Piercing Heaven Archery
Baek Won-ho's brow twitched.
Hoo.
Just from the aura radiating off him, he could tell Mu-hyuk had achieved great success with the So-ho Heart Technique.
Talent, without a doubt.
Even for an outsider, mastering the So-ho Heart Technique was no easy feat.
Moreover, achieving it so quickly required an acute sensitivity to sense the flow of internal energy through one's body, coupled with ruthless focus to immerse oneself fully.
"You've achieved great success."
"Yes."
"Good. Now, I'll pass on martial arts befitting your level. But first, for the two of you who've reached the 9th star of the So-ho Heart Technique..."
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon looked at Baek Won-ho.
"I'll teach you intermediate lightness skills, the So-ho Steps, and the So-ho Swordsmanship."
His gaze shifted immediately to Sung Min-woo.
"For you, who's reached the 10th star, intermediate-advanced lightness skills, the True So-ho Steps, and the True So-ho Swordsmanship. And finally, Mu-hyuk, who's achieved great success."
"Yes."
"You'll learn the highest-grade lightness skills, the White Tiger Steps, and the White Tiger Swordsmanship."
Baek Won-ho wasn't done.
"One more thing. The family head has made a special concession. If you use the power of your contributions, he'll allow you to learn even better or entirely new martial arts. Anyone interested?"
Sung Min-woo tilted his head.
"The power of contributions?"
"Indeed. I suspect you obtained it by conquering the Tower of Death."
"Ah...!"
The four exchanged glances.
Mu-hyuk muttered low.
"Means we can spend contribution points. Though we could get items instead of martial arts."
Baek Won-ho, who'd been waiting, asked again.
"I'll ask once more. Anyone interested?"
Mu-hyuk raised a question.
"I've achieved great success with the So-ho Heart Technique—can I still learn something better?"
"Regrettably, the White Tiger Swordsmanship and White Tiger Steps are the pinnacle I can teach an outsider. Nothing better."
"Then just something new?"
"Exactly."
"I'd like to check what new martial arts are available."
"Possible. Anyone else?"
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon shook their heads. As ranged fighters who rarely engaged in close combat, they figured intermediate lightness skills, So-ho Steps, and So-ho Swordsmanship were plenty.
They'd probably use their remaining contributions for items.
Sung Min-woo, meanwhile, couldn't decide.
As a close-range fighter, better martial arts appealed, but what if the new one proved useless?
That's when Mu-hyuk chimed in.
"Min-woo."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Learn it if you can. Go for the upgrade."
His hesitation vanished in an instant.
"Haha, alright. If you recommend it."
Mu-hyuk knew the destructive power of these arts. Even without prior knowledge, observing the White Tiger family's head, protectors, and warriors made it obvious.
They were living proof.
Consistent training in superior martial arts could make one as strong as them—no, surpass them.
As players, not NPCs, they'd leverage the system.
"No regrets."
"Roger that."
Decision made, things proceeded smoothly.
Each received instruction in their assigned arts.
Not skill books, so no instant acquisition yet—but dedicated practice would turn them into skills.
"Follow me."
"Ah, yes."
As the other three began training, Mu-hyuk entered a hall lined with martial arts manuals.
"Examine them thoroughly and choose."
"Understood."
With Baek Won-ho gone, only a watchful warrior and Mu-hyuk remained. He pulled a nearby manual.
[Eight Trigrams Spear Art]
Contains three ever-changing forms that strike all eight directions in a single breath.
Grade: Intermediate-Advanced
Required Contribution: 1,200
Spear art—returned it immediately.
Next, saber art.
Another intermediate-advanced step technique.
Lightness skill.
Passed several sword arts.
"Hoo?"
His face lit up at an archery manual.
[Piercing Heaven Archery]
Three forms imbued with power said to pierce the heavens.
Grade: Highest
Required Contribution: 2,800
He'd already learned White Tiger Steps and Swordsmanship.
Highest-grade lightness skills too.
No need for more sword or step arts. He'd been seeking archery—and found the highest grade.
Done looking.
2,800 contribution was steep, but hoarding it served no purpose.
Buying it.
Contribution: 2,800 deducted.
A book appeared in his hand.
"This one."
"This way."
He followed the warrior to the training ground and showed Baek Won-ho the book.
"Chose Piercing Heaven Archery."
"Yes."
"You handle the bow, then."
"A bit."
"Good. Let me explain Piercing Heaven Archery."
"Ah, no need."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I can learn this one solo."
"Outsider power?"
"Yes."
"Not the White Tiger Swordsmanship?"
"No."
"Needs the book, huh?"
"Yes."
"Then just train. Ask if anything confuses you."
"Got it."
He joined his comrades, who were deep in training—no need to interrupt.
Instead, he opened the Piercing Heaven Archery manual.
Learned martial art Piercing Heaven Archery.
He checked the three forms right away.
Form 1: One Point Shot
Consumes internal energy to fire seven arrows, each with 120% physical attack power, in rapid succession.
Cooldown: 12 seconds
Required MP: 200
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 3x MP.
Form 2: Soundless Shot
Fires an arrow of pure internal energy, formless and silent. Deals 190% physical attack power.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Required MP: 300
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 4x MP.
Form 3: Heaven-Piercing Shot
Infuses massive internal energy for overwhelming might. Deals 290% physical attack power.
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Required MP: 500
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 5x MP.
Shock crossed Mu-hyuk's face.
Insane...!
Even Form 1 was extraordinary. Form 1 was comprehensible, at least.
But from Form 2? Straight-up broken.
Soundless Shot—he could gauge its trickiness from fighting Rudolph.
Form 3, though?
290% at level 1?
That raw power.
Even more astonishing: the note at each form's base.
Forced use.
3x to 5x MP cost, but in a pinch, it could save a life. Contribution points well spent.
Wait... then...?
Excitement surged.
How strong was White Tiger Swordsmanship?
"Hoo."
The urge to train burned fierce.
*
Following Baek Won-ho's guidance, he practiced the highest-grade lightness skills, White Tiger Steps, and White Tiger Swordsmanship.
Learned Highest-Grade Lightness Skill.
Learned White Tiger Steps.
Learned White Tiger Swordsmanship.
Two days invested to finally acquire them as skills.
"Hoo, done."
"Whoa, already?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Haa, just swordsmanship left for me."
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon had finished faster than Mu-hyuk.
So-ho Steps and Swordsmanship were simpler, naturally.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"How are the White Tiger Swordsmanship forms?"
"Lemme check."
With eager anticipation, he examined the skills.
Allows swift travel over long distances with minimal internal energy. Speed increases with strength, agility, and more energy input.
Cooldown: None
MP Cost: 1-20 per second
Step technique modeled on a tiger's movements, refined for humans. Enables motion in 24 directions, boosts evasion during use, and reveals enemy openings more easily.
Cooldown: None
MP Cost: 10 per second
Form 1: White Tiger Strike
Strikes all eight directions simultaneously with 130% physical attack power.
Cooldown: 17 seconds
Required MP: 250
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 3x MP.
Form 2: White Tiger Wave
Rapid successive strikes, each at 115% physical attack power.
Cooldown: 25 seconds
Required MP: 350
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 4x MP.
Form 3: White Tiger Slash
Compressed energy extends along the blade, exponentially boosting cutting power to 250% physical attack.
Cooldown: 40 seconds
Required MP: 600
Can force use off cooldown, but costs 5x MP.
Lightness skill as expected.
The 24-directional steps and Form 3 swordsmanship were hard to visualize from description alone—he itched to test them.
Not here, though.
Mu-hyuk glanced at Ye-rin.
"Description's vague."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna test our new arts on monsters? Kill two birds."
"Sounds good!"
Sung Min-woo raised his hand.
"Hey, wait up! Just gotta learn swordsmanship—then we go together."
"When's that?"
"Ten minutes, ten!"
"Hmmm, fine."
The ten-minute limit.
Perhaps that's why.
Sung Min-woo's focus peaked.
Exactly nine minutes later.
"Learned it!"
Sung Min-woo had mastered White Tiger Swordsmanship.
"Heh, that's me!"
"Yeah, last place mastery—very impressive. Let's go check the arts."
The four sought Baek Won-ho first.
"Test the arts on monsters, eh?"
"Yes."
"Meaning you've already learned them."
"Yes."
Baek Won-ho nodded.
"Understood. Go ahead."
Bowed and headed to a level 180 hunting ground.
"Here."
"Me and sis first!"
"Sure."
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon used So-ho Steps and Swordsmanship on monsters; Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk watched for trouble.
Relief at their effortless kills, satisfaction at the arts' unexpected prowess.
"Hoo, done!"
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon returned.
"Our turn?"
"Yep."
Sung Min-woo went right.
Mu-hyuk approached three monsters left, slowly.
Archery first.
Drew the Sunset Longsword from his waist, transformed it to bow. Nocked one arrow between fingers.
Piercing Heaven Archery, Form 1: One Point Shot.
Skill activated—his hand moved on its own.