Well Begun is Half Done

They say that starting to write is half the battle. It means that even if the beginning looks daunting, once you get going, seeing it through to the end isn't all that hard. But in this world, the saying takes on another meaning.

"…999,000 points."

Cadets at hero academies—the seeds of future heroes—begin awakening at seventeen and hit their peak around twenty-four. Before seventeen, they're no different from ordinary people. But after that, they become an entirely different species altogether. And depending on the level of innate Talent they possess around that age, the final outcome they achieve varies wildly.

…In other words, starting is half the battle. The Talent you awaken at seventeen accounts for half the realm you'll reach in your lifetime. No amount of effort from a mediocrity can ever surpass a genius. That's the rule of this world—the common sense.

"This is for real."

And I can change that common sense. Just because I'm a Visitor.

"With this many points, I could probably snag cheat-level Talents like Choi Ji-seong's Sword Blessing, Han Cheol-woo's Staff Benediction, or Yoo Seong-won's Spear Grace…."

Why had I gotten refunded so many points? Pondering it, one reason came to mind.

Come to think of it, I'd lived diligently. I'd raised mediocre Talent to gifted levels through sheer effort alone. Not quite prodigy or genius territory, but elevating mediocrity to gifted status is no small feat. It fundamentally raises your 'tier.'

And the sole reason I'd managed that?

"…It was fun."

It was fun. Even the grueling parts others complained about felt fresh and wondrous to me. That's why I never compared myself to anyone else—I just walked my own path. Was that why I'd gotten 999,000 points refunded?

"First things first: let's forge a Talent."

Steadying my pounding heart, I opened the shop window. Countless Talents beckoned to me.

Choi Ji-seong's Sword Blessing. Han Cheol-woo's Staff Benediction. Yoo Seong-won's Spear Grace. Woo Yu-na's Bow Praise. And beyond them, Ha Yeon-si's Mana Worship, Mo Ye-ji's Silent Prophecy, even Go Su-young's Absolute Copy. Fifteen years ago, as a mere extra, now with a mere gesture, I could stand at their starting line.

"First up, the cheat Talents."

I cautiously checked [Sword Blessing].

"As expected of genius-grade…."

[Genius-grade] literally means a Talent bestowed from the heavens. Talent grades range from genius, prodigy, gifted, mediocre, dull, and idiot—though 'prodigy' is an exception, not included here. Prodigy-grade Talents are special ones obtained only through unique events.

"Martial (武) attribute is probably martial arts…."

Attributes aren't just martial; there are others like nature, combustion, mental, physical, and more. [Tool-type] refers to the Talent's manifestation type—in this case, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it activates when holding a tool. In contrast, [Direct-type] manifests without conditions, and [Body-type] only through bodily transformation.

"…Growth-type is always the way to go."

Finally, [Growth-type] is the opposite of [Fixed-type]—a Talent that grows.

Luminous text floated up—a purchase confirmation. The price: a whopping 950,000 points. No small sum. But compared to the Talent's power, it was pocket change. The Talent that kept Choi Ji-seong top of his class throughout the academy and propelled him to 1st Grade Hero in record time.

I moved to acquire it without hesitation. Talents are absolute. With this, I'd stand on equal footing with Choi Ji-seong.

"Uh… but."

Then, a forgotten issue hit me late.

"…Right."

Talents can be bought in the shop despite their explosive power because proficiency matters as much as the inherent quality. Like buying an apple seed instead of a full tree to grow it cheaper.

But what about weapons and gear? In this world, gear's power varies by origin and legend. Naturally, absolute pinnacle gear is one-of-a-kind, so myth-grade and above can't be bought even with shop benefits.

So, if I took [Sword Blessing], far in the future, I might compete with Choi Ji-seong over mithrilane. Of course, I could yield it to him and use tier-2 swords like plum blossom sword, moglay, robera, azoth, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heavenly sword, sa-in sword, or tsurugi.

But power differences are inevitable. Especially since Choi Ji-seong becomes a multi-sword user late-game. My memory's fuzzy, but yeah, he wielded multiple swords.

"…Power dispersion."

Not just dispersion—I'd become a rival. To avert the future apocalypse, my Talent couldn't overlap with the protagonists'.

"Ah, fuck. Then…."

Han Cheol-woo used staff, Yoo Seong-won spear. Woo Yu-na bow, Ha Yeon-si magic gear. Mo Ye-ji guns, and finally Go Su-young….

"That bitch Go Su-young used everything without discrimination."

The curse slipped out unbidden.

"No, fuck."

My head throbbed. Sighing in frustration, I scanned the Talent window again.

Come to think of it, genius-grade Talents weren't that numerous.

Excluding the novel protagonists', that left Void Origin and Demon Worship… plus niche weapon Talents like Gun Devil or Chainsaw Incarnate. What the hell was chainsaw? Memory's hazy—it's been ages since I checked Talents.

Anyway, I started with the standout: Void Origin.

…Information restricted until purchase? Checking other genius-grades, they all were. Seems like only known ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Talents show full info; others are locked.

Can't compare like this.

"Haa. This is maddening."

Returning to ◆Void Origin◆, "What's Void (無) attribute…."

First time seeing it. Void as in 'none'? No attribute? Price matched Sword Blessing at 950,000 points, so equal potential, presumably.

"…What to do."

I scrolled past countless others, agonizing. You can only forge one Talent. To get a new one, delete the old. No room for mistakes—choose wisely from the start.

"……Ah."

Right, there was the point bank. Deposit points like savings, earn interest periodically. Points locked for the term, but free duplication? Not bad.

"…Maybe skip forging now, bank the points."

Hm. No. I'd miss proficiency grinding time—net loss. Must forge a Talent. A genius-grade one.

After endless deliberation, I chose.

Protagonist Talents were 950,000, but others genius-grades were 800,000. This one alone at 950,000. Generally, expensive means worth it.

Yes.

The moment I selected, a chill ran down my spine. Simultaneously, euphoria washed over me; my body strengthened, vision sharpened. As with most genius-grades, massive stat bonuses from corrections.

And moments later.

"Ah, this."

Fate's prank? "…Again."

Checking the Talent info, realization dawned. Just like fifteen years ago, my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠path was set as a Martial Artist.