40. The Fifth Specialization. (3)

“But, Seong Hoon, are you really okay? The wound on your stomach looked pretty serious.”

Seong Gyu-hyuk looked down at my abdomen.

I chuckled and lifted my T-shirt to show him.

No wound, just a flat stomach.

My six-pack was quite visible.

“I’m fine.”

Seong Gyu-hyuk’s eyebrows furrowed strangely, but he smiled.

“Seong Hoon, the more I learn about you, the more surprised I am. I clearly saw your stomach torn open, yet here you are.”

I shrugged and smiled.

“It wasn’t just torn; there was a gaping hole. I didn’t expect it to heal this fast, but here we are.”

Health 100 achievement skill.

Hallelujah.

Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled and looked me in the eye.

“…I don’t know how to put it. I’m both envious and reassured by the abilities you possess. It’s a bit late to say this, but I hope we can continue to work together. You really helped us out during the morning operation.”

He extended his hand.

I nodded and shook it.

Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled and said:

“You seem to be going out. Where are you headed? Do you need any of my men?”

I shook my head.

“No, just going for some fresh air, right around here. I’ll be fine. I’ll go alone.”

Seong Gyu-hyuk nodded and gestured for me to wait a moment.

What is it?

Seong Gyu-hyuk walked to the reception desk at the hospital entrance and retrieved a box from under the counter where a few nurses were sitting.

Sticking out of the box were…

My weapons.

Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled and said:

“The leader bat must have dropped your swords when it thrashed around. Our men found your bow and Ingram scattered around and brought them back.”

My weapons.

Great.

I took the box from Seong Gyu-hyuk and started strapping them on.

The lifting belt with two swords, the quiver, the arrow case, and the leather straps for my thighs.

After attaching the Ingram, Seong Gyu-hyuk said:

“Seong Hoon, your duffel bag had a lot of bullet holes. Ga-yeon filled each magazine for you. I told her to leave the springs alone, but she said you always carry them loaded.”

…Huh?

I was kneeling on one knee and slowly looked up at Seong Gyu-hyuk.

There was a strange nuance in his words.

Seong Gyu-hyuk was biting his lower lip and smiling.

Then, he turned and walked away.

As he walked, he said:

“Ga-yeon doesn’t have a boyfriend right now.”

Thud, thud.

…Why do I need to know that this beautiful woman doesn’t have a boyfriend?

…I’ve never looked at Seong Ga-yeon that way?

No, I’m busy.

I shook my head, tightened the strap on my thigh, and stood up.

The weight felt familiar and comforting.

Foreigners entering and exiting the hospital smiled or nodded at me.

They seemed to be civilians, not soldiers.

Apparently, I’ve become quite well-known among these people after this morning’s battle.

I nodded back and left the hospital.

It was late at night.

Checking my phone, the battery was at 7%.

…I need to charge it urgently.

It was almost midnight.

Other areas of the base were eerily empty except for the hospital, which was suddenly flooded with patients.

I crossed the road and slowly walked toward the runway.

The barracks with its sides collapsed were visible.

I could see U.S. soldiers, all looking quite exhausted.

From their expressions and movements, it seemed there were no survivors in the debris.

I waved or nodded at the U.S. soldiers who acknowledged me, then walked onto the runway.

“Phew.”

It’s so quiet.

After walking a bit, there were few people around.

The hangars and other buildings lining the right side of the runway had lights and street lamps on, providing some visibility.

“…Alright, let’s see…”

I’ll test the Space Claw…

…Ah.

I forgot.

I said:

“Achievements.”

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Achievements (16/???)

1. First Specialization Obtained.

2. 10 Evil Bodies Eliminated.

3. 100 Evil Bodies Eliminated.

4. Second Specialization Obtained.

5. Title Level 1 Reached.

6. Health 100 Achieved.

7. 1000 Evil Bodies Eliminated.

8. Third Specialization Obtained.

9. Title Level 2 Reached.

10. Title Level 3 Reached.

11. Sensory 100 Achieved.

12. Fourth Specialization Obtained.

13. Spirit 100 Achieved.

14. Strength 100 Achieved.

15. Fifth Specialization Obtained.

16. Title Level 4 Reached.

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Hmm.

Achievements 15 and 16 have been unlocked.

Looks like I haven’t eliminated 10,000 Evil Bodies yet.

I was hoping the Evil Body achievement would unlock, but it’s a bit disappointing.

The Evil Body achievement gives Soul Tattoo rewards.

I’ve hated the Soul Tattoo for a long time, but now that it’s helped me recover from injuries…

Tattoo, you’re the best.

Give me more!

It’s a shame there’s nothing left, but I’m still disappointed.

Still, I got the fifth specialization, so I’ll achieve it soon enough.

I opened the 16th achievement first.

This one increases my inventory slots.

I still don’t know what this inventory is for, but I’ll keep increasing it, and it will surely be useful someday.

After confirming that my inventory had increased to 5 slots, I looked at the remaining achievements.

Honestly, I’m excited.

Most of the specialization achievements have given me items.

And those items have all been incredibly useful.

…Wait.

Hold on.

Now that I think about it, I’m not wearing gloves.

I only noticed now while thinking about items.

The projectile replication belt isn’t wrapped around my quiver either.

Did I lose them?

I immediately opened my inventory.

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[Soul Stone – 9683] [Dalgaram Gloves]

[Projectile Replication Belt] [] []

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“Ah…”

They’re all here.

…Do they automatically go into my inventory when they’re not on my body?

Swoosh…

That would be great.

Is that how it works?

It must be, since I haven’t put them back in the inventory, yet they’re all here.

I chuckled and took out the gloves and replication belt, attaching them to my hands and quiver.

Then, I opened the achievement window.

Now, only 15 is left.

“Phew.”

Give me an item.

Item.

What will it be this time?

I clicked on achievement 15, the fifth specialization achievement.

A message appeared.

[You have obtained Dalgaram.]

…?

…Dalgaram?

What is it?

I opened my inventory again.

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[Soul Stone – 9683] [Dalgaram]

[] [] []

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…Dalgaram is in there?

I can only see the text, so I have no idea what it is.

Is Dalgaram some kind of wind-based item?

I tilted my head and clicked on the Dalgaram slot.

Instantly, a grayish-white vortex began to swirl around my hand.

A small vortex, about a foot in diameter.

It was quite bright, faintly glowing, making my hand clearly visible in the dark runway.

I looked at the vortex swirling around my hand.

…I’ve experienced many strange things since gaining my abilities, but this is a first.

What is this?

An item?

What is it?

I just stood there, waiting for something to happen.

But nothing happened.

The faintly glowing grayish-white wind continued to swirl around my palm and back of my hand.

“…What…”

What is this?

Am I supposed to hit something with it?

Is it some kind of wind blast?

I extended my hand forward, as if shooting a wind blast.

At that moment, the vortex spread out from my hand.

The faintly glowing wind swirled and descended to the ground.

It began to take shape.

It formed rapidly, from bottom to top, and from top to bottom.

Before it was fully formed, I recognized what appeared in front of me.

I froze.

What appeared in front of me.

The faintly glowing wind, swirling and stacking, formed something.

Smooth and sharp.

Beautiful and combat-ready.

It was a snow-white motorcycle with two wheels, one in front and one in the back.

About two meters long.

Thick on the sides but sleek in appearance.

Two leather straps, exactly the size for magazines, in front of the black saddle.

“…Crazy…”

A motorcycle.

A motorcycle appeared!

The agility-focused specialization, Space Explorer.

The skill is a movement ability.

The special feature is a means of transportation!

Crazy…!

I approached the motorcycle, Dalgaram, with a sense of awe.

The engine was completely off.

There was no key slot.

…How do I start it?

I placed my hand on the handlebars.

Instantly, the engine started.

Vroom-

It sounded like a lion’s low roar.

“…Phew.”

So, touching it starts the engine.

It probably means only I can start Dalgaram.

I slowly moved my hand from the handlebars to the back of the saddle.

“…?”

At the back of the saddle.

There was a streamlined rectangular box.

Opening the handle, I saw a small loop.

“…What is this?”

…They never tell you how to use these things.

I have to figure it out myself.

I hooked my finger into the loop and pulled.

The inside opened, revealing a black hole.

Swoosh-

It was sucking in air.

What is this?

I couldn’t tell what it did just by looking at the hole.

…It looks like some kind of storage space…

I paused and looked down.

On my thigh, the Ingram.

I took out the Ingram and tried to fit it into the slot.

But I shook my head.

Ah, the Ingram is too big…

The Ingram disappeared.

It vanished completely from my hand.

And the door clicked shut.

“Eh.”

I opened the box at the back of the saddle again.

And pulled the loop.

“Oh.”

Instead of the loop, the Ingram was in my hand.

…It’s a weapon storage space.

Clearly, this small box couldn’t fit the Ingram.

But it did.

And when I pulled the loop, it immediately appeared in my hand.

…So, it can store weapons larger than its volume.

“…Ah.”

Holding the Ingram, I stood up.

In front of me, heavy yet sleek.

The motorcycle, Dalgaram.

I smiled, admiring the beautiful form of Dalgaram.