Ensemble Leveling
Chapter 36: Formidable Enemies
After his battle with the sentinel construct griffon and the downhill slide taken place, Jihoon is now way ahead of all the participants as a result. However, with his Linked Song Magic expired, the momentum that once carried him is no longer. He can only use whatever his System enabled and his own effort in this moment since even the helicopter is out of reach.
His breakthrough to Advanced-class magic proficiency is still too fragile and immature. He couldn’t possibly refine it right during the midst of the race without pushing his luck too far. And as it has shown, its form was not that different than shattered glass.
Still… , having just recently slay a Level 200-ish enemy on his own have to net some significant experience points because if not… he could already envision the gamers amongst his imaginary audience reading his story seething and angry in the comments in his place.
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Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon
Level: 66
EXP: 149/1,020
Class: None
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 14
-END: 15 (+9)
-AGI: 15
-DEX: 14
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 10.2
-CHA: 4
-MAG: 30
Attribute Points: 34
+Weapons:
-Judgement of Light (Decayed) – Halberd [Heroic]
-Dual Adamantium Survival Knives [Mortal]
-Adamantium Spiked Handaxe [Mortal]
+Musical Prowess: Early-Expert
+Active Skill:
-Doppelganger (Master)
-Mana Attunement (Advanced)
-Light Magic (Intermediate)
-Judgement of Light – Halberd (Novice)
+Passive Skill:
-Deadly Obsession [Inactive] (Innate Trait Skill)
-Agony Resistance (Advanced)
+Song Magic:
-Forgotten Melody (Intermediate)
-Glint of Cold Steel (Intermediate)
-Belief (Intermediate)
-Exceed! (Intermediate)
-RiET-949 (Intermediate)
-SPIKA (Intermediate)
-Alvorna (Expert)
-Restia. (Expert)
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His previous level was about 49 and that the reward for striking down the griffon was 15 level-up. He doesn’t really know what decided the EXP gains but… the stockpile of attribute points now look as if asking to be used instead of collecting dust.
“Alright then… time to put some into what has worked for me… MAG, like it always was”. Jihoon muttered beneath his breath, taking his time walking the path.
30 points into MAG. This probably is a lot more than the intended System quest reward for this race to begin with.
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+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 60
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Feeling the effect of the System’s enhancement taking place, Jihoon felt the sharp distinction in compared to before. In the broadest sense, his magic power and reserve has at least doubled.
With that out of the way, Jihoon proceeds to perform the foundational technique that all combatants of Absence must do.
Mana Attunement...
Once again to explain… it is like trying to imagine an imaginary flow within your own body, each moving toward the focal points in human body. Thus forming circulation of mystical power that makes one more attuned to the surrounding environment and thus enhancing one's physical capability. A lot of races' biology in Absence won't be able to keep up with their own power without Mana Attunement and it is considered the foundational step for any serious combatant. That's even before conjuring any elemental magic with one's own will.
In before, his Mana Attunement was very poor when he first learned it and its capability has remained stagnant at just Initiate when he first learned from Alvorna’s guidance. But with his breakthrough to Advanced, it is a good time to rectify that wrong while he is at it. He can’t just create Advanced magic spell at will right now but the remade method for Mana Attunement isn’t too difficult.
He had learned the basics, but his understanding had always been rudimentary. His foreign origin made it harder for him to grasp the deeper nuances of a world where magic wasn’t just a tool but a fundamental aspect of life itself.
Jihoon took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he focused inward. As Jihoon concentrated, he felt the familiar but now sharper flow of mana moving through him, gathering at focal points in his body. His core, wrists, feet, etc…
His earlier understanding of Mana Attunement had been mechanical—a step-by-step process of trying to force mana into the right paths. Now, however, he understood that it wasn’t about forcing anything. It was about becoming the flow itself, letting the mana circulate naturally as part of his own being. It wasn’t something separate from his body or his soul. It was as much a part of him as his heartbeat, his breath, his thoughts.
He had to stop thinking of mana as something separate from himself and instead recognize it as an extension of his own existence.
He continued to visualize the mana flowing through his body, moving toward key points. Then, he begin the process to let go of the rigid structure he had relied on before and instead allowing the flow to follow its natural course.
A step-by-step adjustment to rectify all that he had done wrong by his ignorance.
Innate, is to perceive mana as it was, an external force.
Initiate, was understanding the mechanic, thus guiding it through the body to improve one physical attributes.
Novice, was adding personal meaning to the technique, thus making it part of his own combat identity.
Intermediate, his current stable capability. Synthesized all of the forementioned elements together, finally allowing it to flow not as a technique but an extension of his own. The synthesis of these steps was seamless now, as if his body had finally learned how to breathe in tandem with his magic.
He began to visualize the mana not as something he was forcing to move, but as something that naturally flowed through him, connecting with his surroundings. The world of Absence was alive with magic, and Jihoon had become part of that world, no longer a foreigner.
He starts to be able to sense the mana in the air, the ground beneath, and in the distant lives away from him. He could feel the hum of magic in all things living.
Advanced, was connection. The critical piece of puzzle to further perfecting his Mana Attunement.
With each breath, Jihoon refined the flow of mana through his body, circulating it smoothly from his core to his limbs. His physical attributes subtly enhanced, his senses sharpened, and the fatigue in his muscles lessened as the mana supported his body’s strain. His once-poor Mana Attunement now felt natural, like breathing.
It was a subtle but profound difference. Instead of merely manipulating mana, he was actually attuning to it, allowing it to enhance not just his spells but his entire presence.
For the first time, Jihoon’s Mana Attunement wasn’t just a technique anymore, it was a state of being. And while it wasn’t yet perfect, he could feel the difference in every movement, every heartbeat.
“This... this is what it’s supposed to feel like,” Jihoon said quietly, his eyes opening with newfound clarity. This was how the people of Absence lived their lives, and he was separated from them at such fundamental level until now.
The wings of light that carried him may dissipate but the lessons imparted never fade.
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Mana Attunement
Classification: Energy Circulation Method
Rank: Advanced
Effect:
-Add [100% value of MAG] to all Physical Attributes.
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+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 14 (+60)
-END: 15 (+69)
-AGI: 15 (+60)
-DEX: 14 (+60)
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The race is still on, but he has obtained something no less valuable. A deeper connection to magic, and by extension, himself.
And without doubt of what to do, Jihoon used his System to play a certain Song Magic again. This time, SPIKA to boost his MAG once more.
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SPIKA
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 60):
-+[10*MAG/3]% to MAG (Currently: 200%)
(This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect.)
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+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 14 (+180)
-END: 15 (+189)
-AGI: 15 (+180)
-DEX: 14 (+180)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 60 (+120)
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With his current status, he is certain to surpass a majority of the participants in this trial. However, he didn’t hurry to celebrate because he knew that there were still people proven to be far faster than him.
The top 3 before him are hurrying to catch him up soon. And with how they consistently hold their own ranks even until now, he is certain that they have something special that he isn’t yet aware of.
With that, he quickly hurries his pace toward the return path once again.
The upside of using his System to cast Song Magic is that he can replay them anytime he wanted when they end. With his current physical attributes at near 200 together, and a significant part of the mountain path skipped due to the fight with the griffon on top of a sliding chunk of earth. He soon leaves the mountain path into the dirt trail in roughly a few minutes. The top 3 before him however have already reached the lower ascent of the mountain already.
The dirt trail is a lot smoother where his near-200 AGI and DEX could be more properly utilized. By calculation, assuming the dirt trail is as long as a marathon in length, this will only take roughly a minute and half with no impediment. The reality is that there’s no easy road no matter where he goes.
However, during the duration of the race, the sentinels have now grown even stronger in comparison to before and now taking up more time to dispatch. Using his [Observant], the deployed sentinel constructs are now about 90-ish on all physical attributes on average and steadily increasing in both numbers and individual strength in real time
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“Damn,” Jihoon muttered to himself. “They’re getting stronger by the minute.”
The thought weighed heavily on his mind. As the race continued, the sentinels would only grow more powerful. He wondered how long he and the other participants could push forward. Would there come a point where even the weakest of these constructs would be able to one-shot anyone, regardless of how much they had boosted their stats or honed their skills?
‘How many laps can I even survive? ‘Jihoon mused to himself. He didn’t doubt his ability to handle the current sentinels, but what about the next lap, and the one after that? Each wave was stronger than the last, and as his Linked Song Magic wore off and had to be recast, he’d be facing tougher enemies with increasingly depleted resources.
Would it come to a point where defense, strength, or agility wouldn’t matter? Where a single mistake would just mean instant ‘death’?
He shook off the thought for now, refocusing his energy on the task at hand. He couldn’t afford to get distracted. He had already come too far to falter now.
But as he powered forward, he heard it. Faint at first, but unmistakable.
Footsteps. Rapid, thunderous footsteps.
Jihoon’s ears perked, and his eyes widened. It wasn’t just the distant pounding of feet; it was the distinct and familiar cadence of those he had been watching and knowing since the start of the race. The top three and they were gaining on him.
‘The top three...’ Jihoon thought with a mixture of frustration and irony. ‘I overtook them before, speeding past them at Mach-speed, and now... they’re overtaking me.’
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him. Earlier, he had blown past them with an explosive burst of speed, riding the momentum of his Linked Song Magic. But now, with his boosts expiring and the reality of the race setting in, the tables had turned on him instead. The top three had consistently maintained their own positions and only change hands with each other, and it was clear they had something special about them, something that allowed them to stay ahead even as the trial escalated in difficulty.
“Ironic, isn’t it?” Jihoon muttered to himself, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He had overtaken them before with Mach-speed, literally leaving them in his wake. Now, after the battle with the griffon and his momentary lead, they were the ones overtaking him, steadily closing the gap.
He could hear clearly them now, their presence looming just behind him. Fenrir’s light, rapid steps; Legolas’ calculated, graceful footfalls; and Zorn’s heavy, relentless pace, each footfall like a hammer strike.
Jihoon could almost picture it—Fenrir, her wolf-like agility allowing her to navigate the terrain effortlessly; Legolas, the elven prodigy, flowing like water through every obstacle; and Zorn, the dwarf warrior, brute-forcing his way through anything in his path with his endurance and strength.
“They’re relentless,” Jihoon muttered, feeling the weight of the competition pressing in on him. He hadn’t expected this kind of pushback after his earlier triumph. It was a reminder that no matter how powerful he became, there were always others just as driven, just as capable.
He pushed his legs harder, trying to maintain his lead, but he could feel the pressure building. The distance between them was shrinking. He had no illusions—if they caught up, it wouldn’t be long before they passed him entirely.
For a brief moment, Jihoon felt the competitive fire flare up within him. He had fought hard to claim his lead, and now he was watching it slip away. But at the same time, he couldn’t help but respect their persistence.
‘They’re not unbeatable’, Jihoon reminded himself, his grip tightening on his halberd as he sped up.
But as he pushed harder, his thoughts circled back to the reality of the situation. The race wasn’t just about speed—it was about endurance, strategy, and timing. He couldn’t afford to burn out too soon, especially with the sentinels growing stronger by the minute. He had to conserve his energy, be smart about when and where to make his moves.
‘I can’t keep up this pace forever, Jihoon thought, watching the top three draw closer in his peripheral vision. But neither can they. The question is, who’s going to crack first?’
With that, Jihoon shifted his focus back to the path ahead, determined to stay in the game for as long as he could. This race was far from over.
Jihoon steeled his resolve, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the dirt trail ahead. He might be in the lead for now, but he knew that if he didn’t push himself beyond his current limits, the top three would soon eclipse him.
During the few intense minutes, the dirt trail they tread on transit into urban road. For the duration of the time, Jihoon tried to use run with all his given best. Inevitably however, Jihoon is eventually overtaken by one of the top participants. This time, it is Fenrir herself and he didn’t hesitate to scan her just as she outrun him.
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Heiress of Solros Snow Queen
Name: Fenrir Snowbreak
Level: 136
Class: Snowtreader
Race: Wolf Beastfolk
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 177
-END: 144
-AGI: 3??
-DEX: 3??
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 11
-CHA: 44
-MAG: 2??
+Weapons:
-Devourer’s Claw [Legendary]
+Active Skill:
-Ice Magic (Expert)
|Blizzard’s Call (Expert)
|Frost Step (Advanced)
|Winter’s Frenzy (Intermediate)
|Glacial Fang (Advanced)
-Predator’s Instinct (Advanced)
+Passive Skill:
- Snowtreader’s Grace (Unique Racial Skill):
|Grants immunity to cold environments and enhances agility on any terrain covered in snow or ice.
Additionally, allows her to create small patches of frost underfoot, enhancing her speed in battle.
-Pack Leader’s Aura (Innate):
-Beastfolk Resilience (Innate)
+Description:
Fenrir Snowbreak, heir to the legendary Wolf Queen of Solros,
hails from the frozen tundras of the Solros Winter Wonderland in northern Absence.
Her mother is a ruler revered for her unmatched prowess
in both battle and leadership, and Fenrir is no different.
Trained from birth to inherit her mother’s mantle,
Fenrir has honed her skills to a level that few can match.
Known for her speed and tactical brilliance, she dominates the battlefield
with her swift strikes and icy abilities. Her wolf blood grants her not only
enhanced physical prowess but also an unbreakable connection to winter magic,
allowing her to manipulate frost and snow with ease.
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As Jihoon finished scanning her stats and abilities, his mind raced. Her AGI and DEX were far beyond anything he could clearly assess—well into the 300s, perhaps even higher. It wasn’t just her speed that made her dangerous, though. Her skills were designed to amplify her natural abilities, turning her into a relentless force that thrived in cold environments and on any terrain.
Now that he observed her skill sets, he actually started to notice the coldness that radiated from her and how it was palpable even at proximity. A reflection of the Ice Magic she controlled. Every step she took seemed to leave behind a faint layer of frost, and even as she passed him, the air around her chilled noticeably.
“Frost Step...” Jihoon muttered, noting how she seemed to glide effortlessly, each step increasing the distance between them. He could feel the frost beginning to cling to his boots, making the ground beneath him a bit more treacherous to navigate.
As she continued to outpace him, Jihoon couldn’t help but feel the irony. He had blazed past them at Mach-speed before, leaving them in his dust. Now, it was his turn to be left behind.
Then the next was Legolas, the prodigal elf hailed from Alberenth Feywild. In a burst of winds as if a hurricane just passed by. Quickly, Jihoon used his [Observant] on the next target.
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Alberenth Commando Major
Name: Legolas Virentleaf
Level: 2??
Class: Commando
Race: Wood Elf
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 133
-END: 165
-AGI: 3??
-DEX: 3??
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 9
-CHA: 22
-MAG: 2??
+Weapons:
-Storm Shooter [Heroic]
-Ether Edge [Mortal]
+Active Skill:
-Wind Magic (Expert)
|Windborne Speed (Expert)
|Whirling Tempest (Expert)
|Gale Precision (Advanced)
|Aether Shot (Advanced)
|Vortex Strike (Intermediate)
+Passive Skill:
-Sylvan Reflex (Unique Racial Skill)
|Grants heightened reaction speed and agility, allowing detection
of subtle movements in his surroundings and react before danger strikes.
In wooded or natural environments, this skill amplifies further, granting
near-supernatural awareness of the battlefield.
-Mana Attunement (Expert)
-Mystic Resistance (Innate)
+Description:
Legolas Virentleaf hails from the prestigious Virentleaf clan,
an elite family within the royal circle of Alberenth Faewild.
Trained from an early age to serve the elven crown,
Legolas quickly rose through the ranks due to his natural affinity
with wind magic and his unmatched agility.
Officially holding his role as Commando of Alberenth military, excels
in both practical ranged and close combat when most of his race would just focus
on grace and precision.
Legolas blends tactical power of military training with the elegance of his movements.
His skills with Wind Magic, especially his Windborne Speed,
make him one of the fastest personnel within Alberenth or perhaps rivaling
even the most agile races in Absence.
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As Jihoon finished scanning Legolas, his mind worked quickly to analyze the data. Legolas’s AGI and DEX were far beyond what he could accurately measure with [Observant], likely in the 300 range or higher. His abilities centered around wind manipulation, granting him unparalleled speed and control over his movements and projectiles. Windborne Speed made him a blur, almost impossible to keep track of as he tore across the battlefield.
Legolas’s control over wind also extended beyond movement, allowing him to alter the flight paths of his projectiles mid-air with Gale Precision, or create devastating shockwaves with Vortex Strike in melee combat.
‘He’s built for this’, Jihoon thought, unquestionably impressed by the elf’s overwhelming advantage even if he himself is a cheater with his System and Song Magic. By comparison to his world, it would be like if the Rambo joined an athlete race.
This man wasn’t just fast—he was calculated, tactical, and deadly. It was no wonder he had maintained such a high rank throughout the race. Even as he overtook Jihoon, it was clear that he hadn’t exerted his full strength yet, his movements fluid and almost effortless. Same applies for Fenrir and perhaps even the ironclad dwarf that is also hurrying up behind him.
This probably confirms his suspicion that they are about to go for further laps as well. Although they can claim their ranks by heading straight to the finish line, if anyone can complete their additional lap higher than the already finished participants, their rank will supersede those who arrived at the finish line regardless of actual completion time.
Because of it, the competitiveness of trial escalates greater than any participants’ anticipation. Do they just willingly accept their completion at the first lap or go for additional? To the top 3 however, their intention to dominate trial is as clear as the cloudless day.
Just closely behind Jihoon again is Zorn the Ironclad now seemingly start to make use of his persistence to a great degree. Each footstep seemingly creates a localized tremor as the dwarf’s movement is deliberate and precise like that of an industrial forging press. Despite seemingly carrying a great weight, he seems unhindered by nearly everything on his way at all.
Eventually, Zorn overtook Jihoon as he once again scan on the heavy armored dwarf.
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Steelpress Dwarf Regiment Juggernaut
Name: Zorn ‘Steelpress’ Ironwool
Level: 2??
Class: Juggernaut
Race: Dwarf
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 3??
-END: 3??
-AGI: 189
-DEX: 2??
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 6
-CHA: 10
-MAG: 2??
+Weapons:
-Juggernaut Armor [Heroic]
-Vulcan Rotary Cannon [Mortal]
+Active Skill:
-Earth Magic (Expert)
|Stone Form (Expert)
|Seismic Barrage (Expert)
|Earthquake Stomp (Advanced)
|Rockslide Shield (Advanced)
|Crushing Force (Advanced)
+Passive Skill:
-Heart of Mountain (Unique Racial Skill)
| Grants dwarves near-infinite endurance in battle and daily-life,
allowing them to continue fighting and moving without fatigue,
especially in long, drawn-out encounters.
This also makes dwarves highly resistant to environmental effects
such as harsh weather or unstable terrain.
-Mana Attunement (Expert)
-Steel Body (Innate)
-Iron Will (Innate)
+Description:
Zorn ‘Steelpress’ Ironwool is a legendary figure within the Dwarven Steelpress Regiment,
a renowned force known for its unbreakable defense and overwhelming power.
As a Juggernaut, Zorn embodies the very concept of unstoppable force
—immense strength combined with unwavering defense.
Born from a long line of dwarf warriors of Ironwool lineage, Zorn earned his moniker for his ability
to crush enemies with the weight of his attacks, much like a steel press flattening metal.
His proficiency in Earth Magic gives him control over the ground itself, allowing him
to manipulate terrain and summon protective barriers.
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‘What is with all these famous figures doing in this race?’ Jihoon thought as he watches as their figures in the distance slowly become hazy. The fact that these people of such pedigree place themselves in this race still baffles him to no end because the Odyssey doesn’t seem like a place where they should be.
Zorn’s STR and END was astronomical, so much so that it eclipsed nearly every other participant of the competition. And his development of Earth Magic only adds a further layer of complexity into his combat method. A Juggernaut in every sense and word, in that he could bulldoze everything obstruct his way with ease.
The passive racial skill Heart of Mountain was particularly terrifying. It meant that Zorn could keep going without tiring for a very long while—his endurance was virtually infinite, making him unstoppable in any prolonged battle or race. Combine that with Steel Body and Iron Will, and Zorn was a tank in every regard and literal sense. Even magic wouldn’t faze him much, as he will shrug off magical attacks and debuffs like they were nothing.
‘This guy doesn’t stop’, Jihoon thought. ‘No wonder he’s kept pace with the top.’
Now that Jihoon had observed all three of the top participants—Fenrir, Legolas, and Zorn. The picture became clear in his train of thoughts. Not just fast and powerful, their skill sets establish them as a force of nature, each dominating the trial with on their field of specialty.
Fenrir embodies the speed and predator instinct of the beasts. Legolas wield the wind as if disciplinary with unmatched precision and agility. Zorn and his unstoppable strength is no different to that of a walking fortress.
Foreseeing the trial ahead, Jihoon could tell the outcome of the race will become that of an all-out war in the purest sense. That eventually, only him and the top 3 participants will remain in the race. Continue to push their boundary to the utter limit.
By then, their relationship between one another will be no different than that of nemeses. Even if none of them can lay their hands on each other.
At the city checkpoint of Cicones’s outskirt, the top 3 arrived before dutifully made their turn to initiate another lap toward the destination flag again. Jihoon approached the city checkpoint, not too far behind as he confirms the beginning of Lap 2.
And so it begins.