Unique Authority (3)

"Triple Slash has been granted an instant activation trait."

Choosing the trait eliminated the cooldown. However, Yun-seok had no intention of using this skill in real combat.

Even factoring in the increased damage bonus, moving his body directly would still be better. For now, at least.

Fun.

Yun-seok kept using Triple Slash without rest. As he did, he relentlessly identified the skill's shortcomings and refined them in his mind.

Was this really the right answer after all?

Proficiency rose steadily, and before he knew it, the F-rank skill had reached B-rank.

Whoooosh!

The transformed technique was now so different that it was hard to believe it had once been that F-rank skill from earlier.

Checking the time, Yun-seok let out a wry chuckle.

Took about five minutes.

If he'd tried to raise the rank through sheer grinding, it would've taken days, if not weeks.

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

Is this even allowed?

To raise an F-rank skill to B-rank normally required around 380,000 AP. Yet he'd done it in just five minutes of swinging his sword?

If there was a skill-selling authority, this would be jackpot.

With Elle's Skill Synthesis, he hadn't seen the appeal before, but now things were different.

Repeatedly upgrading ranks with Transcendence and selling them could generate infinite AP—at least in theory. Whether it actually worked was another matter, and the authority selection window had already passed anyway.

Considering Elle had around thirty authorities, there was a good chance he'd get another shot or two later.

Anyway, I'll think about that when the time comes...

Yun-seok sheathed his sword. It had reached B-rank in five minutes, but now the flaws weren't so obvious anymore.

To push further with effort and talent alone, he'd need to dissect the motion from the ground up and research it thoroughly. But there didn't seem to be much point.

If I'm gonna synthesize it anyway, this level's convenient enough.

Shifting focus from Triple Slash, Yun-seok turned to other matters. He understood ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠active skills like this one, but what about something like Force Shield, which operated purely on mana and commands?

After a few experiments, he found the answer.

It didn't jump ranks in one go, but the proficiency gain was incomparable to just spamming the skill.

The key was reading the flow of mana.

...So it's not just a game-like system.

Memorize the command, and the skill activates on its own. That's what Yun-seok had assumed until now.

But feeling the mana flow from his body and form into a barrier made it clear. The command was merely a medium.

In the end, all skills exist somewhere in reality.

There might not be system-assigned traits or bonuses per rank-up, but if he wanted, Yun-seok could replicate any skill by manipulating mana himself.

That's why he could see what needed fixing, just like with Triple Slash.

The mana flow cuts off subtly at the right elbow?

The mana density is uneven. Better to cluster it more solidly like this...

Once the rank rose, all the flaws Yun-seok had spotted were automatically fixed. Maybe he'd just failed to notice them before.

Using potions to rank up probably caused similar subtle changes.

Still, passives, unique skills, and stats... looks like grinding's the only way.

Now that he had insight into active skills, Yun-seok experimented with other methods, but found no breakthroughs.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

He wasn't too disappointed. These were just side benefits anyway.

The real reason he'd chosen the Transcendence authority was this one line:

—Rank limits on stats and skills are removed.

Rank limits disappear. Meaning, eventually, limits would appear, halting growth—like a max-level game character unable ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to invest more points.

Yun-seok was certain Transcendence would be his greatest weapon then, so he'd chosen it.

Of course, he wasn't planning to just sit around waiting.

Check this duel reward and get started.

4 million AP.

Flame Fairy Sword (Rank A-).

A unique skill specialized in mental resistance and agility: Keenness.

These were his duel gains, but the unique skill's mental defense focus held little value for Yun-seok.

Synthesize it later if something good comes up. Dismantle the weapon right away.

After breaking down the equipment for 1,280,000 AP, Yun-seok opened the shop window.

He bought items he'd eyed before.

And felt a strange sensation.

Truth be told, when he'd first seen them, he'd just thought, Oh, something like this exists? Never imagining he'd buy them one day.

Hardly equipment. No combat benefits—just a penalty.

No normal challenger would buy this junk.

But for what Yun-seok had in mind, nothing could be more helpful.

Click. Click.

He equipped the purchased bracelets on both wrists. Two of them.

"......"

A heavy pressure settled on his arms, familiar yet distant.

With mana, he could move freely even like this... but then why buy them?

Let's begin.

Next, he grabbed 15T dumbbells bought for 10,000 AP each and started ups and downs.

With mana sealed, sweat poured after ages. Yun-seok grinned happily.

His prediction held true again.

A gain incomparable to push-ups.

Others might call him a freak, but how could he not smile? 0.1% per 100 reps meant 99,000 more for B+ Strength to hit A-.

Plus an unexpected bonus.

His muscles tore and bones ached like they were breaking... not just his imagination.

No issue, though. Even without the waiting room's hourly heals, Immortality's regeneration covered it.

Why's Durability rising faster than Strength?

Odd, but nothing to worry about. Yun-seok kept going.

How much time passed? Around 12,000 reps left—had he counted right?—when a message appeared.

So close to the goal—stopping now felt awful. Yun-seok closed his eyes, pretending not to see.

Missing the steady proficiency grind was a shame, but unavoidable.

Count in my head.

After mentally finishing 12,000 reps, he opened his eyes. No stat-up message.

Or rather, he couldn't find it.

A chill ran down his spine at the endless string of messages.

* * *

"...What is it?"

These were Yun-seok's first words upon arriving after ignoring 493 calls.

Elle thought to herself: In her centuries-long life, had anything ever been this absurd?

"What do you mean, 'what is it'? You think that's something to say right now?"

"Sorry. I had my eyes closed, so I didn't see it right away."

"......"

Elle's hand trembled at the apology. She'd brewed fresh tea, baked new snacks, and watched him closely, wondering the best time to call.

She'd seen it: his pupils flicker at the message, then squeeze shut in denial.

But no proof. In this ambiguous spot, if he denied it, she had no recourse.

Elle exhaled deeply to calm herself.

"...Is that training that fun for you?"

"Not fun, exactly. I have a goal."

"Ah, I see... right."

It wasn't just the goal—that was clear—but Elle let it slide. That wasn't why she'd summoned him.

"So, how long were you planning to keep at that training? Not like you'd have done it for months if I hadn't called, right?"

"......"

Yun-seok fell silent like a guilty child. Was he innately gifted at sensing disadvantage?

He was uncanny like that. Infuriating, yet frustratingly cute.

Regaining composure, she continued.

"Do you remember the future I told you about last time?"

"Yes. I do."

"Honestly, whether that Heavenly Demon woman dies or not... I don't really care. Besides... it wasn't guaranteed she'd die if you didn't go."

Elle paused, catching Yun-seok's serene gaze—like he'd known all along.

And he had, for that reason.

"I figured as much. The future you saw was only the one where I saved her from crisis. You didn't clearly see her dying in a future where I didn't go."

That's why he'd decided against Murim without much deliberation. Going would ensure her escape from peril, but even without him, the Heavenly Demon could handle it herself.

Elle asked enviously.

"You trust her that much?"

"I trust you the same way, Elle."

"So you close your eyes and ignore a trusted person's call?"

"...I really didn't see it."

Stumped by the blatant excuse, Elle sighed and got to the point.

"Haa. Fine. What I want to say is... if you keep this up, you'll miss that precious opportunity I mentioned."

"Doesn't avoiding Murim cover it?"

"Precisely, it was the time wasted in Murim that caused the loss. But right now, you're..."

Guessing the rest was easy. Not a total waste, but...

Yun-seok had planned at least two months grinding stats in the waiting room.

Rationalization, maybe—but wasn't this the opportunity?

"Can't you just tell me what it is?"

"No. It's Tower-related; I can't say."

"Then I might miss it again?"

"No, you won't—as long as you fulfill your duty as a challenger."

"Duty...?"

Yun-seok tilted his head, then realized and asked.

"You mean I have to keep climbing the Tower without slacking to seize it?"

"......"

Elle didn't answer.

But as always, her silence spoke volumes.

* * *

Elle soon sent him back, saying even chit-chat was a waste. Fully grasping her intent, Yun-seok chose challenge without protest.

15th floor opponent: A man in ornate knight armor.

Human race. Likely from Sehelanbard dimension—a veteran of this trial.

Had this knight ascended? Or failed here?

Not that curious.

Yun-seok just awaited the duel. No reason to resent Elle's advice to prioritize climbing over training.

It was for his sake, and...

...two birds with one stone anyway.

The duel began. The opponent leveled his sword in a disciplined stance and asked.

"My name is Sand Bekyria. What is yours?"

"Choi Yun-seok."

Answering curtly, Yun-seok drew dumbbells instead of his sword.

In hindsight, waiting room training wasn't that efficient.

Time passed here—unlike there.

As long as the opponent didn't die.