Chapter 36

C-Class Hunter

A week has passed.

I’ve been diligently moving around during that time.

“Hoo, hoo.”

The vacant lot is now more familiar than my own home.

I wiped the sweat flowing down my forehead.

My whole body ached.

Thanks to the Old Man’s great method, the waste accumulated inside me had been completely evaporated.

Seriously, when will this damn great method end?

I immediately sat down and crossed my legs.

Supreme Clarity Heart Method.

I tried to feel the ‘Essence’ through the posture the Old Man had taught me.

[‘Bone One’s Strength has increased by 1!]

[‘Bone Five’s Magical power has increased by 1!]

“……”

Even when I’m just training alone.

The stats of the Skeletons continue to rise.

As the Old Man directed.

They are voluntarily training on their own.

‘Undead doing self-directed learning, huh…’

Wouldn’t Necromancers all over the world be shocked and envious at the same time if they knew?

[‘Tae Yang-chang’s Strength has increased by 1!]

[‘Tae Yang-chang’s Agility has increased by 1!]

Especially.

Tae Yangi’s training ability was outstanding.

Flash! Flash!

Every time the spear was swung and emitted light.

Holes of a consistent size were pierced in the scattering fallen leaves.

Even without the Old Man creating a separate training curriculum.

It seemed like he was digging up memories from the past and engaging in training on his own.

[Name: Tae Yang-chang]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Spearman]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 38] [Agility: 38] [Stamina: 36] [Magical power: 30] [Technique: 38]

[Skills]

‘Intermediate Thrust’ (Lv.3)

‘Sun Chain Strike’ (Lv.2)

‘Raging Desert’ (Lv.2)

‘Soulflare’ (Lv.2)

“Kuh, nice.”

The skill levels have also increased a lot.

In particular, ‘Basic Thrust’ had reached level MaX and was upgraded to ‘Intermediate Thrust’.

Bone One and the others were the same.

[Name: Bone One]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Swordsman]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 30] [Agility: 27] [Stamina: 28] [Magical power: 20] [Technique: 30]

[Skills]

‘Intermediate Slash’ (Lv.3)

First, Bone One.

He was simply focusing on ‘Intermediate Slash’.

[Name: Bone Three]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Archer]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 27] [Agility: 30] [Stamina: 25] [Magical power: 20] [Technique: 30]

[Skills]

‘Intermediate Rapid Fire’ (Lv.3)

‘Secure Vision’ (Lv.9)

‘Poison Arrow’ (Lv.9)

Next is Bone Three.

He had raised ‘Secure Vision’ and ‘Poison Arrow’ to max level.

And upgraded ‘Basic Rapid Fire’ to ‘Intermediate Rapid Fire’.

[Name: Bone Four]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Shielder]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 24] [Agility: 21] [Stamina: 24] [Magical power: 23] [Technique: 20]

[Skills]

‘Intermediate Block’ (Lv.3)

‘Intermediate Attention Seeker’ (Lv.3)

‘Intermediate Block’ and ‘Intermediate Attention Seeker’ for Bone Four.

[Name: Bone Five]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Magician]

[Rank: D]

[Strength: 22] [Agility: 20] [Stamina: 20] [Magical power: 28] [Technique: 22]

[Skills]

‘Fireball’ (Lv.MaX)

‘Fire Field’ (Lv.2)

‘Air Shield’ (Lv.MaX)

‘Haste’ (Lv.2)

Lastly, Bone Five.

His skills were unique.

It seemed that when the proficiency of one skill was fully filled, its derivative skills were created.

When ‘Fireball’ was mastered, ‘Fire Field’ was created.

When ‘Air Shield’ was mastered, ‘Haste’ was created.

If skills continue to be created, wouldn’t he become a true magician with hundreds of skills in the future?

I could only speculate.

“Still, it’s a relief it’s fire magic.”

Bone Five is currently using the S-class item, ‘Dragonfire Staff’.

Since it’s an item that doubles the power of fire attribute skills.

The creation of ‘Fire Field’ was satisfactory enough.

“Hoo.”

Now it’s my turn.

I closed my eyes and concentrated.

In a world of nothingness where nothing can be seen.

I tried to grasp some intangible energy.

‘C-Class…’

A journey to upgrade one rank.

Honestly, I don’t know what conditions need to be met.

Whether I have to keep getting hit by the Old Man.

Or whether I have to grasp the rhythm of the ‘Supreme Clarity Heart Method’ I’m doing now.

Or whether I have to go to the Dungeon and get another ‘stroke of luck’.

‘But.’

I didn’t feel frustrated even though I didn’t know.

What’s certain is.

Even at this moment, I’m constantly getting stronger.

‘Don’t think too complicatedly, just do as you’re told.’

I slowly eliminated my thoughts now.

The incantation the Old Man taught me, the surrounding scenery, and even distracting thoughts.

I erased them from my mind.

It was truly a state of detachment from thought.

I approached a state of selflessness where I didn’t think about anything.

Hoo, thump, hoo, thump!

Only the sound of breathing and heartbeat could be heard in my ears.

No, I couldn’t even recognize that anymore.

How many minutes had passed?

Or how many hours had passed?

Swish!

‘Hmm?’

My mind was awakened.

I didn’t open my eyes, but I felt a unique sensation.

A strange sensation that was not the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

It was a sensation that was soft yet warm.

Rough yet cool.

‘Feels good?’

As if swimming in a calm waterfront without any shaking.

I slowly walked through it.

I tried touching it, feeling it, and drinking it.

Just as a child in their innocence was enjoying playing with toys.

[Congratulations!]

[You have sensed the source of all things, ‘Essence’!]

[You have acquired the skill, ‘Supreme Clarity Heart Method’ (S-Class).]

‘Huh?’

My mind snapped back as if cold water had been poured on my head.

‘Essence’ detection?

S-Class skill?

Ah, I was training in the Supreme Clarity Heart Method, right?

Does that mean I’ve finally felt the ‘Essence’ that the Old Man was talking about?

A thrill ran through my body.

I had discovered the source of achieving Myriad skills for the first time.

‘This is… Essence, huh.’

I examined my body.

I could feel things flowing leisurely inside my body.

It was mysterious.

‘Essence’ was clearly composing the whole world.

I slowly expanded my senses.

The momentum that Tae Yangi was emitting, and the Fireball that Bone Five was using.

In the end, they were composed of ‘Essence’.

Gi So-yul, who was analyzing Tae Yangi’s movements from afar.

The pouring sunlight and the moist earth.

The lush forest.

Everything was composed of ‘Essence’.

“Don’t just memorize it without thinking. You have to concentrate. You have to feel how the intangible energy moves.”

“Essence is the foundation of all physical forces, no, of the entire world.”

“If you only know how to handle Essence, you can construct all existing skills.”

I only vaguely knew what the Old Man was saying.

But I finally embodied it.

‘Of course.’

Handling it and feeling it are two different problems, though.

[Ding!]

It was then that a voice rang in my head.

[You have achieved a hidden condition!]

“Heok!”

I stood up without realizing it and opened my eyes.

“Fi, finally?”

I couldn’t not know what this meant.

‘Awakening.’

When I met the ‘Tough Orc’ in this vacant lot.

This message clearly appeared at the moment of awakening from E-Class to D-Class.

[Condition: Source of All Things]

Enormous effort is required to increase the rank of Unique Abilities!

‘Essence’ is the source of all things and the foundation of all life force.

The closer you get to the source, the more distinct your existence will become.

Detect ‘Essence’!

“Heo-eoh.”

I was deeply moved.

The awakening condition was to detect ‘Essence’!

Of course, it could be something else.

It could be that I have achieved one of the many conditions.

‘What’s important is.’

As the System judges.

The fact that I’m sensing ‘Essence’ itself is an achievement that requires my abilities to be adjusted.

[Congratulations!]

[Your rank has grown to C-Class!]

“Aaaah…”

My whole body trembled.

How hard have I worked so far?

To grow, to get stronger.

The result of training day and night has finally come to me.

[Rewards for rank change have arrived!]

[Stamina is filling up!]

[Stamina: 120/120]

“Good, good.”

If I leveled up, I should receive a reward.

I slowly waited for the approaching reward.

[The rank of the skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-Class) is being upgraded!]

[The skill is changing to ‘Balanced Skeleton Summon’ (C-Class)!]

“Keu.”

As expected.

The rank of my Unique Ability’s trade skill, Summoning, has been upgraded.

[Skill: Balanced Skeleton Summon]

[Rank: C]

[Effect 1: Summons an Advanced Skeleton by consuming 10 Stamina. Up to 10 can be summoned.]

[Effect 2: Each Skeleton can be named.]

The prefix of the skill changed from ‘Awakened’ to ‘Balanced’.

And the ‘Intermediate’ Skeleton was changed to ‘Advanced’ Skeleton.

And one more thing.

[The new Skeleton’s main weapon is set!]

[Applicable Skeleton: ‘Bone Six’]

[From now on, this Skeleton will respond to your orders!]

“Wow.”

Finally, Bone Six’s seal has been lifted.

“You’ve grown another layer.”

Gi So-yul, who noticed my changed energy, approached.

“You also have one more energy.”

“Oh, amazing? To know that right away.”

“It’s thanks to my skill, Search. I can accurately grasp the level of the assassination target.”

“Pardon?”

I flinched.

So, am I an ‘assassination target’ right now?

“I’m using it for convenience.”

“I, I see.”

“By the way, I’m curious. What will Donghun’s other summon look like? So far, it’s been a sword, spear, bow, shield, and magic, right?”

Gi So-yul’s eyes sparkled.

As she is someone who monitors and checks my training and my Skeletons every time.

She seemed curious about the main weapon of my next Skeleton.

“Personally, I hope the main weapon is a dagger or throwing star.”

“……”

“It would be nice to have an assassin, right?”

An assassin, huh.

As expected, she had ulterior motives.

Whoong!

I swung the staff.

I was also curious, so I wanted to check it quickly.

[Using the skill, ‘Balanced Skeleton Summon’ (C-Class).]

[10 Stamina is consumed.]

[‘Bone Six’ appears.]

Toorururu…….

Along with the black energy that surged from the floor, the Skeleton was formed.

Unlike the other Skeletons, Bone Six, who is a bit short.

The weapon he’s holding is…

“A hammer?”

It was a hammer.

“Tch, a hammer, huh… Is he some kind of Paladin?”

Gi So-yul’s face was full of disappointment.

“Just a moment.”

I brought up his status window.

[Name: Bone Six]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Balanced Skeleton]

[Class: Blacksmith]

[Rank: C]

[Strength: 15] [Agility: 15] [Stamina: 15] [Magical power: 15] [Technique: 15]

[Skills]

‘Intermediate Smithing’ (Lv.1)

‘Intermediate Weaving’ (Lv.1)

‘Intermediate Item Creation’ (Lv.1)

‘Intermediate Alchemy’ (Lv.1)

“What… is this.”

My mouth dropped open.

If he’s a Blacksmith… a blacksmith?

Besides, judging from his short stature, is he a Dwarf?

‘Oh my god.’

There’s a production-type Skeleton?