And now when Kaito heard the woman's words, telling him to choose the Asura Level, his expression froze in disbelief.
He had been hesitant even about selecting the Hero Level just moments ago, uncertain whether he could even clear that stage. Yet now, this woman whose strength and understanding were far beyond his comprehension was telling him to choose a level above even that.
The Asura Level.
A difficulty no player, not even in his previous life, had ever heard of.
His mind was spinning.
He had only barely been considering whether to risk attempting Hero difficulty, and now she was asking him to go beyond that to challenge something even greater. It was something that made no sense. He was confident in his experience and his current abilities, but not arrogant enough to underestimate what such a challenge meant.
If even the strongest god-level players of his previous life couldn't handle Hero difficulty, then what kind of trial awaited him in Asura?
The thought alone made his chest feel heavy.
His mind subconsciously drifted to his past life, recalling the player who had first obtained the Magic Swordsman class. He remembered that player's achievements how he had dominated the leaderboards, how his strength and mastery had made him one of the most famous figures in Glory.
But even that player, with all his unmatched fame and power, had never gone beyond King Level.
No one had.
The Hero level had been considered the limit of what was possible, and even then, no one had ever managed to clear it. And now, Kaito was staring at a difficulty beyond even that.
His thoughts continued to wander through his memories his previous life, his experiences, his countless struggles and triumphs. One by one, they flashed through his mind like fragments of a long, forgotten dream.
And then, amidst those memories, one image surfaced and refused to fade.
It was him his past self.
Lying on the cold floor of the Genesis office, his body covered in blood, his strength fading away, his mind clouded by regret. He could still remember that final moment, the weight of all the regrets pressing down on him. The helplessness. The anger. The unwillingness to accept that it was the end.
That image burned itself into his mind once again, sharper than ever.
Even back then, when he had just been reborn, he had made himself a promise. A vow that now that he has got another chance, a second shot at life, he would never let regret control his life. He would grab every opportunity, take every risk, and aim for nothing less than the best.
Because to do otherwise would be a waste to the second chance he had been given.
That vow resurfaced now, steady and unshakable.
Kaito clenched his fist slowly. His earlier hesitation faded away, replaced by a calm but firm determination.
He had been given another life a chance to correct everything. And if this world, this game, had given him a new path that no one else had seen or heard before, then he would walk it.
Even if it was dangerous. Even if it was uncertain.
Without thinking any further, he made his decision.
He lifted his hand and tapped the option glowing faintly on the panel [Asura].
The moment his finger touched it, the system responded instantly.
[You have selected Asura Level Difficulty for your Advancement Quest.]
Confirm selection?
Yes / No
Kaito didn't hesitate this time. His expression remained calm, his eyes steady.
"Yes," he pressed firmly.
The instant he confirmed, the blue panel flickered once before dissolving into particles of light that vanished into the air.
When the light faded, Kaito looked up at the woman once more. She was already watching him.
For the first time, there was a clear smile on her face not a polite one, not an amused one, but a genuine expression of satisfaction. Her calm blue eyes reflected a glint of pride.
"You are truly someone," she said softly, her tone carrying a trace of approval, "who is worthy of our lineage."
The woman still had that faint smile on her face as she slowly raised her hand. With a gentle wave, the air in front of Kaito began to ripple. A few seconds later, a black circular portal formed in the center of the room. It expanded quietly, its edges pulsing with dark energy that seemed to swallow all surrounding light.
Seeing the portal, Kaito instantly understood what it meant.
It was time to begin his advancement quest.
The sight of the swirling darkness stirred a mix of excitement and determination inside him. He took a slow breath and forced himself to calm down. There was no longer any space for hesitation. Whatever doubts he had before, he pushed them to the back of his mind.
Focusing on what he needed to do, Kaito quickly opened his message interface. He typed a short message to his Second Uncle, informing him about his next step.
"I'm starting my advancement quest now. It'll take some time to complete, so until I'm back, please follow the city guide I sent earlier. Make sure everyone in Genesis uses it to take on quests and maintain our ranking among the top teams in Astralis City before I finish this."
Once the message was sent, Kaito closed the interface and began checking his equipment.
He opened his inventory, carefully reviewing his supplies one last time. Potions, emergency scrolls, and other consumables all were accounted for. He made sure his healing items were properly sorted, equipped. Everything needed to be perfect.
When he was satisfied, he reached for his weapons.
First, he equipped Dragon Fang, the sharp, silver-edged blade that carried a faint trace of draconic aura. Then he drew out Solstice Blade, its dark, smooth metal reflecting the faint glow of the portal in front of him. The two swords, one bright and one shadowed.
Kaito then tightened his grip around the hilts and exhaled slowly.
He had prepared for this moment long before arriving here. There was no point in overthinking now.
With his preparations complete and his resolve steady, he stepped toward the portal. Without a trace of hesitation, Kaito walked straight into it.
The dark surface rippled the moment his body touched it, swallowing him completely. The air distorted, and in the next instant, Kaito vanished from the room.
The woman, who had been silently watching him all this time, nodded slightly. Her expression was calm, but her eyes carried a faint glimmer of pride.
"Now it's all up to you," she murmured softly. "Whether you can experience the true power of our lineage or not."
With those words, she turned away. The portal remained spinning quietly in the center of the room, its faint hum filling the silence. But the woman paid it no attention.
As she walked toward the door, she composed herself back into her usual calm demeanor. Outside the guest chamber, the maid who had been standing guard straightened immediately upon seeing her young mistress step out.
"Miss?" the maid asked hesitantly, glancing toward the room behind her. Her eyes flickered curiously, and when she noticed the black portal still floating inside, her expression turned slightly tense.
The woman caught the look on her face and smiled lightly. "No need to worry about him," she said in a reassuring tone. "Just continue with your duties."
Then, after a brief pause, she added, "When he comes out, you'll be responsible for his reception and inform me immediately when he returns."
"Yes, my lady," the maid replied quickly, bowing her head.
The woman gave a faint nod and turned away, her footsteps echoing softly through the corridor as she left.