New Opportunity

If the system overlaid something from another era or world onto this one, as Professor Kim Tae-min had said, then traces of its original owner could linger within, influencing those who acquired it. Naturally, that influence would manifest differently in each awakener.

Perhaps that's why so many high-ranking awakeners had such eccentric or psychopathic personalities. The higher the rank, the more pronounced it seemed.

'Well, people who created those incredible skills without the system's help wouldn't be normal anyway.'

I interpreted Professor Kim's words—that the original owner's personality was embedded in the skill—that way. But just because the skill's creator was a murderer didn't mean I had to become one after learning it.

As a solution, he suggested discarding the skill and relearning it with my own abilities. That could work, but I questioned something more fundamental.

'Mana has no inherent properties, right?'

Like a blank canvas that could paint anything. So the original owners must have used that infinite potential of mana to craft skills matching their dispositions. And for some reason, we inherited those creations overlaid by the mysterious system.

That led to a different conclusion: Don't discard the Brain Lightning skill—extract its principles and forge my own path. Then, no remnants of the original owner would affect me, just as Professor Kim had implied. The remaining skills would be fodder for the capricious God's Roulette.

The result was the raging remnants of lightning surging wildly inside me now.

'Damn, every inch of my body hurts.'

I forced my aching body to move and looked toward the professor, flung far away. I couldn't control it freely yet, and mana flow was a mess, but I could at least pull it in the right direction.

'At least I didn't collapse right away—thanks to this guy, huh.'

I felt the second heart ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pounding fiercely in my chest and smirked. The mana heart was automatically healing my wrecked body, infused with lightning mana. No, it went beyond healing, reshaping my very structure to withstand lightning—stronger, tougher.

My body was transforming from the cellular level.

I clenched my fist hard, savoring the new power surging within, and grinned in satisfaction. No more collapsing in agony from skill backlash.

'Nice.'

"Great! Absolutely great! Hahaha!"

At that moment, Professor Go Taek-hyeon's laughter echoed from afar.

'What the hell? It's like he read my mind.'

Incredible timing—he shouted "Great!" and laughed, mirroring my exact thoughts. For a split second, I wondered if he'd somehow learned a mind-reading skill.

'But he doesn't look hurt at all?'

He brushed off his clothes like nothing happened and walked over, a bright smile on his face unlike any I'd seen before.

"The finish was a bit rough, but it was impressive, Min-ho."

Getting hit like that and loving it? Was that his thing? He was the epitome of a martial artist through and through. That explained his A-rank Combat Arts skill.

'Hold on?'

Professor Kim Tae-min's words flashed through my mind.

'He said his second disciple would be a huge help in growing without skills.'

I wasn't sure if he meant Professor Go, but now I sensed that distinctive aura from him. What was it? Like those old wuxia novel masters.

'That's why he said we'd meet soon.'

But it seemed Professor Kim hadn't told him details about me.

"Without skill bonuses, it's definitely tougher," I said with a wry smile.

"I knew it! You're walking your own path beyond skills, Min-ho."

He replied like he'd found a kindred spirit.

'Professor Kim was spot on. Total martial nut.'

I eyed the sparkling professor—almost overwhelmingly enthusiastic—and said, "I've only just started. Professor Kim said you'd help a lot. Looking forward to it."

"Hahaha, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so he told you about me, huh?"

Finally sensing something, he narrowed his eyes slyly.

"Yeah, he mentioned one disciple who's half-crazy with martial obsession..."

"Damn, can't even argue since it's not wrong."

Just as I thought.

"He said I'd meet a good connection soon. Guess that's you, Min-ho."

Why couldn't he just say the name outright? Professor Kim acted like some hidden wuxia hermit, dropping vague hints.

'Anyway, I don't like that guy.'

He shook his head lightly, approached, and extended his hand.

"Let me reintroduce myself. Go Taek-hyeon, second disciple of the Thunder Emperor. I teach here to assist my master, but really, I'm all in on the same path as you."

His face looked natural now, unlike before. The awkwardness must've been him play-acting as a professor.

'This is his true self.'

"A martial artist only truly knows another's heart after clashing fists."

He spouted cringey wuxia lines like they were normal.

"You might get hurt if we go again, so..."

He turned to Lee Jae-wook, standing dazed, and beckoned him over.

"Shall we have Jae-wook join and exchange blows?"

"Me? Uh, me?"

"Of course. Master said he has high expectations for your future too."

"Uh, w-wait, who’s your master...?"

Lee Jae-wook stammered in confusion, and Professor Go looked at me, flustered.

"He doesn't know?"

"Haven't told him yet."

"Haha, I see."

He was seriously thrown off. Awkwardly nodding with a laugh, he approached Jae-wook and slung an arm around his shoulder.

"My master is an amazing man. Curious? Touch my body once, and I'll tell you."

His improv was painfully awkward. Good thing Jae-wook was pretty oblivious.

"Uh? N-not really curi—"

Jae-wook blinked his big eyes pleadingly at me, on the verge of tears. I ignored him casually and plopped down against the wall. I needed time to mull over my insights from clashing with Professor Go.

"Here I go!"

"W-wait a sec!"

While I pondered, Jae-wook's panicked yell filled the vast gym.

"Hahaha, what a sturdy body! Again!"

"Uwaaaah!"

Maybe my imagination, but Professor Go seemed thrilled. Muttering about a durable sandbag.

Well, it'd help Jae-wook. Tanks grow by taking hits.

The spar—framed as training—yielded big gains. I discovered the mana heart's new function and learned to summon lightning without the skill.

'Now I can ditch Brain Lightning without regrets.'

But first, I needed two more S-rank skills for the roulette. To confirm, I summoned my status window.

I had four S-rank skills total. Of them, only Brain Lightning was roulette fodder. Mana Control boosted all my abilities; Mana Heart would support me through strain; Information Viewing was indispensable.

'Gotta collect more skills.'

To snag another S-rank, I'd need to closely observe an S-rank awakener using theirs—probably in an S-rank dungeon. Not easy. Skills were a hunter's core weapon; no one flashed them casually.

'Gotta build up gradually, then.'

Brain Lightning came from sacrificing three A-ranks via roulette. No reason I couldn't repeat it.

'Start with B-ranks.'

Stack low-ranks to climb. I glanced at Jae-wook, grinning like an idiot, eyes swollen like pancakes.

"That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠good, huh?"

"Haha, wouldn't you be? That awesome prof's gonna train me once a week personally."

"Liking it after that beating? You're weird too."

"It's a tank's job to take hits and endure. My strength's my tough body. He said I've got talent—might aim for A-rank soon."

"You told him you're A-rank?"

"Nah. Said Irregulars grow mana with experience, so living in B-class'll naturally push me up."

"Oh? Nice."

If Professor Go—a senior Irregular—said so, it must be true.

Clatter and chatter erupted from the hallway.

"Huh? What's up?"

"Dunno?"

Exiting with Jae-wook, we saw B-class students rushing to the lounge.

"What's going on?"

I asked a burly guy sprinting ahead.

"Didn't hear? Dungeons are bursting. Ten of 'em."

"Dungeons bursting?"

"It's on the news—check the lounge if you're curious."

"..."

He bolted off. Jae-wook and I exchanged glances and dashed after.

Bzzz, bzzzz.

Before the announcer finished, every student's phone blared with emergency alerts. I pulled mine out, read the message, and inwardly cheered.

'Yes!'

A perfect chance to snag skills, naturally.