Chapter 77

077. Special Case (3)

"The proficiency of the skill 'Demon Hunter Sword (C-)' has reached 100%."

"The rank of the skill 'Demon Hunter Sword (C-)' has increased by one level."

Skill growth.

"The command of the snake that eats darkness has been absorbed."

"Proficiency has increased by 9.7%."

Command absorbed.

"Congratulations, you have broken through the 10th floor of the Tower of Trials."

"As a reward for breaking through, a 'Skill Proficiency Increase Potion (B+)' has been transferred to your inventory."

"As a reward for breaking through, you have obtained '60,000 points'."

"As a reward for breaking through, you have obtained '1,000 SP'."

"As an additional reward for breaking through, you have obtained '1,000 SP'."

"Please move to the waiting room."

Trial breakthrough.

And...

"Challenger Han Seung-yun has proven to have the highest contribution in the special mission 'Public Contribution'."

"As a reward for the special mission, you have obtained '10,000 points'."

"As a reward for the special mission, you have obtained '1,500 SP'."

Finally, with the additional rewards obtained from clearing the special mission...

After glancing at the four types of messages that appeared one after another, I looked around.

The numerous dark sands had all disappeared, leaving only Kim Seung-hoon and Oh Chun-seok on the field.

Kim Seung-hoon was staring at me, and Oh Chun-seok opened his mouth in disbelief.

"...How did you do it?"

It seemed like he was asking how I managed to break through the debuff skills of the snake that eats darkness...

'I just broke through using a skill I obtained through skill synthesis, but I can't really explain it.'

Ever since I almost died in the 4th floor trial due to being restrained by a unique characteristic, I had been prepared for debuff skills.

Special strategy?

There wasn't one.

"I just happened to have a skill that could be used in this situation."

Without making any excuses, I answered that I had a skill for it.

Only then did Oh Chun-seok scratch his head in amazement and exclaim.

"Wow... You even have such a skill? I don't think Seung-hoon-ssi had anything like that..."

It couldn't be helped.

The forced breakthrough skill I developed through skill synthesis was an original skill created by combining combat acceleration and contempt for the weak.

Even though both combat acceleration and contempt for the weak were low-ranked, their value was greater than other useless skills.

Of course, I didn't hesitate to synthesize them because they didn't suit me.

"...Did you obtain that skill through skill synthesis?"

"Indeed, you know well because you have the same aura."

"Even with the high difficulty, the tower rarely gives such crazy skills."

Oh Chun-seok said this in disbelief and then sighed deeply.

"Then I won't be able to obtain that skill no matter what method I use."

What did he mean by that?

Not being able to obtain the skill no matter what method...

It wasn't because I didn't tell him the acquisition method, but rather that there was no way to obtain it at all.

I thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Why can't you obtain the skill?"

"Because it's an original skill created through skill synthesis."

"Even if you use the same synthesis method, wouldn't you get the same result?"

"No way."

Oh Chun-seok smiled bitterly and continued.

"Skills created through skill synthesis can't be made a second time."

"What...?"

"Seung-yun-ssi, you didn't ask the administrator, did you?"

"..."

"If a skill is created through skill synthesis, it exists as an original. There is no skill acquisition method or affinity, and it can't be made a second time."

"..."

"In other words, even if I use the same synthesis method, I won't be able to create the same skill that Seung-yun-ssi synthesized, no matter what I do."

"..."

So...

According to this, the 'forced breakthrough' skill I synthesized is a unique ability that can't be made a second time.

And it also means that I can't obtain other skills by following the synthesis method of other skills.

I thought for a moment and then laughed bitterly.

"...A system that only those who like to explore the branching points of the strategy would enjoy."

Strategy (攻掠).

Those who specialize in fighting among challengers would quite like this system.

After all, it means that no one can obtain the same skills as their temporary competitors.

Oh Chun-seok seemed to think the same way, as he smiled bitterly, and Kim Seung-hoon, standing beside him, sneered.

"Not necessarily. There are few people who can properly use skill synthesis. It's just an ability that doesn't matter whether it exists or not."

At this, Oh Chun-seok laughed and nodded.

"That's true. In fact, if you don't have many skills, you can't properly use skill synthesis. I'm like that, for example."

He spoke with a hint of regret and then changed the subject...

"But..."

He turned his head and looked at me, as if there were people who were different.

Following his gaze, Kim Seung-hoon also turned to look at me, fell silent for a moment, and then spoke.

"...But there are always exceptions."

His gaze, as if looking at a different species, made me smile bitterly, and Kim Seung-hoon sighed.

"And such exceptions are called special cases."

In other words, it meant that I was a unique existence.

***

We had a brief conversation among the three of us.

Since there was nothing else to talk about after completing our trials, we returned to the waiting room, suggesting to add each other as friends.

Of course.

There wouldn't be anyone among those climbing the Tower of Trials who would neglect or delay checking their rewards.

I also entered the waiting room to confirm and use the rewards I obtained from the 10th floor trial.

And...

"...The number of people who have broken through the 10th floor trial has exceeded 1,000."

"...The system expansion has begun."

As I entered the waiting room, the system began to expand for the first time in a while.

"A 'Dimensional Travel' category has been created in the shop."

"Travel between dimensions is now possible."

The first expansion was the unexpected 'Dimensional Travel' function.

It seemed to allow travel to other dimensions...

'This expansion is meaningless.'

How many people would want to travel to other dimensions from the Earth dimension?

In a situation where deaths are occurring due to interdimensional challengers, dimensional travel is practically a suicide feature.

"The [Observation Area] of the Earth dimension's administrator has been expanded."

"The [Interference Area] of the Earth dimension's administrator has been expanded."

The second expansion was the [Observation Area] and [Interference Area] of the administrators.

"Due to the expansion of the [Observation Area] of the Earth dimension's administrator, communication with an administrator who has consistently shown interest and supported your powers in the waiting room is now possible."

"Due to the expansion of the [Interference Area] of the Earth dimension's administrator, challengers can now enter into additional contracts with administrators and move to the administrator's area."

In other words, communication with administrators, similar to during the trials, is now possible in the waiting room.

The main content is that additional contracts can be made with other administrators.

Of course...

"However, additional contracts with administrators can only be made once, and additional contracts are restricted thereafter."

"Additionally, the relationship formed through additional contracts can be terminated at any time."

There were restrictions on additional contracts.

"In other words, additional contracts are different from previous contracts and are literally additional contracts."

The contract I made with the Iron-Blooded Overlord was the first contract, so it couldn't be terminated...

But if I made an additional contract with another administrator, I could sever that relationship at any time.

'But wouldn't this be a loss for the administrators?'

While it was good for me, I wondered if it would be a loss for the administrators who made additional contracts.

However, since administrators are also employed by the tower, there must be some benefits.

After clearing my doubts, I opened my inventory.

To check the rewards I obtained from breaking through the 10th floor trial.

"Skill Proficiency Increase Potion"

"Rank: B+"

"A special potion specially made by the tower for beings with skills."

"When consumed, it can increase the proficiency of one of the possessed skills by 20%."

Crazy.

I couldn't help but smile at the performance.

Skill proficiency increase?

Given that my skill ranks were rising slowly, making it a torment, this potion was like a rain in a drought for me.

"Status window."

[Han Seung-yun]

[Aura – Dominator]

[Strength – 72] [Stamina – 70]

[Agility – 70] [Magic – 67]

[Endurance – 66]

[Unique Characteristic – Necromancy (C)]

[Unique Power – Skill Synthesis]

[Power – Clear Mind (C-), Sword Qi Injury (C+)]

[Skill – View Details]

Perhaps because I never neglected my growth even for a day?

Even if my ability values were already absurdly high, they had now become monstrous.

Moreover, the skills I had during the 10th floor integrated trial had grown quite a bit, effectively enhancing my combat power.

However, I opened the status window not to confirm this...

But to check the current proficiency of my skills before using the Skill Proficiency Increase Potion.

I opened the description windows of only the skills with high basic power, ignoring the minor ones.

[Skill – Three Strikes (A-)]

[Proficiency – 31.7%]

[Basic Effect – Enhances three consecutive attacks using bladed weapons with magic power.]

[Detailed Effect – When the skill is used, the cutting power of bladed weapons increases by 1.5/2.0/2.5 times with each attack.]

Three Strikes had low proficiency because I didn't use it much, despite its high power.

With an A- rank, a 31.7% proficiency for a skill I didn't use much could be considered good...

'But it's not good enough to use the Skill Proficiency Increase Potion.'

I decided to pass on the Three Strikes skill and looked at other skills.

[Skill – Grace of the Wind (A-)]

[Proficiency – 83.2%]

[Effect – When the skill name is recited, all speeds increase by 10%. This effect can stack up to seven times, but a one-day cooldown is applied when the final stack is reached.]

Grace of the Wind had such high proficiency because I used it as my main skill.

'If I use the Skill Proficiency Increase Potion, it will immediately reach A rank.'

In fact, it was almost decided which skill's proficiency I would increase.

However, I felt uneasy without checking further, so I looked at more skills.

But ultimately, the choice didn't change.

It was understandable.

[Skill – Lightning Sword Qi (B)]

[Proficiency – 7.3%]

[Description – A true ultimate technique of the Lightning Gate.]

[Basic Effect – When sword qi is used, lightning is attached, granting lightning attributes. However, this can only be used if sword qi can be used.]

[Detailed Effect – When the skill is activated, the basic control ability of sword qi greatly increases, allowing for slashing attacks.]

Lightning Sword Qi, obtained by absorbing the command of Baek Seon-hak in the arena, still had low proficiency.

[Skill – Ashen Blood (B-)]

[Proficiency – 47.8%]

[Description – An ultimate racial characteristic of a mutant vampire.]

[Effect – Regeneration increases based on the user's endurance, and when the body is hit, regeneration temporarily increases by three times. When regeneration increases, pain is temporarily reduced by up to 40% based on the degree of bodily damage.]

Ashen Blood had relatively high proficiency, but a 20% increase in proficiency wasn't enough to raise its rank.

[Skill – Shield of Retaliation (B)]

[Proficiency – 2.8%]

[Basic Effect – When the skill name is recited, a red shield formed by magic power can be summoned.]

[Detailed Effect – The size and strength of the shield can be adjusted according to the amount of magic power used, and the shield can reflect 25% of the damage received. If the shield doesn't break, the accumulated damage can be released at once.]

The newly synthesized skills, including Shield of Retaliation, all had proficiency below 5%.

Thus, I realized that the only choice was Grace of the Wind, and with a sigh of regret, I took the Skill Proficiency Increase Potion.

"You have consumed a Skill Proficiency Increase Potion (B+)."

"Please select a skill to increase proficiency."

"Grace of the Wind."

"Selection complete."

"The proficiency of the skill 'Grace of the Wind (A-)' for challenger Han Seung-yun has increased by 20%."

"The proficiency of the skill 'Grace of the Wind (A-)' has reached 100%."

"The rank of the skill 'Grace of the Wind (A-)' has increased by one level."

"Wow..."

Perhaps because it was an item obtained as a reward for breaking through the trial, the effect was definite.

With the message that Grace of the Wind had grown to A rank, I opened the status window with anticipation.

Or rather, I was about to open the status window.

However...

My finger stopped as two messages appeared.

"Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Overlord' has invited you to the administrator's area."

"Administrator 'Baekhak Sword Immortal' has invited you to the administrator's area."

I was invited by administrators.

Not just one, but two at the same time.