If It's For Me (2)
Awakens true wildness, dramatically boosting wildness.
Acquired right after starting his class quest, Nam Taemin had now reached mastery in Call of the Wild. It was an incredible achievement.
Of course, there was good reason for it.
I really thought I was gonna die.
Shouldering the immense burden of Hoyeol. To share that weight, he needed the strength to bear an immense load. And to gain that power, he'd thrown himself into life-or-death battles time and again.
It wasn't just talk. The proof was right there, manifesting as his pitch-black sword aura.
He recalled his master's words, Harkon's.
—"Remember this, my knights. Sword aura deepens through life-or-death struggles."
Not even level 600 yet. And yet he'd pushed through a level 800 dungeon all the way to the boss.
The sword aura had played a huge role.
Would my damage have even scratched it without sword aura?
Of course, there were other options.
"Call of the Wild..."
The barbarian's unique skill. It amplified the unique stat wildness, massively boosting physical abilities.
But the penalty was huge: you lost your reason upon activation. You became a beast, plain and simple.
To the point where I couldn't even emit sword aura.
If he could use Call of the Wild and sword aura together, maybe. But imagining reaching that realm made Nam Taemin clench his fist.
If I could, I wouldn't have to bother Hoyeol with stuff like this.
He'd felt stuck for a while now. No new class quests appearing. Even his sole goal, maxing Call of the Wild, had hit its limit.
It was only natural to feel like he'd lost his direction.
But refining sword aura would mean...
It would force him down a path opposite to the barbarian way he'd built.
That was why, even in moments like this, Nam Taemin occasionally fell into anguish.
He shook his head.
"Not the time for this, Nam Taemin."
Wasn't Hoyeol giving him his precious time?
"Seriously thinks twice as much as anyone else."
He marveled anew. Not content with slaying the colossal evil in that short span, he'd even stopped by the Blue House to clean up those corrupt, scheming politicians.
Just how far ahead does he see?
That thought brought his own inadequacies to mind, complicating his head—but he shook it off.
Crunch!
With a deafening roar, the dungeon's boss emerged.
Why a level 900 boss in a level 800 dungeon? Because it had an unusual pattern.
His brother, Nam Cheolmin's briefing echoed.
—"Its HP and defense are abnormally high even for its level. Its massive size means it barely moves, just swings its roots—but the attack range is insane."
Nam Taemin bit his lip.
With my sword aura...
All he could do was tiny scratches. Even activating Call of the Wild instead wouldn't change much. He'd lop off a few branches, but on something bigger than a skyscraper? Hardly meaningful damage.
—"Taemin? What're you thinking? No reply?"
"Huh? Nothing."
—"Don't 'nothing' me."
Brothers knew each other too well. He could tell from the sullen tone alone.
Nam Cheolmin comforted his dejected brother.
—"Everything takes time, right? Don't rush it, Taemin."
He knew that. He just worried.
Even with time...
Without a clear goal...
Could he keep chasing after Hoyeol?
"...!"
But in that moment, the cave held.
A being who turned dark futures bright, worries to unfounded fears.
The dawn was here.
Nam Taemin's eyes followed that dawn—Hoyeol's movements.
"Sword aura... no, sword ray..!"
The stage above sword aura: sword ray. He'd learned from Harkon that such a realm existed. He also knew Hoyeol had reached it.
No, what shocked Nam Taemin was different.
That's not pure sword ray.
The more you knew, the more you saw.
Back when he didn't even know sword aura existed, let alone sword ray.
But witnessing it, manifesting his own sword aura—he could now properly see Hoyeol's sword ray.
Something's mixed in.
The more you knew, the more you saw.
Magic? A skill? Something else? Beyond his knowledge.
But the key was that something fused with the sword ray.
Grip.
Nam Taemin gazed at his greatsword.
His cluttered mind cleared.
The answer was right there.
So it's possible!
Call of the Wild fused with sword aura.
To him adrift without direction, Hoyeol had shown a new goal.
Once more, Nam Taemin looked up to him.
Did he pick up a sword instead of magic on purpose...?
Chief mage of the Mage Tower. Hoyeol could incinerate this old tree trunk effortlessly.
Yet he wielded a sword himself. Why? He'd seen Nam Taemin's struggle without a word.
Teaching through action, not words.
Overwhelming emotion spilled out.
"Just how far ahead are you seeing, Hoyeol..?!"
*
Damn. Knew it was huge, but it's tough.
Though tough's relative.
After facing the Sin of Envy? No intimidation from a level 900 boss.
Even without natural enemy relationship activating, the difficulty gap was vast.
Pattern's simple too.
Wide attack range? No issue for me floating midair.
Swing those roots all you want. Covered in dirt as they are...
"How noisy."
To uphold lofty dignity. To keep the Dawn Set dirt-free.
I wouldn't take a single hit.
Flutter.
The Dawn Jacket billows.
Why wear it over my shoulders again? Better than glowing like a firefly, right?
Not like I need the set effect anyway.
Flutter or sparkle, no real difference. But I grip my mentality, focus on battle.
Doesn't mean I can slack against something weaker than Envy.
A level 900 boss monster. Tenacious HP and defense Nam Taemin couldn't dent.
Treat practice like real combat. Real combat like practice.
I don't forget.
Magic, sword ray, tenacity—the trinity.
To grow accustomed to that fluid sensation.
I don't draw Guicheol.
Instead, I interfere with nearby minerals, manifesting a suitable sword in hand.
Then activate [Strange].
Need I explain Strange's power?
To those outside its domain, Strange is unreasonably effective.
Like slicing tofu through this massive tree trunk.
"As noisy as your bulk."
Rumble!
Words spoken must be upheld.
I blow away the mana-born dust.
How could I falter on such brazen declaration?
"Yet for my garden, you lack the dignity."
After that? The battle's course needs no explanation.
My one-sided victory.
Let's see, up 5 levels.
Few experience points for a level 900 boss? One might tilt their head.
But considering the massive experience required every 100 levels, it made sense.
No, it was impressive in reverse.
How much XP did Sin of Envy give? Casually ignoring the level 700 wall for a 50-level cap raise.
Admiration brief. Auto-acquired loot pops up.
◈ No restrictions
◈ No effects
◈ Description: The stump of a massive tree. Corrupted, yet brimming with potent energy. Ideal for building on auspicious land or crafting into a masterpiece.
Material item, huh.
Should I call this lucky?
If it'd dropped a level 900 restricted item fitting the boss? Just a pipe dream.
Feeling the level 700 wall now, better be grateful.
The dwarves can smelt it.
Dwarf-forged items get "Master Craftsman's Touch." They can tailor restrictions favorably.
So...
What to make for maximum utility and fame...
As he pondered, Nam Taemin approached.
His expression looked off...
"Thank you, Hoyeol!"
Bow. Why the sudden bow?
Because I took down the boss?
I soloed the XP and loot?
No reason for such thanks.
That instant, as he raised his head, Nam Taemin's expression made me speak.
First, brazenly accept it.
"Glad if it helped."
I have some tact.
Nam Taemin looked moved, obviously.
The reason was clear without asking.
"How can I repay such precious guidance..."
Guidance, huh.
Hoped it'd help, but no intent to teach properly.
Rankers weren't rankers for nothing. They find lessons in every action.
True to form, no false humility from me—I nodded slowly.
But the surprise didn't end there.
Brothers, huh?
Nam Cheolmin, why are you doing this to me too?!
"The education's bearing fruit, Commander!"
Back at Giant Alliance base camp after clearing the dungeon, Nam Cheolmin rushed over with a report.
He thrust a tablet PC at me, one video playing on screen.
The title made me freeze.
Ex, Excalibur? Me chosen by it? When?!
Did he read my mind?
Manifesting and pulling a sword from rock in real-time—high-difficulty magic.
Performance aside, Grandfell's dramatics made it look like Excalibur...
But using that as the video title?!
Beyond shock, what "education" justified such a grandiose name?
But this thick-skinned one wouldn't stay silent.
"Excalibur? An understatement."
Utter confidence. His manifested magic surpassed Excalibur.
Of course, Grandfell's way of inviting misunderstanding.
"...!!!"
Collective shock. Nam brothers and all eyes widened.
Nam Cheolmin barely spoke.
"Forgive me, Commander. My poor insight undervalued your power. But...! The education's response is solid."
The tablet screen switched.
Comments appeared.
Only then did I realize.
This... is what he meant by "education"?!
Overcome one trial, face another.
Why is the world so harsh to me?
I can't even hold my head high anymore...!