Skill Evolution
The streets of Mistvale bustled with life. Guild recruiters shouted from every corner. Merchants promoted newly opened player shops.
Adventurers hurried toward the surrounding hunting grounds, eager to conquer the newly released dungeons.
Amidst the lively atmosphere...
Aster quietly walked toward the Adventurers' Association. Unlike everyone else, he had no intention of immediately challenging the Regional Dungeon.
First...
He needed to become stronger.
---
Inside the Association, he approached the receptionist.
"I'd like to rent a private training room."
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Certainly."
"Training Room No. 7 is available."
"Rental fee: 15 Silver Coins per hour."
Aster paid without hesitation. Moments later, he entered a spacious stone chamber.
The room was completely isolated. No players.
No NPC instructors.
Only silence.
Perfect.
He sat cross-legged in the middle of the room. Then quietly summoned his status panel.
---
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CHARACTER STATUS
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Name : Aster
Race : Human
Level : 18 (48%)
Title : Hidden Trailblazer
Class : Codex Bearer
Adventurer Rank : C
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Health (HP) : 2,450 / 2,450
Mana (MP) : 520 / 520
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Attributes
Strength : 176
Agility : 214
Vitality : 165
Intelligence : 52
Spirit : 36
Luck : 30 (+15)
Available Stat Points : 0
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PERMANENT SKILLS
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Unique
• Echo of Genesis ★
Rare
• Endless Growth
• Venom Edge
• Phantom Eclipse
• Guardian Parry
( Ready to Evolve)
Uncommon
• Iron Body Foundation
• Twin Flash Step
---
Aster nodded.
After clearing Wolfscar Cavern and defeating Fenris, the experience gained from the dungeon had pushed him much closer to Level 19.
His attributes had naturally increased as well.
In the Primal Codex Panel...
---
Recorded Skill
Guardian Parry
Comprehension:
100%
Evolution Requirement:
Completed
Status:
READY TO EVOLVE
---
Without hesitation, Aster pressed the glowing notification. The pages of the Codex turned on their own.
Golden letters slowly emerged.
---
Evolution Paths Found
Choose one permanent evolution.
Evolution cannot be reversed.
---
Option I
Guardian Aegis (Rare)
"The sword becomes an unbreakable shield."
The user redirects incoming attacks with perfect precision.
Effects:
* Successful parries reduce damage by 90%.
* Counterattack damage increased by 30%.
* Greatly increases stability against heavy strikes.
* Excellent for prolonged duels against powerful opponents.
---
Option II
Aegis Reflection (Rare)
"One sword protects against many."
The user's understanding of defense expands beyond a single blade.
Effects:
* Creates a defensive force around the sword during a perfect parry.
* Area-of-effect attacks may be partially or completely deflected depending on timing.
* Every successful Perfect Parry grants 1 Shield Point.
* Each Shield Point absorbs one incoming attack or reduces the damage of a large-scale skill.
* Maximum Shield Points: 5
* Shield Points disappear after combat ends.
---
Aster quietly read both descriptions.
The first path, focused entirely on one-on-one combat.
Reliable.
Powerful.
The second had much greater potential.
His mind immediately recalled Valerius' Divine Judgment. A massive area attack. If he had possessed this evolution during that battle, the outcome would have been even easier.
He slowly smiled.
"My enemies won't always fight alone."
"The stronger they become..."
"The larger their attacks will be."
His finger gently pressed the second option.
---
Selected Evolution
Aegis Reflection (Rare)
---
The Primal Codex erupted with radiant golden light.
Guardian Parry's symbol shattered into countless fragments before reforming into an entirely new rune.
The rune floated from the Codex. Then quietly merged into Aster's chest. A surge of understanding flooded his mind.
It was no longer merely about redirecting a single attack. He could now influence the flow of force itself. Whether one blade or an overwhelming wave of destruction...
Everything had a direction.
Everything could be guided.
Everything could be reflected.
A clear notification appeared before him.
---
Congratulations!
Guardian Parry (Uncommon)
has successfully evolved into
Aegis Reflection (Rare)
Your mastery of the Sword Path has deepened.
You have taken another step toward understanding the Truth of Defense.
---
Aster slowly opened his eyes. The air around him felt calmer. His sword remained resting quietly beside him.
Yet...
For the first time, he felt as though it could protect far more than just himself.
The heavy stone door of the private training room slowly opened. Aster stepped back into the bustling halls of the Adventurers' Association.
Compared to a few days ago, the atmosphere had completely changed. Guild representatives recruited promising players.
Adventurers gathered around the newly updated quest boards. Some discussed dungeon strategies. Others bargained over equipment and materials.
Divine Nexus had entered a new era.
As Aster walked past the quest boards, he suddenly stopped. His eyes swept across the dozens of requests posted by NPCs.
Escort caravans.
Suppress monster outbreaks.
Gather medicinal herbs.
Investigate missing adventurers.
Protect villages.
A faint smile formed beneath his cloak.
"...I haven't completed a single quest."
Since entering Divine Nexus, he had only done one thing ---Grow stronger.
Every day was spent hunting monsters, challenging hidden dungeons, comprehending skills, and surviving battles against players.
He had completely neglected the duties of an adventurer.
"I'll start taking quests after this."
He continued toward the C-Rank Quest Board.
Just then—
A clear chime echoed throughout the entire Mistvale Region.
---
Regional System Announcement
Congratulations!
The party led by Vanguard has successfully cleared Verdant Burrow (Normal Difficulty) within the Greenwood Expanse.
Party Members
• Vanguard
• Asharrow
• Lumina
• Thorn
• Hexweaver
Elite Difficulty has now been unlocked.
---
The Adventurers' Association instantly became lively.
"So that's how Regional Dungeon announcements work."
"It even lists every party member."
"Looks like all five players receive the achievement."
Then someone suddenly remembered something.
"...Wait."
"The first dungeon announcement..."
"It only mentioned..."
'An adventurer has the First Clear of Wolfscar Cavern.'
"No party members."
"No player names."
Several players nodded.
"Maybe the player hid their identity."
"Or perhaps the entire party chose to stay anonymous."
"That's probably it."
No one considered the possibility that Wolfscar Cavern had been cleared by a single player.
After all...
A dungeon designed for up to five adventurers being conquered alone sounded impossible.
Aster quietly smiled.
Sometimes, misunderstandings were the best disguise.
---
Leaving the quest board behind, he noticed a familiar figure.
Cole.
She stood near one of the meeting tables with three other players. Their discussion sounded rather heated.
"I'm telling you," Cole insisted.
"He's the right person."
A heavily armored warrior folded his arms.
"We're really going to let someone we've never met lead us?"
Another player wearing blue mage robes frowned.
"We don't even know his level."
The final member, a young woman carrying a staff wrapped in flowering vines, sighed softly.
"Besides..."
"The rumors about him aren't exactly reassuring."
"They say a mysterious cloaked player has been defeating entire parties by himself."
"Some even call him the Cloaked Hunter."
The title had spread ever since the three defeated players escaped from the Ashenwood Highlands.
Some claimed he mercilessly hunted anyone who entered the map.
Others argued he only fought players who attacked him first. No one knew the truth.
At that moment, Cole noticed Aster approaching.
"Aster."
The three guild members instinctively turned. The silver adventurer emblem. The nameless cloak.
No visible level.
No player name.
The atmosphere immediately became awkward.
"...It's him..."
Cole smiled.
"Perfect timing."
"Let me introduce everyone."
She pointed toward the armored warrior.
"This is Ironwall."
"Our guild's tank."
The man gave Aster a firm nod.
Next, she gestured toward the mage.
"Starveil"
"Our primary damage dealer."
The young mage smiled politely.
Finally, she introduced the last member.
"Lifebloom."
"Our druid."
"A rare support class capable of healing, buffs, and battlefield control."
Lifebloom offered a gentle smile.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
Aster acknowledged each of them with a slight nod. Ironwall studied him carefully.
"So..."
"You're the one everyone calls the Cloaked Hunter."
Aster neither admitted nor denied it. His silence only deepened the mystery. Cole clapped her hands together.
"I've already explained everything."
"If we're serious about making our guild known..."
"We need someone exceptional."
Starveil still looked uncertain.
"I'm willing to trust Cole..."
"But leading our very first Regional Dungeon..."
"That's another matter."
Cole unfolded a regional map across the table.
"I've already picked a target."
She pointed toward a location southwest of Mistvale.
"The Citadel of Broken Fangs. The Regional Dungeon of Stonefang Ravine."
"Recommended for Levels 6 to 10. It'll be the safest place for our first guild achievement."
Aster glanced at the map. Then quietly shook his head.
"No."
The four looked at him. Without hesitation, he extended one finger farther north. Toward the vast forests of the Ashenwood Highlands.
His finger stopped atop another dungeon marker.
Temple of the Ashen Guardian
Regional Dungeon
Recommended Level: 11–15
Silence.
Ironwall stared at the map.
"...You're serious?"
Starveil frowned.
"That dungeon is far beyond the one we planned to challenge."
Even Lifebloom looked surprised. Only Cole remained calm. She smiled as if she had expected this answer all along.
"You have a reason?"
Aster nodded.
"If your goal is to make your guild famous, then don't accomplish what another guild can."
"But, the Temple of the Ashen Guardian is beyond our capabilities."
Aster just remain calm.
"If your guild becomes the first to clear it, everyone in the Mistvale Region will remember your name."
The four guild members exchanged silent glances.
None of them could refute his logic.
Cole slowly smiled.
"I understand now..."
"This is why I wanted you to lead us."