Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Shadows of Youth and First Awakening
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Childhood.
Seokwoo was small in stature compared to the other kids.
Short height.
A delicate appearance.
It was exactly the kind of look that invited underestimation.
And perhaps because of that.
The kids around him tended to look down on Seokwoo a bit.
Of course, Seokwoo didn't pay it any mind.
He just wanted to quietly get through his school days.
He'd consistently ignored them without reacting.
But one day.
One of the worse bullies kept picking on him relentlessly.
To be precise, it was a form of harassment.
The vicious act of tormenting kids who looked weaker than himself.
At first, Seokwoo tried to endure it.
But once they started underestimating him, it only got worse.
So he knocked the guy down.
He couldn't just keep taking it.
He paid back exactly what he'd received.
But that wasn't the right choice.
Multiple witnesses.
The incident spread like wildfire in no time.
As a result, word even reached the other delinquents.
He'd properly pissed them off.
That was probably when it started.
The unwanted fights.
After that, the guys who saw Seokwoo as arrogant tried to force him into submission with brute strength.
Sometimes alone. Other times in groups.
They relentlessly targeted him.
Did he end up in unwanted fights every day like that?
Eventually, overwhelmed, Seokwoo started losing more often than he won.
So he began working out.
And with unyielding willpower, he endured their assaults over and over.
He fell.
Fell again.
Even after falling repeatedly, he got back up without giving up.
He grew accustomed to the fights.
His body built muscle.
Through that process, Seokwoo gradually grew stronger.
In those rough days, his endless potential and talent for fighting emerged.
In the end, Seokwoo successfully got his revenge on them.
Intimidated, they never touched him again.
Instead, they avoided him like a monster.
Even after that, punks from other areas who heard the rumors came looking frequently, but he beat down each one and taught them the meaning of fear.
That stormy period he never wanted continued.
One day, Seokwoo ran into a man with a fierce face.
Cha Dosik.
A peer who'd gone through a similar ordeal.
Dosik, unlike Seokwoo, was often misunderstood because of his fierce looks and large build, so the other kids avoided him and dragged him into unwanted fights frequently.
A strange sense of kinship.
Did they both feel it?
Before long, the two started hanging out together.
At first, they bickered constantly, but as time passed, it turned into a close friendship.
Best friends who'd known each other for over ten years.
That was Dosik.
'That guy's still the same.'
Nothing had changed since back then.
Lost in memories of the past, Luke chuckled softly and turned his head.
Now back in Agas after a quick meal with Dosik in the real world.
'We should meet up like this sometimes and grab a bite. Or drinks.'
'Sounds good. Oh, by the way, if you had to pick one body part, what would you choose?'
'Uh... For a guy, it'd have to be the fist, right?'
'That's so you.'
'I'll take that as a compliment.'
Maybe because he'd confided his worries to Dosik.
His tangled thoughts felt somewhat sorted out.
All that was left was to choose.
No more dragging it out.
'Yeah, for a thief, it's all about stealing, so hands are the most related.'
He'd been tempted by feet at first, but considering the dexterity he'd gain later, hands were the way to go.
A thief's handiwork had to be top-notch, after all.
So Luke selected the hands.
Black energy gathered in both hands.
The Night King's power.
He'd drawn out a latent ability through that power.
And so.
It wasn't just any new skill—he'd acquired a special new skill.
'Nice, let's check it out... Hm?'
Luke narrowed his eyes.
Something was off.
The first awakening triggered by gathering Night King's energy.
He'd already selected hands and completed it, but the option lingered.
'Why is this...'
As he puzzled over it.
He belatedly noticed the parentheses in the message.
Only then did Luke realize.
'Holy shit, I can do it one more time?!'
The first awakening wasn't over yet.
Horn Mountain.
One of the mountains in the southern region.
The main inhabitants were wild animals living in the depths.
Average level around 70.
Some users saw it as a hunting ground and ventured in occasionally, but most retreated quickly.
Why? The terrain was extremely rugged.
Making proper hunting difficult.
In short, an unpopular hunting spot.
Or rather, barely qualifying as one.
Yet, one user appeared deep in that Horn Mountain.
'Hmm.'
He pulled back his hood.
Revealing semi-curly hair.
It was Luke.
'The summit, huh.'
Yes.
The clue from the hidden scenario he'd stolen from the chief's house.
The map pointed to the peak of Horn Mountain.
That's why he'd passed through Demian and Kaum territories to reach this deserted hunting ground.
'Gonna take half a day to climb there.'
Maybe longer.
Luke stowed the map and glanced back.
Eek!
The furry creature that had been scampering along froze.
It was the raccoon dog spirit beast.
"You gonna keep following me?"
Luke asked.
The spirit beast averted its gaze, turning its head away innocently.
It seemed intent on tagging along.
"Whatever, do what you want."
So Luke let it be.
'It's following me because it wants to; no need to chase it off. Plus...'
During the war, it had picked up items from the ground for him.
He still couldn't forget the sight of items pouring from its fur.
'Might pick up more items for me.'
Luke hid a sly smile and turned forward.
He began walking into the dense foliage at the mountain's base.
One step. Another.
Keep moving ahead.
But for some reason.
Not even faint vibrations or footsteps leaked out.
Even with leaves scattered on the ground.
'Oh, better than expected?'
Satisfactory.
No, beyond that.
[Shadow Step]
Type: Passive
Description: Move like a shadow, erasing your presence and footsteps. Balance also improves.
The first awakening wasn't just once.
After hands, he'd chosen feet, gaining this foot-related skill with effects exceeding expectations.
'The improved balance is really noticeable too.'
As proof, he climbed steep paths like flat ground.
'Awesome, as expected of an awakening skill!'
This would help immensely with infiltration or sneaky thefts like before.
Luke judged as he opened his skill window.
Alongside Shadow Step, another new skill appeared.
[Silence Strike]
Type: Active
Description: Dash into the target's embrace and stab. Silences any skill they were preparing.
The first special skill from choosing hands.
'I needed a combat skill anyway.'
Not theft-related, but not bad at all.
No, extremely satisfying.
Why?
Silence Strike silenced the opponent's skills.
'Mages hate this effect with a passion.'
Imagine.
A hard-cast spell getting canceled midway.
How frustrating for a mage.
'Other classes too, probably.'
Less so than mages, but still great in combat.
'Test it on some suitable target later.'
Unpopular spot, but plenty of monsters.
The rugged terrain and aggressive mobs made Horn Mountain notoriously bad.
'Around mid-mountain, skill-users should start appearing.'
He closed the skill window and began climbing in earnest.
Thud! Thwack!
The synergy of Parkour and Shadow Step shone through.
'Parkour markers everywhere I go.'
He just followed them.
Tat-tat-tat!
With Shadow Step boosting balance.
He cleared tough obstacles without even using his hands.
Plus the Wind Bracelet.
'With higher level, I've secured some health and agility stats.'
And level 50-boosted physical stats.
Luke's movements were now more stable and swift.
'That raccoon dog... hope it doesn't fall behind...'
A quick glance back.
The raccoon dog spirit beast was still diligently following.
'Keeps up well.'
Pretty nimble.
'That's how it gathered items so well on the battlefield.'
Luke shook off the worry and focused on climbing.
Rustle.
After climbing some way.
Something burst from nearby bushes.
"Groooar!"
A bear.
A Giant Wild Bear unique to Horn Mountain.
Level 60, no less.
'Came out sooner than expected.'
He'd anticipated it.
But no letting guard down.
Worst Criminal in History didn't apply to mobs, and these were fiercer than most.
Whoosh!
The heavy paw cleaved the air.
A direct hit meant serious injury at least.
'These bear bastards rarely use skills...'
Just finish it quick.
Evasion Instinct triggered at the perfect moment.
Simultaneously, Luke's Braincleaver sliced the bear's flank.
That instant.
'Huh?'
A black silhouette chased after his path.
A humanoid black figure—when had it appeared?—mimicked him perfectly, swinging a black blade at the bear.
Squish!
Squish!
Double gashes.
White powder poured out instead of blood.
Luke stood frozen in place, staring.