Memorize - Episode 7
7 Using Privileges
How much time had passed?
"...."
I managed to open my eyes, and the gray brick walls of the summoning room came into view. Fortunately, it seemed I still had time before entering the Trial of Passage. I felt like I could fall asleep if I closed my eyes again, so I lifted my head with a grunt.
As expected, a message floated in the air. I could read it comfortably even while lying down, so I leaned my head back against the floor and began to read.
"You have suffered a massive internal shock. Your vitality will permanently decrease by 10 points."
"Congratulations! All waste and impurities within your body have been burned away. Your vitality and magic flow have significantly improved. Your vitality increases by 2 points, and your magic by 6 points permanently."
"The eternal flame, Hwajeong, has settled in your heart. The synchronization rate with Hwajeong is currently 100%."
I was reading these messages in a daze. When I saw that my vitality had decreased, my mind snapped back to reality. As I continued reading, Seraph's voice reached my ears.
"User Kim Su-hyun, are you awake? Is your body okay? User Kim Su-hyun!"
At least my hearing had recovered. I was about to retort that she should be able to see my condition herself, but my voice didn't come out. Instead, only a hissing sound escaped my lips. My throat was completely hoarse.
I realized I had to wait for my body to recover. I let out a deep sigh and summoned my user information window. I planned to review the information mixed with privileges while I waited.
< User Information (Player Status) >
Name: Kim Su-hyun (0 years of experience)
Class: Sword Specialist (Secret, Master)
Nation: -
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: One who needs to prove qualifications, Preliminary User · South Korea
Sex: Male (23 years old)
Height · Weight: 181.5 cm · 75.5 kg
Personality: Lawful · Chaos
(Before Change) [Strength 94] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Vitality 78] [Magic 90] [Luck 88]
(After Change) [Strength 94] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Vitality 70] [Magic 96] [Luck 88]
(Remaining Ability Points: 0)
< Achievements (0) >
< Unique Ability (1/1) >
The Third Eye (Rank: S Zero)
(Description: A non-ordinary concept beyond the usual notion of sight. It's an invisible eye linked to one's intuition, allowing for high-level insight into all phenomena occurring in the present. Originally, it could analyze phenomena beyond the current dimension, but due to its forced manifestation by an unknown power, it was downgraded by two ranks. However, influenced by the pure flame energy of Hwajeong, it has been upgraded by one rank. In its current state, nothing can deceive Kim Su-hyun's eyes.)
< Special Ability (1/1) >
Sword-Mind Unity (Rank: Extra)
The pinnacle of swordsmanship where the person becomes the sword and the sword becomes the person. Every action of wielding a sword receives positive adjustments. Although the user has not yet reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, years of experience and numerous achievements, along with job bonuses, have upgraded it by two ranks.
< Latent Abilities (4/4) >
Battlefield Mastery (Rank: A Plus)
(Description: An ability that has surpassed the limits for those handling close-range weapons. It represents the highest level of enhancement achievable as a human. In close combat, it is unbeatable. Due to years of experience and job bonuses, it has been upgraded by one rank.)
Unyielding (Rank: A Plus)
(Description: Refuses to give up in battle. Does not accept defeat. This willpower allows for continued combat even when severely injured. However, if a critical injury is sustained, combat effectiveness is halved.)
Insight (Rank: A Plus)
(Description: A mental eye that sees beyond appearances to the inner nature of things. It allows for self-reflection, observation of others, or similar phenomena. A mind disciplined to the extreme can maintain calm under S-rank or lower mental pollution magic.)
Blessing of the Battlefield (Rank: Extra)
(Description: The blessing of Athena, the goddess of the battlefield, which activates only in combat. It grants a broad view of the battlefield, allowing the user to quickly identify the location of allies in distress. The divine blessing also reduces magical damage from external sources, depending on the ability's rank and the user's luck score. Although Kim Su-hyun's luck is decent, it provides some defense against magic one rank higher than the ability's rank and partial defense against magic two ranks higher.)
(Remaining Ability Points: 0)
After reading my user information, I felt both satisfaction and disappointment. The abilities I had randomly obtained, like Battlefield Mastery and Unyielding, were beyond my control, but they weren't bad, and their ranks were decent. It was comforting that they were abilities I was familiar with from before.
However, the unexpected problem was the decrease in my vitality score. Vitality was crucial as it supported all other abilities.
A vitality score of 70 points meant I could still achieve the output I intended, but the fact that it was 70 points was a concern. If I were to compare it to a car, the design conditions were excellent, but the engine's durability was unstable. If the engine overheated, there was a risk of retread or explosion. It seemed that both Seraph's and my predictions had come true, each in part.
I couldn't do anything about my vitality for now. I decided to focus on recovering my body, as Seraph's gaze was growing increasingly stern. After all, my abilities were already impressive, so wanting more might be greedy.
.... .... .... .... .... ....
How much time had passed? It felt like about 20 minutes, but I wanted to know the exact time. Although Seraph would likely manage it, we hadn't spoken since receiving all the privileges. I closed my eyes, letting things be.
As time passed, my body cooled down. It wasn't that I was dying; it was just the heat from Hwajeong's influence dissipating. As the internal heat decreased, my body's sensations began to return to normal.
I had reviewed my user information and spent the remaining time observing my body's internal state.
Certainly, there were drawbacks. However, I was alive, and that was a success. After overcoming this difficult hurdle, the rewards were immense. Not only had I cleared all waste and impurities from my body, but I had also opened up the tiny acupoints at my fingertips and toes, which had been inaccessible before. My vitality was circulating faster, and the speed and efficiency of my magic flow had increased dramatically. In battles against peers, these improvements were like having a few secret weapons.
"Phew."
As I felt my body's sensations returning, I circulated magic throughout my body, extending it to my fingertips and toes. I gained confidence and gently moved my right arm, finding it much lighter than before. Although my joints were still stiff and sore, it was a significant improvement from when I had lost all sensation.
I slowly sat up and looked straight at Seraph, who was watching me with a calm gaze. She didn't seem particularly moved, but I didn't feel embarrassed either, since she was an angel and not a woman I could see as a romantic interest.
I shrugged my shoulders and tapped my left wrist with my right hand, asking for the time.
"The time to enter the Trial of Passage has arrived. Prepare yourself."
Seraph's voice was cold and dry, clearly annoyed. I remembered how she had been tapping her foot earlier.
I decided to stop there and avoid unnecessary arguments. After all, I had obtained everything I needed.
"I'm ready. Send me over."
"User Kim Su-hyun, is your body okay?"
"It's fine."
"Then I'll transmit you immediately. Time is tight, so please act quickly in the preparation room."
"Yes, yes." My lackluster response made Seraph furrow her brow, but she soon raised her slender fingers and snapped them lightly.
Snap!
The sound of her fingers snapping was followed by my body beginning to fade away, like being erased with an eraser.
"One piece of advice: never be complacent. I hope you pass the Trial of Passage safely and that we meet again. I wish you good luck, User Kim Su-hyun."
"Seraph, no more lectures. Next time, keep your mouth shut."
I teased her slightly, and a familiar mechanical sound filled the air. Without panicking, I looked down to see my legs fading away.
A new start after ten years. Now, a new future would unfold. The future I would forge, where no one would lose or despair—Kim Su-hyun's future. Thinking about it filled my chest with emotion.