Not Body Strengthening?
Just as expected, even when Jae-wook used his Warrior's Cry skill, no notification rang out.
It seemed like skills used once through the roulette, like that powerful strike earlier, couldn't be reacquired that way. Fine, then. Time to try something else.
I blocked the swarming zombies while watching Jae-wook, backed into a remote corner, smash them like a madman.
Two hours passed.
Surrounded by an enormous horde of zombies, we swung our arms and legs without rest. In that time, Jae-wook activated Warrior's Cry three more times. It was so desperate that even against low-rank monsters, their sheer numbers must have terrified him.
Good.
While half-assedly fending off the charging zombies, I focused on the mana flow the moment Jae-wook used Warrior's Cry.
What I'd used before was the higher-rank Berserker's Roar. Just like with the acceleration skill earlier, screaming my lungs out trying to replicate a high-rank one would leave me exhausted before anything else.
It's the essence that matters. The essence.
Above all, I needed to focus on the foundational structure. Warrior's Cry, a C-rank skill, and its superior, the B-rank Berserker's Roar. The commonality? A temporary boost to all abilities. The numbers and duration varied slightly, but the core was the same.
The mana path, automatically regulated by the system, was complex too.
Pretty tricky mana control.
I observed the flow in detail, inwardly marveling. Mana extended from Jae-wook's body like a glow, reacting with my own to infuse vitality.
Ultimately, this skill's goal was to expel one's mana along a set path, resonating with others' mana. Through that, some gained vigor, some courage, some strength.
Forcing that diverse, natural phenomenon into uniformity.
That's why it resulted in an absolute boost to all stats.
Still feels unnatural.
One person might get 30% stamina, another 40% mental power. Hell, calculating those numbers was laughable to begin with. The fact that the boost applied uniformly proved it was locked in a rigid framework.
Like how fans' passionate cheers in a stadium push athletes beyond their usual performance. A masterful Warrior's Cry rallies allies, banishes fear, draws out their full potential. Defense and vitality for tanks, attack speed and power for dealers—tailored encouragement.
That was the skill's true essence. Not just raw stat boosts, but granting what's needed at the moment.
Got it!
"Taha!"
I bellowed, channeling that essence as I threw a punch. A notification chimed in my head.
You have comprehended the essence of buffs. Buff registered as unique skill.
Buff (Lv.1)
Target's defense and vitality increased by 100%.
Duration: 1 hour
With the chimes, Jae-wook was enveloped in two distinct colored lights.
Huh? W-what the hell?
Jae-wook stared down at himself in a daze.
For him right now, defense and vitality were paramount. The mana tendrils extending from me touched him, weaving a miracle.
Kang! Kang!
A zombie's sharp claws clashed against Jae-wook's bare skin—unguarded by armor—producing metallic rings and sparks. Stunned, he swung his arm.
His limbs, heavy as sandbags from nonstop action moments ago, now moved with fresh lightness.
F-fuck... what is this?
Amid the unprecedented sensation, Jae-wook couldn't tear his eyes from Min-ho, even in battle. He wasn't that dense—he knew who caused it. For a split second, Min-ho's body seemed wrapped in shimmering light.
Target's attack speed and power increased by 10%.
Duration: 1 hour
Two at a time is the limit?
At Lv.1, it seemed I could only apply two buff effects simultaneously. Testing, I thrust my arms at a charging zombie beside me twice.
Shuuut.
Sharp whooshes cut the air twice, and the zombie crumpled, head severed from body mid-stride.
Hmm, so that's how it works.
Granting desired abilities to specific targets. That was the new skill's power.
Effects might vary slightly by target.
Everyone's mana quantity and quality differed, so the skill's response would too.
I set the direction, but efficiency depends on their mana compatibility.
Like compatibility in a relationship? Jae-wook was specialized in protection—his skill structure showed it. So his defense and vitality boosts outpaced mine.
Feeling my body lighter than before, I charged the zombies.
"Grraaah."
"Kraa!"
A ghoul hidden among them leaped at me.
Oh! Long time no see!
This was the ghoul that first taught me I could learn monster skills. Not the exact same one, but still a welcome sight.
Thud!
After dodging it several times, the pissed-off ghoul crouched then rocketed upward.
Yes!
I instantly grasped its motion from the legs up.
That's Leap Strike!
The airborne ghoul unsheathed savage claws, plummeting at me. A skill I'd comprehended once before and used many times since.
Whoa!
Just before it skewered me, I dodged by a hair.
Kwang!
Its claws buried deep into bare ground with a boom. Then, improbably, a chime sounded.
Leap Strike (B)
It... it worked.
I stared at my trembling hands, body shuddering with excitement.
Damn, feels way too good.
Truth be told, I'd worried I couldn't relearn skills, maybe locking out the roulette forever. This proved otherwise—relief washed over me.
Huh...?
My legs buckled, and I collapsed.
Jae-wook's skills couldn't be relearned, but the ghoul's Leap Strike could. Thank god.
Zombies swarmed me. Witnessing it, Jae-wook bellowed and charged.
"Hey! Kang Min-ho! Snap out of it, you bastard!"
More zombies rushed him.
"F-fucking hell!"
Gritting his teeth, he activated a skill.
"Body Strengthening!"
His shout accelerated his sprint insanely. He bulldozed obstructing zombies like flies splattered by a dump truck.
Wait, I could just dodge...
I handled nearby ones and waited awkwardly. Not like he was Hulk or anything. His body was a human weapon now.
That's... the Body Strengthening skill?
His mana spun rapidly inward, compressing. At peak pressure, it released, flooding his body—repeating like a pump. With each cycle, Jae-wook grew stronger.
Whoosh.
White steam rose from him. An awe-inspiring sight worthy of an A-rank skill.
One of those techniques honed over a lifetime, huh?
Recalling Professor Kim Tae-min's words, I observed the astonishing mana flow in Jae-wook.
Thump, thu-thump.
The rhythmic pulses drew my ear.
Like a heartbeat.
The moment I thought if mana made a heart, it'd look like that—a chime.
Body Strengthening (A)
Deep comprehension of Body Strengthening. Skill rank increased.
Mana Heart (S)
Whoa...
Another S-rank skill. After clearing the zombies and ghouls, we slumped on the ground for a break. I opened my status window.
Whoa~ things got complicated.
A new "Unique Skills" section appeared below the regular skills, housing the three new ones.
New wine in new bottles, huh?
Unlike the existing system, unique skills followed a different trajectory, warranting their own category.
Huh? Mana Heart's a passive?
Body Strengthening was active, but the resulting S-rank Mana Heart sat firmly in passives. Midway up my mana tree, a fist-sized mana clump pulsed with contraction and expansion—like a second heart beating inside me.
Nothing bad about that for now.
If it replicated what I'd observed, it'd synergize amazingly with old and new skills alike.
Whooo~
A gust carried the stench of rotting corpses. The area was littered with zombie and ghoul bodies. Our eyes met, and we spoke in unison.
"Move spots?"
"Yeah, let's."
"Kekeke."
"Stinks bad, huh."
We chuckled and relocated to a "pleasant" spot with occasional bubbles from a fetid puddle.
"That your new skill?"
"Huh? Yeah. Right."
"Fucking killer. You'll hit A-rank soon at this rate."
"Hahaha, no way. I'm no genius. It'll take time."
Jae-wook smiled bitterly, staring at his trembling hands. Higher-rank skills brought bigger backlash. Enduring it defined a hunter's worth. Low-rank hunters getting high-rank skills wasn't always a boon.
"What about you? What was that earlier?"
Jae-wook gestured wildly, mimicking the glow, eyes on me.
"New skill. Buff. Applies various effects situationally."
"Buff? Like the buffs buffers cast in games?"
"Yeah, that."
"Funny name. Not a game."
"Tell me about it."
I smirked and nodded. Even I thought so. The system seemed to borrow from concepts in my mind for unique skill names.
"Effect's insane, though. Thought it was some Stone Skin. Zombies' claws bounced right off."
"Pfft, dummy. Think about your rank."
"Oh, right. I'm C-rank now?"
He scratched his head sheepishly, grinning. Even with boosted defense, C-rank efficiency dwarfed D-rank. C to B was double the gap. A-rank and up? Off the charts.
Placing fresh C-rank us in Class B felt premature.
Even busting ass, dead last's our fate.
And if they learned we were Irregulars who could surpass them? The envy would intensify. Fleas in a jar don't tolerate escapees.
"B-class tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah."
"Think I can hack it?"
Jae-wook eyed me anxiously. I clapped his shoulder.
"Dude, you wield an A-rank skill."
"Y-yeah?"
"Confidence. Follow your hyung."
"Hyung? I'm older, strictly speaking."
"Oh? ID, then."
"For real? Show it!"
"Huh?"
Then it hit me—my age regressed too. My youthful look screamed younger than Jae-wook. Fumbling my pockets, I feigned forgetfulness.
"Oh, right. Left my wallet. Next time."
"Hey! Dodging?"
"Nooo."
"Scared?"
"..."
Damn, felt like he had dirt on me.