Only I Am A Reader



'This is pretty convenient.'

Among Cassian's repertoire of abilities, Shadow Copy basically allowed him to change his clothes to anything his shadows scanned.

It wasn't restricted to clothes either. After settling his clothing problem, Leo also used Shadow Copy to change the details of his face using a mix of Baekho and Arthur as inspiration.

He couldn't possibly show his proper face unless he wanted trouble. Compared to this, the Skin Altering Technique had lost quite a bit of its luster…

'Not bad.'

In a way, his current look was a combination of all of his alternate selves. For once, Leo felt a bit fulfilled about coming this far.

It felt like he was worrying over surviving the Fanged Wolves' attack just yesterday!

'Well, that aside…'

Nostalgia was great and all, but it still couldn't beat pure excitement.

'Isn't it about time?'

Although Leo already knew all of the abilities that he could use from Cassian's memory, checking out the Personal Book just had a different feel to it.

Especially if it was the page of a character that was already fully developed!

[ Book 3 ]

Name: Cassian (Leo Lock)

Age: 26 (18)

Role: Reader

Reading Points: 0

___________________

Personal Statistics:

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- Enigma: 999/999

- Physique: 2.2

- Mind: 2.4 (+2.76)

___________________

Personal Skills:

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- 'Advanced Swordsmanship' - Chapter 3 - page 9/10

- 'Advanced Spearmanship' - Chapter 3 - page 9/10

- 'Advanced Footwork' - Chapter 3 - page 7/10

- 'Advanced Close Quarter Combat' - Chapter 3 - page 5/10

- 'Advanced Bowmanship' - Chapter 3 - 0/10

- 'Intermediate Throwing' - Chapter 2 - 10/10

- 'Intermediate Halberdmanship' - Chapter 2 - 9/10

- 'Intermediate Daggermanship' - Chapter 2 - 8/10

- 'Intermediate Smithing' - Chapter 2 - page 5/10

- 'Intermediate Staffmanship' - Chapter 2 - page 4/10

- 'Intermediate Horsemanship' - Chapter 2 - page 3/10

- 'Cooking' - Prologue - page 4/10

___________________

Personal Abilities:

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- 'Shadow Domination' - Peak - 4/5

= 'Shadow Movement' - Advanced

= 'Shadow Copy' - Advanced

= 'Shadow Armament' - Advanced

= 'Shadow Nightmare' - Advanced

= 'Shadow Pocket' - Advanced

= 'Shadow…'

= …

___________________

Personal Talents:

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- 'Overflowing Enigma' -

___________________

Thanks to his fruitful skill acquisition in the world of Murim, the Personal Skills list didn't look as empty as that of starting Baekho.

In fact…

'Ready-made skills!'

Among the things that Leo had already learned was not only a completely new skill but also one that jumped a whole chapter!

While Cassian's main weapon was still his shadows, he utilized a dagger during his growth phase, and throwing those daggers was an even better skill of his.

After his ability advanced, he kept using it with something more lethal than just daggers.

Although Leo had always enjoyed the privilege of quick learning, this was the first time he received things without even putting the slightest effort into obtaining them!

'I could get used to this.'

Of course, the true star of the show was still the long-extending ability list. The Book 3 page barely managed to contain all of its contents.

'Let's see… Was it Shadow Manipulation first?'

While it all looked magnificent, the reality of it wasn't that simple. Leo himself might have received the complete package for free, but his alternate self properly suffered to reach that level of greatness.

Moving Shadows was a garbage ability that no one appreciated. Yet, Cassian refused to give up.

He did everything from working as a Gate Porter to being monster bait, all just to obtain one or two Enigma Stones after a week of risking his life.

Anyone else would have given up, but just like Cassian didn't bow down to rules, he was extremely strict with himself. Even if it was going to take forever, he believed in endless accumulation.

'No giving up until you see the end!'

This internal phrase was something that currently stuck to Leo's mind as he browsed Cassian's memories.

The deeper he went, the more suffocated Leo felt. The excitement that accelerated his heartbeat quickly calmed down as if someone just doused it with a bucket of ice-cold water.

Now that it was all settling in, Leo realized that nothing truly came at no cost.

He might have had to build up Arthur and Baekho from the start, but one of them had nothing other than happy memories even among his suffering, and the other barely remembered his tragic backstory.

On the other hand, Cassian's hatred, anger, and misery were deeply carved into his soul. Even if Cassian pretended that he no longer cared now that he realized his target, his heart never forgot.

At the same time, Leo could also feel Cassian's severe lack of motivation weighing him down from doing anything.

'Was the integration only finished now?'

Things had been going by quickly since Leo's arrival, so he wasn't sure what was happening. Were these matured emotions another cost of fusing with an adult character?

Or was it because he went digging too deep?

'Regardless, this won't work now.'

If this was Leo's first rodeo, he might have ended up afflicted with severe depression, but deep down, he had already weathered just as much.

While Cassian's Mind Stat was already quite high, Leo's was still higher!

'Nothing can really dampen my excitement now.'

Though this book had many suspicious and hazardous elements, it also held great potential as a one-in-a-lifetime experience.

Leo had already experienced what it was like to be the crippled underdog, he had also climbed up the Martial Path as a person with reasonable talent, but he had never got to feel what it's like to be an overpowered character!

'...At least not from the very beginning.'

With his eyes still glued to the Personal Book, Leo finally walked out of the shadows of the dark alley. While he wasn't exactly in a hurry, it was always better to get an early start on things.

'First thing on the list is to take the last step.'

The source of Cassian's greatness could be basically summarized into two words, Enigma Stones. And one of those was precisely what Leo was after.

Of course, to personally obtain an Enigma Stone, there was only one place to go.

'This should be a great chance to test what I'm truly capable of.'

It was time for Leo to raid his first Gate!