Chapter 9 – Jin Yuseong

Before the sudden rift occurred, when Lee Hanseong was trying to sneak out of the male dormitory.

Jin Yuseong was awake, not asleep.

It was to train the skills of the contracted assassin spirit.

‘Soon, the synchronization rate will reach 10%.’

Increasing the proficiency of the skills granted by the spirit naturally raises the synchronization rate as well.

Thanks to attempting Body Reformation on the second night at the Training Center, Jin Yuseong’s initial synchronization rate was 5%.

Considering that those who received the Starlight Baptism on the 8th day usually start at 1%, this was five times higher.

Since then, he had been raising his synchronization rate by 1% each night by increasing his skill proficiency, and now his synchronization rate was 9.99…%.

The time for unlocking his First Awakening Skill was imminent.

This was the critical moment.

‘Ugh…!’

The skill he was training to raise his synchronization rate was <Black Shadow Manipulation Art>.

It was a Rare Skill that granted physical force to shadows and allowed him to manipulate them.

Since it didn’t visibly activate unless he specifically raised a shadow, and it didn’t consume much stamina, it was perfect for training.

Jin Yuseong was spreading his consciousness across the shadows draped over the entire room by expanding the range of the shadows he had grasped, allowing him to clearly perceive the inside of the room even with his eyes closed.

But then, he sensed something moving over his shadow.

Swoosh.

It was an extremely faint presence.

A movement so stealthy that it was almost undetectable by the five senses alone.

Since it started from inside, he could immediately tell who it was.

‘Lee Hanseong? Where is he going, even using a skill?’

Creak.

Along with the sound of the window opening, the sight of Lee Hanseong slipping outside was captured through the shadows and transmitted to Jin Yuseong’s mind.

Perhaps because he had detected someone using a stealth-type skill through shadows, the blocked skill proficiency suddenly broke through, and his synchronization rate reached 10%.

Hum.

Simultaneously, the spirit’s senses flowing from within informed him how to use the newly unlocked First Awakening Skill.

Grasping the shadow with a sensation similar to activating Black Shadow Manipulation Art, and connecting the inside of the shadow with the spirit’s mental image.

Reaching his hand into the shadow, he seized the Spirit Treasure, possessed only by spirits of 5-Star or higher.

Snap. Swoosh.

A short sword, its entire blade made of pitch-black shadow, was pulled out from the shadow.

“This is… the Hidden Blade.”

A short sword that could be created infinitely as long as there was a shadow.

If he threw this like a ray of light using Black Shadow Manipulation Art, that would be the Awakening Skill 《Hidden Blade》.

His hands itched to test the power of the Awakening Skill.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

But he resisted the urge and sent the Hidden Blade back into the shadow.

There would be another time for Hidden Blade to shine.

“During the practical evaluation, I’ll catch up to Park Seongcheol with this.”

Until then, he planned to hide the fact that he had unlocked an Awakening Skill, letting them remain complacent.

It was a decision made without knowing that Park Seongcheol had also unlocked his First Awakening Skill around the same time.

“But where did Hanseong go at this hour?”

Jin Yuseong approached the window and looked in the direction where Lee Hanseong had disappeared.

The training ground below the male dormitory and the female dormitory came into view.

He probably hadn’t gone far yet, but since Lee Hanseong’s figure wasn’t visible, it seemed he was still using a skill to conceal himself.

Swoosh!

Having overcome the critical moment, the range over which he could deploy Black Shadow Manipulation Art had greatly expanded, so he spread his consciousness to where the shadows were.

‘There he is.’

Then, he sensed Lee Hanseong’s movements, which only occurred where there were shadows.

When he inevitably had to briefly emerge into a spot touched by moonlight, he could see his figure with his naked eyes, not through shadows, suggesting it was probably the <Stealth Walk> skill.

A thief-type skill that grants stealth in darkness.

‘…Fast.’

If that were all, Lee Hanseong’s movements would have been caught by the guard’s eyes, but when he had no choice but to pass through a bright area, his speed was lightning-fast.

Even Jin Yuseong would have missed that speed if he hadn’t known his location in advance through shadows.

It seemed he also possessed a speed-enhancing skill.

Moreover, when facing walls or fences, instead of going around, he climbed over them directly, hinting at a parkour-type skill.

‘Already using skills so proficiently? My eyes weren’t wrong after all.’

Lee Hanseong was worth recruiting to the party even as a 1-Star Contractor.

But as Jin Yuseong quietly watched Lee Hanseong’s three-dimensional movements, he couldn’t help but panic upon confirming the direction he was heading.

‘Crazy! Going to the female dormitory at this hour?’

If it was for lust, it would be disappointing.

“Tsk, still can’t break old habits.”

He thought he had changed, but if this was how he acted, he’d have to reconsider recruiting him to the party…

Just as Jin Yuseong clicked his tongue in disappointment and suddenly looked up at the sky.

Crack.

Above the bright moon, a pitch-black dot appeared.

Instantly, the automatically activated <Danger Sense> skill dyed his vision crimson.

‘…What is that?’

An ominous feeling that sent shivers down his spine.

Even in the spirit’s memories glimpsed during Heroic Spirit Synchronization, such a deep red color rarely appeared.

And when it did, it always meant something dangerous enough to cause someone’s death.

‘Could it be that Lee Hanseong knew about this in advance?’

Suddenly, the actions Lee Hanseong had shown over the past week came to mind.

He had flaunted the effects of Body Reformation to induce Park Seongcheol and him to choose that method.

After that, he had subtly manipulated the situation to even make Yu Sehee receive her Starlight Baptism earlier.

Jin Yuseong, who had been closely watching Lee Hanseong, had grasped most of his actions.

‘At the time, I thought he just liked Yu Sehee and wanted to help her not fall too far behind.’

But what if it was actually to secure combat strength to deal with an impending danger?

If so, it would also explain why Lee Hanseong was heading to the female dormitory now.

Despite Lee Hanseong’s efforts, Yu Sehee had not received her Starlight Baptism even today.

‘He went to protect the female dormitory side!’

Even if it seemed like a bit of a logical leap, Jin Yuseong believed it.

Only then could he prove that his eyes weren’t wrong.

If Lee Hanseong and Yu Sehee were on the female dormitory side, then he and Park Seongcheol should take care of the male dormitory side.

Swoosh.

Imitating Lee Hanseong’s <Stealth Walk>, he pulled up the shadows of Black Shadow Manipulation Art to cover his body.

Securing stealth like that, he quietly left the room and moved.

He was heading toward Park Seongcheol’s room.

* * *

A moment later, Jin Yuseong stopped in front of Park Seongcheol’s door and extended a shadow through the gap under the door into the room.

After confirming Park Seongcheol’s location, he manipulated the shadow like a tentacle to wake him.

Swish!

But just as the shadow tentacle was about to touch Park Seongcheol’s cheek, the shadow was cut by something sharp.

Park Seongcheol, who had summoned a sword from thin air, noticed the shadow and slashed it.

‘He was awake. And that sword is a Spirit Treasure.’

Being able to summon a Spirit Treasure meant Park Seongcheol had also unlocked his First Awakening Skill.

Normally, he would have been annoyed that he hadn’t widened the gap between them, but with danger ahead, it was actually good.

Thud, thud.

Creak— The door opened.

“What is this? Jin Yuseong.”

Although he had covered his body with shadows, Park Seongcheol immediately recognized his identity.

Pushing away the Three-Foot Sword pointed at his neck with a Hidden Blade, he spoke.

“Wait, I have something to say quietly. Can we talk inside?”

“Come in and see.”

With the confidence that he could block whatever Jin Yuseong tried, Park Seongcheol readily let him into the room.

It seemed his roommate had dropped out midway, as Park Seongcheol was using the double room alone.

“Alone, huh? That makes talking easier.”

He got straight to the point.

“There’s going to be a situation soon where we’ll need to use your strength.”

“What do you mean…?”

Woooooo—!

Fortunately, it seemed he wouldn’t need to persuade him with words.

The siren detecting the appearance of a sudden rift began to wail.

“It’s a sudden rift.”

Pointing at the rift, Park Seongcheol immediately grasped the situation and fell silent.

Crackle! Crackle!

Watching the Goblin Riders emerging from the rift’s branches falling to the ground like black lightning, the two burned with fighting spirit.

“It’s a chance to awaken. If we just stand by, everyone will be in danger anyway. While saving others, let’s also build up some feats.”

“I like that.”

Hum!

The moment Park Seongcheol decided to join forces with Jin Yuseong, the faint aura emanating from the Three-Foot Sword settled into Jin Yuseong’s body.

Feeling his overall abilities rise, Jin Yuseong looked at the Three-Foot Sword with intrigued eyes.

“《Three-Feet Sworn to Heaven》. An Awakening Skill that buffs allies.”

Park Seongcheol, noticing his gaze, explained.

Outside, wolves that had caught the scent carried by the mountain wind were coming up toward the male dormitory, carrying goblins.

Creak. Thud!

Park Seongcheol opened the window and jumped out.

“This is the 4th floor… whatever.”

Jin Yuseong also jumped out the window after him.

Thud.

The shadows of Black Shadow Manipulation Art primarily absorbed the impact, and with the buff from the Three-Foot Sword added, the fall’s impact was almost negligible.

—Grrr! Bark!

Amidst the closest wolf howling and charging.

《Hidden Blade》!

Swish!

A black ray of light shot from Jin Yuseong’s fingertips.

It was his first real battle, but the cold-heartedness of the spirit that made up 10% of him helped him engage in combat with cold rationality.

Thump!

The Hidden Blade pierced the wolf’s forehead, but the wolf didn’t stop.

The wolf and goblin unified through the Awakening Skill 《Unification》 were essentially one body, so even if one suffered a fatal wound, if the other was fine, they wouldn’t die.

Unaware of this fact, Jin Yuseong panicked but focused on continuing to hinder the monsters’ movements.

Swish, swish, swish!

The shadows spread across the uphill path from the training ground to the male dormitory surged up like speed bumps under Black Shadow Manipulation Art, tripping the wolves’ feet.

Screech!

Wolves and goblins tumbling headfirst into the ground and sliding.

Among them, when the head of the Goblin Rider riding the wolf with the pierced forehead shattered, only then did both meet their death.

“It seems we have to kill both the goblin and the wolf to kill them.”

Park Seongcheol muttered, not missing the sight.

“Not difficult.”

Swish! Swish! Thump!!

Two consecutive Hidden Blades simultaneously pierced the foreheads of the goblin and the wolf.

‘Is it because of the Three-Foot Sword…? The stamina consumption for activating the Awakening Skill is less than I thought.’

He made the right choice joining forces with Park Seongcheol.

Swish! Swish!

Some tried to perceive and dodge or block the Hidden Blades, but with Black Shadow Manipulation Art altering the trajectory mid-flight, they died helplessly.

Whoosh! Twang!

A rider with a bow retaliated with arrows, but Park Seongcheol swung the Three-Foot Sword to deflect them.

Just as the monster hunting was proceeding smoothly.

An anomaly occurred in the sky.

Rumble!

With thunder, twelve pairs of enormous eyes revealed themselves high in the sky.

“Gah!”

“Guh!”

Even though they weren’t looking this way, merely gazing at them made it hard to breathe—such was their presence.

It was undoubtedly the sublime Twelve Constellations.

Of course, it wasn’t their True Bodies being revealed. But before their gaze, both humans and monsters could only stand frozen.

The Hidden Blades and arrows exchanged along the path leading to the male dormitory momentarily ceased.

This lull continued until the Constellations withdrew their presence.

But the situation was disadvantageous for them.

“…The rift!”

“It’s expanding.”

The rift expanded due to the Constellations revealing their Grade.

Soon, Hobgoblin Riders appeared.

—Awoooooo!

At the howl of the Alpha Dire Wolf echoing from the training ground, the riders targeting this side turned back.

But they couldn’t relax.

The monsters that turned back now would return under the Hobgoblin Riders, stronger than before.

Hum!

The moment they felt they had to do something, a strange Resonance pierced their minds.

‘Lee Hanseong?’

It was Lee Hanseong’s <Empathy> skill.

Immediately, a feeling of connection to a mental network followed, and the inner starlight surged.

Whoosh!

Along with an elation as if awakened, the synchronization rate with the spirit skyrocketed to 20% in an instant.

Plus, an unknown Constellation’s Blessing!

There was no doubt that all these changes were due to Lee Hanseong.

‘To think he even has such an ability! Lee Hanseong, you’re truly the best!’

Jin Yuseong was moved that his eyes weren’t wrong.

He now had a reason to definitely secure Lee Hanseong.

—Meow!

‘…A cat?’

A somewhat triumphant cat’s cry was heard.

An auditory hallucination? No, this wasn’t the time to be distracted by such things.

Information about the unlocked Second Awakening Skill filled his mind.

The second Awakening Skill he obtained was the best move to counter the Hobgoblin Riders’ Colonization.

Thanks to that, when Lee Hanseong used Shrinking Earth to summon the two to his side.

Pat.

Jin Yuseong immediately knew what he had to do.

《Assassination Directive》.

The Awakening Skill, which forces betrayal by manipulating beings affiliated with a designated target through shadows, activated on the Hobgoblin Rider.

—Grrr….

Pitch-black shadows covered the eyes of the unified riders who had colonized with it, and they simultaneously turned their heads, aiming their weapons at their leader.

Originally, with his current proficiency, manipulating the target’s shadow was the limit, but with the Constellation’s Blessing added, the range of manipulation expanded, resulting in the best possible outcome.

A rift was spreading through the Hobgoblin Rider’s Colonization.