Ensemble Leveling
Chapter 32: Exceeding. Again.
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Exceed!
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-+[10*MAG]% (Currently: 300%) to all Physical Attributes of self.
'A music piece composed of unyielding defiance. Even if one’s circumstances have fallen into misfortune and ill-fate, hope only remains if one lives with determination. To surpass the previous self of yesterday, one must overcome challenges of today and tomorrow with confidence in self.’
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+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13 (+39)
-END: 14 (+50.4)
-AGI: 14 (+42)
-DEX: 13 (+39)
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Running as quickly as his enhanced stats provided by ‘Exceed’, Jihoon attempted to bridge the gap between him and other contestants that have left him eating dust. However, because a lot of these contestants have 3-digit stats in their specific racial advantage such as AGI and DEX, it soon become clear that such meager boost isn’t enough as even their images disappear in the distance.
Jihoon isn’t a slowpoke by any means. That’s what the audience’s perception is telling him as they seemingly cheer on for the underdog like him. However, his Song Magic is clearly more capable of having wider effect than what it is, using Linked Song Magic to stack their effects together which he devised through adaptive transitioning which is used often in video games. Yet… there is one fatal flaw with it.
It doesn’t work for extended amount of time. By using Linked Song Magic, each Song can only last for a determined amount of time equal to its original duration without looping. Despite the stacked effects of each Song Magic together being far more explosive that one of his combinations allowed him to reach 5-digit physical stats even if for a temporary moment.
Now, it is just stupid to talk about it with all the crazy feats he has performed with it such as deflecting Alvora’s Expert Wind Magic ‘Heavenly Tribulation’ using just the physical stat boost up to 5-digit. Or deflecting the final shot of Der Freischutz although that is likely attribute more toward the Judgement of Light than actual Linked Song Magic.
But the key point of discussion here… is that all said feats above were attribute to a singular action. While Linked Song Magic has absurd level of enhancement that is just outright cheating, the level of unspoken precision and focus required to maintain said effects scale exponentially with the more Song Magics he tried to link together. That’s why 3-link Linked Song Magic is his established hard limit.
Although the transition simply moved onto the other Song while its effect is then kept and stacked with the next. Keeping the whole thing focused while being chased by sentinels, competing with others in a high-stake race is clearly way too much for someone like him.
That’s why Jihoon couldn’t keep using Linked Song Magic despite its clear abuse potential.
But still… that’s why he himself isn’t alone isn’t the ordeal. Because there’s still a certain someone that he has come to request for help.
Somewhere near the trial’s race route, a certain dwarf with rose-gold twintail hair. Dressed sharply for the occasion as she waited alongside the parked helicopter that she requested and provided for her.
Rosa Magni. The certain dwarf princess/CEO of the Magni Conglomeration and one of the people in which Jihoon has helped in his quest using his ability as a music composer. In her case is to help with her father to relinquish his nostalgic prison. During his stay in Sargasso, Jihoon made a request that she would come to assist him during the trials of Odyssey.
Normally, this would be considered cheating but because what he intended to use isn’t anything material and already belongs to him, they barely skirt the trial’s organizer scrutiny and use the excuse that they are here just to record the race.
“Now… where on Absence is his so-called helpers?” Rosa said with as she grunts with a scowl on her face.
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Jihoon’s so-called "helpers." The helicopter she had arranged, complete with a certified pilot, sat waiting behind her, its rotor blades still. The sharp clang of her business attire held tightly to her absurdly voluptuous figure that isn’t fitting her small height reflected her mood, that is impatient. But also, if she were to admit it, a bit curious. And perhaps something more.
"When he made this request, I figured it would be something ridiculous, but really... asking me to arrange a helicopter just to help him win a race? Of course, he didn’t even bother to explain why," she thought, gritting her teeth slightly. He’d only asked for something nearby for his 'recruited' helpers to use. But here she was, having gone well beyond the bare minimum.
Sure, she could have just ordered one of her subordinates to take care of this. That’s what a good CEO does, delegate. But something about Jihoon’s request stirred something stubborn in her, something she refused to acknowledge directly.
“He’s a complete fool,” she muttered to herself, her cheeks tinged slightly red beneath the sharp contours of her usual expression. “I went through all the trouble of coming here myself, and what does he do? Just asks for the bare minimum, a stupid helicopter. I even hired a top-tier pilot, just in case! Like this is some amateur production…”
Not to mention, she had cleared her own schedule to personally oversee this entire arrangement. Rosa was a CEO, after all. Her time was valuable, yet here she was, standing around for his plan.
She scowled, remembering how casually Jihoon had made the request back in Sargasso, barely acknowledging the effort it would take. He hadn't asked for her presence, but… well, Rosa wasn't about to leave this task to just anyone.
“Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on that reckless fool”, she reasoned to herself. Having already muttered the same thing out loud.
Deep down, she knew she didn’t have to be here in person. After all, she had already done more than enough when he helped with her father’s nostalgic prison, freeing him from his creative rut. That should have been the end of their professional relationship, but no—she had to show up again, always right there when Jihoon needed something.
Always going above and beyond. Always making sure things were done right. It wasn’t like she wanted to help him specifically... no, not at all. Definitely not.
But even as she stood there, tapping her foot and scowling, there was a warmth in her chest she couldn't quite push away.
“Where on earth are his so-called helpers?” she grunted, doing her best to mask the twinge of concern she felt as more time passed. She hated that she cared.
Suddenly, the faint hum of footsteps caught her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them—Jihoon's Doppelgangers, still dressed in their ceremonial outfits from the last event, approaching in eerie unison. Each of them was carrying a musical instrument, their faces blank, eyes focused forward as they marched directly toward the helicopter.
They didn’t acknowledge her. Not a single word, not a glance, not even a nod of recognition. They simply moved past, as if she wasn’t even there.
“Seriously? You’re not even going to say anything?” Rosa huffed, half expecting them to at least explain what was going on. But no, Jihoon had apparently sent them with one goal in mind, and that was to execute his plan flawlessly.
A sigh escaped her lips, though she quickly disguised it with a grunt. "He really does think of everything, doesn't he? Idiot." Despite her irritation, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for his cleverness. But she’d never admit that out loud. Not ever.
“Just don’t go getting yourself killed, you stubborn fool,” she muttered under her breath, watching as the helicopter slowly lifted into the air, carrying the silent Doppelgangers and their instruments, ready to support Jihoon’s race from above.
With her hands on her hips, Rosa looked away, still scowling.
"Not that I care or anything..."
Back to Jihoon, as the numerous broadcasts of different perspectives show for the spectators. From the rooftop camera crews to bird’s eye view. The ranking between each participant has been changing place rapidly. Despite being just the first trial of the Odyssey, a lot hinged on the atmosphere alone.
Yet despite all of that, there’s one constant that remains. Jihoon being in last place as he desperately tries to catch up.
Above the noise of the crowds, the live broadcast commentary continued to fuel the excitement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, here we are at the opening stage of the Odyssey. It’s an intense battle for the top spot here as far as we can tell. Leading the charge here are our top 3 participants. The current first place holder is Fenrir Snowbreak, a beastfolk girl with wolf ears and white hair like snow is rushing down the path at great speed. No surprise right there as she hailed from the Solros Winter Wonderland of northern Absence.”
“Just behind her, in a close second, is Legolas Virentleaf, the elven prodigy of Alberenth Faewild, western Absence. This guy has been absolutely flawless with his strategic maneuvering, using their trained agility and dexterity to keep pace with that born natural talent!”
The commentator’s voice boomed with enthusiasm, charting the progress of the top contenders.
“We can’t forget Zorn the Ironclad, the dwarf warrior! Despite his bulk and armor, he’s been holding steady in third place, relying on his enhanced endurance and brute strength to plow through obstacles that others have to avoid! Truly a testament to the diversity of skills in this competition.”
His co-worker chimed in, her tone more casual but equally as invested, “Yeah, Fenrir's been holding the top spot pretty consistently. It’s going to take a lot to knock her off at this point. Legolas is closing in, but Fenrir’s just too fast right now. And Zorn, well, it’s only a matter of time before his stamina and persistence gives him an edge. We could be looking at a major shift in ranking soon as we head into the rougher parts of the trial once we leave the city’s premise.”
The pair continued to discuss the top performers, their names flashing across the leaderboard for all to see. The excitement surrounding the front-runners was electric, but then something caught the co-worker's eye, her voice wavering for a moment as she glanced at the other end of the rankings.
"Wait a second, is that…?” Her eyes squinted as she focused on the last-ranked participant. "Is that Jihoon? The Maestro Jihoon? The guy who stole the show during the opening ceremony?"
Her partner blinked, startled by the sudden shift in tone. "Jihoon? You mean the Jihoon who played that so called ‘electric guitar’ piece? What’s he doing here?"
“I’m just as surprised as you are," she replied, zooming in on the feed that displayed Jihoon, visibly straining to keep pace with the other racers. Having only 2-digit stats right now doesn’t serve him well at the moment.
"Why would someone like him, who made such a huge impact with his performance, be stuck in last place in the Odyssey? And why is he even participating? He’s not exactly known for, you know, racing.”
“Well, I mean, I heard he does have some combat experience, but yeah, I don’t think anyone expected him in a competition like this. And being in last place? That’s… well, kind of expected if you think about it a bit more.” The male commentator chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Maybe he’s got some kind of crazy plan up his sleeve. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark horse like him turned things around.” The other commentator made her remark of Jihoon’s situation. After all, participants with uncommon power isn’t a one-and-only thing that has occurred in the history of the Odyssey.
The camera zoomed in on Jihoon, his expression a mixture of determination and frustration as he struggled to catch up to the rest of the participants.
“Well, if there’s anyone who can pull off the impossible, it’s definitely him. But right now, it looks like Jihoon’s having a hard time just keeping pace. Last place or not, I have a feeling this guy isn’t going down without a fight.”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the Maestro has in store for us,” one of his co-workers added, watching as Jihoon continued to push forward, a glint of something unspoken in his eyes.
As the race goes on, Jihoon felt like he was completely left behind as he goes on running with all determination. He wonders just when his ‘reinforcement’ was supposed to come. Just as he starts to ponder, the sound of a helicopter coming nearby above him signals the familiar face’s arrival.
“So the dwarven princess has fulfilled the request”. Jihoon thought as he couldn’t help but feel like his prayer was answered. Even if he isn’t particularly religious.
Using his Light Magic, Jihoon established a mental link of Light, unseen by others because of just how faint it was. This Initiate-class Light Magic has no name, perhaps there will not be one at all. It is used to transmit thoughts between the two connected recipients and the Doppelgangers boarding above said flying aircraft will do whatever he commands them to do.
‘Perform Linked Song Magic, Exceed! into Belief’. Jihoon thought as he transmitted his mental command into his connected Doppelganger.
The Doppelgangers aboard nodded at one another without additional words spoken as if they too shared an invisible link between. Then, with a few impromptu maneuvers, the Doppelgangers on their musical instruments made their transition.
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Belief
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-+[8.5*MAG]% (Currently: 255%) to all Physical Attributes to self and one ally within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +2*[8.5*MAG]% (Currently: 510%) to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly.
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Exceed! -> Belief
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Linked Effect:
-+[18.5*MAG]% (Currently: 555%) to all Physical Attributes to all allies within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +2*[18.5*MAG]% (Currently: 1,110%) to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly.
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+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13 (+144)
-END: 14 (+206)
-AGI: 14 (+155)
-DEX: 13 (+144)
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With his stats breaching through the 3-digit threshold, Jihoon quickly accelerates with all he has. With speed gathering, his cycle motion hastens. The running cycle at first perceivable suddenly all become a blur like a train piston in motion. His forceful stride, stomping into the asphalt below him as if crushing the earth beneath.
The differences in stats seem so vast before, now suddenly in his reach as Jihoon quickly accelerates toward the crowd.
Posture leaning forward, thrusting ahead. In before his steps was deliberate and consistent, legs motion now in frenzied, mechanical rhythm until they all blurred into afterimages. The constant motion that seemingly pushed him beyond the boundary of ordinary movement. Arms fully extended to the back. Facial features contorted dramatically as teeth bared and eyes clenched in frenetic rage.
Moving at speed at least 16 times faster than human limit. Jihoon started to overtake the participants that have left him in the dust before.
One by one, Jihoon began overtaking the participants who had left him in the dust earlier. They, once specks on the horizon, now found themselves being surpassed by the same man they’d thought of as an afterthought. As the commentators tracked his rapid ascent, disbelief quickly filled their voices.
“Ladies and gentlemen... you’re not going to believe this!” the main commentator stammered, his voice climbing in pitch as the screens showed Jihoon’s rapid ascent. “Jihoon—Maestro Jihoon—has suddenly skyrocketed through the rankings! He was dead last just moments ago, and now… now he's overtaking participants at an unbelievable rate!”
His co-commentator, equally stunned, fumbled for words. “I… I don’t believe it! Just moments ago, he was in last place, struggling to keep up, but now he’s… overtaking one participant after another like they’re standing still! What in the world is happening?!”
The feed cut to a live shot of Jihoon, his blurred form cutting through the pack with unstoppable momentum. Participants that had once been miles ahead were suddenly left behind in a matter of seconds. From the crowd of spectators watching the broadcast, gasps of shock and awe erupted as Jihoon’s name climbed the rankings rapidly.
“He’s in the top 100 now! No—wait—top 80!” The commentator’s voice trembled as Jihoon’s rapid ascension continued. “I’ve never seen anything like this in all my years covering the Odyssey. It’s absolutely insane!”
The audience all over roared as Jihoon overtook more and more racers, their disbelief turning into awe. The magical screens across the city of Cicones flashed as Jihoon’s rank shot into the top 50, just as they approached the outskirts of the city and neared Cicones’ checkpoint.
The lead commentator, his voice filled with awe, responded, "This has to be one of the most incredible comebacks in Odyssey history! For someone who was dead last to now be in the top 50? It defies logic! Jihoon is making a statement—he's not just here to compete, he’s here to win!"
As Jihoon continued to surge forward, the camera followed him, capturing the faces of the other participants as they were left in his wake—astonished, confused, and struggling to understand how this man, who had been in last place, was now outpacing them with such force and precision.
The crowd roared in excitement, fully aware that they were witnessing something legendary unfold before their eyes.
Back on the helicopter, Rosa watched the entire spectacle unfold from the mounted screens inside. Her usual sharp demeanor was replaced with a mix of bewilderment and growing disbelief.
She had known Jihoon’s magic was tied to his songs, and she’d seen his capabilities in the past—but this? This was something else entirely. His Linked Song Magic had pushed him far beyond the limits of what she had expected.
“What… what in the world is happening down there?” she muttered, her voice low as she tried to wrap her mind around what she was witnessing. Even with all the resources of the Magni Conglomeration, Rosa found herself at a loss for answers. She prided herself on being able to understand complex machinery and logistics as part of being a dwarf, but this? This was chaos woven into something beautiful, and it baffled her.
She glanced toward the Doppelgangers, their expressions blank and focused as they played their instruments, following Jihoon’s mental command with eerie precision. They showed no sign of strain, no sign of hesitation, as if this performance was second nature to them. The helicopter hovered above the race, keeping a close pace with Jihoon, who had become a blur of motion on the ground below as he surged toward the checkpoint.
The Doppelgangers continued their performance, their movements eerily synchronized, as if they were the conductors of some unseen symphony.
Rosa’s eyes darted between the Doppelgangers and the screens, her mind racing to make sense of it. She had seen them in action before, during the opening ceremony, but what they were doing now as they are powering Jihoon’s incredible comeback from the skies. It felt like something out of a legend.
“How…?” she whispered, staring at the scene before her. “How does he do this? Just what kind of magic is this?”
Despite her confusion, one thing became clear: Jihoon’s true strength wasn’t just his music. It was the way he seamlessly merged that music with magic, creating something unpredictable, something nearly unstoppable. And as she watched him blaze through the ranks, surpassing hundreds of participants, Rosa couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of pride mixed with exasperation.
She crossed her arms, frowning slightly, though her voice betrayed a trace of admiration.
“That idiot… always pulling off something ridiculous when you least expect it.”
Still, there was an uneasiness in her heart. Jihoon was tapping into something she didn’t fully understand—something even beyond his musical prowess. The power that surged through him now felt like a force that could easily spiral out of control. Yet, there he was, racing ahead with unwavering determination.
Rosa leaned back, her thoughts swirling as the helicopter trailed behind Jihoon. The Doppelgangers continued their relentless performance, every note pushing him faster, stronger, and farther ahead. She couldn’t help but shake her head, still baffled but quietly impressed.
“Whatever you’re doing, Jihoon... just don’t overdo it. I don’t have a clue what your plan is, but you better come out of this in one piece.”
And with that, she sat back, eyes glued to the screen as the race pressed on.
Somewhere in the entertainment district of Cicones, people gathered in great number in front of the magical holographic screen floating in the air, displaying the race for all to see.
The vibrant atmosphere of the festival was palpable, with music, laughter, and excitement filling the air as people partied under the open skies, sharing in the spectacle of the Odyssey.
In the middle of it all, is Karim. His sponsor when Jihoon first steps into this new world. Someone who is solemnly watching Jihoon performing his best. His appearance and expression seemingly if isolated from the general atmosphere.
The broadcast continued to track the race as the participants transitioned from the smooth, urban asphalt roads of Cicones to the rougher, more treacherous dirt trails that lay beyond the city’s outskirts. This next leg of the race signaled the beginning of the true test away from the concrete. The place where nature and magic coiled together, and where the Odyssey’s sentinels awaited their prey.
The top participants, still blazing ahead, showed no signs of slowing. Fenrir, with her wolf-like agility, easily vaulted over obstacles that emerged from the uneven terrain. Legolas, with the elegance and precision of an elf, deftly maneuvered past any challenge, his every step deliberates and flawless. Zorn, the Ironclad, bulldozed his way through, using sheer force to plow through obstacles that would have stopped others in their tracks.
Then the real test began as the first sentinels appeared, magical constructs tasked with impeding the racers, designed to hunt and disrupt their progress. Clad in ethereal armor, constructed into form of ancient warriors of Absence’s past, the sentinels launched toward the participants, their movements swift and deadly.
The crowd roared as the top contenders used their momentum to sidestep, dodge, and overwhelm these obstacles. Fenrir shot past the sentinels with her speed alone, Legolas neutralized them with precise arrows, and Zorn knocked them aside with his sheer brute strength.
Karim’s eyes narrowed, watching as Jihoon continued to rise through the ranks slowly, as he quickly approaching the checkpoint. His posture remained unchanged, though inside he knew the real trial had only just begun.
Just then, a man approached Karim, his face alight with curiosity.
“Excuse me,” he began, his voice raised slightly to be heard above the noise of the festivities. “Are you watching the race? I couldn’t help but notice… you’re not surprised at all by what’s happening with Maestro Jihoon, are you? The way he’s shot up the ranks… it’s almost miraculous! Everyone’s talking about it right now.”
Karim glanced at the man, his expression calm, almost unreadable, before turning his gaze back to the screen. He considered the question for a moment, then answered in a measured tone,
“Of course it is. But it’s not a miracle—it’s an obvious thing that should happen knowing him.”
The man blinked in surprise. “You mean… you expected this?”
Karim’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. He doesn’t intent to answer that question but within his eyes, there are something that flicker briefly. Pride, perhaps.
The man looked back at the screen, where Jihoon’s progress continued at breakneck speed, still overtaking participants as the competition pressed deeper into the trial. “I guess that explains it then,” the man said, shaking his head with a laugh. “I’ve never seen anything like it ever.”
“Most people haven’t,” Karim responded, his tone cryptic but confident. "But he always had a way of doing the impossible when the stakes are highest. Differences in physicality may be describe in numbers but his determination is something in him that goes beyond mere quantification"
As the two stood in the heart of the bustling entertainment district, surrounded by the noise and excitement of the festival, Karim remained still, his focus entirely on Jihoon’s journey.
Back to Jihoon within the dirt trail, his ranking remains fluctuate somewhere in the top 50 placement. The competition now intensifying as the sentinels deployed across the dirt trail. These magical constructs, clad in ethereal armor and formed in the image of ancient Absence warriors, were tasked with impeding the racers, their swift and deadly movements designed to slow down even the most skilled participants.
For Jihoon, the change was immediate. As the sentinels launched toward him and he knew that has officially entered the next, more brutal phase of the trial. What had first seemed like a simple test of speed had evolved into something far more dangerous. The obstacles that had once appeared manageable now felt like traps set to test not only his endurance but his resolve.
He hadn’t considered how the sentinels would affect his already strenuous pace even with Linked Song Magic in effect, and now he was forced to navigate a deadly gauntlet while maintaining his momentum.
As the sentinels are deployed and interfering in his path, Jihoon draws out his decayed halberd as Light imbued its rusted edge. It glowed faintly, like the first rays of dawn breaking through the night, illuminating the path before him.
Judgment of Light – Breaking Dawn
A swift horizontal swing as if the daybreak unleashed bisected the sentinels in his path cleanly. The force of the strike sent a ripple through the air, scattering the constructs like dust in the wind. All as Jihoon rode the momentum forward, his eyes focused on the path ahead, but his mind still processing the challenge that lay before him.
“This ain’t a race any longer. It’s a goddamn gauntlet.” Jihoon muttered beneath his breath as he keeps his stride forward. “Doesn’t matter how fast you try to move if you can’t even approach the finish line.”
It doesn’t just test your speed. It forces the participants to strategize in real-time. A level of tactical acumen that isn’t achieved by being merely an armchair strategist.
From the distance, Jihoon began to hear cries—a mix of frustration and pain. Several participants were already struggling, their progress hindered as they were cornered or slowed by the relentless assault of the sentinels. The sounds of clashing weapons and desperate shouts echoed around him.
Some racers were already falling behind, their overconfidence turning to panic as they failed to anticipate the ferocity of the trial. Jihoon clenched his teeth, pushing through the exhaustion gnawing at him. He knew that this was only the beginning.
For some, the challenge was already proving too much, and the race had barely reached its midpoint.
But despite the rising difficulty, Jihoon’s resolve hardened. The sentinels might slow him down, but they wouldn’t stop him. Not when he had come this far.
And so, Jihoon marched forward with all he has.