Chapter 22: The First Plague (1)

The First Plague (1)

"I never thought I'd see a second-grader perfect the exam on theoretical subjects."

"The situations included in the tests are realistic. Even the best hunters can't provide that thorough analysis..."

"Oracle asked to see the answers that Jeong Si-woo submitted. They also hinted that they would like him to work for them, even in a temporary position."

The professors were busy discussing the examination paper that Jeong Si-woo turned in.

Hwayeon Choin Academy's theoretical examination was infamous for being the most difficult amongst all other academies. Even getting a 50% accuracy is equivalent to a satisfactory grade. Some were even happy just to finish the examination within the time limit.

But what about this second-grade cadet?

A perfect score, with creative answers, even exceeding what the instructors intended. Oracle and all other intelligence agencies all wanted to borrow the cadet in the short-term.

What's more, he showed such an excellent appearance in all categories of the end-of-month examination, leaving such an overwhelming impression to scouts and professors that all other students were forgotten.

Thanks to that, he received multiple sponsorship offers, some even coming from the top three guilds.

Strangely, the cadet refused all of them, leaving the professors scratching their heads in confusion.

"What is he doing?" one of the professors lamented.

The professors and instructors in Hwayeon Choin have been in the hunting industry for decades, but not one of them has even been contacted by a top ten guild, never mind the top three ones.

However, a second-grade cadet refused such top-level sponsorship offers.

Tuk.

One of the professors examining the papers slapped his hand on a desk. "Look at this! I couldn't believe it. The more I read it, the more it amazes me..."

"Yes. You're right," the others nodded agreement.

These professors also saw how Jeong Si-woo performed during the combat examination.

A unique tattoo at the back of his hand, freely transforming into a sword. An unthinkable battle result against the top student in the Combat Department.

"There is no hurry. Cadet Jeong Si-woo will continue his studies. Actually, I don't want to see him go," one of them said, as the others expressed the same sentiment.

The professors and instructors also wanted such a talented student to stay in the Academy.

* * *

I swung the sword, hearing the sound it made at it slashed through the air. My enemy's neck is cut off. My enemy is invisible to others but clearly visible to my eyes.

[Image Training (D) is activated]

[When you win a battle in your imagination, you receive full experience as in an actual battle.]

Since I did it every day, the act of imagining an enemy became a skill, and that skill helped to make my growth increase further.

Before the imaginary head of my enemy dropped into the ground, Nightmare has already transformed from a sword into a mighty bow.

There were multiple enemies approaching from a distance. My eyes zoomed in their foreheads, and in a steady motion, released arrows continuously, watching them drop like dolls.

Image training is not over yet. The bow transformed into a spear this time. It was also one of my main training weapons.

Under certain circumstances, it was more useful than a sword. It was a good weapon against a large number of people in close combat.

Boom!

I swung, sending ten enemies into the air.

Boom!

For several months, I have trained daily with multiple weapons and thus acquired multiple skills.

[The skill of Arrogant Swordsmanship increases (E)]

[The skill of Storm Spear increases (F)]

[The skill of Heavenly Archery increases (E)]

[The skill of Savage Axe increases (F)]

[The skill of Beast Battalion increases (E)]

In front of me, notifications windows are popping up, informing me of my growth. Each one of them motivated me through my training and gave me pride at the end of the day.

My skills, which I gained by mobilizing Link, Communication, and Sharing for six months, have reached a whopping twenty. Unfortunately, they were all physical skills.

Of the five heroes, one that was closest to me was rated as the strongest. Unlike the others, such as Han Yeon-soo, who was able to get to the top with one significant skill, his powers were very diverse.

To surpass him, I need to get magical power as well.

When I tried to communicate with beings with magical abilities, the status window didn't say that it was 'impossible'.

It simply said, 'the level is insufficient.'

Meaning if I continue to increase the level, I will reach the power to master both physical and magical abilities.

[You have completed 'Image Training (D)']

[You have defeated all enemies in the imagination.]

[The experience of 'confronting one hundred enemies' is engraved on the body.]

[Reaction speed and quickness increased.]

[The soul's level rises slightly.]

"Hoo..."

I exhaled as I read the windows in front of me. I turned Nightmare back into a tattoo at the back of my hand.

The blood of my imaginary enemies, which spattered into my clothes, dissipated into smoke as the Image Training ended.

Now, what I saw before me was the familiar training ground and a few students who watched me train.

"That weapon, it looks damn expensive. He probably received it as a gift from a high-ranking guild..."

"Whoa, it really looks good. Ha... well, it's because I'm not that talented, so I won't get anything like that."

No one ignored me anymore.

However, I'm still embarrassed by the attention. I hurried out of the training field, wiping my sweaty face.

I talked to the traveler as I walked in the hallway.

[You're growing ridiculously fast. You've nearly learned all the skills and traits related to physical combat.]

"That's good. Once that happens, I'm going to start getting magical abilities."

[What... I don't know about that.]

Now, we're as comfortable as a disciple and a master.

But suddenly -

Tuk!

I felt something cold pouring over my forehead.

I quickly turned to dodge, only to find Yoo Ji-yeon behind me, with a bottle of ice water.

"Is that the proper way to end training? Just walk out? Come on, drink something."

"Oh, thank you."

I took it and drank.

Yoo Ji-yeon contributed a lot to my rapid growth.

Whenever I feel that my growth is stagnant, I used my bond with Yoo Ji-yeon and shared her experience. With that, I was able to take advantage of how quickly the real talented awakeners grew.

I finished the bottle and looked at Ji-yeon, smiling at me as always.

"Oh, right. Can you check my status this time? It should have changed. I've gotten stronger," she asked.

"I can't see anything." I said, but the improvement in her magic was tremendous. Perhaps, she could overtake my growth soon.

"Stop kidding," she said.

"By the way," I remembered something I have to tell her. "It's vacation in three days. Where are you going?"

"Well, uh... I don't know. I have to go see my grandmother at the end of the vacation, though."

"So you can afford to spare a week?"

"Ah... But why?" Her smile is getting wider.

"I need you to help me with something."

"..."

"I helped you train; you should help me this time, too."

"Well... uh... is it like a part-time job?"

"Uh... It's similar."

Well, stopping a catastrophe is not a regular job, so I guess we could call it as such. I wasn't lying to her.

"What?" I prodded. "Are you going to help me?"

"Of course! You have helped me a lot..."

Yoo Ji-yeon smiled brightly and nodded multiple times.

* * *

Originally, the first plague occurred five or six months from this date.

I was a part of a government agency, an apprentice analyst. The first job assigned to me was to find out a culprit.

At that time, I didn't know what it was, but I felt immediately that there is something strange in the case.

As we said in the analytical world, 'the smell of blood was too strong.'

I did a lot of undercover work to observe using my Superior Insight.

Then, I found out.

I've never imagined it.

People eating people.

"Sorry, I'm late," a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

I shook as I recalled the scene, feeling a headache form. I held my forehead as I turned around.

Han Yeon-soo. She was definitely beautiful, but... she was not a person who could be attracted to the opposite sex.

"It took a long time to get this information covertly ..." she said.

"It's alright," I told her as I looked at the materials she brought.

It would have been difficult to find a lot of information since there is nothing known about these guys for now, but the paper she brought me was full and more detailed than I expected.

There were even pages with photos.

"That's right..." I said, recognizing the photos. "This is it."

"Yeah? Is this right? I checked it while I was coming, and I was preparing myself because I thought we have the wrong thing, and you would get angry with me..."

"This is it. And I'm never going to scold you."

I shook my head at Han Yeon-soo, who looked relieved.

Then, I focused on the photos again.

The traveler who was also seeing it for the first time was also outraged.

[What are these guys doing?!]

I've seen these images in the past, but I still can't help but get angry.

"They are crazy. They are not even humans."

In the photos were young children trapped in narrow cages, similar to chickens in a coop. Each wore collars like beasts and had chains all over their bodies. Everyone seemed to be lean, with lifeless eyes, as if they just wanted to disappear.

Han Yeon-soo spoke. "Is this really it? I thought we were wrong because it doesn't look like a catastrophe. Just strange guys doing evil things to innocent children, that's what I see."

"You're right," I told her. They are really innocent children caught by evil people. I continued explaining.

"But the problem is that one of these kids is a bomb that can blow up the world."

<The First Plague>

One of the five plagues that will destroy the world will be caused by evil people who were worth less than insects.

Perhaps if they only distinguished between what should and should not be touched... the plague didn't have to show the world the power it has.

I remember all the information about the boy.

[Seong Hyun-woo]

Only

[Age 12]

[Gender: Male]

[Uniqueness]

[*Intellectual awakening]

[*Measurement grade: SSS grade]

[*Risk: SSS+]

[*The later the awakening time, the stronger it becomes.]

[*The greater the stress intensity, the faster the awakening period.]