Monday arrived.

"Why is it so soft and cozy..."

My words came out slurred.

I wanted to bury my face in the blankets forever, but instead, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up.

Twelve years old.

The age when I should be eating and growing like a weed.

Can't skip my morning stretches.

"Ugh, I'm so sleepy."

I stretched slowly, cat-like, as if welcoming the morning sun.

To anyone else, it would look like a simple stretch.

But it was different.

Ever since I grasped Ideation, my movements were no longer unconscious.

Opening the Core.

Blood circulated, nerves awakened.

I could feel something spreading throughout my body.

Sleep vanished in an instant as the anatomical schema unfurled before me.

It wasn't just a map of skin, muscle, and bones.

It was a blueprint of my entire being—not only my body but my mind and the core of my existence.

But the map wasn't complete.

Dark mist veiled much of it.

Areas beyond the reach of my Ideation.

From head to toe, most of my body remained shrouded.

'I can't grasp everything yet.'

My Ideation wasn't strong enough.

What if I try to force it?

"Argh."

Morning stretches shouldn't feel like this.

The pain was sharp and unfamiliar, like phantom pain echoing through my nervous system.

I felt like I was damaging my mind.

As I writhed in discomfort, Achilles's voice echoed in my head.

[Don't force it. The Core opens through your mind and Saga. Without completing your Saga, you cannot handle the full flow of Ideation. A person who tries to cross a river without preparation will be swallowed by the current.]

"What happens if I push too hard?"

[Ideation cannot be manipulated with mere tricks. The more impatient you are, the more it will reject you. If you try to expand it recklessly, Ideation will go berserk, pierce the Five Voids, and you will die coughing blood.]

"...That's intense."

[Don't try to deceive or force yourself. Complete your Saga. Growth doesn't come from brute force; true wisdom appears like a reflection on still water. When your story is complete, the dark mist will withdraw of its own accord. That is the path of Ideation.]

So, no shortcuts.

Of course.

I tried to analyze the mist with my Clairvoyance.

I could see through it just fine.

But seeing and reaching are two different things.

'Just because I can see a mountain doesn't mean I can climb it.'

My Ideation reserves were limited.

To reach those obscured areas, I needed more than levels—I needed insight.

[In the end, Ideation without a rich Saga is an empty shell.]

"So... do I just hunt monsters or do good deeds?"

[That's not a Saga. You're oversimplifying the path of a hero. A Saga isn't just a list of actions. It's a process etched into your soul through trials and triumphs.]

I had no idea what he was talking about.

The hero's path was convoluted and frustrating.

Hunters just needed to climb the Tower and level up.

[Back in my day, we didn't have convenient systems or mana tools. We carved our stories into the world with our own two hands. Ideation was our sword, our path. Our stories aligned with the natural order; our footsteps were salvation.]

"Wow. Amazing."

[Why does your tone sound so sarcastic?]

"What? I'm being genuine."

[...]

"Seriously."

[Enough. I can't talk to you.]

Was he sulking?

Even if he did hop into Hayangi's body to glare at me, he'd just look adorable.

But I couldn't deny the truth of his words.

Every time I heard his stories, I felt humbled.

He had climbed the Tower with nothing but grit.

No system, no martial arts, no magic.

Just a resolute spirit.

A hero in the truest sense.

He bore the weight of the world on his shoulders.

What if the modern system hadn't appeared?

The answer was obvious.

We would never reach the Tower's summit.

Monsters would've overrun the earth.

Forests, rivers, and cities—everything would have been reduced to wastelands.

Humanity would vanish.

Just the thought sent chills down my spine.

"Well, I'm awake. Might as well get moving."

I stood up.

My body felt light.

Stretches worked wonders.

No more stiffness, every joint supple.

'Must do this every morning. Great results.'

I am a Hunter.

Not a hero.

Ideation is important, but strength comes from many sources.

And I remembered the sight from yesterday.

The Black Dragon.

I visualized his body.

Steel-like muscles forming precise curves, nerves and meridians intertwining in a living dance.

Beneath his skin, life pulsed like starlight.

That wasn't just a body.

It was a masterpiece imbued with divine intent.

By comparison, my body felt small and weak.

But I wasn't disheartened.

I could change myself.

Every morning, through my stretching routine, I honed my muscles, sculpted my nerves, and refined my meridians.

Every moment, I became the creator of myself.

Striving toward the Heavenly Martial Body.

I'm twelve now.

Small and fragile.

But will I stay that way forever?

I could become a masterpiece that even gods would envy.

The Black Dragon wasn't a wall.

It was my goal.

With my eyes, Ideation, and the right elixirs, I could reach it.

My eyes had shown me the truth.

'If I can't achieve enlightenment, I'll push my body until I can.'

My blood boiled.

Desire surged.

"Let's go find that growth potion."

The task was clear.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Today is Growth Monday.]

[For today only, you have a chance to become stronger.]

[Growing pains will overwhelm you. Expect pain, confusion, and limits.]

[Everything depends on your abilities.]

[You may only enter the Daily Dungeon once per day.]

[Do you wish to enter? Y/N]

–-------------------------------------------------------------

The ominous warnings didn't faze me.

I needed the Elixir of Seven-Days.

The Heavenly Martial Body required it.

I stepped into the Daily Dungeon.

A soft light seeped through the crack of the door.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[You have entered Growth Monday's Dungeon.]

Objective: Bask in sunlight for one hour.
Failure Conditions: Death or mission abandonment.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

Step.

I took a step forward.

The space was empty.

White in every direction. No walls, no ceiling.

Just sunlight.

Golden rays poured down like waves, inviting me in.

It looked warm and welcoming.

'Is that it? Just soak up the sun for an hour?'

I laughed.

What am I, a plant doing photosynthesis?

Then I reread the conditions.

Death.

How could sunlight kill someone?

'Is there a hidden trap?'

I thought back to the trapped treasure chest.

'Last time, the traps were everywhere.'

The Tower wasn't kind.

This place wouldn't be either.

I opened my eyes wide to scout for danger.

Zap!

My Status Window activated.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Monday's Sunlight]

Description: A unique sunlight found only in Growth Monday's Trial. This mournful light, born when the sun embraces the moon, reveals the essence of all life. The weak will perish, the strong will grow.
Effect: Exposure triggers the status effects 'Photosynthesis' and 'Growing Pain.'

Photosynthesis: After one hour of exposure, a random stat increases by +1.

Growing Pain: Each moment causes extreme pain. Prolonged exposure leads to fatal consequences.

Warning: Growing Pain intensifies over time. For the weak, this sunlight is a death sentence.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

I inspected the area meticulously but found no hidden traps.

"Wow. My eyes can analyze sunlight too?"

Then again, if my eyes can see Ideation, light is nothing.

My amazement faded as I reread the last line.

'Gain a stat without leveling up?'

What luck.

But sweet rewards always come with bitter trials.

I extended a finger into the sunlight.

At first, nothing happened.

The warmth was pleasant.

I almost considered napping.

Then it hit.

Fire devoured my fingertip.

I felt my skin burn.

Bones cracked in phantom agony.

Pain radiated through every nerve.

"Urgh!"

A raw, unfiltered groan escaped.

Biting my lip did nothing to lessen it.

My very being screamed.

It felt like the sunlight was shattering me from the inside.

I yanked my hand back.

"Ugh."

I swallowed the nausea and inspected my finger.

Unscathed.

No burns, no fractures.

But the pain lingered.

The throbbing spread from fingertip to shoulder like embers igniting my bloodstream.

So this was the 'Growing Pain.'

The sunlight shimmered serenely ahead.

Warm and inviting.

Yet merciless.

"How am I supposed to endure this for an hour?"

This was no mere growing pain.

It was torture.

I clenched my fist.

'If this is the pain from one finger, what would happen if my whole body stepped in?'

I might actually die.

"What if I use [Negation of Existence] on myself?"

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Negation of Existence]

Grade: S
Type: On/Off
Description: Nightmares exist to deny all existence. This ability turns your presence into a nightmare.
Effect: While the skill is active, all accumulated damage is stored within the target. Stored damage does not take effect immediately but is applied all at once when the skill is deactivated.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

The effect sounded eerie.

Perfectly fitting for the [Death God] title.

Black mist coiled around my body.

Cold and sticky.

My shadow crumbled, replaced by something darker.

The skill consumed me.

Was I existence, or denial?

Only the footsteps of death followed me.

Yet, I couldn't use it on myself.

Pinch.

"Ow."

I pinched my thigh. Pain shot through it.

'Of course. If I could use it on myself, I'd be immortal. Never releasing the skill would mean never dying.'

But there was a workaround.

What if I adjusted my Ideation to block the neural pathways transmitting pain?

I inhaled deeply.

Slowly, deeply.

The flows within me grew clearer; my senses organized themselves.

My Ideation coursed through my nervous system.

Each nerve bent to its influence.

I opened my eyes.

My body appeared in vivid detail.

The view was unnerving, but pain, after all, was just a signal sent by nerves.

I lacked medical knowledge.

But seeing the signals first hand made understanding instinctive.

I traced the pain impulses—electrical surges from the injury site, traveling via the spinal cord to my brain.

Following that path, I disabled each receptor.

'Pain is just a scream from my nerves. If I refuse to listen, it stops.'

Self-induced anesthesia.

The pain vanished.

"Let's do this."

I stepped into the sunlight.

The sun's rays hit me like molten needles.

But this time, there was no burn. No pain.

I collapsed onto an invisible grass patch.

Eyes shut, skin soaking up the warmth.

"This is amazing."

Painless photosynthesis.

Almost too easy.

I lay there like a napping cat.

An hour passed in a blink.

I saw the dungeon clear notification.

My agility stat received a +1.

And…

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[First-Time Clear Bonus]

[Required Material for the Elixir of Seven Days]

[If all Six-Day Elixirs are gathered, it can be synthesized on Creation Sunday.]

[Materials for the Elixir of Seven Days are currently insufficient.]

[Current Material Inventory:]
Elixir of Monday: 1
Elixir of Tuesday: 0
Elixir of Wednesday: 0
Elixir of Thursday: 0
Elixir of Friday: 1
Elixir of Saturday: 0]

–-------------------------------------------------------------

I smiled.

"That's it."

The Academy entrance ceremony was next Monday.

At this pace, I'd have enough time to perfect my body.

I exited the dungeon and opened HunterNet.

I needed money.

I'd considered climbing to the second floor.

But why risk it unnecessarily?

I had items to sell.

Climbing the Tower could wait until after graduation.

I opened HunterNet's marketplace.

Searched for 'Scroll'.

Skimmed through the listings.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Buying all scrolls. Highest prices guaranteed!]
[Failed enhancement ruined my life...]
[Need skill scrolls urgently!]
[My wife just filed for divorce today.]
[Take care of your parents, people.]
[Hit the jackpot with a scroll!]

–-------------------------------------------------------------

"..."

Weird.

But demand was obviously high.

I opened my inventory.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

Skill Enhancement Scroll (1%, fail) x1.
Skill Enhancement Scroll (10%, fail) x10.
Equipment Enhancement Scroll (1%, fail) x1.
Equipment Enhancement Scroll (10%, fail) x10.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

Enough stock.

But dumping them all at once would be risky.

If someone noticed, things could get annoying.

So, I listed just one scroll.

I didn't need much money.

Just enough for necessities.

'No one but me knows how broken these are.'

I hit 'List' closed the screen, and leaned back.

Ping!

A notification came through after just ten seconds.