The Novice Map, Forest of Hope.
Noah's arrival instantly drew the attention of veteran players.
"Wait… that guy…"
"That's… Demon-Slayer!"
"Oh my god, it's really him! I'm actually seeing him in person!"
"Of all places… here?! But… why is he still Level 1? What's he doing in the Forest of Hope?"
The older players whispered in disbelief, excitement flickering in their eyes.
No one knew why Demon-Slayer—the Demon-Slayer—would come here.
Under normal circumstances, this was a place only visited by players who had already completed their Breakthrough Quests.
Tonight's starlit sky was a rare sight. Usually, the Forest of Hope was a forbidden zone for humanity, cloaked year-round in lethal mist. Approaching the forest's edge, let alone entering, was certain death.
But tonight was different—Old Wang was opening the Star Gate. The mist had temporarily receded, revealing the forest in all its ancient splendor.
And yet, that only deepened their confusion.
Demon-Slayer couldn't possibly have known about the Star Gate opening. So… why was he here? Coincidence? A random exploration that just happened to lead him here?
The ancient forest loomed, swallowing the starlight. A cool breeze blew in from beyond the World Barrier, brushing the backs of the older players.
Above Noah's head, the bright, glaring "Level 1" tag seemed almost defiant.
"So this… is the man who'll one day be Emperor of Mankind? Damn… he's even younger and better looking than I imagined," one muttered. "Almost as good as I was back in my prime."
No one dared approach him. They simply stepped aside, creating a path. Age had stripped these veterans of youthful fervor, leaving only a calm respect—the kind reserved for the truly powerful.
For them, this was the highest tribute they could offer.
Noah strode forward, stopping before the towering, star-sparkling World Barrier. He looked up, expression hard.
[Warning: Time remaining—5 minutes before the Forest of Hope is once again shrouded in lethal mist.]
The God's Eye talent whispered in his mind.
Noah's brow furrowed. "Got it."
That research report… Brute force creates miracles.
He had a feeling he understood, though he wasn't completely sure. He hadn't come here expecting much—just to test an idea. If it worked, great. If not, no big loss.
He stepped back two paces, gripping Blood Dawn tightly. Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed something and turned to the watching veterans.
"You're all still here?" he asked, frowning.
A bald old mage hesitated before asking, "Demon-Slayer… what exactly are you planning to do?"
Even standing there, the mage seemed fragile—legs trembling, likely from years of old injuries. His hands shook on his staff, its grip worn smooth with time.
Here in the Land of Divine Punishment, time flowed exactly as in the real world. Players aged naturally, their appearance changing based on strength, constitution, and care for the body.
For ordinary players, once they reached sixty, age hit hard.
Of course, there were exceptions—like the Four Emperors of Humanity. The eldest, Ye Zhibai, was already 215. The youngest, Li Yueqing, was still over a century old, yet rumored to look as enchanting as a young maiden.
On the other hand, some people went bald and frail in their twenties… and had only themselves to blame.
Noah didn't hide his intentions. "I want to see if I can break this barrier. Things might get dangerous. You should leave."
"What? Break the barrier?!"
The words rippled through the crowd like a shockwave.
The old mage's eyes quivered. "Is… is this real? Demon-Slayer is going to break the World Barrier…?"
In two hundred years, no one had ever succeeded. Sure, desperate players had tried shady tricks when progress stalled, but every method had failed. The only proven way forward was to level up and break through normally.
If anyone else had said this, the veterans would have laughed in their face—or called them an idiot.
But this was Demon-Slayer. The man who, at Level 1, had solo-cleared Wolf King Valley in four seconds. The man who had left the Permanent Sword Insignia inside that dungeon.
For the first time in years, the veterans felt their blood stir.
The old mage leaned heavily on his staff, his hands trembling harder—but his eyes were sharp. "Demon-Slayer… we old-timers aren't afraid of death. Let us stay!"
They knew it was impossible. Even Demon-Slayer couldn't truly break it. But they wanted to witness the attempt.
Noah understood. He simply waved them back. "Further. Keep going."
They retreated until they were hundreds of meters away.
He took a deep breath. The night wind from beyond the barrier was cold against his face. Raising his staff, he spoke.
"Fireball!"
A small flame flared in his palm before shooting forward—
BOOM!
The fireball slammed into the barrier and burst.
-123,879!
A damage number popped up. The barrier didn't move, didn't crack—didn't even scratch.
But Noah's eyes lit up.
So it's exactly as I thought… "brute force creates miracles" is literal!
The fireball had done damage. That meant the barrier could be attacked. No health bar? No problem.
Four minutes left before the mist returned.
Noah didn't hesitate. He triggered his ultimate.
Help me, Dawn!
A soft, divine voice answered in his mind. Yes, my master.
The Goddess of Dawn's power exploded outward from him, spreading like a shockwave until the entire Forest of Hope was wrapped in divine light.
The starry night sky to the east ignited with the glow of morning. In seconds, dawn pierced the darkness, flooding the land with gold.
Noah's body rose into the air, wrapped in sacred power. He gathered all of it into his fist—
"BREAK!"
BOOM!
A colossal fist of light formed before him, slamming into the rippling surface of the World Barrier.
The earth shook. Divine light swallowed everything.
-999,999,999,999!
The number blazed in everyone's eyes.