Haru wandered through the forest in silence, his armor cracked, his sword dull and blackened from blood.
The echoes of war faded behind him — no more explosions, no more screams — only the sound of rustling leaves and distant water.
After walking for hours, he finally found it.
A waterfall, hidden deep within the untouched forest — 60 kilometers away from the battlefield.
The mist around it shimmered under the sunlight, pure and cold.
Haru dropped his gear beside a stone and sat near the water, finally allowing his body to breathe.
His reflection on the surface looked unfamiliar — eyes sharp, aura faintly golden, and the fatigue of months etched on his face.
He opened his system panel, and glowing blue text appeared before him.
> Name: Haru Villamor
Age: 24
Job: Warrior (Ascension Available)
Level: 70
Title: Ranker
Strength: 148
Intelligence: 139
Agility: 133
Vitality: 158
Sense: 163
He stared at the numbers, remembering the last time this happened.
"When I reached fifty… I passed out for two days," he murmured.
But now, something felt different.
No fear. No hesitation. Only a quiet determination.
He tapped the [Ascension Available] icon.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, a sound — like a bell echoing through the heavens — filled his ears.
A surge of power rushed through every bone, muscle, and nerve.
His heartbeat quickened, his vision blurred, and the air itself seemed to vibrate around him.
It wasn't rage this time.
It wasn't wild energy.
It was clarity.
His mind expanded, thoughts flowing like the river beside him.
He could feel everything — the wind, the mana in the ground, even the faint heartbeat of the forest.
He wasn't just stronger — he understood.
> This is… transcending.
The system voice echoed softly in his head, calm and resonant:
> [Congratulations!]
You have upgraded your Job: Warrior → Gladiator
The moment the message appeared, light engulfed his body.
The scars vanished.
His blade floated briefly, reshaping itself with crimson patterns along the edge.
New armor — silver with faint red lines — materialized on his body, fitting perfectly like it was made just for him.
The waterfall roared behind him as the transformation completed.
He looked at his reflection again — and saw not a survivor, but a Gladiator, reborn.
Haru stood up, gripping his sword with both hands.
"New stage… new beginning."
His voice was calm, almost serene.
Then he smiled faintly.
"But the fight's not over yet."
The system's voice echoed in Haru's mind, clear and divine.
> [Wink]
You have gained a Gladiator Skill — Exclusive to Gladiators.
Skill: HEAVEN BARRIER
Description: Upon reaching the Expert Realm, low-level attacks below your level cannot harm you.
Any attack or spell under A-Rank cannot pierce your barrier.
A gift bestowed by the gods — this skill can only be granted to humans who have transcended their mortal limits.
A soft light surrounded Haru, forming a transparent layer that flickered like glass under sunlight. He clenched his hand, feeling the divine warmth running through his veins.
He didn't feel power anymore.
He felt understanding — as if every swing, every breath, every heartbeat had meaning.
He was no longer a man relying on brute force.
He had become something beyond that.
For a week, he rested under the quiet rhythm of the waterfall. His thoughts were clear, his spirit steady. When he finally stood up, he could already sense the turbulence from afar — another war had erupted.
He looked toward the horizon, toward the smoke and thunder in the south.
"…Again," he murmured softly, tightening his gloves.
---
The battlefield was chaos once more.
Explosions echoed across the land, the sky turned red from fire and magic.
But Haru was no longer the same warrior who once struggled to stand among elves.
He walked calmly across the field, perception sharp, movements fluid — every sound, every vibration felt through his soul.
He recalled the old quest — Defeat the Ninth Seat, the Lich King Verlin.
But the system never notified him again.
"Maybe someone already took care of it," he thought, eyes sharp as he continued moving.
An undead knight lunged at him — blade drawn, aura foul and dark.
In a blink, Haru moved.
A single step — and the undead's head fell before it could swing.
No skill. No energy burst. Just speed, precision, and calm execution.
Then another undead came.
Then five.
Then ten.
Each died faster than the last.
To Haru, it wasn't even battle anymore — it was a massacre born from mastery.
When the fight ended, the remaining elves stood frozen.
Their gazes turned toward Haru, eyes filled with caution.
The man before them had no scent of magic, no trace of mana — and yet the air around him felt heavier than any aura they'd felt before.
As Haru wiped the blood from his blade, a sudden wind brushed past him.
Something was coming — fast.
CLANG!
A sharp sound split the air.
Haru instinctively tilted his head, and a crimson blade flashed past his cheek — just barely missing.
He stepped back without panic, eyes locking on his attacker.
A woman stood before him, her long crimson hair flowing in the wind. Her presence burned like flame — graceful yet fierce.
Her blade shimmered with divine runes.
"Who are you, human?" she demanded coldly. "Why is there a human in our territory?"
Haru didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at his panel, activating his System Eye.
> Aeriswen Velyrion
First Princess of the Silver Grove
Royal Elf
Level: 75
Haru sighed quietly and lowered his sword slightly.
"So you're the princess…" he muttered.
Aeriswen tightened her grip, eyes narrowing.
She wasn't sure what frightened her more — the human's composure… or the fact that when she struck, he had dodged her attack without even looking.