I've kind of given up writing a new story, since this one's given me so much lost sleep.
Perfect Lionheart (again): That wasn't aimed at you, but an attempt to avoid any backlash for skipping out on the anticipated boss. Also, Jee-Han doesn't want to specialize in too many weapons, since they're all governed by different skills. He would choose guns, but, as far as I am aware, Korea has very strict gun control laws. And they're under too much security to just snag one under and employee's eye. Finally, he tried to find an army surplus store in an earlier chapter, but failed. I'll research their commonness in Korea more thoroughly to decide if he makes another attempt.
kovs: I don't think that the specifics of these kind of Illusion Barriers were discussed in the manhwa, but I'll say making that slow-time Barrier is really fucking difficult. Like, LVL 70 [ID Create] difficult. That's probably not the LVL I'll use, but you get the picture. Altering the flow of time would be the hardest, while just adding effects is much easier. That would pop up sometime around the 20th LVL.
Now, on with the show.
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Dialog Cheat Sheet
Emphasis
Game Text if centered
[Activating game ability]
SHOUTING
Cutting someone o- short
*sound effect*
Written word if centered
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Mah, I feel better. It's been a while since I've taken a bath rather than a shower. I almost forgot how nice soaking in warm water filled with substances taken away from my sweaty body felt.
… It doesn't sound as relaxing when it's put that way.
Anyway, I think I've come up with a new method of ranged combat: archery. There are tons of hobby stores and hunting stores around that'll sell me a bow. I don't think I can steal one without invisibility or high [Stealth] LVLs.
Or… I could craft one. I mean, I'd probably get a skill for creating it, and I could make better bows by LVLing the skill. But how to go about it… No damn clue.
Eh, whatever. I had another brainstorm anyway. Two words: launched Rasengan.
See, I thought about how to create a Rasengan-esque skill. And, as I was wondering why it was a spiraling sphere rather than a stationary sphere, I realized the same logic could be applied to my [Energy Bolt]. All I need is someplace to practice it.
Can I create empty Illusion Barriers? Only one way to find out, I suppose.
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I climbed back onto the roof, admiring the stars for a moment.
"[ID Create]."
Which type of Instant Dungeon would you like to create?
Zombie
Ghost
Empty
Eh? Why don't I remember that last option?
Maybe it only unlocks after [ID Create] LVL 3 or something? Whatever.
"Empty."
The night sky was blotted out by the expected flash of light before returning. Though, the constellations seem… different. I never really learned where they were or how to identify them, but I'm fairly sure Orion's visible now. Maybe not?
Anyway, lessee. Create a mass of mana in my hand.
A soft blue glow appeared before quickly intensifying, a small spot of solid white hovering above the center of my palm.
Condense the mana into useable form.
The blue light receded, tripling the size of the white center and creating an azure nimbus surrounding the white.
Rotate the uncooperative mana.
Slowly, almost grudgingly, the wispy blue swirled around the center.
Gah. Ah, looks like the mana's trying to escape. Urp, little fucker. Condense further, until there's no more blue. I want this thing to be strong.
The blue strands wavered and almost jumped away from the nucleus. Fortunately, they settled and sank reluctantly into the pure center. It flashed ominously, vibrating incessantly.
Ooh shit, that's starting to sting. Right, what else, what else. Oh, force faster rotation.
Despite the lack of variance in the core's hue, a sixth sense told me it was ponderously beginning to spin.
Ah, jeez. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold this bitch. Screw it, I'm launching!
"Fuck, that smarts!"
With a mighty war cry, I threw my hand forward, the super-condensed mana blasting away from my palm. It flew about 5 meters into the neighboring building, where it took out a good portion of some poor schmuck's wall. You know, maybe I should've tested if damage to the environment carries between the Illusion Barrier and the real world.
Ah well, I'm sure it doesn't.
Anyway, that did some damage! Though it was not quite what I hoped. I wanted something more… I dunno, useable? This was really hard to form and cast, though hopefully the skill version is more efficient.
What would you like to name your skill?
Ooh, it's giving me the option now? Nice. Well, it should follow some sort of pattern, something I can just look at and get what the characteristics are. It's not like the NPCs of this game can actually plan around what I call out and predict the characteristics of my Skills through the name. Right?.
Well, I was going to name my creation [Spiraling Energy Bolt], but this isn't what I wanted. Too time-consuming and heavy. Heavy…
"[Heavy Spiraling Energy Bolt]."
Is [Heavy Spiraling Energy Bolt] acceptable?
Yeah. I tapped the button and pondered what I did wrong.
… Too much compression. Next time, I'll just use one stage of compression, rather than two.
Again, I gathered mana in my palm, noticing the slight itch I developed there.
The blue glow reformed before condensing into a small blue ball with a core of white.
Now, to force this thing to rotate. I immediately noticed how much easier this time was to manipulate. It was like the difference between measuring out tar and sand mixture against water.
The orb span much more smartly this time. Maybe I got more experience with this kind of mana manipulation?
When I felt it reached the maximum speed, I threw my arm forward, launching the mana ball in the process. It rocketed forward, impacting a couple meters away from my previous target. The hole was much smaller this time, but it was conversely easier to form and control.
What would you like to name your skill?
What do you think, me? I think this is what I want as my go-to magic attack.
"[Spiraling Energy Bolt]."
Is [Spiraling Energy Bolt] acceptable?
Yep~!
"[ID Escape]."
And, task complete, I surrendered to the siren call of my bed.
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Right, school. Boring, really fucking boring. So boring. I can literally feel my brain leaking though my ears.
I realize that's a gross exaggeration, but the point I'm trying to convey is that I'm bored and I don't give a rat's ass how correct my statements to myself are.
Who CARES if the founder of North Korea was a giant dickhole who orchestrated the tensions between North Korea and South Korea, culminating in the Korean War and the current armistice! I'm fairly sure this information is biased, anyway.
Lunch bell?
Lunch bell!
You know, now's a great time to acquire [Sneak]. I lowered my stance slightly, creeping toward Sun-Il. Keeping my movements steady and putting my feet down toe first, I managed to not make a sound. I paused about an American foot from Sun-Il.
Let's see how he likes it when someone pokes him while lost in thought. Muahaha- GACK!
When my finger was a couple centimeters from his back, he spun around and trapped me in a headlock faster than I could respond. Damn martial artists…
"Now, now, foolish little Jee-Han."
He pinched my cheek before tugging on it painfully. No, you'll feed the fangirls!
Oh cool, alert. Must be for [Sneak].
"You're a millennium too early to sneak up on me."
Ass. More like a month of grinding. Muahahaha!
"Are you cackling in your head again? I thought we fixed that!"
Screw you! I do what I want! And if I want to plot your public humiliation in revenge for the abuse you heap upon me daily, you butt the fuck out!
"Ouch. What about the abuse you heap upon me daily?"
… Crap. I said that out loud.
"I can't leave you alone for a second, can I? We'll be having lunch together again so I can supervise you."
"H-Hey, we're in a mutually-abusive friendship, alright! And mutually-abusive friends let mutually-abusive friends abuse their mutually-abusive friends. So, are you a mutually-abusive friend?"
Impeccable logic.
He paused (with me still in a headlock!) and regarded me with a curious expression.
"I prefer to think of myself as the victim of an abusive relationship."
"Well… fuck you, too."
Oi, I was out of ideas, alright?
And so I spent lunch trapped underneath Sun-Il. In a non-sexual way, pervs.
At least I got the damn skill. Probably. I'd better have.
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Well, half the school is now convinced I'm in a seme and uke relationship with Sun-Il, with him as the seme. The other half believes we're absolutely batshit crazy.
So I actually improved my social status!
Though I'm hurt they think he's the dominant one. While I have no troubles fantasizing of being tied down by Sun-Il's hot cousin Poong Sae-Young clad in a maid's outfit, I find it more appealing if she's the one tied down, whilst she remains in said maid's outfit. Though I wouldn't mind it if she promised to take turns~.
Turns being tied down, not turns wearing the outfit.
But I digress. Now is not the time for a mental discussion on my sexuality.
Now, where am I? The school hallway? Normally I'm on the streets when I actually register my location.
Just slip into a bathroom stall instead of a side street to check my stats, I guess.
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Ugh. Who the hell writes this shit! No, I don't care how many chicks you've banged! Though, if that number's in the triple digits, I call bullshit.
So, time to whisper commands to avoid losing even more credibility in the vicious popularity contest that is high school.
"Skills."
So, where… there.
Stealth (PASSIVE)
LVL: 1
The ability to stay hidden in shadow, walk without sound, and generally remain unobtrusive, all through nonmagical means.
+10% Enemy Stealth Detection
-10% Noise Produced
-10% Aggro Chance
What's Aggro Chance? Well, agro means to lure an enemy away from the group, so… it's the chance an enemy will choose to attack me over a party member.
So this skill makes me harder to spot, less likely to be attacked if spotted, and more likely to spot stealthed enemies.
Nice. What do my new skills say, anyway?
Spiraling Energy Bolt (ACTIVE)
LVL: 1
A spinning bolt of mana launched from the palm. Scales with INT.
+200% Damage
+100% Force
Range: 30 m
Sweet. Not much else to say, really.
Heavy Spiraling Energy Bolt (ACTIVE)
LVL: 1
A spinning bolt of condensed mana launched from the palm. Scales with INT.
+500% Damage
+300% Force
Range: 20 m
I guess the range's lower because it's harder to control and prevent from dissipating. Hmm, I wonder if I can create a laser-like [Energy Bolt] that'll give me a greater range. Like a magical sniper rifle.
Well, I've had enough of this literal shithole.
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Not much to say. Um, review?
Name: Han Jee-Han
Title: Apprentice Undead Hunter
Class: The Gamer
LVL: 7
XP: 2350/7000
HP: 160/160
MP: 260/260
STR: 7
DEX: 10
VIT: 6
INT: 25
WIS: 12
LUK: 5
Points: 0
Money: 15000W