Suho finally began to understand the truth — the **power gap** between him and his enemies was vast, an unending canyon he could not cross.
Even though leveling up slightly increased his strength, stamina, and mana, the *time it took to gather aura* never changed. His power built up slower than anyone else's.
Sometimes, while training, he thought,
> "Even if I grow stronger… will it ever matter?"
Using the goblin mage's staff helped — it increased his mana and even allowed him to cast *Fireball*, the same spell the goblin had used. But his version was weak, barely enough to singe an enemy's skin.
A month passed. Suho's dark magic and necromancy improved, though painfully slow. By combining new skeletons, he noticed slight progress. One day, while testing *Fireball* repeatedly, a notification appeared:
> **[Skill Acquired – Fireball (Class F)]**
He smiled faintly.
Without the staff, the spell took long to activate — just like gathering aura — but it gave him hope. Magic could be used in many ways. He devoted himself entirely to studying it.
When he looked up at his status window, he noticed a timer glowing faintly at the corner:
> **[Time Remaining to Clear Stage 1: 1 Year]**
Time was running.
He read every magic book he could find in the safe room. One was about another world — a world that had already faced its own apocalypse. That world was filled with magic: holy, dark, light, time, shadow.
Most of them were myths now.
The mages of that world were powerful — most between Class 5 and 7, all chasing the mythical **9th Circle Magic**. But their world had fallen to something far greater.
The final pages were torn, only a rushed note remained:
> "To whoever reads this… we have lost. But if you are under Level 10, listen well — learn everything. Magic, aura, holy arts, anything. Because once you pass Level 10, your class will define your life.
> Choose wrong… and you will regret it forever."
Suho froze.
Was this a warning from another survivor of this "system"?
He clenched his fists, determination burning in his tired eyes.
> "Then I'm on the right path," he whispered.
> "If I can't have talent, I'll have *effort.*"
But even then, his skeletons were smarter than him.
They knew he had no talent at all.
While checking their status, he noticed something strange:
> **[Skeleton Goblin – Level Up: 2]**
> **[Swordsmanship: Increased to a Certain Degree]**
His first skeleton had grown stronger — *and even gained talent in swordsmanship.*
Suho's hands trembled.
"Even my skeleton has talent… but not me?"
He checked the others. None of them had any special traits. The goblin mage skeleton couldn't even use magic anymore. Still, Suho stayed positive.
> "Maybe when they level up more, they'll change."
He took a deep breath. "First, let's focus on magic. Maybe even holy power… whatever that is."
---
### **Meanwhile…**
In another corner of the world, inside a different Stage 1 tutorial, a necromancer stood proudly at the center of an army of undead knights, mages, and trolls.
Each of his creations was far stronger than Suho's.
The necromancer raised his hands as twenty undead warriors kneeled before him.
> "I've become strong enough to clear this stage alone," he said confidently.
The constellation supporting him, **[Incro – God of the Underworld]**, replied coldly:
> *[Do not be arrogant. You are strong, but not alone in power. Holy users and knights exist too.]*
The player smirked.
> "Then I'll just get stronger. With your authority, no one can stop me."
Somewhere above, his constellation watched silently, holding the form of a giant **skeleton dragon**, whispering:
> *[I've prepared a gift for you. With this, no one will surpass you.]*
---
### **Back to Suho**
Eight months passed since Suho entered the tutorial.
His progress was slow — painfully so. He still couldn't cast *Fireball* properly, though his control had improved. His small army of skeleton goblins hunted for him tirelessly while he trained.
His equipment was pitiful — a chipped sword, a cracked staff, and a dull knife.
Still, he endured.
By now, Suho had reached **Level 6**, while his first skeleton goblin had reached **Level 4**.
No one had talent. No one except him — and yet, he still pushed forward.
One day, deep in the cave, Suho noticed light ahead.
A torch.
He moved closer — and froze.
Before him stretched a massive **goblin village** built inside the cavern. Dozens of goblins walked between stone huts. Mages. Archers. Even **trolls** the size of houses.
Suho's face went pale.
> "I… can't fight that."
Fear gripped his chest. Still, he decided to hunt them slowly — one group at a time.
The first ambush succeeded. He defeated a small patrol.
But then, **his nightmare appeared.**
A giant troll rose behind him, its roar shaking the cave walls.
Suho's body froze.
He tried to cast Fireball with one hand, gathering aura on his knife with the other.
The troll smashed his skeletons easily. Suho's hands shook.
He released the knife — it shot like a red comet, piercing the troll's forehead—
—but not deep enough.
The monster screamed, still alive.
Suho's heart pounded. His legs trembled as he raised his sword. The blade struck the troll's leg but stuck halfway through. He couldn't pull it out.
The troll glared down at him.
Its massive foot swung—
Suho flew through the air, crashing into a stone hut. Blood spilled from his mouth.
Dozens of goblins rushed toward him.
He couldn't move.
Then — one by one — the goblins fell.
Suho blinked through tears.
His **first skeleton goblin** stood before him, broken arm dangling, half of its skull crushed — but still fighting.
Suho's eyes filled with tears. "Why… are you still fighting…?"
The troll leapt high and came crashing down.
The skeleton goblin raised its sword one last time — and was crushed into dust.
Suho screamed.
When the troll turned to finish him, Suho was gone.
Blood dripped across the village path — he was running, dragging his broken leg through the dirt.
His body was weak, his heart shattered, but his eyes — still burned.
⚡ End of Chapter 3
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