Chapter 174


    Making a direct deal with a Guardian was always dangerous. If you asked a Guardian for something, you could be setting yourself up to have no choice but toply with a corresponding demand of theirs. That was the risk I faced. But right now, the situation was a little different.


    This request isnt being made because I need it.


    Granted, if you were to look at it technically, it <em>was </em>something I was requesting because I needed it. But the job of a yer was to artfully conceal that, to package it like it was a very reasonable and worthwhile deal in the [Night of Shooting Star]s eyes.


    The Night of Shooting Stars said he would like to see the qualifications of an outstanding bowman from me.


    <em>They</em> needed it, not me. All I had to do was show them that I was doing my best to fulfill that need.


    However, Ick a weapon capable of reflecting my qualifications andpetencies.


    The only bow I had right now was the crude bow dropped by an Orc Archer. Even if I were to go into the Item Shop right now and buy one, I wouldnt be able to get that great of a bow.


    Please give me the opportunity to show what the Night of Shooting Stars wants to see.


    The Night of Shooting Stars wanted me to show my qualifications. To that end, he possessed a generous hand that did not skimp on investment.


    [The Night of Shooting Stars sympathizes with your words.]


    [The Merchant of Venice is watching the situation with interest.]


    If I am unable to prove my own worth, I am prepared to ept whatever consequences necessary, I said firmly.


    How would the [Night of Shooting Stars], our resident big investor and generous Guardian, respond? Because I had made such a big deration, the Night of Shooting Stars would surely show me even greater magnanimity.


    [The Night of Shooting Stars temporarily lends the ckfire Bow.]


    [The ckfire Bow will be lent out for the duration of yer Kim Hyukjins quest.]


    [The fee for borrowing the ckfire Bow is sufficient qualifications as a bowman.]


    [If yer Kim Hyukjin fails to prove sufficient qualifications as a bowman, he will incur a penalty.]


    I immediately read the ckfire Bows description.


    [ckfire Bow]


    Of the types of mes, there is redfire, which is consumed by bluefire, which is in turn consumed by ckfire. The ckfire Bow bears the authority of ckfire. It can only be wielded by someone who has the highest grade of affinity for the fire attribute in addition to an innate talent for the archer ss.


    *The ckfire Bow will decide for itself whether someone is qualified to wield it.


    The test began even before I started fighting the ck Troll.


    Ive never heard of the ckfire Bow.


    Interestingly, its grade was not indicated. That meant this bow was no ordinary item.


    A fixed item a Guardian made on the spot for a quest.


    In other words, it was like a quest prop. I could clearly see the words.*The ckfire Bow will decide for itself whether someone is qualified to wield it.


    That was telling me the first step was to try earning the permission of this bow that imbued a Guardians authority, the ckfire Bow.


    Lets see here.


    I raised the bow. My arm tingled. It felt as if heat were radiating from the bow and threatening to swallow me and my body alive.


    This feeling


    I was sure of it.


    This energy is of a higher grade than the fire ki I possess.


    There was no doubt about that. This energy was fundamentally more outstanding than mine.


    However


    I had already experienced the flow and smell of fire. I came into contact with mes of a higher grade than the ones inside me while fighting the Fire Giants, and from that experience, I learned the movement, flow, and nature of mes of a higher grade.


    Like this.


    I controlled the fire ki billowing from the bow with natural ease. This energy was not one that aimed to swallow me, but one that aimed to help me. I drew a concrete image in my mind of ck mes wrapping around me, and those mes bing a part of my strength.


    I raised the bow again. There was no real reason to. I just did it because I felt I had to.[Observing with Observers Eye.]


    This was the 2nd floor of the D-Tower. The knights of Wingswho werent yerswere fighting the Orc Warriors.


    The strongest of them.


    I focused on the strongest Orc Warrior. Everything else faded away like smoke, leaving just me and the Orc.


    An Orc Warrior swung its axe, striking one of the Wings guild members in the chest. That moment, I clearly saw an opening.


    I see it.


    Clear as day.


    Fire.


    My body moved naturally. My thoughts flowed naturally.


    Submit.[The ckfire Bow acknowledges yer Kim Hyukjin.]


    It was almost like I was someone who had trained with the bow many times.


    [The ckfire Bow responds to the wielders will.]


    [The ckfire Bows me ising alight.]


    This artifact required no arrows to be notched. An arrow of rippling ck me was formed.


    My target is the middle of the Orcs forehead.


    I released the bowstring. The result was very satisfying.


    [Orc Warrior has been killed.]


    [EXP acquired.]


    No items were dropped.


    Ive already tipped the battlefield in their favor.


    They would likely have no trouble surviving the 2nd floor. I felt one of the two real yers of the Wings guild, the young boy Kim Donghyun, stare at me, astonishment bare on his face.


    It was understandable. I also hadnt expected to be able to annihte an Orc Warrior with a single arrow. I was surprised, so that boy was probably even more surprised.


    Huh, that was easy.


    I learned the act of shooting a bow just like that. It was only one session, but it felt like I had gotten all the practice I needed. The ckfire Bow almost felt like a weapon I had been using for a long time; it felt all too familiar in my hand, kind of like when I threw a dagger for the first time.


    Here I go.


    An Orc Warrior was not enough to prove my qualifications as a bowman. Only something like a ck Troll, a Grade 4 Exotic, was a suitable foe for that.


    I activated the esctor with the mana crystal I got from Darongi.[Move to the D-Towers hidden field, the 3rd Floor?]


    I ported.


    * * *


    * * *


    On the D-Tower, 3rd floor, a fairlyrge clearing appeared. The floor was cement. Eerie red lights were burning nearby, casting their dim light on the surroundings.


    Its dark.


    It wasnt all that bright. A dark environment like this one was extremely favorable for the ck Troll, as the ck spots that were its weakness would be even harder to spot.


    [The hidden field, the 3rd Floor, has been unlocked.]


    [The hidden scenario of the 3rd Floor, Appearance of the Mutated Troll, has been triggered.]


    That moment, I could feel it.


    Those fires lighting up this ce.


    I would shoot them. I pulled the bowstring, firing seven arrows made of ckfire that precisely hit the seven mes.[The condition to spawn the mutated Troll has been fulfilled.]


    This feeling was truly fascinating. I didnt know the strategy for this floorit wasnt a field that had ever been publicized. I wouldnt have been able toe here had I not acquired the scenario outline.


    But I can see the path.


    What I needed to do was clear to me, as though someone had inserted it into my head. It was like I knew as soon as I saw it. But this feeling wasnt unfamiliar to me. It was a bit embarrassing for me to say, but I suspected this was the feeling of being a genius, something like reading the textbook once and scoring a perfect 100% on the exam.


    The seven mes began to change color, going from red to ck. The field definitely became darker, but I could see much better than before. I guessed that was because I had been chosen, though temporarily, as the master of the ckfire Bow.[The mutated Troll, the ck Troll, is being spawned.]


    The monster that would serve as a testament to my value was spawned.[The boss monster ck Troll deres a boss monster zone.]


    <em>Kuoooo!</em>


    The ck Troll appeared in its entirety. ck skin, red saliva dripping from its mouth, overwhelming muscles that made the massive Yoohyun look like a child.


    I see them.


    They were there, between those bulging muscles.


    The spots.


    With thebined effect of the now-ck fires and the observation power of my Observers Eye, I could see them.


    Kind of looks like the Big Dipper.


    Overall, the spots were arranged like the Big Dipper. However, there were a lot more points than in the constetion.


    Exactly 22.


    The ck Trolls overall appearance was imprinted in my head like a picture, a picture where the ck spots on the monsters body were erged.


    <em>Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!</em>


    The ck Troll walked forward, approaching me.


    It was going to attack. The Troll picked up something from the ground, even though there was definitely nothing there.


    A boulder.


    A boulder automatically formed out of nothingness.


    Its also skilled at long-range attacks.


    The ck Troll hurled the boulder at me, the projective flying towards me far faster than the arrows of the Orc Archers. However


    I can see the trajectory.


    Even before the ck Troll hurled the boulder, I had already seen its trajectory.[The power of Future Sight is active.]


    Future Sight made that possible. I was safe even before I dodged.


    I can definitely overwhelm it.


    The ck Troll was certainly a strong creature, but even so, it was like a childpared to a Fire Giant.


    I fired my bow.


    Maintain a good distance.


    I had an overwhelming upper hand in a ranged fight. I was faster, my eyes sharper, and my ability to judge the situation was far superior.


    That spot


    I aimed precisely for it.


    Ill shoot it.


    And I fired. The ckfire arrow struck it, dead center.


    <em>Kuooooo!</em>


    The ck Troll screamed. Lodged in the ck spot, the arrow burned ck. Something that shouldnt have been possible considering the incredible regeneration power of the ck Troll happenedinstead of disappearing, the arrow continued to burn, dealing continuous damage.


    Another one.


    I immediately followed up with another arrow.


    <em>Twang!</em>


    I urately hit another ck spot.


    <em>Twang!</em>


    And another one.


    The Troll rushed at me in a panic. I didnt allow it toe closer.


    I will show my audience aplete thrashing.


    Time was on my side. I struck spot after spot.


    If I connect the 22 spots in a line in order


    Thisst arrow would destroy it. I needed 21 arrows to set 21 spots aze.


    Last one.


    I set my sights on thest spot. Once the spot was hit, the ck Troll wouldpletely lose its regen ability and incredible physical strength, rendering it no different from a regr Troll.


    Focus.


    I focused on the final spot. The moment my concentration broke, my 100% bullseye hit rate would shatter.


    Wait.


    I had done the same thing a whopping 21 times. In the middle of the repetition, I saw a new path. Back when I first picked up a dagger and first held a bow, I could use them naturally, like a person who had learned how.


    But right now, it was different.


    21 times of training.


    If you counted my attack on the Orc Warrior on the 2nd floor, it was a total of 22 times. In all truth, it was far too little practice to learn one technique. That was how it should beit wasnt that much practice.


    But after practicing 21 times, I could see something new. By now, I knew what this feeling was. I couldnt miss this chance, this strange feeling of almost being able to grasp something.


    This feeling is


    It was the feeling of reaching the wall of new enlightenment. Such an opportunity was rare. If I sessfully grasped it, I could break down the wall and forge on into a new realm. I could tell.


    Lets put the kill on hold for a moment.


    The ck Troll charged towards me, but I read its movements and dodged it with ease.


    I will keep observing thest spot.


    I observed, and observed again. The final spot, the spot that would render the ck Troll powerless.


    A little time passed, maybe three minutes. After those three minutes passed, I was able to grasp a new clue.