Chapter 28: Training Grounds of the Dawn (4)

"Oh, I almost forgot. Here, take this."

Just as Kai was about to stand up, Huey casually threw an old book at him with a nonchalant expression.

"What’s this?"

Kai immediately picked up the book and looked at its description.

[Swordsmanship of the Dawn]

Grade: Normal

This way of the sword can only be obtained by those who are recognized by the Swordmaster of the Dawn.

However, it's not very useful.

Kai's face instantly turned sour.

Just a normal grade? And it’s not very useful?

Even if it was a training ground offering a hidden quest, how could such trashy swordsmanship be taught!

Well, my main strength isn't in swordsmanship anyway. It should be okay to use a normal rank as a secondary skill.

Thinking this way, Kai actually felt more at ease.

With a light heart, Kai opened the skill book.

Ding!

[Would you like to use the Skill Book - Swordsmanship of the Dawn? Agreeing will activate the skill, but the skill book will permanently disappear.]

"Accept."

[Acquired Skill - Swordsmanship of the Dawn.]

Kai immediately checked the skill's information.

[Swordsmanship of the Dawn LV.1 Passive]

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

When attacking with a sword, inflicts 110% damage to the enemy.

"Ugh...."

It was a poor and unimpressive skill description! Even the level 1 swordsmanship skill learned by a level 10 Knight at the Warrior's Tower had damage of 110%. Therefore, the Swordsmanship of the Dawn was definitely not an extraordinary sword skill.

Well, I had expected this since I read on the community that someone learned basic swordsmanship.

But there was still a lingering sense of disappointment.

As Kai's expression slightly darkened, Huey's eyebrows twitched. "Brighten up. You have a talent for making someone regret even wanting to give you something."

"Give me something?"

Did that mean there was still more to receive? Kai's face instantly transformed into that of the happiest man in the world.

"...That’s a remarkable change in attitude. I'll give you credit for your way of living." Shaking his head, Huey pulled out another book. "Here, this book is also a reward given to those who complete the Training Grounds of the Dawn."

"But this book's color is...."

Kai's eyes widened. This book was different from the Swordsmanship of the Dawn which was worn gray. The book shining in red emitted a powerful aura, illuminating intensely just by its presence.

Kai said with a trembling voice, "I-identify item."

[Skill Book - Supernova]

Grade: Unique

Explodes the Holy Power within the body to enhance the user's stats.

Requirements: Cleric, recognized by Training Grounds of the Dawn

I-it’s a Unique-grade skill book!

A single drop of saliva that had pooled at the corner of Kai's mouth fell to the floor. That was how valuable a Unique-grade skill book was.

This kind of item would involve a notary for the transaction.... Its value is at least in the tens of millions of won!

Kai, hesitating to even touch the skill book carelessly, swallowed and asked, "C-can I really learn this?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? It's not like anyone else can learn it anyway."

"Really?"

Kai rechecked the information at Huey's nonchalant response.

"Oh...."

Kai's face slightly turned sad. Supernova was a skill book that could only be used by someone recognized by the Training Grounds of the Dawn! In other words, if not for Kai, no one else could learn it.

Then I can't sell it anyway.

Kai's shoulders slumped, but his gloomy mood quickly dissipated.

No, why would I sell it in the first place?

While lots of money was good to have, there was no reason for him to be so desperate for it. Moreover, what he currently lacked was close combat ability! Learning Supernova would definitely overcome that weakness.

"T-then I'm really going to use it, okay?"

"Go ahead."

“Alright.”

Kai, swallowing, quickly opened the skill book before Huey could change his mind. Simultaneously, a new skill was activated with a radiant light.

Kai quickly checked the skill's information.

"Skill window."

[Supernova. LV.1]

Consumes 1,000 Holy Power per second to increase all stats by 30.

Cooldown: 5 minutes.

Proficiency 0/100

"Wow...!"

It truly was a Unique-grade skill! The skill was much more amazing than he expected, though it had its risks.

A consumption of 1,000 Holy Power per second....That's tricky.

Kai's current Holy Power was 22,600. After applying basic buffs to himself, what was left was roughly 20,000.

Then I can sustain Supernova for a maximum of twenty seconds... no, twenty-three seconds.

It consumed so much because using Supernova would increase the Holiness stat by 30. However, even considering that, it wasn't a skill he could use carelessly. It was truly a trump card, a secret weapon!

But it's true that this alone broadens my options.

As Kai was smiling deeply, Huey gave a piece of advice, "And you, you're too weak. You need to work on that part a bit more."

"My strength?"

"Yes. As you know, strength relates to all speeds utilized by the body, including attack power."

"Well... I know that." Kai nodded, knowing that part well.

"I don't know what you want to become, but there must be a reason you learned the sword, right?"

"I want to hunt alone."

When Kai candidly shared his reason, Huey slapped his knee. "Excellent! That's the spirit. Someone who has received swordsmanship training here should have at least that much courage!"

"Received swordsmanship training...? You just threw me a mere skill book."

"Shut up! I'm not saying this for no reason. Your current strength couldn't even take down a single Orc."

"...."

"Even though you’re a Warrior who graduated from the long-standing tradition, Training Grounds of the Dawn."

"I'm a Cleric."

"Ahem!"

As Huey shot Kai a displeased look, Kai shut his mouth. Indeed, Huey's advice matched quite closely with what Kai had worried about several times.

As a Solaris Cleric, which stats should I be focusing on?

Like other clerics, he could raise his Holiness and Stamina stats to get rid of his title as a healer.

However, Kai asked himself,

Is that really what I want?

Up until now, Kai had never regretted his role as a healer, and that remained unchanged. However, while swinging the wooden sword here, he became aware that he enjoyed wielding a sword.

I like being a healer, but I also want to swing a sword like other Warriors.

Perhaps the advice Huey had given could be the way to catch both rabbits.

A Cleric with an all-strength stat...

It was a path no one had taken, and not many even considered taking! Of course, there was a risk of losing both rabbits, but the new continent revealed its doors only to those who dared.

Kai quietly bowed his head. "Thank you for the advice. But... I think I need to give it some more thought."

Once invested, there was no way to retract stats. Since he couldn't just delete his character, Kai had to be cautious with every choice he made.

"And thank you for passing on Supernova and Swordsmanship of the Dawn."

"Hmm. Well, it's thanks to you enduring well over the week. Don't forget, this isn't a favor from me. It's a reward you earned through your hard work."

"I'll keep that in mind!" Kai promised.

If one wants the fruit from the tree, they can't just wait passively below. Only those who climbed to the top of the tree, slipping and falling numerous times, could take all the fruits for themself.

Training Grounds of the Dawn. The training was hellishly tough, but I gained a lot.

Kai smiled deeply and stood up.

Then, Huey, with a serious expression, said, "Wipe that drool on the floor before you go."

"....”

***

It had been a whole week of hell-like training. As he left the training grounds, Kai was welcomed by the warm sunlight.

"I feel great today."

That was because today was the day his inventory would be filled to the brim with the equipment he had requested from Solid, the armor made from Wyrm Lizard scales, and the potions from the Redness Wizard’s Tower.

Kai, with a heart full of anticipation, headed to the blacksmith.

Contrary to his last visit, there was a long line of people waiting there.

"Dang it."

Disappointed by the unexpectedly long line, Kai couldn't hide his dismay.

Then, an employee from the blacksmith approached him. "Please take a number here. What brings you to us today?"

"I have some equipment ordered."

"What kind of equipment?"

"Made from Wyrm Lizard scales..."

After Kai finished explaining about the equipment, the employee took notes.

"Understood. We'll have it ready for you right away."

After a brief exchange, the employee returned inside the blacksmith.

It looks like I'll have to wait at least several tens of minutes.

As Kai looked despairingly at the people lined up in front of him, suddenly, the door to the blacksmith swung open.

"Oh! There he is!"

The person who opened the door and appeared was someone Kai knew well too.

"Solid, sir?"

"Hey you! Why are you waiting here like this?" Solid, with a happy expression, immediately ran over and grabbed Kai's hand with his thick one. "Come on, let's go inside!"

"But the line...."

"Oh, no. How can I let someone like you just wait out here! It's my shop anyway, so what's the problem? It’s alright so come on in."

People felt the best when they were recognized and treated well!

The corners of Kai's mouth rose.

Raising affinity sure is nice.

It had always been said that the most important things in life were connections through regional ties, school ties, and blood relations. There was one thing common among all of them.

Connections!

Connections made through the region! Connections made through school! Connections through shared blood! Everything started and ended with connections.

"What? Why is that person allowed in without waiting in line?"

"Do we look like we have time to waste waiting in line!?"

"Booo!"

Of course, the players watching the scene voiced their complaints. However, Solid didn’t care and led Kai to the blacksmith, and the employee remained and soothed them.

"Our apologies. This person is someone Solid specifically asked to be taken care of.... Please understand."

"Specifically?"

"What kind of person is he?"

At that, people's heads collectively tilted.

"Not even the officers of the Cheonhwa guild receive such treatment."

"Does that mean he's an NPC?"

"Why would an NPC come to the blacksmith?"

"Ah, I guess you didn’t know. This blacksmith is famous, so it seems knights and noble NPCs often come here too."

"Oops.... I hope he doesn’t think of us unfavorably now."

The players dismissed the incident as a mere happening.

***

"Wow, the reaction of the people is scary," Kai, having entered the blacksmith and left the players' complaints behind, glanced back and murmured.

Solid alleviated his worries with a hearty laugh, "Hahaha! What man gets scared by that level of complaints?"

"But still."

"It’s my shop anyway, so don’t worry about it. What, if the owner decides to do it, what's the problem!"

"Haha...." Kai, with an awkward laugh at Solid’s firm belief, looked around and asked, "By the way, is all my equipment finished?"

"Son, I thought you would know me better than that," Solid shook his head and led Kai into the depths of the workshop. "I am someone who has been hammering away for forty years without ever missing a deadline.”

“...!”

A deep sense of trust, the kind one might feel in an elderly woman's soup kitchen with a thirty-year tradition, was felt from his words.

Kai's expression brightened immediately and he looked at the equipment being offered to him.

"Here, this is your new armor."

Solid presented a set of armor consisting of a sword, helmet, top, and bottom.

"Wow...."

An unintentional expression of awe escaped Kai's lips.

The equipment in

MID Online

was detailed. This meant that the feel of the equipment followed the material it was made from.

The material of this sword is... bone.

It was the bone of the Wyrm Lizard, a field boss monster that once dominated the mountains of Frica Village.

The solidity it offered captured Kai's attention and heart in an instant. Kai slowly drew the sword from its sheath. The sword, crafted from the white bone of the Wyrm Lizard, possessed a pure white color. Though it lacked the coldness of a steel sword, its sharpness looked like it could cut through any enemy.

It’s so sharp that it's hard to believe it's made of bone.

Kai lightly touched the blade's edge with his finger.

[You’ve received 1,854 damage.]

[You’ve received an additional 185 damage due to the Rage of the Wyrm Lizard effect.]

“...!”

Kai, who had completed his training at the Training Grounds of the Dawn, had a Strength stat of 72. At best, that was comparable to a level 20 swordsman! However, the attack power of that sword was akin to a strike from a level 35 Warrior swinging with full force.

Strength directly affects physical attack power. But yet this kind of damage indicates...

The weapon itself was of exceptional performance! Moreover, it seemed to possess various special effects.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Kai’s heart raced as if urging him to quickly check the item's information.

Swallowing, Kai said with a trembling voice, "Identify item."