Ezreal, opened his status window as soon as the forest faded into town light.
He had felt it during the last few fights. The subtle tightening of movement. The way his body responded faster, cleaner. He was stronger now.
Level 19.
The system chimed softly as the interface expanded before him.
Name: RhaastRace: HumanClass: Assassin (Nightblade)Level: 19EXP: 0 / 68,000Coin: 8 silver, 34 copper
Health Points: 560 / 560
Mana: 980 / 980
Strength: 27
Intelligence: 21
Stamina: 36
Speed: 48
Durability: 14
Wisdom: 13
The Assassin class bonuses were already applied—enhanced Speed scaling, improved Stamina growth, marginal boosts to reaction-based attributes. He leaned into it further, assigning the remaining points where they mattered most. Speed first. Then Stamina. Strength just behind.
He stared at the final result for a moment.
Fast. Durable enough to survive mistakes. Still fragile, but that was fine. He wasn't meant to be hit.
Satisfied, he closed the interface.
The starting town greeted him with noise.
It had changed.
What was once a quiet beginner hub now buzzed with activity. Players crowded the streets, armor more varied, weapons sharper, movements more confident. Party recruitment messages floated overhead. Shouts of coordination. Laughter. Arguments. Deals being struck in corners.
Eight hours had passed in Eden.
Four hours in the real world.
Time dilation still messed with his head.
Ezreal moved through the crowd, unseen out of habit rather than skill, his mind replaying moments he hadn't meant to linger on.
Twin swords.Fluid footwork.Eyes sharp even on the brink of collapse.
He frowned.
Enough.
At the edge of town, he found a quiet spot and opened the logout menu.
"Log out," he murmured.
The world dissolved.
The hiss of the VR headset releasing filled the room.
Ezreal blinked as reality snapped back into place—dim lighting, the low hum of electronics, the faint scent of metal and soap. He lifted the headset off and set it carefully on the desk.
He glanced at the time.
"…Four hours?" he muttered.
He leaned back, rubbing his eyes. It felt longer. Much longer.
To his right, Victor's rig was still running. The familiar glow of Eden Online reflected off his friend's face, body motionless except for the subtle twitch of fingers.
"Figures," Ezreal sighed.
He stood, stretching until his back cracked—old scars pulling tight beneath his skin. The mirror caught him briefly as he passed: lean frame, web of scars across his back from a life that existed long before Eden.
The shower was hot.
Too hot.
Water cascaded down his shoulders, tracing old wounds, steam fogging the glass. Ezreal rested his hands against the wall, head bowed, trying to clear his thoughts.
It didn't work.
He saw her again.
The way she pivoted mid-strike.The discipline in her stance.The moment exhaustion crept in, and she fought anyway.
He groaned.
"Get a grip," he muttered, then slapped his own cheek lightly. "You don't even know her name."
The water kept falling.
Eventually, he shut it off.
He dressed quickly shorts, a loose shirt and wandered back into the main room. Victor was still logged in. No surprise there.
Ezreal sat at the spare computer and opened MeeTube.
Instant regret.
His feed was flooded.
"HOW I HIT LEVEL 40 IN 2 DAYS (NO CLICKBAIT)"
"EDEN ONLINE EXP GLITCH?? DEVS HATE THIS"
"TOP 10 SECRET BUILDS THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW"
He hovered over one thumbnail. Then another.
He closed the tab.
"Yeah. No," he said quietly.
Instead, he navigated to the official Eden Online site. Clean. Minimalist. Corporate.
A banner caught his eye.
LEADERBOARDS
Ezreal clicked.
Most sections were grayed out.
Class rankings: LOCKEDPvP rankings: LOCKEDUnique Class holders: LOCKED
"Weird," he murmured.
Only one tab was available.
LEVEL LEADERBOARD
He opened it.
The list loaded.
Rank 1 sat at the top, glowing faintly.
Level 23
Username: Maledict
Ezreal stared at the name.
Something about it prickled at the back of his mind. Not fear. Not recognition.
Instinct.
Like noticing a predator before it moves.
He leaned back slowly, eyes narrowing.
"Huh," he said.
After a few seconds, he shrugged and closed the page.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
Still