Sehyun’s eyes swept over the skill list and stopped at <Depth of Affection LV.1> and <Depth of Trust LV.1>. These were unfamiliar. He had never acquired such skills before.
His fingertip moved toward <Depth of Affection LV.1>. The moment he touched it, a small description window popped up beside it.
<Depth of Affection LV.1> – An active buff skill with passive effect applied. Depending on how much one loves and is loved, allies’ attack power increases. At current level, maximum increase 12%. (Maximum 6% from love given, maximum 6% from love received.) – Mana consumption: 10 per second. HP consumption: 3 per second.
Sehyun’s eyes widened soundlessly. His hand, frozen in midair, did not move. But then, clenching his fingers tight, he touched <Depth of Trust LV.1> instead.
<Depth of Trust LV.1> – An active buff skill with passive effect applied. Depending on how much one trusts and is trusted, allies’ defense power increases. At current level, maximum increase 10%. (Maximum 5% from trust given, maximum 5% from trust received.) – Mana consumption: 8 per second. HP consumption: 2 per second.
It was the best buff skill Sehyun had ever seen in all his time on Elix. Judging by magic stone standards, this was at least L-rank.
But the criteria were unclear. Especially the word “ally.” What exactly was the basis? How many people could be included? How was the system determining who counted as an ally?
Rather than joy, confusion came first. Why had these appeared?
The problem was the enormous consumption cost. At present, using 10 mana per second meant he could only maintain it for about 3 seconds.
Worse than not using it at all.
‘Everything else is the same….’
The other active skills were just what he had expected—basic manifestations that appeared at LV.1.
Sehyun picked up a bow, drew an arrow from the quiver, and set it to the string. His arms trembled from lack of strength as he pulled, but he endured, took aim at the target, and released.
Tang—
The arrow shot cleanly and stuck at the edge of the target. Baek Dohyun’s cheek twitched, showing a faint expression of surprise.
In truth, Sehyun could shoot only because of his racial trait. The Cheongeum race were excellent archers. To them, hitting the target was so trivial that Sehyun’s result would not even register as impressive.
By archery scoring, it was barely worth a single point. Still, for a first attempt, it wasn’t bad.
“A little more practice and you’ll manage.”
“You still haven’t left? You’ve got stamina.”
“Who was it that said we should meet at the training hall?”
“Cut the nonsense and get some sleep. I don’t want to keep seeing your face.”
“Shut up and focus when you shoot. Unless you want to die tomorrow.”
Sehyun nocked another arrow, pulled the string. His back muscles shifted, his form improved. Drawing to the corner of his lips, he released. This time it landed in the 5-point zone.
Not bad.
His fingertips stung, but it was bearable. He drew again, pulling until his arms and back screamed in protest. Holding his back muscles tight, he activated his only offensive skill, <Purification’s Fall LV.1>.
At first, only the arrowhead glimmered, but then a white light spread, swirling to engulf the entire shaft. Mana churned, coiling around the arrowhead.
The moment Sehyun felt it was ready, he let go.
The arrow shot forward and pierced the 3-point ring. A roaring explosion followed as the mana detonated, obliterating the wooden target completely.
But Sehyun was left drained from a single shot. Understandable, since <Purification’s Fall LV.1> consumed 10 mana per arrow. It was a growth-weakening skill, usable only early on, diminishing as levels rose.
Wiping sweat, he looked over. Baek Dohyun’s cheek twitched again in a “so, you can do that?” expression. Sehyun only shrugged.
“I’m just a little more creative than most.”
“Is that why you Awakened as the weakest?”
God.
“Old man, please go sleep. Your dark circles are terrifying.”
“A growth-weakening skill, is it?”
“Yes, as you see. Only works in the Tower, useless in Empire wars.”
“A shame. If not for that, you could have contributed to imperial development.”
“I know.”
Sehyun reset his stance. Thanks to the training hall’s effect, his mana recovered quickly and the destroyed target restored itself. He would need to practice all night. Only then could he protect Jaeyoung, and himself.
He had only 10 starter mana potions in his inventory. Each restored a mere 10 mana—a pitiful amount. In the Tower, they had to be rationed for combat.
So, he had to raise his accuracy through practice. At least to the point where, combined with skills, nine out of ten arrows hit the bull’s-eye.
“Go. I can do this alone.”
Baek Dohyun said nothing. He only stood, arms crossed, leaning against the door, quietly watching Sehyun.
One hour passed. Two. Neither moved from their positions. Through the night, both remained fixed, each absorbed in his task.
Baek Dohyun left only when dawn light seeped faintly over the village roofs. In his place, three mana potions lay on the ground, silent tokens of good fortune.
Sehyun lifted them with blood-stained fingers. Then, recalling the night’s practice, he left the training hall—after folding his wings back into his body, bones crunching until not a trace remained.
Outside the lodging, he saw Jaeyoung crouched alone. His expression was heavier than usual, as if steeling himself. But as Sehyun approached, Jaeyoung swallowed hard, stood, and faced him with resolve.
“Jaeyoung, I don’t want you to go.”
“I don’t want you to go either.”
Jaeyoung said it with a mischievous smile, gazing straight into Sehyun’s golden eyes. Sehyun nearly spoke again, then simply smiled faintly and brushed Jaeyoung’s hair.
Then he extended his hand. An invitation to go together.
At the time, Sehyun had no idea what resolve lay in Jaeyoung’s eyes, nor what determination made him grasp Sehyun’s hand.
The words he whispered, that the cold dawn air felt refreshing in his lungs—those lodged uncomfortably deep inside Sehyun’s chest. Forcing down his unease, Sehyun brushed his hair once more.
Hoping only that they would return alive.
At first, yes. It began with exchanging names with the three men who approached hesitantly. All three were combat-type, but their unwillingness showed clearly, so Sehyun kept the talk short.
Before leaving the village, they had to endure headman Kim Gapjun’s sneer: “Tch, turning yellow overnight, huh?” Then, at the gate, they received sincere farewells from Gwak Junghan and Yoon Jeha, wishing them safe return.
Their clothes were restored by the system’s auto-repair, concealing Sehyun’s wings in the process.
Step—
This was his first official departure from the village. The fog-shrouded forest was bleak and cold, chilling to the bone. And before them stood three Portals blocking the path. One black Portal leading to the Tower of Trials. Another, the Dimensional Gate through which residents of other worlds arrived. And finally, the White Space Portal—the one Billwill had brought them through.
“C-can we really do this?”
“I… I think it’s impossible. We’ll fail.”
“No… Squad 2 made it back alive. We… we can do it too.”
Ignoring the trembling men, Sehyun tightened his grip on Jaeyoung’s hand and stepped toward the black Portal. Its color was like the open jaws of a serpent. Yet Sehyun advanced without hesitation. The three men, seeing him, scrambled to follow.
Beyond the pull of the Portal lay a long passage walled in on both sides. Wide enough that twenty grown men could reach and barely touch hands across, yet narrow compared to the towering walls stretching upward so high their tops were invisible.
And above, where the sky should be—there loomed a colossal black Tower. Nothing but darkness; even its shape defied comprehension.
“Wh-what is this…?”
“That… that black thing is the Tower?”
“There’s no empty space! Just how enormous is it…!”