Demanding the God's True Name
[Groooar...!!!]
The one-eyed giant swept its gaze around before picking up a massive club that looked like a felled log from the ground.
'A test of strength after the maze, huh.'
Boom-!!
The shockwave from the giant's swinging club tore through the air with a deafening roar.
Crunch...!!
It hadn't even reached me, but the sheer wind pressure made my body sway.
'Be careful.'
'Master!'
Black Eye and Yeomhwa-ryeong shouted.
"Stay back. I have to handle this myself."
It was something only I, with the Connector's authority, could do to influence the current memory.
Kabooom--!!
The giant gripped the massive club with both hands and smashed it down overhead with all its might, shattering the ground in a deafening explosion as dirt piles erupted everywhere.
"Hup!"
I held my breath, endured the shower of earth, and charged straight into its midst.
Whoooosh---!!
The giant swung the club horizontally once more.
In that instant, I tensed the finger wearing the ring.
Silk Scale's effect activated!
From now on, a portion of your stamina can be converted to mana.
'A bit more...!'
I watched the mana building up, thinking that.
Stamina was depleting to create mana, but that wasn't what I wanted.
[Kraaaah!!!]
The giant went berserk.
Flash-!!
I pivoted my running right leg, and a massive boulder slammed down like a falling rock onto the spot I'd just been, with a thud!
Hummm...!!
At that moment, a faint light flowed from the ring.
Silk Scale exclusive effect activated!
Exclusive Effect: Mana Synesthesia
Your physical reaction speed increases by 20% for 5 seconds.
Due to the Semi-Divine Body's reaction speed +5% trait, an additional effect occurs.
Flash-!!
A faint breeze-like sensation swept from the leg I'd stepped forward with, and my body reacted a beat ahead of the giant's attack.
'Now.'
The moment the synesthesia effect kicked in, I didn't miss the opening.
Focus Lv3 proficiency has increased.
If proficiency exceeds the vassal trait level, you can acquire the skill.
You gaze precisely at a strong enemy's attack.
Focus proficiency greatly increases.
Your experience has met the requirements for Focus Lv3 proficiency.
You have acquired Focus Lv3.
The giant's club moved in slow motion, crystal clear.
I dodged its attack by a hair's breadth, then jammed Amur's shortsword into the tip of the club as it grazed past me.
Crack-!
With the sound of splintering wood, my body was flung upward along with the club.
"Hup...!!"
I exhaled the breath I'd held and released the shortsword midair, launching myself higher.
[Kaaak...!]
As the giant yanked back its club, I used the embedded shortsword like a stepping stone, sprinting along the club toward the giant.
Challenger of the Extreme title effect activated!
Level difference condition met: Attack success rate +10%!
Heroic-grade monster condition met: Attack power +10%!
Heroic-grade large monster condition met: Critical hit rate +10%, critical damage +10%!
A faint light began condensing on Tesaro's sword in my grip.
[Grrr...! Kaak!!]
The one-eyed giant hurled the club overhead with all its strength.
My body on the club was flung upward again with a whoosh-!
Flash-!
In that instant, I spun midair, stomped both feet down hard on the rising club, and dropped like a plummeting arrow.
True Chil-ya 4th Sword
+15% additional damage against large monsters
I thrust my sword toward the giant as I shot downward.
With a whoosh!, a subtle light enveloped the blade, activating the skill.
Just before the swordsmanship's exclusive effect notification and plunging the blade into the giant's single eye—Thud---!!
A dull impact bent my waist into a V-shape.
"Guh...!!"
The giant's fist, after discarding its weapon, was terrifyingly fast.
Boom! Crunchhh...! Kabang!!
My body tumbled like a marionette with cut strings, unable to withstand the shock.
'No!'
'...Master!!!'
Black Eye and Yeomhwa-ryeong cried out at the sight and rushed toward me.
Slammed into the ground, I slid across the floor with terrifying force from the monster's strength.
'You alright!!'
Black Eye hurriedly supported my fallen form and asked.
"Cough, cough...!"
White's Regeneration used!
HP recovers by 1% per second.
A green aura flowed from the circlet, slowly enveloping my body, and only then did my breathing steady.
'Looks like it's too much for you alone. Let's fight together.'
'Yeah! We'll help!'
"Hoo..."
The two urged me anxiously.
Rustle-
At that moment, a cold ice shard fell onto Black Eye's palm supporting me.
Sizzle...!
The ice evaporated instantly upon touching Black Eye's blue flames.
'Hm?'
He tilted his head at the sudden ice dust and looked at me.
Traces of cold air lingered on my clothes here and there.
[Kraaaaaah---!]
At that instant, a roar like a scream erupted from the one-eyed giant.
It clutched the fist that had struck me, writhing in agony.
Crack-!
Bluish ice spikes burst through its wrist.
Kabang! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Starting from there, spikes tore through its flesh from inside the wrist outward.
The ice spikes spread like frost, and blood gushed mercilessly from the pierced wrist.
Nute exclusive effect activated!!
Exclusive Effect: Frost Ring
'Huh...'
Black Eye brushed off the remaining ice dust and let out a hollow chuckle as he watched me rise.
'You cast a spell in that short time?'
"I'd already gathered mana with the Silk Scale. Not hard at all. I could cast Nute with my eyes closed."
I gazed at the suffering one-eyed giant and spoke in a low voice.
"Plus, ever since becoming a semi-divine body and my mana veins turning to divine blood, Nute's power has gotten way stronger—for some reason."
'Probably. Even the same mana is fundamentally different with or without divine power.'
Yeomhwa-ryeong said to me.
A faint awe seemed to flicker in his eyes as he looked at me.
Crack...! Crackle...!!
The ice spikes from the giant's wrist spread, eventually covering its entire arm.
'Besides, this is a space created by the Curtain God. Human stamina and mana are suppressed by divine power, losing potency—but Master's divine blood is different.'
It was indeed far more powerful than the Nute ice spikes I knew.
"So, gaining divine power means I can wield that kind of strength."
'Of course. An upper god's power is entirely different from my paltry one.'
Yeomhwa-ryeong's eyes gleamed as he replied.
"Time to finish it."
Shing--
I gripped my sword again.
Though not drawn from its sheath, Tesaro's sword rang with a sharp keen.
"That's far enough."
It was then.
A voice echoed in my mind, and the final veil surrounding me lifted.
"...!!"
As the veil vanished, a man sat upon a massive throne woven from tangled ancient trees like a giant nest.
'H-Hiiik!!'
The moment Yeomhwa-ryeong saw the man, he bowed his head flat to the ground.
His face covered in black cloth, wearing ragged garb like the giant's, he held a crude staff twisted from two branches.
'The Curtain God.'
No need to question his identity.
A chill ran down my spine the instant I beheld him—just like Yeomhwa-ryeong—thanks to my divine power.
"Impressive... A lower god's master, as expected."
He nodded at me standing without kneeling.
Even with his face veiled, his gaze pierced right through me.
"Why stop the trial?"
"Because that kid was about to die by your hand."
I glanced at the seated one-eyed giant and snorted.
"Kid? Don't make me laugh. What cute nonsense for the beast that charged to kill me?"
But the Curtain God merely twitched the corner of his mouth in an odd, expressionless smirk.
Shared Fragment 'Veil Tear' memory will be altered.
This memory does not exist in your unconscious fragment. Creating a new one will consume locked memory fragments.
20 locked memory fragments consumed to create a new memory fragment.
Shall you create the memory fragment?
I nodded slowly without taking my eyes off the Curtain God.
Memory Fragment 'The Veiled God' used as key to create new memory fragment 'Veil Tear'.
Locked memory fragments (39/88) - 'Veil Tear' conditions fully met.
The newly created memory fragment will be applied to the shared fragments beyond.
Crackle... Crackle...
It was then.
The moment the final notification appeared, its text began shattering like fragments.
Omniscient's intervention confirmed!
Connector authority level insufficient!
Failed to create memory fragment!
Memory fragment not synchronized with shared fragments beyond.
"Was that you?"
Surprisingly, the notification window before my eyes crumbled like collapsing blocks.
In this bizarre situation where the system seemed forcibly terminated, I stared at the Curtain God.
"Haha, a Connector... Not content with vassalizing a god, you've even dipped into incarnation territory? Well, trivial matters aside, it would be rather embarrassing if word got out that a human broke my trial."
The Curtain God smiled faintly as if it were nothing.
"So, cut me some slack. No need to spread rumors, right?"
"You sit there playing detached observer to worldly affairs, but your pride matters, huh?"
'M-Master...'
Yeomhwa-ryeong, face pressed to the ground, spoke anxiously at my provocation of the Curtain God.
"Get up."
'...Y-Yes?'
"Your master isn't that old fogey ahead. You picked the wrong one to bow to."
But Yeomhwa-ryeong hesitated to obey.
"Now."
Only on the second command did he reluctantly stand.
Even with 100% dominance, this reaction showed the vast gap between the Curtain God's power and mine.
"Haha, what an intriguing human. Very well. You've passed the trial, so I'll let you into the veil. Never met a human like you in all my time. You've given this bored god some entertainment—payment enough."
Hummmm...!
The Curtain God lightly shook his staff, parting the veil to reveal Isabel Silver watching me worriedly from beyond.
She probably hadn't expected the Curtain God to test me personally.
'Master, let's go!'
Yeomhwa-ryeong darted toward the open exit.
But I grabbed his nape with my fingers and yanked him back.
'...H-Hek?'
"Is that it?"
I stared at the Curtain God on his throne.
"What do you mean?"
"The reward."
"...Hm? The trial's reward is escape from the veil. You succeeded, and I've granted it accordingly."
"Not that."
"Then?"
The Curtain God tilted his head.
"You said it yourself. To cut you some slack. Then pay the appropriate price. For protecting your pride."
'M-Master!!'
Yeomhwa-ryeong paled and shouted at my words.
"Ha, haha!"
But contrary to his worry, the Curtain God threw his head back and laughed.
"A human showing mercy to a god... True enough. You spared me."
Clap-!
The Curtain God clapped once and looked at me.
"Very well. What do you want for this?"
"Your true name."
I stated calmly to the one laughing over nothing funny.
"Divine Name."
In that instant, the Curtain God's upturned lips froze.