Sora’s mind buzzed with possibilities.
[Prestige]—it had been both his salvation and his new mystery. The ability to reset my progress and retain a multiplier for experience and talent is undoubtedly powerful, he thought. However, the skill’s description had been vague. He didn’t know how far this advantage could go. Was there a cap? Could he truly keep resetting and growing infinitely? There had to be a catch, but for now, Sora needed to focus on what he could control.
As he reviewed his situation, he began breaking down his thoughts. His ultimate goal was to become strong enough to never worry about betrayal again. Rachel had shown him the worst of human nature, and with this skill, he had a chance to show her the worst of what he could do. But this time, he would prepare. Let’s be smart, cautious, and strategic.
He exhaled deeply, looking up at the sky. What do I need to do next?
He started by checking the skill description once more:
[Innate Skill: Prestige]
Description: Reset your training upon death or by choice after Level 50. All levels and skills revert to zero. Growth Factor doubles each time. Talent Level doubles each time.Death Activation: Activates upon death with a 30-day cooldown.Manual Activation: Can be activated after reaching Level 50 with no cooldown.
Click for more.
The potential of the [Prestige] skill crossed his mind again. If he could exploit the experience multiplier from his Talent and Growth Factor—which were both now 2—he could grow faster than ever. His Growth Factor now doubled, so he’d earn twice the amount of experience. His Talent doubling meant his power output was also doubled. But how can I maximize this? Deep in thought, he knew his past leveling knowledge would be crucial here.
He remembered that certain zones offered experience boosts due to environmental factors or special quests. He’d need to seek out those areas, but first, he had to level up enough to survive them. The key to my rise will be to abuse the manual activation of this skill, he concluded.
Sora thought back to his days as a level 49 swordsman. Five years. That’s how long it took me to reach level 49. I wasn’t obsessed with growth, wasn’t driven. I took quests and dungeons regularly, but it still took me five long years to get there.
Now, with his experience, knowledge, and the [Prestige] boost, he estimated he could cut that time down drastically. Maybe even one year. He didn’t need to play it safe anymore or spend week power leveling his friends. No more slow grinds or hesitations.
"Reaching level 50 in a month would be ideal," Sora muttered to himself. "If I can keep resetting after hitting level 50, I could keep the multiplier effect going... potentially indefinitely. Resetting faster and faster"
He started walking eastward, toward a small hill. From the top, he could get a better view of the landscape. Along the way, he encountered more low-level creatures—small but vicious beasts, hardly challenging but useful for XP.
Drawing the Fiendish Fang from his inventory, he lunged at a small group of spined rats. His [Critical Strike] connected with lethal precision, felling the first rat instantly. The others scattered, but he pursued them, his movements sharp and efficient. It was a far cry from his early days when even a rat posed a real threat. Now, with his experience, each fight felt natural.
After a quick battle, Sora felt a small surge of experience. It’s not much, but you gotta start somewhere, he thought, sheathing the Fang. These low-level battles wouldn’t sustain his rapid growth, but they were necessary stepping stones. He moved on, searching for more prey.
By the end of the day, Sora had reached level 9. The beasts were abundant, making grinding easy, but he realized it would take hours to reach level 10 at this rate. He stopped hunting and looked around.
I need a slightly higher-level zone, a low-level boss, or a village, he thought. His mind wandered back to the shadowy figure who’d spoken to him earlier. How long do I have to prepare? I can’t waste resets. He needed to optimize his efforts and improve with each [Prestige].
As he crested the hill, he spotted it—a small village in the distance, smoke curling from chimneys and lanterns flickering. A small smile tugged at his lips. He knew where he needed to go.
He started down the hill, mentally running through his goals. Step one’s almost complete, and a village is a good enough option to stop. He’d grind more creatures on the way out.
Walking down the hill, Sora couldn’t help but remember how it all began...
It was 2044. Strange places began to appear in Earth’s most populated cities. They have been called dungeons, and after two weeks of rain and a global fever, people found they had gained abilities and status panels, like in RPGs.
Dungeons held monsters and treasure, and players, as they called themselves, could level up by killing these creatures. But it wasn’t long before chaos ensued. Animals, and monsters, also leveled up, vying for resources and control. The monsters spilled out, and portals opened, introducing alien creatures intent on colonizing Earth. Some negotiated, but war was inevitable.
Eventually, the highest-level player, Roméo, reached level 50, triggering a global notification and a three-day update that reshaped Earth itself.
Continents moved, creating one massive supercontinent. Invading races received land, forming their own kingdoms, while humanity regrouped into the New World Kingdom. New territorial levels limited beast movements, and each nation defended its region. Resources and power became everything. Betrayals, alliances, and survival ruled the day. It was a new, unforgiving world.
Power was everything, Sora thought. Players constantly battled monsters—and each other. He knew that growing strong was no longer about levels—it was about taking control of his life. He’d find a way to survive and thrive in this unforgiving New World.