Chapter 86: Enlightenment (2)

After reading that Eye of Perception had leveled up, I immediately checked the details.

Type: Innate Ability

Basic acquisition conditions:

Sixth Sense

Calm Observer's Eye

Additional acquisition condition:

Overcome the death sentence of 'Sixth Sense'

Overcome pain

Detailed explanation:

Eye of Perception is an eye of 'intuition', meaning the user gains concrete knowledge about objects in the outer world through their sense of intuition. It allows the user to intuit and receive information about the target.

Proficiency: [2]

Traits:

Distinguish between Awakened and Unawakened

Read Status Windows

Sense danger

Resistance towards illusory attacks or apparition magic

Additional power:

Future Sight

With the increase in proficiency from [1] to [2], a new category, 'additional power', was added.

'Future Sight.'

I knew what it was without having to open up the detailed explanation. Just like the name suggested, it was the ability to see the future. I took a look at the detailed explanation anyway.

[Future Sight]

An eye that can glimpse the future. When PVPing or hunting, you can precisely predict the movements and attacks of the opponent or monster. However, be warned that a great deal of mental power and mana will be consumed in proportion to the opponent's abilities.

I was already feeling the effects of the new ability. As expected of the cheat-level 'Eye of Perception', it produced an ability that could read an opponent's movements in advance.

'What I was sensing earlier…'

This meant it wasn't just a vague feeling anymore, but a concrete skill I could use far more reliably and methodically.

'Let's try using it right away.'

There was a note that the consumption of mental power and mana would be enormous depending on the opponent's level. It shouldn't be very draining with Kim Taechun as my opponent, so it was worth taking for a spin. In all things, trying it out in practice was the best.

[Activating the power Future Sight.]

[You are within 'Observer's Domain'.]

[You are using 'Observer's Eye'.]

[The mana and mental power consumption of Future Sight is reduced.]

I saw a panting Kim Taechun.

"Dieee!"

He made a big swing of his axe.

'No.'

He hadn't swung yet. What I felt just now… was an 'illusion'. In reality, Taechun hadn't swung his axe yet.

'This… is Future Sight.'

While I was awed, Taechun ran in exactly like I had seen him do moments earlier.

'When facing Taechun, I can see about one second in advance.'

An unprecedented ability to read what an opponent would do one second in advance. A vivid future that had a time delay but appeared before my eyes in perfect clarity like it didn't. A fight pattern that was even more definite and concrete than sensing it with my intuition.

'I do feel myself tiring.'

That had to be what it meant by the consumption of 'mental power' being high. I couldn't describe it exactly, but it kind of felt like I was losing steam, like my vigor was being eaten away. I could feel my body growing heavier, even though it wasn't actually that tired.

'As the proficiency of Eye of Perception rises, Future Sight should grow stronger, too.'

I couldn't expect too much from the beginning. This ability was one that would shine brighter the more my level increased and the more Eye of Perception leveled up.

I dodged every attack from Kim Taechun with ease. That was enough testing, for now.

[Stopping the use of the power Future Sight.]

Taechun gasped for breath.

"Hah…! Hah…!"

In comparison, I wasn't all that tired. I felt like I'd gone on a short walk—I did feel a little tired and drained, but it wasn't severe.

"Didn't I tell you about my class?"

Non-combat class. Class name, Observer. There was no reason to state the name outright, but there was also no need to hide every little bit of my abilities. I wasn't planning on openly doing things at the forefront, but I also didn't intend on bending backwards to lower my value.

"I'm a non-combat class."

"SHUT UP!"

Kim Taechun swung his axe again, but I didn't even dodge this time, knowing it wouldn't reach me in the first place. His swing was full of power. It was no wonder that he ran out of strength so quickly.

'Well, I'm sure he's fucking pissed. He hasn't been able to hit a non-combat class even once.'

How embarrassing must it be for a combat class Player to be helpless before a non-combat class Player in front of so many people?

But it wasn't my business to worry about him. There was only one reason why I was saying this.

'Kim Kangchul and Song Jinchul. Listen up.'

It was to send a message to those two, as well as to the powers-that-be in Sungshin who still didn't get it and the Taeguk Shield guild members who were acting like they were the chosen ones, like nobles.

"The foundation of my class is observation."

"I SAID TO SHUT UP!"

He charged at me again, his movements slow and clumsy from exhaustion. I casually closed in on him. The distance between us was now mine to control.

I chopped his wrist with the side of my hand.

[Using the skill Excellent Strike.]

Though I wasn't using a weapon, even my bare hand would deal a great amount of damage to Taechun.

"Ahh!" he yelped, dropping his axe.

Thud!

The large axe fell to the ground with a boom. Taechun clutched his wrist and pulled away a little. His foot lifted into the air in instinctive retreat, his balance crumbling a little.

'Is this how you do it?'

I immediately grabbed him and threw him over my back, mimicking the judo 'shoulder throw' I'd glimpsed on Youtube before. It went unexpectedly well. I'd never learned how to do it, but maybe reading Yoohyun's movements had helped.

"Gugh!"

As his back hit the ground, there was a resounding crash as loud as his heavy body. Struggling to right himself, he coughed painfully.

"My class is fundamentally one that continuously observes."

It wasn't a total lie. 70% was the truth, while 30% was a lie. That was the ratio I was aiming for, like countless Rankers in the future I came from. And now, I was going to resolve this situation my way.

"One that, while continuously observing, plays an intermediary role to ensure that each Player's Playing joins smoothly into one fluid whole."

"Cough! Cough!"

"One that, using the information gained by observing, directs the battlefield my party members and I are on to our favor and occasionally gives orders."

With this, the people at Sungshin and the Guardians alike would know what I was trying to say. But I still spelled it out a little more clearly, in a way that was slightly easier to understand.

"A class that draws out the efficiency of the party and maximizes each Player's latent potential to allow the raid or hunt to progress as optimally as possible."

I intentionally made things a little more dramatic, taking my time to build up the climax. Because the people at Sungshin were watching, as well as the Guardians.

"My class is sovereign."

A short and sweet personal résumé, effective and to the point.

After the commotion that ensued, Kim Hyukjin and his party members left the Players Association building. As soon as they went out the front door, Choi Sung-gu reproduced the event that had just occurred, intentionally deepening his voice.

"My class is sovereign," he mimicked, his face serious. And then, he marveled all by himself. "Kyaa, that was hella classy."

He clearly remembered the scene earlier. Somehow or another, when Hyukjin delivered the "My class is sovereign" line, the room happened to be pinprick silent. And at least from what Sung-gu had seen, Hyukjin was absolutely compatible with a class called 'sovereign'.

Sung-gu continued to make a fuss. "This kind of thing… is a little chuunibyou, but hot damn, do I love it." He suddenly grabbed Hyukjin's hand. "Dayum. But great Sovereign, I have a question."

"..."

Grasping Hyukjin's hand with both hands, Sung-gu gazed at Hyukjin with eyes he probably thought were shining.

"What kind of sovereign lays out a combat Player with his bare hands?"

"..."

For a moment, Hyukjin pondered. If he chopped the back of this guy's neck with his hand, would he faint, or not? Perhaps sensing Hyukjin's murderous intent, Sung-gu quickly took a step back.

"But seriously, though! I think even Yoohyun wouldn't have been able to move like that. Right?"

Yeonseo, who had particularly remarkable talent for 1 vs. 1 PVP, offered her own analysis. "Mm, it's not cut and dry. Yoohyun obviously wins in pure physical ability and damage, but our boss Hyukjin was using observation to read Taechun's movements in advance and assume a far more favorable position. That's why he was able to dominate the guy so easily."

Hyukjin glanced sideways and saw Sunhwa grinning from ear to ear, looking very pleased. The sight of her smiling so brightly made him happy, too.

"Why're you smiling like that?"

"It was super satisfying when you threw that guy, oppa. You went swoosh! And his body went whee! And crashed with a ba-bam! Totally serves him right."

"That so?"

Sunhwa nodded vigorously, fiercely agreeing. Smiling, Hyukjin walked a little more.

"But oppa, you're walking slowly on purpose, right?"

The rest of the party had noticed it as well, even Jo Sunghyun, who wasn't that close to Hyukjin yet.

"I am."

"Why?"

"I'm waiting for something."

Yeonseo licked her lips. 'What's this feeling I'm getting… that something fun is about to happen?'

It felt like fun things happened around Hyukjin. It was like that in their first gate together, when they went to Japan, and now.

'What could it be?'

She didn't ask, but she could feel it. Hyukjin wasn't at ease right now. From the way he moved and the look in his eyes, she could tell that right now, Hyukjin was preparing for battle.

As if Yoohyun had also picked up on the strange atmosphere, he turned his head, his neck cracking. Hyukjin stopped in place and turned around.

'There's no way it would end like this.'

This was something that hadn't happened in the past. Kim Taechun wasn't reduced to such a sorry state, and he never PVPed with Hyukjin. But despite that, Hyukjin was able to read the future based on 'Guardian disposition' and 'Kim Taechun's personality'. He had a rough idea of what was going to happen.

'With the Courageous Lion King's personality, he would never want things to end on such a bland note.'

Hyukjin didn't kill Taechun on purpose earlier. Even though the man would revive if killed since it was a PVP zone, Hyukjin stayed his hand intentionally. There was no real need to kill him, plus he figured it would stimulate the Courageous Lion King and Taechun even more.

'This makes a better stage.'

That was why he left him alive and left the building.

What would the Courageous Lion King and Kim Taechun really choose to do?

"Stop right there, you piece of trash! I won't be satisfied unless I fucking kill you!"

Giving off a different feel from before, Kim Taechun charged at Hyukjin, his eyes bright red. He was definitely not his normal self—he almost looked like the Magic Troll in its 'berserker' state.

"I'll definitely kill you! Let's finish this!"

And then, Taechun let out a furious scream. Heat billowed out of his body.

Grrrrrr.

A strange growl came from his lips, and he looked every bit like an enraged bull. Not only that, but some shapes started materializing behind him.

'As I thought.'

Hyukjin's lips curled upwards.

'As I thought, this is how you want to do it.'

He had been waiting for this. The 'Ruler of the Plains' had finally made their move.

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