The First Spirit King's Trace
Back in the underground gathering space, everyone leaned in close around Kang Hanbit, who was utterly focused. The way he adjusted the scroll spread out on the table naturally drew all eyes.
“Could sis do that too?”
“Not like that. Where’d he learn it?”
Atsbel could craft simple magic scrolls herself, but the scene before her was astonishing. The structure was so intricate it was hard to even comprehend.
-Can you mess with a scroll like that?
- I only learned to connect the lines ;
- Isn’t this just artist syndrome?
- Artist Dragon.
- Newbies are doomed.
- Just go find Gorik, right?
[KnowItAll donated 5,000 won.]
[Info) The Hedric Kingdom fell a few years ago.]
-What?
- Gorik dead too?
- Screwed ;
- Newbies, pick your starting city wisely.
The chat exploded over the donation's revelation. Gorik would know this scroll best, but as viewers pointed out, his kingdom had fallen. Unless he fixed it himself, finding another way would be tough.
I’ll have to give him a heads-up later.
Unlike the viewers' worries, the scroll was just one option. They could clear the story without it. A key ally like Asla had his own clear appearance timing, after all. Convincing him would be up to individual skill, though.
Smoothly, Kang Hanbit gripped the quill and carefully redrew the lines. One mistake, and everything would go to hell. Blank scrolls of the exact same material weren’t available on the spot.
Scritch—
Scratch—
Under everyone's gaze, the scroll revisions entered the final phase. Kang Hanbit drew the last line with precision, then slowly lifted the quill.
“Phew.”
His heightened focus scattered with his exhaled breath. Liora, watching, piped up slyly.
“Done? How’d you fix it?”
“Simply put, I changed it so the ring won’t self-destruct even when activated.”
“That’s possible?”
“Yeah. We’ll be busy later, so let’s use it now. Hand it over for a sec.”
“……”
Liora fidgeted with her ringed hand, hesitating. The dangerous note from Camon still lingered in her mind.
“It’s fine. If something goes wrong, the spirits will protect us.”
Asla, observing, chimed in. A gentle breeze rustled—whoosh. The gap between low-rank Sylph and Spirit King Salion was vast, but this was just a trace. With Asla ready to respond, no real danger here.
“…Okay.”
After persistent coaxing, Liora slowly nodded. She slipped off the ring and handed it to Kang Hanbit.
“Don’t I need to use the scroll too? Ownership won’t transfer otherwise.”
“It’s fine.”
Kang Hanbit took the ring without hesitation, placing it on his palm. Holding the scroll in his other hand, he stood and stepped away from the group.
“The revised scroll sets stability and power direction. It won’t explode with the user—it shoots in the aimed direction.”
“Shoots?”
“You mean like a weapon?”
Cown immediately grasped the usage. Even with the original route available, they chose the scroll because Kang Hanbit wanted to deal with Bares personally.
“It works after the steps. Let’s do it.”
He pressed the scroll to the ring. As the paper glowed and vanished—
An unexpected change occurred.
Fwoosh—!
Sudden flames erupted from the ring, enveloping Kang Hanbit. Asla reacted first.
“This is……”
He approached with swirling winds but halted. The flames repelled everything, denying approach.
-???
- Emergency.
- Whooshhhh!
- Black Dragon
- Fini-
- Fire ending? ;
“Black Dragon!”
As others shouted, Kang Hanbit focused on the flames around him.
…Not hot.
He’d panicked briefly, but no damage. Just bizarre. Totally unlike the heatwave when Asla touched the ring.
The scroll’s correct.
Salion’s trace should’ve activated inside the ring. Manifesting outside was unforeseen. Scroll failure? No—he hadn’t botched a single line. He was certain.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine inside.”
He reassured the more panicked group first. Glancing around, he extended his empty hand toward the flames.
Sizzle—
The fire that seemed to burn all touched his skin harmlessly.
Wait it out?
If spirit power, it might calm with time. Issue was Salion’s trace—unclear how long it’d burn.
Ding—
Then, an alarm and message appeared.
[The wind spirit Sylph urges you to draw your sword.]
Sword?
Sylph’s sudden input clicked instantly.
“Ah……!”
Realization brought a sigh. He swiftly drew his cyan-blue sword and thrust it into the flames.
Fwoosh—!
Flames surged toward the intruding blade. Flickering briefly, the flow amplified at blinding speed.
Whoooosh—!
The blaze spiraled, wrapping the sword, shifting to the hilt, then up his arm into him.
Fwaaah—!
The flames sucked inward like converging to a single point in his body. When they vanished, another alarm rang.
Ding—
[Hidden Achievement: First Spirit King's Trace accomplished.]
[First achievement rewards granted.]
[Attribute Manifestation (3-rank Epic) hidden spirit skill added.]
[The skill auto-upgrades with collected traces, allowing selection of matching attributes.]
-Huh?
-???
-Insane. lololol
- Wtf, for real?
- Hidden skill drop?
- EpicEpicEpicEpicEpic
- Bullshit, seriously ;
- Edlen’s a hidden farm ;
[Yeah donated 10,000 won.]
[RP Season 2, right?]
Viewers went wild over the new hidden skill.
“Another hidden……?”
Juyeonu, filming, stared blankly in shock. Kang Hanbit was just as baffled.
What the hell?
He’d used Spirit King traces before, but never as a skill. Attribute Manifestation like this?
“Black Dragon!”
As flames faded, Liora rushed over first, stomping anxiously. Atsbel and Cown followed swiftly.
“You okay?”
“No damage—good. But what happened?”
Kang Hanbit couldn’t answer amid questions. He stared at the ring in his hand.
“The indwelling power’s gone.”
Asla spoke first, grasping it. Liora whipped her gaze over.
“Gone? What do you mean?”
“…Sorry. The Spirit King’s trace inside got absorbed into the sword.”
“Absorbed?”
She didn’t grasp it immediately. Kang Hanbit glanced at his sword and explained quietly.
“Not sure if the spirit stone in the sword or my constitution, but my bad. Should’ve asked you first.”
“That possible? Wild.”
Despite stealing the Norton family’s heirloom trace, Liora was nonchalant. Just curiosity and concern for what happened.
“Anyway, you’re fine? Body not acting weird?”
“I’m good. But you? It’s your family’s guarded power for generations.”
“I couldn’t use it anyway. It moved to you for a reason.”
She added the ring remaining was enough. Cown looked conflicted but nodded.
“Norton identity matters, but we can’t leave danger unchecked. Even if Bares dies, Holy Nation’s obsession persists. Miss, forgive my powerlessness.”
“Don’t say that. I’d be dead long ago without you.”
-T_T T_T T_T
- Sorry for being weak.
- Can’t spare a Sylph chunk?
- Ah, cotton candy?
- Protect Sylph.
Liora firmly refuted Cown’s self-deprecation. Viewers wanted Sylph shares, but impossible. Spirits stay only while the contractor’s will reaches—otherwise, back to wind.
“Anyway, don’t worry. More concerned you’ll get tracked.”
“Nah. Won’t detect easily.”
The absorbed trace would be concealed by Sylph. Hard to sense unless using the skill.
“Dangerous power. Can you handle it?”
Asla stepped forward after listening quietly. Even a trace of Spirit King power was worlds apart—could swallow a person whole.
“I’ll try.”
Attribute Manifestation. Only one way to accept it now.
Stepping away, he gripped his sword in stance. Recalling Salion’s power, he activated the skill.
Fwoosh—!
Flames bloomed, cloaking the blade. Contrasting the cyan-blue steel, it forged dazzling harmony.
-Whoa.
-Insane. lololol
- Holy shit, gimme ;
- Sword OP?
- Nah, Black Dragon’s OP.
- RP, explain.
[SwordMaster donated 50,000 won.]
[Prof, A4 40 pages fine this time. Pls drop guide. Can get even breaking story?]
-Think so?
- Wait for next skill~
- But fr? 100 pages possible.
“Hm.”
Asla observed carefully, then nodded.
“Enough. Stop.”
“Yes.”
Sizzle— Flames vanished instantly.
Just a brief use, but backlash hit—drained power, body sluggish, stamina and mental sapped. All four stats affected.
This must be……
Balanced stats were right call. Higher values would counter backlash better.
“Wind spirit can stabilize it. Pair with my swordsmanship if needed.”
“Got it.”
Chirp—!
The enveloping wind reformed into bird shape. With Sylph, the new skill was a massive weapon. Could end this episode solo without allies.
Kang Hanbit petted Sylph’s head lightly and stood.
Quest window up.
[Main Quest #13: Preparation]
Using evidence from Brooke, we’ve forced an official trial.
Bares’s verdict will take time.
Meanwhile, Norton ring and scroll offer options?
Ponder possibilities while waiting.
Goal: Mull ring usage, await results.
Reward: None
*Progress: 85%
*Clear via ‘Complete’ button.
Leads to cutscene, then Main Quest #14.
Unexpected power wrapped preparations. No reason to delay—he hit complete.
Ding—
[Main Quest #13 completed.]
[Progress rises.]
World froze with messages. Scene shifted right after.
[Moving to cutscene.]