero milestones. Next tattoo at 10,000 kills.
10,000... How many so far? Easy—Soul Stones from Human Beasts. Inventory: 3,134.
...Over 3,000 dead. Barely a month since apocalypse, solo. Basically a fucking mass murderer.
Anyway. Check achievements. #10, Title.
Inventory slot +1. (Now 5 slots)
Nice. Inventory at 5. Next. #11, Sense 100.
Limit Achievement enhanced.
"Oh." Sense achievement upgrades a skill. HP boosted physicals—running, jumping, strength, stamina for ten rounds a day. Sense...?
Opened status, tapped skill.
Passive - Limit Achievement
HP Achieved: Enhances physical abilities.
Sense Achieved: Sense efficiency doubled.
...?! Doubled efficiency? I nocked an arrow. Sense at 64. Status open, aimed below. Dark as hell, but I see it. Clear red glow. Blood.
Thwip—arrow pierced a skull. Glow gone. Sense: ...64.
...Again. Nocked, fired. Thwip. Glow gone. Sense: 63.
...Two. Two kills! 1 point per two! Insane! Headshots now 200 times! Doubled ranged kills!
Not just bow. All projectiles. All ranged weapons!
Finally, a grin. Stat achievements rock. HP, now Sense. Worth hitting 100!
Slid bow into quiver on lifting belt, hand on hip. Smirked. "...Haha."
Wanna laugh. Full-on belly laugh! How fucking strong am I getting?
Hip itched under belt. Thick, sturdy, loaded with two swords, quiver, bow case—getting heavy. HP skill ignores weight, but not discomfort. Dropped hand, reopened achievements.
Last one. #12, Fourth Specialization.
...Huh? Gloves? Looked at hands. Wearing Preservation Gloves. ...Another pair? Inventory confirmed it. Shadow Gloves.
What the fuck, more gloves? Wear two? Sighed low, raised hand. Gotta try it. Figure out how later. This goddamn status window—uncomfortable as shit, explains jack.
Tapped inventory icon on glove. Shadow Gloves vanished. Purple energy flashed on Preservation Gloves. Not light—like swept by fierce wind, ethereal purple haze flickered away. Gloves turned from brown to deep purple.
Preservation Gloves → Shadow Gloves
"...Huh?" Shadow Gloves? Preservation + Shadow fused into Shadow Gloves?
Stared at hands. ...What? Nothing changed. Just color.
Drew sword. Shing—. Same.
...The fuck? "Give me a fucking explanation, you bitch. Pissing me off."
Couldn't hold back the curses. Forehead in hand, deep sigh. "Fuck."
Sighed hard, gripped sword reverse, lit cigarette. "...Haa..."
Status window's bullshit—no explanations ever, but upgrading items without details? Crossed the line. What the hell are Shadow Gloves?
Hand on hip. Exhaled smoke. "Fuck it."
Hip itched. Not using sword now anyway. One hand unbuckled lifting belt, dropped it roughly. Squatted. "Phew..." Long smoke exhale, set sword on belt.
Moment I released grip—purple energy surged from Shadow Gloves. Sword floated midair.
Hand gone, but hovering. I slowly turned.
My shadow stood there, gripping the sword.