Chapter 9: Master of All Techniques (2)
As I suspected, the old man harbored a deep ‘resentnt’ to teach soone. He had a desire.
In truth, it wasn’t that there were no suitable candidates.
According to his mories, many talented individuals existed even in the mysterious other world.
If he had gathered them and split the teachings, he could have passed on his knowledge to future generations.
But the old man had a desire. A singular legacy. He wanted one person to inherit his vast abilities and knowledge.
[The skill ‘mory Recreation’ (S-rank), has ended.]
—Flash!
The peculiar déjà vu vanished. The scenery changed again.
[The ‘Master of All Techniques’ is staring at you.]
“Hah!”
I felt a suffocating gaze.
It wasn’t just a saying; the pressure was so intense that I could barely breathe.
But.
I smiled.
I felt like a perverted psycho for smiling in this situation, but I couldn’t help it.
Because I see hope now.
The old man’s initial words when he saw were dismissive. He said I was worse than Gi Soyul and wasn’t worth his ti. He wanted to throw out quickly.
However.
That old soul was now clearly staring at . He hadn’t violently subdued and tossed out like he did with other hunters and Gi Soyul.
That alone gave hope.
Soon, the old, white-haired man’s mouth opened.
“You.”
I felt an overwhelming presence. Was this the imnse power of soone who stood at the pinnacle of a world?
“Did you peer into my soul? Interesting fellow.”
[The ‘Master of All Techniques’ is curious about you.]
“Yes, I did…! Hah!” I imdiately replied.
It was hard to open my mouth, but I tried to speak as loudly as possible.
Gi Soyul had given one single chance. In other words, this was a one-life challenge.
If this old man is indeed looking for a disciple…! If I can inherit his vast power and knowledge…!
It must be . I can’t let anyone else take it. If I missed this chance, I would regret it forever.
I instinctively knew that this was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. If I could have this old man who even toyed with rankers as my master, it would be the greatest fortune!
“However.”
The old man’s voice, the ‘Master of All Techniques,’ was sowhat cold.
He stared at for a mont before shaking his head.
“Other than being sowhat interesting, you have nothing. You’re worthless. You lack everything to contain my knowledge.”
“Hmph!”
The old man’s aura grew even stronger.
My whole body trembled as if I were being electrocuted.
This can’t be. I can’t let it end like this. I have to persuade this old man sohow. Even if my whole body lts from enduring it.
“No, Elder!” I opened my eyes wide and stared directly at the old man. “If you continue like this, you’ll never find a disciple! You’ll remain a ghost forever, unable to resolve your resentnt! People will rember you as a stubborn ghost filled with obstinacy and bullheadedness!”
“What?”
The old man’s aura beca fierce at my provocation.
“You insolent brat. I’ve spared ants like you with my boundless generosity. Do I need to break one of your legs for you to co to your senses?”
“Wait! Please listen! You’ve mastered all techniques. The people of this world struggle to master even one in their lifeti!”
“Hmph, impossible. The world is vast, and ti is long. Surely, there will be another genius like .”
The old man’s self-praise montarily stunned . But I had gained ti. The old man was clearly having a conversation with . That alone was a significant achievent.
“Look at the woman who ca in earlier. Can you believe she is one of the strongest in this world?”
“What?!”
For the first ti, the old man’s face twisted. His face showed genuine shock. It seed he was truly surprised by my claim that Gi Soyul was one of the strongest in this world.
This is… a bit demoralizing.
Considering that a ranker like Gi Soyul was my ultimate goal, the old man’s reaction stung.
Anyway.
It seed I had caught his attention. Now, to reel him in.
From the perspective of an old man searching for a worthy candidate, it would be hard to accept that soone he rejected was one of the strongest in this world. After all, his world had many who surpassed her.
“Impossible! How can she be one of the strongest with such skill level? What kind of ssed-up world is this?” The old man exclaid, shocked.
“You! You’re not trying to trick , are you?”
“Look into my eyes! Do these look like the eyes of a dishonest person? You were known as a sage for centuries. Surely you can tell if I’m lying!”
I spoke with conviction, leveraging the information I gained from ‘mory Recreation.’ I believed a ranker was akin to a world’s strongest, so I had confidence in my words.
“Hmm.”
The old man furrowed his brow. He must have realized I was telling the truth. Even in his spectral form, the old man’s wisdom was intact.
“You… truly an it. Even if she’s not the absolute strongest, she’s a highly regarded warrior. How could such a skill be considered one of the best? What a cruel fate. The disciple I longed for so long, will I not find them?” The old man clicked his tongue.
The fierce light in his eyes dimd, replaced by futility and emptiness.
Consequently, the oppressive pressure slightly lifted.
“Hmph? Huff, hah…!” I finally caught my breath.
I breathed heavily in the small gap.
And then… I instinctively knew it was my chance.
“Fuu…! Elder!” I shouted with all my might. “If no one ets your standards, how about using ?”
“Using you?”
“Yes! Pass your abilities to !”
“Ha, to you?” The old man snorted. “Do you expect to take you as my disciple? I thought of you as insolent, but now you have also proved to be shaless. I’d rather teach garbage than teach you.”
His blunt words stabbed my heart, but I didn’t stop persuading him.
“Listen! I’m not asking you to teach directly!”
“…Then?”
“I have a unique ability.”
I quickly checked my status window.
[Hunter: Joo Donghoon]
[Energy: 100/100]
Okay. No abnormalities.
I clenched my fists tightly.
[Skill: ‘Summon Ordinary Skeleton (D-rank) activated.]
That’s right. My proposal to the old man didn’t involve but my children—my skeletons.
[10 energy consud.]
[‘Bonehead 1’ summoned.]
[10 energy consud.]
[‘Bonehead 2’ summoned.]
[10 energy consud.]
[‘Bonehead 3’ summoned.]
…
[10 energy consud.]
[‘Bonehead 10’ summoned.]
From Bonehead 1 to Bonehead 10. This ti, I used all my energy to summon ten skeletons, my maximum.
This was a gamble.
“Elder, surely you can see their potential?”
“…”
I gambled on the hope that the old man could recognize the limitless potential of my growing skeletons.
The skeletons had indeed grown from E-rank to D-rank. If so, they could reach C-rank, B-rank, and perhaps even S-rank or beyond.
The thod might be unknown now, but that alone should make their ‘potential’ evident.
“From Bonehead 1 to Bonehead 10, these ten have unique abilities. It’ll be easier for you to teach them. Do you want a single successor? Don’t worry. Even if all these grow, I’ll be the only one to inherit it all!”
It could be nonsense. But this was my only answer. They were all I had, my ‘unique authority.’ They were essentially .
It’s a risk worth taking.
The old man had to choose. Would he live in regret forever? Or would he take the second-best option?
“What do you think? These undead grow. They don’t feel pain, so they’ll be more enduring than anyone and more challenging than anyone because they’re fearless, making them the best students. They’ll take your advice and teachings without hesitation.”
“…”
The old, white-haired man remained silent. He stared at the skeletons with a blank expression, lost in thought.
“…”
So I stayed silent, too. I instinctively knew that saying more wouldn’t change his decision. The old man moved based solely on his judgnt.
I quietly waited for his choice.
“Oho.”
Finally, a smile tugged at the old man’s lips.
“How amusing… The successor I sought wasn’t human but undead.”
“…!”
He stepped forward slowly and gently touched the skeletons with a calm gaze.
“Their potential is truly imnse. They must have been exceptional warriors in life. I’ve always wanted such disciples. Why only now… tsk.”
His reaction was awe-inspiring. Was this how it felt to win the lottery?
It turns out my skeletons’ potential was impressive enough for the old man to praise them.
“Teaching more than one is a bit tricky, but… fine. I suppose I must compromise.”
The fierce pressure had vanished. Now, I could see the surroundings.
That’s right. This place was the snowy mountain where the old man’s life had ended.
[You have fulfilled the hidden condition.]
The place was soaked with his resentnt and also the place where he would release that resentnt.
[This is the hidden condition for ‘Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentnt’!]
The old man’s gaze returned to . He seed very pleased.
—Gulp.
As I swallowed, he spoke.
“I’ll trust your words. I’ll trust the determination in your eyes. So promise . No matter what trials co, you’ll inherit all I possess. You’ll leave a mark of ‘’ sowhere in this world.”
[Condition: His recognition]
– To be recognized by the transcendent of another world, ‘Master of All Techniques,’ you must reach a certain level.
– Convince him.
I felt the desperation in his tone. How badly must he have wanted it for his resentnt to linger even after death?
“I won’t miss this once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. I’ll inherit it no matter what,” I replied sincerely.
“Good.”
The old man responded cheerfully.
[Congratulations!]
[You have cleared the ‘Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentnt’!]
Ah…
I was overwheld.
Is this real? Did I clear this dungeon that even a ranker couldn’t? Did I clear it on my first try? Truly?
—Thud!
As the tension released, my legs gave out.
[Receiving clear rewards!]
Honestly, this was the day I would gain the greatest fortune of my life.
[You have exhausted all your energy!]
[Your body has reached its limit!]
“…”
And soon, I lost consciousness.
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