Chapter Twenty: Hidden Memories and Hidden Skills
As Crow reviewed the battle reports from the Abyssal Spire, a sudden flash of memory surfaced —
a shard of knowledge from his previous life.
His golden eyes narrowed.
There was a hidden event — almost nobody knew about it, because it seemed too stupid to bother with at the start.
The Starter Village Chef —
an ordinary-looking old man wearing a stained apron —
actually held two SS-Rank Passive Skill Books.
Players had overlooked it because the quest chain was hidden, tedious, and seemed unrelated to combat.
But Crow remembered perfectly now.
Both passives were absurdly powerful:
[Endless Vitality] (SS-Rank Passive) — Boosts health regeneration by 500% outside of combat, and 50% in combat. [Predator's Instinct] (SS-Rank Passive) — Increases critical hit chance and critical damage by a scaling % based on missing health.
In his past life, a hidden top-tier player had stumbled across it by accident and skyrocketed through the early stages because of these two skills.
And now, Crow could take them immediately — without wasting time like the others.
He stood up from the rocky throne he had been seated on and turned toward Sasha, Seraphina, Lyravex, and Aeris, who knelt respectfully.
"I'm leaving for a bit," Crow said.
The four immediately straightened, nodding in obedience.
Sasha asked, "Shall we continue clearing the dungeon in your absence, Master?"
Crow smirked slightly.
"Yes. I expect the fifth floor cleared before I return."
"As you command," Sasha said, her voice calm and sure.
Moments later, Crow walked through a teleportation gate he casually summoned —
one of his many hidden abilities as a Divine Controller — and stepped back into Starter Village 001.
The village hadn't changed.
Thatched roofs.
Simple cobblestone streets.
NPCs moving around, oblivious to the coming chaos of the world.
And there, by a smoking brick oven, was the old man —
Chef Garven.
Round belly, bushy gray beard, humming softly as he stirred a massive iron pot.
To a normal player, he looked utterly useless.
To Crow... he was a treasure chest.
Crow approached silently.
Garven noticed and grinned, wiping his hands on his apron.
"Ho there, lad! Come for a taste of my stew, eh?"
Crow didn't waste time.
He pulled a rare Herbal Broth from his inventory — a trivial quest item that players thought useless — and handed it over without a word.
The old man's eyes lit up.
"Oho! You know the secret recipe! A man of culture, I see!"
[Hidden Quest Triggered: "The Forgotten Chef's Legacy!"]
Garven clapped his hands together and suddenly, his body shimmered —
revealing that he was not just a chef, but a forgotten war veteran who once fought against the gods.
"You're no ordinary one," Garven said, his voice suddenly sharp, eyes glowing faintly golden.
"I'll teach you secrets meant only for true warriors."
Two books appeared in his hands, wrapped in golden chains.
Crow's heart beat faster — but he kept his face perfectly calm.
Garven chuckled and tossed both books to him casually, as if they were nothing.
"Use 'em well, boy."
Crow caught them easily.
[Item Acquired: Skill Book — Endless Vitality (SS-Rank Passive)]
[Item Acquired: Skill Book — Predator's Instinct (SS-Rank Passive)]
Without hesitation, Crow crushed both books in his hands.
Golden light swirled around him, vanishing into his body.
[Skill Learned: Endless Vitality (Passive)]
[Skill Learned: Predator's Instinct (Passive)]
The moment they settled, Crow could feel it —
his body humming with boundless strength, his instincts sharpening to terrifying levels.
He had just become even more unstoppable.
And nobody else even knew it was possible.
Crow turned away from the old chef without another word, the wind catching his coat as he moved.
The dungeon.
The elves.
The world.
They would all bow sooner or later.
He was done playing fair.
Chapter Twenty End