A private training center.
It was a type of facility that had appeared as the number of Hunters increased.
The interior and exterior of the building were constructed from highly durable materials, allowing Hunters to train without restraint.
The usage fees were expensive, but almost no Hunter tried to save money when it came to using a private training center.
That was because training was extremely important to Hunters.
‘No matter how talented you are, you still need to train.’
I stepped out of the Hunter-only taxi and entered the private training center.
It was the closest private training center to the place where I had fought the Kiraks.
“What kind of room would you like?”
The private training center employee asked me a question.
Several sample pictures were displayed before me.
Among them, I chose a training room that looked reasonably spacious.
“I’ll take this one.”
“It costs 50,000 won per hour. Would you like to pay in advance or afterward?”
“……I’ll pay afterward.”
Although I had already known the price before coming here, hearing it directly still caught me off guard.
It really was expensive.
It only cost this much because I had chosen an average room. A better room would probably have cost at least 100,000 won per hour.
CLICK—!
I opened the door and entered the training room.
It was my first time visiting one, but it didn’t feel unfamiliar.
I had heard Hunters talk about these places while working as a porter.
‘So this is what they’re like.’
The facilities were excellent, befitting the price.
There was even a shower inside the training room, along with several changes of clothing.
It was an environment where one could focus solely on training.
I liked it very much.
“First…… I should probably wash up before doing anything else.”
It would have been difficult to describe my current appearance as clean.
My entire body was drenched in Kirak blood.
The distinctive stench of blood was also quite strong.
Trying to train in this state would undoubtedly impair my concentration, so I decided to wash myself first.
“Ugh! My entire body aches.”
Had the tension left my body while I was washing?
I began to feel muscle pain that hadn’t been there before.
My wrists, arms, and shoulders ached the most.
They were the parts of my body that I had strained while swinging the sword.
‘I did swing the sword a lot. It would be stranger if I weren’t sore.’
I had swung my sword against dozens of Monsters, so the pain was only natural.
I was also suffering from considerable mental fatigue.
It had accumulated while I maintained my vigilance and blocked or avoided the Monsters’ attacks.
Even so...
“Maybe it’s because my stats are high, but this is bearable.”
It was well within the limits of what I could endure.
The muscle pain was also fading rapidly, proving that Awakening had transformed my body into something virtually superhuman.
“And I still have things to do.”
I looked at the sword in my hand.
【Limitless Sword】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The sword of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God. The first seal has been released
[Effects] Attack Power +30%, Evasion +30%, Ego
It was an astonishing sword no matter how many times I looked at it.
It possessed a Grade that had never existed in this world and Effects worthy of that Grade.
The description even said that only its ‘first seal’ had been released.
‘Which means…… the second seal can be released too.’
What would happen if its second seal were released?
I was already looking forward to discovering what incredible Effects would be added.
CLENCH—!
My grip around the sword tightened.
The sensation of cutting through the Kiraks in a single stroke remained vivid.
‘It felt as though I were cutting soft tofu rather than a Monster.’
It had truly felt effortless.
Of course, that was only how it had felt. In reality, a great deal of fatigue had accumulated in my muscles.
Nevertheless, because it had felt so easy, I remembered my confidence rising considerably during the battle.
‘I’ve only been Awakened for an incredibly short time, yet I’m already this strong. If I train properly from now on, I’ll be able to become much stronger.’
Passion surged through me as I imagined my future strength.
I wanted to erase every Monster that had hurt my parents from the face of the earth, and I wanted to earn enough money to have my parents treated.
Now, I felt as though those goals had drawn one step closer.
SWISH—!
I looked away from the sword...
and turned my gaze toward the ‘Limitless Armor’ I was currently wearing.
Although its seal had yet to be released, the armor had displayed astonishing defensive power and protected me from the Kiraks’ attacks.
【Limitless Armor】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The armor of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God. Currently sealed
[Effects] ???
Hoping its seal would be released soon...
I took out the three books I had found within Martial God’s Legacy.
“I couldn’t understand what was written in them inside the cave, and I still can’t understand a single word now.”
The books were filled with characters that resembled Chinese characters.
However, all three books were incredibly old.
They looked as though they would fall apart immediately if I handled them incorrectly.
‘Still, I should at least examine them properly.’
RUSTLE—!
I carefully opened one of the ancient books.
I turned the page cautiously to avoid tearing it.
It was covered in an indecipherable language.
The symbols looked like Chinese characters, but I couldn’t even be certain of that.
‘Should I have studied Chinese characters beforehand?’
Although I couldn’t understand any of it, I quickly turned through the pages to at least skim the book.
FLIP, FLIP, FLIP—!
When I had turned every page from beginning to end...
FSSSH—! FSSSSSH—!
The book began crumbling into powder.
“What the hell?!”
It happened without warning.
I hurriedly tried to catch even the powder, but it was useless.
FSSSSH—!
Before long, the entire book had turned to powder and vanished.
“Ah…… Should I have handled it more carefully? I didn’t realize it was old enough to crumble into powder…….”
I was bewildered.
I had handled it gently, yet it had been in such poor condition that even that had reduced it to dust.
However...
‘Huh?’
Messages suddenly began appearing.
Letters were written rapidly before my eyes.
The completed sentences soon filled me with excitement.
[Awakening the Skill ‘Limitless Mind Method (SSSSS)’.]
[Awakening has begun.]
That ancient book had actually been a Skill?
An SSSSS-grade Skill, no less?
‘That’s why its information didn’t appear! A Skill isn’t an Item……’
Just as I tried to calm my astonishment...
“Ghk!”
A severe headache began assaulting me.
It felt as though countless indecipherable characters were forcibly drilling their way into my mind.
‘Aaaaaaargh!’
Time seemed to slow down.
That was how agonizing it was.
I would have preferred to lose consciousness, but for some strange reason, my mind remained perfectly alert.
Characters were forcibly engraved into my mind.
They were the same Chinese characters I had seen in the book.
‘When…… is this going to end……?!’
How much time had passed?
The headache that had been tormenting me gradually began to subside.
It weakened little by little before finally disappearing completely.
Then another Message appeared.
[You have awakened the Skill ‘Limitless Mind Method (SSSSS)’!]
***
It was fascinating.
Only moments ago, my head had felt as though it were about to burst, and the resulting headache had tormented me.
However, after the Message appeared before my eyes, not only had the headache vanished, but my mind felt clearer than ever.
[You have awakened the Skill ‘Limitless Mind Method (SSSSS)’!]
“Limitless Mind Method……?”
It was the new Skill I had awakened.
The moment I saw its name, the Limitless Sword and Limitless Armor came to mind.
In other words, the Limitless Mind Method must also have been connected to the Martial God.
There was a high chance that it was the Martial God’s Mind Method.
‘I need to see its information.’
I immediately opened the Skill’s information.
At that moment, I couldn’t suppress my laughter.
【Limitless Mind Method】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The Mind Method of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God
“Haha!”
Just as I had expected, it was a Mind Method.
It was SSSSS-grade, and the description even stated that it was the Mind Method of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God.
I liked everything about it.
‘I’ll accumulate Inner Arts using this Mind Method from now on.’
I knew about Mind Methods.
They were Skills possessed by most Hunters.
However, their performance differed depending on the specific Mind Method.
Some people accumulated Inner Arts or Mana quickly with powerful Mind Methods, while others accumulated Inner Arts or Mana slowly with inferior ones.
As for me...
‘I’ll be able to accumulate Inner Arts incredibly quickly! It’s an SSSSS-grade Mind Method.’
Wouldn’t I be able to accumulate it far more quickly than anyone else?
SWISH—!
My gaze naturally shifted toward the two remaining ancient books.
Since the first book had been a Skill Book that allowed me to awaken a Mind Method, there was a high probability that the other two were Skill Books as well.
Logically, I should have examined them immediately.
However...
“I have to go through that pain again……?”
To be honest, I hesitated.
The pain I had just experienced had been far too severe.
Nevertheless, I soon steeled myself.
“I can do this.”
Thinking about my parents lying in their hospital beds gave me courage.
My parents had thrown themselves at a Monster to save me.
For their sake, I could endure any amount of pain.
No—I had to endure it.
SWISH—!
I picked up one of the two remaining books.
FLIP, FLIP, FLIP—!
I quickly turned through its pages.
Then I had a strange experience.
‘……I can read it?’
They were characters that I had been completely unable to read before, yet now I could understand them to a certain extent.
Could it have been related to the headache I experienced while awakening the Limitless Mind Method?
That seemed highly likely. I had felt as though numerous characters were burrowing into my mind.
RUSTLE—! FLIP—!
I rapidly turned through the pages.
When I had gone through every page from beginning to end...
FSSSSSH—!
The book crumbled into powder, and new Messages appeared.
[Awakening the Skill ‘Limitless Sword Method (SSSSS)’.]
[Awakening has begun.]
‘Limitless Sword Method? It was a Sword Method?’
This time, it was an SSSSS-grade Sword Method.
Just as the revelation threatened to make me laugh...
The pain began.
‘Aaaaaaargh!’
Fortunately...
It wasn’t as severe as before.
‘Ghk…… This much is still…… bearable!’
Time passed.
After winning my battle against the pain, I was able to see a new Message.
[You have awakened the Skill ‘Limitless Sword Method (SSSSS)’!]
The moment I saw the Message, I opened the Skill’s information.
【Limitless Sword Method】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The Sword Method of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God
This time, it was Jin Cheon-woo’s Sword Method.
My expectations naturally soared.
I had already sliced through Kiraks with ease using nothing but the F-grade Skills Swing and Thrust.
I couldn’t even imagine how much stronger I would become once I could use the SSSSS-grade Limitless Sword Method.
“At this point, I have no choice but to learn the last Skill immediately.”
Without wasting any time, I began turning through the pages of the final book.
FSSSSSH—!
The last book also crumbled into powder and vanished.
After enduring another period of pain, I was able to examine the information for my new Skill.
【Limitless Footwork】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The Footwork of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God
A Mind Method, a Sword Method, and Footwork.
I had obtained many of the things necessary for combat.
Moreover, every one of them possessed the highest Grade, one unknown to the world.
***
After learning the Limitless Mind Method, Limitless Sword Method, and Limitless Footwork from the three Skill Books...
The first thing I did was use my smartphone.
“These days, you can find almost anything with an internet search.”
I accessed the country’s largest web portal and began searching.
I searched for information on how to use a Mind Method awakened through a Skill Book, how to learn a Sword Method awakened through a Skill Book, and how to learn Footwork awakened through a Skill Book.
The information I found...
made my thoughts complicated.
“The higher a Skill’s Grade, the more training it might require……?”
I had assumed I would be able to use them immediately, but reality was different.
Swing and Thrust were F-grade, the lowest Grade, which was why I had been able to use them as soon as I awakened them.
Most high-grade Skills apparently required training.
The problem was that the Skills I had awakened were SSSSS-grade.
It was an absurd Grade that had never even existed in this world.
“Surely…… I won’t be unable to use them for a long time, right?”
It was a troubling situation.
I continued searching on my smartphone.
The next thing I searched for was ‘Ego.’
It was one of the Effects attached to the Limitless Sword.
【Limitless Sword】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] The sword of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God. The first seal has been released
[Effects] Attack Power +30%, Evasion +30%, Ego
The first search results for Ego said...
“An individual consciousness? A soul dwelling within something?”
They made me laugh in disbelief.
I had already anticipated such an explanation, but seeing it in an actual internet search made it seem even more absurd.
“……This is ridiculous. Does that mean someone’s soul is contained inside the Limitless Sword? That makes no sense. Something like that is impossible.”
Apparently, the Limitless Sword’s ‘Ego’ Effect had some other unique meaning.
I had never heard of a soul being contained within a weapon, and it made no sense even from a common-sense perspective.
I was about to investigate Ego further when...
- It turns out it is possible. To place a soul within a sword.
A person’s voice suddenly rang out.
***