CHAPTER 1 - A World Only I See
-I'm Kim Jaehyun, a 24 year old man born from a family of great honor. For many generations our family had produced strong individuals that had helped in defending us against the incursions.
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⸢ My Pockets' Depth ⸥
Rank: D
"The depths of my pocket is that of those I desire."
-Store anything the user desires that meets the requirements.
-The user must have a full comprehension of the object to store it.
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-'My Pockets' Depth' is the ability I am born with. Due to the restriction imposed on it, it is seen as a low ranked skill, thus, I'm viewed as a failure.
...
My thoughts drifted through my mind as I laid down on the floor exhausted. Specifically from my daily routine of understanding a collection of basic tools, and a hellish training to try and catch up to my colleagues, in an attempt to be at least useful. As thoughts drifted apart, everything became an ambiguous scene, it became heavy as if I was sinking deeper and deeper. The deeper I go, the darker things became. I felt as if I was about to lose myself.
Then, there was light, a light so deep that if I tried to reach it I will lose myself from these train of thoughts in my mind. Even if I felt like that was the case, I still yearned to reach that light. As the light was so captivating and it felt so complicated, yet so comforting.
As I reached out to the light, everything flashed before my eyes. As each moment passed by, it became more vivid and clearer. The train of thoughts came to a halt, it was calm. I felt enlightened and everything was clear. Then a sound pierced through the calmness. It sounded like a voice, a voice so ancient it felt vivid, a voice that was so familiar as it was the first voice you will hear right after you are born.
['Congratulation! You have explored the deepest depths of your soul and found your stigma.']
['You will now be rewarded.']
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⸢ Mind's Eye ⸥
Rank: EX+
"Eyes that see the truth. Those that have seen the void are those that had witnessed creation."
-Allows the user to peek into anything the user sees.
-Give the user a full comprehension of anything that falls into their gaze.
-Gives the user resistance against mental attack.
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[Alert!]
[The skill 'My Pockets' Depth' is evolving due to your stigma's awakening.]
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⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥
Rank: EX+
"To peek into the void is to peek into creation. Its vast complexity complements its simplicity.
The mind becomes a mush, returning from whence everything came to be."
-Store anything the user desires that meets the requirements.
-The user must have a full comprehension of the object to store it.
-Provides the user of instant recollection of memories.
-Creates a backup of the consciousness of the user.
-Gives the user resistance against mental attack.
-Protects the user from skills that peek into the them.
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As these messages popped up, everything began to collapse. It was as if I was waking from a dream. I tried reaching out my arms, trying to grab onto something in a sense, however it was meaningless as I woke up from my slumber.
...
Upon opening my eyes, everything was clearer, looking simpler than it ever did, I tried my best to recall everything from what I think was a dream.
"What just happened? Was it all just a dream?"
"No, that cannot be. Everything felt so vivid, it was like all of it happened inside my subconscious. And why does everything seem so much more clearer now?"
"There is only one way to find out if it was real or not. There is nothing to lose if I were to check."
-Open Status Window-
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'Kim Jaehyun'
Title:
Stigma: ⸢ Mind's Eye ⸥
Skills: ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥
Stats: STR(12), DEF(13), SPD(12), END(15), INT(25)
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"It really did happen. I really did awaken my stigma and managed to evolve my skill."
"Let's try to test out my newly awakened skillset."
I looked at the nearby broadsword that I meticulously studied last night. Trying to understand every single detail down to the atom, to no avail.
[You gained a full comprehension of the object 'Silver Broadsword'.]
[You have fulfilled the requirement for the use of ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥.]
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
[Will you store 'Silver Broadsword' within ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥?]
[Yes / No]
"Hmm... seems like its requirement is the same as 'My Pockets' Depth '."
[Yes]
[Storing 'Silver Broadsword'...]
[Stored 'Silver Broadsword']
-Open ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥-
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⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥
Items:
'Silver Broadsword'
'Iron-clad Sword'
'Compound Bow'
'Iron Tipped Arrow(28)'
Skills:
Memories:
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"It really did changed a lot. It seems I can store other skills as well."
"Does that mean that with my eyes, I could build up the skills that will help in preventing incursions from happening?"
"Well, I guess I have change to up my routine in order to gain the skills I need."
...
"I had already cancelled my usual raid party. They agreed as I have nothing to offer even if I am there."
"For now, joining the dojo should help and serve as my basic training."
"My aim is to learn multiple martial arts and basic skills, such as cooking, craftsmanship and marksmanship."
As he made his way to the dojo, he calmly observed the scene before him. He saw the people doing their jobs. Some are small, menial, and mundane, while others are big, hectic and stressful. He observed everything with ⸢ Mind's Eye ⸥. Consequentially, his ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥ activated and stored the skills in front of him for later use.
[Stored the skill 'Amateur's Cooking'.]
[Stored the skill 'Fixer's Handicraft'.]
[Stored the skill 'Basic Crafting'.]
"It really can store skills. If so learning the skills I need will be easy."
"If making my way to the dojo was already this fruitful, what more would it be if I joined?"
Not long after, he arrived at his destination. He marveled at the sight of the building that exudes discipline. Then, took a step a forward and asked at the front desk if they were taking in new students.
"Uhm... May I ask, are you still taking in new students?"
"Ah, yes we do accept new students."
"Awesome! I would like to join please."
"Okay then, please wait a moment while I call the master to introduce him to you. While you are waiting, please answer this form for us to assess your goals while attending in this dojo."
"Thank you very much!"
As he waited for the arrival of the master, he wondered as to why he felt so anxious. Was it because he tried to anticipate the appearance of the master? Or was it the aura that he felt after entering the building?
He had finished filling up the form given to him, leaving him with nothing to do but patiently wait. As thought raced through his mind, the silence was broken by a familiar voice.
"I am sorry for the wait. Now, let me introduce you to the master of the dojo, Choi Jin-Seong."
"Hello! I am Choi Jin-Seong, the master of this dojo, may I ask your name?"
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'Choi Jin-seong'
Title: Silver Streak
Stigma: ⸢ Inquisitive Soul ⸥
Skills: ⸢ Eye of Questions and Answers ⸥, ⸢ Formless Blade ⸥
Stats: STR(88), DEF(82), SPD(96), END(85), INT(99)
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⸢ Inquisitive Soul ⸥
Rank: S
"It is the nature for the human soul to be curious. To seek what is true and what is not."
-It tells the user what is true and what is not.
-It gives the user immunity to illusions and mental attacks.
-It gives a slight resistance to peering abilities.
----
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⸢ Eye of Questions and Answers ⸥
Rank: S+
"To question is nature for humans, they are curious beings after all. They say; ask,
and you'll get the answer."
-Answers the questions the user ask.
-Provides the user with information.
----
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⸢ Formless Blade ⸥
Rank: S
"Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, my side, and the truth."
-Increases the users' sword mastery by 90%.
-Provides the user with minor foresight.
-Increases the user's STR by 15% when active.
-Attacks may have a chance to apply "Fatally Drawn".
~Fatally Drawn - reduces the defense, and attack of the afflicted person.
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At the mention of the name, I felt shivers down my spine. The name Choi, it is one of the name of the heroes that defended us from the very first incursion, just like my ancestor did.
"Hello! I am Kim Jaehyun. Uhm, is it alright to ask Choi-nim?"
"Sure ask ahead, as long as I can ask you one as well."
"Then I will ask away, when you said Choi, do you mean the Choi family that is one of the prominent families?"
"Ah! That question again, the answer to that is yes. I am part of the Choi family and is second in the succession line. Now to my question."
"Oh... you did say you'd ask me as well. Then, what is the question?"
"Okay then, what is a member of the famous Kim family doing here?"
"Well, I've come here to become stronger. I did not notice that the owner of this dojo is a member of the great Choi family, and not only that but the second in line of succession. So, will please let me join your dojo?"
"Ah, I see. Sure, but if you dare to try and steal information about the Choi family, you will leave this dojo in a state none will recognize."
"Yes, yes. Though I did not come for that purpose."
"Then what are you waiting for? Come on in and greet your fellow students."
...
(Only a few weeks had passed by but he already improved a lot from the first time he walked into this dojo. During this couple weeks, I had learned a thing or two about him. For starters, he is the infamous failure of the Kim family, I could see as to why he didn't come here to steal information about us, but he came here to become stronger.)
(The second thing I learned about him is that he has a very... disturbing, to put it, skill. A skill that will make you question your very purpose and abilities. At first, he really couldn't perform any better than his fellow students. And then, after watching a few spars between the others, myself included, he was able to push his colleagues back when it was his turn to have a spar. He was able to find openings you would normally not notice, as well as improve upon the techniques and skills of the people he had observed.)
(Because of this, I am starting to wonder why was he even considered a failure if he was this good. This made me think, with the standards of his family, this talent will make it impossible to mark him as a failure. Instead, he could have awakened a stigma or skill that the Kim family doesn't know about. The fact that my 'Eye of Questions and Answers' can't seem to peer into him supports this theory.)
"Hey! Jaehyun-ssi, let's have another spar!"
"Sure, I will be there in a bit, Chul-Moo-ssi!"
It had only been a few weeks and I had already improved so much. Not only did I gain a lot of stats and skills belonging to Choi-nim. I also learned a few things about 'Mind's Endless Void' and 'Mind's Eye'. For one, is that once a skill is stored and used, it will be added to the skills I could use in a way more refined and perfected version. I could also merge the skills i have in storage to further improve it. Secondly, 'Mind's Eye' could pick apart and show the weaknesses of the abilities it sees.
Time to distribute the stat points I have and go have a spar with Chul-Moo-ssi.
-Open Status Window-
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'Kim Jaehyun'
Title:
Stigma: ⸢ Mind's Eye ⸥
Skills: ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥, ⸢ Otherworldly Cooking ⸥, ⸢ Mender's Touch ⸥, ⸢ Advance Crafting ⸥, ⸢ Liberation Unsheathe ⸥
Stats: STR(48), DEF(55), SPD(49), END(49), INT(53)
Stat Points: 15
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⸢ Liberation Unsheathe ⸥
Rank: SS+
"But the whole point of liberation is that you get out. Restructure your life. Act by yourself."
-Increases the users' sword mastery by 120%
-Gives the user the effect "Blade Resonance"
~Blade Resonance - increases the stats of the user (STR, SPD, INT)
based on the immersion of the user with a sword
-Provides the user the state "Faint Future" when active
~Faint Future - allows the user to view into the near future
-Provides the user of paths that lead to the opening of enemies
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'Kim Jaehyun'
Title:
Stigma: ⸢ Mind's Eye ⸥
Skills: ⸢ Mind's Endless Vault ⸥, ⸢ Otherworldly Cooking ⸥, ⸢ Mender's Touch ⸥, ⸢ Advance Crafting ⸥, ⸢ Liberation Unsheathe ⸥
Stats: STR(51), DEF(58), SPD(52), END(52), INT(56)
Stat Points: 0
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A new arc in my life has now officially opened, let's see how this will us.