Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 67

‘Thank you! Thank you, [He_who_denies_death]! You have given me such a precious blessing!’

Indeed, faith came from materialistic things. Ji-Cheok could now get three unique skills, one that he could choose and two at random.

‘I should check the skills that I already have.’

?I will organize it for you, Master.?

Cheok-Liang immediately organized the skills and showed Ji-Cheok the list.

Combat Skills

[Heaven and Earth Sword Qi] [Fleeing Shadow] [Shadow Stealer] [Telekinetic Arrow] [The Dark Spirit's Call]

Recovery Skills

[Double Core] [Arcane Circle of Mana Recovery] [Silph’s Recovery] [Massage]

Support Skills

[Silph’s Blessing] [Roar of the Wild] [Mono Bike] [Wall Drive]

Passive Skills

[Beginner Skill: Sword and Shield] [Beginner Skill: Steady Heart] [Mysterious Sword: White Night, Dark Night] [Wind and Cloud Steps] [Spontaneous Absorption] [Troll’s Body] [Blessing of Harmony] [Heaven and Earth Divine Arts] [Heaven and Earth Sword Art] [Heaven and Earth Divine Steps] [Heaven and Earth Iron Stance]

Crafting Skills

[☆★◇◆ Scrooge's Alchemy ◇◆☆★] [☆★◇◆Scrooge’s Alchemist Survival Camp◇◆☆★] [Arcane Golem Creation]

Non-combat Support Skills

[Eye of Insight] [360° Video Shooting] [Advisor of the Twisted Underworld] [Prince Charming] [Soul Driver]

Item Skills

[Monoblade]

[Skills: Dark Blade, Light Blade, Mono Blade]

[Black Flaming Jacket]

[Skills: Blaze Walk, Divine Protection of the Dark Flames]

[Troll’s Ring of Regeneration]

[Skills: Regeneration]

[Mono Bike]

[Skills: Mana Save, Acceleration, Summon/Cancel Summon, Mana Sync, Outlaw of the Road]

[Luminous Fairy Pendant]

[Skills: Fairy’s Step (Reduce enemy’s attack by 10%, increase ally’s attack by 10%)]

“I’ve collected so many skills…” Ji-Cheok said.

With his item skills in addition to his personal ones, the number of skills Ji-Cheok possessed was on par with the average mid-level Hunter.

?It’s all thanks to Master’s Godtube Influencer ability.?

“If you say that, then it’s all thanks to the God ??? who gave me that ability.”

People who became successful often forget that they didn’t get that far by themselves. They would forget that they always had help around them. That’s why some members of the National Assembly would change their election pledge after they got elected, and some popular restaurants would downgrade their ingredients.

If people started to get cocky, however, it was only a matter of time before life slapped them in the face, and this held doubly true in the world of Hunters. Unlike politicians, who could always apologize and start over, Hunters faced much more serious consequences. Rather than receiving a mere slap on the wrist, they would be found dead in a dungeon somewhere.

?You are too modest, Master.?

“That’s because I’ve seen too many people who died from being arrogant.”

?…?

That was the life of a Hunter Assistant. When Ji-Cheok took out a half-digested Hunter from the monster’s stomach, the dream of becoming a Hunter disappeared and only the cold reality remained.

?The GodTube Influencer is clearly superior to other Awakened jobs, but only someone like you, Master, could have reached this far.?

“Okay, okay~ If you say so~”

?At least, I don’t think there is anybody in this world who would sacrifice their life to protect others the way you did in your first battle.?

Cheok-Liang seemed to think very highly of Ji-Cheok. Especially after watching Ji-Cheok's debut battle video, Cheok-Liang seemed to respect his master more.

Of course, at that time, Ji-Cheok had no choice but to help the people; otherwise, he couldn’t have slept at night afterward. Sometimes, people cared more about sleeping peacefully at night than about their own safety. It was just like the firefighter documentary Ji-Cheok had seen at one point. He had never thought himself to be at the same level as those firefighters, not for one second, but when that battle happened, he had known instantly that he could not bear the voices blaming him in his sleep if he didn’t take action. If he hadn’t done anything after hearing the child’s cry for help, that voice would still have stuck with Ji-Cheok.

?I think your growth has a lot to do with your modesty, Master.?

‘You think? Don’t you think this is what is going to kill me?’

?Master…?

‘Alright let’s stop talking about that. Which skill should I get?’

Ji-Cheok needed to find skills that could be linked with his existing ones for one hundred percent efficiency. He had been thinking deeply about it, but with so many skills to choose among, it was certainly not an easy decision. Maybe it was also because Ji-Cheok was distracted by other gloomy thoughts.

‘My main skills are cultivation and sword arts.’

Ji-Cheok also had mana and buff skills and summoned beasts like Cheok-Liang and Mono Bike.

‘If I look at my fighting style, I’m a melee dealer. Of course, I’m not an ordinary melee dealer…I’m closer to a berserker-type wide-range dealer.’

Ji-Cheok belonged to the category of fighters that had the motto ‘kill or be killed,’ with a slight touch of stylishness to earn more Likes.

?Master, if I may. Can I offer you one piece of advice??

‘You don't need to ask for permission, you can just say it, Cheok-Liang.’

?Master…?

Ji-Cheok didn’t know why, but every time he said things like this, Cheok-Liang was deeply moved. Maybe it was that his trust touched Cheok-Liang’s heart? However, for Ji-Cheok, it was only natural to trust his advisor, whose only goal was to make him stronger.

?If you say so…?

Cheok-Liang closed his eyes. With a buzzing sound, Cheok-Liang’s hair bristled, and then a mysterious light shone.

‘Is this some kind of deep learning method?’

Flash!

Cheok-Liang’s eyes fluttered open, and his blue star-like eyes shone brilliantly.

?There are two ways for you to become stronger, Master! One will allow you to become stronger in an instant, while the other one will take time and effort but has a lot more potential.?

“You are saying that if I choose to become strong right now, that’ll limit my potential to grow?”

?Yes, there is hardly any potential to dig out of that one. But it is a shortcut.?

‘Great, please explain them both.’

?Yes, Master! Open Likes Shop!?

Cheok-Liang opened up the Likes Shop.

?[Honorable Angel of Justice] and [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Essence] ?

[Honorable Angel of Justice]

[Class: Legendary (Non-Upgradable, Rank S)

Practice justice and act honorably!

*Can be exchanged with the Fixed Skillbook coupon.]

[Heaven and Earth Chaotic Essence]

[Class: Legendary (Upgradable, Rank F)

Before Heaven and Earth existed, the world was full of chaos.

*Can be exchanged with the Fixed Skillbook coupon.]

‘Wait, why is there so little information about the skills? Do they not want to sell these skills?’

Ji-Cheok was glad he had the almighty Cheok-Liang to give him further details about the two skills.

?The [Honorable Angel of Justice] is a summoning skill. As the name suggests, it summons an angel to help you in battles.?

‘What happens if I summon the angel for an act that is not honorable?’

?They go back to where they came from. Also, even though you are the one who summons them, they will not obey your orders unconditionally. Think of your relationship with the angel as an equal partnership. The downside of mutual partners is that the angel won’t listen to your commands if they disagree with them. Another drawback is that the angel does not get stronger, due to the nature of the summoning skill.?

‘What's the upside, then?’

The skill had to have its merits for Cheok-Liang to recommend it.

?The angel is very strong. Their fighting power exceeds that of S-Rank Hunters.?

‘Sounds simple enough.’

The angel being this strong would cancel out all the disadvantages this skill had. It was a shame that the angel couldn’t get stronger, but considering there were only a few hundred S-Rank Awakeners in the world, this skill was clearly powerful enough anyway. In addition, since the summoned being was an angel, there was a high probability that they had basic healing abilities and buffs.

‘So if my actions are honorable, it’s like having an S-Rank Hunter as a teammate? And I don’t have to share rewards with them either.’

?Based on the information that was given to me, this angel is a powerful melee dealer and can also be a tank. They also have basic healing and buff skills. You can say that the angel is an all-around summoned beast. Just like you, Master.?

‘That’s crazy. The angel is an S-Rank and also has multiple skills. I could just summon them and let them do all the work while I just take a break.’

?But that’s not an honorable act, Master.?

‘Ah…Shit.’

At this point, Ji-Cheok started to regret the offer of [He_who_denies_death].

‘They were like a gift—no, a God that never stopped giving.’

?The [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Essence] unites all the cultivation skills of the [Heaven and Earth] set into one. That means it includes the inner and outer techniques, the Divine Arts, the Sword Art, the Divine Steps, and the Iron Stance. For that reason, there is an additional condition for this skill: you cannot use it unless you have learned at least three of the Heaven and Earth skills.?

‘What? That’s crazy! They should put that in the skill description! What would happen if I bought it without learning the three skills? That would make me waste a coupon for nothing!?The fuck kinda equivalent exchange is this?!’

?This cultivation skill is difficult to learn and has many conditions, but if trained properly, the path to become a Transcender opens.?

‘Transcender?’

?Yes. It is possible for humans to ascend to what is known as ‘immortality’. When they ascend, they can acquire the power of a lower deity.?

‘I guess that’s why it takes so long to master this skill. But why would they open up this kind of possibility for a cultivation skill?’

?Modern society needs to do a little more research on the mechanics of Awakening. That’s what they need at the tutorial stage right now. If you get too comfortable and do not study the essence, you will miss out on this Golden Age. Only those who are not intoxicated with their skills, but have accumulated power and cultivated themselves will reach the top and blaze the path to transcendence.?

“Tutorial stage?”

Ji-Cheok was so surprised that he spoke out loud.

?This information cannot be viewed.?

Ji-Cheok had no clue what Cheok-Liang was talking about. What tutorial?

‘...If this world, with the crazy housing prices, war, and poverty is considered a tutorial, then how hard is the actual game?’

Ji-Cheok didn’t know what was going on.

“Do you know when the tutorial ends?”

?This information cannot be viewed.?

‘Should I just be grateful that I can understand some fragments about the System through Cheok-Liang?’

Acquiring the power of a lower deity sounded challenging. However, just like Cheok-Liang had said, if Ji-Cheok succeeded, he could go to places that no ordinary human could reach. The phrase ‘success does not come overnight’ came to Ji-Cheok’s mind. In other words, it would likely take Ji-Cheok a long time to get results, but the results would be likewise extraordinary. It would certainly be a fitting goal to become a Transcender and attain the power of a deity.

On the other hand, if Ji-Cheok chose the angel summoning skill, it would bring him instant results, and he would become one of the most powerful Hunters in the world.

If Ji-Cheok conducted a survey with these two skills as possible choices, ninety percent of people would choose the summoning skill. Only crazy people would choose the cultivation skill.

‘And that crazy person is me~’

?What is the plan, Master??

“I’m going to choose [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Essence].”

?Excellent choice.?

[You have activated the [Fixed Unique Skillbook].]

[You have acquired the [Heaven and Earth Chaotic Essence].]

[The skill is being integrated!]

[Be prepared for the shock!]

‘What?’

Thump!

At that moment, the sound of drums beating began to resonate throughout Ji-Cheok’s body. It was the sound of his heart expanding until it was about to burst. Through Ji-Cheok’s aorta, the blood was flowing rapidly into his body.

1. The raws refer to a really old Fullmetal Alchemist meme in Cantonese. Don’t ask.

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