Chapter 59

It had already been a few days since I started attending the Hunter Training Academy. Time flew by, and now, on the fifth day, the theoretical classes were almost over, and the real practical training was about to begin.

Today’s class was none other than Weapon Techniques training.

“Hunters, depending on their abilities, many don’t need equipment,” said Instructor Han Kang-seop, the representative for Weapon Techniques, looking at the gathered Hunter trainees.

As he said, many Hunters didn’t require equipment. Those who controlled fire or ice from a distance didn’t need weapons.

“But I believe there’s nothing more important than equipment when it comes to protecting yourself. Knowing how to handle at least a dagger can be very useful in emergencies,” he continued, suddenly holding a dagger in his hand.

The dagger danced freely in his hand, teasing the eyes of the trainees.

“So today, we’ll find the right equipment for each of you and learn the corresponding Weapon Techniques,” he said.

Even if advanced techniques were difficult, he would teach the basics. Since Hunters generally had superior physical specs compared to ordinary people, even the basics would be useful.

“Should I go with a sword?” I asked.

“Yeah, learn it now. I’ll watch over you,” replied Baeksan.

I decided to follow Baeksan’s advice and choose a sword. The instructors’ teachings were important, but I also had a Returner by my side.

A self-proclaimed strongest from another world.

Though I was still inexperienced with swords and was mainly receiving Aura training from Baeksan, trying out the sword now didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“Ha-chan, a longsword?” asked Eun-namu.

“Yeah, probably,” I replied.

“Okay.”

Eun-namu held a dagger similar to the one the instructor had used earlier. For some reason, it reminded me of an assassin.

Meanwhile, I picked up a sword arranged by the instructor. It was lighter than expected, likely made from a special material.

‘It’s made from Dimensional Being materials,’ I thought.

Part of the instructors’ role was to provide Hunters with good equipment. Although I hadn’t taken all the equipment-related classes at the university, recent studies had given me some knowledge.

Swinging the black sword with blue streaks, I felt the air being cut. Holding a weapon always made me inexplicably excited.

“What are you going to do with that swing?” Baeksan criticized.

In the eyes of a Returner, it must have looked very clumsy.

“Equipment made from Dimensional Being materials can be enhanced with Aura. Since all Dimensional Beings possess Aura, it conducts well,” he explained.

“So, you’re saying…”

“Yeah, you need to use Aura when you swing it. Try again.”

I nodded and focused on the Aura within me. The Aura I could use was still only 0.1%.

But if I gradually increased it, someday I could fight like Baeksan, using Keraf for long-range and a sword for close combat.

‘Coat the sword with Aura.’

Thanks to recent Aura training, I could now draw it out faster.

*Poof-*

Then, my 0.1% Aura manifested on the sword with red sparks. So this is how it feels.

The sensation of resonance, buzzing through my fingertips, made me feel as if I had become one with the sword.

“The sword itself seems to resonate with something,” I said.

“What? Resonate?” Baeksan asked.

“Huh?”

Just as Baeksan was about to question me further…

*Crackle!*

Suddenly, the sword split with a crack, and as I watched in shock, it shattered into pieces.

“Uh, uh?”

Panicked, I held only the hilt, shaking my head in confusion. Baeksan looked at me with a blank expression.

“…You.”

“Trainee Kang Ha-chan, what happened?” Seo-ho quickly approached, sensing something was wrong.

Seeing the broken sword and me, Seo-ho first had me let go of the hilt.

“The sword was quite old. This happens sometimes. Are you hurt?”

“Ah, yes.”

Since Seo-ho and I were pretending not to know each other, I responded formally, and he gave me a look.

He seemed to say he’d handle the aftermath, so I should go.

Seeing his gaze, I thanked Seo-ho and left the spot.

“Baeksan.”

I called out to him, and he, seemingly deep in thought, stroked his chin before looking up.

“Kang Ha-chan.”

“There’s something about what I just did, right?”

“You know Hunters have different abilities, right?”

Of course, I knew that. Ji-eun was a psychic, Si-ho was a Spatial Ability User, Seo-ho was an ice user, each with their own abilities.

“Hunters, upon sensing Aura, are forcibly awakened to their innate talents due to the intervention of the Tower of Apocalypse. So, they often specialize more in their innate abilities than the Aura’s attributes.”

“I feel like I just heard something huge.”

It felt like I had glimpsed a secret of the world.

“Listen. The basic awakening condition for Hunters is sensing Aura and the Tower of Apocalypse intervening to bloom their innate talents.”

Baeksan added, “This is actually a benefit of Earth. In other dimensions, even if you sense Aura, finding your talent takes ages.”

So that’s how Hunters awaken. Everyone vaguely knew the Tower of Apocalypse had an influence, but I didn’t know it was like this.

“And you, because of me, also sensed Aura.”

“So, the Tower of Apocalypse intervened for me too?”

“No, your Aura wasn’t sensed by you but forced out by me, so the conditions were different. The Tower of Apocalypse couldn’t fully intervene. But it might have been partially influenced.”

That meant the sword I just broke was related to my innate ability.

“That partial influence might have awakened your ability without you knowing.”

“Then why were you so surprised?”

Even if my ability awakened, in a world where all Hunters awaken abilities, it’s not a big deal.

But I was curious why Baeksan was so shocked.

Seeing my curiosity, Baeksan hesitated, crossing his arms and staying silent before sighing.

“…Your ability seems similar to one of Kang Mari’s.”

“With my sister?”

I looked at Baeksan in surprise. I only knew my sister was a Returner, but I had no other information.

“What kind of ability is this?”

“I’m not sure how similar it is, but… it’s specialized in destroying things related to Dimensional Beings. If you can touch it, you can resonate and destroy it from within.”

“So, that means…”

“Those swords over there will shatter one by one until you can control it.”

Like Midas’ touch, but the opposite.

“Baeksan, will this ability ever be useful?”

“Of course. You’d be surprised how much Kang Mari used it. She went to places swarming with Dimensional Beings and just waved her hand to blow them all up.”

That’s quite a story.

So, it’s a sure-kill against Dimensional Beings, but no problem with Earth-related things.

‘If it weren’t, everything I touched would shatter.’

It’s a relief. I almost couldn’t hold hands with anyone.

“And you might be able to do what Kang Mari did now.”

“Me?”

“Don’t separate ability and Aura.”

According to Baeksan, Hunter ability awakening forcibly brings out latent potential.

“The output of abilities and Aura isn’t much different. Your hand is a disaster for anything related to Dimensional Beings.”

“Should I become a Hunter right now?”

“If you want to faint after killing just one, go ahead.”

Ah, I see.

If the output of Aura and abilities is the same, then my ability is like a glass cannon.

“Why do I feel so pitiful?”

“Stop whining, you should be happy. Anyway, Kang Mari once said this ability needs to input the same output as the target’s capacity to destroy it.”

With an output that could blow up even Mount Baekdu, my body could probably blow away most Dimensional Beings.

‘Can I control this to F-class Hunter levels?’

Then, another thought occurred to me.

“But Keraf was fine.”

“Keraf… damn, don’t shorten it. Keraf isn’t made from Dimensional Being materials. It’s made from a special tree on Earth.”

Even as he said that, Baeksan’s face didn’t relax.

If the ability is beneficial against Dimensional Beings, isn’t that good?

Why is he like this?

“What should I do now?”

“Ask for a wooden sword, bamboo sword, or iron sword. But coating them with Aura will be much harder.”

Damn, the difficulty just went up.

Thinking of secretly asking Seo-ho for help, I walked away with a gloomy expression.

I wanted to try a Dimensional Being material sword.

Watching Ha-chan walk away dejectedly, Baeksan fell into thought.

He knew well what Kang Mari had done with that ability.

‘Though I said Dimensional Beings.’

Kang Mari’s ability wasn’t limited to Dimensional Beings.

Dimensional Invaders.

Those who invade across dimensions, Kang Mari’s ability was nearly the strongest against them.

But there was something more important.

Baeksan’s gaze turned beyond the academy walls.

The Tower of Apocalypse still standing at the edge of the sky.

In his memory, the Tower of Apocalypse was pressed by her hand, and her voice crying out to shatter it came to mind.

The day the seemingly unshakable Tower of Apocalypse first cracked.

‘In the end, it wasn’t shattered, and the crack was repaired.’

But perhaps, in this world with Kang Ha-chan having the same ability…

Baeksan clicked his tongue and turned his head.

Enough.

First, I need to make that thunderstruck guy stronger.

I didn’t come to make Ha-chan destroy the tower but to repay a life debt.

As long as Ha-chan doesn’t die, it’s fine.

‘Where are you, what are you doing, Kang Mari.’

Thinking of her, Baeksan started walking back to Ha-chan.