Paragon of Skills

The crystal in my hand pulses—low and steady, like the slow beat of a heart that hasn't quite made up its mind whether to keep going or not.

[Fire Veins – Silver Rank – Support Skill]

Would you like to absorb Fire Veins?

I don't even blink.

"Yes."

The moment I say it, it stops being a crystal.

It becomes heat. No—pain. Pure, white-hot, under-the-skin agony. My blood surges like molten metal shot through narrow pipes. I feel every vein in my arms. In my chest. My neck. My skull.

My vision whites out.

I grit my teeth so hard they almost crack.

You have absorbed Fire Veins.
Fire Veins – Silver Rank – Support Skill
Fire Veins – Level 1

Then something strange happens.

Fire Veins has been absorbed into the Hell's Sword Skill Set.

Fusion triggered.

Veins of Fire – Gold Rank – Support Skill (Set Completion Bonus)

Veins of Fire – Level 1

Everything stops.

Then everything starts.

Because suddenly, I see it.

Red lines begin crawling under my skin, spiraling from my wrists up my arms, snaking across my chest, wrapping my neck and shoulders like veins made of magma. They don't burn. Not exactly. But they pulse—as if magma has become a part of me.

And then the monsters roar.

Two of them—Magma Claws, each twice my size—lumber into view, dragging those long, jagged arms like they're itching to peel stone off the walls.

I summon both Hell's Swords.

The blades don't just appear—they scream into being. The flame on them is hotter than it's ever been.

A moment ago I was without mana, but now…

My veins feel like they're on fire, I realize, feeling the thrum of mana in them.

The first Magma Claw swings, but I'm already past it. Fire Walk explodes beneath my feet. The flame veins help me steer the Skill with a precision I most certainly did not have before.

I slam the first Hell's Sword through the back of its knee. The limb buckles.

I twist mid-step. The second sword arcs upward—Fire Slash detonates point-blank into its chest. The entire beast jolts, stumbles, then topples backward.

One down.

I spin to face the second one.

Lava glows in its throat. I throw up Fire Shield just in time. It catches the blast, but the mana recoil sends me skidding backward across melted stone.

My hands shake.

I lower Fire Shield and dash forward again.

Fire Armor flares to life when a claw slides over my shoulder.

Even Fire Armor and Fire Shield feel much stronger than before, I realize.

I adjust my stance. Fire Walk bursts again. I close the gap and strike.

Both blades plunge deep into the monster's chest.

The monster lets out a choked screech, then falls forward and dies.

I exhale, chest heaving. Both Hell's Swords flicker, then stabilize again.

My veins still glow.

I look down at my hands where I see magma-like energy in-between those lines.

Footsteps echo behind me.

I don't turn. I don't need to. I already felt them coming.

Sir Greyson.

Felisia.

She steps around the corner first, her turquoise hair matted with sweat, eyes wide as saucers. Sir Greyson is behind her, and even through the steam, I see it: awe.

They saw the fight.

Felisia's voice comes first. Barely more than a whisper.

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"Did you bring all five to level one-hundred?"

I nod.

She stares at the marks on my arms. The glowing red veins. Her hand hovers over her chest, where the Great Tide Bracelet still glints on her wrist.

"That Skill," she says. "What is it?"

"It's Veins of Fire. I've received a tip from this old lady at the market. She said if I absorbed Fire Veins after reaching level one-hundred in the Hell's Sword set, it would basically unlock a Secret Skill, Veins of Fire."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Felisia asks, confused.

"I asked her the same question," I shrug. "But no. Veins of Fire is apparently a Gold Skill?"

"Fire Veins is Silver, and pretty useless," Sir Greyson frowns. "I've seen a few users of the Hell's Sword Classes, but… I've never heard of this. Not even a whiff. You realize, Young Bocaj, you just gave away priceless knowledge?"

Considering I have The Grimoire Extraordinaire with me, I don't really care about revealing such a detail to two people I care about.

"I mean, if you two ever want to trade it with better knowledge about some Secret Skill that you two could use, go ahead. I don't really care."

Selfishly, I think that bringing the entire set to level one-hundred is already so hard that knowing about this would change things for a very small subset of people. Plus, I'll be honest, I don't really fear other races as much as monsters. I want to help people, to be a great Knight, and to do that, I'll need to collaborate with others.

I mean, listen, of course, I might have to kill a few Valerius Shellfords in my time, but not everyone is a massive idiot like the guy.

* * *

A middle-aged woman stands with her arms crossed, staring into the distance while the ground beneath her rumbles—lava bubbling deep in the earth like a volcano ready to erupt. "He's done it," she mutters, shaking her head. "I can't believe that guy has already done it."

She's referring to none other than Jacob. This is the same merchant who sold him the crystal shards.

Now, she strolls across the mountain peaks. A few monsters, each with several hundred levels to their name, glance her way and then quickly avert their eyes. They recognize a top predator when they see one.

"I don't think I told him about the dungeon," the woman says, scratching her chin. "I don't think I mentioned that a special chamber has opened—and that only he can enter it."

She looks up at the sky and sighs. She has her suspicions about the kind of incredible Skill the boy has acquired. In fact, he might be the only person alive who knows the history behind it.

For a moment, she's tempted to take him under her wing. But a sheltered rose rots and wilts before it can bloom again. She wants Jacob to find his way to her on his own.

Still, she realizes she should have told him about the dungeon. "Well," she says, "I should have at least warned him that it's probably going to kill him. Skill or no skill. That would be a pity."

She shrugs and keeps walking. "I promised I'd fetch the ingredients before coming back." She sighs again. "The old man won't be happy if I don't find those damn foxes."

* * *

My boots grind ash into the stone as we walk slowly up the long incline toward Emberdeep Cavern's exit. The glowing veins in the walls fade behind us. Felisia walks slightly ahead of me, her turquoise braid swinging with each step, while Sir Greyson holds pace beside me with his arms folded, his eyes sharp despite the fatigue that clings to them.

Felisia keeps glancing at us—at me—and at the red lines still faintly pulsing beneath my skin. Veins of Fire doesn't deactivate immediately, it seems.

"Does it hurt?" she asks at last, matching my stride. "The veins, I mean."

"Not really."

She smirks. "You know what I mean. Back in the training yard, and again just now—you point out flaws like it's second nature. Are you sure you've never had a formal Tutor?"

I shrug. "I've studied a lot. My master made me break everything down—movement, flow, reaction. He was obsessed with theory."

"What are your plans now, Young Bocaj?" Sir Greyson asks.

"I have to bring Veins of Fire to level 100 before I do anything else," I say.

We reach the mouth of the cavern. The stone flattens under our feet, cooled now, distant from the heat and pressure of the lower levels. I'm bone-tired, but I keep moving.

That's when I hear the footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate. Not heavy, but confident—the kind of stride you only hear from people who think they own the ground they walk on.

Felisia stops just ahead of me. Sir Greyson's hand moves to his sword.

Then the voice cuts through the air, sharp and lilting.

"Well, well. Look at this sweet little group." Calantha steps into view, brushing ash from her sleeve like it offends her more than the company.

Sir Greyson's jaw tightens, but he stays silent.

Calantha's smile widens. "And you, Sir Greyson. I thought you were the cautious one. I know my poor little sister is just young and gullible, but you, darling, are a Knight."

"What are you talking about?" Sir Greyson asks and he sees the black Knight, Calantha's bodyguard, enter the scene.

"You two, so cute, so naive."

I don't like where this is going, I think, realizing that Calantha is looking straight at me now.

"Felisia, I can't wait for you to join the Sky Hunt," the girl says, turning her gaze to her younger sister now. "I can't wait to pry my bracelet from your corpse."

"We'll see about that," I say, narrowing my eyes.

"No," Calantha smiles venomously and shakes her head. "You won't see anything, dear."

"What's the meaning of this?" Sir Greyson asks, unsheating his sword from the scabbard. "Is this a threat?"

Calantha shakes her head.

"On behalf of the Guilds of Clearwater and the City Watch," she says, stepping forward, "I'm placing the boy under arrest."

I blink. "You're what?"

The Black Knight steps out behind her, featureless helm gleaming. He says nothing. Doesn't need to. Just his presence makes the ground feel heavier.

Felisia moves fast, stepping between me and her sister. "On what grounds?"

Calantha's smile is thin as paper. She lifts a scroll, but she doesn't unroll it. Her eyes are on me.

"Crimes against the Shellford family," she says sweetly. "Unauthorized dissolving of a mining contract. Unauthorized entry into Clearwater City. And, of course…" She lets the silence draw out before adding, "Murder."

Felisia stiffens. "That's ridiculous. Those aren't even formal charges. Where's the Guild representative?"

"The charges will be filed shortly," Calantha replies, voice honeyed. "But the warrant is already active. Signed off this morning by the Guild Association." She takes a step closer. "And just in case your precious Tutor feels like resisting—"

The Black Knight raises his hand and a dark spear coalesces in it.

"Who gave you this order?" Felisia demands. "I'm sure Bocaj has a very good reason to—"

Calantha's gaze flicks toward her, amused. "Don't be naïve. This isn't just about the charges."

Then she looks at me again, and her smile sharpens.

"It's about his real name. He didn't just lie to the city, Felisia, he lied to you as well."

Calantha takes another step.

"Jacob Cloud. You're not who you say you are. And you've been lying to every noble in this city since the moment you got here."

The air stills.

Felisia turns to me slowly.

My jaw tightens.

But I don't deny it.

I don't say a word.

And the Black Knight takes a step forward.