Morning greeted the world with sunlight streaming through the wooden window of the cheap inn where Raden was resting. He slowly opened his eyes, stretching his stiff body still sore from yesterday's battle. Yet beneath the fatigue, something had taken root within him—a growing confidence.
His system activated as he called upon it mentally. The familiar transparent screen appeared.
---
Name: Raden Dharma
Level: 8
EXP: 10/350
Stat Points: 5
Attributes: STR 13 / AGI 13 / VIT 9 / INT 5 / LUK 3
Weapon: Ebon Dagger
Coins: 12 Bronze
Inventory: Goblin Necklace, Green Gem, Dull Dagger (old), 2x Small Healing Potions
---
With five available stat points, Raden allocated two to STR and three to VIT. His body instantly felt more stable, better prepared to absorb hits and endure longer inside the gate.
Today, he had a clear goal: spend the entire day inside the public gate. His objective was simple—level up as quickly as possible, collect EXP, and complete his daily mission.
---
[Daily Mission: Defeat 10 Monsters]
Status: 0/10
---
After grabbing some snacks and water from a street vendor, he joined the line to the public gate. New and familiar faces filled the queue. Some of them recognized Raden as the young man who had been entering and exiting the gate alone recently.
"Strange. That guy is Rank F but keeps coming out with just minor injuries. Normally, Rank F hunters struggle even against a single goblin," a beginner hunter whispered to his friend.
"Maybe he's hiding his strength. Probably held back during his test," his friend replied quietly.
Raden overheard them faintly but didn't react. His expression remained blank. He knew these kinds of conversations would only become more frequent. Too much attention was dangerous.
Once inside the gate, he followed the forest trail as usual. Goblins began appearing one by one. With his improved reflexes and strength, Raden dispatched them with impressive efficiency.
---
[EXP +50] x2
---
In less than an hour, he had taken down five monsters. Most were ordinary goblins, but one encounter involved a giant rat that ambushed him from beneath tree roots. A precise stab to the eye ended it.
---
[EXP +60]
[Level Up! – Level 9]
EXP: 120/400
+3 Stat Points
---
He added the points to AGI and STR, maintaining balance between speed and strength.
Throughout the day, Raden moved relentlessly. Among dense trees and moss-covered ruins, he encountered more monsters. Some behaved oddly—reckless goblins attacking without strategy or a shadow wolf with unusually dark fur.
"Is this mutation?" Raden murmured, recalling a conversation he overheard at the food stall.
He had no time to analyze. Every fight needed to end swiftly. In one encounter, he slaughtered a goblin group in under three minutes.
---
[EXP +50] x4
[Level Up! – Level 10]
EXP: 70/450
+5 Stat Points
[Daily Mission Complete – Defeat 10 Monsters]
Reward: 1x Small Healing Potion, +100 EXP
EXP: 170/450
---
A faint smile curled on his lips. Level 10. But unlike before, no automatic stat increase followed. He opened his status.
---
Level: 10
Stat Points: 5
---
"So the system stops giving automatic stats after level 10," he muttered.
He invested the points into VIT and slightly into INT. Though not immediately useful, he didn't want to be a mindless brawler.
With time left in the day, he explored the gate's western side. The area was quiet but filled with monster tracks. Following groans and the scent of blood, he found a strange creature—a goblin with glowing red eyes and darkened skin wielding a large, rusted weapon.
Unlike others, the monster didn't scream. It just stared at Raden intently.
The battle was intense. The mutant was faster and stronger than regular goblins, forcing Raden to dodge with precision and strike at the right moments.
A stab to the chest, a slash to the gut. It took five hits before the creature finally fell.
---
[EXP +120]
[Level Up! – Level 11]
EXP: 40/500
+2 Stat Points
---
"A mutant monster..." Raden thought, watching the body slowly vanish.
He kept the weapon and took a dark crystal from its remains. Though the system didn't classify it as rare, the energy within felt different.
The hunt continued. For the next two days, Raden repeated the same routine: enter the gate, kill as many monsters as possible, and exit before sustaining serious injuries. He earned a nickname from rookie hunters—"the crazy Rank F."
But he didn't care. The EXP kept rising, and the system never betrayed him.
---
[Level Up! – Level 12]
EXP: 90/550
[Level Up! – Level 13]
EXP: 110/600
[Level Up! – Level 14]
EXP: 70/650
[Level Up! – Level 15]
EXP: 20/700
---
Each level gave only two stat points, which he distributed carefully, ensuring no attribute lagged far behind.
Upon reaching Level 16, he noticed a real change in his body. His movements became instinctive, his senses sharper. He could predict enemy movement just from breath sounds or rustling leaves.
On the third night, Raden returned to the inn. His body was covered in small cuts, but his expression was content.
---
Name: Raden Dharma
Level: 16
EXP: 80/750
Stat Points: 2
Attributes: STR 21 / AGI 20 / VIT 16 / INT 7 / LUK 3
---
As he lay down, a new notification appeared.
---
[New Daily Mission Available]
Defeat 15 Monsters
Time Remaining: 24 Hours
---
With a heavy sigh, he closed the screen. Sleep was the only way to recover now.
On the fourth day, Raden once again swept through the gate. Mutant monsters were appearing more frequently. Some even had basic regeneration. But his Ebon Dagger still proved effective.
His movements grew more refined. His decisions more decisive.
And at midday...
---
[EXP +90]
[Level Up! – Level 20]
EXP: 0/950
+2 Stat Points
---
But the system didn't stop there.
---
[Milestone Achieved: Level 20]
You have received: "Initial Class Selection"
---
Raden froze. A new window appeared with three symbols:
Warrior
Ranger
Voidblade
"A class... selection?"
Raden's hand trembled slightly. This was the beginning of something entirely new.