3.
[‘Unknown Power’ has enabled you to achieve feats impossible at your current level.]
[Strength +2, Agility +8 have been permanently increased.]
The third swordsmanship technique Seong chose belonged to a nimble-looking elven knight ghost. Her style was distinctly swift, a contrast to the raw power or balanced approaches of others.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
“Oh?” Seong’s curiosity was piqued by the rapid movements. The technique emphasized light grips and relaxed stances, relying on flexibility and elasticity to maximize speed. While it wasn’t drastically different from the sword techniques he’d learned before, the combination of memory absorption and his natural talent made adaptation easy.
In no time, Seong’s swordsmanship had become lightning-fast.
Still—
“It’s fast, but shallow.”
The speed was undeniably extraordinary, but its power left much to be desired. Compared to Leonik’s heavy swordsmanship or the brute strength of the long-armed elven knight’s style, this technique felt featherlight—designed to gradually wear down an opponent rather than overwhelm them with sheer force.
In a game world where instant kills weren’t the norm, such rapid yet low-impact strikes might seem impractical. But Seong wasn’t just anyone.
“This is perfect for stacking damage,” he thought. With his Mark of Death and similar abilities, this technique’s rapid hits could amplify his attacks exponentially.
The ghosts, as usual, were awestruck.
“Unbelievable progress yet again!”
“Astonishing, truly astonishing!”
“How can one have such talent?!”
Even with the absorbed memories, surpassing their original owner’s skill was no small feat. Yet Seong not only mastered their techniques instantly but refined them further.
[‘Unknown Power’ has enabled you to achieve feats impossible at your current level.]
[Agility +2, Stamina +8 have been permanently increased.]
The next memory Seong absorbed belonged to a style as dazzling as it was deceptive. Unlike the fluid technique he’d just learned, this one combined speed and variability, creating illusions to confuse and exploit an opponent’s openings.
When paired with Shadow Drift, the technique became almost supernatural, its dreamlike elegance so mesmerizing that even the ghosts were stunned.
“Such swordsmanship—it’s like an art form!”
“That could be the ultimate phantom blade technique!”
“Chosen One, you are beyond comprehension!”
[‘Unknown Power’ has enabled you to achieve feats impossible at your current level.]
[Strength +5, Agility +5 have been permanently increased.]
Seong then absorbed the memories of a perfectly balanced swordsmanship technique. It offered neither overwhelming speed nor raw power but a seamless harmony of precision, fluidity, and adaptability.
With each new style, Seong’s arsenal grew more versatile. The combined swordsmanship techniques began to compensate for one another’s weaknesses, creating an exceptional foundation. By the end of the day, he had absorbed five techniques in total, gaining a cumulative 50 stat points in the process—a feat that could only be described as ravenous consumption of the elven knights’ memories.
Even after such a monumental gain, Seong showed no signs of stopping. He continued his relentless training, skipping lunch and sparring against wooden golems to test his skills. Each battle saw him employing his newly acquired abilities and honing his techniques further.
Despite his progress, Seong felt a lingering frustration.
“Why can’t I unify them into one?”
Each technique retained its individuality, making it difficult to merge their characteristics into a single cohesive style. It was an expected challenge, given that no memory provided a unified framework. Still, it was irritating.
The ghosts, observing his determination, whispered among themselves.
“Trying to combine swordsmanship? That’s reckless.”
“Shouldn’t we stop him?”
“But if anyone could do it, wouldn’t it be him?”
“Pushing himself to such extremes—this is madness!”
Their chatter, filled with doubt and worry, reached Seong’s ears, but he paid them no mind.
“It’s only the first day,” he reminded himself. With five days of training ahead, there was no need to rush.
Ignoring the ghosts, he buried himself deeper in his training, focusing solely on the blade in his hand. The relentless effort made the ghosts murmur in awe and concern.
“His mental fortitude is extraordinary.”
“No doubt, but he’s pushing himself too hard. How many geniuses have burned out like this?”
“True. We may need to intervene if it goes too far.”
Though Seong could hear their concerns, he dismissed them. His training required a minimum of five hours a day in this place, and he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. Success would be ideal, but failure wasn’t something he feared.
“This is fine,” he thought, blocking out their voices and focusing solely on refining his techniques.
For a moment, he seemed to forget that his true class wasn’t that of a swordsman but a dark mage.
Unnoticed by Seong, a faint turquoise glow emanated from his chest, flickering with a mysterious energy. Amid the glow, strands of crimson hair briefly appeared, swaying gently before vanishing into the shadows.
4.
As the capsule door opened, Seong stumbled out, exhaling as though he'd been holding his breath for hours.
“Phew—!”
He’d been training hard in the virtual world, but the exhaustion felt all too real, as if his body had gone through an intense workout session in reality.
And yet, rather than feeling unpleasant or grimy...
“This feels... refreshing?”
It was an odd sensation, akin to the moment after a grueling march when the fatigue suddenly fades, leaving behind a rush of energy. Maybe it was adrenaline? His muscles felt alive, as though they had been invigorated and strengthened.
“Did absorbing all those memories somehow affect my body, too?”
He wondered if it was possible that his muscles had "absorbed" the training memories, enhancing his physique. His body felt lighter and more agile than ever, as if he’d become physically stronger overnight. Far from discomfort, the sensation was clean and revitalizing.
Still, the sweat clinging to him was a reminder of how soaked he was, so he quickly headed to the bathroom to wash up.
After finishing his shower, Seong stepped out to find his sister, Yu Mina, waiting for him.
“I need to get ready too,” she said, ushering him to leave the bathroom.
Seong nodded in understanding but paused as a question occurred to him.
“Do you know where we’re going today?”
“Hm? Oh, right. I think Dad said we’re going to that Korean restaurant he likes.”
“Nice!”
Unlike many people their parents’ age, Seong had a genuine love for Korean food, and it seemed his family had chosen the venue to suit his tastes. However, Mina’s expression was slightly less enthusiastic.
“Meh, I prefer Western food...” she mumbled.
“You don’t like Korean food?”
“No, I do. Plus, this is for your celebration, so...” She reached out to ruffle Seong’s hair affectionately.
But before her hand could land, Seong’s body reacted instinctively. He leaned back slightly and shifted his feet, perfectly evading her hand.
“Huh?”
Mina blinked, confused by what just happened. Seong looked at her and frowned.
“Don’t mess with my hair. I just washed it,” he said, annoyed.
“W-Wait, how did you dodge that?”
Mina was no ordinary older sister. She was a former national kendo champion, hailed as a prodigy during her competitive years. Even with minimal effort, her reflexes and precision were far beyond those of an average person. For Seong to dodge her so effortlessly...
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Suspicious, Mina reached out again, this time with clear intent.
Swish!
Her hand moved fast, but Seong moved faster. He shifted his body fluidly, stepping back and leaning out of her reach.
Not one to back down, Mina pressed forward, her stance changing into something resembling an aggressive lunge. Her movements were precise, calculated—exactly what one would expect from a seasoned kendo champion.
But Seong responded just as seamlessly, twisting his body and pivoting on his feet to avoid her. His movements were natural, almost reflexive, and perfectly efficient.
“Wait... how are you doing this?!” she exclaimed, baffled.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop?” Seong replied, frustrated.
“No, seriously! How did you dodge me?!”
“Uh... I guess it’s because of those memories I absorbed?”
Mina stared at him, dumbfounded.
“What? You mean the ghost memories? You’re telling me that stuff carries over into real life? That’s insane!”
“Well, it’s not like I can do everything I can in the game...”
“Even so! Do you know how ridiculous that is? Reacting and dodging like that in real life isn’t something just anyone can do. It’s something only trained athletes can pull off!” She threw her hands up in frustration. “What’s the point of all my years of training if you can just do this now?!”
Her words were filled with genuine disbelief and a hint of jealousy. Seong scratched his cheek awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Soon, it was time to leave, and Mina headed to the bathroom to shower. Even in the shower, she muttered complaints like, “My brother is totally OP,” and “I finally understand what it feels like to be outclassed.”
Meanwhile, Seong shrugged off her comments. It’s just my ability, after all, he thought. After everything he’d gone through, it felt like this was compensation for his hardships.
“If nothing else, at least I won’t have to worry if someone picks a fight with me now,” he mused, feeling a small sense of security.
When Mina emerged from the bathroom, her hair damp and her expression filled with faux resentment, she gave Seong a pointed look.
“You know, your body seems to be in better shape too,” she said.
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that.”
His casual response made her want to throttle him, but she restrained herself. After all, he was still her little brother.
“Anyway, you should start working out,” she said.
“Why? My body’s improving just fine without it.”
“...Do not say that in public,” Mina warned, her tone laced with exasperation.
Seong gulped, sensing her rising irritation, and nodded quickly.
“Look, I get that you don’t need martial arts training or anything with all those ghost memories, but if you want to make the most of those abilities, you’ll need to start working out. Strengthening your body will only make you better at using them.”
“Hmm. I guess that makes sense,” Seong replied thoughtfully.
“Come with me to my gym,” she suggested.
“Uh... I’ll think about it.”
As she dried her hair, Seong considered her words. Working out didn’t sound like a bad idea, especially since his body already felt stronger. But going to the same gym as his sister?
Who knows what she’d make me do.
It was a very sibling-like thought.