Hope walked with the lady through the Hunters Shop Union, where many relics placed in shop walls and there were mana stones of various sizes were displayed with eye-watering prices. He glanced through the glass windows of the shop, his eyes widening momentarily at the sight of prices with more than six zer0s for even the smallest items. He dared not look at the prices of the larger items and continued walking with the lady. This felt completely different from the black market ,Unlike the black market, hope didn't see bargaining here.
They moved from the golden area to the white area. The places were totally different while the golden area was filled with people dressed formally, the white area was populated with individuals in armor, wielding weapons, and guarded by patrolling security personnel and surveillance cameras, some of which were damaged or painted over.
Lady: "Write this way, sir. This is our low-level accessories store. Here, you can buy accessories with skills, including nearly damaged items. For high-level items, you would need to go to the green and then the red area, where you can find items from higher grades."
Hope entered the store, where he noticed eyes following him as he turned around. The lady assured him, "Don't worry, sir. The golems are conducting a security check. They will only restrain shoplifters or troublemakers." With that reassurance, Hope entered the shop as the lady returned to the mall's front.
Inside, a woman with a book approached Hope.
shopkeeper : "What can I help you with, sir?"
Hope: "Can you show me some items with skills? Any item will do, and it's okay if they are nearly damaged."
The woman spoke loudly to the book , announcing, "Items with skills, including nearly damaged ones."
Her book suddenly shrank to eight pages, revealing all the shop's items with skills. She waved her hand, displaying all eight pages of items with photos in the air.
Master: "Select any suitable skill you need, and I will guide you."
Hope: "Master, I see an item with movement skill and a blade skill item on that page."
Master: "Get the magnifying glass with the focus skill and the shield with the energy shield skill."
After purchasing the items, Hope exited the shop.
Hope: "Where to next, Master?"
Master: "Find a secluded place. You need to absorb all these skills."
Hope: "Master, can I absorb the items from my subspace? My skeleton could use my skills, so can I use Eater on the subspace?"
Master: "You could, but it requires a lot of practice. You can absorb everything, including weapons with skills, but practice is needed but as for your skeleton they will simply obey your orders so they can use your skill. For now, absorb it somewhere else."
Hope used his Eyes of Truth to check for anyone watching and used Eater on the items, gaining their skills and combining them with his other abilities.
Skills :
Beast Step E (Active/Passive) + Boost F = Flash Step F
Blade Art E (Passive) + One with the Blade F (Passive) + Flash Swordsmanship = Weapon Master F (Active/Passive)
Eyes of Truth E (Active/Passive) + Focus = Dragon Eye F (Active/Passive)
Alchemy E (Active/Passive)
Mana Vein D (Active/Passive)
Dark Affinity E (Passive)
Healing Attack E (Active)
Growth (Inherited Skill)
Eater (Inherited Skill)
Subspace D (Active)
Intangible E (Active)
Undead Summon D (Active)
Steal F (Active)
Energy Shield F (Active)
Master: "You've got the Dragon Eye and Weapon Master skills. Listen to me carefully. Don't ever merge these skills with normal skills. They are incredibly rare and powerful, surpassing even S rank skills."
Hope: "These skills are rarer than S rank? I thought any skill proficiency upgraded to S rank would have an S rank skill result."
Master: "You people lack basic knowledge of the Tower and its system.
Some skills are inherently superior to others in the same type, in terms of usage, effects, and mastery. For instance, the Dragon Eye skill is unique. In lower or intermediate floor with proper luck you can get the skills like appraisal or Eyes of Truth, But the Dragon Eye can only be found in dragons, which are S rank threats. It's exceedingly rare, appearing in only 1 in 100 dragons. It provides more detailed information and has more uses compared to other appraisal skills. And as for the Weapon Master Skill it will help you master any weapon, even those cursed or bewitched weapon. If you acquire any dragon skills, combine them with the Dragon Eye Ok and for the Weapon Master skill, if you get divine or demonic weapon skills, merge them".
"Now increase the Skills rank."
Hope: "Ok , Ok"
Skill Ranks Progression:
Dragon Eye F (Active/Passive) → Dragon Eye E (Active/Passive) → Dragon Eye D (Active/Passive)
Weapon Master F (Active/Passive) → Weapon Master E (Active/Passive) → Weapon Master D (Active/Passive)
Hope: There goes my 220 XP.
Master: Now get out and try to use the skill.
When Hope when walked out, he saw the world with new eyes. He could see the names of items and people, their ranks just by sensing the mana in them, and countless items within buildings. Hope activated the skill, his eyes turning blue, and then he experienced a sudden headache.
Master: Don't activate it like that. That skill strengthens your eyes with mana. If you activate it without control, your mana will deplete, and you'll be mana sick for days. Once your mana and body rank increase, you can use the skill freely.
Hope: Body rank???
Master: In simple terms, it means your body's total strength. You're nearly at a D rank now. As you increase your body rank, or if you have a special skill, you can balance your mind and body.
Hope: Master, are you telling me to level up?
Master: In short, yes. But for now, let's go to other area shops and check for good items.
Hope walked around the green and red areas, passing many shops.
Master: Stop. Let's go into this shop.
Hope: Master, this is an alchemy shop. Only experienced alchemists come here to buy items. I don't know alchemy. People usually learn alchemy as someone's disciple.
Master: Just go in and buy the items.
Hope: Master, I have the skill but don't know the first step in alchemy.
Master laughing : Alright, I know alchemy. I'll teach you. Just get the items; I'll help you make them.
Once inside, Hope saw many herbs, ores, glass bottles, potions, and potion recipes.
Hope: Master, there's a lot of stuff here. What should I buy?
Master: Just tell the shopkeeper what I tell you.
Master guided Hope on what to buy, and Hope repeated it to the shopkeeper the shopkeeper is confused because hope buying ores , herbs and other things unlike any recipes he ever seen. After purchasing the items, Hope exited the shop and accidentally bumped into a couple, causing him to fall. The couple, a warrior and a mage, were dressed in armor and wielding an axe and a wand with a fire crystal on it.
Hope: Sorry, I didn't see you there.
Warrior: Don't you have eyes? Bumping into me like that? Are you okay, baby? (He asked the mage.)
Hope then noticed that the mage was Rachel.
Rachel: (Disgusted) Move away from him. (To the warrior) This is the parasite.
The warrior jumped back, shocked.
Warrior: This is the creep you were dating before?
Hope's eyes darkened as memories of past incidents flooded back, shocking him.
Rachel: I didn't date him!!! and Who would date him ? He's a parasite who kills everyone near him. Besides, he's poor, living in the streets.
Hope stood up silently and began to walk away.
Master: Stop! You're not going to let them talk to you like that.
Hope: What can I do? What she's saying is the truth.
Master: That was the old you. You've changed beyond comparison. You're a hundred times stronger now. Accept your past tragedies. Tell them you've changed. Go, I said go!
Despite Master's encouragement, Hope continued walking.
Warrior: I never thought he was real. Did he really kill his mother? Don't stop walking, parasite, or I'll kill you. I'll make sure your cursed power doesn't activate again. (Shouting)
Hope's mind was filled with memories, Master's words, and the warrior's taunts. He saw his mother's image in his mind.
Master: I told you that you can save her. You can only save her if you stop being that scared child and be a man . Now, do as I say—stop and turn back.
Hope stopped and turned around, walking towards the couple. With each step, memories and emotions overwhelmed him.
Rachel: (To the warrior) Look, the parasite is coming closer. If he comes near us, he'll attack us with his skill. I don't want him near us baby attack him.
Hope moved closer despite the mage's warnings. The warrior's confident expression turned to fear as Hope's killing intent leaked out. The warrior realized he was now prey.
Warrior: I'm a D rank Berserker Warrior. If I... If I attack, there will be nothing left of you. Move away from me.(Sweating)
Rachel: (Panicking) Baby, kill him before he takes our power! Attack him now. This is a secluded area. There's no security or camera here. Kill him!
As the warrior attacked, someone suddenly jumped between them, nullifying the attack.
Rachel: An association agent...
Emma: What's going on here? Who told you guys to duel in public?
Rachel: He has a permanent absorption skill. He tried to use it on us, and we had no way to defend ourselves. That's why we attacked him—so we could escape and report it at the nearest association post.
Emma: Is that true, sir? Did you use an ability on them?
Hope: No! They're lying. I don't have that ability.
Rachel: Don't get closer to him. He'll absorb anyone's power. You should arrest him and put him in the Hunter's Maze; that's what he deserves.
Emma: Can you be quiet? madam, show me your Hunter's ID card right now.
Hope opened his subspace and handed his ID card to Emma.
Emma: Madam, lying to an association member is a punishable offense. Don't you know that? He has no skills listed on the ID.
Rachel (flustered): But he had that ability. He must have hidden it from the card, or the card must be fake. Two years ago, when he awakened, I saw the card. He had that ability—I saw it on the card!
Emma: Hunter's ID cards can't be forged. He doesn't have any innate abilities. Why did you attack him without cause? I'm taking you both into custody for attacking an unarmed individual.
Hope: No need. What he was displaying wasn't an attack skill; it was just mana clotted in his weapon. There's no need for an arrest for that.
Warrior (thinking): How did he know what I was doing? That attack had high mana output—anyone would think it's a skill.
Emma: Sir, I'm a member of the association. A crime happening in front of my eyes can't be taken lightly.
Hope: You're talking like a crime happened, but nothing did happen. Even if he tried anything, he could never have touched a hair on my head.
The warrior grinds his teeth in anger.
Hope: Besides, like you said, I'm the victim here. I say there's no crime. There is no crime here.
Emma: But… but I saw him attack you.
Rachel: Hahaha… so it's our word against yours.
Hope: There is no "our." You're just human trash. Go live your trash life but remember the one who you once considered as trash has saved you.
Rachel's expression showed how furious she were.
Hope walked away smiling, taking his Hunter's ID card.
Warrior (angrily): That parasite!
Rachel : If it wasn't for her, he'd be dead already.
Emma: What just happened? I came here to help, but how did the situation change like this?
Master: I'm impressed, kid. Not only did you defuse the situation, but you also taught them a lesson.
Hope: Thanks, Master.
Master: So, who is that mage?
Hope: She's Rachel. We were in the same class and used to date. I only realized after I awakened and my mom was in the hospital that she was with me for my money. She thought that because my mother is an A-ranker and part of the Kang clan, I would naturally be a talented Hunter. But after learning about my power, she severed all ties with me, called her previous boyfriend to beat me up, and said she had awakened as a D-rank mage. She told me not to come near her with my cursed power so I could absorb her power and make her like the trash I am.
Master: Next time, don't let her go—beat her up, okay?
Hope: Master, there's a blacksmithing shop here. I have a monster drop that needs to be forged into an item.
Master: The bull horn, right? What kind of item are you planning to get made?
Hope: I don't know, Master. Can you help me with that?
Master: I think you should make it into armor, not a weapon. The bull horn has good attack power, but you don't have any armor. Using it to make armor is a good idea, and with your ability, you can enhance even low-level armor to become really powerful.
Hope entered the shop. There were many dwarves working on armors and swords. Hope watched in awe as the quality of weapons changed with each hammer strike. His eyes saw the grade of the weapons shifting from C to C+ instantly with the hammering—it was amazing to him.
A very short dwarf, unlike the others—without a beard or mustache and lacking strong muscles—looked up at him.
Oliver: Sir, what do you need?
Hope: I need an item forged using a monster drop.
Oliver: What kind of monster drop are we talking about, and what type of item do you need?
Hope pulled the bull horn from his subspace and said, "I need armor."
Oliver: Oh, this is a rare item only available on the 26th floor. You're quite lucky with the drop. We can make boots with it, which will enhance agility, or we can integrate it into body armor. Integrating it into armor will give you a defense boost and possibly a defense skill, while making boots will provide agility and likely a skill.
Master: I think you should go with the boots. They'll be good for you as an agility-based mana strength fighter. It will be beneficial in the long run compared to the armor.
Hope: How long will it take to forge the boots?
Oliver: Sir, we can make the boots within an hour.
Master: Then we'll explore other shops. Let's go.
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The Hunter's Maze is a prison for Hunters, notorious for its harsh conditions and rumored to be a place from which no one returns.