Leon slumped back in his chair, exhaling as the tutorial tab disappeared. The words were still bouncing around in his head—stats, ranks, skills, cores, upgrades. Everything was laid out neatly, structured like it was supposed to make sense. Like it was supposed to help.
But no matter how advanced the system was, one truth hadn't changed.
He was weak.
F-rank. That stupid label stuck in his head like a bad joke. The lowest standing an adventurer could have.
He ran a hand through his hair, staring at the floor. This wasn't just about the system. This wasn't just about learning new mechanics or unlocking potential. It was starting over—completely. Like nothing he had been through had ever happened. Like he hadn't fought his way up before. Like he hadn't pushed through injuries, exhaustion, failure, just to get somewhere.
Now, he was back at square one.
It reminded him of the last time he had been this weak. When he stood in the wreckage of his home, his hands clenched so tightly that his nails had cut into his palms, staring at the guild officer as they calmly explained how his parents had died.
Routine mission. Simple task. No threats.
Except that wasn't how it played out.
The monsters had come out of nowhere, too many, too strong, too fast. Their defenses had collapsed before they even knew what was happening. By the time reinforcements showed up, it was already over.
He hadn't understood it at first. The words were there, but they didn't register. Not fully.
His parents were dead.
They weren't coming back.
Nothing would ever make that fact feel normal.
The only thing that had kept him from falling apart completely was training. It had been his way out. His way forward. At first, it wasn't even real training—just desperate attempts to swing a sword, copying movements he had seen from fighters in the city, practicing footwork that he wasn't sure was correct. He had spent hours, days, weeks, pushing himself until his body hurt, until exhaustion was normal.
Eventually, someone from the guild had noticed. An instructor. They saw how much time he was putting in, how hard he was trying even without direction. They had stepped in, guided him, corrected his stance, helped him sharpen his technique. And for years, that had been his entire life—refining everything, making sure every movement was right, perfecting strikes and counters and adjustments.
And now?
Now it was all gone.
His fingers curled slightly, jaw tightening. He knew, logically, that he could get it back. He knew the system was supposed to help him get stronger.
But that didn't make it any less frustrating.
Leon exhaled sharply, glancing at his sword resting against the wall. The grip was worn, the blade dull. It had been the first weapon he bought after arriving in Old Ferrun, scraping together enough money to get something decent. Back then, it had felt like progress. Like proof that he was making something of himself.
Now, it felt like nothing.
Whatever. He didn't have time for this.
The system had given him information. Fine.
Now, it was time to test it.
Leon grabbed his sword, feeling the weight settle into his grip. It didn't feel quite right—not heavy, but unfamiliar in a way that annoyed him. He adjusted his stance, rolling his shoulders, trying to shake off the stiffness.
Then he stepped outside.
The streets of Old Ferrun were packed, the usual chaos of merchants yelling prices, adventurers checking weapons, traders negotiating deals. Metal clanked as someone adjusted their armor nearby, voices layered over each other in a blur of sound.
He ignored all of it.
He had one goal today—find someone to fight.
The city had training centers all over, places where adventurers sharpened their skills before heading out. Some were beginner-level, mostly filled with people just starting their journey. Others were full arenas, where high-ranked fighters tested themselves against creatures pulled in from beyond the portals.
He wasn't ready for those yet.
Right now, he needed something controlled. A fight that wouldn't kill him but would make it painfully clear how weak he was.
It didn't take long to find it—one of the smaller training grounds near the marketplace, where lower-ranked adventurers practiced before taking on real missions.
Leon stepped in, scanning the fighters. Some were sparring lightly, testing techniques. Others worked on footwork drills, adjusting movements.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
He needed an opponent.
Someone experienced, but not ridiculous. Someone strong enough to challenge him but not so powerful that the fight was completely one-sided.
His gaze settled on a man in his mid-twenties, carrying a worn longsword, stance solid, movements steady. He wasn't flashy, but he knew what he was doing.
Leon walked up without hesitation.
"Do you spar?"
The man glanced at him, sizing him up, then nodded. "Yeah. You new to town?"
Leon shook his head. "Been here a while."
The man smirked, adjusting his grip. "Alright. Standard rules—first clean hit wins. No cores, just technique."
Leon nodded, stepping into position.
The second his foot hit the sparring ground, the system kicked in.
[Quest Alert]
[Training Grounds Challenge]
[Objective: Defeat an opponent in an Adventurer Training Centre]
[Reward: Unlock Level Tab, 50 EXP, New Unranked Skill]
Leon barely had time to process that before his opponent moved.
The man stepped forward, bringing his sword down in a clean, diagonal strike toward Leon's left.
'Not reckless. He's testing me.'
Leon twisted his sword, meeting the attack at an angle. The impact vibrated through his grip. It wasn't overwhelming, but it wasn't light either—just strong enough to make it clear that he'd have to put effort into deflecting every attack.
His opponent withdrew and immediately swung again, this time toward Leon's midsection.
Leon stepped back, letting the blade pass, twisting his sword slightly, aiming for a counter. Just a test. Nothing too aggressive.
His opponent blocked effortlessly, shifting stance again.
Leon scowled.
'Something feels off. I should be moving smoother than this.'
His opponent wasn't slowing down. He pressed forward, bringing his blade down harder this time. Leon caught the strike awkwardly, his balance shifting as the force pushed him back.
'Would've sidestepped that before. Now I have to take it head-on.'
A notification flickered at the edge of his vision.
[Blade Focus activated]
Leon inhaled sharply. His grip adjusted instinctively, his reaction time sharpened, his tracking improved.
His opponent attacked again—higher.
Leon **saw** it sooner, stepped faster, adjusted at the perfect moment, bringing his sword up to intercept cleanly.
His opponent hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second.
Leon pressed forward. His blade moved smoother now, sharper, cutting in a controlled arc. His opponent readjusted instantly, but there was a gap.
'There. That hesitation—he knows I'm moving better.'
Leon stepped in, capitalizing on the mistake, his sword cutting upward—faster than before. His opponent barely had time to react before the edge of Leon's blade stopped just short of landing.
A clean hit.
Leon exhaled.
'I won. Barely.'
[Quest Complete]