Chapter 33
Ding-!
[Reviewing past memories and abilities of user 'Lee Seong-jun' for smooth 2nd job advancement.]
[Error 1783.]
[Code 005 activates.]
[Job selection process excluded.]
[2nd job advancement for existing 'Enhancement Specialist' job proceeds.]
[Progress 0... 50... 99%.....]
[Congratulations! Buffer, you have advanced to 'Mystic Specialist'.]
[Acquired B+ rank skill: Blessing of Earth]
[Acquired B rank skill: Wind's Protection]
[Acquired B+ rank active skill: Amplification]
After confirming the green hologram window filling his vision, Lee Seong-jun let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew..."
Like job selection, 2nd job advancement is also based on past memories and abilities.
However, since the job was randomly selected, he had a small anxiety in one corner of his mind, not knowing what variables might occur.
'...I thought it might be randomly selected again, like before.'
He had considered the possibility of getting a completely unnecessary combat job. Or in the worst case, even having his job taken away altogether.
Neither option was good, but since there was no better solution by postponing it, he had boldly attempted it.
Fortunately, the 2nd job advancement for his existing 'Enhancement Specialist' job proceeded.
A smile naturally formed on Lee Seong-jun's lips.
'Good.'
From the perspective of someone who knows numerous martial arts, he obtained the Mystic Specialist job - an upgrade of the Enhancement Specialist ability, which could be considered an excellent job compared to any other.
Of course, the resulting increase in combat power was truly excellent.
B+ rank, Blessing of Earth (Consumes 4 Blood Energy)
Instantly increases the target's strength and stamina.
When used, increases Strength and Stamina stats by 5 for 1 minute and greatly increases physical durability.
B rank, Wind's Protection (Consumes 3 Blood Energy)
Instantly increases the target's speed significantly.
When used, increases Agility stat by 10 for 1 minute.
B+ rank, Active Skill, Amplification
Increases the effect of all enhancement abilities used by 50%.
A wry smile appeared on Lee Seong-jun's lips as he checked the newly acquired skills.
'It certainly... deserves the job name Mystic Specialist.'
The difference before and after obtaining the 2nd job advancement, Mystic Specialist, was literally like heaven and earth. It would be no exaggeration to say so.
It was such an enormous increase in combat power that it was meaningless to even bother comparing.
'A total of 20.'
He could significantly increase the main stats related to physical abilities - Strength, Agility, and Stamina - even if only momentarily.
However, in the case of Blessing of Earth, there was one difference from the enhancement skills he had obtained so far.
'Physical durability...'
Since there was no directly specified stat, it was a very subtle aspect.
But if asked whether he understood the effect, Lee Seong-jun would shake his head.
'External martial arts.'
The act of training the body to strengthen muscles, skin, and bones.
Normally, it would take at least several years, or even decades, to see proper results.
However, the description of the Blessing of Earth skill stated that it immediately enhances the effects of such external martial arts.
'...I'm looking forward to seeing how effective it is.'
With a small expectation in his heart, Lee Seong-jun swung his fist violently towards a nearby tree.
Thud!
The skin was slightly torn, and a stinging sensation was felt at the fingertips, but the tree that his fist hit only shook without any substantial impact.
After finishing checking his current physical condition, Lee Seong-jun nodded and used the newly learned Blessing of Earth.
Ding-!
[Using Blessing of Earth on user 'Lee Seong-jun'...]
Confirming the power rising within his body, Lee Seong-jun extended his arm again towards the tree he had just punched.
Thud-!
With a dull sound, the tree began to shake violently.
Not only that.
The center of the tree where his fist hit was deeply dented.
In contrast, the sensation at his fingertips was only slightly stinging.
'Excellent. At this level...'
Iron Mujin, one of the Eight Great Demon Lords who could be considered a pillar of the Blood Sect, known by the alias Iron Demon Lord.
He should be able to use the external martial art, Iron Golem External Technique, that Mujin used.
A smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's lips.
'An unexpected harvest.'
As its name suggests, Iron Mujin's Iron Golem External Technique was the only external martial art in the internal energy-focused martial arts world to be given the title of divine technique.
Its power was so intense that when used by Iron Mujin, the technique's creator and master, it could destroy steel fortress walls with a single bare-handed strike!
There was a reason why Lee Seong-jun hadn't used this martial art until now, despite knowing its tremendous destructive power.
'There was no need to wear ill-fitting clothes.'
The reason why the Iron Golem External Technique could exert such powerful force was because Iron Mujin was a martial artist who had trained his body to the extreme through external martial arts.
In other words, it would be impossible for an internal energy-focused martial artist like Lee Seong-jun to properly exert its power even if he tried to use it.
However, with the Blessing of Earth skill, the story changes completely.
'I may not be at Iron Mujin's level, but I can use external martial arts that are sufficiently threatening.'
There was no reason to exclude the Iron Golem External Technique anymore.
Obtaining skills like Blessing of Earth and Wind's Protection could be considered quite satisfactory results.
But there was still one more acquired skill remaining.
Lee Seong-jun's eyes stopped at one place while a satisfied smile lingered on his lips.
'Amplification.'
Increasing the effect of all enhancement abilities by 50 percent, this could be considered the most outstanding skill obtained through this job advancement.
'Perhaps the tremendous increase in durability from Blessing of Earth was also thanks to this Amplification.'
But it wasn't just Blessing of Earth that benefited from Amplification.
The newly acquired Wind's Protection and the existing strength, agility, and stamina enhancements he used as an Enhancement Specialist would also see their effects further increased.
If he used all the enhancement skills he had, the additional stat increase would be a whopping 17.
Moreover, physical durability would increase steeply as well.
'Excellent.'
Even ordinary hunters would be able to feel the difference without filtration.
What more for Lee Seong-jun, who possessed outstanding combat sense and abilities?
'If I go all out... in terms of hunter rankings on Earth, it would be S-rank. By the Cheon Continent's standards, I could face a peak-level martial artist head-on.'
He was talking about fighting against a peak-level martial artist from the realm of first-class martial artists, and in a direct confrontation at that.
If connoisseurs from the Cheon Continent heard this, they would have scoffed, saying not to talk nonsense.
That was inevitable because the gap between first-class and peak-level martial artists wasn't just a simple one-level difference in realm.
First of all, the power of the martial arts they wielded was different.
It was natural.
First-class martial artists simply materialize ki and overlay it once.
But peak-level martial artists overlay the drawn ki onto their weapons at least twice, and up to three times in many cases.
Ki overlaid multiple times naturally had far superior durability and cutting power compared to a single layer.
This meant that even when using the same martial art, the power itself would be different.
Moreover, given the large difference in the amount of internal energy, the martial arts they could employ and their inherent power were inevitably far inferior.
Therefore, it would be no exaggeration to say that there was a huge wall between first-class and peak-level martial artists.
Of course, Lee Seong-jun, who had risen to the position of Blood Demon and Demon God, was well aware of this difference.
Nevertheless, confidence was filling Lee Seong-jun's eyes.
'If I unleash the Blood Sect's divine techniques... I might be able to grasp victory.'
Originally, he would have been reluctant to use them due to the great burden on body and mind, but with the Indomitable Will he had obtained earlier and the enhancement buffs he gained today, he should be able to unleash them without much burden.
A smile curved Lee Seong-jun's lips.
'At this level... I can change hunting grounds.'
There was a reason why he had been staying in D-rank gates despite having the ability to defeat C+ rank boss monsters.
'The efficiency wasn't there.'
He could deal with D-rank monsters in one hit, literally in a single blow.
Of course, he could also finish off C-rank monsters in one hit, but due to the limits of his internal energy, he couldn't maintain such overwhelming combat all day long, so he hadn't been using them as hunting grounds.
However, if he uses these buff skills he just obtained, it should be sufficiently possible to hunt in C-rank gates.
But since it was only a personal conjecture, he couldn't be certain.
'It would be good to check directly.'
Although he was slightly curious, he had no intention of checking immediately.
'There's no reason to be hasty.'
It's an ability he has already obtained.
There was absolutely no chance of it being suddenly taken away.
Especially, the most important point was.
'...It's gotten later than I thought.'
He had hunted later than usual to reach the target point, level 40.
Because of that, it was already almost time for dinner with his family.
Unless it was truly unavoidable, he didn't want to give up precious time with his family.
'For now... that's it for today.'
After organizing his thoughts with a nod, Lee Seong-jun moved his steps towards the gate's exit.
* * *
After finishing hunting, Lee Seong-jun returned straight home and enjoyed a happy dinner as usual.
In fact, if you look into it, there was nothing special about the occasion.
It was just eating together while having trivial conversations that others might casually dismiss if they heard.
But by sharing these small things, he felt the bond with his family growing stronger.
And Lee Seong-jun loved this feeling, this warmth in his chest.
Perhaps because he had enjoyed happiness and rested comfortably for another day like that?
His body was more energetic than ever.
It was time to start running in earnest now.
Fortunately, the helper supporting him was also excellent.
-Last night, I secured the C-rank gate you requested. The detailed location is...
Despite the request being made quite late in the evening, Kang-hyeon Jo sent the location of the C-rank gate first thing in the early morning.
Thanks to this, he could set out for hunting at the gate early in the morning as usual.
"...So this is a C-rank gate."
As the ringing sound and the feeling of distorted vision faded away, Lee Seong-jun looked around busily, moving his head.