The sudden world announcement echoed across the Land of Divine Punishment.
"System emergency maintenance will begin in five seconds… Four… Three…"
Before Noah could even process what had just happened, his vision blurred, and his entire body lurched as if pulled by an invisible hook. In the blink of an eye, he was yanked out of the Elf Ancient Battlefield and forcibly sent back to Asura City.
"Damn it! Maintenance again?" Noah rubbed his temples, his voice full of irritation. But his sharp mind was already working. "No doubt the system must have detected that the Demon God had been interfering with the hidden map. Looks like they're going to patch the battlefield."
His lips curled into a grin. "That's good news. Good job, system. You really are the only one I can count on."
Around him, the bustling city streets of Asura were quickly filling up with players who had all been kicked offline from the battlefield. Conversations overlapped in the crowd, voices rising with both frustration and awe.
"Wait, did I hear it right? The announcement just said Demon-Slayer took down the Minotaur Warlord?"
"You didn't imagine it! I heard the exact same thing. Demon-Slayer really did it!"
"That's insane! Even a Battle King couldn't bring that thing down. But Demon-Slayer… he makes the impossible look easy."
Noah tugged his mask a little tighter—the custom one crafted by the Demon-Hunting Institute. His ID and face were safely hidden from the masses. To them, he was just another faceless player in the crowd. None could have guessed that the very man they were praising was standing right there, silently enjoying the chaos.
Above Asura City, another crisp system announcement rang out.
"Emergency maintenance estimated duration: 4 hours. Thank you for your patience and support."
"Four hours?" Noah's shoulders slumped. "That's way too long. Guess I'll have to log off."
With a wry chuckle, he muttered, "At least give us some compensation this time… thirty thousand gold would be decent, fifty thousand would make me forgive you, and a hundred thousand? I'd forget maintenance even happened."
The next moment, his consciousness faded, and he returned to the quiet comfort of his bedroom in the real world.
"Ahhh~" Noah stretched with a satisfied groan as the cool air from the air conditioner washed over his skin. Every pore of his body seemed to open in relief. The cracking of his joints filled the room, and a small, contented sigh escaped his lips.
Each time he left the Land of Divine Punishment, he could feel it—that undeniable strengthening of his body, as though his real flesh and blood were evolving. This time, the sensation was far more intense. His blood seemed to roar in his veins, vitality pulsing like a raging tide. The aftereffects of consuming five thousand attribute pills were undeniable.
"Hidden maps with rewards like that… if I can find a few more, I'll shoot straight into the heavens," he murmured, standing up with a grin.
His throat was dry. Without thinking, he padded to the kitchen, grabbed a chilled bottle of mineral water, and collapsed on the couch. He drank greedily, the water gurgling down his throat.
Then he heard footsteps.
Turning, he saw his sister, Snow, stepping out from her room. She wore a simple silk nightdress, her long hair flowing down her back. She looked tired—clearly, she had been awake during the maintenance.
"Want some water, Snow?" Noah asked casually, raising the bottle.
She shook her head and moved toward him. The fabric of her nightdress swayed with each step, but for once, Noah didn't let his gaze linger. Instead, his hand quietly reached into his inventory, pulling out the newest SSS-tier skill he had acquired—Skill Replica.
Let's test this out.
"Buzz…"
For a brief second, he swore he felt the air ripple around him.
Then, a crisp notification appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations! You have successfully replicated the SSS-tier skill: Northern Starfire — Permanently Acquired!]
Noah froze. Then his jaw dropped. "Holy sh*t!"
He shot up from the couch, smacking his thigh in sheer disbelief. He had just copied Snow's most prized skill, the one she had earned after countless battles—Northern Starfire—and the system had made it permanent!
That meant… he now had it too.
Snow arched a brow as she approached, puzzled by his sudden outburst. "What's with you, Noah? Why are you standing like an idiot?"
"Uh…" He quickly slumped back onto the couch, forcing an awkward smile. "I just… choked on the water."
She sat down beside him, her expression softening. "Tomorrow, I'll be leaving. Do you have anything you want to say to me before I go?"
Noah hesitated. After a moment, he said seriously, "Be careful on your journey."
Snow gave him a sharp look. "I'm traveling through a teleportation array. What danger could there be? You're hopeless sometimes."
"Then… thank you for the skill, Snow," Noah replied slyly, unable to stop himself.
"Skill?" She blinked, smiling faintly. "I told you already, I'll give you my skill as long as you get into a university. That was the deal."
"Don't worry. I'll definitely make it," Noah said firmly.
Snow studied him for a long moment before sighing. Her slender hand reached out, brushing his hair in that familiar, sisterly way.
"Snow, I'm not a kid anymore. Do you really have to keep messing with my hair?" he complained.
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. "You're my brother. If I don't pat your head, then what else am I supposed to pat?"
"…" Noah's mind went blank. Well, she's not wrong…
But her playful mood quickly faded, replaced by something more solemn. Her eyes softened as she whispered, "This time, Noah, I might be gone for a long while. I probably won't be here for your college entrance exams."
"It's fine," Noah replied. "It's just an exam. I can handle it alone."
"If you really believe you can get in," Snow said quietly, "then apply for a university in the Imperial Capital. It doesn't matter if it's top-tier or not. As long as you're there, I'll always be close enough to protect you."
"That was my plan too," Noah assured her. "If I go, it'll definitely be to the Imperial Capital."
A gentle smile curved her lips. "Good boy."
After a moment, she stood, her silk nightdress shimmering as she turned toward her room. "Enough talk. Get some rest. Your school has activities tomorrow, right?"
"Goodnight, Snow," Noah called after her, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.
That night, Noah lingered by the balcony for a while, letting the cool breeze wash over him, before finally curling beneath his blanket. He drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
…
The next morning, he woke refreshed, energy coursing through his veins. After getting dressed, he moved to leave for school.
But just as he opened the door, Snow's voice called out sharply behind him.
"Noah, wait!"
He turned, confused. Snow approached, and with a wave of her hand, light flickered between her fingers. A dazzling azure greatsword appeared in her grasp.
"This is…" Noah's eyes widened.
Snow pressed the blade into his hands. "It's dangerous outside these days. Take this with you for protection. No matter what happens, guard yourself well."
For a moment, Noah was silent. Looking at her pale but resolute face, he felt a pang of guilt. "You stayed up all night, didn't you?"
She didn't deny it. "I spent all my coins on upgrading my skills. I didn't have enough left for this weapon, so… I took on a few bounty missions overnight."
Noah tightened his grip on the sword, then slung it across his back. "Thank you, Snow."
She hesitated, then leaned closer, her voice soft, her cheeks tinged pink. "Listen to me, Noah. Don't put too much pressure on yourself during the exams. Just do your best. And even if you don't make it… it doesn't matter. I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
Noah froze, staring at her in shock. Then a grin spread across his face. He thumped his chest with determination.
"Relax, Snow. There's no way I'm letting you take care of me forever. I'll pass the exam no matter what it takes!"