I Became a Swordsmanship Genius in the Game

Chapter 102. To Open One's Eyes

"You know about the Stigma?"

"Do you think you're the first vampire to ask me about tattoos?"

"...I see."

The surprise was brief.

Lucas quickly nodded his head.

He couldn't be the only vampire to have discovered the connection between the High Orc's 'tattoo' and the 'Stigma'.

Perhaps another vampire had had a similar conversation with him.

Since he already knew the vampire's secret, he could ask him more comfortably.

"Is there a way to use the Stigma permanently, like a tattoo?"

"I don't know much about the power of your race."

So… he doesn't know any special way either?

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Lucas's face.

"But.

Your race and our race.

I know well that the roots of the power used by both races are the same."

The power of the 'Stigma' and the 'tattoo'.

He couldn't understand how the powers of two different races could be the same.

"What do you mean, the roots are the same?"

"Literally.

Just as the power of our race originates from our ancestral spirits, the power of your race must have been passed down by someone."

"Are you talking about the progenitor?"

The progenitor of all vampires, the 'Undying King, Eternius'.

Lucas could easily recall his existence from the shaman's words.

But the shaman shook his head, as if that wasn't the answer.

"From whom did the progenitor's roots originate?"

"You're speaking in riddles.

The progenitor is the first vampire.

How could he have roots?"

It was a topic he had never even thought about.

Lucas was starting to get annoyed with the shaman's roundabout way of speaking.

As he frowned, Gracia let out a low chuckle and opened his mouth.

"We call that being the 'Great One'."

"The Great One…?"

"Some great being.

This old man suspects that there is a being greater and more whole than anyone, who is the origin of the special power of you and us."

'Vampires' and 'High Orcs', completely different races.

The shaman was saying that the reason the powers of both races manifested in similar forms, 'Stigma' and 'tattoo', was because they originated from some 'Great One'.

"Do you have any proof?"

"The exploration of origins and roots was not done by me alone.

It is the fruit of the efforts of all High Orc shamans.

We don't know what that being is yet, but it is certain that it is the root of the power of several 'special races'."

The shaman's words about a 'Great One', which he had never heard before and seemed so far-fetched.

Lucas mulled over his words and met his eyes.

He didn't like the arrogant way he looked down on him.

But he was a 'shaman' who was said to be well-versed in the ways of the world.

Lucas didn't know their abilities exactly, but he knew for certain that the years and knowledge they had accumulated were real.

And there was no reason for him to lie to him.

"Then, are you saying that the Stigma can also be used like a tattoo?"

"I cannot be certain.

But, as long as the origins of the two powers are the same, wouldn't there be a way?

For example, the progenitor of your race who first used that power."

Lucas recalled the life story of the 'Undying King' that he knew.

His footsteps, which he had only thought of as great.

As the shaman said, his power was so different that it couldn't be compared to that of other True Ancestors.

'If, as the shaman says, the secret of the Undying King's power originated from some being, and that is the correct way to use the Stigma……'

He felt as if he had grasped a clue.

"The rest is for you to find out."

Kek, kek, kek—

As if he had nothing more to say, Gracia clicked his tongue and turned his head.

"You've been a great help."

"Don't mention it."

Gracia just smiled without a word.

He hadn't found the clear answer he was looking for, but he had at least obtained a clue about the origin of the 'Stigma'.

The footsteps of the Undying King, Eternius.

If he followed his footsteps, he would be able to find out the true nature of that power.

Lucas bowed his head to Gracia, expressed his gratitude, and left his tent.

Flap—

He had found a clue, but Lucas did not hurry.

'First, I should focus on getting my body back in perfect condition.'

The aftereffects of the Stigma he had previously engraved still remained.

Lucas felt the mana circulating inside his body and nodded.

It wouldn't be long now until he recovered his mana to its peak condition.

* * *

The inside of Hyunwoo's tent was filled with a thick, fog-like blue smoke.

A 'curse circle' that Gracia had set up for Hyunwoo's recovery.

The smoke was coming from the curse circle drawn on the floor.

Sreureuk—

The blue smoke that continuously circled inside the tent went in and out of Hyunwoo's body.

'Keu-eung……'

My body is heavy.

My head ached as if it would break.

A sword was stuck in my stomach and my knees had buckled.

But.

I survived.

In that moment, as if waking up from a nightmare, my consciousness suddenly returned.

Flash—

My eyes naturally opened.

"Heok—!"

Hyunwoo took a large gulp of air and sat up.

He raised his hand and fumbled with his stomach, which had been pierced.

The hole in his stomach was completely healed.

He could see the blue smoke circling around his body and the curse circle on the floor that was emitting the smoke.

It seemed Gracia had treated him in time.

Hoo—

He took a deep breath and roused his dazed mind.

Crack, pop—

As he moved his body here and there, his joints screamed.

"...How many days have passed?"

Judging by his stiff body, it didn't seem like he had been lying down for just a day or two.

Well.

The wounds he had received from Argas were not something that could be healed in just a day or two.

'Still, I survived.'

After the defeat, he had survived the 'calamity' whose death was scheduled.

Hyunwoo recalled the 'scenario quest' he had seen right before he passed out.

⌜Scenario quest updated!

You have survived 'Argas'.

Before he visits again, achieve a satisfactory result and survive him.

Time limit: 1 year.⌟

After clearing a quest whose goal was to 'survive', another quest to survive appeared.

...It was a damn vicious composition.

'It's not like I'm terminally ill.'

Hyunwoo shook his head.

But he had no intention of ending the next time with just 'surviving'.

'Next time, for sure…'

The goal was to win against him.

The 'Argas' calamity was a type of calamity that was continuously updated and demanded a higher level from the user.

The more he postponed it, the farther the possibility of beating him became.

Because he would also continue to get stronger.

As Hyunwoo stretched his body and continued his thoughts, something fell from him.

Thud—

Clatter—

"...Hmm?"

A small 'orb' that had come from his bosom rolled on the floor.

Right.

There was this?

A special item containing Argas's swordsmanship.

Hyunwoo picked up the orb and recalled its ability.

⌜Heavenly Sword Orb

A consumable item containing the essence of the swordsmanship learned by the Star of Chaos, 'Argas'.

(Scenario item. Cannot be acquired more than once.)⌟

It was a reward he could get if he survived him.

An item with near-cheat performance that allowed him to use the swordsmanship he had learned just by swallowing it.

'Originally, a lot of preparation is needed to absorb the Heavenly Sword Orb, but.'

Hyunwoo was already fully prepared.

First, a strong physique was needed as a minimum condition for absorbing the 'Heavenly Sword Orb'.

Hyunwoo had already completed all the general traits—Physique, Swiftness, Balance, and even Mana—to Tier II or higher.

The condition for absorbing the Heavenly Sword Orb was met.

More important than that was learning the 'mana operation method' suitable for the 'Heavenly Sword Orb'.

'But that doesn't apply to me.'

He didn't need to go through the trouble of learning the mana operation method.

⌜Mana Circulation⌟

Hyunwoo already had a way to freely control the flow of mana.

No matter how intricate the flow of mana in Argas's swordsmanship was, he was confident he could do it.

Hyunwoo nodded and brought the 'Heavenly Sword Orb' in his hand straight to his mouth.

And,

Gulp—

He put it in his mouth in one go and swallowed it.

With a tingling sensation in his stomach, mana began to rage inside his body.

Saaaaa—!

A fierce movement like a herd of wild bison.

Hyunwoo began to naturally follow that movement.

As he led the mana along with the flow of mana once, a tyrannical aura rose from within his body.

And.

Fwoong—

As Hyunwoo subdued the mana raging inside his body, the swordsmanship began to be fully engraved in his mind.

⌜Raketer Swordsmanship (4-Star)―A tyrannical slash created by the Sword Fiend, Argas himself. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel·fıre·net

It is characterized by launching multiple slashes like the claws of a beast.

Proficiency: 0%

Trait: None⌟

'Done.'

Argas's swordsmanship, 'Raketer Swordsmanship', would be the key to winning against him.

He couldn't beat him with a 4-Star swordsmanship.

But.

'I have Swordsmanship Synthesis.'

The 'Volones Swordsmanship', a 4-Star swordsmanship he had already mastered.

If he synthesized that and the 'Raketer Swordsmanship', he could obtain a 5-Star swordsmanship.

If he continued to get stronger using the 5-Star swordsmanship he obtained and the information he knew….

'It's doable.'

He was confident that he wouldn't be defeated so easily next time.

As he lay down and organized his thoughts, he felt that he had regained some of his energy.

Thump—

Hyunwoo got up from his spot and examined his body.

He still felt a bit stiff, but it seemed to be fine.

Hyunwoo picked up the 'Cheonbyeondo' that was lying on the floor.

The current Cheonbyeondo was in the shape of a 'curved sword', a blade curved like a half-moon.

This was because the most recent swordsmanship he had used was the phantom sword of the 'Herba Swordsmanship'.

What he had obtained from Argas this time was not only the 4-Star 'Raketer' swordsmanship.

⌜Herba Swordsmanship (2-Star)―100%(M)⌟

He had mastered his 2-Star swordsmanship.

He had already confirmed that the 'Herba Swordsmanship' had good synergy with the 'Skirma Swordsmanship' he had already learned.

The 'Skirma Swordsmanship', which he hadn't been able to find a swordsmanship to synthesize with for a long time.

It was now time for it to become the material for a 3-Star swordsmanship.

⌜Herba Swordsmanship (2-Star)―100%(M)⌟

⌜Skirma Swordsmanship (2-Star)―100%(M)⌟

⌜Synthesis Synergy: High⌟

⌜Would you like to synthesize?⌟

As Hyunwoo nodded slightly, a new swordsmanship was created with a five-colored light.

⌜Ichtus Swordsmanship (3-Star)―A defense-oriented swordsmanship created by a nameless swordsman who concealed his identity.

A sharp eye for predicting the opponent's attacks and the balance to block those attacks with precise strength and speed are important.

Proficiency: 0%

Trait: None⌟

The movements of the 'Ichtus Swordsmanship' were naturally engraved in his mind.

A swordsmanship that neutralized the opponent's attacks in close combat and, in turn, broke their balance.

It could be seen as an enhanced version of the 'Kilij Basic Swordsmanship', a 1-Star swordsmanship that specialized in 'deflecting'.

Perhaps because he had a record of mastering a 4-Star swordsmanship, he could now understand the movements of a 3-Star swordsmanship at once.

It seemed that as the level of the swordsmanship he learned increased, his understanding of 'swordsmanship' itself improved.

'What if I learn a 5-Star swordsmanship and master it?'

When that time came, he would not be a 'Swordsmanship Genius' by trait, but would actually acquire an ability like a 'Swordsmanship Genius'.

Hyunwoo nodded and thought about how to use the 'Ichtus Swordsmanship'.

'My Veluma Swordsmanship's barrier had a considerable delay in defending again after it broke.'

Since the 'Veluma Swordsmanship's barrier was specialized in blocking long-range attacks, it was vulnerable in close combat, but that point was now complemented by the 'Ichtus Swordsmanship'.

Hyunwoo smiled with satisfaction and looked at his status window.

⌜Name: Kim Hyunwoo

Title: Champion of the Bellatus Arena, Calamity Hunter, Trinity

Skills: ■Volones Swordsmanship (4-Star)―100%(M), ■Raketer (4-Star)―0%(New!), ■Ichtus Swordsmanship (3-Star)―0%(New!), □

Unique Traits: Swordsmanship Synthesis, Master of Copy, Swordsmanship Genius, Pain Tolerance, Oxygen Tank, Mana Circulation, Hoshea's Five-Colored Shield

General Traits: Physique II, Swiftness III, Balance II, Mana II⌟

The two new swordsmanship styles he had acquired were glittering, showing off their presence.

It seemed that the organization of what he had gained this time was roughly finished.

His physical condition seemed to have recovered to some extent, but he wasn't in a state to swing a sword.

Hyunwoo massaged his arms and legs and moved slowly.

'Where did Van and Lucas go?'

Hyunwoo approached the tent and opened the entrance with both arms.

Flap—

Hyunwoo squinted at the light coming through the open tent.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since he had seen the light, even the slight sunlight seeping through the cave was dazzling.

For a moment, as he stood still and adjusted to the light, he began to hear murmurs from the surroundings.

Hyunwoo slowly opened his eyes.