CRACKLE, CRACKLE!
Sparks continuously leaped across the surface of the lake.
And that was not all.
* “What a magnificent sight.”
Countless monsters floated upon the lake with their bellies turned upward.
Among them was even a serpentine monster that appeared to be more than ten meters long.
“SKREEEE!”
“GRRRRR—!”
However, not every monster had been annihilated.
I had only defeated a portion of them.
The higher-grade monsters lurking in the depths surged above the surface, thoroughly enraged.
The sight was terrifying.
Was I frightened?
‘Of course not. This is even better.’
GRIN.
The corners of my mouth rose.
There was still plenty of time remaining.
More than twenty minutes.
Now, then.
Shall we fill the starlight once again?
“Thunderbolt! Thunderbolt! Thunderbolt—!!”
I unleashed Thunderbolt without pause.
The monsters collapsed one after another.
The starlight accumulated rapidly.
My Magic Power, however, was being depleted at an equally alarming rate.
My pitiful mana capacity was certainly living up to its reputation.
Even if Thunderbolt was Mythic grade, how could my mana already be nearing exhaustion merely because I fired a one-star skill repeatedly?
* “Even so, you have improved tremendously compared to the beginning.”
That was true.
I had made remarkable progress since the beginning.
It was all thanks to the <Tome of the Sage> and the elixirs I had created through Sage’s Alchemy.
If I continued improving little by little, perhaps I would eventually return to normal.
* “Once you complete the Philosopher’s Stone, an entirely new horizon will open before you. Do not become too impatient.”
That was right.
A hopeful future awaited me!
I fought the monsters with enough leisure to exchange idle conversation with Aleon.
Whenever my Magic Power ran low, I replenished it with Mana Potions.
Before long, the star-shaped hologram became completely filled with starlight.
It had taken slightly more than twenty minutes.
I had not even needed the full thirty.
[Congratulations. You have perfectly completed the <Proof of Aptitude>.]
At those words, celebratory fireworks erupted above my head.
BANG! BANG!
TA-DA-DA-DAAA!
[The Baptism of Starlight begins.]
The starlight filling the hologram began pouring down upon my head like snow.
HUMMMMM!
Countless points of starlight surrounded my body.
At that moment, I instinctively knew.
* “Use Sage’s Sight!”
This was the moment to activate Sage’s Sight.
[Please select the starlight that appeals to you most.]
A message appeared before me.
A refreshing sensation surged through my eyes as Sage’s Sight activated.
FLASH!
The starlight transformed into a multitude of colors.
White.
Sky blue.
Green.
Purple.
Gold.
Was it because I had filled the hologram completely?
There were far more sky-blue and green lights than white ones, despite white representing the lowest grade.
There were also a surprising number of purple lights.
Purple represented Heroic grade.
‘So this is why they call it the Proof of Aptitude.’
Had I failed to properly accumulate starlight, perhaps most of the lights would have been white.
‘In any case, I’ll pass on purple too.’
Legendary at minimum.
I needed at least that much to make this worthwhile.
Among the cascading lights—
Several finally began attracting my attention.
‘Gold.’
Gold represented Legendary grade.
However, it still felt somewhat disappointing.
Was there no emerald light this time?
Since I had filled the starlight perfectly, it seemed reasonable that one might appear.
Even after four or five golden lights had gathered around me, I postponed my selection and continued staring upward.
‘Is Legendary the highest grade available this time?’
That was somewhat disappointing.
Legendary was undeniably an extraordinary grade.
People spent astronomical sums of money merely for the chance to obtain a single Legendary skill.
However, after already experiencing a Mythic skill, I could not help feeling slightly dissatisfied.
‘Then I suppose I’ll choose a Legendary one…….’
Just as I reluctantly turned toward one of the golden lights—
SHIIIIING!!
A point of starlight appeared, scattering radiance more brilliant than all the others.
‘There it is!!’
Emerald.
Mythic grade.
Why would I hesitate?
Afraid that the emerald light might pass me by and never return, I immediately reached out and seized it.
[The selection of starlight has ended.]
[Congratulations. You will receive the skill contained within that starlight.]
WHOOOOOM!!
The emerald light in my hand surged and formed a distinct shape.
It was the same phenomenon I had witnessed when obtaining <Thunderbolt>.
‘This is… fire!’
This time, it appeared to be Fire Element magic.
* “Excellent! In terms of pure destructive power, lightning and fire possess the greatest potential among the Elements.”
As excitement entered Aleon’s voice, I learned the identity of my new skill.
You have acquired the skill ‘[Mythic] Fireball (2-Star ★★).’
Magnificent.
Fireball.
So it was you!
It was one of the most representative two-star skills.
And I had obtained it at Mythic grade.
[Fireball]
*Grade: Mythic (2-Star ★★)
*Element: Fire
*Magic Attack Power: 200
*Special Effect 1: Mana Consumption -40%
*Special Effect 2: Burn Chance +80%
*Special Effect 3: A burned target has a chance to suffer Fire Resistance -50%
*Special Effect 4: Bonus Critical Hit Chance +40%
*Special Effect 5: Flame Storm within a 20-meter radius (Targets exposed to the Flame Storm receive 90% damage)
‘…Wow.’
The instant I checked Fireball’s attributes—
I could not close my mouth.
As expected of Mythic grade!
Its effects were every bit as impressive as those of the Mythic-grade Thunderbolt.
Its damage was also twice as high.
It possessed the highest damage attainable by a two-star skill!
‘The second floor will be effortless too.’
The first step was always the most important.
I had taken the perfect first step upon the second floor.
Just as I clenched both fists and raised the corners of my mouth—
SHIIIIING!
My vision darkened, and I was expelled from the space of the <Proof of Aptitude>.
The second floor.
The site where the <Proof of Aptitude> was conducted.
Zhao Yun, an executive of <Burning Tower> and the man whom Hajun had rejected earlier, had been watching Hajun with displeasure.
‘Tsk. Who does he think he is? His clothes don’t even look respectable. He’ll obviously receive a Common-grade skill.’
His clothing alone revealed everything.
They were ordinary clothes from outside the <Sky Tower>, not tower equipment.
He wore several rings upon his hands, apparently having acquired a few accessories somewhere.
However, judging by the fact that he still wore ordinary clothing, those rings were probably worthless Common-grade accessories.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Zhao Yun ground his teeth as he remembered the look Hajun had given him.
“Everyone, pay close attention! That fellow from earlier ignored my recommendation and went in without training, correct? Only ten minutes remain until the full thirty minutes have passed. Watch carefully and see what grade he receives.”
He was about to add that Hajun would undoubtedly obtain a Common-grade skill.
Then—
SHIIIIING!
Emerald radiance surged from the white barrier surrounding Hajun.
“W-What?”
“Huh?”
The extraordinary amount of light swallowed the entire surrounding area.
WHOOOOOM!!
The radiance spread across the basin before gathering around Hajun once more.
Then it shot directly into the sky in a straight line.
BOOM!!
Like an exploding firework, it scattered brilliant light in every direction before fading.
“Ah……”
Everyone who witnessed it realized what it meant.
It was the phenomenon rumored to occur when someone received the highest possible grade.
“M-Mythic grade!”
“Good heavens!!”
“A Mythic-grade skill appeared on the second floor?”
“Incredible! This is breaking news!”
“Who is that person?”
After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted into an explosive reaction.
Everyone was consumed by excitement.
However, one person could not smile.
“Instructor, that man obtained a Mythic-grade skill.”
“Uh……”
It was Zhao Yun—
The man who had recommended his training to Hajun and loudly told everyone to watch what grade Hajun received.
“He obtained Mythic grade perfectly well without taking the training!”
“Isn’t this a scam?”
“I knew it. It seemed completely random.”
“Give us refunds.”
“I want one too!”
Hajun’s acquisition of a Mythic-grade skill became nothing short of a disaster for Zhao Yun.
“Phew.”
After barely escaping the crowd that had gathered around me, I released a sigh.
Without the Stealth skill of the Hahoe Mask, I would have been completely trapped within the mob.
‘I need to be careful.’
From now on, I had to exercise extreme caution when attracting attention in public places.
Especially since Tiamat was already pursuing me.
‘I wish I could change the Hahoe Mask’s appearance too.’
Its design was common enough that identifying me solely by the mask would be difficult.
However, considering what had happened at the auction house, I could not help feeling uneasy.
* “Changing its appearance may not be possible, but there is a way to make the Hahoe Mask translucent.”
“You can do that?”
* “Correct. You may reveal the Hahoe Mask when necessary and make it transparent when it is not, achieving the same effect as removing and equipping it.”
“While its effects remain active?”
* “Correct.”
“Oh. Is that also done through alchemy?”
* “Yes.”
Magnificent.
As expected of Sage’s Alchemy.
At this point, it seemed less like a skill and more like an all-purpose authority.
‘Good. After obtaining the Robe of the Sage, I’ll use alchemy on the Hahoe Mask while I’m at it.’
It would not take particularly long.
I could gather the necessary materials in advance while searching for the Robe of the Sage.
‘In any case, I need to head to the <Forest Labyrinth> now, correct?’
* “Correct. The <Robe of the Sage> lies dormant there.”
The <Forest Labyrinth> was practically the signature location of the second floor.
Countless Magical Beasts inhabited it.
However, it was also filled with mysteries and treasures in equal measure.
Now that I had obtained a Mythic-grade skill, I was prepared to head there immediately.
Then an unwanted guest appeared.
“Found you.”
A group approached me as I walked along a forest path.
There were five people in total.
Among them, I recognized one face.
‘Isn’t that the swindler from earlier?’
He was the man who had been extorting one gold coin from each person under the pretense of providing training.
Why was he here?
“You bastard. How dare you ruin our business?”
“……?”
What sort of nonsense was this?
When I stared at him in disbelief, Zhao Yun ground his teeth and shouted.
“Because of you, we suffered losses totaling one hundred and eight gold coins. You’re going to compensate us immediately.”
From the sound of it, the fraudulent business from earlier had completely collapsed.
And now he was blaming me?
His accusation was so unreasonable that I could not even laugh.
“Why would I compensate you for that?”
“Hehehe. I knew you wouldn’t listen to reason. Men! Give him a gentle lesson!”
““Yes, Boss!””
Four men approached me with menacing expressions.
At a glance, every one of them appeared to be at least in the mid-teens in level.
Under ordinary circumstances, someone like me, who had only just reached the second floor and become Level 11, should have had no chance of defeating them.
But was I an ordinary Level 11?
‘Should I lightly test the Mythic-grade skill I just obtained?’
I had no intention of killing them.
Therefore, I reduced the Magic Power as much as possible.
I did not activate Sage’s Aura.
Naturally, I also avoided aiming at their Weak Points.
“Gentlemen, this may hurt a little.”
“Fireball.”
Emerald flames blazed into existence above my outstretched hand.
“What is this bastard talking about?”
“You think you can do anything to us merely because you obtained one high-grade skill? You’re only Level 11.”
They openly sneered when they saw the Fireball I had manifested.
However—
Their expressions transformed into shock in an instant.
BOOOOOOM!!
The emerald Fireball struck the man at the front.
An enormous explosion erupted, and a Flame Storm swallowed all four men at once.
“AAAAARGH!”
“GUAAAGH!”
“AAAAARGH!”
“URK!”
All four collapsed, reduced to a near-death state in a single attack.
I had suppressed the power as much as possible, yet it was still this destructive.
It was a moment that allowed me to experience the power of the Mythic-grade Fireball firsthand.
‘If I used it at full strength, they would have been reduced to ashes.’
I silently whistled while looking at the incapacitated men.
DRIP, DRIP.
At that moment, I heard the sound of liquid falling.
“Uh, uh… Ah……”
Zhao Yun stood there with his legs trembling violently.
“Huh.”
Had that man just wet himself?
What a spectacle.
I considered what to do with him before reaching a decision.
“Tell me, sir. Where is your headquarters?”
I had decided to uproot them completely.
Seeing them commit fraud so openly reminded me of a childhood trauma, making my skin itch with irritation.
‘Besides, if I leave them alone, they may continue bothering me.’
I would visit their headquarters and dismantle the organization properly.
After defeating them moments earlier, I had gained complete confidence in my strength.
And the decision I made—
Brought me an enormous stroke of fortune that I had never anticipated.