Memory Borrower...?
I froze at the sudden system window that popped up.
At that moment, “Guhk!!”
Gullak’s fist slammed into my gut. My breath caught in my throat, and the ferocious force bent my waist into a shape.
Before I could even recover from the dizzying shock, he swung the flat side of his greatsword at my face once more.
Bam-!Kwaaang--!!
My body flew dozens of meters in an instant, tumbling across the ground.
“Getting distracted mid-duel.”
Gullak looked down at me with cold eyes.
“Cough, cough……”
If this had been outside the sub-space, that first punch alone would have wiped out all my HP.
“……”
But despite his words, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the system window.
Empty slot available.
Memory Keeper Lv2 effect activated!
Memory Borrower available. (Uses remaining: 3/3)
You can recall special skills from others in your memories. Would you like to view the list?
“……!!!”
At that instant, the scrolling list made me more shocked than when I’d first seen Yong-gong Geom-sik.
“Th-this is……”
1. Mack – Slaughter Sword Lv1 (Comprehension: 70%)
2. Kalman – Specter Summon Lv1 (Comprehension: 10%)
3. Nilvana – Eternal Wheel of Spirits Lv1 (Comprehension: 45%)
4. Pluto – Word of Mass Lv1 (Comprehension: 5%)
5. Max Loren – Thunder Strike Lv1 (Comprehension: 75%)
…
“……”
I scrolled down, speechless at the endless list.
So Memory Borrower means this? All these skills are techniques from the enemies I fought in my dreams. That’s why Memory Keeper is the only title with levels, unlike the others……
Title level-ups.
Titles were essentially one-time rewards—earned from dungeon clears or quest completions, their effects ended once obtained. So I’d overlooked it too.
The fact that only Memory Keeper had a level attached.
Growth-type title……
And even after leveling up, it wasn’t marked MAX, meaning it could grow further.
Honestly, even reaching Lv1 isn’t easy. Recalling someone else’s technique 50 times means memorizing 50 different skills.
Even top players focused solely on their own skills, ignoring others’.
I was the same. But through countless repeated dreams, I’d naturally absorbed the abilities of the powerhouses I fought.
Dreams and games might both feel unreal, but they were different.
Games let you respawn despite penalties, but dreams? Once you wake, you can’t go back. It’s true death.
The reason I always woke was the same: its blade piercing my heart.
That vivid despair sharpened my focus, turning those repeated battles into raw reality—not mere dreams or games.
To think that experience would give me this opportunity……
Every skill on the list was a decisive, one-strike-kill ultimate technique.
And it wasn’t just swordsmanship.
……Can I really use all these?
There were body techniques, throws, even magic—fields I’d never touched. It truly fit the “borrow” concept.
Permanently consume 1 skill slot to borrow another’s technique (up to 3 times).
Memory Borrower allows use regardless of your stats, but low comprehension reduces success rate and power.
But my excitement faded as the red warning caught my eye.
I couldn’t help but frown at its contents.
Consume a skill slot……?
I hadn’t expected that.
Skill slots came one per 10 levels, maxing at 10 for Lv100 cap. Acquiring skills was already selective; sacrificing one was a huge cost.
Comprehension tied directly to how well I’d analyzed past foes.
Sword skills have high comprehension, but magic ones are low.
Proving it: In the southeast continent’s three kingdoms—Deon, Liuon, and Swan—the Deus Union’s terror, Necromancer Lord Kalman’s Specter Summon black magic sat at just 10%.
I’d seen his necromancy only once.
His massive undead legion was called immortal for good reason.
But leading the Deus Union’s counterattack on the Iron Kingdom, they crumbled before reaching me.
Word Spirit Contractor Pluto……
I stared at the familiar fourth name, lost in reminiscence.
The Sage of Majesty lived up to his title, appearing like a shooting star.
During the continental conquest, when the Iron Kingdom reeled from unexpected undead hordes, he appeared and blew Necromancer Lord Kalman’s head off with one spell.
A shocking sight.
Even Grand Mage Lorend Man of the Iron Kingdom conceded inferiority. Rumors swirled he was a dragon.
If I borrow Pluto’s magic, could I beat Chil-ya?
The thought flashed through my mind.
If Chil-ya was swordsmanship’s pinnacle, Pluto’s word spirit magic was magic’s.
But I shook my head.
The mages’ spells in my memories were all powerful, but as a swordsman, I’d never learned magic.
Pluto’s comprehension: a measly 5%.
Less than half? Useless.
“No need to look anymore.”
Gullak sneered coldly at me, lost in thought before the window.
“If this is the ‘future strength’ you boasted of, no sword surpassing Chil-ya will emerge in a thousand years.”
His black eyes fixed on me.
“Hmm, you wield mana, yet can’t cast spells?”
As if he knew my situation, his question drew a bitter smile.
“Well, if future swordsmanship is this lackluster, future magic likely fares no better.”
“I haven’t lost yet.”
I called out to his retreating back.
My face, struck by Gullak, was already swollen; ribs cracked, pain surged, making me stagger to my feet.
“Kuh……!!”
Legs trembling, I gritted my teeth, stabbing my sword into the ground to steady myself.
“I’ll acknowledge your grit.”
Gullak eyed me, his brief assessment more a signal he’d lost interest than praise. He wanted to end it.
“Rest now.”
Kwaang-!!!
With a massive boom, he kicked off the ground toward me.
Whoosh……!Tsang-!!
For the first time in the sub-space, he gripped his greatsword two-handed. Blue energy rippled along the blade.
Aura……
Or Aura Blade.
I stared at his blade.
This wasn’t a style exchange anymore—he meant to finish it.
A ferocious aura I hadn’t felt before crashed over me like waves.
I smiled wryly.
“The world never goes as planned. If I could reshape the future at will, I’d have beaten that bastard in my dreams a dozen times.”
“……?”
“I scrimped on skill slots through hellish trials, only using Nute once for Lanselro…… Now I’m about to burn a whole one.”
I slowly rose.
“But that’s what makes it fun. Gullak. Watch closely. For this one clash with you, I’m unleashing everything I know.”
“Still something to show? What can petty tricks achieve?”
Yet his voice remained ice-cold.
If every technique from my memories is listed, his must be too.
Ignoring his mockery, I scanned the list swiftly.
In dreams, I’d mastered the sword, ignorant of magic.
But if I can recall Nute’s extreme ice magic, I can pull Dimension World magic too.
But Memory Keeper Lv2 was limited to others’ skills. Not mine.
Except one.
A magic I know better than anyone, even if it’s not mine.
Then.
“Found it.”
A clear name entered my sight. As expected.
87. Stal Raus – Extreme Ice Magic Arts Lv1 (Comprehension: 98%)
The one from Dimension World 1 who taught me the hidden class Supreme.
My ice magic master.
Extreme Ice Magic Arts Lv1 borrowed.
Memory Borrower uses remaining: 2/3
“……!!”
A blue grimoire materialized in my palm.
As the thick tome opened, dozens of spells filled its pages.
I found the one I needed.
Extreme Ice Magic #32 – Mana Amplification
Whoooosh……!!
Activating the grimoire’s spell summoned and vanished an old mage’s phantom around me.
Hummm-!!
Mana boiled up from my chest. Without delay, I borrowed another skill.
Extreme ice chill spreads through your body.
Your mana gains ice attribute.
Millennium Extreme Ice amplifies your mana instantly.
Mana increased.
5 Mana → 50 Mana
Duration: 30 seconds
Extreme Ice Magic Arts amplified mana 10-fold—the highest in its category.
Learned at second job change, top-tier effect but only 30 seconds, so rarely used.
However……
Extreme Ice Magic Arts Lv1 borrowed.
Memory Borrower uses remaining: 1/3
Extreme Ice Magic #32 – Mana Amplification
Mana Amplification didn’t stack normally.
But this was borrowing—not using my own.
Millennium Extreme Ice amplifies your mana instantly.
Mana increased.
50 Mana → 500 Mana
Duration: 1 minute
As predicted, borrowing again shifted the amplified mana further.
One slot for three uses. Choose wisely, but commit when needed.
I flexed my sword hand.
Cold chill poured from the mana-infused blade.
Nute – Extreme Ice Magic Defense Art
“……!!!”
Gullak swung his full force at the pristine white ice wall blocking him.
Kwaang……!!!
The frost barrier shattered! But as layers stacked, each broken wall slowed his greatsword.
Crack……! Craaack……!
Nute’s frost particles gripped his blade like claws, halting its sharp charge right before my face.
“You bastard……”
Gullak’s face twisted.
“Curious about magic? Back then, I wielded only the sword, so future magic eludes me. But I have one I wield best.”
Kaang-!!Chaja ja ja jang……!!
The barrier crumbled, frost scattering everywhere.
“Kuhk?!”
The particles turned to sharp thorns, embedding in Gullak’s body.
Nute’s special effect on shatter: ice spikes.
His body chilled, freezing over.
Skang-!!!
I didn’t miss the opening, thrusting in.
“Pay the price of defeat properly, Gullak.”
Flutter flutter……!!
The grimoire’s pages flipped like windblown leaves, revealing a new one.
“Take as much as I’ve paid!!”
At that moment, I initiated the final borrow.