SWNOVELXO Chapter 4
Episode 4: Inheritance of Abilities
A chill ran down my spine as my muscles began to tremble.
A goblin emerged ahead of me.
‘Where did it come from?’
I hadn’t even noticed it.
It had appeared right in front of me, and yet I was oblivious to it.
And this goblin looked strange.
The goblins I was used to seeing from other gates had green skin.
– Thud!
But the goblin before my eyes, who had planted a double-headed axe into the ground and placed its hands on the handle, was different.
Its skin was blue.
Was it a mutation hiding in this cave?
A slight sense of fear washed over me, driven by my primal instincts.
I scanned the surroundings by rolling my eyes without moving my head.
It felt odd.
The goblins I knew were typically small and lived in groups.
However, this one was not small at all.
I stand at 186cm, and this goblin was slightly taller than me.
In fact, instead of being part of a group, it stood all alone.
This goblin seemed to be guarding something.
As if it couldn’t allow me to see the end of this cave, it did not initiate an attack.
I immediately gripped my sword with both hands and swiftly approached the goblin, swinging my sword strongly from the bottom right to the top left.
However, my attack was immediately blocked by the goblin’s double-headed axe, causing my hands to shake and a dull ache in my deltoids.
The goblin lightly backed away from me.
Then it raised its axe and charged at me.
“GRAAAAAA!”
I quickly rolled to the right.
– Bang!
The goblin continued to swing its double-headed axe without pause.
I had to absorb the impact through my sword as I blocked all its attacks.
“Ugh!”
I could feel my heart racing.
I created some distance between the goblin and me while holding my sword with one hand.
With a two-handed grip, I could deliver a powerful strike, but I was severely lacking in speed.
The goblin charged again.
I dodged.
I slipped behind the goblin and unleashed my most powerful technique.
‘Three consecutive attacks!’
“GRAAAAAAAAA!!”
The goblin responded by swinging its axe in a spin, landing a critical blow against me.
“Ah!”
The goblin’s exhaustion was palpable.
“Ha… So even a mutated low-level monster can become this tough? Is becoming a mutation that hard to deal with?”
“GRARARARARARARARA!!!”
The goblin let out a loud howl.
That bizarre screech was horrifying.
It felt as if it was tearing my eardrums apart.
The goblin approached me, stomping powerfully.
– Whoosh!
The double-headed axe came down from above.
‘Three consecutive attacks.’
– Clang! – Clang! – Clang!
I barely managed to fend off all of the goblin’s increased-speed attacks.
‘… My right arm is straining now… at this rate…’
The goblin firmly gripped its axe with both hands.
‘I have no time to think!… I have to grip my sword with my left hand…’
I raised my sword in my left hand.
The goblin took a small step back before once again bringing that massive double-headed axe down.
– Whoosh!
But this time, I was quicker.
I slid right between the goblin’s legs, successfully slicing its right ankle.
However, in that process, my sword broke into two.
The goblin was now kneeling on its right knee.
Without hesitation, I gripped the broken sword in reverse and plunged the sharp end into the goblin’s nape.
“GRARARARARARARAAAAA!!!”
The goblin fell, letting out a final cry.
I picked up the goblin’s double-headed axe and delivered a finishing blow to its back.
– Thud!
Goblin blood splattered onto my body.
“Hah… Hah… Phew…”
– Ding!
[You have defeated the King’s Agent (Lv.21).]
[You leveled up from 10 to 17 by defeating the King’s Agent.]
[You have overcome a difference of 10 levels and defeated a monster.]
[A corresponding reward will be given.]
[You can choose one reward from three random options.]
[Rewards]
1. Skill – Inheritance of Abilities
2. Skill – Attribute Bestowal
3. Item – Weapon imbued with magic
Choices appeared before my eyes.
I thought for a moment, but there was only one clear answer.
Attribute Bestowal seemed like something I could eventually do.
Weapons imbued with magic could even be bought in shops now.
Although they’re incredibly expensive.
I wasn’t sure, but… it seemed like number one was the most advantageous choice since getting it now would be difficult.
‘Choosing option 1: Inheritance of Abilities.’
[You have acquired Inheritance of Abilities (S).]
My instincts had not misled me.
I had chosen an S-rank option.
Could this also be attributed to luck?
But how do I use Inheritance of Abilities?
I approached the goblin’s corpse.
I placed my hand on the goblin’s body and activated the technique.
‘Activating Inheritance of Abilities.’
– Ding!
[You are inheriting abilities from the monster’s corpse.]
[Available abilities for inheritance]
1. Chivalry
2. Bludgeon Mastery
3. Battle Axe Mastery
4. Invisibility
5. Night Vision
A goblin… possessing Chivalry?
Was its non-initiative attack due to this Chivalry?
This is less of an ability and more like a penalty.
So I pass on number one.
Since I fight primarily with a one-handed sword, I will automatically pass on numbers two and three.
That leaves Invisibility and Night Vision…
Night Vision would only be useful in specific situations.
However, Invisibility…
Given that my nerfed ability requires physical contact, having Invisibility would enable me to approach other people more easily.
Perhaps being a mutant means even low-level monsters have some utility.
But why does this goblin possess Invisibility?
It seems to also be a result of the mutation.
I chose to inherit Invisibility.
– Ding!
[You have inherited Invisibility (A).]
It seems the reason I couldn’t see the goblin at first was because of this Invisibility.
But the name is slightly different from what’s commonly known.
It’s widely recognized as “Stealth,” but Invisibility seems to be a bit different.
I opened my status window.
Afterwards, I allocated all my stats into Strength and Agility.
Since I have no magic, I thought Intelligence might not be necessary…
I hadn’t considered Invisibility.
I need to invest a little into Intelligence as well.
‘My Information’
[Checking your information.]
[Information]
Name: Han Shiwoo (21)
Level: 17
Position: Dealer
Stat Points: 7
– Current Stats –
Strength: 2 → 6
Agility: 1 → 3
Intelligence: 1 → 2
Luck: 6
– Acquired Skills –
Dampening – Nerf (EX) LV.1 (Max)
P. Blessing of the System (EX) LV.1 (Max)
Inheritance of Abilities (S) LV.1 (Max)
Invisibility (A) LV.1
P. Basic Swordsmanship (D) LV.3
Three Consecutive Attacks (D) LV.3
P. Junkie’s Grace (D) LV.2
==========
[Allocated stats have been applied.]
A blue light enveloped my body.
I was filled with joy at the realization that I had finally grown.
The goblin I just defeated was a named monster known as the King’s Agent.
Why is it termed the King’s Agent?
I would soon find out.
As I ventured deeper into the cave, I found the surroundings illuminated by torches.
In the center of a wide area lit by torches stood a staircase, and above it was a throne with a broken backrest.
Seated on that throne was a blue-skinned goblin, reminiscent of the King’s Agent outside.
I reached down to grip my weapon with my left hand, only to realize I had left it behind.
As I pondered whether to go back for it, I noticed that the goblin sitting on the throne was already in a state of near death.
“What’s this?..”
I slowly climbed the stairs, approaching the throne.
As expected, this goblin seemed to struggle even to breathe.
I instinctively sensed that this goblin was the boss.
Recognizing that, I immediately grasped the goblin’s neck.
– Thud.
The goblin collapsed.
Its body began to convulse and distort progressively.
That body transformed into a gate.
– Ding!
[You have defeated the Fallen King Lv.1.]
Level 1? A boss? Less powerful than the gatekeeper? Ah…
I realized the reason behind the title of King’s Agent.
I intended to inherit the boss’s abilities, but I wasn’t sure if I could inherit the abilities of a boss that had already transformed into a gate.
“I won’t know unless I try… so let’s give it a shot.”
‘Activating Inheritance of Abilities.’
I extended my hand towards the gate and activated the technique.
– Ding!
[You are inheriting abilities from the monster’s corpse.]
[Available abilities for inheritance]
1. King’s Insight
…
Is the boss only capable of granting one ability?
I reluctantly chose the ability.
However, this ability was truly extraordinary.
[You have obtained King’s Insight (S).]
[Due to King’s Insight (S), you will now receive much greater information going forward.]
I decided it was best to return to the hideout of the Golden Rule first.
I threw my body through the gate to exit.
However… knowing that this gate was created from the goblin’s body made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Once I get back, I will need to wash immediately.
– Ding!
[You have cleared the Fallen Goblin Kingdom.]
**********
It was still dark outside.
Fortunately, I seemed to have found the boss quickly.
If I hadn’t, I could have been fated to shiver in the cold all day.
I hurriedly retraced my steps back to the hideout of the Golden Rule.
“I’m sure there was an entrance around here somewhere?”
I looked around.
Found it.
There should be a manhole cover behind that big tree.
I moved right behind the tree.
But then, a crazy girl I had never seen before opened the manhole cover and crawled out with a bundle on her back.
“Who’s there?!”
“Ah!”
– Clang!