I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 162
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Chapter 162.
The subscription window was always changing.
This wasn’t merely referring to the times it underwent major overhauls and complete restructuring.
Even in ordinary circumstances, recommended channels and channel listings shifted constantly, and the system itself evolved incrementally.
The category Jung Han-sung was currently viewing fell into this latter category.
It was a curated selection of channels distinguished by their particularly steep subscription fees.
“Hmm.”
Jung Han-sung gazed intently at the subscription window, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
These were channels he couldn’t have afforded even with Gold Tickets before the restructuring, so each one appeared genuinely valuable.
Yet with so many options available, it proved difficult to simply pick one without hesitation.
It was then that Onyx suddenly leaned forward and posed a question.
―Are you planning to subscribe to non-combat abilities again this time?
“Mm.”
Jung Han-sung made a contemplative sound in response to Onyx’s inquiry.
Admittedly, he had recently been prioritizing subscriptions to channels that would aid Tower progression rather than direct combat enhancement.
He had reasoned that his existing abilities were sufficient for Tower conquest without major complications.
“Now it’s probably time to invest more in combat abilities again.”
Yet lately, the notion of acquiring something additional appealed to him.
He hadn’t felt significantly lacking in recent battles.
But gradually, that sense of being several steps ahead of others was fading.
The recent encounter with Grayden had undoubtedly influenced this shift.
While I didn’t believe I would lose in a direct confrontation with him, I couldn’t claim I would overwhelm him decisively either.
‘It feels like I’d struggle considerably.’
For now, Grayden didn’t seem to harbor any particular ill will toward me.
But what if someone of comparable skill attacked me later?
A straightforward one-on-one duel would be manageable, but if they ambushed me while I was fighting someone else, or launched a surprise assassination attempt—
I would certainly face grave difficulty.
―So you’re planning to acquire solid abilities in advance.
“Right. But this time, I want something somewhat secretive in nature.”
―You’re thinking of keeping it hidden from others entirely?
“Exactly.”
It was like a trump card, in other words.
I would use it freely when climbing The Tower alone, but during expeditions like this one with others watching, I would keep it concealed.
―But if you’re not going to show it to anyone anyway, does it really need to be secretive?
“Huh? Ah, you have a point.”
Now that I thought about it, any ability could remain hidden simply by not using it in public.
Jung Han-sung scratched his chin.
Onyx’s remark had brought me back to square one.
So what should I subscribe to?
“Swordsmanship, Lightning, Necromancy.”
Jung Han-sung began by singling out the greatest pillars of his abilities one by one.
During recent climbs, he’d neglected necromancy somewhat, but it remained just as vital as his other two core powers.
His Territory alone relied heavily on the undead he’d created through necromantic arts.
This left him with two distinct paths forward.
‘Either strengthen existing abilities, or master something entirely new.’
And if he chose to strengthen what he already possessed, deciding which ability to enhance mattered greatly.
“Swordsmanship… doesn’t seem like something I need to rush into right now.”
Swordsmanship was undoubtedly useful—his greatest weapon from the very beginning.
Yet subscribing to a new Channel at this juncture felt inefficient.
After all, he hadn’t yet mastered the Soul-Severing Sword Technique that the Heavenly Demon had taught him.
Since his growth wasn’t stalled or blocked, continuing to refine it through actual combat was the better approach.
That left lightning and necromancy. Of course, learning an entirely new ability was also an option.
―Lightning, necromancy, or something new. Hmm. They all seem promising.
Onyx, finding nothing that screamed obvious, clicked his tongue in agreement.
“Let’s browse through the Channels for a bit.”
―That sounds like the right call.
Reviewing what Channels were available would certainly aid the decision.
Jung Han-sung shifted his gaze to the subscription window to examine the Channels again.
“Spirit arts. Spear techniques. Magic. Curses…”
As always, the variety of Channels was staggering.
Some were entirely new to him, while others had caught his eye before.
As he scrolled through, something seized his attention.
[The Essence of Radiant Lightning’s Thunder]
The Channel title alone wasn’t particularly striking—rather crude, even. It lacked any hook to grab attention.
Yet the reason Jung Han-sung’s focus locked onto this Channel was simple.
“Compatibility rate of 99.9%?”
Compatibility rate.
These Channels possessed a separate compatibility metric.
If Jung Han-sung showed talent in the ability a Channel covered, the compatibility rate climbed; otherwise, it plummeted.
A compatibility rate this high was extraordinarily rare.
―Isn’t a rate like that practically a Channel prepared specifically for you?
“Exactly. With compatibility this high. But this…”
Jung Han-sung wore a peculiar expression as he examined the Channel’s information.
“…it’s almost deliberately unhelpful.”
Some Channels made their purpose obvious from the name alone, while others left you wondering what they even were.
Usually, even the latter became clear once you read the Channel’s description.
But the lightning Channel was different.
All the description contained was the phrase “comprehension and application of thunder.”
Nothing about what the ability actually did or what it could accomplish.
It seemed almost as reluctant to attract subscribers as the Heavenly Demon’s Channel.
“Hmm.”
Still, ignoring a 99.9% compatibility rate proved difficult.
Moreover, I had recently become interested in applications of lightning.
The catalyst was naturally my encounter with Grayden.
I’d grown fascinated after witnessing the lightning barrier he’d demonstrated during combat.
Until now, my use of lightning—excluding divine techniques—had been limited to channeling electrical discharge through weapons or my body as I struck.
“Fine.”
After considerable deliberation, I reached a decision.
“I’ll go with this.”
I would subscribe to the Radiant Thunder Channel.
After all, I intended to train swordsmanship alone for the time being, and there was still much to explore in summoning arts.
Subscribing to a new ability seemed reasonable, but nothing particularly striking caught my attention at the moment.
So the only remaining choice was to strengthen my lightning abilities.
The moment I pressed the subscription button after making that decision.
[You have subscribed to the Essence of Radiant Thunder’s Lightning using a Gold Ticket]
[This subscription’s validity period is 7 days]
Seven days.
Quite a substantial duration—if one overlooked the fact that this was the effect of the revamped Gold Ticket.
‘Had it been the pre-revision Gold Ticket, the duration would have been far shorter.’
With that thought, I waited for the Channel’s effects to take hold. And moments later.
Crackle, crackle, crackle―!
Suddenly, brilliant blue lightning erupted from my body.
Nearby furnishings touched by the lightning instantly blackened and crumbled. Yet I couldn’t control it.
My eyes had already rolled back as my body convulsed violently, overwhelmed by a colossal flood of memories that crashed into my mind.
It was a memory and power that an ordinary mortal could scarcely bear.
The density was incomparable to before, and I writhed helplessly for some time, unable to regain my senses.
―Master? Are you alright?
Onyx, alarmed by my condition, quickly unfurled a dark barrier around me to prevent the lightning’s effects from spreading further.
Though his own body was being violently repelled in real time.
Fortunately, just as Onyx thought he could endure no longer.
Crack!
The lightning flashed one final time before vanishing instantly.
“Gasp, haah.”
I drew ragged breaths immediately after.
Onyx quickly asked upon confirming that my eyes had returned to normal.
―Master?
“Yeah.”
I answered in a slightly dazed voice and looked around.
The dark barrier Onyx had erected still enclosed the space on all sides.
“What is this?”
―What else?
Onyx shrank his form back down, draping himself over my body as he answered.
―My master suddenly started lashing lightning in all directions, so I’ve been blocking it.
“Oh, me?”
I responded in a dazed voice.
That made sense—I had no memory of what happened after I pressed subscribe.
To be precise, I’d been so absorbed in the memories and information flooding into my mind that I was completely oblivious to what was happening around me.
Onyx noticed my condition and asked again.
―This time felt different from how you normally use your abilities.
“Yeah. Something was definitely different. Before, it felt like information was filtered through several layers before reaching me in its purest form.”
Even when I’d subscribed to other channels, I’d felt the weight of something immense pressing down on me, but this was different.
It was as though a colossal presence was overlaying itself directly onto my being.
For a moment, I’d felt like I was about to vanish entirely—that sensation still lingered in my body.
But it was fading in real time, giving me the sensation of waking from a dream.
―Was it a more powerful channel than usual?
“Hmm. I don’t think that’s it.”
I shook my head.
It wasn’t simply that the channel’s owner was stronger.
The presence I’d felt was comparable to that of Indra or the Heavenly Demon.
It was more like the structure itself was fundamentally different.
I pondered for a moment, then recalled one thing that had been different this time.
‘Could it be the Gold Ticket’s influence?’
The current Gold Ticket is a higher tier that didn’t exist before the restructuring.
Until now, I’d assumed the difference between tickets was merely a matter of validity duration, but perhaps there was something more to it.
…But that was only speculation.
The subscription window had no detailed explanation about tickets, so I couldn’t give a definitive answer right now.
So instead of pressing further on that point, Onyx brought up something else.
―So, how are the abilities?
“Oh. You mean the channel I subscribed to.”
I raised one arm in response to Onyx’s question.
Though I’d experienced an unexpected situation, once my head cleared, one thing became certain.
“It’s beyond my expectations.”
Crackle, crackle, crackle―!
Lightning erupted from my raised arm.
The sensation felt the same as always, but Onyx sensed a significant difference.
―Oh. You’re controlling it perfectly?
“Exactly.”
The lightning didn’t lash out wildly in all directions, nor did it writhe endlessly.
Instead, it flowed perfectly controlled along my arm.
Considering how savage the lightning normally was, it was remarkable.
It’s no different from firmly grasping a ferocious beast poised to rampage at any moment and maintaining perfect control over it.
“And I can do this too.”
Jung Han-sung flicked his arm slightly.
Instantly, lightning threads—dozens of them, fine as silk strands—erupted from his body and wove intricate patterns across the empty air.
What was remarkable was that each of these threads moved in different directions according to my will alone.
It was control taken to its absolute pinnacle—something that should have been impossible under normal circumstances.
Jung Han-sung manipulated the lightning for a moment before speaking.
“The lightning feels completely within my grasp.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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