Chương 3: SKILLMASTER

"Did you see Sam Jimin's result?"

"E-1. No skills. Brutal."

"Probably because he's an orphan & underfed, Haha..."

"Hyun-woo looked pissed. Maybe he thought Jimin would awaken something decent." Jimin froze. His breath hitched. Another voice snickered.

"I bet Jimin won't even try the Academy exam next year. What would he do? Cheer from the sidelines?" Laughter rippled through the tiled walls. He didn't move until their footsteps faded. Silence crept back, cold and thin. He drew a slow breath and straightened.

"… Status Window." The same blue screen appeared before him; plain, unchanging, mockingly simple. Stats low. Skills - empty. The same single name gleamed in the center. 【Unique Skill: Skillmaster】 Without any delay, "Skillmaster," he murmured. The interface shimmered. A second window unfolded; golden veins of light branching across the blue like a blooming sigil. His breath caught.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 【Skill Information】 Skill Name: Skillmaster Category: Active / Passive Type: Utility Rank: Unique Description: Grants the ability to create new skills and edit existing ones by consuming Life Points (LP). LP requirements for creating and editing skills depend on the skill's type, rank, power, causality etc. All created skills will start at level 1. Passive: No skills can be learned naturally.

Only skills created through Skillmaster can be learned. Skills created by using Skillmaster, cannot gain or level-up through SKILL XP. Instead, additional LP is gained. Skills level can only be increased by consuming LP and proficiency training. Active: - Create - Edit Scaling: Scales with Rank and Level. Cost: Life Points (LP) - permanently consumed. Cooldown: None Current LP: 1000 He blinked. Create… skills? So that's why it was called Skillmaster. But Life Points; what were they exactly?

His eyes lingered on the glowing number beside it: 1000 LP. LP… Life Points? His mana pool was separate; listed under MP. So this… was something else entirely. My gaming experience is telling me that it is some kind of resource. He tried to recall the Awakening description, the faint whisper of mana he'd felt when the chamber had glowed. Did it mention anything about Life Points?

No, maybe it's connected to life force… or vitality… or something I've yet to unlock. Whatever it was, it didn't sound ordinary. A strange thrill ran through him. His heart beat faster; not from pride, but curiosity. Even if the others mocked him, even if he had no combat skills, this…. this was his. Then- Knock knock!!!

"Hey, who's in there? You've been in too long!" a muffled voice called. Jimin flinched.

"... Coming." He dismissed the windows, splashed his face with cold water, and stepped out. Two students near the sink glanced at him, smirks half-hidden behind their hands as they had recognized him.

"Wow, the no-skill wonder," one said under his breath. The other snorted.

"Guess even the toilet didn't want to awaken with him." They started laughing. Jimin ignored them and left. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The corridor outside buzzed faintly with conversations as he re-entered the main hall. The school auditorium was still crowded; rows of newly Awakened students, their holographic records flickering in the air. On the stage, Headmaster Choi stood, his deep voice echoing across the chamber.

"For those who have awakened, today marks your beginning as a Manaborn," he said, his tone calm and measured.

"The Association and Academy will provide a three-month foundational course - combat basics, mana control, and safety protocol for Rift exposure, etc." His eyes swept across the crowd, briefly pausing on the back rows; where Jimin stood unnoticed.

"Use this time to understand your abilities. The world outside these walls does not forgive carelessness." The speech wasn't long, and Jimin barely heard most of it. His thoughts kept circling back to the words Life Points. When it ended, the hall erupted in chatter; laughter, congratulations, camera flashes. Parents hugged their children. Some students posed proudly beneath their rank projections. Jimin slipped out through the side door. Outside, the sky was painted orange, streaked with the last light of evening.

The courtyard was filled with families; fathers clapping their sons on the shoulder, mothers crying with joy, siblings cheering. Jimin stood at the edge, watching. He'd grown used to that distance. Every Awakening Day since childhood, he had watched others celebrate from the shadows. But this time, someone was waiting.

"Jimin!" A warm, familiar voice called from near the gate. A man waved; a tall figure in a long coat, carrying a paper bag. His hair was streaked faintly with silver, his expression gentle but worn.

"Uncle Min?" Jimin blinked. Min Kang-eun smiled as he approached.

"I was in the crowd. Thought I'd surprise you." He handed Jimin the bag. Inside, a familiar box of chocolates; his favorite brand since childhood.

"Congratulations," Kang-eun said quietly.

"Awakening isn't a small thing, no matter the rank." Jimin hesitated, "You saw the result."

"I did." Kang-eun's tone stayed calm.

"And I also saw how you stood up straight when everyone looked away. Your father used to do that." The words hit him harder than expected.

"They'd be proud, you know," Kang-eun added.

"Both of them." Jimin looked down at the box.

"I… still remember that day," Kang-eun said softly.

"When the Rift they entered in; collapsed. I lost my friend but you lost everything." Kang-eun's gaze darkened.

"You were too young to see what really happened. But listen to me, Jimin; your parents died doing the right thing. Just don't make their mistake." If it was truly just an accident, thought Kang-eun in his mind. Jimin frowned slightly.

"Mistake?"

"Charging too far, too fast," Kang-eun said.

"Rifters burn out young chasing glory. Promise me you'll think before you act. Being strong means nothing if you don't live long enough to use that strength." His voice carried the weight of someone who'd seen too many funerals. Jimin nodded slowly.

"I understand." Kang-eun smiled faintly.

"Good. And remember; you don't need to rush. Power built too quickly always collapses."

"I will. Well, enough about me. How have you and your family been doing? And don't tell me you came to Seoul, just for my awakening ceremony?"

"Haha…. you have grown, brat. Well, I would say we are getting by just fine. Being an investigative journalist in this economy is hard. Sometimes, I even think about becoming a paparazzi for those smug rifters. But my dignity refuses. That's also the reason, why we shifted to Busan. More crime to cover… hehe. But your aunty and Jae-in are doing well. Jae-in also dreams of becoming a rifter. She has her awakening ceremony due next week. We have high hopes for her.

She is a brilliant child, so I believe that she will do well even if she doesn't awaken. And yes, I came here because it's your special day. Though, I had some investigation to do of my own …."

"Investigate what?", asked Jimin.

"Nothing. Forget it." They stood in silence for a moment, the air cool between them.

"I'll check on you again before the Entrance exam," Kang-eun said finally.

"And eat those before they melt." Jimin smiled slightly.

"I will. Thanks, Uncle Min."

"Go home, kid. It's been a long day." Jimin nodded and started down the dim street. —- By the time he reached the Haneul Orphanage, the sky had deepened into violet. The building wasn't large; an old, reinforced dorm built decades ago for children of fallen Rifters. Simple walls, faint mana lights along the halls, each child given a small private room after turning fifteen. The warden, an elderly woman named Mrs. Han, sat behind her desk reading a news tablet.

"You're late." she said without looking up.

"Umm.. I..

", Jimin stuttered.

"Uhh... forget it. How did your awakening ceremony go?" He forced a small smile.

"I awakened."

"Congratulations, my child." She nodded, satisfied.

"Rest well, child. Tomorrow's another day." He bowed politely and headed upstairs. His room was small; barely enough space for a bed, desk, and mana lamp. But it was his. The faint noises of the city beyond the window filled the silence. He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The day replayed in fragments—the light, the whispers, the empty skill slot, Kang-eun's quiet voice. E-1. No skills. Skillmaster. Life Points. The words kept circling like puzzle pieces that refused to fit. His stomach growled softly.

He turned his head to the side, eyes landing on the chocolate box.

"… Right. Mr. Min's gift." He opened it, unwrapped one piece, and let it melt on his tongue. The sweetness spread slowly, calming the hollow ache in his chest. Then…. Ding! A clear chime echoed inside his head. A blue notification blinked before his eyes: —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 【You have gained 10 LP.

】 【Total LP: 1010】 —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He froze, "What?"