Fallen Lightbringers' Return

Chapter 9: Quality and Quantity

Lee Dojin held the stone against the sun, a shadow cast on his face. The stone had the form of an egg. It was white, with blue pulsating lines enveloping it, looking like veins. That was the upgrading crystal, an item only found in the Trailer, a soul-bound reward. If the receiver died, the stone would too. And after the trailer had ended, it would disappear soon after.

"One of the items I've worked so hard for," Lee Dojin talked to himself. "I always wondered what it may have looked like. Having it in my hands now, it feels a little lackluster."

But he knew that this little stone was a priceless artifact; The item in his hands could upgrade the rank of a skill. Now, that may not sound impressive to those without know, but if he brought this item back to his old world, wars would have been fought for a hand in this. Thus was the reason why the system probably made it soul-bound.

There were two factors that decided a skills strength: Rank and Level.

Levels, just like in a game, could be taken as a power indicator. With the rise in proficiency, the level of a skill rises and turns just a little bit stronger. For example, a skill that gave one the ability to jump 15 feet at level 1, might increase to 15.1 feet at level 2. There was no upper limit to how high a level could reach, and with it, how many meters one could jump. Theoretically speaking, the user may reach a point where they could jump hundreds of miles just by leveling up. 

Now, unlike levels, that all start at 1, ranks possessed an inequality since birth, and they were nowhere near easymaybe even impossibleraise. The difference in ranks were not a simple numerical value. Leveling up, no matter how high, the skill would always be the same. However, if one managed to raise a rank, the skill would undergo an evolution. Taking the aforementioned example. The ability to jump, may just turn into the ability to teleport 15 feet. However, as great the reward, as hard it was to achieve. Unlike a level, one never knew what it took to raise ones rank, except for gaining achievements within The Mirage.

If levels were quantitative change, then ranks were qualitative. With time, people would realize there was something even beyond ranks, but that would still take long before being discovered.

[Would you like to use the upgrading crystal?]

Lee Dojin nodded. He gripped the stone tightly.

[Please select your skill to level up.]

"Parallax Steps," he answered, and as soon as he did, the stone glowed a bright blue and then vanished into little dots, assimilating into his body. At the same time, he was excited to find out. How will the system upgrade such an incredibly strong ability?

[Congratulations! A skill of yours has achieved a new rank. Please check while opening your status.]

[Inheritor of the Universe, Lee Dojin

Affinity: Choice (EX)

Skills: Cosmic Steps (B)

Rank 989/6023]

"Seeing such a small status message is really depressing." He thought about his old life, where his titles and skill would make the message reach the ground. Compared to the difference now, it was almost funny. But that was not of essence currently. He was more interested in the skill.

[Skill: Cosmic Steps.

Tier B, Level 1.

Just like humans, the world itself was filled with blind spots. Beyond the 3D, their lay another dimension. Upon activation of the skill, the user will see bright points all over the world. Every point is a node connected with another; This movement technique briefly allows the user to hover between two dimensions and traverse through the nodes. By utilizing what the universe missed, the user has become the only being to see beyond dimensions.]

Lee Dojin read the description and gritted his teeth. "Because you've killed the only other person who could." He was surprised by the new skill, yet, he also somewhat expected it. After years of using, upgrading, and gaining new skills, he had honed an instinct on telling what a skill may evolve to. And he had turned out somewhat rightthough that didn't mean the skill astonished him any less.

He rubbed his chin. "Well, the best way to understand a skill was to test it." He activated Cosmic Steps.

At once, several dots, shining like the stars in the sky, popped up around the field. He looked at his chest, and there, a similar, but much brighter, star glimmered. He walked a step, his eyes focused at one point, and soon, he appeared in that place, as if he had always been there. He took another step, and then disappeared to another star. With every step, he moved from location to location, as if a ghost, haunting this field.

Great astonishment overwhelmed him. He didn't even need to really move anymore. Just by walking one step, he'd arrive at another. It was as if there were numerous teleportation devices planted into the ground, increasing his agility greatly.

Compared to before, where he only tricked the eyes of his opponent and shortening his distance by relying on their senses, this ability truly allowed him to warp from place to place. This meant, unlike his previous skill, he could not be stopped by objects between him anymore. He could also skip through non-traversable path, such as ravines, lava and poison. Sadly, he had lost the stealth factor that came with Parallax Steps, though it was a rather negligible point in the long run.

"Shit, this would have been an S Skill at the very least. I can't imagine what may happen if I keep leveling this power." Goosebumps appeared all over his body as he thought about the limitless possibilities.

However, that would be in a time far away. For now, he needed to head home. The Trailer was a repeatable Quest, but could only be once a day. He planned on doing it as often as possible, and hopefully catch up to the front-runners. The upgrading crystal was great, but there was something much more important waiting for him at the top 3 of the rankings.

"I think I should head home for now, or else mother is going to be worried," he said, and so he did. As he went back home, he hummed an old song from his childhood, one, he'd always hear passing by an old radio shack.

He passed the convenience store again. This time, except for some red smudges, there were none of the delinquents squatting in front of the entrance. Lee Dojin nodded in delight. That was correct, kids these days ought to be upstanding citizens, living within the safety cushion of society. When the First Advent started, they would never see order again, even if they begged for it. Such useless thoughts swirled through his head. He could not help it. Every time he passed the people, the buildings, the shops, he'd feel gleeful as the peace washed through him. Naturally, there was no anxiety for what would soon be coming.

He entered the store, with the automatic doors opening in front of him. There was a pleasant 'ding' sound as he stepped foot into the place. He wished to buy more junk food, the kind that did not last long, like chocolate, ice cream, chips and more. While there was still a functioning society, Lee Dojin promised himself to indulge in the many pleasures he'd miss not having soon. Most of it related to food.

As he stuffed himself full with Kimbaps, a newsletter entered his sight. He never was the type of person to read things these, but since he could not unlock the phone, he had been rather bored while eating.

Ceo of Wayward Pharmaceuticals, Kim Illsang, plans to build third Seoul Tower! Was the the second one not enough? Stocks plummet as shareholders walk away.

Lee Dojin tilted his head. "As far as I know, there was no such thing as a second, let alone third, Seoul Tower in my old world." He shoved a whole egg omelette into his mouth, then turned around to a middle-aged salary man sitting in the corner. "Hey you, who's Kim Illsang?"

However, the man quickly glanced away, ignoring Lee Dojin. Slurping down his Ramyun and taking his suitcase, the man disappeared as quick as he could.

"Tsk, what a rude fellow." He realized that there were still many things he did not know about this world. This parallel universe, as similar as it seemed in the macroscopic viewpoint, had many details that differed greatly from his previous life. Maybe all his plans and knowledge of the future could crumble, just by not talking into account the differences.

"Should I be worried?"