Ensemble Leveling
Chapter 37: Ego Ergo Sum
With the trial’s entering Lap 2, of the 230 participants of the original 300 that remain, 70 that has arrived at the Cicones’ checkpoint has decided to conclude their race by going straight for the finishing line. The rest, however, has emboldened to take on the additional challenge of Lap 2 and for some, unquestionably a gamble that they either win big or lose everything.
The 70 that done so out of prudence decision, complete the race and earn a place in the ranking. Compared to the disqualified, there is no wrong or shame to do so but securing a foothold in the next trial of the Odyssey. For the rest, will be a test of endurance and ambition where their will is put to the test. And that they have what it takes to stake their claim.
The commentators were already abuzz as the remaining racers prepared for the next phase of the trial.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” one commentator’s voice rang out, filled with excitement.
“We’ve officially entered Lap 2 of the Odyssey’s Cicones Trial! And what a spectacle it has been so far! Of the 300 competitors who started this grueling race, only 230 remain from the trial, with 70 participants opting to conclude their run at Cicones’ checkpoint. But for the brave and daring few who’ve chosen to push forward, Lap 2 begins now—and it promises to be a real gauntlet!”
His co-worker chimed in, her voice laced with anticipation. “That’s right! Lap 2 isn’t just a repeat of what we’ve seen before—it’s going to be significantly more dangerous. Not only are the sentinel constructs growing stronger and faster with each passing moment, but we’ve received confirmation that new environmental hazards will be introduced as well. We’re talking massive terrain shifts, artificial magical phenomena, and obstacles that weren’t present during the first lap!”
“Absolutely. These racers will need to stay on their toes, because from here on out, nothing is predictable. The sentinels will continue to evolve, becoming deadlier with each passing time and iteration. We’ve seen their stats steadily increasing, and there’s no telling how far they’ll go.”
The camera panned over the route ahead beyond the urban road, showing the array of sentinels waiting ahead. They looked far more menacing than before—sleeker, faster, with new glowing enhancements that suggested they had undergone significant upgrades. Some even emitted a faint aura of magic, indicating that they were now capable of wielding elemental attacks.
“Not to mention,” the female commentator continued, “there’s word that we might see entirely new types of sentinels appear in Lap 2. Constructs that were never deployed in the first lap. Expect aerial units, siege-class sentinels, and even boss sentinels designed specifically to hinder the most powerful of competitors. If you have seen the griffon before, expect those similar to that may appear on the route”
The male commentator added, “And if the rumors are true, we might also see ‘natural’ hazards occurring. Reports suggest that the mountain paths will now be affected by shifting rocks and landslides, turning what was a difficult climb into a treacherous deathtrap. Don’t forget the magic disruption zone which cause magic to not work as well as intended and it would fall to the participant’s pure physical skill and ingenuity to pull through.”
“Of course, all of this means that the participants who chose to continue into Lap 2 knew that they are taking a massive risk,” she said.
“And let’s not forget,” the male commentator said, “the top three—Fenrir, Legolas, and Zorn—are all in this for domination. They’re not here to settle for a mere finish. They want to win. And with how they’ve been performing so far, they are practically the ones to watch in this second lap. But let’s not count out the others just yet—Jihoon Hyunwoon, the dark horse who overtook them for a brief moment during the first lap, has continued into Lap 2 as well!”
“Indeed,” the female commentator agreed. “Jihoon’s rise from last place to competing with the top ranks has been nothing short of astonishing. He’s still an enigma to many of us, but if his performance in the first lap was any indication, he’s not going down without a fight. And with Lap 2 now in full swing, we’ll see if he can keep up with the heavy hitters or if the ever-growing challenges will prove too much.”
“Lap 2 is where the trial will truly separate the elite from the rest. With stronger sentinels, more environmental dangers, and the looming pressure of the finish line, every decision matters now more than ever. Will these competitors take the safe route and claim their place, or will they risk it all to climb to the very top?”
The camera zoomed in on Jihoon as he sprinted forward, his eyes focused and determined. The race was about to become even more chaotic, but he was prepared for whatever lay ahead.
“The real Odyssey begins now!”
Back to Jihoon, moving in stride as he still wields the decayed halberd in his hand. With his MAG now at 180, consistently. He is finally able to check up on one of the things he had in mind.
His decayed halberd, Judgment of Light. First found in the ‘Ruined Courthouse of Judgment’ dungeon in his world, and that there’s more to this thing that met the eyes. It imparted its initiate techniques, Breaking Dawn so that he can deflect his betrayed old friend Jin’s Bullet of Despair, the final shot fired from the Der Freischutz rifle.
And when Alvorna fallen into subconscious state during a sparring gone wrong, when he had to utilize his Linked Song Magic to achieve 700-ish on all Physical Stats and over 100 on MAG just to deflect her strongest Wind Magic at Expert-class ‘Heavenly Tribulation’, the resonance between him and his weapon become stronger that he can actually hear it speaking to him. That it wasn’t just a decayed relic after all, which it took over his body temporarily to teach and perform Rising Sun for him, the next sequence of its technique.
However, after that incident, Jihoon didn’t have a chance to retry it again until now. Having over 3-digit MAG is required to attune to the Judgment of Light, at all time.
The Judgement of Light is an EGO weapon. Referred as such for anything that contained its own consciousness and capable of thought of its own no differently than a human. Despite its state of decay, the consciousness residing in it still remain pristine and coherent.
‘We meet again, Anointed Wielder,’ came the voice of Judgment of Light, speaking directly to his thoughts. The tone was firm but calm, like that of a veteran paladin—someone who had seen countless battles and carried the weight of timeless wisdom.
Jihoon couldn’t help but smirk slightly, even as he ducked beneath the swinging blade of a sentinel.
‘Long time no see,’ he mentally responded, deflecting the sentinel’s strike with the halberd before cutting through its frame with a quick spin. ‘You’ve been quiet since that day with Alvorna. I wasn’t sure if you’d ever speak to me again.’
‘Your power was insufficient at the time, artificially heightened... To wield me properly, you must maintain the strength necessary for my attunement and only now you have crossed that threshold.’ The halberd’s voice remained steady, even as Jihoon fought.
Jihoon sliced through another sentinel with ease, his senses heightened by the mana flowing through his body.
‘So, you're back in my life, huh? What now? Got any advice for dealing with these guys?’ Said as he spun the halberd, bringing it down on a sentinel construct that lunged at him, cleaving it in two.
‘You have grown indeed, but your growth is uneven. Carrying yourself with strength unquestionably but your focus is still scattered as you fight.’ Judgment of Light remarked, its voice filled with quiet approval.
Jihoon frowned as he parried another sentinel's blow. "What do you mean? I’m doing fine now, aren’t I?"
‘You’re surviving whatever challenges had gone your way. But seeing the path ahead remain dangerous evermore, that will not be enough. You wield great power but you still hesitate. React rather than command. These sentinels, while getting stronger, hasn’t yet become out of your reach. You are allowing yourself to be overwhelmed by numbers instead of controlling the flow of battle.’
"So, what should I do? How do I improve?" Jihoon said while grit his teeth as he tore through another wave of sentinels while moving at great speed at the same time, but the halberd’s words lingered in his mind.
Judgment of Light was silent for a moment, as if contemplating its response. Then, its voice returned with renewed intensity.
‘You must understand that power without control is chaos. You must command the battlefield, not simply react to it. In a way, it can be seen as an entering step to perceiving intent. From what I have seen while remaining dormant, you have many different kinds of power that seem to be its own things separate from one another. They are fragmented and you must find a way to unify them as a whole’
Jihoon thought back to the times when he had relied on brute strength and raw power to get through difficult fights. He had used Linked Song Magic to push his stats beyond human limits, had relied on sheer magic output to overpower enemies. But there was truth in what the halberd was saying—he hadn’t been fighting with precision or control but entierly relying on raw force.
‘Now, seeing that you have already attuning you mana with your physical body, we will skip that. Focus on the battlefield. Do not simply attack the nearest foe—control the flow of combat. Force your enemies to move where you want them. Use your power to dominate, not just survive.
With renewed focus, Jihoon adjusted his approach to combat. Instead of just reacting to the sentinel’s attack, he started to redirect the flow of battle to his best. In before, he had to utilize overwhelming speed to surpass the sentinels’ pursuit while racing. Moving at Mach-speed on mountain path with Linked Song Magic is suicidal.
Moving into positions to deliberate bait the sentinels into more vulnerable formation, like organizing a preferred puzzle on top of a chessboard where a solution can be reached easily. Jihoon then struck with calculated precision and movement as he blazed past their halting formation. At first clumsily when he lost more time than normally otherwise.
But learning and adapting fast he did as he done the same again and again. Each time a bit faster, and at certain points. It had become a lot more effective than just fighting his way through by brute force. The objective of the trial is to reach the destination flag and run back to the starting line, not fighting every sentinel on the way.
‘You are learning,’ the halberd remarked, its tone carrying a hint of pride.
Jihoon smiled at the edge of his lip as he carved his short way through another group of sentinels on the urban road. Although he had only started to use this strategy, he could already see the result no matter how miniscule.
‘Thanks for the advice. Let’s see how far we can go together.’
The halberd’s voice faded, but its presence remained, a constant companion at Jihoon’s side. With the urban road comes to an end and the dirt trail in place. He pressed forward for the ever-growing challenge of Lap 2.
As Jihoon transitioned from the urban road onto the dirt trail, the once smooth path immediately felt heavier, the loose ground beneath him more resistant to his steps. He was about to settle into his stride when in a sudden, an ominous shift in the air, a tremor felt on the ground. Many more incoming warning signs which caused his instincts to flare.
Just ahead, something massive stirred in the shadows of the trail. Its form slowly emerged, and what Jihoon saw made his heart pound with both excitement and dread.
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A manticore—a fearsome creature of Greek mythology, its body a twisted amalgamation of lion, scorpion, and bat. Its muscular frame bristled with metallic fur, and its gleaming red eyes locked onto him. The creature’s scorpion-like tail flicked dangerously, the venomous stinger at its tip pulsing with faint magical energy. Huge bat-like wings, designed more for intimidation than flight, spread wide as it let out a low, mechanical growl.
Jihoon didn’t need to activate [Observant] to know what this meant. This was another boss sentinel construct.
“We’ve just received confirmation that boss-level sentinels have been deployed to patrol key checkpoints along the route!” the commentator’s voice rang out, brimming with excitement. “These constructs are stationed at one-third intervals of the trial, designed to impede any racer bold enough to push for additional laps!”
From what is spoken, Jihoon can already figured that Fenrir and Legolas likely sped though the engagement of the boss altogether with how high their AGI and DEX are. And Zorn most likely just shrugged off its encounter entirely with his immense END and STR along with the Juggernaut Armor. But for someone like Jihoon who has neither of them, he had no chance of escape pursuit.
“So that’s how it’s going to be,” Jihoon muttered under his breath, gripping Judgment of Light tighter. He could hear the buzzing of the commentators still going on.
He doesn’t have any of the luxury either. With his current stats, he likely can’t outrun or overpower this boss sentinel with brute strength alone. Thus, he has to make use of his mind, a certain act that he loathed because he is certain that his own writer isn’t a brilliant thinker either.
Comparing his situation to that of fiction, the only solace that he had was with how his life has become like this from being a music composer.
He didn’t have time for a prolonged battle, not with the top three competitors already leagues ahead of him. He needed to end this fight quickly, decisively, or risk being left behind.
As if sensing Jihoon’s growing resolve, Judgment of Light spoke again, its voice calm but carrying an urgency that mirrored Jihoon’s thoughts.
“This fight must be ended swiftly, Anointed Wielder,” the halberd’s voice resonated in his mind. “You do not have the luxury of attrition. This is the moment to learn the next step in our sequence—the third technique, High Noon.”
Even though he knew already that Judgment of Light’s technique sequence isn’t ending anytime soon, it doesn’t really dissipate the surprise that he will learn the 3rd step of the technique.
Breaking Dawn, the 1st step of Judgment of Light by performing a horizontal swing, like the crack of dawn shining upon the darkness. This move builds one’s momentum to enhance and make the sequential steps easier.
Rising Sun, the 2nd step of Judgment of Light by performing an upward vertical swing, like the sun rising as its radiance shone upon all. A method to strike toward the above and if timed, its vertical swing can pull him upward.
High Noon, the 3rd step of Judgment of Light is performed by applying one’s own downward momentum toward the enemy with precision, using combined force of gravity and oneself. Much like the sun at its highest, when the shadow it casts are directly beneath. To deliver a devastating blow when all else before failed.
As one can recognize, the naming scheme of Judgment of Light followed that of day cycle. He can sort of infer how the technique would progress.
The manticore sentinel lunged forward, swiping at Jihoon with one of its massive, clawed paws. Jihoon narrowly dodged, rolling to the side as the earth beneath him trembled from the impact. And before he could properly recover his stance, he is forced to extend his evade again when its tail lunged at him while narrowly miss, leaving behind a crater on impact.
"Focus," the voice of the halberd echoed in his mind. "Do not simply react. Control the flow of combat."
Jihoon’s eyes darted across the battlefield, taking in the manticore’s movements. It was faster than he anticipated, and each swipe of its claws carried enough power to pulverize him in one blow if he didn’t keep his distance properly. But unlike before anymore, he moved with purpose beyond merely trying to outlast it.
"Force it into a vulnerable position," Jihoon muttered to himself, recalling the halberd’s advice. His mind raced as he formulated a plan. The fight with the griffon before appeared as a battle of attrition but it ended with a decisive maneuver. The manticore will be no different as he intends on preserving as much of his time to the best of his own capability.
The manticore lunged again, but this time Jihoon didn’t dodge directly. He waited until the last measured second, then sidestepped just enough to bait the manticore into overextending. Its claws grazed the dirt, throwing up a spray of earth as it missed.
Jihoon spun around, using his agility to create some distance, and then turned his attention to its tail. The scorpion tail was its most dangerous weapon, capable of both range and deadly force. He needed to neutralize that first before anything else can be done.
Raising the decayed halberd into motion once more, mentally recall the technique imparted upon him. With a deep breathe, the mana circulate through his body takes on its path, synchronizing with his movement.
Judgment of Light – Breaking Dawn
With precision, he swung the halberd horizontally, a glowing arc of light slicing through the air. The strike couldn’t kill for the manticore was far too durable for that in one hit. So, he falls back for strike to disable instead.
The halberd’s glowing edge collided with the manticore’s tail as it lashed out again. The light-infused strike connected cleanly, severing a portion of the tail just above the stinger. The manticore screeched in fury, recoiling as the now-blunt end of its tail whipped harmlessly through the air.
If Jihoon really acted any later, it would have been his disqualification right there as that stung would have completely sap any protection power left in the Shield Bracelet.
“Looks like Jihoon’s strategy is starting to pay off!” one of the commentators announced. “He’s taken out the manticore’s stinger—crippling one of its most dangerous weapons!”
The manticore’s eyes glowed with fury, and it roared, charging at Jihoon with renewed rage. Its claws raked the ground, each strike growing more desperate, more savage. Jihoon didn’t drop his guard or let confidence overtake him as he pressed his newfound advantage.
Dodging another flurry of swipes from its claw, the manticore, having lost its most dangerous attack can only relentlessly pursue attacks. Jihoon once again measured its pace as he drove the spearhead of the halberd toward its leg joint that connects to its body. The sentinel howled as it utilize the bat wings on its body to took flight, similar to the griffon.
He didn’t utilize [Observant] at first, but he is certain that this is the moment it is required.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Sentinel Construct Model 14 - Manticore
Name: *none*
Level: 177
Race: Non-sentient Mechanical Construct
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 2??
-END: 2??
-AGI: 3??
-DEX: 3??
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: NAN
-CHA: NAN
-MAG: 103
-Active Skill:
+Camouflage (Advanced)
+Predator’s Instinct [Imitation] (Intermediate)
+Night Vision (Intermediate)
+Fire Breathe (Intermediate)
-Description:
This manticore sentinel is designed as a predator. It uses its
heightened senses to track targets and overpower them
with a mix of raw physical strength and elemental attacks.
While its combat style focuses on close-range attacks,
its Fire Breath makes it equally dangerous from a distance.
Its wings allow for quick repositioning, and its Camouflage
skill makes it a deadly foe in any terrain, as it can blend
into the environment, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Of course, it is a boss sentinel after all. It would have been rather anticlimactic if it could just end by being struck down with another wear and tear. And while his eyes focused on the status panel analyzed by [Observant], the manticore disappeared from his sight.
Its visual camouflage is powerful enough to hide from his sight but having been taught to detect nearby motion by Karim with his brand of training before, Jihoon managed to narrowly parry a sharp swing its claw toward his leg before being pushed back considerably. Before he could retaliate, it disappeared again as his halberd ended up striking empty air.
His instinct worked overtime once more as it detected the ominous flow in the air stirring around. It could hide its visual but certainly not movement which something its size inevitably give away at close proximity. But it doesn’t make fighting its desperation phase any less threatening. A cornered beast is most dangerous after all.
The wind whistled, and Jihoon immediately moved away from his immediate position as the manticore crashed upon it, leaving behind a crater upon its descent. Not even out of the immediate danger, it opened its mouth as Jihoon could saw something dangerous emerged. Fire Breath, which he knew instantly.
Throwing his body out of the danger with all he has, a cone of fire unleashed as its flame incinerated all within its path. He knew that if he had stalled there, his Shield Bracelet would break there and signal his disqualification from the trial. The manticore disappeared again, and now appeared directly above his prone position.
It struck down hard, and would have been his end if it weren’t for one thing.
Intermediate-class Light Magic – Mirage Reflection
The target that the manticore struck was only his separate mirage cast by his Light Magic. Having achieved enlightenment of Advanced-class magic proficiency and unified with his magic. He could perform Intermediate-class Magic without preparation or incantation. Casting any actual spell on that level, however, is beyond him currently but this is enough.
Judgment of Light 1st Step – Breaking Dawn
Jihoon swung his light-imbued halberd with great force toward the wings of the manticore in a horizontal arc while it is confused at the deception that unfolded. Without aware, Jihoon struck down its wings that enabled flight as it hastily tried to retreat and use Camouflage again. But…
Initiate-class Light Magic – Let there be Light
A small particle of light appeared between his pinched fingers as if about to toss a coin. Then it immediately exploded into a directed blinding flash of light. The light itself does nothing but with its brightness greater than broad daylight, the manticore is exposed as the trailing shadow resulting from the flash revealed its location despite its camouflaged state.
With confirmation of its position, the manticore gone into hasty ambush which Jihoon easily countered with another Breaking Dawn as it staggered sideway against his front.
Judgment of Light 2nd Step– Rising Sun
Still riding the previous motion of Breaking Dawn, he directed the decayed halberd’s swing upward as it struck the underbelly of the manticore. Once he was directly above the manticore, Jihoon bent his body as his direction steered downward directly toward the manticore below. The halberd’s spearhead aimed directly at the neck which the head and body doesn’t connect completely.
Like the sun at its zenith, casting no shadow beneath.
Advanced-class Light Magic – Wings that Don’t Reach
The wings of light from before manifested once more behind his back. Its state fragile like shattered glass in which even a single flap could break it apart.
Even if it’s just for one more time, it is more than enough.
Light energy gathered at its spearhead, the decayed surface of the weapon shimmering as the once dormant power within it stirred to life. Jihoon’s entire body became an extension of the halberd. With the combined force of the halberd, himself and gravity, Jihoon executed the third step of the technique all at the same time.
Judgment of Light 3rd Step – High Noon
The wings of light flapped once, propels him downward like falling star with great speed before splintering apart completely. With precision, Jihoon thrusted the light-imbued halberd with all he has as the weight of him and the halberd crashed downward into the manticore’s exposed neck.
The halberd’s light exploded upon impact, sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield as the manticore let out a final screech before collapsing to the ground. Its head severed from its body by his decisive strike.
The commentators erupted, their voices filled with disbelief and excitement.
“He’s done it! Jihoon has taken down the manticore with a technique none of us saw coming!” one of them shouted, barely able to contain his amazement. “What a move! That was like nothing we’ve seen before!”
The audience watching across the city of Cicones went wild, their cheers reverberating through the magical screens broadcasting the race. Even though they didn’t fully understand the intricacies of Jihoon’s technique, the sheer spectacle of it was enough to leave them in awe.
“That was incredible! We’re talking about a complex, multi-step maneuver executed in midair! Whatever technique Jihoon just used—High Noon or whatever he called—it worked!” the co-commentator exclaimed, still struggling to process the scene.
But while the audience and commentators celebrated his victory, Jihoon wasn’t as thrilled. His breath was heavy, and his body screamed in protest from the strain. He had won, yes—but the manticore had wasted a considerable amount of time, time he had fought so hard to save.
“Well done, Anointed Wielder,” the voice of Judgment of Light echoed in his mind, carrying a tone of quiet pride. “You’ve performed the third step. I’m certain that you will have little less trouble in the future”
“Thanks,” he muttered, his gaze already turning toward the horizon. “But we’re not done yet. We still have a long way to go.”
Jihoon wasn’t as thrilled as the audience led to believe. His breath was heavy, and his body screamed in protest from the strain. He had won, yes—but the manticore had wasted a considerable amount of time, time he had fought so hard to save just before.
"Damn it…" Jihoon muttered to himself, his mind immediately turning to the race. "That took way too long. I’m behind again, and catching up is going to be nearly impossible at this rate." He wiped the sweat from his brow, frustration building inside him.
Just as he prepared to continue, though, a familiar sound echoed overhead—the unmistakable whir of a helicopter’s blades cutting through the air. Jihoon’s eyes flicked upward, and there it was. The helicopter carrying his Doppelgangers, finally catching up to him.
“Jihoon! Are you alright?” Rosa peeked from her seat just to check up on him. Jihoon simply return her question with a simple nod.
‘About time,’ Jihoon thought, a small smile creeping onto his face despite his exhaustion. He could see the Doppelgangers onboard, their instruments ready to assist him just as he had requested before the trial began.
As the helicopter hovered above, one of the Doppelgangers gave a small nod, acknowledging the unspoken command from Jihoon through their mental link.
"Alright then," Jihoon muttered, the tension easing from his shoulders as he prepared to continue. "Let’s see what we can do with what time we have left."
The helicopter, now aligned above him, would play its part in his strategy—allowing him to perform Linked Song Magic once again, freeing him from the limitations of solo combat and giving him the chance to re-enter the race at full strength.
Despite the time lost to the manticore, Jihoon’s resolve was unwavering. The fight may have delayed him, but it hadn’t broken him. With the assistance of his Doppelgangers, his plan would continue in earnest.
And he wasn’t about to let anyone forget he was still in this race.