Chapter 286

Chapter 286 “...” Se-Hoon was completely astounded. Refining the power of Perfect Ones into widely usable skills? The way Ludwig worded it made it sound like simple refinement, but what he was actually aiming for was far more complex. “Refinement... do you also intend to keep the power’s full effect intact?” “You’re still as sharp as always. That’s exactly right.” Typically, when disseminating the powers of Perfect Ones to normal people, the standard approach was to limit them first. For instance, the void space technology Ludwig developed originally could have only been used by those with spatial abilities, but once he applied certain limitations, the rest of the world could successfully use it too. Without limitations... By nature, the power of a Perfect One was the accumulation of their authority and painstakingly cultivated ability; it embodied their natural talent, lifetime of experience, and finely honed synesthetic mindscape. Because of such things, imitating the power of a Perfect One was no easy feat, especially if the goal was to share it with not just one or two, but all of humanity. “Do you think it’s impossible?” At Ludwig’s question, Se-Hoon paused, needing to deliberate his response. “To be frank... yes, I do.” “Hmm. That’s a little surprising.” Mildly surprised, Ludwig turned to face Se-Hoon. “I thought that if anyone would deem it possible, it would be you.” “Really?” “Of course. After all, you’ve acquired the power of more Perfect Ones than anyone else in this world.” “Ah...” There were three powers Ludwig was certain Se-Hoon had: the power of Space from him, the power of Boundaries from Wurgen, and the power of Perception from Baek-Yeon. And with the power of Omniscience from the Seeker, that meant Se-Hoon had actually learned the powers of four out of the seven Perfect Ones. Se-Hoon’s expression grew complicated. Only now had he realized just how many powers he had learned. Is that why he confided in me about this? It was obvious in hindsight, but there was actually a reason he hadn’t thought of it before. “Thank you for holding me so high, but I’ve never thought I truly mastered all of those powers.” “Oh? Then what would you call it?” “Rather than mastering them... I’d say I’ve merely successfully mimicked them.” Every time he used a skill, Se-Hoon optimized his body using Soul Honing to heighten its efficiency. In the same way, when he used the powers of the Perfect Ones, he would calibrate his body to imitate them as best he could, which allowed him to mimic the powers more convincingly than others did. Even then, calling that mastery is a stretch compared to the true power of the Perfect Ones. He couldn’t control space like Ludwig, command the dead like Wurgen, or watch over the entire planet like Baek-Yeon. In fact, even his version of Omniscience only really worked if he infused the Seeker’s mana into his body; without her mana, it was essentially a knockoff. “A mere imitation... that does seem true, too.” “Yes, and that’s why I think it would be incredibly difficult to transform such ridiculous powers into skills that everyone can use without limiting its output.” Just mimicking their powers was that challenging, so how much more difficult would it be to replicate it authentically? Nodding thoughtfully, Ludwig then spoke. “While your reasoning is sound... there’s one thing you’ve missed.” “Missed?” Se-Hoon questioned, surprised. “All modern skills have started as basic imitations of other skills. The key is how one handles the process after. It’s important to identify what’s missing in the copied skill and uncover the ‘source’ behind it.” While Ludwig spoke, he had extended his hand out, and upon seeing it, the Vermillion Bird floated one of its feathers onto his palm. Fwoosh. A faint red flame ignited in his hand, a recreation of the Sacred Craftsman’s power. Ludwig stared into the flame. “What distinguishes S-rank hero Li Kenxie from the Sacred Craftsman Li Kenxie? What does our synesthetic mindscape want from us, and how are these powers formed? We must uncover all of these things.” “...” “But because two people who live the same, identical lives can still become entirely different individuals, I’ve deemed that accounting for everything is impossible. As such, I focus on the ‘source’ of the power.” Clenching the flame, Ludwig gazed at Se-Hoon. “Do you think you can guess what that is?” “...” The universal source behind all powers. What was the condition behind a hero turning into a Perfect One? It was obvious. “The Towers of Heroes...” The mysterious towers that appeared fifty-four years ago alongside the Abyss of Demons were the common source of power shared by all Perfect Ones, without exception. “You’re as astute as ever.” “How could I have not realized this until now...?” Se-Hoon muttered to himself. Why had he overlooked something so obvious? “It’s not so strange for you to have not realized, as it’s masked by common knowledge.” “Common knowledge...” A hero grows stronger as they ascend a Tower of Heroes before ultimately becoming a Perfect One upon reaching its summit—that fact was as natural as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west to everyone born into the current age. However, to the First Generation heroes, like Ludwig, the exact way the Towers of Heroes functioned had been a long-standing mystery. “Is it the strong who ascend the tower and become Perfect Ones? While most would think so, I don’t. In fact, I even used to be weaker than Kwang-Soo.” “You were weaker than Professor Ma?” Unable to believe his ears, Se-Hoon stared at Ludwig, who chuckled. “You might find it challenging to believe, but it’s really true. I never won a single sparring match against him until I became a Perfect One.” Se-Hoon’s jaw dropped. He’d heard stories that Ludwig had learned a few combat abilities from Kwang-Soo, but he never would have imagined that Ludwig had lost every time. To think that old man was that strong... Although he had a good idea of Kwang-Soo’s strength from before the regression, the revelation of just how far it surpassed his estimates left him unsettled. All he could do was just stand there, flabbergasted. Meanwhile, Ludwig continued his story. “Back then, most heroes believed Kwang-Soo would ascend to the top of the Tower before I did. But when the opposite happened, that sparked the questions and research that followed.” What, exactly, were the conditions for becoming a Perfect One? What was the nature of the power granted by the Tower of Heroes? To answer these questions, Ludwig established a center for studying the Tower of Heroes, gathering people for his research—the origin behind Babel. “So Babel’s role as a training institution...” “It was originally just to observe the transformations that occurred as students attempted to ascend the Tower.” Having learned the hidden origin of Babel, Se-Hoon’s face lit up with interest. “So it wasn’t designed as a place tailored to your ideals from the start?” “Not exactly. Back then, I had no idea Babel would become so important to me.” Contrary to Babel’s original intention of just being a place for Ludwig to study the Tower of Heroes using the enrolled students, it had somehow become the most comfortable place for Ludwig in the world. But while Ludwig spoke of it as an accident, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but think it was inevitable. Perfect Ones tend to always prioritize their own ideals. Se-Hoon believed that, just like any high-ranking hero, Ludwig had unconsciously shaped Babel to mirror his own values. Thus, no matter where he conducted his research, he would have ended up with something just like Babel, no matter what. “It seems our conversation has drifted. To return to the main point, through studying the Tower of Heroes, I gained some insight into the source of our powers. And that insight now rests with you.” “The insight...? Ah!” Se-Hoon abruptly looked down at his right hand, having understood what Ludwig was saying. The Hero’s Ring, which amplified one’s potential by drawing power from the Tower of Heroes, was the very result of Ludwig’s decades of research. “Have you ever used the Hero’s Ring while channeling a Perfect One’s power? You should have felt slightly different from normal.” “Hmm... now that I think about it, yes, I definitely did feel quite odd.” Recalling the first time the Hero’s Ring activated during his battle with the Tuner, he remembered how, in that moment, he had nearly perfectly replicated Baek-Yeon’s power. Of course, the White Night Bow had aided him with the power of Perception that was imbued within, but without the Hero’s Ring, reaching that level of recreation of the Visionary’s power would have been impossible. “As you said, it’s certainly no simple task to turn our power into a transferable skill. But if we leverage the Tower of Heroes...” Woong- A golden glow flickered in Ludwig’s hand, and the Sacred Craftsman’s flame he had extinguished earlier reignited, creating a fierce blaze. The fire, rekindled from only a small remnant, allowed Se-Hoon to grasp Ludwig’s point instantly. “You’re saying that this ring allows one to reproduce a Perfect One’s power even if it’s incompletely mimicked?” “Precisely.” Se-Hoon fell into deep thought. It isn’t easy to use this ring... but at least it presents a possibility. If they could analyze the rest of the Perfect Ones' powers, redefine them into similar skills, and equip them with the source from the Tower of Heroes, it might be possible to enable all of humanity to use the powers of the Perfect Ones. If that occurs, the Demon Force would vanish within a single day. Considering just seven Perfect Ones were overwhelming enough for the demons, if that number reached the billions, they wouldn’t be able to even resist. Gathering his thoughts, Se-Hoon asked Ludwig, “Is it possible to mass-produce the Hero’s Ring?” “Unfortunately, no. That was the initial goal, but due to material constraints, each ring would take at least ten years to make.” “Then what about the energy supply... wait, is that what the special exam was for?” “Exactly. That’s the current focus of my research.” During the special exam of the first semester, Ludwig had linked the Tower of Heroes with Babel using his spatial power. Back then, Se-Hoon had thought it was simply to enable safe access to the Tower, but in reality, Ludwig’s true purpose was to find a way to draw power from it. Now it all makes sense. When the alliance of the three Perfect Ones was first proposed, both the UD Group and the Pilgrimage Church had been hesitant, their attitudes shifting only after Se-Hoon’s growing influence added credibility. But just as the two parties were getting increasingly eager to recruit Se-Hoon, Ludwig imposed a few conditions of his own. “May I ask what the conditions you set for them were?” “They are not allowed to monopolize you, and any of the powers recreated will be shared. Those were the two conditions.” Processing Ludwig’s answer, Se-Hoon’s gaze fell on the Vermillion Bird, which was hovering awkwardly nearby, occasionally sparking flames on the surrounding pipes. “So that’s why you’ve been supplying those pipes with flames.” “I must say, I appreciate how quickly you understand without the need for further explanations.” Noting how satisfied Ludwig looked, Se-Hoon momentarily fell into a deep thought. Three Perfect Ones joining forces to study the source of power... this is a formidable prospect for the Demon Force. Even though each of them had different objectives, they shared the same methods, so there was no reason not to combine their efforts. The idea intrigued Se-Hoon, though there was still something bothering him. “Alright, I understand the broad idea. Now, however... um...” Se-Hoon hesitated, unsure if his question would arouse suspicion. But at that moment, Ludwig spoke first, having noticed. “Are you concerned about the flame’s incompleteness?” “You knew?” “I thought I mentioned it before—we only have a rough outline.” At those words, Ludwig glanced at Vermillion Bird with a trace of regret. “The flame resembles the real one but lacks completion. You sense it too, don’t you?” “I haven’t seen the original one before, but... it doesn’t quite have the same aura of ‘power’ that the other powers of the Perfect Ones do.” In truth, Se-Hoon had witnessed the Sacred Craftsman’s flame before. In his eyes, it was the purest fire he’d ever seen, a far cry from the Vermillion Bird’s flames, which seemed more like a mass of impurities. If that old man saw this, he’d call it garbage on the spot. Just the thought made Se-Hoon wince and his ears tingle; it was as if he could hear the reprimand. Seeing Se-Hoon’s reaction, Ludwig suddenly made a suggestion. “Then... would you mind giving it a try?” “What...?” Taken aback, Se-Hoon stared at Ludwig, who had become more serious. “There are many reasons behind the incompleteness of this flame, but I believe that the lack of potential is the biggest one. The Vermillion Bird’s power combined with In-Cheol’s knowledge just couldn’t match the level of mastery put into the original flame.” Even though the Tower of Heroes could amplify one’s potential, what it could do greatly varied depending on the individual’s natural capacity. Does he really think I have the talent to reproduce the Sacred Craftsman’s Flame? It was a testament to his ability, but Se-Hoon couldn’t help but feel doubtful. It’s a stretch to think I can... Even if he was skillful with fire, he wasn’t sure his flame could ever reach the level of the Sacred Craftsman. “I’ll try... but I’m not sure I can do it.” “It’s fine if you fail. I just need varied data, and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded if you can contribute even a little.” Facing the unyielding look in Ludwig’s eyes, Se-Hoon nodded reluctantly in the end. Well... I’ll give it a try. It wasn’t like he had anything to lose, and he was curious to see just how close he could get. More determined now, Se-Hoon looked toward Ludwig. “Alright, I’ll give it a shot. What should I do?” “Use the Hero’s Ring while the flame is in your hand. After that, it’s up to how much potential you possess.” “Understood.” Turning toward the Vermillion Bird, Se-Hoon extended his hand and demanded, “Hand one over.” Giving my flames to someone like him... ugh. Grumbling, the Vermillion Bird irritably tossed a feather over, which ignited into flames upon touching Se-Hoon’s palm. Venting its anger on me, huh... Noting it down Se-Hoon roused Scorching Wheel to calm the unruly flame burning in his palm. Whoosh! It settled to some extent, but it didn’t move as he wanted. Steadying his breath, Se-Hoon started pouring his mana into the Hero’s Ring. Woong- Golden light radiated from the ring, and moments later, a massive pillar of light descended, enveloping him entirely. The Tower of Heroes was filling Se-Hoon’s entire body with power, which naturally flowed toward the flame in his hand. Fwoosh- The flame flickered with a calm yet intense glow. Simultaneously, he felt a strange heat settle within him and immediately recognized it as the source of the Sacred Craftsman’s Flame. So this is what it feels like... His entire body felt as though it had merged with the burning flame, his senses expanding outward, only for the feeling to vanish as quickly as it had appeared. Breathing in sync with the flame, Se-Hoon took a slow, deep breath. Fwoosh! Flames burst from his body, surging outward, only to settle back within upon exhale. Repeating the process, he meticulously observed the inner workings of the Sacred Craftsman’s power, and soon, a frown soon appeared on his face. Something’s missing. He could tell he’d become one with the flame and could control it smoothly, but there was nothing else particularly extraordinary. Unable to find room for further improvement, Se-Hoon furrowed his brow. Is it my lack of potential, or is it supposed to be this way...? Continuing to explore the Sacred Craftsman’s power, Se-Hoon was suddenly struck by a thought. Is it lacking fuel? No fire could burn properly without something to ignite. He quickly glanced around, but couldn’t find anything suitable to fuel the flame. However, at that moment, he unexpectedly sensed a strange pull from within his body. Huh? Deep within, he felt the flame prodding at the Fatestones he’d extracted from others, as if they were prime fuel. Se-Hoon immediately narrowed his eyes. No way. It wasn’t as though he couldn’t replace them, but it seemed wasteful to use such rare materials for it. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the flame was directing him for a reason. Unable to decide, he finally went with an alternative option after a moment. Bond Extraction [Extracting bond from subject ‘Lee Se-Hoon’] [The bond with the host is Lv. 2.] Drawing out his own Fatestone, he immediately fed it to the flame within his body. And upon contact, the flame devoured it eagerly as though it hadn’t been fed in days. Woong- A transformation had begun. The flames surged endlessly from his body, filling over half of the underground space in seconds. Completely startled by the overwhelming blaze, he prepared to extinguish it—until the surroundings shifted into a completely white expanse. Is this Ludwig’s power? Realizing Ludwig wasn’t telling him to stop, Se-Hoon gave up on trying to restrain the fire and let the flames spread fully outward. Boom! The enormous flames surged furiously, filling every inch of the space, until finally transforming into something else. Fwoosh- Within the firestorm, a refined purer flame, one as delicate as glass, was being formed. Mesmerized, Se-Hoon reached into the blaze and grasped it. [The elemental mana ‘Scorching Wheel (B)’ has been enhanced to ‘Sacred Flames (A+)’.] The firestorm let out one last burst of brilliance, burning through the Whitespace to return him to reality.