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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Gaze of the Stars
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[You have gained a large amount of experience.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have hunted the boss monster - Blood Mountain Lord.]
[You have achieved an outstanding feat. Player Yoo Jinho's name will be recorded in the Tower.]
The tiger's head was bent backward.
I dragged my exhausted body toward its carcass.
"That was ridiculously tough."
The Blood Mountain Lord's corpse was a wreck.
A testament to how fierce the battle had been.
If not for [Gaia's Blessing], I might have been the one to tire out first.
[Predating the essence of the Blood Mountain Lord.]
[Essence Predated: 100%]
[Essence Grade: Rare]
[You have perfectly absorbed the essence of one species.]
[Strength +6]
[Stamina +3]
[Toughness +3]
[Skill - Sixth Sense is added.]
[Sixth Sense]
Grade: ★★★
Classification: Passive
Reacts sensitively to mana fluctuations, killing intent, or fighting spirit.
*Range: 30 meters
"Gah?!!"
A strange exclamation escaped my throat.
Crazy, you can get Sixth Sense through Predation?!
'To get Sixth Sense, you have to meet all sorts of difficult conditions.'
- Hunt boss monsters over 200 times.
- Stay in a mana-rich area for over a week.
- Fight with one of your five senses restricted.
....
Besides those, there were several other conditions to meet to obtain the Sixth Sense skill.
Before my regression, it took me seven years to acquire Sixth Sense.
As I am now?
It would have probably taken me about two years to get the skill the conventional way.
"And I got it just like this."
Several years compressed into just three days.
Truly, I couldn't even begin to guess what the limits of [Predation] were.
But the changes didn't stop there.
[The Big Bat's 'Ultrasound' resonates with the Predation ability.]
[The sensitivity of Sixth Sense is enhanced. You can now read mana wavelengths as sound.]
[The detection range of Sixth Sense increases to 50 meters.]
"Whoa."
I couldn't even scream anymore.
The [Sixth Sense] obtained through the prescribed methods in the Tower of Babel didn't react to other essences.
But the skill gained by predating the Blood Mountain Lord's essence was different.
The [Synergy] effect, where predated essences link together, had been applied!
Wait, if [Sixth Sense] reacted to the Big Bat's essence…
'That means if I get other sensory-related essences, the Sixth Sense skill will be enhanced too.'
A shiver of excitement ran through my body.
Skills obtained as Tower rewards or by satisfying specific conditions don't link with skills acquired through [Predation].
But if you get the same skill through [Predation], it becomes possible to link them.
Knowledge I didn't have before my regression.
'Now, I won't miss a single one.'
There are no essences to be discarded!
I was once again certain.
* * *
A silent cave.
I read the internal structure with [Ultrasound].
It was about 50 meters long.
Perhaps because there was no one but the cave's owner, the Blood Mountain Lord, I couldn't sense any other presence.
With every step, my footsteps echoed loudly.
"Here it is."
I found two books at the end of the cave.
[Blood Claw Arts]
[Three Talents Qi Arts]
The titles were written in Chinese characters.
Thanks to the Tower's system, I could read them immediately.
It even provides simultaneous translation, so a few characters would be nothing.
I checked the information on the two books.
[Blood Claw Arts]
Grade: ★
Classification: Active
Proficiency: 1-Star [0%]
A claw technique modeled after the movements of a tiger. It consists of four forms in total.
*Requires Internal Energy stat to use.
[Three Talents Qi Arts]
Grade: ★
Classification: Active
Proficiency: 1-Star [0%]
A heart art for accepting the energies of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Allows the user to accumulate Internal Energy in the body.
*Adds Internal Energy stat upon acquisition.
"This is it."
A satisfied smile spread across my lips.
Because the two martial arts were so outstanding?
As if.
By the standards used to classify martial arts, the Blood Claw Arts and the Three Talents Heart Art are considered third-rate.
The very bottom. A level only recommended for beginners first learning martial arts.
Yet, there's another reason I'm smiling.
'I can create the Internal Energy stat.'
I made 32 'Moon-gazing Stones,' an elixir related to Internal Energy, in the Moon-gazing Cave.
An elixir with an absorption restriction of once every 15 days.
Even if it's a third-rate martial art, as long as I can build up Internal Energy, I welcome it.
In fact, it's a relief that it's the 'Three Talents Qi Arts,' a heart art with no unique properties.
Because as I climb the Tower and learn higher-level heart arts, I'll be able to merge my Internal Energy without resistance.
'What if I had gotten a Taoist heart art?'
The mere thought is horrifying.
Taoist heart arts only accept pure, natural energy.
They're rigid methods that don't allow for any shortcuts.
It's completely incompatible with [Predation], which absorbs the essences of various species and takes only their strengths.
The Internal Energy would clash, so to speak.
'The Blood Claw Arts isn't bad either.'
Claw arts are a type of martial art performed with the hands.
Unlike fist arts that use fists or palm arts that use the palm, it was born from mimicking the movements of a beast.
It was a good match for me, who had absorbed only the strengths of various monsters through [Predation].
'Around 2025, hand-to-hand combat martial arts weren't highly regarded, were they?'
The reputation of martial arts itself wasn't great either.
Fist, palm, kick, claw arts, and the like.
Martial arts performed purely with the body, without using weapons, were rated even more poorly.
It would take quite some time for the perception of martial arts to change.
Wait, does this mean I can buy the secret manuals released from the Tower of Babel for cheap?
'I should look into it after the tutorial ends.'
I cleared my thoughts and opened the first page of the manual.
The book containing the essence of the Blood Claw Arts.
The moment I finished reading its contents, the paper crumbled into dust.
[You have learned the Blood Claw Arts.]
[You have learned the Three Talents Qi Arts.]
[The Internal Energy stat is created due to the effect of the Qi Arts.]
At the same time, knowledge of the martial arts began to surface in my mind.
Each form of the Blood Claw Arts.
Even the locations of the meridians for circulating the Three Talents Qi Arts.
Concepts of martial arts I had 'never known' before were etched into my mind.
"Whew."
A short sigh escaped my lips.
Skills obtained from skill books require repeated use to build proficiency.
The Blood Claw Arts and Three Talents Qi Arts I just learned were no different.
To properly utilize the power of the Blood Claw Arts, I need to use it repeatedly to raise its proficiency.
'But I need enough Internal Energy to even perform the Blood Claw Arts.'
I gave a bitter smile.
[Internal Energy: 1]
An amount that makes it difficult to even properly perform a single third-rate martial art.
The complete opposite of my overflowing mana, thanks to the [Heart of the Primordial Dragon].
Hehehe, not to worry.
I've prepared something for just such an occasion!
I took out a Moon-gazing Stone and put it in my mouth.
"Gotta get inta posishun."
I sat cross-legged on the spot and swallowed the blue stone I was holding in my mouth.
[You have consumed a Moon-gazing Stone.]
[You can now absorb the power imbued in the stone.]
From here, circulating mana increases the 'Mana' stat, while guiding the energy with a heart art grants 'Internal Energy'.
I circulated the [Three Talents Qi Arts].
The energy of the Moon-gazing Stone traveled through various meridians according to the principles of the Three Talents Qi Arts.
It felt as if my body's senses were awakening.
A refreshing qi circulated through every corner, awakening my body.
[Proficiency of Three Talents Qi Arts increases by 12%.]
[Proficiency of Three Talents Qi Arts….]
The system alarms rang out continuously, but I paid them no mind.
I was too focused on circulating the concentrated power of the Moon-gazing Stone according to the principles of the Three Talents Qi Arts to pay attention to anything else.
I'm not sure how much time passed.
After completing a grand circulation, the energy from the Moon-gazing Stone settled stably in my dantian.
Hooah-!
A satisfied exclamation escaped me.
"This is why experienced newcomers are so good."
[Internal Energy: 0.1 → 22.8]
My Internal Energy rose by 22 stats from a single Moon-gazing Stone.
That's equivalent to gaining stats from 4 level-ups!
'You can't enhance Internal Energy with bonus stats.'
A stat that can only be raised through internal energy heart arts!
That's why, in the future, martial arts users were crazy about Moon-gazing Stones.
With this much Internal Energy, I have more than enough to perform all four forms of the Blood Claw Arts.
Well then, shall we have a little dance?
I slightly bent my fingers at the knuckles.
A form similar to a beast raising its claws.
The preparatory stance for the Blood Claw Arts.
[Using Blood Claw Arts.]
My bent hand cut through the air.
The first form of the Blood Claw Arts, Ferocious Tiger Blood Claw.
Swish, swish, swish!
Perhaps because I was using Internal Energy, the air vibrated and a sharp sound spread out.
"Ah, this isn't right."
I withdrew the hand I had struck out with.
What's the point of just using the martial art?
My true strength lies in simultaneously using the abilities of the various species I've absorbed through [Predation].
[Using Sharp Claws.]
With claws extending about 20 centimeters, I once again performed the Ferocious Tiger Blood Claw.
The sound that vibrated the air became even sharper.
The Blood Claw Arts is composed of movements derived from the motions of a beast—specifically, a tiger swiping its forepaws.
In other words, possessing the characteristics of the beast that inspired the martial art makes it even more powerful!
I fell into a trance, repeatedly performing all the forms of the Blood Claw Arts.
[Your understanding of the Blood Claw Arts is high.]
[The proficiency of the Blood Claw Arts rises to 2-Star.]
Tsk—I clicked my tongue.
'Only 2-Star.'
Before my regression, I learned many martial arts.
Blood Claw Arts?
I had already perfectly understood the insights contained within such a third-rate martial art long ago.
However, the body performing the martial art was not the same.
The mind, qi, and body must be in harmony, but my body is that of a novice who has just started learning martial arts.
Understanding of the forms.
Circulation of Internal Energy.
Even if those two were perfect, my body couldn't keep up, which is why the martial art's proficiency stopped at 2-Star.
'Let's not be hasty.'
I clenched and unclenched my fist.
Compared to before my regression, I've already saved more than a year.
I've absorbed the essences of several monsters living on Rainbow Island.
I also acquired the Internal Energy stat much earlier than before.
And that's not all.
I've obtained a large quantity of Moon-gazing Stones, allowing me to periodically increase my Internal Energy.
If I continue to build strength like this, becoming stronger than my targets, the Old Gods, wouldn't just be a dream.
I've gotten the reward for defeating the Blood Mountain Lord.
Just as I was about to move on to find my next prey.
『The 'Heavenly Demon' is in awe of your innate talent.』
A single message stopped me in my tracks.
A different tone from the system voice.
Just hearing the voice made me feel reverent.
The being who sent this message is…
"A Constellation?"
『The Heavenly Demon affirms that you are correct.』
Constellation.
Beings who have recorded their names in the heavens by connecting the paths of stars.
The Devas.
Olympus.
Asgard.
Besides them, various other divine races reigned as Constellations, looking down upon the Players.
Solely for their own amusement.
In fact, when the Tower of Babel encroached upon Earth, the Constellations only invited a select few who had contracted with them into their worlds.
And those who weren't invited by a Constellation?
'They all died.'
The tragic scenes I had witnessed countless times before my regression came to mind.
A surge of anger.
In the end, the Constellations are nothing more than bystanders.
But now is not the time to unleash my anger.
Gaining the interest of Constellations brings many benefits while climbing the Tower.
Those bastards who call themselves gods, they act all high and mighty, but when they find a Player who catches their eye, they provide immense support.
Attracting a Constellation's interest during the tutorial was proof that my actions were that extraordinary.
『Ares of Olympus glares at the Heavenly Demon.』
『Ares of Olympus shouts loudly that he is the only one fit to be your patron star.』
Wait, why are you showing up here again?