The wind roared past Haru as he levitated high above the snow-capped mountains. The landscape of the wilds blurred beneath him, forests and cliffs rushing past like streaks of shadow and light. His body moved effortlessly, guided by years of training, countless battles, and the silent calculations of a mind sharpened by survival.
Several months had passed since he last saw Leo, Zex, and Eliz. The memories of their brief encounter lingered, but for now, he had a single focus: returning to the Valtherion Empire.
As he flew, Haru reached inside the folds of his blue robe and activated his system. A holographic window shimmered into existence before him, floating weightless in the air.
Status Window
Name: Haru Villamor
Age: 27
Job: Gladiator
Level: 85
Title: Ranker (1)
Strength: 274
Intelligence: 269
Agility: 258
Vitality: 270
Sense: 280
Haru's eyes lingered on the numbers for a moment, not with pride, but with cold acknowledgment. Each stat was a reflection of countless monsters slain, years of relentless training, and battles that had left scars both visible and invisible.
Skills
A+ Rank — Arthur's Manual (Passive): Every strike, every stance, every movement engraved in muscle memory beyond mortal comprehension.
A Rank — Crimson Blade (Active): Imbues his weapon with a scarlet aura, increasing damage by 80% for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 1 hour.
A+ Rank — Aura Blade (Active): Coats his blade with condensed mana, cutting through armor, bone, and magic. 80% damage boost for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 1 hour.
A Rank — Barrier of Barrack (Active): Summons an impenetrable defensive shield; the stronger his vitality, the more it can withstand. Duration: 20 seconds. Cooldown: 45 minutes.
B Rank — Flash Step (Active): Moves faster than the eye can follow; can chain into strikes for a 50% damage increase.
C Rank — Mana Reinforcement (Active): Uses raw mana to strengthen his body, enhancing muscle density and reflexes for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Bloodlust (Active): A suffocating aura of killing intent that mentally crushes weaker foes.
S Rank — Berserker (Passive/Active Hybrid): When HP drops below 5%, enters a 10-second berserk state, doubling attack and defense. Immune to debuffs. Cooldown: 34 days.
S Rank — Heaven Barrier (Passive): Protects him from attacks below his level; nothing under A rank can penetrate.
Telekinesis (Rank ??): Manipulate objects through sheer will; precision scales with intelligence and sense.
Levitate (Rank ??): Fly or manipulate gravitational force at will.
Partial Inventory (Rank ??): Pocket dimension storage; time inside is frozen.
Haru's gaze drifted over the skills list. Numbers and ranks were meaningless to him—they were tools, not trophies. What mattered was the knowledge and power he carried, honed through uncountable trials.
He glanced down at the distant horizon, where the spires of the Valtherion Empire began to emerge, sprawling and imposing. Below, monsters stirred, villages waited for protection, and his place in the world—a world that was not truly his—was quietly calling.
With a soft exhale, he closed his system, letting it fade from sight. His hands brushed the hilt of the sword at his side and the cool fabric of his robe. There was no excitement, no anticipation—only the calm calculation of a man who had long abandoned sentiment.
It's time to return.
Haru adjusted his flight path, wings of mana carrying him swiftly toward the Empire, silent, unstoppable, and entirely unyielding.
Inside Valcrest Manor, the grand hall was filled with some of the most powerful figures in the Empire. Several high-level individuals noticed the subtle disturbance in the air—a faint, almost imperceptible shift, the telltale signature of someone using Levitate. Most tensed, ready for battle, but Sera immediately recognized the overwhelming Death Aura.
Sera raised a hand, calm but commanding. "Don't worry, everyone. I know who it is."
Instantly, the tension eased. Eyes turned back to the discussion at hand.
At the center of the hall, on the throne, sat Darius Valcrest, the Sword God, Level 110. Around him were nobles, warriors, and mages of unmatched skill:
Lykan Terman, Imperial Warrior, Level 90
Yezlyn Zeism, Imperial Mage and head of Myrren Magic Academy, Level 105
Yusen, former Hero and Saint who fought the 3rd Seat of Paradox, Level 107
Other high-ranking individuals also observed silently, aware that the stakes were higher than ever.
The conversation turned to the recent history—the devastation of the Zerath Empire two years prior—and the careful recovery efforts that followed. The Pearl himself remained quiet, still recovering from previous battles, his presence commanding, yet subdued.
Lykan Terman leaned forward, his voice low but serious. "The other Seats of Paradox are slowly revealing themselves. Our intelligence reports indicate they have begun summoning the Demon King."
A hush fell over the hall. Yezlyn's eyes glinted with calculation. "The Demon King's appearance was expected. Most of the Seats of Paradox are still alive, but in the last few years, we have gained much intelligence. Some outsiders—from another world—have begun showing up as well."
All present listened intently, aware of the gravity.
Yezlyn continued, "We plan to use the outsiders to counter the Demon King. With me here, and Mr. Yusen, our former Hero, we have knowledge of their capabilities."
Yusen rose, his voice sharper, more serious. "For the past few years, we have trained many of these outsiders. They are still human in thought, but not in power. Even if most of you have yet to meet one, their strength grows faster than anything native to this world. A three-year outsider could match or even surpass the most skilled experts in our Empire."
He paused, scanning the room to ensure the weight of his words sank in. "Some of them are truly monsters among monsters. They can assess our original-world abilities in ways we cannot. They see our full capability and adjust accordingly."
Yusen's gaze hardened. "They call it leveling, but it's more than that. Even if we are strong, an outsider can defeat us by numbers and technique. For example, a Level 60 outsider fighting a native from this world would require three Level 60 warriors from our ranks just to stand a chance. Understand this: when we say Level 60, it is not just rank—it is first-rate power."
The hall grew silent. Even the Pearl shifted slightly in his throne, the weight of Yusen's words sinking in. This was no ordinary threat.