Talent
"...You mean talent in the dictionary sense of 'the aptitude and ability needed to do something,' right?"
I looked down at the orb glowing fiercely above my right hand and asked.
It was about half the size of my palm. The immense radiance emanating from its surface made it resemble not so much a ball as a miniature sun.
Skill Ball.
There are three ways players acquire skills.
One is receiving a starting skill upon awakening. Another is gaining one through accidental enlightenment or actions that satisfy the system's conditions. And the last is this Skill Ball, where a constellation directly sponsors an ability.
Some people use this tiny orb to shoot lightning from their hands, summon meteors, or dash like the wind.
Others get utterly garbage skills not worth having and beat the ground in regret.
Yeah. That was me.
But.
'Sponsoring talent via a Skill Ball? I've never heard of that.'
Not just for me, but across all players worldwide.
'A picture's worth a thousand words, so just eat it already!' Sung Hyun-sook urges.
Whoa. What's this sense of déjà vu?
It felt just like when I got that vitamin packed with love.
'But Mom wouldn't give me anything bad!'
My mom, embodying faith, trust, and light itself!
I had a feeling—like with that vitamin—that this blazing Skill Ball would make my second life shine brilliantly!
Still, I should check the info first, right?
Name: Blood Can't Lie
Type: Passive
Grade: Ex
Description: The essence containing the talent of a certain constellation once hailed as the War God by all. Having inherited her valiant spirit, you will walk only the path of victory against all threats and battles ahead.
Effect: Greatly increases proficiency with all weapons and supernatural abilities, regardless of type. The increase scales with affinity to the sponsored talent.
"What..."
I was midway through reading the skill info, thinking this cheat key was way too OP, when—
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a pillar of light erupted in the field.
1st Wave Begins
Eliminate all monsters in the field within the time limit.
Time Limit: 60 Seconds
[Keruk—!]
[Kaaak—!]
A bunch of goblins burst through the light pillar, snarling.
Goblins? Even for the first wave, that's too easy—
[Kroooar!]
...Nope. My thoughts vanished the moment a hulking Goblin Champion appeared, flexing its massive frame.
Goblin Champion? In the first wave? This is too brutal.
With the champion's arrival, the light pillar faded.
The pack of short goblins howled ferociously and charged me.
"A picture's worth a thousand words, huh..."
Gulp!
I swiftly swallowed the Skill Ball in my hand.
A scorching heat flowed down my throat into my stomach.
And that was it. Just like with Mom's love-packed vitamin, no visible changes.
You won't know if it's real talent until you test it yourself, Sung Hyun-sook grins.
"Fair enough!"
The goblins closed in.
Just before I swung my gripped sword hilt—
A single line flashed in my mind.
—The increase scales with affinity to the sponsored talent.
My thoughts halted.
The shadows of the leaping goblin horde darkened my form.
Slash—!
A streak of sword light banished the darkness.
By the time I registered it, my longsword was already tracing a powerful arc through the air.
Splatter—!
The goblins were bisected mid-air before hitting the ground. Their augmented reality polygons fragmented into particles and vanished.
The message came a beat late.
Sponsored talent shows 100% affinity!
Perfectly inherited the talent of the constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook'!
I froze in bewilderment.
This wasn't my first time wielding a sword. Before regression, my constellation was the Central Plains Sword God, a swordsmanship master as his title implied. Naturally, I used bladed weapons as my main arms under his sponsorship.
But?
'This is on another level.'
Sword paths I'd never glimpsed in my first run, optimal stances—they now appeared vividly before my eyes.
As if the longsword in my hand had become part of my body!
"Ah..."
So this is talent.
Of course it's natural—who's his mom? Sung Hyun-sook snorts proudly.
[Krr...?]
The champion's eyes widened at the goblins wiped out in an instant.
"Surprised too, huh?"
[Kr, krr...]
"Me too."
Let's surprise it more.
***
"Insane?"
Thud—!
Lee Tae-ho's curse overlapped with the Giant Troll crashing into the ground.
Monitoring CF via the screen, Lee Tae-ho was speechless.
Not just him—the researchers operating the capsule room machines and Yoo Soo-yeon standing tall beside him all covered their mouths in shock.
4th Wave Complete.
5th Wave Begins.
The fifth wave started—just 30 minutes after Jae-min entered CF.
And in those 30 minutes, Jae-min took zero damage! No wounds, not even a drop of sweat.
Avatars perfectly simulated human physiology, yet...
Even the taciturn Yoo Soo-yeon couldn't help but speak.
"Chairman. This is..."
"......"
He'd thought the first wave—slicing six goblins in one strike and felling the champion—was a fluke. Orcs were soloable, so goblins were nothing.
But as the program progressed, Jae-min's momentum soared like a fish in water.
Growing in real time, somehow.
"...That kid, why's he fighting so well?"
Even casually toppling a Giant Troll was too much! A C-rank needed five to take one down.
"The world's judgment was spot on. Hwang Jae-min is at least B-rank."
"B-rank? That's A-rank minimum."
"Maybe even S-rank potential later?"
"......"
Hard to deny. Lee Tae-ho wiped sweat from his thinning hair and fell silent.
Then a name popped into his head.
'Hyun-sook...?'
Coincidence? The sword forms, sharp eyes pinpointing vitals, periodic heavy exhales—all traits he'd seen in her.
'She couldn't have taught him...'
She sacrificed herself against the Apocalypse when Jae-min was ten. No way she'd teach a baby-faced kid to fight, even with her wild personality.
So that meant...
"Born with it, damn it."
"You knew already?"
"Not to this extent."
Clearing five waves was now a given. Just watch how far he goes.
"Eek..."
"Think positive, Chairman. Stress will make your hair fall out more—"
"Don't mention hair in front of me! You enjoying this?!"
Of course, Lee Tae-ho—who opposed Jae-min becoming a player— just wanted to cry.
Soon.
5th Wave Complete.
The promised five waves ended. A long, emotional sigh escaped Lee Tae-ho.
"Blood can't lie, huh..."
How could he be so identical? Talent, personality, path ahead.
Only after five waves did a single drop of sweat bead on Jae-min's temple.
His voice broadcast from the field speakers.
Something's lacking.
Lacking? Lee Tae-ho's brow furrowed at the sudden remark.
Fought my ass off, but the reward's just your permission? Ah, feels empty. No satisfaction.
"......"
Beep.
Lee Tae-ho activated the voice channel and leaned into the mic.
"Ha, spit it out."
Up to the 10th wave—five more.
"What?"
Jae-min looked up at the screen and grinned.
If I hold out, lifetime free gear from you? Fresh S+ grade, of course.
"......"
Absurd. Speechless.
Did this lunatic finally snap from overinflated ego?
But Jae-min's follow-up perked his ears.
But since the condition's extreme, if I fail, the five-wave clear's void too.
"Hm..."
Fair now, right?
Confidence piercing the heavens into space.
But maybe a golden opportunity. If he raised the bar first, no need to refuse.
Of course, 'Somehow feels like Jae-min will pull it off casually.'
A monster who sweated one drop over five waves. Awakening-day prowess like that? Destiny as a player.
But Lee Tae-ho didn't believe in gods. Fate? Screw that.
'How many followed 'fate' twice and ended up dead!'
Skill didn't guarantee survival. Top players got thrown into hellish battles—that was a player's curse.
Swarming with tank-shattering monsters. Like Apocalypse's Gerymander.
'No way!'
He couldn't let Hwang Jae-min tread his parents' path. Knowing their end, watching idly was madness. Especially with the affection he'd raised him with.
Lee Tae-ho turned to the researchers.
"From now on, do exactly as I say. No backtalk."
He cut the mic so Jae-min couldn't hear and issued solemn orders.
"......"
"......"
The researchers gawked like 'You sane?'
Yoo Soo-yeon shared the doubt.
"Releasing balding stress like this, Chairman...?"
"Wanna join him in there?!"
***
"No reply since earlier."
I rubbed my chin.
Too greedy with lifetime free S+ gear?
Nah.
'When you push, push hard.'
Talent's worthless with crap gear. It just rots. Masters don't pick tools? Not for players. Gear carry is real skill here.
Got it.
"Oh?"
Positive reply so quick? Stingy uncle acting up?
But tweak the condition.
"...Pardon?"
No need for 10th wave. Beat monsters appearing now, and I'll grant anything you want.
"Monsters?"
The moment I asked—
Vrrr—!
About 10 meters away, a massive object materialized on the field.
And...
"......"
That dirty cheapskate—if you hate it, just say no instead of pulling sneaky crap! Sung Hyun-sook fumes.
[Krr—! Kyang, kyang—!]
Mom sent something, but I couldn't see it. No time.
"......"
[Krr—!]
A single body with three heads glared down, howling.
Down at me.
I craned my neck to the limit to meet its eyes.
"What the hell."
A B-rank boss monster: Cerberus.
Haha. No way he's telling me to take that down now, right?
Must be a glitch. Fine! Everyone errs!
"Hey, boss? Menu mix-up here—"
I wish you victory.
Click.
The ceiling speaker cut out.
So did my sanity.
For real? Beat that?
Seriously?
[Krr—! Kyang, kyang—!]
"......"
What nonsense. Even with Mom's talent, my frail body can't beat a B-rank.
Vitamin power has limits!
[Krrrng—!]
"Damn it!"
Cerberus drooled like starved days, swinging a massive paw.
Parrying with my sword? Arms snap like twigs.
I kicked off backward.
Kwajik—!
Vicious claw marks gouged the spot.
Chills raced my spine.
'Crazy old man!'
Just say no instead of backstabbing like this?! Thought he just lacked hair, not conscience.
[Kroooang—!]
The center head gaped wide. Crimson flames swirled in its glistening throat.
No way?
[Kyang—!]
Boom—!
A huge fireball shot out. Heat singed before it hit—insane power!
Duck! Sung Hyun-sook shouts.
I hunched almost tripping.
Kwaang!
The fireball grazed my head and exploded against the wall.
Infuriated I dodged, it growled menacingly.
[Grr...]
"Gonna charge."
Talent shows paths: where to strike for pain, optimal entries.
But my body was too weak. Stats quadrupled by vitamin love? Still fresh-awakened flesh.
Paths visible, but no arm strength to pierce hide, no legs agile enough to close distance safely.
As I bit my lip—
Finally remembered! Sung Hyun-sook claps.
Mom's message snapped my thoughts.
"Remembered what?"
Remembered hunting a few Cerberus back in the day. Sung Hyun-sook reminisces nostalgically.
"Flashback now, in this do-or-die?!"
So I know the strategy! Sung Hyun-sook shrugs proudly.
"Love you."
Anger melted like bipolar bliss; smile bloomed.
But I hardened my face fast. An oblivious pup charged panting.
[Krrrng—!]
"The strategy! Quick!"
My voice grew desperate at the rabid, leashless hound rampaging.
Damn, my dog-love ends today.
Throw something to divert attention! Sung Hyun-sook gives the strategy.
In crisis, I parsed it.
Throw an object? Ah, fetch for dogs.
"...Not joking now, right?"
Doubtful it'd work on this concrete-chewer.
No time for verification.
[Kyang, kyang—!]
"Screw it!"
Thought of throwing sword—nixed. Success or not, no kill method left.
[Krrrng—!]
Cerberus loomed, jaws wide in roar. Drooling fangs mere moments from striking.
"Fetch!"
I yanked off my left shoulder pauldron and hurled it far.
No big hopes. Eyes squeezed shut.
Couldn't see its path.
"......"
Thud, thud, thud—!
Mid-squeeze, thunderous footsteps.
Wait, for real...?
[Kyang—! Krueong—!]
Peeked. Cerberus chased the pauldron to the corner, ass-end to me.
...My god.
B-rank strategy this lame?
No matter the size, a dog's a dog. Sung Hyun-sook laughs.
What a size-mismatch dud.
"Ah, wait."
Fetch means it brings back, right?
No time to gawk!
"Hey, slow down!"
Sprinted full tilt. Lighter without the pea-sized pauldron.
As Cerberus shoved its head at the fallen pauldron—
Ding—.
Cerberus's core is in the left head's crown! Sung Hyun-sook adds advice.
"Thanks!"
Thud—!
Kicked off toward the left head. Gripped sword tight.
Meanwhile, it fumbled the tiny pauldron.
Core: monster's second heart! Thin skull—my power suffices.
"Strength Boost!"
Skill for insurance.
Body peaked, plummeting with gravity.
Distance to exposed crown shrank rapidly.
Straightened blade tip, summoned lifetime mana, roared.
And.
Puuk—!