- Huh? I’ve seen Yu-gwon in a Dungeon before! It was about a month ago, and back then, Yu-gwon was just a porter! He definitely wasn’t Awakened, so what happened?
A user had posted the comment on the Hunter Community.
The post’s view count soared explosively.
That was how much attention Yu-gwon was receiving within the community.
- What? More and more people keep saying the same thing. Was he really a porter?
- He wasn’t Awakened a month ago? Are you sure? Then you’re saying Yu-gwon Awakened less than a month ago and already wiped out E-rank Monsters like that? Does that make any sense?
└ You actually believe that? LOL. How innocent.
- Stop spouting bullshit. I wouldn’t believe it even if you said he Awakened three months ago, but only one month???? Do you think we’re idiots? Why not just claim Yu-gwon awakened an S-grade Trait while you’re at it? LOL.
└ LOL. It would be possible if he awakened an S-grade Trait. But would the odds even be 0.1 percent? One thing’s certain: they’re under one percent.
└ An S-grade Trait is completely absurd. Fewer than ten people in South Korea have awakened one.
- Why post this garbage? It would be different if you attached evidence, but what kind of idiots are actually falling for it?
The reactions were overwhelmingly negative.
Many users on the Hunter Community insulted the poster.
The main reason was the claim that Yu-gwon, who had become known as the Shabby Hunter, had still been an ordinary, unawakened porter a month ago.
It was a story that defied common sense.
“That’s impossible.”
An Mi-hyeon shook her head as she browsed the Hunter Community on her smartphone.
“A Hunter who Awakened less than a month ago couldn’t hunt multiple E-rank Monsters.”
As both an employee of the Hunter Association and a Hunter herself, she didn’t go out of her way to post a comment insulting the poster.
However, her thoughts were similar to those of the other users.
The idea that Yu-gwon, the Shabby Hunter, had gone from a porter to a Hunter less than a month ago was nearly impossible.
“He must have been active as a Hunter for at least six months. He simply went unnoticed until now, and he was probably naturally talented from the beginning.”
With an intrigued expression, An Mi-hyeon continued reading posts related to ‘Yu-gwon.’
As an employee of the Hunter Association, she enjoyed immense popularity and was known as the Goddess of the Hunter Association.
However, An Mi-hyeon herself had no interest in such things.
Her primary interest was becoming a powerful Hunter.
And her other interest was...
Discovering powerful Hunters.
“Reading posts like these only makes me more curious. What kind of Hunter is Yu-gwon?”
An Mi-hyeon looked intrigued.
However, her cheeks soon puffed out in a pout.
“He said he’d contact me using the number on my business card, didn’t he? Why hasn’t he contacted me yet?”
***
- Watch your sword through to the end! Haven’t I told you time and again to watch where the tip of your sword ends up?!
I was being scolded again.
The Martial God’s passionate instruction grew increasingly severe as time passed.
Even so...
‘My skills are improving!’
My swordsmanship was improving.
Compared to when I had begun, I had progressed considerably.
However, I still seemed painfully inadequate in the eyes of Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God.
- You stepped too far. Haven’t I told you that even a small difference can change the result?
His unending advice continued.
At times, it felt like nagging, but whenever it did, I reminded myself that the person speaking was the ‘Martial God.’
‘He’s the Martial God, so he has every right to say it. He’s giving me the correct answers. I shouldn’t complain. Let’s keep working hard.’
I minimized my rest periods and continued swinging my sword.
After Awakening, I had become capable of enduring hunger and sleepiness for much longer, which made my training even more efficient.
WHOOSH—! WHOOOSH—!
I was swinging my sword while imitating the illustrated martial artist’s movements.
At the same time, I continued listening attentively to Jin Cheon-woo’s advice.
‘Huh?’
Letters suddenly began appearing before my eyes.
I had experienced it several times before, so I knew what was happening.
A Message was being generated.
[Trait Realm has increased - First Star]
“I finally did it!”
I had been waiting for this.
I had occasionally examined my Trait’s information after Awakening, but the place where its Realm should have been displayed had always remained blank.
【Martial God’s Successor】
[Grade] SSSSS
[Description] A Trait that allows you to inherit everything from Jin Cheon-woo, the strongest martial artist once known as the Martial God
[Current Realm] First Star
Now, instead of an empty space, the Realm of First Star was clearly displayed.
It meant I had taken another step down the path toward inheriting everything belonging to the Martial God!
Now that I had reached the First Star...
I immediately felt the change.
WHOOSH—!
I swung the sword downward from above.
It was a movement I had repeated hundreds of times and had become fairly familiar with.
However...
‘Huh? What’s this?’
It felt different from before.
The process of swinging the sword had become easier.
Less strength went into my fingers, wrist, and arm, while my lower body seemed to engage far more effectively.
The sudden change left me bewildered.
At that moment, Jin Cheon-woo cried out in alarm.
- You! What did you just do?!
“Pardon? I swung my sword.”
- ……Do you not know what you just did?
“I just swung the sword. The movement did feel a little easier than before. I could also put more strength into my lower body.”
- How could such a thing……? Did you perhaps gain enlightenment?
“No, nothing like that. My Trait did advance to the First Star, though.”
- What is that supposed to mean?
“Um…… I think you can consider it something similar to enlightenment.”
I had no idea how similar the enlightenment Jin Cheon-woo spoke of was to an increase in my Trait Realm.
I only said it because I couldn’t think of any better way to explain it.
In any case...
The change was similar to gaining enlightenment.
- Hah…… Hahaha……! You appeared utterly talentless when you first swung a sword…… yet you gained enlightenment this quickly? You truly are an incomprehensible young man…….
“Are my stance and movements acceptable now?”
As I asked the question, I swung the sword again.
- There are still areas where you are lacking…… but compared to a moment ago, you are completely different. To be honest, the change is difficult to believe.
Jin Cheon-woo’s voice was still filled with astonishment.
‘The effects of raising my Trait Realm were greater than I expected. They were enough to astonish even the Martial God.’
I became certain.
Advancing my Trait Realm had greatly increased my level of proficiency with the Limitless Sword Method.
CLENCH—!
I gripped the sword once more.
Since things had come this far, I intended to see exactly how much I could accomplish.
‘I should try all the movements I couldn’t perform properly before. Who knows? Maybe I can suddenly do them now.’
When I focused on my desire to learn the Limitless Sword Method...
The illustrated martial artist began moving.
Holding his sword, the martial artist demonstrated several movements.
I began swinging my sword while following his example.
- Good heavens! How could this be……?!
Jin Cheon-woo was so astonished that he didn’t even scold me.
I concentrated even harder and followed the martial artist’s movements.
‘This is rather exhausting.’
Was it because I had already swung the sword hundreds of times?
Or had fighting so many Monsters beforehand drained my stamina?
Despite possessing a body strengthened by Awakening, my muscles began to strain.
Even so...
‘Focus. I’m going to see this through to the end.’
I endured and tried to execute every movement.
When the martial artist finally completed his last movement...
I executed it as well.
I did my best to mirror it as closely as possible.
WHOOSH—! SWISH—!
At that moment...
‘Oh!’
Messages appeared before my eyes.
[Vitality has increased +1]
[Attack Power has increased +1]
[You have performed Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God’s ‘Limitless Sword Method’.]
[Achievement added - One Who Learned the Martial God’s Sword Method]
***
The illustrated martial artist.
When I had followed every movement he demonstrated...
Several Messages appeared before me.
There were Messages announcing increases to my Vitality and Attack Power, as well as one announcing the addition of an Achievement.
I opened the Achievement’s information first.
I chose it because I was most curious about it.
【Achievement】One Who Learned the Martial God’s Sword Method
[Description] An Achievement granted to one who has learned and performed Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God’s ‘Limitless Sword Method’
[Effects] Vitality +10, Attack Power +10, Defense +5, Evasion +5, Magic Resistance +5
“This is insane!”
- What happened?
“I…… became stronger again.”
- What kind of absurd nonsense is that?
“It makes no sense, but it’s true.”
The Achievement was almost absurdly good!
An Achievement that raised my stats this much had to be rare.
Moreover, hadn’t I already obtained a similar Achievement?
【Achievement】One Who Learned the Martial God’s Mind Method
[Description] An Achievement granted to one who has learned and circulated Jin Cheon-woo, the Martial God’s ‘Limitless Mind Method’
[Effects] Vitality +5, Inner Arts +10, Attack Power +5, Defense +5, Evasion +5, Magic Resistance +5
The Achievement I had obtained earlier, ‘One Who Learned the Martial God’s Mind Method.’
It was so similar to the newly obtained ‘One Who Learned the Martial God’s Sword Method’ that they could almost be considered part of a set.
In that case…… would I obtain another related Achievement once I could properly perform my other Skill, the ‘Limitless Footwork’?
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Thinking that I could truly become stronger at an incredible speed if this continued...
I opened my Status Window and examined the changes.
【Name】Yu-gwon
【Trait】Martial God’s Successor (SSSSS)
【Vitality】E[82] 【Inner Arts】E[64]
【Attack Power】E[80] 【Defense】E[74]
【Evasion】E[75] 【Magic Resistance】E[68]
【Skills】[Limitless Mind Method (SSSSS)][Limitless Sword Method (SSSSS)][Limitless Footwork (SSSSS)][Swing (F)][Thrust (F)]
【Achievements】[Special Beginner][One Who Learned the Martial God’s Mind Method][One Who Astonished the Martial God][One Who Learned the Martial God’s Sword Method]
The Achievements section had become fuller with the newly added Achievement.
However, my gaze ultimately shifted toward my combat stats.
‘My stats have increased tremendously! Is it even possible to grow this quickly?’
To be honest, I was bewildered.
During the two years I had spent working as a porter, I had heard and studied a great deal of information related to Hunters.
However, I had never heard of anyone growing this quickly.
Not even those known as S-rank Hunters had ever been said to grow at a pace as insane as mine.
‘They probably just weren’t being honest, right? They might actually have become stronger as quickly as I have.’
I tried to rationalize the situation by telling myself that the other Hunters must have hidden the truth.
However, deep down, I already knew.
My growth rate was abnormal.
I couldn’t remain lost in thought for long.
The thunderous voice of Jin Cheon-woo, my tiger-like instructor, rang out.
- Why are you standing there in a daze? Use that time to swing your sword one more time. Or circulate your Mind Method!
“Yes! I’ll start immediately!”
I answered quickly...
then sat down on the floor and assumed the lotus position.
It was time to circulate the Limitless Mind Method and increase my inner arts.
- A wise decision. To become a powerful martial artist, one must circulate their Mind Method and swing their sword whenever they have a spare moment.
Listening to Jin Cheon-woo’s satisfied voice...
I tried to move the inner arts within my qi center and begin circulating the Limitless Mind Method.
Or at least, I intended to.
‘What the hell?!’
I had no choice but to stop.
A new Message had suddenly appeared.
Moreover, its contents were far too shocking to ignore.
[The first seal on the ‘Limitless Armor’ has been released.]
[You can now view some information about the ‘Limitless Armor’.]
The Limitless Armor.
The SSSSS-grade Item I had obtained alongside the Limitless Sword!
It was the moment that extraordinary armor’s seal was released.
***