Ensemble Leveling

  Chapter 51: Preparation of Second Trial

  [57 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]

  With the emotional early day coming to an end, Alvorna cried herself out until she completely fell asleep, peacefully within his embrace as though her tormented soul laid at rest, no longer haunted by the suffocating anxiety that had gripped her so mercilessly throughout the night. Her arms remained loosely draped around him, her wings limply folded, For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she looked at peace. Jihoon stroked her hair gently, brushing back the dark vanilla strands that clung to her damp cheeks.

  His arms remained around her, cradling her sleeping form as though he were afraid she might slip away if he let go.

  For Jihoon, however, he knew he was in for the long days ahead now that from the itinerary that Rosa had shown him, he only had one day worth for actual vacation on Lotus Eater Island. The rest is the return to the athlete village where the Second Trial of Odyssey will begin.

  And Alvorna was supposed to report her job as an Overseer back at the Citadel.

  “Don’t worry about that, she used one of her few precious vacation days allotted per year just to stay by your side. You better feel damn proud and honored that a Harpy laid eyes on you seeing how just how strict they can be with their requirements to be their spouse. And with the Daughter of the Matriarch even, no less.”. Karim, the merchant, his sponsor of his musical career of Absence and one of his companions spoke from a stride distant away as though anticipated this scene from the beginning.

  Jihoon suddenly turned his attention toward the wood elf, confused briefly of what he was supposed to respond with. Then there’s hiding behind him is Rosa the dwarf with her disheveled long rose gold hair stared at him with discerning eyes while her height is of Karim’s chest in height. The CEO of Magni Conglomerate, which had a near chokehold on Absence’s metalwork industry. Someone whose first impression of is utterly dead serious and calculative.

  Which contradicts the current appearance of her being jealous like a teenage girl first discovering romance story. Like an indignant, love-struck teenager. Her rose-pink hair was disheveled from tossing and turning all night. And her discerning eyes—normally so sharp and unyielding—were instead filled with a mixture of irritation and unmistakable jealousy.

  The Dwarves had a strict sense and code of honor and conduct, Rosa is no exception. After his help pulling her father out of the nostalgia that he is mired in while forgoing everything else, Rosa decided that she wanted to be part of his journey without any of his input thus here they are.

  She crossed her arms over her chest, her expression a blend of scowl and pout as she stared at him narrowly. Her voice was deadpan, but there was no missing the sulky undertone.

  “So, you’re just going to let her steal the whole day, huh?” Rosa muttered dryly, her gaze flicking toward Alvorna’s sleeping form with unmistakable envy.

  Jihoon’s mouth parted slightly, caught off guard by the unexpectedly petulant tone. He glanced back at Karim, as if seeking some kind of clarification, but the elf just chuckled knowingly while tipping his fedora. He’s the only one with actual charisma to make use of it instead of having it be obnoxious like his world’s current association that it has.

  And now, as she stood there with narrowed eyes and her arms stubbornly crossed— It was clear that she wasn’t particularly thrilled about being upstaged by a certain Harpy.

  Jihoon, despite his lingering exhaustion, couldn’t help but smile faintly.

  The absurdity of it all—the hardened CEO glaring at him with the pouting expression of a jealous schoolgirl—was almost too much. But he said nothing. He simply held Alvorna closer, feeling her steady breath against his chest, and let the moment linger.

  Because in this fleeting moment, surrounded by his companions. He felt more human than he had in years. And as the day’s trials loomed ahead, Jihoon knew— No matter how difficult they would be, he would face them all.

  Because he had people worth fighting for no matter what said otherwise.

  The day goes on after he placed Alvorna in her bed. Once Alvorna was settled in, Jihoon lingered briefly by her side, ensuring that she was fully asleep before he finally pulled away. Her soft, steady breathing filled the room, her dark vanilla hair sprawled loosely over the pillow, and her wings—normally alert and graceful—were now slackened with exhaustion.

  Even in her sleep, she remained tightly curled around his pillow, her hands faintly gripping the fabric as if seeking his presence even in her dreams. Jihoon exhaled quietly, brushing a few stray strands from her face.

  She had been so worried for him, so tormented by her own irrational fears, that she had exhausted herself completely. And now, for once, she could finally rest without the burden of anxiety weighing her down.

  With one final glance, he slowly turned away and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him with deliberate care. And when he turned, he was immediately met with the expectant gazes of his three remaining compatriots.

  Karim, his merchant sponsor and habitual smirker, grinned lazily as he leaned against the nearby hallway post, arms folded.

  Rosa, the CEO of Magni Conglomerate, stood beside him, her arms still crossed with lingering feigned irritation—though the sharpness in her eyes had softened somewhat, replaced by a teasing glimmer.

  And then, standing off slightly to the side was Aquarius, the mermaid princess of Sargasso. Normally someone like her would definitely have escort guards all around. Especially for the reckless stunt taking place way earlier. But somehow she convinced that she alone could be safe with him and his crew. That’s the level of trust that the king of Sargasso had in him that he wouldn’t recognize.

  Dressed in her typical sailor shirt and dress which is her casual outfit while her aquamarine hair shimmers in the soft daylight of the hallway windows. Her luminous eyes in color of the sea regarded him quietly, her lips curved into a faint, amused smile as though she had already guessed exactly what he needed.

  “Shall we?” Karim asked, his voice light with playful anticipation, already pushing off the post.

  Jihoon, still worn out but no longer weighted by the emotional tumult of the morning, simply nodded silently.

  And so, the four of them—Karim, Rosa, Aquarius, and Jihoon—set out into Lotus Eater Island, determined to make the most of the few precious hours they had left before Jihoon will eventually depart back to the athlete village to prepare for the Second Trial of Odyssey as they escorted him.

  They strolled through the sunlit streets of Lotus Eater Island, weaving between eastern Absence-inspired architecture, with its wooden pagodas, ornate lanterns, and crimson-draped awnings swaying faintly in the gentle sea breeze. The scent of lotus blossoms lingered in the air, sweet and delicate, as the leisurely sounds of the island’s traditional eastern instruments drifted along the streets.

  Despite the impending departure, the four of them wasted no time in wringing every ounce of enjoyment from their final half-day of reprieve.

  “Hey, look at this place!”. Rosa said as her finger points toward the culinary street with a giddy expression as though like a child still has its innocence. One would think that as a CEO, such street culinary stuff is way below her with what she could purchase but… nope.

  So they sampled local street food, devouring freshly grilled seafood skewers, sesame pastries, and delicate mochi cakes filled with fragrant lotus cream, not the addictive one which its maker promised which Jihoon figured.

  Aquarius, unexpectedly the culinary enthusiast, eagerly dragged them from one vendor to the next—her face lighting up with delight whenever she discovered a new dish. “You’ve gotta try this!” she exclaimed, holding out a tiny bamboo tray of fried seaweed strips drizzled with honey glaze.

  Rosa, not even bothering to pretend she wasn’t interested, immediately snatched a handful, stuffing them into her mouth with undignified relish. Had people even realized who she is, she ain’t going to walk out of here without shame. Yet no one ever raised a word at all about her appearance.

  Jihoon chuckled quietly at the sight of the CEO devouring street food like a starved tourist, while Karim casually swiped a few strips for himself without saying a word.

  Then the next in their traversing the missed spots of Lotus Eater Island that they didn’t get the chance to do so yesterday is a large marketplace where there just seem to people flowing endless in and out. And of course, displayed and sold inside is numerous merchandise and souvenirs of Lotus Eater Island. In which the group chose for themselves with whatever they could pay for themselves.

  Well… when you have the literal royalty of Southern Absence’s capital kingdom and one of the CEO of Absence’s largest industry conglomerate entering a simple tourist market, you end up with trouble ensued. For different kinds of reasons actually.

  Rosa ended up arguing with a jewelry seller for her great discernment of metal quality due to being a dwarf, and especially high-ranked at that. And that the prices tagged onto them don’t even worth half of its product value, which when spoken by a dwarf had to be taken rather seriously. For someone like her stand so high in Absence’s metalwork industry as its largest congolomerate, it offended her so badly that she had to openly argue.

  Karim naturally intervened while using his charisma to diffuse the situation. He really thought he was the weird one of the group when he just shamelessly abuses his charm for his profession as a merchant, but he ended up the one to put out fire whenever the antic of the group arises and causes.

  And… Aquarius… wasn’t the best with buyer’s impulses. Anything caught her interests, she just bought instantly regardless if she had a need for them or not. At least with food, Aquarius would get full at some point, but she would ended up cleaning shops before Karim had to intervene and made her assess her own purchases.

  Although she has the deepest pocket out of them all beside Rosa for being literal royalty, it would set a bad precedent and habit if not addressed. The result of living such a sheltered lifestyle that only until now she stepped to the outside world. Only now does Aquarius is taught by Karim of the value of things she beholds and purchases.

  Karim himself bought some valuable goods which he said were for good business and exchange. As he bartered with local tradesman, Karim secured himself with goods from exquisite plum wine to luxury silk garments. Using his silver tongue, he somehow purchases things for barely half its original price.

  After all of those incidents just before, Rosa clutched her haul triumphantly, smug and satisfied, despite the fabric practically drowning her short yet absurdly voluptuous frame for her size. And Aquarius, while normally serene and composed, allowed herself a rare indulgence after Karim sorts out everything for her—blowing glass bubbles with the local children, enchanting them with her water magic as the shimmering orbs floated and danced in the warm island air.

  Needless to say, they got good experiences all around. But what Jihoon actually purchased would have raised a massive alarm of its own had he is without his reputation. From an alchemist store, Jihoon bought…

  500 vials of Lotus Essence. All stored in his silver ring that is his purchased subspace storage from Magni Conglomertaion itself. The highest quality that his paygrade as a Maestro could afford reasonaably.

  So much, in fact, that the attendants visibly paled when he made the request. They even tried to refuse the sale outright, citing concerns over potential misuse.

  “Sir, with all due respect, we cannot in good conscience sell you this amount—” The storefront clerk said to him as they fear the most obvious thing around. Worse is that he just recently gone through one and that does nothing to assure his purchases.

  After many arguments and promises later, Jihoon simply signed the agreement they pushed toward him without hesitation. He didn’t even blink as he scrawled his name across the parchment, agreeing not to exchange the substance with anyone else. The attendants, still clearly uneasy, reluctantly handed over the vials for him. Counting the received money while fear clutching their heart like a devil’s whisper.

  Of course, Jihoon had no intention of using the Lotus Essence in Absence. He had purchased it for one reason only: To recall the past in perfect clarity.

  The ten years of misery he had endured had turned his memories of that time into a hazy blur of sorrow, making it impossible to distinguish one day from another.

  Too many moments were shrouded in fog, lost beneath the weight of grief. And if he was ever going to face his past properly— He needed to see it clearly, without distortion or numbness. Although he was truly afraid of just how pervasive the dream therapy treatment might be, losing his only chance of setting things right with the past because of his fear is even more disgraceful.

  And of course, he intends not to disclose this fact with those around. They may truly fear that he got addicted to Lotus much like its actual myth. He even got that suspicion originally when he first heard of it and voiced his concern about it to them.

  Afterward, the group goes on their merry way until they find themselves on an outdoor plaza. In which they come across another band of musicians performing. And suddenly, Karim had a so-called bright idea to test his skill against residential performers as though the performance yesterday at the Night Festival wasn’t satisfactory enough for him somehow.

  ‘House of Strings’, the performers spoke the name of their bands. They were clearly no amateurs, evidenced by their well-tuned coordination and the fluidity of their harmonics, which had drawn such a sizable crowd. And they were clearly doing something right seeing as they gathered a decent size of audiences here and his assessment didn’t find any particularly glaring fault with them.

  The crowd gathered even more quickly in greater amount, eager to witness the contest between the sole Maestro against an ensemble of his own.

  The band members who wield their own respective string instruments offered their challenges as they all wanted to see if the tall tales involving him were true or not. Jihoon without a word picks up his guitar as he is thrust upon into another challenge without his consent.

  With a coin toss performed by Karim to see who perform first, Jihoon landed correctly although he partially suspect that the wood elf rigged the toss in his favor. Since it is his initiative, Jihoon started first with the one melody still fresh in his mind after the dream therapy.

  The opening rhythms of Bad Apple.

  D#- D#- D#- D#-_D#-_D#-_D#-| D#- D#- D#-_D#- D#-| D#- D#- D#- D#-_D#-_D#-_D#-| D#- D#- D#-_D#- D#-|

  The harsh and gritty sound of his electric guitar rang out again. As the first few measures of Bad Apple are strummed by Jihoon, the entire ensemble in front of him faltered entirely and stiffened as though losing their entire competitive spirit they have just now.

  The crowd hushed. They stared at Jihoon’s hands as he played—his fingers fluidly moving along the fretboard with mechanical precision, drawing forth searing riffs and haunting overtones.

  And before Jihoon could even reach the first verse, his opponents—

  “We concede”.

  Without even finishing the first passage, the lead instrumentalist lowered his instrument, shaking his head with a sheepish laugh. He raised his hands in mock surrender, then offered a low bow of genuine admiration.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  “We’re not even going to try. How on earth could we compare our mundane string instruments to yours which sound as fierce and furious like rolling thunders?” His voice carried through the crowd, a mixture of defeat and awe.

  The crowd burst into cheers, but Jihoon was left staring in mild disbelief, the guitar still in his hands. He had barely started, and the duel was already over.

  The moment the word ‘thunder’ was invoked, a wave of excited murmurs spread through the crowd.

  The nickname had first surfaced just a week prior—among the forums and musical communities of Absence’s ethernet network. Ever since his performance at the Odyssey’s opening ceremony which was the mass’s first exposure to the sound of his electric guitar. And just hearing it spoken aloud in front of him, that’s just how far and impactful the distinct sound of his instrument really is.

  There had even been fan edits of his performances circulating online—artworks and images just of him performing with his electric guitar while wreathed in streaks of lightning, his eyes glow ethereal white beneath storm-filled sky. Some clips had been enhanced with visual effects, making it appear as though dark clouds raged behind him while his music shattered the heavens.

  Raijin. The Thunder God of Eastern culture in his world, which is also the same thing here had become the nickname of sort for his instrument and the sound which he played with it. It is a distinct thing that no one has yet able to replicate despite being so ahead in technology and culture.

  The crowd erupted into wild applause, cheering and whistling despite the duel ending almost immediately. Jihoon stared down at his guitar, still in his hands, blinking once in mild disbelief.

  “You have to kidding me...” he muttered under his breath.

  Karim, of course, was the first to pounce. With a wicked grin, he clapped Jihoon’s shoulder roughly.

  “You magnificent bastard.” The wood elf snickered. “The literal stormbringer. The real Raijin in the flesh and his incarnation!”

  Jihoon rolled his eyes, already regretting the entire unwanted encounter. “Don’t start.” He muttered with resignation.

  “You might as well start wearing a crown at this point, Maestro,” Rosa teased, her voice drenched with sarcasm and devoid any of the traits that made her dead serious.

  Aquarius, meanwhile, was beaming with pride, clapping lightly with genuine admiration sparkling in her eyes.

  “I think the crowd would’ve worshipped you if you played for even a minute longer, Jihoon,” she said sweetly. Probably only for him due to their relation.

  At this point, Jihoon only exhaled as he runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah… I guessed that I reap what I sowed”. He groaned quietly under his breath with half-exasperation and resignation.

  Despite all of that however, he was kinda glad that he could just go on stage and perform for its sake either way.

  “All I wanted was just to play music”. His thought occurred, which for what had become of his life may as well be an unreachable dream.

  Time flew by in a whirlwind of activities, and before they knew it, they were approaching the end of their itinerary of this short vacation. It was time to return to Perfect Cherry Blossom Inn to pack their belongings.

  As the golden hues of dusk began to paint the sky. The air had taken on a cooler edge, the once-vibrant chatter of the streets softening as Lotus Eater Island eased into the transition from late afternoon to evening.

  From this point onward, it will be unknown when the whole group be together next time since their each respective duty and responsibilities took considerable precedent. Their once-lively chatter now tempered with a quiet solemnity.

  This was it. The last hours of their short vacation before duty called them back to their respective paths.

  “Guess this is it, huh?” Karim stretched his arms over his head, rolling his shoulders as he let out a heavy sigh. His usual smug grin was still there, but it was tinged with something softer, almost reluctant.

  “Back to the grind,” Jihoon muttered, rubbing his temples.

  Rosa, standing with her arms crossed over her chest, gave a firm nod, her expression as serious as ever.

  “I have to return to the Magni Conglomerate.” She exhaled slowly, glancing toward Jihoon. “My father’s been more active lately, which means I have to be there to keep him from getting too lost in his nostalgia again. Business never stops, after all.”

  “Sounds about right,” Jihoon mused, knowing full well that Rosa’s father—one of the most influential figures in the Magni Conglomerate—had been teetering between sentimental detachment and overambition recently.

  Aquarius, the mermaid princess, let out a soft sigh, her delicate fingers brushing over the ornate iridescent shell locket resting at her collarbone. Something of great importance to her beyond words.

  “The tides of Sargasso won’t wait for me forever,” she said with a wistful smile. “There’s still so much to be done with the court’s negotiations… My brothers have been holding down the fort in my place, but I can’t leave him to fend off the aristocrats alone for too long.”

  Jihoon frowned slightly at her circumstances, self-inflicted a lot of it were. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

  “The political struggles in the court won’t wait for me, and my father is… impatient to know the results of my time here.”

  There was an edge to her voice—one that Jihoon noticed immediately.

  “More pressure?” he asked, raising a brow.

  “Always.” Aquarius gave a wry smile, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it. “But that’s my burden to bear. I just need to keep proving my worth.”

  Jihoon hummed, knowing that was easier said than done.

  The weight of reality settled on them. After this evening, they wouldn’t know when they’d next be together again. Their lives were being pulled in different directions, dictated by obligations that none of them could ignore due to their roles.

  Jihoon, at the very least, still had Karim by his side. The wood elf was bound to him as his sponsor, monitoring his every move during the Odyssey Trials since he knew that he could not allow Jihoon to go unrestrained with his past behaviors and actions which Jihoon does not blame in slightest.

  “Absence’s music scene has exploded since your debut, Jihoon. It’d be a crime not to take advantage of that, you know? Especially since your joining of the Odyssey will only further elevate your reputation way further, much as I would rather it being more organic and not controversial”

  Jihoon rolled his eyes. “Of course, leave it to you to find a way to profit from my suffering.”

  Karim’s grin widened while not showing his displeasure in the slightest. “Don’t be ridiculous. I profit from your success, not your suffering.”

  “Maybe next time we see each other, we’ll be entirely different people,” Rosa mused, stretching her arms above her head.

  “I sincerely doubt you’ll change even a bit. You’ll still be the same money-hungry vulture, circling above unsuspecting deals.” Karim chuckled.

  “And you’ll still be the same thorn in my ass.” Rosa retorted with an unamused expression.

  Jihoon smirked at their banter but said nothing. His thoughts were elsewhere.

  And then, there was Alvorna—still resting peacefully inside their room, unaware of the quiet discussion taking place outside the inn.

  Jihoon’s gaze softened slightly. She had used one of her precious few vacation days just to be here with him. And once she woke, she would have to return to her role as Overseer at the Citadel—a position that left her little room for reprieve.

  The weight of that realization settled in his chest.

  “It’s going to be a long while before we’re all together again, huh?” Jihoon murmured, his voice quieter now.

  The group fell silent for a moment, because they all knew the truth. Once they walked out of here, they’d be scattered to the far corners of Absence, each carrying their own burdens and responsibilities. When would they see each other again? No one could say for certain.

  Then…

  Out of nowhere…

  “Jihoon… Spar with me”. Aquarius’s voice cut through the evening air, firm and unyielding.

  The group halted mid-step, turning to her with various degrees of surprise.

  Jihoon blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Aquarius stepped forward, her teal eyes gleaming with an intensity he hadn’t seen before.

  “You just reached Advanced-class Light Magic Proficiency, didn’t you?” she said. “That means this will be the first time we fight on equal ground.”

  Jihoon hesitated, gauging the seriousness in her gaze. This wasn’t just a casual match for her which she declared in both words and intents.

  “Why now?” he asked, tilting his head.

  Aquarius took a deep breath, her fingers clenching at her sides.

  “Because I need to prove something—to myself and to everyone else. That my struggle means something and that I can stand on my own without needing to rely entirely on someone else”

  Her expression hardened, and she met his gaze head-on.

  “Jihoon. You promised to win the entirety of the Odyssey for my sake and using the victor’s reward to assert my self-sovereignty over my life. I know that. But I won’t accept a future where my fate is dictated by a wish I didn’t earn.”

  Her voice was steady, unwavering.

  “If I received your wish without proving my own strength and conviction, no one would take it seriously. And I would only suffer more for it as said wish would only become a debt that I can’t repaid.”

  Her fists clenched tighter.

  “A gift is only a gift if it’s shared between equals.”

  Jihoon’s eyes narrowed slightly, absorbing her words.

  So this was what had been weighing on her mind.

  He had fought for her—to grant her the freedom she desperately sought. But if she couldn’t prove she deserved it, if she couldn’t stand on her own two feet… or fins in her case. Then to the world, it would mean nothing.

  And worse—to herself, it would mean nothing. That his efforts were wasted on a good-for-nothing like her.

  For a moment, Jihoon was silent.

  Then—

  “Alright.”

  A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he slung his guitar behind his back and rolled his shoulders.

  “But don’t expect me to hold back, princess.”

  Aquarius grinned, stepping back as the air around her rippled—the faint pulse of oceanic magic gathering at her fingertips. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She said.

  Half an hour later, the gentle hum of the evening waves accompanied them as they set sail toward the deserted island just off the coast of Lotus Eater Island. It was strictly forbidden to use magic near residential areas—an ironclad law enforced by the Harpies themselves. The damage magic could cause, even unintentionally, was not to be taken lightly.

  Neither Jihoon nor Aquarius wanted to risk accidentally leveling a portion of the island with their magic, so a more remote location had to be chosen.

  Their boat rocked steadily over the waves, the journey a quiet one as Jihoon opened up his System Interface to assess the gap between them.

  His gaze swept over his own stats first.

  ______-----{////\\\\}-----______

  Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon

  Level: 84

  EXP: 713/1,631

  Class: None

  +Physical Attributes:

  -STR: 24

  -END: 25 (+9)

  -AGI: 25

  -DEX: 24

  +Non-physical Attributes:

  -INT: 20.2

  -CHA: 14

  -MAG: 40

  Attribute Points: 52

  +Weapons:

  -Judgement of Light (Decayed) – Halberd [Heroic]

  -Dual Adamantium Survival Knives [Mortal]

  -Adamantium Spiked Handaxe [Mortal]

  +Musical Prowess: Early-Expert

  +Active Skill:

  -Doppelganger (Master)

  -Mana Attunement (Advanced)

  -Light Magic (Advanced)

  -Judgement of Light – Halberd (Novice)

  +Passive Skill:

  -Deadly Obsession [Inactive] (Innate Trait Skill)

  -Eyes Gazing the Past, Safeguarding The Future (Unique) [NEW!]

  -Agony Resistance (Advanced)

  +Song Magic:

  -Forgotten Melody (Intermediate)

  -Glint of Cold Steel (Intermediate)

  -Belief (Intermediate)

  -Exceed! (Intermediate)

  -Smashing Through Mountain Path (Intermediate)

  -Death That I Deserve Truly (Intermediate)

  -Absolute Absurdity (Intermediate)

  -Bad Apple (Intermediate) [NEW!]

  -RiET-949 (Intermediate)

  -SPIKA (Intermediate)

  -Alvorna (Expert)

  -Restia. (Expert)

  ------_____{\\\\////}_____------

  Level: 84. Not bad. He had progressed decently, and his growth had been steadily rising since his involvement in the Odyssey Trials.

  Then his eyes drifted to Aquarius’s numbers as he used [Observation] on her. And he nearly choked on air seeing it now that it is revealed entirely.

  ______-----{////\\\\}-----______

  Direct Heiress of Sargasso Royal Family

  Name: Aquarius Sargasso

  Level: 155

  Class: Royalty

  Job: Musician/Princess

  Race: Merfolk

  +Physical Attributes:

  -STR: 277

  -END: 245

  -AGI: 122

  -DEX: 111

  +Non-physical Attributes:

  -INT: 8

  -CHA: 23

  -MAG: 512

  -Active Skill:

  +Water Magic (Advanced)

  +Mana Attunement (Advanced)

  +Wind Magic (Intermediate)

  +Shapeshifting (Intermediate)

  -Passive Skill:

  +Everlasting Youth (Innate Racial Ability)

  +Enhanced Senses (Intermediate)

  +Perspicuity (Intermediate)

  +Musical Prowess: Late-Intermediate

  ------_____{\\\\////}_____------

  “Okay.” Jihoon blinked. “I, uh… I’m so going to die.”

  Karim, sitting lazily in the boat with his legs propped up, snorted at Jihoon’s visible reaction. “What, just realizing now that she could probably fold you into a neatly pressed shirt?”

  Jihoon shot him a flat look. “No, I knew. I just hadn’t internalized it yet.” He rubbed his face with one hand, exhaling sharply.

  How the hell had their stat gap become so ridiculous? He also recognized that it is still ridiculous even in their first meeting when a lot of it is redacted with ‘?’ all over due to the level differences but seeing it with clarity really do set the stage of just how badly he is going to be beaten. Likely just as bad as his own Doppelganger beating him red and blue all over until it finally gone down by sheer attrition as everyone heals him while he fights it (failingly).

  Back when he first met Aquarius, she had nothing but desperation to her name. She had fled from her own father as she stole his relic, with royal guards on her heels, terrified of the shackles of royal responsibility and loathing of his insensitiveness of her mother’s passing as he brought in someone else near instantly.

  Now? She was returning to face that burden head-on. Jihoon glanced at her, watching as she stared ahead, her expression calm, composed unlike that of a panicking and self-centered girl in her own sheltered world.

  She has come a long way since then as she resolved to face all of it on her own terms.

  Their boat finally bumped against the rocky shoreline of the isolated island. The place was nothing but jagged cliffs, open plains, and stretches of sand—a perfect battlefield where collateral damage wouldn’t be a problem.

  Jihoon jumped off the boat, stretching his limbs as he took in the barren landscape.

  “Alright, this should do.”

  Aquarius followed, her bare fins levitating atop the damp sands as her own Water Magic passively lifting her up. She flexed her fingers, the air around her shifting as traces of Water Magic responded to her presence.

  Fighting a merfolk, in a surrounding filled with endless water. It is practically nothing short of just suicide in another name. To even overcome the homefield advantage so brutal that is laughable, he would need massive advantage to call his own.

  “No reservations, Jihoon.” Her voice was firm. “I don’t want you holding back.”

  Jihoon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. “Fine. But don’t blame me if you end up regretting it.”

  Aquarius smirked with mustered confidence, lowering into a ready stance.“I won’t.”

  The air crackled between them. Jihoon knew that if he wasn’t prepared, the fight would end instantly. And from the impression that he had of her from the way she speaks just now, she most likely thinks that his performance in Lap 4 of the First Trial of Odyssey back in Cicones is his peak performance for someone just recently entering Advanced-class Magic Proficiency. Thus, she intends to go all out here from the first step because it is the only appropriate response to his feats.

  ‘System, allocates all the Attribute Points into MAG’. Jihoon thought to himself in which the System promptly does what he intends.

  |MAG: 40 -> 92

  Feeling the power beneath swelled beyond words. His breath hitched as his body adjusted to the sudden spike in magical capability. The density of his mana and magical power increased without a rhyme or reason to discern. Jihoon took another look at his own status screen as he observed the new changes that he received.

  ______-----{////\\\\}-----______

  Bad Apple

  Classification: Song Magic

  Rank: Intermediate

  Effect (MAG 15):

  -+(3*[MAG])*X% to all Physical Attibutes.

  Effects become stronger the more mental afflictions user is directly suffering from. Denotes by X.

  --------____{\\\\////}_____--------

  His newest Song Magic—a manifestation of the very song he once performed with his Arisen Studio colleagues in his dream therapy. He probably missed the notification when it becomes a Song Magic that he can use but here it is now that he knew about it.

  The effects were not that special compare to the way more brutal and exploitable enhancement effect of other Song Magics with way more ease of triggers. He welcomes anything with additional multiplicative layer however, that means he could make use of it.

  He was certain that he is playing a goddamn card game by arranging his Song Magics in certain orders to scale things even higher.

  This Song Magic was crafted from a history of struggle, anguish and misery from the 10 years of Gate done upon him and taking away all that he holds dear. And when he confronted the abyss that is his past, he gazed not only into his self-reflection but its piercing stare as it questions him if he truly ever been beyond his own pain. What is it that mattered to him in that hazy blur of misery that he is subjected to?

  He couldn’t say that he approached toward a satisfying answer conclusively. But, he can say for sure that his life is more than the pain wrought upon by his past. The people around him now are the testament that he indeed managed to achieve something even if he has lost everything else previously.

  ______-----{////\\\\}-----______

  Eyes Gazing The Past, Safeguarding The Future

  Classification: Passive Skill

  Rank: Unique

  Effects:

  - 80% reduction in all mental afflictions’ effects.

  - Greatly increased resistance to active mental attack (brainwash, illusion, identity corrosion, etc..)

  - Enhanced clarity, focus and all mental faculties.

  - 1.5x EXP gain

  --------____{\\\\////}_____--------

  Jihoon exhaled reading the new passive skill that he received which can’t be anymore obvious with that [NEW!] notification highlighting it. He had a very strong suspicion on where it might come from, and he could tell that it comes from the same source that Bad Apple is.

  The Lotus Chamber dream therapy.

  Much like its mythological counterpart, Most people who entered it left changed—for better or worse. Some cracked under their own trauma. Others found clarity they never thought possible. And some… just willfully enter their everlasting paradise in dream and intent to never return if it weren’t for its limited duration.

  In Jihoon’s case, he managed to put a little closure to the past of his life. Confronting the darkness within himself, and properly stay level-headed to not be consumed by it as he relates while performing to Bad Apple with his coworkers of Arisen Studio even if it were just a dream reconstructed from his past.

  He had acknowledged the pain. Let it wash over him. And stood his ground so that he didn’t embrace the darkness no matter how familiar it had become to his existence. As much as it had integrated into his being, it wasn’t the sole definition of his life.

  Perhaps, this is how the little goddess encouraged and commend his efforts to overcome his internalized fear and the misery haze that had become integral to him. All journeys of thousand miles start with a single step, and to move beyond the shadow of his tormented past is no different that he must confront and gather each important parts of his will and determination to overcome the pain had plagued his life for so long.

  The first step, is to willingly look at one past to know where he has gone wrong, to trace his step and history again to find a better way forward for the present. So that the future will be more merciful and to his liking.

  Jihoon looked at all that he received and learned all over again since his arrival at Absence from another world. And everything he gained right now isn’t just a Chekov’s Gun. All of that details passing by and learned formed its multitude into a behemoth Chekov’s Gunship with every weapon system primed and every cannon loaded to ready and fire.

  Is this the moment to unleash it, one may ask?

  Not exactly. This is just but a duel between two friends, between two compatriots. There is nothing to fear or worry when it is each other. Don’t be Defeated by a Friend, is the sentiment shared between the two of them in good spirit and further understanding one another in how they combat.

  But he knew after reading so much progression fantasy of the same kind that everything that is introduced must eventually be resolved. He doesn’t consciously compare life to fiction, at least negatively anymore at this point, but it is still a rule of thumb that he must remain consider now that his life had become one.

  “No hesitation, let us begin properly. Now”. Jihoon said as he took out his decayed halberd, the Judgment of Light as the aura of light emanates its decayed form.

  Aquarius manifested numerous pre-prepared Water Magics as the tension between each of them reach a breaking point. Then, as sudden as a sea breeze passing by, the duel begins.