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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Spirit Knight's Secret Art
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"Hmm!"
Kyaaang!
Kyung!
Slash!
By the tenth one, I'd reached the point where I could cleanly bisect two at once.
Like some sword master, I naturally shook the blood off the blade and examined the edge.
It was a mass-produced iron sword without any enchantments, yet after slicing through the hides, bones, and flesh of Brutal Hounds, the blade showed almost no damage.
Whatever nicks there were must have happened while I was taking down the first two or three.
"Jackpot."
Anyway, the state of this sword was proof that my skills had improved by leaps and bounds in an instant.
Normally, a newbie like me swinging it around—no matter how much gear carried me—would dull the edge bit by bit against their hides and bones, making it impossible to cut down ten without swapping it out or resharpening.
"My choice was right on the… Hup! Whoa...!"
Splash!
My progress was so rapid that now I could slash even the ones sneaking up behind me without looking.
It was a skill I'd chosen and wielded myself, but damn, it was terrifying.
Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent. It was probably second nature to him, but since it wasn't originally mine—just something I'd gained from this awakening system—it felt utterly alien.
"That makes thirty. Oh, right. Magic stones… no time to extract them, and selling them would blow my cover as an awakener 100%."
Unless I dealt on the black market like those scavengers, going to the association meant they'd check my level-up, update my stats, or verify my awakener status.
So selling was out of the question—no point in picking them up.
Anyway, I'd met the dungeon clear condition, so while I was at it, I checked my status.
[Lv.4 Yoo Seongwon]
Status Growth Rate: 1/1/1/1
Str: 34 Dex: 30 Vit: 34 Mag: 6
[Possessed Skills]
Path of the Great Knight (SSS)
(Unique) Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent
[Applied Effects]
Beast's Power (All stats rise 1 rank (2x))
"Oh, right. My stats doubled thanks to the gear effect."
My base stats were originally 14, 12, 14, 0.
At level 4, that should've been 17, 15, 17, 3, but the Golden Guardian Beast Armor's effect doubled them to what they are now.
It definitely lived up to its legendary name. I confirmed it by checking the dungeon message.
[F-Grade Dungeon - Brutal Hound Plains cleared. Press 'Claim Reward' to open the exit.]
"Yeah, I should at least take the clear reward. Not expecting much from an F-grade...."
[The reward will be guided by 'Path of the Great Knight.']
[Congratulations on felling the vicious beasts! The Path of the Great Knight bestows a reward upon you!]
"Oh, so my rewards are all unified through this skill."
I already knew that clearing the same dungeon could yield different rewards depending on your constellation or trait.
That's why 'which constellation you serve' was a key factor in grading awakeners.
Some got junk items, others traits or skills.
[Choose!]
[Skill Point +1 or Knight Summon or Weapon Grant]
"Stuff like this really shows it's an SSS-grade trait. Handing out choices like this in an F-grade dungeon...."
If this were a game, I'd be yelling about balance.
Of course, reality was even harsher, filled with more unfairness.
Anyway, I picked Skill Point +1 again to choose a skill.
Pondering the traces of countless 'knights,' I scanned the unique skills as usual.
'Maybe a stat-related one this time? Let's see… my official stat grade....'
With the legendary item effect included, my current stats were Str: 34, Dex: 30, Vit: 34, Mag: 6.
Stat grades start at F-grade 10, doubling to the next rank up.
E is 20, D is 40, C is 80 per stat, B is 160, A is 320.
Sub-grades add a + if you hit over half the next rank's threshold.
'So, Str E(20) < 34 < D(40)… over half (20), so E+. Same for the rest.'
Overall: Str E+, Dex E+, Vit E+, Mag F-.
Hunter grades weren't just stats, but they formed the foundation of combat power—essential for facing mighty monsters or constellation apostles.
'Looking at stat-related ones… plenty, but I'll end up picking a unique skill anyway.'
[(Unique) Yeopo of Humanity's Martial Prowess]
The legendary valor that shook the world is bestowed upon you. But so is his drawback—choose wisely.
Effect: Str and Dex Lv. growth +30 each, but 'Trait of Betrayal' skill is granted.
*Trait of Betrayal: The bearer is overcome with the urge to betray.
'Whoa, him?'
But knowing someone doesn't mean I should pick them.
If anything, it makes it worse.
Who is this guy? The one with three dads? No telling what curse I'd invite.
'Eastern figures aren't exactly knights, but similar enough?'
Riding horses, wielding spears in battle as warlords—fits the 'knight' etymology.
Treachery and patricide? Westerners did plenty too—no need to nitpick.
Anyway, the scope was broader than expected.
'How loose are the criteria… him as a 'knight'?'
[(Unique) Chungmugong's Undefeated Tactics]
His victories were legendary, yet all true. Was he perhaps a sea god?
Effect: Grants the talent of a commander who knows no defeat. But 'Superior Misfortune' passive is added.
*Superior Misfortune: The bearer suffers endless bad luck with bosses, commanders, or rulers.
"Can't argue with history… but even ancestors were nobles."
Sure, he nearly died to slander before Chilcheollyang, but the king heeded advisors and spared him.
Worlds apart from kings who lopped off loyalists' heads for bruised egos! I'd love to tell the constellation who made this skill, but they wouldn't listen.
"And extreme bad boss luck? Sorry, no confidence in enduring that. Not hero material, so pass. Oh, this looks solid."
[(Unique) Spirit Knight 'Silleion Forest Blade' Secret Art]
Guardian of the forest for millennia. But dying without a worthy successor, his secrets were lost.
Effect: All stat growth +20, Revered by forest beings.
Great growth boost, no glaring penalties—perfect.
I chose it, and my body heated up as my stats adjusted automatically.
[Reward granted.]
[(Unique) Spirit Knight 'Silleion Forest Blade' Secret Art]
[Exit opening soon.]
[Lv.4 Yoo Seongwon]
Status Growth Rate: 21/21/21/21
Str: 154 Dex: 150 Vit: 154 Mag: 126
[Possessed Skills]
Path of the Great Knight (SSS)
(Unique) Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent
(Unique) Spirit Knight 'Silleion Forest Blade' Secret Art
[Applied Effects]
Beast's Power (All stats rise 1 rank (2x))
"This is insane?"
One stat skill pushed my 30s stats straight into the 150s.
Instantly past D-grade, all C+, a bit more effort for B-grade.
Thanks to this legendary gear, no doubt.
Without it, 70s stats—but doubled, and the gap would widen with growth.
'Anyway, keep leveling. Adding skills like this… I might become unstoppable.'
Now I truly felt the SSS-grade trait.
Level 4, yet this stat explosion? Unhinged.
This talent would have not just Korea's top three guilds—the UN or world governments scrambling to recruit or lock me down once discovered.
"Feels like it's already tangled bad...!"
As I exited the dungeon, casually lamenting my fate, I sensed eyes on me.
I scanned around for the source but saw nothing. Still, I drew my sword and stayed alert.
'They followed already? Scavengers? Another hunter? Big mistake coming out like this!'
Thump thump!
Situation unclear, enemy unseen—tension and anxiety surged.
Suspects aplenty, driving me mad with unease… but undetectable, it was torture.
'Must be this armor keeping them hidden?'
Jang Yunseok's lackey ordered to take out a "civilian"—seeing a golden-armored SF-looking badass? They'd hide.
I needed to find them before they reported back, but no detection skills or methods.
Tweet tweet...
Peep~
Rustle...
What? Panicking, a bird froze before me, staring.
Then others lined up like a path, chirping at me.
As if guiding me.
'No way?'
Turning that way, a oddly bent branch caught my eye.
Leaves fluttered without wind, marking the spot.
Even I wasn't dumb enough to miss it. And I knew why.
The new skill: (Unique) Spirit Knight 'Silleion Forest Blade' Secret Art.
'Revered by forest beings— like this! Gotcha.'
"Kraaak!"
I pulled a spare dagger from inventory and hurled it. A scream, and someone tumbled down.
Ranged weapons no, but thrown melee? Loophole exploited.
'Skill makers overlook....'
[Warning: Do not use cowardly means as a knight. No weapon throws—violate for 1 penalty.]
Knew you'd pull that!
Penalty for a single dagger? Overkill! Gotta think twice before throwing from now.
"Ugh, urk!"
At the tree base, a cloaked, goggled man armed with gun and sword clutched his bleeding thigh from my dagger.
"D-Damn it, hey, wait! Golden knight sir! I-I wasn't targeting you. Just tracking someone else for a job, got curious~ S-So, uh, got potion or bandages? Damn! Thought I'd make quick cash!"
"Quick cash from what?"
He hadn't pegged me yet.
Seemed to think I was just some dungeon crawler. To confirm, I aimed my sword, pulled an emergency potion with my other hand, and pressed.
"W-Well~ Some guy asked me to rough up a target. Not you, swear. Someone like you, looking no joke… why would a scavenger like me mess with that? Haha."
"Use it."
"O-Oh! Thanks!"
I tossed the potion. Thinking the misunderstanding cleared, he grinned and treated his wound. I didn't miss—drew and slashed his neck clean.
No scream, face frozen in joy as blood sprayed, head hitting dirt.