Chapter 11

011. Growth (4)

"Congratulations, you have cleared the 3rd floor of the Tower of Trials."

"As a reward for clearing, 'Steel Elixir (C)' has been transferred to your inventory."

"As a reward for clearing, you have obtained '3,000 points.'"

"As an additional reward for clearing, you have obtained 'Hunter's Dagger Technique (E).'"

"As an additional reward for clearing, you have obtained '1,000 points.'"

"Please move to the waiting room."

As the familiar message appeared, the doppleganger's body collapsed.

Seeing this, I let out a sigh of relief and immediately slumped to the ground.

I had no strength left to stand.

Thud.

"Ughhh..."

The stamina consumed by the high-speed regeneration skill.

The mana used by the Assassin's Cloak's special effect.

Combined with the aftereffects of the body slam, it felt like death.

I had used up my stamina and mana like a madman.

If anything had gone wrong, the doppleganger might have stabbed me instead.

Despite the clear sense of rapid growth in a short time, it was still this difficult...

There must be a limit to how hard things can be, but there is none here.

'If I didn't have a trait specialized for growth and combat, I might have died long ago.'

This probably applies to the other challengers as well.

Those who had experience as hunters were able to endure.

'Ordinary people would hardly survive and would die...'

If I hadn't spent seven years honing various martial techniques, I would have been in a similar situation.

But why?

"..."

Even as I increasingly realize the danger, a different emotion rises instead of a sense of crisis.

A sense of victory.

I felt this emotion on the 1st floor and the 2nd floor.

Deciding, fighting, and winning.

The sense of victory gained from this series of processes was extremely stimulating.

So much so that the fact that I almost died was slowly being buried.

And at this point, having cleared the 3rd floor, this emotion is even more pronounced.

I had tried not to think about it until now, but this time it was impossible.

Thump, thump.

The fact that I achieved something through my own struggle...

Could it really make my heart beat like this?

'It can't be.'

This is clearly not an emotion that an ordinary person can feel.

How can one get excited about winning a fight when they almost died?

Feeling relieved to have survived and being intoxicated by the fact that they won are different.

But...

Even knowing this, I wouldn't become ordinary.

The pleasure of growth and the thrill of becoming stronger after surviving courses through my body.

Is it because the past seven years felt like time had stopped?

Or is it just that I was always this crazy?

Either way...

Nothing I could achieve before has ever approached this.

The Tower of Trials is testing my limits while simultaneously providing appropriate rewards.

Unlike the reality where no effort could lead to growth.

Moreover, this opportunity came just as I was about to give up on being a hunter.

"Or is this just an excuse?"

No matter what reasons I give, it's clear that I'm not normal.

That much is undeniable.

But it's also true that I survived because of this.

Those who adapted to this environment survived, and those who didn't were eliminated.

'The decreasing number of community members as we ascend floors is proof of this.'

From this perspective, it's not necessarily a bad thing.

I adapted to this Tower of Trials more clearly than anyone else.

I feel a thrill in danger and a sense of achievement in rewards.

This could mean that I am optimally adapted to the Tower of Trials.

But from a different perspective?

I heard that among hunters, those like me are the most dangerous.

The precarious sense of danger in life-or-death battles.

Those who get addicted to it and can't escape from the fight have short lives.

This is even more true for those with combat or growth-specific traits.

They find it easy to get interested in battles and can easily go crazy.

Is the emotion I'm feeling wrong?

"..."

I don't know.

It's not a matter that can be easily concluded from either perspective.

Adapting to the Tower of Trials might be good for now...

But everything will change after the 5th floor.

The period when one can escape this harsh environment and return to Earth.

The point where the survival of the fittest logic fades will inevitably come.

When that time comes, I'll have to see how this adaptation works, whether I like it or not.

So.

"Let's just focus on surviving for now."

The current situation is overwhelming enough.

I got up from my spot and approached the doppleganger.

I reached out my hand to the black smoke rising from the dark liquid.

"Activating unique trait 'Necromancy (F).'"

"Do you want to absorb the doppleganger's soul?"

"Y/N"

The message I had seen before appeared, asking if I wanted to activate Necromancy.

Without hesitation, I pressed 'Y' and absorbed the soul.

And at that moment.

"You have absorbed the doppleganger's soul."

"Current number of souls possessed - 1/5"

"Proficiency increased by 35%."

I was briefly surprised by the sudden increase in proficiency.

Then, the next message made me widen my eyes.

"Proficiency of the unique trait 'Necromancy' has reached 100%."

"The unique trait 'Necromancy' has advanced to the next level."

"..."

I never expected the unique trait to grow like this.

***

I don't really understand how this happened.

'Can a unique trait suddenly grow like this?'

I just blinked at the unexpected growth of the unique trait.

I couldn't understand why the proficiency of the unique trait suddenly increased and advanced to the next level.

However...

It's not like I have no idea at all.

'Does absorbing a soul have a separate condition for increasing proficiency?'

It could be possible.

When absorbing a monster stronger than my own strength, there might be an additional proficiency calculation.

I had seen such examples outside, so I could make an educated guess.

The system only provides a brief explanation and doesn't detail the specifics of the ability.

Of course, this didn't have a negative impact on me...

But it still took some time to grasp the situation due to the unexpected nature.

"Guess it was just good luck."

That's the only way to explain the current situation.

'Absorbing a strong enemy increases proficiency faster.'

I had thought about this a little before, but now it's clear.

It seems that the potential of my unique trait is quite high.

It might be among the top in terms of potential among growth-supporting unique traits.

'Getting stronger with each enemy defeated and experiencing explosive proficiency growth under certain conditions.'

I can understand why this would make me laugh in disbelief.

I let out a hollow laugh and opened my status window.

I then brought up the unique trait's description to see what had changed.

『Unique Trait - Necromancy (E)』

『Proficiency - 0%』

『Basic Effect - Can absorb and freely use the souls of the dead.』

『Detailed Effect (1) - Can permanently increase stats, with the amount proportional to the rank of the trait and the quality of the soul.』

『Detailed Effect (2) - Can store and use souls, with the storage capacity proportional to the rank.』

『Detailed Effect (3) - When absorbing a soul, there is a certain probability of learning a skill imprinted on the soul.』

I smiled at the newly added third detailed effect.

"High risk, high return, they say..."

It was exactly that.

The effort to kill the doppleganger wasn't in vain; the reward was substantial.

'Learning a skill from a killed monster with a certain probability is something I've never seen before.'

This also proves how overpowered my unique trait is.

Anyone would have become strong if they could absorb others' skills.

'Absorbing stats was one thing, but this is different.'

No one can absorb and learn others' skills.

But my unique trait mercilessly shattered this fixed notion.

There are few restrictions and simple conditions for absorbing skills.

When I learned that I could gain stats, it was already impressive, but this is even more so.

'If the tower's rewards were high risk, high return... '

Necromancy is low risk, high return.

There are almost no constraints or conditions to meet, yet the rewards are comparable to additional breakthrough rewards.

Of course, there might be some hidden conditions, but this is still top-notch.

"Living to get such a trait."

It's a stark contrast to the past, where I couldn't even increase my stats no matter what I did.

A unique trait that makes me stronger just by fighting stronger enemies.

'Actually, I don't just fight strong enemies.'

I can also become stronger by slaughtering weaker monsters and absorbing their souls.

There might be some restrictions, but I can still become stronger through mass slaughter.

No matter what I do, I can't help but become stronger.

"Now I understand why everyone says unique traits are so important."

If used properly, the value of a unique trait is immeasurable.

And I unintentionally became part of that category.

'Well, if they're going to give me honey, they should have given it from the start.'

After making me go through all the trouble, giving me such an overpowered trait is just...

I sighed involuntarily, but it's still a gain.

I felt a bit resentful but soon turned my attention to another reward.

It's time to check the tower's rewards, not just the grown unique skill.

『Skill - Hunter's Dagger Technique (E)』

『Proficiency - 0%』

『Description - A practical dagger technique created by hunters for efficient hunting.』

『Effect - When using a dagger, the weapon's cutting power increases by 1.5 times, and proficiency in dagger techniques improves.』

The dagger skill I could learn as an additional breakthrough reward.

It would have been nice if it was a rarer dagger skill, but that would be greedy.

Hunter's Dagger Technique.

It's a skill I can say I know well.

I once tried to get this skill.

'Well, I couldn't get it because I wasn't suited to any skills.'

Even though I didn't get it, the martial techniques I use are based on this skill.

The trainers at the player gym were proficient in this skill, so it was natural.

It was one of the skills that was relatively easy to obtain and had good performance.

'While the effect is good and it's a weapon skill, why Hunter's Dagger Technique?'

The Tower of Trials could have given other weapon skills.

It was a bit strange to see Hunter's Dagger Technique, which I hadn't thought about.

But recalling a post I saw in the community, my doubts subsided.

"Additional breakthrough rewards reflect the process of overcoming the trial."

So, this reward probably reflects my actions in this duel.

'After all, the 3rd floor trial did involve a lot of dagger techniques.'

I fought one-on-one and used a lot of dagger techniques and various skills I had learned.

So, it makes sense that Hunter's Dagger Technique is part of the reward.

Dagger techniques like drawing attention and stabbing the heart are included in Hunter's Dagger Technique.

Especially since the duel was the main theme of the 3rd floor trial...

It's natural that dagger techniques were highlighted in the trial process.

'Thinking about it that way, it makes sense that I learned Hunter's Dagger Technique.'

I then checked the Steel Elixir, which was said to be transferred to my inventory.

「Steel Elixir」

「Rank: C」

「An elixir created by an alchemist, imbued with the will of steel.」

「A special stat 'Durability' is created, and if 'Durability' already exists, it increases by 5.」

「However, the increase in Durability only applies before it reaches 40.」

The phrase about creating a special stat caught my attention.

This is such a groundbreaking item, so it's understandable that it has a high rank.

'It would be traded for astronomical amounts among hunters.'

A high-quality item that a low-level hunter might not be able to obtain even at the cost of their life.

It's a bit surprising that it's now in my hands.

But that was only for a moment, and I quickly regained my composure.

Even if it has astronomical value, I can't sell it and have no intention of doing so.

Creating a new stat is that important.

'It's time to go back.'

I can't stay in this dark, damp cave forever.

'I need to absorb the soul and go back to rest.'

Even though the high-speed regeneration skill is active, my body still isn't in good shape.

I was just staying still to fill up my skill proficiency, but that's over now.

Using the unique trait, a hologram appeared.

"Please select the soul to absorb from the souls you possess."

"Current number of souls possessed - 1/15"

"Doppleganger"

The interface was updated with new options.

Ah, and the number of souls I can possess has increased.

"Growing has changed a few things."

Of course, there's no complaint about having more options.

I pressed the word 'Doppleganger' and tried to absorb it.

Then.

"Absorbing the doppleganger's soul."

"There is a certain probability of absorbing one of the skills the soul possesses."

The message appeared, indicating that the absorption was in progress, not immediately increasing my stats.

This is probably due to the detailed effect of absorbing a skill.

"A certain probability."

There are no restrictions or conditions, so the probability of absorbing a skill is likely not high.

Even if the system doesn't tell me, I can guess as much.

'It's not a mass-produced game, and a jackpot won't happen in one go.'