The 21st day, which I had passed with a lingering sense of regret while entering the Gate, had gone by, and finally, the long-awaited 24th day arrived. I skipped breakfast and entered the Gate, clearing the first one in an instant.
'Status Window.'
== Name: Han Seo-jun Overall: E-Rank Physical: 5 ??????: 31/45 Innate Ability
??? - Lv.2 [96.2%] Owned Skills
Magic Missile (D) - Lv.2 [99.99%] - Growth Limit Reached ==
Magic Missile had hit its growth limit long ago, but my innate ability had steadily accumulated experience, reaching 96.2%.
'Since it's 0.2% per skill use, I have 29 times to go.'
I would reach Lv.3 toward the end of the next Gate, which would also fully restore my mana. Thinking of all the hardships I had endured, I planned to head straight home once I cleared it.
'Naturally, I should check the evolved ability at home.'
Checking it inside a Gate wouldn't change anything, but the memory of drinking beer while checking the Lv.2 ability tempted me.
'It's only a natural result, given that it's a good memory.'
An uncharacteristic hum escaped my lips for a moment. I caught myself and adjusted my pace. The next Gate was located at Bukhansan Ecological Park—a place I usually avoided—but I chose it today because I figured the rain would keep people away.
'If there are a lot of people, someone might recognize me.'
Fewer people didn't guarantee I wouldn't be spotted, but I still wanted to choose a day when the area was empty if possible...
"Hm?"
Just as I was passing a building with a Pizza Hut, I felt a sudden vibration in the atmosphere. It seemed like a fight had broken out between Hunters somewhere; fortunately, it wasn't in the direction I was heading.
'Doesn't fighting outside of a Gate or a sparring ground result in the suspension of one's Hunter license?'
I recalled seeing something like that in the handbook I received after my safety training. Surely the suspension period increased depending on one's rank...
—Gurgle!
"…?"
Suddenly, a strange sense of dissonance washed over me from behind. I spun around.
"What is this?"
The Pizza Hut I had just passed was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a lush, overgrown forest. I turned around again just in case, only to find a forest with a small path.
"…A Sudden Gate?"
Sudden Gates start at D-Rank at the minimum. I instantly tensed my body and focused on the surrounding sounds.
'Wind, grass, leaves… no noises from living organisms.'
If no one enters a Sudden Gate within ten minutes of its creation, it immediately triggers a Gate Break. However, if someone does enter, the entrance seals shut within five minutes.
'Which means I wait here for five minutes. It'll be a relief if someone else enters… but if not, it means I have to clear a Gate of unknown rank all by myself.'
I tried my best to remain calm and calculated my combat power based on a worst-case scenario.
'A Magic Missile fired with 100% mana consumption produces B+ to A- Rank power. In other words, I can handle everything up to a C-Rank Gate, including the boss.'
The problem was that I didn't know the power of a 200% mana shot. Optimistically, I might even be able to handle an A-Rank.
'But there's no guarantee this place is A-Rank. In the worst case, it could be S-Rank.'
While I was agonizing over this, five minutes passed. In the end, it meant I had to clear this Gate alone.
'First, I'll identify what kind of monsters live here.'
Prepared for the worst, I moved forward, ready to fire a 200% Magic Missile at any moment. I had heard that the terrain of Sudden Gates was a jumble, but it took a full ten minutes before I found the first monster.
'That's… an Orc. Judging by its poor equipment, it's D-Rank.'
Even if it had been C-Rank, I could have handled it, but D-Rank was better since I could conserve mana.
"Magic Missile 10%." —Shuwoong! Kwajik!
[You have defeated a monster.] [Experience for Innate Ability: ??? Lv.2 increases by 0.2%.] [Experience for Magic Missile (D) Lv.2 has reached its limit; experience will now be banked.]
Sixty monsters appear in D to C-Rank Gates. I only needed to catch 29… no, 28 more to reach Lv.3.
'Then my mana will be fully restored. Considering the monsters are in a weakened state… I can clear this as long as I reach Lv.3.'
The problem was that an F-Rank "Glass Cannon" like me would have cleared a Sudden Gate solo. But that was a problem I could worry about once I reached the boss room.
'Survival and clearing the Gate come first.'
Moving cautiously, I encountered two more Orcs. I adjusted my mana levels to 15% and 10% respectively; both died instantly with their heads or hearts destroyed.
'…15% is surprising, but I can one-shot a D-Rank with 10%? Are the monsters weakened?'
The thought I had wrestled with upon reaching Lv.2 surfaced again: how would the power change if I used only 10% mana?
'If it's triple the efficiency, then it makes sense for a D-Rank monster to die in one hit.'
Even if they weren't weakened, an Orc could be killed with two D-Rank skill shots if hit precisely in a weak point.
'…I can get re-evaluated by the Association later. For now, let's clear this and get out as fast as possible.'
I shook my head vigorously and moved calmly, taking out the Orcs one by one as they came into view. Some tried to ambush me from the bushes, but they weren't creatures that could hide even if they wanted to.
'The stench is so strong I can detect them from 20 to 30 meters away.'
Unless one's sense of smell was paralyzed, anyone could determine the presence of Green Skins.
'19… 18….'
As Lv.3 drew closer, I felt a sense of urgency, but I kept telling myself to stay sharp since this was D-Rank, not F-Rank. After about 30 minutes, I reached 99.8%—just one more kill until Lv.3.
'Of all things, it has to be a Mid-Boss.'
F to E-Rank Gates only have a final boss, but Mid-Bosses appear starting from D-Rank. I heard that A-Rank Gates have two Mid-Bosses, but I've never been to one, so I wouldn't know.
'Remaining mana… 6.85?'
It was impossible to use a 100% shot, but this was a Mid-Boss of a D-Rank Gate, not a C-Rank. Even a 50% power shot would likely kill it in one blow, but I wanted to eliminate even the smallest variable.
"Magic Missile 90%." —Tsu-tsut! [Target not set. If a target is not set, the skill will be canceled in 30 seconds.] [29… 28….]
I activated Magic Missile before entering the Mid-Boss room. An Orc Warrior was waiting inside, but…
—Shuwoong! Kwang!
[You have defeated a monster.] [Experience for Innate Ability: ??? Lv.2 increases by 0.2%.] [Innate Ability: Universal (EX) has reached Lv.3.] [Growth limit for Magic Missile (D) Lv.2 has been removed; skill increases to Lv.3.]
The Orc Warrior died without even making a sound. At the same time, the level of my innate skill rose… wait?
"Universal? EX?"
Generally, the known skill ranks only go up to SSS. I heard that the highest in Korea is an SS-Rank skill holder, and only America has SSS-Rank users.
"Status Window!"
== Name: Han Seo-jun Overall: C-Rank Physical: 7 Origin Power: 135/135 Innate Ability
Universal (EX) - Lv.3 [0.0%] Owned Skills
Magic Missile (D) - Lv.3 [61.9%] ==
My overall rank had become C-Rank, and what I had vaguely thought of as mana was now named "Origin Power."
'...The important thing is the true nature of this innate ability.'
My hands were trembling, perhaps from the shock. I opened the details for the innate ability.
[Universal - EX] [An archive where skills are recorded] [Lv.1 - Complete possession of 1 random skill] [Lv.2 - Skill resource consumption can be adjusted from 10% to 200%] [Lv.3 - B-Rank skill rental possible] [Lv.4 - Locked] ...
'B-Rank skills?! No, wait. Rental? It says rental?'
Confused, I shouted "Universal," but nothing happened. After a moment's thought, I shouted "Skill Rental."
[Select the primary category of the skill to rent.] [Offensive] [Support]
Thinking I should just check for now, I selected "Offensive." Sub-categories like Physical Attack and Magic Attack appeared.
'F-first, I need to check the info.'
I hurriedly selected Magic Attack. "Fire Spear (B-Rank)" was the first to catch my eye.
[Fire Spear - B][Active] [Fires 3 spears of flame.] [Resource Consumption: 20] [Rental Cost: 40/h] [Rent: Y/N]
I said "Y" immediately, but there was no response, so I pressed "Y" manually. Another message popped up.
[Consumes 40 Origin Power per hour.] [Select rental duration.] [1-3] ▲▼ [Rent]
With my current Origin Power, I could rent it for 3 hours, but if I borrowed it for the maximum time, my mana... no, my Origin Power would only have 15 left.
'Just one hour for now. I can reach the boss within an hour anyway.'
I pressed the Rent button, and B-Rank Fire Spear immediately appeared in my skill window. Since it was a rental, it seemed experience couldn't be gained, as no level was displayed.
"Fire Spear 10%!" —Fwarereuk!
Along with the sound of something roaring into flames, three massive spears of fire were created. The most surprising part was that, unlike when I used the D-Rank Magic Missile without a target...
"There's… no time limit?"
Exactly 2 Origin Power had been consumed, and the fire spears were burning quietly beside me. Feeling a surge of confidence, I moved forward. The moment an Orc appeared, I thought about firing just one spear.
—Hwoong! Kkwa-ang! "Wh-what is this power?!"
[You have defeated a monster.]
In the past, I had participated as a mercenary in a party that included someone with the Fire Spear skill. The power of the Fire Spear I saw then was nothing like this.
'This is clearly over-spec! It really means I get more than double the attack power?!'
With this, I think I can reveal some of my information to the Association—not all of it, but a little.
'I need to enter higher-rank Gates, and more importantly, I have to strip away that derogatory nickname, "Glass Cannon."'