Kenji sat on the edge of his bed, the early morning light casting soft golden rays through his bedroom window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the quiet air. His system screen hovered in front of him, glowing softly with precise streams of numbers and intricate stats. His fingers tapped rhythmically against his knee as he reviewed everything, a subtle tension in his posture as he contemplated a significant decision that would redefine his capabilities.
Kenji Takahashi – Current Stats
Race: Human
Level: 52
Tier: 9 (Low-Class)
Free Stat Points: 86
Attributes:
- Strength: 95 (Tier-9)
- Speed: 93 (Tier-9)
- Endurance: 91 (Tier-9)
- Intelligence: 94 (Tier-9)
- Wisdom: 92 (Tier-9)
- Charisma: 90 (Tier-9)
- Luck: 95 (Tier-2)
Every single one of his base stats hovered tantalizingly in the high 90s. So close. Just a few more points, and he would reach the next fundamental stage, the next power threshold, Tier 8. Mid-Class. He'd go from being superhuman to city level.
A milestone that few humans had ever reached in this supernatural world, especially within such a relatively short time frame. It represented a truly significant jump in raw power, fundamental capabilities, and, perhaps most importantly, in the perception of other supernatural beings. He had come to understand that in this world that was different from the anime, humans barely made it to High class after even a lifetime of training and only a few ever made it, humans were mostly in the low and mid class. Safe for some rare exceptions.
He sighed deeply, weighing the decision that had been actively on his mind all morning, a quiet debate playing out in his thoughts. The logical part of him, informed by his Gamer's Mind, meticulously calculated the pros and cons, running simulations of both outcomes.
"Do I push now… or wait it out for natural progression?" he murmured to the empty room, his voice barely a whisper. The idea of waiting felt almost anachronistic given his system's nature.
On one hand, continuing to level up naturally through continuous grinding in his Instant Dungeon and completing subquests ensured steady, growth. This method allowed his body and mind to acclimate fully to each incremental gain, fostering skill familiarity and a deeper, more intuitive understanding of his evolving powers.
On the other hand, he possessed all the necessary points, and more, to instantly elevate himself across the Tier 9 threshold. His growth rate had already picked up dramatically since he began making full, intentional use of his Multiversal System and his Instant Dungeon skills, actively seeking challenges and exploiting the unique features the system offered.
He was no longer the same man who'd just woken up in this broken world mere weeks ago, The sheer efficiency of the system, when properly utilized, was undeniable.
He looked at the stats again, a flicker of resolute determination in his eyes, hardening his resolve, and slowly nodded. "Screw it. I'm ready. No time like the present and I don't need to spend all my points."
The thought of waiting, of incremental gains when a massive, transformative jump was possible, felt inefficient, almost wasteful of the incredible advantage he possessed. The supernatural world wouldn't wait for him to catch up, he needed to force his way forward.
His fingers moved across the holographic interface, swiftly allocating the available points. He distributed them strategically, ensuring every single stat hit its maximum before the tier advancement, creating a perfectly balanced foundation for his new tier.
Free Stat Points: 41
Attributes:
- Strength: +5 (Tier-9) → 100
- Speed: +7 (Tier-9) → 100
- Endurance: +9 (Tier-9) → 100
- Intelligence: +6 (Tier-9) → 100
- Wisdom: +8 (Tier-9) → 100
- Charisma: +10 (Tier-9) → 100
- Luck: 95 (Tier-2)
The system screen flickered, briefly displaying a cascade of complex data, lines of code, and numbers blurring into a golden light, before a new, prominent alert took over, dominating his vision.
[System Alert!] All Base Stats Have Reached 100. Tier Advancement Unlocked. Initiating Tier Advancement Protocol. Prepare for comprehensive physiological and energetic recalibration.
[Initiating Advancement to Tier 8 – Mid-Class…]
A powerful, resonant pulse of energy ran through his entire body, starting from his core and spreading outwards to his fingertips and toes. It wasn't painful in the slightest, but it was intensely overwhelming, a sensation akin to every cell in his being vibrating simultaneously at an incredibly high frequency, a tuning fork struck with immense force.
'That felt weird as hell'. He didn't recall feeling that when he ranked up before.
He clenched his fists, his muscles tightening involuntarily as his body adapted to the surge of new power, every fiber realigning, and then slowly relaxed as the sensation subsided. His perception of the room, of the world, sharpened even further.
Kenji let out a long, slow breath, a profound sense of accomplishment and a quiet triumph filling him.
Mid-Class. Three short months ago, he was just an average man who just woke up in the hospital confused at being in another world trapped in a broken life of a pathetic man.
Now? He was rising in power with even the monsters of this world having an idea that he existed, he had made it to a level normal people would spend years to reach. This was a qualitative leap, a fundamental shift in his very existence. A Mid-Class being, he knew, could reliably contend with low-tier devils, strong human exorcists, and even some lesser yokai with a reasonable chance of success.
Sure, some people from his old world, the keyboard warriors and wish-fulfillment readers might scoff. "You're only Mid-Class after all this time?" they might say, comparing his progress to the instantaneous, often absurd power-ups of fictional protagonists in their favorite stories, who could become god-tier in days. But fanfiction wasn't reality.
Those people didn't understand that that's not how it worked. Do you think you would just train and baam you're a god?
If becoming truly powerful, a god-tier being, was as simple as having a specific power or just training then the world would have been overrun with god-tier beings already, with all the old ancient beings that are at every corner of the world. Do people think that they haven't tried.
Do you think that those Low class devils that were hundreds of years old didn't train, do you think those gods that were stuck at Mid to Peak of High class were just laying around.
The truth was—power on this scale was incredibly rare, a painstakingly earned privilege, often requiring centuries of dedicated training, immense talent, or sheer, undeniable luck.
Even beings who lived for thousands of years, dedicating their long lives to honing their abilities, often never crossed into High-Class or ultimate class. Many factions, even major ones like the Devils or Angels, often only had a handful of such entities. True power was a closely guarded secret, a testament to immense talent, rigorous dedication, or sheer, undeniable, often inherited, power.
Anime made it look common, a mere plot device for rapid escalation. It wasn't. The jump from low class to Mid-Class, and then to High-Class, represented exponential increases in power, each demanding more effort, more talent, and more fundamental shifts in one's being.
Kenji knew this firsthand now, especially after meticulously reading the detailed lore and power scaling materials he purchased in Kyoto. Humans, even the most extraordinary ones, the prodigies and chosen few, struggled immensely to break past Mid-Class.
Historically, only about 10 to 20 or so humans had ever reached Ultimate Class in known history—and that count included sacred gear wielders and Longinus users, individuals whose power was often derived from divine artifacts, and even most of them still died before fully realizing their potential, their bodies unable to handle the strain, or their lives cut short by the harsh realities of the supernatural world.
Humans who even made it to High-Class were considered once-in-a-generation prodigies and were revered, treated with the utmost respect, and afforded immense influence. Yet here he was. Barely four months in. Already Mid-Class. And he hadn't even had the capabilities of his Instant Dungeon skill or the deeper features of the Multiversal Chat System at the very beginning of his journey, effectively operating with handbrakes on.
Now that he had started leveraging them, actively optimizing his training and resource acquisition, his progress was accelerating at an exponential rate, far beyond anything naturally achievable.
"If this keeps up, I'll hit High Class before the next month is over, perhaps even sooner," he murmured, a glint of confident ambition in his eyes. The implications were staggering. He was on a fast track, defying the established norms of power progression, rapidly closing the gap with the beings of this world.
But that could wait, it was time for more immediate, focused training.
He opened the Instant Dungeon interface. The familiar blue light of the portal shimmered, pulsating invitingly, and he stepped through. The surroundings within the ID shifted, transforming instantly into a dark, ruined cityscape lit by a blood-red sky—his newest ID environment, a desolate, crumbling urban sprawl that evoked a sense of ancient, forgotten conflict and perfectly suited the new enemy type.
[ID Create – Level 5]
[New Enemy Type: Vampires]
The new enemies were leagues above his previous, mindless zombie hordes, oni, and ogres, presenting a vastly more complex and dangerous challenge. Vampires were cunning, agile, and hit with formidable strength, often utilizing supernatural speed to close distances in a blink.
They dodged better, often coordinating their movements with a terrifying intelligence, utilized various forms of blood magic spells, and worked in intelligent, predatory packs, employing tactics he hadn't seen from his previous ID enemies, and that made them infinitely more dangerous.
It was a true challenge and exactly what he needed to test his new capabilities as a Tier 8 and help him adjust to the power, adapt, and grow.
Kenji activated Gravity Manipulation, increasing the pressure on his own body, multiplying the perceived difficulty of every movement. His muscles strained with each step, each swing of his weapon, the air around him thick and heavy, turning the training into an intense, full-body workout that simulated fighting in a denser environment.
Meanwhile, he activated his Enchantment Magic, now impressively at Level 6, a direct result of his dedicated practice and his focus on applying it in everyday life, not just in combat. He coated his weapons and armor in shimmering, invisible buffs that significantly boosted his speed, enhanced his mana retention, sharpened his senses, and dramatically increased his attack power and attack speed.
He made sure to always use his Enchantment Magic in some way or another, constantly layering subtle effects on his clothes, his weapons, his very movements, a dedication that was clearly paying dividends in its rapid level-up.
It was a skill that offered an unparalleled strategic advantage, allowing him to tip the scales in his favor, and he was determined to abuse it to its fullest potential, exploring every nuance of its application.
A low growl echoed from the crumbling shadows, followed by the soft, almost imperceptible scuff of clawed boots on broken concrete. Four figures emerged from the gloom, their eyes glowing faintly red. They were lean, clad in dark, tattered cloaks, their movements eerily fluid. One, clearly the leader, hissed, revealing elongated fangs. "Fresh blood. And a powerful scent too. You've wandered into the wrong alley, human."
They moved with terrifying speed, two flanking Kenji's left, one sweeping wide to his right, and the leader striking directly from the front. Kenji's danger sense and Spatial Awareness flared, turning the chaotic assault into a series of predictable moves.
He met the lead vampire's clawed strike with a parry from his enchanted broadsword, the blade singing with a faint hum as it deflected the blow. Immediately, he brought his free hand up, activating Gravity Manipulation with a surge of mana. A localized field erupted, doubling the weight on the two flanking vampires, sending them stumbling mid-stride, their attacks losing momentum.
"Amateurs," Kenji muttered, dodging a high kick from the third vampire. His enchanted boots allowed him to pivot with impossible speed, making him a blur even in the heavy gravity field he created. He didn't just dodge; he redirected the kick, using the vampire's own momentum against it, sending it sprawling into a pile of rubble.
The lead vampire snarled, its fangs bared, bloodlust in its eyes. "You'll pay for that, human!" It lunged again, this time attempting a rapid flurry of strikes. Kenji's blade moved like quicksilver, a silver blur coated in a faint, unseen shimmer of his enchantment, parrying, blocking, and deflecting every blow. Each deflection was precise, designed not just to defend but to open up vulnerabilities.
As he fended off the leader, the two gravity-affected vampires finally recovered, their movements heavy and labored. They tried to converge, but Kenji was already moving. With a sudden burst of Mana Punch, his fist glowing faintly, he struck the chest of the recovering third vampire, sending it flying back with a guttural gasp, its ribs audibly cracking. The impact of the blow was magnified by his enhanced strength and the underlying gravity effect.
He spun, his enchanted blade a deadly extension of his will. The first gravity-affected vampire, still struggling, lunged with an uncoordinated attack. Kenji's Sword Mastery (now at Level 7) kicked in, guiding his movement. He sidestepped, letting the vampire overextend, then brought his blade down in a clean, powerful arc.
The enchanted broadsword, glowing subtly, cleaved through the vampire's shoulder with ease, the plague debuff from Blightbreaker immediately beginning to take effect, black veins spreading across the creature's skin. The vampire shrieked, collapsing.
The second vampire, enraged, came at him with a desperate, two-handed strike. Kenji grinned, a flash of predatory satisfaction in his eyes. He met its attack head-on, his sword clashing with its claws. But this time, he pulsed Gravity Manipulation outwards, creating a powerful, concussive wave that slammed into the vampire, momentarily stunning it. Before it could react, he plunged his blade deep into its chest, twisting it for maximum effect. Another shriek and the vampire began to dissolve into dust.
Only the leader remained its eyes now wide with a mix of fury and dawning fear. It lunged, faster than before, trying to exploit Kenji's brief moment of focus. But Kenji was ready. He countered with a powerful Mana Ball, a condensed sphere of pure magical energy, launching it directly at the vampire's face.
The creature recoiled, its instincts screaming at the raw magical force, but it was too slow. The Mana Ball detonated on impact, sending ripples of pure energy through its form, staggering it.
Before the vampire could fully recover, Kenji closed the distance, his enchanted blade poised. This was it. He moved with precision and finality, channeling every ounce of his new Tier 8 power into a single, decisive strike. His blade pierced the vampire's heart, and with a final, agonizing gasp, the creature dissolved into black smoke and ash, leaving behind only remnants of its dark existence.
He had the chime of his system for his rewards and Exp and just ignored it for now.
"Gravity manipulation really is unfair" he chuckled, Those were mid class level vampires but thanks to his gravity manipulation he was able to stop and slow them down that it made them look like a couple of low class dregs.
'Well no point in just standing here, let's see how many I can kill'.
He fought with precision and calculated ferocity, a blur of motion in the blood-red landscape. He weaved through complex ambushes, disabling enemy casters with targeted mana blasts, and executing powerful finishers with a new, fluid grace that came with his Tier 8 agility.
The dungeon rewarded his intense effort, feeding him valuable monster materials for future crafting, diverse loot for potential selling, and small, but consistent, skill improvements with every vanquished foe.
After a few grueling hours of intense grinding, pushing himself to the brink of his newly ascended limits, Kenji finally exited the dungeon, the ruined cityscape fading behind him. He exhaled deeply, covered in sweat, his chest heaving as he gulped in the normal, fresh air of his room. The exhaustion was profound, but invigorating.
"God, that was exhausting," he chuckled, a weary but utterly triumphant sound echoing in the quiet room. "But worth it."
He stretched, working out the kinks and residual stiffness in his muscles, feeling the immense power thrumming beneath his skin. Then, with a lighter heart, he made his way to the bathroom to shower. Today was important for a different reason entirely, one that had nothing to do with power levels or combat prowess.
Today was date night.
As the cool water poured over him, washing away the grime and exhaustion of the dungeon, he grinned, a wide, genuine smile spreading across his face. It had been so long, far too long since Kenji had taken Anastasia out properly and now he had the chance, just the two of them.
Today would be No kids, no family tension, no lingering shadows, no concerns about the supernatural. Just them, reconnecting, rediscovering.
He had everything meticulously planned, right down to the last romantic detail. Dinner reservations at a quiet, elegant rooftop restaurant they had always wanted to try, overlooking the city lights. A romantic nighttime stroll along the riverside, perhaps by the illuminated cherry blossoms, their delicate petals gently falling. Maybe even some dancing in a cozy jazz club.
"I'm gonna make this unforgettable," he whispered, his voice full of promise, a vow not just to her, but to himself, a testament to the new life he was building.
This was going to be perfect he would make sure of it, and he was glad that nothing was going to ruin it.
'Nothing will ruin it, right? I mean I haven't offended anyone so it should be fine'.
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