He tightened his grip on the blade.
I've been reborn into someone else's body… and the strange thing is, this isn't even a character I ever played before.
Kai stood still for a moment, trying to process the situation. His heart was still racing from the fight outside, but then his eyes caught something unusual near the dormitory wall—a faint glow.
It wasn't just ordinary light; it shimmered like sunlight breaking through clouds after a storm.
He moved closer, and the warmth from the glow washed over him. The oppressive air from the dungeon, the scent of dust and blood, and even the faint growl of demons in the distance seemed to vanish.
The demons outside stopped at the edge of the glow, hissing and pacing, but none dared step inside.
Kael stepped forward cautiously. The moment his foot touched the light, it rippled beneath him like water.
The light formed an archway ahead—smooth, circular, and humming with soft energy.
Intricate runes floated around it, turning slowly, each one glowing faintly gold. He realized this must be the Path of Light, a safe zone inside the dungeon.
Anytime he can enter that light path before the dungeon starts.
Inside, the world completely changed. The oppressive darkness of the dungeon was replaced by a peaceful marketplace lit with floating lanterns.
There were stalls and shops—some selling food and healing potions, others displaying weapons, armor, and mysterious trinkets.
In the center stood a tall crystal pillar, faintly pulsing with light.
Kael spotted another glowing platform with the words Character Change etched on it. A faint note beneath read: Requires High Core Amount. He smirked faintly.
"So… I can switch to another fighter… if I can afford it."
Beyond this, another gate shimmered faintly—the exit and entrance of the dungeon. Kai understood now: this place wasn't just safe. It was a checkpoint, a place to prepare before stepping into the darkness again.
The guard is also the keeper of the light house, as soon as Kai enters into the light house he runs quickly to Kai.
Kai blinked, still trying to catch his breath. The words of the old man rang in his ears.
"Are you… one of the soldiers from Dungeon One?"
Kai hesitated. "Who… me?"
The old man's gaze was sharp, almost piercing. "Out of seven hundred soldiers who entered Dungeon One, only five returned. And you… you are one of them."
A shiver ran down Kai's spine. (So… I've been reborn into a random soldier from Dungeon One… one of the lucky—or unlucky—few.)
"Old man," Kai asked, trying to steady his voice, "is there any way to check my physical condition? Or my ranking… or anything like that?"
The old man nodded slowly. "Yes. Step inside the crystal."
Kai stepped forward, and the moment he touched the smooth, glowing surface, a wave of energy coursed through his body.
A voice, deep and calm, echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Welcome, Soldier. You have entered the World of Theralith."
Kai's heart thumped wildly. He spun around. "Who's there?!"
"Your body has been forged as a Wielder of Magic. A Seeker of Balance."
The ground beneath him pulsed with energy. Golden lines of light spread across the floor, forming circles, squares, and intricate patterns.
Floating runes hovered in the air, rotating slowly, glowing faintly.
Then, beside his head, a small interface shimmered into view. Numbers, words, and bars appeared in glowing text, almost as if they were carved into reality itself:
Elite Warrior
Level: 1
Type: Mage
Class: Wizard – Basic Initiate
Mana Core: Dormant
Ability Grid: Locked
Weapon: Runesword – Tier 1
Armor: Traveler's Robes – Tier 1
Inventory: Empty
Beast Core: 0
Rank: F
Kai stared at the floating panel, trying to process it all.
The glow reflected in his wide eyes. His body felt different—stronger, lighter, but also unfamiliar.
He clenched his fists. This body, this life… it was now his.
For some reason, he was interested in playing in the real world too, not knowing what lies ahead of him and ahead of time.
Kai furrowed his brows and looked at the old man.
"Old man, if I'm a wizard… why was I able to use a sword back in Dungeon One?"
The old man snorted, shaking his head.
"Boy, you must've lost your mind during the war."
Kai blinked. "What do you mean?"
The old man leaned against the table, his rough hands resting on a hammer that had clearly seen years of work.
"There are thirteen types of warriors and fighters in this world. Mage, swordsman, spearman, archer, assassin… the list goes on. Every one of them can use any kind of weapon—whether you're a mage wielding a sword, or a swordsman casting magic."
"The difference is…" He pointed a crooked finger at Kai. "…if you're a wizard, your attacks will deal far greater damage when you use magic-based weapons or spells. If you swing a sword, you can still fight, but you won't get the full power you would with your magic."
Kai tilted his head. "So… if you're a swordsman?"
"They deal the most damage with blades and physical weapons. They can use magic items too, but it'll never be as strong as a true mage's magic. That's how the balance works."
The old man sighed heavily, his eyes dimming.
"It's been two weeks since the war began. Every day, we lose more soldiers… and being the royal weapon smith, I… I failed to give them the tools they needed to survive."
Kai didn't know what to say. The old man's voice cracked, and for a moment, he looked far older than his years.
"Royal?" Kai asked softly.
"Our king will be saddened to hear of our losses… but now…" The old man's voice dropped to a whisper. "…he is nowhere to be found."
He lowered his head. "I am sorry, my king…"
Kai frowned. (Is this old man losing his mind?)
Before he could ask anything else, a voice called from the doorway.
"Hey soldier! You're alive!"
Kai turned and saw the survivors from Dungeon One—a young soldier with short, dark hair and a hardened expression he met before inside the dungeon gate.
The soldier stepped closer. "We have to work together if we're going to clear all the demons from this castle. Until we do, the gate to the next dungeon won't open."
"What's your name?" Kai asked, feeling a bit awkward.
The soldier looked him in the eye. "…Feron."
Without another word, Feron stepped into the large crystal chamber at the center of the room. The crystal flared with light, scanning him.
[Status Revealed]
Name: Feron
Type: Mage
Level: 7
Mana Core: 200
Rank: E
The glow faded, and Feron stepped back out, his eyes set with determination.
The old man was happy and he said, "you are sixth to return here, boy".