Ensemble Leveling
Chapter 38: Death that I Deserve Truly
With his access to Linked Song Magic once again back in order. Jihoon devised his combination that will grant him his consistent boost. Combined with his Mana Attunement, the final result was staggering on its own. After the battle with the manticore, all the lower-class sentinels are just almost a breeze by comparison.
Not because they’re getting easier but his experience with the manticore imprinted on his mind makes it appear so. With his mental order, the Doppelganger begins to perform Song Magic in sequence.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Belief
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 60):
-+[25*MAG/3]% to all Physical Attributes to self and one ally within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +2*[25*MAG/3]% to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
SPIKA -> Belief
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Linked Effect (MAG 60):
+200% to MAG of self (This effects only applied once and can’t be compound by similar buffs)
(MAG 180)
-+[25*MAG]% to all Physical Attributes to self and one ally within Song Magic’s range.
Effect becomes +2*[25*MAG]% to all Physical Attributes if caster is performing this song directly. (Currently: 9,000%)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13 (+1,350)
-END: 14 (+1,448)
-AGI: 14 (+1,440)
-DEX: 13 (+1,350)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 60 (+120)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
With the Doppelgangers onboard performing his Linked Song Magic with him, the dirt trail was completed in 2 minutes and a half, with an effective speed around 28 times peak human limit. It would be one thing if he could maintain maximum velocity but that would just mean he would leave the helicopter behind which was where the majority of his power even comes from. High ceiling, high constraint that he considered himself.
Still, as Jihoon streaked past the obstacles in his path, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of his own absurdity bearing down on him.
‘Four-digit stats this early?’ he thought, his mind drifting as he dashed forward. ‘I’ve really become one of those characters, haven’t I? The OP self-insert protagonist that people love to hate.’
And while he could excuse himself by pointing to the constraints of Linked Song Magic—the fact that he couldn’t utilize these massive boosts without leaving the helicopter behind—he knew deep down that he had crossed a threshold.
His world had become that of an edgy teenager’s fantasy of being on top of the world with power handed to them which don’t belong. Unfortunately, he had to live in it and see people close to him suffer because of it. And now as if the mantle of protagonist is thrusted upon him, the absurdity that surrounds it make him sickened to the core.
The inevitable has come for him, that he isn’t an underdog any longer by any definition. He is a powerhouse, holding power that many can only dream of. Perhaps even making those characters with their goldenfingers somehow envy of what he has.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. In his world, fantasy and reality had blurred into something unrecognizable. He had seen firsthand how someone’s overpowered self-insert fantasy could shape the world around them, and never for the better.
For them, it had been a game—a story where they could mold themselves as the all-powerful protagonist, the one who stood above everyone else. But for Jihoon, it had been hell on living earth.
"I’ve become what I loathed," Jihoon thought bitterly. "I’ve turned into the thing I despised the most—another overpowered fantasy character, benefiting from a broken system while everyone else is left to fight for scraps."
But he wasn’t like them, was he? He wasn’t just here for power, for glory. His struggles were real, and his pain was genuine. He was fighting for more than just dominance in a trial—he was fighting to break free, to protect those he cared about, to fulfill promises he’d made.
"Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that," Jihoon muttered under his breath, the weight of self-doubt creeping in. "But when you’re blowing through obstacles and opponents like this, can you really claim to be any different?"
It wasn’t just a casual, offhanded thought. Jihoon’s disdain for overpowered self-inserts and shallow fantasy had deep roots. Back in his world, the flood of progression fantasy—stories filled with characters who gained godlike power with little to no effort—was consumed like junk food by the masses. Jihoon’s co-workers at Arisen Studio had been guilty of it too, gobbling up these fantasies as guilty pleasures in their downtime.
And Jihoon? He’d been no different. During the long stretches of creative burnout, he’d turned to those very stories—skimming them between compositions, partly to see what the fuss was about, and partly out of sheer boredom. He’d read enough to understand the appeal and, in equal measure, to see the cracks. There were the good ones, the well-written ones that dug deeper into character and worldbuilding.
But there were also a lot of the shallow ones—those that substituted power for substance, that glorified dominance without consequence or introspection.
"Edgy fantasies," Jihoon had called them back then. "Stories where some loser self-insert gets handed all the power in the world and doesn’t have to face real consequences."
But what should have remained fiction, becomes real. And it had ruined so many lives. He saw close friends, acquaintances, strangers torn apart by the world that only gave power to the chosen few and left the rest to fend for themselves from the horror it brought. It was a progression fantasy in real life, and only a few thrived.
Just before his mind further spurn into the darkest recess, The helicopter’s shadow passed over him, pulling Jihoon out of his thoughts. The Doppelgangers were still playing their part, providing the music that boosted his stats and kept him in the race. But as Jihoon sprinted down the dirt trail, something inside him shifted.
He remembered why he even tried so hard to even participate in this trial, and how much those close to him in this world came to rely on him. Not for his supreme potential or overpowered stats but because he was their only support at the lowest when nothing seemingly in reach helping them.
Alvorna and her promise to be together with one another no matter how long they may have to wait despite the responsibility as the Daughter of the Harpy Matriarch. Even though she stood as one of the most hallowed figures of Absence, even though the world had demanded so much from her, Jihoon had been there for her, unflinching. Feeling the warmth in her hand as she drags him into the cloud stage above, then playing music together away from prying eyes.
That promise wasn’t about power—it was about standing by her, no matter what came their way. Whether it was the weight of her lineage or the expectations of the world, Jihoon had vowed they would face it together.
Aquarius Sargasso, the Mermaid Princess. She had been lost in her own sorrow, haunted by the loss of her mother, unable to move forward. But Jihoon had taught her the Forgotten Melody, the one that brought life and hope back to her heart. Through that melody, she had found the strength to stand tall on her own. Even though her anguish remained, she no longer let it drown her. Jihoon hadn’t given her power, but instead he had given her the means to rediscover herself, to live again.
And Rosa—the Dwarven Princess and CEO of the Magni Conglomeration. Jihoon hadn’t even helped her directly, not in the way people typically expect. All he had done was use his music to free her father from the nostalgic prison of his past. But that had been enough. Enough for Rosa to dedicate herself to him, going above and beyond, even when he hadn’t asked for it.
She could have walked away, but she didn’t. Because to her, Jihoon was more than just a composer—he was the one who had brought her only family member back from the edge of self-isolation. And she had chosen to stand by him ever since.
Finally, Karim—his first real connection in this strange land, the man who had extended a hand when Jihoon was just a stranger with nothing but his music. When Jihoon had arrived in the world of Absence, lost and unsure, Karim had sponsored him, believing in his talent before anyone else did. Jihoon hadn’t been some overpowered figure then—he had been a nobody. But Karim had seen something in him and given him the chance to grow. That trust had laid the foundation for everything that came after.
There were people who put their trust unconditionally in him even without any expectation of receiving return. Not because he is unstoppable or overpowered but because they trust in his judgment even if there’s no assurance that he is right or not.
Not stats, not magic, not the System. It was the bonds he had forged with the people who believed in him, even when he didn’t believe in himself.
Jihoon’s eyes focused on the path ahead. He wasn’t running this race for the sake of winning. He wasn’t here to prove he was stronger or faster than anyone else. He was here because those who believed in him had trusted him to keep going. For Alvorna, for Aquarius, for Rosa, for Karim.
“I’m not doing this for me,” Jihoon thought as he steadied his pace, feeling the rhythm of the music guiding him. “I’m doing this because they need me to. Because they believed in me, and I can’t let them down.”
The race wasn’t over, and the challenges ahead were still daunting. But Jihoon’s resolve had solidified. And for that, he is willing to give his all.
With the Doppelgangers still playing, the helicopter following overhead, and the memories of those who believed in him filling his heart, Jihoon pressed forward, his steps now sure and unwavering.
Now that the dirt trail transitioned into the mountain path, another boss sentinel appeared just to make his life more miserable. This one is in the shape of a giant scorpion but Jihoon just uses a fraction of his 4-digit Physical Attributes just to ditch it away. There were traces of Wind, Ice and Earth Magic which lingers in which the top 3 couldn’t really make a clean getaway without using their power.
Using [Wings that Don’t Reach], he skipped the whole ordeal entirely much like what the top 3 did before by just shortcutting the route with his limited flight. He could probably just obliterate it in one blow with current stats but that would quickly raise suspicion of the organizers.
The mountain path’s length is mostly because of its winding terrain. Something in which a helicopter can ignore entirely. Because of that, it covers more ground than anyone on foot otherwise. Climbing the height with a helicopter is much easier than otherwise and that means they don’t have to struggle to keep up when he used more of his speed.
And of course, the risk of just running off-course is now higher for correlating with his speed. But using the same maneuver of clawing the ground to directly redirect momentum and single flap of [Wings that Don’t Reach] before shattering, making turning maneuver much more tight and fluid by comparison.
He even thought that magic disruption field would impede him somehow but 4-digits Physical stat by Song Magic amplification doesn’t really make the lesser sentinel combat harder as he just blazes past them like non-obstacle.
Of course, as he starts to ascend even higher on the mountain route. Engineered ‘natural’ disasters start to occur on the already dangerous mountain path into a treacherous deathtrap. Landslides tumbled from peaks above, falling rocks. Dangerous gust of winds threatening to knock the unprepared out of the path. Even the air itself seemingly crackled with magic as the ground quaked like the mountain itself is throwing those on it into disarray.
Jihoon knew the Shield Bracelet issued to all participants would protect them from harm in these engineered disasters, but at the cost of disqualification. Once the shield’s full power is activated to save a participant from a fatal fall or a landslide, it would self-destruct, signaling the end of their run. Jihoon once again just skipped some more trapped areas by just using his 4-digit stats to climb the vertical mountain cliff by digging his fingers into the hard rock surface itself by force.
He doesn’t really care if it is faster or not, he just felt like he needed a target to unleash all of his frustrations and this mountain itself seems like a suitable target.
As the climb to higher ascent of the mountain, the path had truly become perilous with sentinels on the approach. He can still feel the lingering magic spells in the air as if telling of an aftermath just recent. Even the top 3 participants with their insane abilities and attributes had to engage in unavoidable combat here.
Another group of lesser sentinels appeared on his route, and he used his [Observant] to check the situation. And all their physical stats in average is now about 150. It’s not a lot even compared to him or the top 3, but with their massive numbers, they will wear down basically anyone without some significant magic on their own.
Even he knew that fighting all of them would cost him immeasurable time. And although he has 4-digit Physical stats and fighting them is a breeze. He can only imagine just what it would be like for those who have chosen to take Lap 2, not aware just how much more difficult it has become.
“Alright, let's do this,” Jihoon said to himself, his determination renewed. He flapped his fragile wings again, using his momentum to soar above the next group of sentinels and past the engineered natural disasters. The mountain peak wasn’t far now, and Jihoon had no intention of letting anything stop him.
Yet he couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. The top 3 had already passed through here, and if even they were being forced into battle, then whatever lay ahead was bound to be even more challenging. The real question was, how much more difficult would this trial become, and how much longer could he keep pushing himself before the race demanded more than just physical strength?
Whatever the answer, Jihoon knew he couldn’t stop now.
The mountain peak loomed ahead, the destination flag almost within reach. But as he neared the top, he caught sight of three familiar figures. The top 3 participants, returning from the peak just before the flag. Fenrir, Legolas, and Zorn.
Jihoon’s gaze locked briefly with theirs, and for a moment, there was a mutual, unspoken understanding between them. A brief nod of acknowledgment from the wolf-beast girl, a glance from the elven commando, and even a faint, respectful grunt from the ironclad dwarf. They knew Jihoon had earned his place here, and though they were fierce competitors, perhaps there was a respect shared among those who had managed to push themselves this far.
But Jihoon barely registered the silent exchange. His mind was preoccupied. He wasn’t driven by the same competitive spirit that fueled the top 3. His thoughts were elsewhere, on the people who had placed their trust in him, on the promises he had made. Some part of him may have enjoyed the competition, but his mind was such a conflicting turmoil that he knew that he needed something just to clear all that away after this.
As Jihoon reached the peak and touched the flag, signifying his completion of the ascent, he came to a stop. Instead of immediately turning back and making his descent, Jihoon paused, standing still at the very top. His breathing steadied as he took in the view, allowing himself a rare moment of calm in the chaos of the trial.
The commentators, spectators, and even some participants watching the broadcast were puzzled. "What’s he doing? He’s stalling at the peak?" one of the commentators remarked. "Is Jihoon planning something?"
The race demanded that competitors reach the destination flag and return as quickly as possible while the trial still remain doable. And yet, Jihoon lingered. Those who weren’t familiar with him were left in confusion, trying to guess why he had stopped, why he wasn't capitalizing on the time he had left.
Not like too much time has passed that they forgot that he just took a walk after recovering from flying off the track back in the first lap.
But those who knew Jihoon, who had seen how he fought, who trusted him, understood. It wasn’t hesitation. Jihoon wasn’t second-guessing himself or wasting time. He is finding his own approach, thinking outside of what the trial has presented and given to him. He may have survived the first lap, but he knew that he has to go beyond to surpass Lap 2.
Rosa, watching the broadcast from afar on the helicopter, crossed her arms with a smirk. "He's planning something. He's not the type to go back the way he came. Idiotic and rash he maybe, he always show to have the capacity to back his own decision."
Karim, observing silently in the crowded entertainment district, nodded to himself. "That's Jihoon for you… thinking ahead. He’s got a different strategy in mind."
Even Alvorna, somewhere high in the Citadel of Absence, likely sensed it. Jihoon was improvising, as he always did, taking inspiration from the challenges he'd faced. He wasn’t going to simply backtrack the same way down the mountain. He was considering another option.
The sliding-earth method he had used earlier—when the ground had crumbled beneath him, and he had fought the griffon mid-descent—couldn’t be replicated. It had been a chaotic, once-in-a-lifetime event. But that didn’t mean Jihoon couldn’t draw inspiration from it.
The mountain was steep, and the terrain was unforgiving. However, that also meant it was possible to find a more direct route down, bypassing most of the winding path entirely. "There’s no rule that says I have to take the same route down," Jihoon thought to himself, the gears in his mind turning. "I just need to get back to the starting line… by any means necessary."
With his decision made, Jihoon took a deep breath and prepared himself. The plan forming in his mind wasn’t perfect, but it was uniquely his. He wasn’t about to follow the same path as everyone else—not that he had never been one to do that.
The spectators and the commentators could only watch in anticipation, still uncertain about what Jihoon was planning. But for those who knew him, this was the moment they had been waiting for.
“Let’s do this”. Jihoon whispered to himself as he took off as he connects to the mental links that established him to the Doppelgangers above. They’re not exactly the most expressive bunch that he knew but they’re the best display of his skill.
His [Doppelgangers] being at Master rank allowed his customization of their appearances. They’re his replicas, inherited all of his skills learned outside of System’s intervention. Behind those lifeless eyes lay a ruthless efficiency, a version of himself stripped of human limitations. Inspiring and terrifying all the same.
And it will use all of said skills to the utmost maximum efficiency and effect. Disparity of stats be damned as it could overcome target stronger than multiple of what it has.
D A+ D+ D| A+ D+ D A+| D A+ D+ D| A+ D+ D A+|C G C+ C| C+ G C G|
D A+ D+ D| A+ D+ D A+| D A+ D+ D| A+ D+ D A+|C G C+ C| C+ G C G|
A rhythm played in his mind. His Linked Song Magic expired during his planning. Yet at this point, the Doppelgangers are literally playing what goes on his mind. The notes played in D major, the key signature of triumph.
The constant alternation of raised notes transitioned by dominant note (fifth note of any key signature), repetitively cycle itself in pattern creating a circular sense of unresolved tension, furthered by augmented fifth. Thus forming anticipatory and suspense used so often in many media.
In a way, its design is similar to that of a heartbeat. As it never really had a resolution into restful state at all. The C-section provides a few contrasts but maintains the tension rather than providing relief. The music was a push and pull, a back-and-forth between two states of mind—determination and anticipation, certainty and doubt.
D_A+ D+_D A+_D+ D_A+| D_A+ D+_D A+_D+ D_A+|C_G C+_C C+_G C_G|
D_A+ D+_D A+_D+ D_A+| D_A+ D+_D A+_D+ D_A+|C_G C+_C C+_G C_G|
The mental rhythm in his mind started to hasten, the mounting tension started to scale out of normalcy. The accelerando of the note sequence is taking place as if adrenaline is already flooding into his veins despite haven’t yet taken any action. Each note further intensifying the unease already built within until it all reached a breaking point.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
D_A+_D+_D A+_D+_D_A+ D_A+_D+_D A+_D+_D_A+|
C_G_C+_C C+_G_C_G D_A+_D+_D A+_D+_D_A+|
D_A+_D+_D A+_D+_D_A+ C_G_C+_C C+_G_C_G|
The rhythm no longer felt like just a heartbeat. Now, it was like the pounding of war drums, the anticipation before the first clash of steel. Each note struck with purpose, each transition between sections flowing seamlessly yet deliberately. The tension spiraled out of control, escalating with every beat.
The denser pattern and increased tempo further enhance the frantic and desperate aspect of the rhythm.
It was a psychological preparation, an emotional crescendo leading him to the moment of action. The tension in the music mirrored the mounting pressure within Jihoon himself. The rhythm was an extension of his state of mind, embodying the conflict between the calm before the storm and the chaos of what was about to happen.
Jihoon could feel the adrenaline building as the Doppelgangers played. His body moved instinctively, his mind sharpened by the pulse of the rhythm. The tension was almost unbearable now, but that was exactly what he needed. It wasn’t about finding peace or resolution but about embracing the chaos, diving headfirst into the storm without hesitation.
The time for action had come. His heart raced alongside the mental melody, the unresolved tension pushing him toward what came next. The music he composed in his mind wasn’t just for him—it was a call to action, a signal to his Doppelgangers, a reflection of the determination that coursed through him.
He could feel his grip tighten around the Judgment of Light, the rhythm of his thoughts aligning with the surge of power within. Every fiber of his being hummed with readiness. The mounting tension, the accelerando—it all pointed to a singular moment.
The time for hesitation had passed. Now was the moment to strike.
"No turning back," Jihoon whispered, the final note in his mind hanging in the air, unfinished.
He moved into action.
|D D D C_D| C D C F|
The first lap might have shaken me to the core
The repetition of D-notes being oddly self-assurance as they were the key of the signature itself. The simpler and stable note progression completely absence of higher pitch or raised note create a stabilized calm unexpectedly but it would just be a short reprieve before what’s ahead.
|D D D C_D| C D F G_A+|
But this musician is dead set for a highscore
The second sequence ended in G_A+, creating a sense of momentary anticipation. As if approaching a short peak of emotional intensity, laying ahead of what’s to come. The notes were rising, signaling an emotional peak, a gathering storm in the distance. Jihoon could feel the anticipation thrumming beneath his skin, like electricity ready to spark.
|D D D C_D| C D C F|
Will I perish, probably for sure
|F_E D~~| F_E F_E D~| F_E D~~|
But the danger is only half of the allure
The melody repeated, ending with sustained notes, the F and E creating a final descent into calm. The long, lingering notes carried a weight to them, as if marking the brief reprieve before the storm. There was an almost eerie stillness in the sound, a warning that the calm wouldn’t last.
As the music unfolded, Jihoon scanned the terrain below him as he continued his rapid sprint on the route. His Doppelgangers, attuned to his every thought, helped him assess which drops and paths he could take to shortcut the winding mountain path while performing his mental melody. With their relentless precision, they didn’t miss a beat, guiding Jihoon’s descent with total efficiency.
With Linked Song Magic expired, running solely on Mana Attunement, the wings of light from [Wings that Don’t Reach] flickering into existence once more, fragile yet radiant. Yet he can’t come to use it freely due to it being Advanced-class yet shattered easily in just one flap. Each time he does so, his mana reserve took a sizable hit just to meet the cost.
His Doppelgangers played on, their fingers never faltering as they matched the tempo in Jihoon’s mind, seamlessly adjusting to every thought, every rhythm that pushed him forward.
The shorter leaps and drops were easy enough to manage with his enhanced stats. With Mana Attunement alone, Jihoon’s current physical stats is in 70-ish. Or 7 times peak human limit. That means he could take a 30m vertical drop without injury using landing maneuver that Hunter training in his world taught him.
The fall from 4-digit stats to such a level may have been a terribly unthinkable thing for a lot of Main Characters let alone OP ones. Yet this is a welcoming change for him because the sense of detachment from himself and his self-perception is becoming crippling. Even if his speed is abysmal for the competition, using the taught method of Hunters for traversing Dungeons and their diverse environments. There perhaps something new can be gleaned from that denizens of Absence may not realize.
And that the sentinels being at least 150 in all Physical stats as of the moment, this means even combat is out of the question until the mental melody of his finalized into Song Magic.
The Doppelgangers are multitasking the performance and scouting from above. If there’s a suitable path for him, they will alert him through the mental link from their vantage point in the helicopter above. And believe it or not, the mountain path’s length can be reduced from a marathon to a third of its original length. Which is an assuring estimation of how sharp the Doppelgangers can be even with just limited methods. Even if his speed is slow, he will still make consistent progression until his proper comeback.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Stay calm, no fear
With the sequence alternate between D and C-based patterns, a sense of suspense is maintained where one can’t anticipate what comes next. By rising to dominant note and sustained, it creates a lingering tension that can’t easily dissipate. Its characteristic similar to breath held close, stiff as if frozen in fear.
C C A+ A+| D+ D+_D+ D+_D+ D+_D+|
Just keep your high gear!
The rapid-fire, higher-pitched D notes simulated his rising pulse, almost frantic as he pushed his body further, feeling the pressure mount with every step.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Run fast, through here
A+_G_A+_F E_F_E_C D~|
OMFG, more of those stupid flying sentinels!
A complex pattern of emotion release of the by the descending sequence from high tension (A+) into resolution (D) itself. With the final sustained note being the resolution key, like signaling acceptance even though he is far from cornered.
The lyric just now… is just his mind instantly registered the incoming danger and just intervened straight into his thought just to warn him. Aerial sentinels, the commentators did say something about them but actually see them in action was differently. Without sufficient stats for direct combat, Jihoon can only hide away in some unseen corner. Which is an extremely suboptimal idea when one is trying to complete a race.
Jihoon pressed himself against the rock face, keeping a low profile as the aerial sentinels drifted closer, scanning the area with precision. He held his breath, his heart racing as he watched the constructs hover above, searching for any sign of movement. These sentinels weren’t standard as they were modeled after the various flying races of Absence, equipped with keen senses and powerful maneuverability. Without sufficient physical or magical stats to combat them, he was essentially a sitting duck.
He could notice their appearance resembles a few discernable fantasy races, such as dragonkin, vampire bats, harpies, winged fairies and even certain yokais of the like. And likely have power which reflects those innate traits that each race utilize to their best.
The helicopter shadowed him above, but the aerial sentinels paid it no attention. It wasn’t registered as a participant, and though the helicopter’s presence should have drawn their focus to his vicinity, it was ignored entirely. Jihoon took a moment of relief in this small oversight, thankful for the indirect cover it provided. Yet he knew he couldn’t stay hidden indefinitely; he needed a clear path to advance.
Unexpectedly, fortune turned in his favor. The entire formation of aerial sentinels suddenly shifted, their sharp eyes turning away from his position as they picked up on a new target. A powerful surge of magic flared up in the distance, so potent it disturbed the ambiant mana flow across the mountain, sending visible ripples of energy through the atmosphere.
Jihoon felt the metaphysical shockwave, and his mind immediately registered what it meant. Expert-class Magic had been cast—and with only three participants wielding that caliber of power, it had to be one of the top competitors.
He smirked to himself. "I owe you one, Fenrir…or Legolas…or Zorn." Whoever was battling ahead had unwittingly provided the perfect distraction, drawing the sentinels away and giving him the opening he needed.
Karim, likely watching from Cicones’ entertainment district, would be feeling the magical surge too. Jihoon could recall his mentor sensing similar disruptions in ambiance when Alvorna unleashed Heavenly Tribulation in their spar, an unconscious attack that had nearly overwhelmed him. Now as he imagined, this Expert-class magic was drawing every sentinel in the vicinity, the sentinels honing in on the massive mana disturbance.
He felt a flicker of satisfaction seeing the top three contend with such a relentless onslaught.
“Guess they’re getting a taste of their own medicine,” he thought, torn between sympathy and amusement at the thought of these titans now being the primary focus of every threat on the mountain.
Shaking himself from his reverie, Jihoon took a steadying breath and broke into a sprint. The distraction would only last so long, and he wasn’t about to squander the chance to make up lost ground. Pushing forward, he left his rocky cover and accelerated down the path, his heart pounding in time with the music still playing in his mind and performed by the Doppelgangers.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Focus, watch out
C C A+ A+| D+ D+_D+ D+_D+ D+_D+|
Can’t just plow my way through
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
No need, to shout
E~ F E| D~~~|
Just~ don’t burnout!
The melody refrained again, but this time ended with a resolution note sustained. After a long streak of fear and tension sustained cyclically. This end only felt poignant like complete surrender or acceptance.
Despite his desire to barrel down with sheer force, Jihoon knew a slower, careful descent could be faster in the end. He made precise leaps and turns, skipping from one rocky outcrop to another, gripping the ledges briefly to control his pace and reduce impact. His mind tracked each alternate route, and while the top 3 fought through throngs of flying sentinels above, he’d zigzagged and found himself cover a surprising amount of ground below.
The calm steadiness of the notes reminded him not to let his impatience trip him up. He was making steady progress now, moving through the mountain’s natural paths, even if they were steep and littered with obstacles. Each sharp turn, each sudden drop, was executed with practiced skill.
Meanwhile, he couldn’t help but imagine the top 3 pushing their own stats to their limits, confined to the mountain path without realizing they could break free of its limits.
He leapt off a high ledge, his body twisting midair as he used [Wings that Don’t Reach] to slow his descent, touching down lightly and immediately launching himself forward.
Then, in the distance, he caught sight of the intense crossfire of spells as the top 3 tore through wave after wave of sentinels. Magic illuminated the mountainside, sentinels gathering to swarm around them, likely drawn by the powerful magic surges.
From the localized blizzard cloud hung over which anyone can tell which can only belong to Fenrir herself. And it ominously swirling greatly which can only be ascribed to Legolas. It’s unclear which one of them acted first out of desperation but it doesn’t matter anymore.
The mountain path is the easiest and fastest way to climb up a mountain but not necessarily the fastest way to go down. The organizer did say that one is free to take roundabout ways if wanted which doesn't work well in urban roads or dirt trail with predetermined route.
Perhaps, the top 3 could have realized that they could just ignore the predetermined mountain path with how overwhelming their stats are but unknowingly confine themselves into a pre-existing route.
Jihoon watched them, feeling a strange satisfaction in knowing that their sheer power now made them a beacon for every sentinel in the area.
“Guess having insane stats comes with its own kind of lock-in,” he muttered with a grin. He wasn’t the fastest, not even close, but the route he’d chosen enabled him to bypass so many obstacles that it was as if the mountain was unwinding before him. Even more misfortunate for participants who must try to cross their Expert-class Magic AOE just to reach the destination flag at the peak.
Jihoon turned back to his own descent. With the right approach, he could continue keeping his distance, avoiding the worst of the conflict while steadily closing in on his ultimate goal.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
Don’t ever stop and think, it’s way too absurd
The melancholy descent of the notes resonated with his inner turmoil. Jihoon was used to finding himself in unusual situations, but this... this Odyssey had evolved far beyond what he had ever anticipated. Originally, the goal had been clear and rational, set by Karim and him with careful planning.
The Calphennis Royal Mausoleum—a place forbidden to all but those with royal clearance—was the focus of his Odyssey journey. It held secrets from a time erased from Absence’s official history, secrets Karim’s late prodigal brother had hinted at with his left behind clues.
Jihoon knew he was pursuing a mystery laced with danger. But because Alvorna being connected to it, namely the ‘angel with dark wings’, he couldn’t just stay idle while knowing about it. Yet somehow, circumstances beyond his control had thrown him into encounters that defied his own logic.
Like the unexpected bond he’d formed with Aquarius, the isolated Mermaid Princess who yearned to break free from her imposed life, to find her own courage to live for her own when her own father failed to do anything meaningful for her. It was a connection built on platonic understanding, yet it had taken on a life of its own, driving him to make promises that only added layers to his already twisted path.
B+ D+~~| B+_A+ B+_G A+_B+->B+|
All this, over an empty promise?
The tension and hesitation in the notes paralleled his own doubts and internal struggle, the moments where he’d wondered if he’d trapped himself in a futile quest. The prize of the Odyssey was a single request, granted to its victor by royal decree. Yet he’d promised it to Aquarius, vowing to use that wish to establish her as an independent entity. It was irrational, and he knew it—why risk so much for someone he barely knew?
But he could not deny the reason any longer. Aquarius wasn’t just an ally, nor a mere acquaintance. She had been someone who looked at him, truly seeing his intentions without judgment and he did toward her vice versa despite how much his first impression of her was ruined. She wanted freedom, and he was all too familiar with the desire to break chains, even if they were gilded.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
Perfection is a stink, it felt like a curse
With the refraining of the first verse. It created a false sense of calm before escalation. And would eventually reinforce the cyclical nature of anxiety. Then once came its variation, using the climb of multiple higher-octave notes, the song approached its peak psychological intensity. Like an inescapable nightmare that one has thrown oneself into by deliberate choice.
Jihoon can only laugh drily. Because of him putting all of his effort into doing something perfectly. And often time just suffer because of it. His profound performance during his becoming of a Maestro in Absence which first caught Alvorna’s attention to him and established a connection between when the two performed with one another. And how this led to an unfulfillable promise that he is not certain that if he can do at all.
In seeking perfection, he’d unwittingly cursed himself with a growing web of obligations. And somehow, that absurdity made it more meaningful. To just see life as it merely is, is just another madness.
B+ E+ F+~| E+_D+ B+_D+ E+~|
So why does it matter so much to me?!
He could feel the tension mounting, like self-doubt and determination continuously fighting for dominance in his mind. Like an inescapable nightmare that one has thrown oneself into by deliberate choice. The melody was raw with intensity, reflecting the internal push and pull of his motivations.
Why did it matter so deeply? Why did he keep adding impossible promises to his burdens? And the answer came to him as his feet pounded along the trail, his focus as sharp as the rhythm itself.
It’s because even though these impossible promises were like burdens. They were the only things that pulled him back from his own negative spiral.
And not just her either. He too had cared about Karim, Rosa, Aquarius for their struggles, ambitions, and constraints. Which had awakened something in him, something that transcended mere sympathy or camaraderie. They were reflections of parts of himself he’d long since forgotten or tried to suppress. Because in their stories, he saw fragments of his own.
Because ironically, Absence being a post-scarcity society, still had part of its denizens fighting and sought for freedom not as luxury but a necessity. Jihoon’s promises to them had become a way to hold himself accountable to his own beliefs—a vow that he, too, would find meaning in his actions, that his life would reflect the very ideals he championed.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
All of this has nothing to do, with my personal quest
He had entered Absence as a stranger, whose only purpose was finding someone to fill in the ensemble so that he could become Expert Musician by the System’s qualification measurement. And he found it in Alvorna which elevated both of their musical prowess with one another.
Yet… because of how vastly different their standing is, he could not convince her just to leave behind her own family just to go with him to his world. And in trying to do so, he ended up just caught into the conspiracy of Absence’s furthest primordial history and how it relates to the Alvorna, and ‘the angel with dark wings’ that seem to reside in every Harpy’s subconscious.
B+ D+~~| B+_A+ B+_G A+_B+~B+|
But this is all about my pride
No one in this world could possibly track what the System can do. Yet he chose the hardest way either way, because it would do injustice for both her and him. And giving up on her after promising so much because of the difficulty is the most pathetic thing that he can imagine doing.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
I just need to ditch this hesitation aside.
B+ E+ F+~| E+_D+ B+_D+ E+~|
And make room for my fighting spirit inside!
With renewed resolve, Jihoon pushed forward, his steps guided by both the rhythm of his song and the mental link with his Doppelgangers overhead. The helicopter traced a path high above, scouting the terrain and relaying optimal shortcuts. The mountain’s winding trails, so daunting to most, had now become his playing field, a labyrinth of options he could exploit. Even if his stats are nowhere close to them, to say that he had officially overtaken them by distance is a feat unimaginable despite the differences.
The commentators’ astonished voices crackled over the loudspeakers, “Jihoon is overtaking the leaders! This unexpected surge is turning the race on its head!”
The audience erupted in cheers, some in disbelief, others thrilled by his sudden lead. But Jihoon knew better than to celebrate yet. The mountain path was the most winding section, filled with treacherous slopes and patrolling sentinels. Most participants had followed the designated path despite their strength because mentally, they were incapable of preparing for contingency. But in ignoring it, he had effectively cut his own path, securing a brief advantage.
The swarm of sentinels that pursued the top 3 have significantly slowed their overall progression down. Although he knew that they were far from fatigued, being constantly bombarded with enemies continuously wouldn’t do them well in any front.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Got it, hold it
C C A+ A+| D+ D+~~|
Now to make my descent.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Although, it shows.
A+_G_A+_F E_F_E_C D~|
I’m still only halfway toward the end!
His helicopter flying overhead, however, hadn’t escaped notice. The top three competitors, realizing it had tracked Jihoon’s position consistently, glanced up and saw how it followed a far straighter descent than they had been navigating. Then, they realized, they could just brute force a straighter route using their superior stats. They have let themselves occupied with a predetermined route unnecessarily and seeing Jihoon in action reminded them that.
Within moments, Fenrir, Legolas, and Zorn adjusted course, each one deciding to abandon the winding trail and blaze straight down the mountainside. With the crushing physical stats, they each possessed, the hazards that had plagued most participants became minor obstacles at best. Jihoon ended up highlighting a faster way for them even if it was unquestionably dangerous for him.
Even though the distance between each two were significant. It will only take them about 5 minutes by estimation before they will bring hell upon his steps.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
Don’t ever stop and think, I’m in too deep-dish
B+ D+~~| B+_A+ B+_G A+_B+~B+|
To dare bail out on the second run.
His heartbeat thudded in time with the rhythm in his mind. Despite his skill, the chaotic storm of sentinels converging from behind him threatened to swallow him whole. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, but he forced his face to stay calm, even defiant. He couldn’t let panic take hold—not now.
Jihoon forced a small smile through his mounting nerves, feeling the crushing pressure on his heels. Yet even amid his very real fear, a strange exhilaration coursed through him.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
What a huge time sink. Marooned, I wish,
B+ E+ F+~| E+_D+ B+_D+ E+~|
Yet I question why I’m still having fun!
Each note in his mind pulsed with adrenaline, carrying him further into madness. He sprinted harder, weaving around jagged rocks and sliding down rough slopes. He could practically feel the tremors of the approaching stampede, but there was no way out, no detour left. He’d have to keep running, his only hope being to stay just ahead of the deluge.
He could feel the raw fear in his gut, though his expression refused to show it, his face set in focused determination. There was no turning back now, no slowing down. His only option was forward, no matter how dangerous the path became.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
I am in the zone. A vessel of death.
B+ D+~~| B+_A+ B+_G A+_B+~B+|
Like a train with no brakes that can’t stop
Jihoon’s mind eventually entered a razor-sharp state of focus, a single-minded drive to navigate the treacherous terrain ahead of him. Every movement was deliberate, his body twisting and pivoting as he leapt across jagged rocks and dashed down steep slopes with the precision of someone whose very life depended on it.
He took each step with calculated urgency, never wasting a motion, buying himself whatever fleeting seconds he could manage with his own efforts.
G_F# E_D E~| E_G_E B+~~|
All the skills I hone, will carry my quest
His entire being was tuned to the rhythm in his mind, each beat guiding his actions. The unforgiving path demanded high-precision maneuvers, and he delivered, dodging loose rocks and weaving past obstacles that would have otherwise slowed him down. Even his 70-ish average Physical Attributes seemed barely enough to keep up, but he pushed to the limit. His body a single, honed instrument working in sync with his intentions.
Yet for a moment, Jihoon risked a glance back, hoping to gauge the distance he’d gained. But the sight behind him stopped his heart cold if he didn’t have too much urgency to break the ice-cold grip on his heart.
B+ E+ F+~| E+_D+ B+_D+ E+~|
Wait, do they have twice the time to that of a clock!?
The top three were far dangerously closer than he’d estimated—mere minutes away from overtaking him. His original calculation of five minutes had been a dangerous overestimation, and they’d halved that with terrifying ease already.
The tension sharpened, an electric thrill running through him even as his face remained unflinching. He couldn’t afford the luxury of fear, not with the storm bearing down on him. Refocused, shifting gears in his mind. He had to squeeze virtually any second he had left.
|D D D C_D| C D C F|
|D D D C_D| C D F G_A+|
|D D D C_D| C D C F|
|F_E D~~| F_E F_E D~| F_E D~~|
The introduction verse refrained once more. This time he was utterly wordless of anything to say in face of what’s he running away from. As if facing the initial fear and realized that he had never once gotten away from it to begin with. And that he was still afraid of it the same. All empty bravado from beginning to near the end.
D+ D+~~| C+~~~| B+~~~|B#+ D+~~| C+~~~|
Fear~, dread~, awe~, despair~, hate~.
D F_G_F D_C D|
Death that I Deserve Truly
D+ D+~~| C+~~~| B+~~~|B#+ D+~~| C+~~~|
Obsession~, wrath~, rage~, contempt~, pain~.
D F_G_F D_C D|
Death that I Deserve Truly
The gap between him and those chasing him was shrinking. He had held illusions of invincibility, of some heroic surge that would see him claim victory. And now, here he was, seconds away from being trampled beneath the weight of the very challenge he’d claimed he could surpass.
If he failed here, it wouldn’t be because the world had turned against him, nor some unfair disadvantage. He was the one who’d invited it, beckoned the storm with all its fury.
The words hammering into him as he pushed onward, his body nearly exhausted, and the sounds of the impending storm behind him only growing louder. This race had transformed from a show of prowess to a reminder of his limitations.
However, as his mind solely focused on what’s ahead, he comes to see that he is returning back to the start of the mountain path again. That this isn’t yet his end just yet.
But immediately, another obstacle reappeared on his path again. The same giant scorpion boss sentinel that he evaded past back when he first arrived here during Lap 2. Had he just destroyed it with when he had his Linked Song Magic in effect, he wouldn’t have ended up cornered like this.
Yet… Jihoon seems to brighten up despite the hopeless situation. Because, he is going to finalizing this melody that he had been composing mentally in his mind, and performed by his Doppelgangers onboard the helicopter. Seemingly suicidally approaching the Scorpius, while the stampede of sentinels just seconds left from crashing on him.
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
Almost, made it
C C A+ A+| D+ D+_D+ D+_D+ D+_D+|
I might gonna win
D_A+_D A+~~| C_A+_C A+~~|
I can, taste it.
A+_G_A+_F E_F_E_C D~|
All I need to do is to step on in!
With the ending completed. Jihoon finalized the melody into Song Magic which the System register as one. Now no longer just a mere song, it now has power.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Death that I Deserve Truly
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 60):
-+[10*MAG]% to all Physical Attributes,
Effect becomes 2*[10*MAG]% at danger, 3*[10*MAG]% at critical.
-Damage received is reduce by 80% for the duration. Becomes 95% at danger, 99% at critical.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
The melody’s intense rhythm pushed through him, transforming his exhaustion into fierce energy as he charged toward the scorpion sentinel. There was no turning back. The stampede of sentinels closing in, the scorpion poised to strike, and the unyielding path ahead and everything that had trapped him moments ago had become fuel for his resolve.
The impossible, suffocating weight lifted, and all he had left to do was let the melody carry him forward.