Enlightenment
Living life, flaws don't always act just as flaws. On the flip side, things you thought were strengths can turn out utterly useless. I was a scaredy-cat, but that made me obsess over nothing but survival paths. That's probably why the Gallery folks said I had a talent for combat. What a joke. I don't have any talent for fighting... unless it's the KimHogu special.
I was just too chickenshit to even think about running away, but they called it innate talent. I'd been pushed around so much that I got called a pushover, which sharpened my instincts for reading others' desires. I even turned that around to squeeze gold out of the Gallery multiple times. Being average was a lifelong complex, but it let me stay diligent without procrastinating.
So, the Gallery folks were wrong—no survival talent here. All I had was fear, quick wits, and diligence. Those flaws, those contradictions, they all came together to make me who I am. That's why I'm still alive.
"...Hoo."
Starting from the 103rd floor, through 102, 101, 100, 99, and a lift cut on 98—now on the 89th. I shook like I was gonna die, but I didn't break. Being a coward made me extra cautious, being a pushover sharpened my senses, and having no talent kept me from slacking.
That's why I know. That one bottle of cola was so sweet it nearly brought tears... but I know.
"Haa..."
This floor isn't for resting. Stay too long, and it eats you alive. The fridge food, the fluffy bed, the flush toilet, even that cola I just chugged—they're all traps in the end.
"So damn good, though..."
I drained the rest of the cola, devoured the sandwich and cake without leaving a crumb, then headed to the bathroom. Stripped off all my gear and turned on the water—icy spray blasted from the showerhead. The cold jolted me awake. No more feeding desires here.
Still, with a sliver of hope, I tweaked the temperature. Not cold—instead, perfectly warm water poured out.
Shwaaa—.
After washing up, I grabbed the rags I used as a towel to dry off. Then I flopped onto the bed. The worn-out mattress was so cozy it nearly made me cry. Everything here was what I'd craved so badly. Goosebumps bad.
The next day. Gnawing on the usual tasteless bread, I stood before the mirror. To finish off the entity disguised as a mirror—the Replica.
I drew the Rift Steel Sword and reviewed the steps of the slash.
'Connect, flow, sever.'
I steadied my breath and assumed position. The sword's heavy weight pressed into my palm. Geomseong's teachings surfaced in my mind unbidden.
"Slashing isn't forcing power down. Connect body to sword, sword to earth in one line. Follow the mind flowing along that line. Then, at the end, sever the flow—that's the slash."
I slowly raised the sword, inhaling low.
'Connect, flow, sever.'
Chanting it like a mantra in my head, I faced my reflection.
"Hoo. Looking good."
Who the hell calls this handsome face a pushover's?
Swish.
Feeling the line of my body, I extended the flow. I brought the sword down within it.
Tziiing—.
The Replica in the mirror mimicked my swing, and a heavy recoil hit my palm. As expected, the mirror was unscratched.
"...Yeah."
I caught my breath, reset my stance.
'Not enough.'
My slash was still at the Pae level. To break the mirror as predicted, the slash needed to reach Hap, just like One Flash.
'Swift—.'
The instant I decided, I unraveled mana threads from my dantian and wrapped them around the blade.
Ziiing.
Mana scattered along the edge. Then I used Insight to spot the Fragment of Immortality in the reflection.
'Slash that, and it's done.'
One more Swift, then down came the sword.
The blade cut toward the mirror.
Pajik.
A tearing sound, but the mirror held. Just heavy recoil in my palm.
How did I fuse thrust into One Flash? I recalled elevating thrust to One Flash. The sensation of everything linking as one. That key feel was missing here. Something overlooked.
I repeated slowly.
"Swift."
Mana threads radiated from my dantian again, flowing from fingertips to blade. Insight to check the target, then Swift-slash.
Swish.
The blade traced its arc.
Pajik!
Still, no scratch. Shock rebounded to my wrist. Bone-jarring pain flared and faded.
'Why no linking sensation...'
I steadied my breath. Theory was perfect. Swift-mana on blade, Insight reads the moment, overlay Swift-slash. Perfect Hap formula.
But lacking. Something crucial missing.
'Not urgent enough like back then?'
One Flash hit amid Azure Annihilation Gaze's assault—that narrow gap birthed lightning insight. Come to think of it, Orkan on 100th floor too. Insights strike in crises. Survival instinct kicking in?
I pondered long, exhaled, regripped the sword.
"...Plenty of time."
If it doesn't work, keep at it till it does.
Days blurred by—who knows how many.
"Fuck."
No dice. Just won't fuse.
'Can't get that sensation in slash.'
I tried One Flash on impulse. It shot out naturally, like breathing.
Swish.
Tip pierced the mirror.
Kang!
Cracks spiderwebbed like lightning; thunderclap rang. Blue forks slid across the surface.
Shhh.
But the Replica copying my Fragment of Immortality healed instantly. Cracks sealed seamlessly; mirror reflected my handsome mug again.
"Figures this works... damn, I really am hot."
One Flash flawless. Slash? Nope.
"...What's the diff between thrust and slash?"
I sheathed the sword, scratched my head. Point vs. line. Alignment vs. connection. Center vs. flow. Pierce vs. sever. Definite difference. Can't apply thrust experience without grasping it.
"Hm..."
But no clue. Nothing clicks. Crisis absence again? Nail it once, memorize the feel.
"...Hoo."
Sighing in frustration—
Floater#32 has sent you a gift.
Accept the gift?
"What the...?"
Floater#32 drops a gift out of nowhere.
Bored, huh.
I accepted absentmindedly, then puzzled over the contents.
"...Why this?"
Expected gold. Wasn't.
I fired up the Gallery to reply.
Other Floaters bored too, apparently.
I cherish even hardtack, so I humbly took their gripes.
Floater#32 finally popped up after a while.
If AlchemyRiceSoupEater said that, I'd ignore. But Floater#32 earned some trust.
"Looks just like a hand mirror."
No joke—actual hand mirror. I infused mana, and it floated midair.
"Wha—hey."
About to smash it with my sword, a voice came from the mirror.
"Done—."
My brow furrowed.
"...What?"
"Got bored and curious. Hehe."
Huge shock. I grasped the situation instantly.
"BigHand bro... you're a woman?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Nah, just..."
The talking floating mirror bugged me less than the voice being female. Honestly...
I have a tiny bias against women. Like, very tiny. Really, super tiny. Not 'cause I'm some weirdo. Date a serial cheater girlfriend for 5 years, anyone gets a smidge wary.
BigHandFloater said,
"Not surprised, huh? First Resonance Mirror, right...?"
"Eh... why freak? Figure it's that kinda thing."
"True."
Reading her boredom, I spoke first.
"I've been smashing mirrors till now."
"Funny coincidence. This one's a mirror, that one's a mirror."
"Yep."
"Oh. Don't smash this one, whatever you do. Expensive."
Sending pricey stuff casually... super bored. If she calls it expensive, how much is it? Price terror made me shiver; she added,
"This much is fine, right? You've paid plenty already."
I almost said no and milked more gold, but went honest.
"Of course."
Golden geese must be cherished.
"Thanks. Hehe. You look so nice in person."
She could see my face; the floating Resonance Mirror only reflected mine.
I eyed it.
"But... this mean my privacy's always exposed?"
"Why? Hate it?"
"Yes. Hate it."
Didn't expect my firmness.
"...Blow mana again to shut it off. Instantly. Right away. In a blink."
"Got it."
She seemed a tad hurt; I pivoted quick.
"Gonna smash the Replica again then."
"Yeah. Nice watching connected like this—should've started with it."
Her offhand words sparked enlightenment in me.