The morning sun barely pierced the grime-streaked windows of Slumtown. Kael's muscles ached from yesterday's fight, but he couldn't rest. Rank 0 wasn't just a number—it was a sentence, a mark that screamed to everyone that he was powerless. And in this world, power meant survival.
The Reincarnation System had awakened overnight, its soft pulse still lingering at the back of his mind. He had stared at it for hours, memorizing every detail, wondering how a system could choose someone like him—someone who had nothing.
[System Reminder: Hidden Paths Detected]
Kael had repeated the words over and over. Hidden paths. Secret potential. The gods themselves apparently didn't want him to fail… or maybe they didn't even know he existed yet. Either way, it was his chance.
A faint notification appeared before his eyes.
[Quest Available: Survive the Slum Trial]
Reward: 10 Experience Points, 1 Skill Point
Kael clenched his fists. "Slum Trial? Whatever that means, I'll take it." He didn't even pause to think. Survival was all he knew.
---
First Training: Learning the System
The system interface gave him choices he didn't fully understand. Skills, stats, and attributes were blank—but the interface hinted at something more.
[Strength: 1]
[Agility: 1]
[Intelligence: 2]
Kael frowned. How could he start with anything at all? Perhaps the system rewarded intelligence for thinking creatively. That would make sense—he had survived so far purely on cunning.
A small tutorial prompt appeared:
[Tip: Rank 0 humans gain experience faster when taking calculated risks.]
[Tip: Hidden Paths often unlock through unexpected actions.]
Kael's lips curved into a grin. Calculated risks? That was his specialty.
---
The First Test
Not far from the slums was a small abandoned warehouse. According to the system, this was his trial. Kael approached cautiously, noting the broken windows and the faint flicker of movement inside.
A pair of low-level beasts, barely the size of a man, lunged from the shadows. They hissed and bared fangs that glinted like wet knives. Kael's heart raced, but he didn't freeze.
[Combat Options Available: Fight / Dodge / Observe]
He chose Observe. The beasts moved in predictable patterns, circling each other. Timing was everything. Kael's first strike had to count.
He grabbed a loose plank of wood from the ground and swung with all his strength, catching the first beast off guard. It screeched and tumbled backward, stunned. The second one lunged at him, but Kael rolled aside, narrowly avoiding its claws.
[Quest Update: First Combat Success]
Reward: +2 Agility, +3 Intelligence, Skill Point Unlocked
A new skill appeared in his interface: Shadow Step—a basic movement skill that allowed him to dodge attacks faster. Kael felt a surge of excitement. The system wasn't just giving him stats—it was giving him tools. Tools to survive, tools to climb.
---
Aftermath and Reflection
Kael emerged from the warehouse, soaked in sweat and mud, his clothes torn and bloody. Yet a strange thrill coursed through him. For the first time in his life, he felt… capable.
He looked out over the city, the slum stretching endlessly before him. Somewhere beyond these streets, humans of higher ranks were living lives of strength and comfort. Gods and rulers sat in their towers, deciding fates. And now… he was going to rise.
Kael whispered to himself, eyes glowing with determination:
"Rank 0? Fine. I'll start from nothing—and I'll become unstoppable. They'll see. They'll all see."
The system pulsed softly at his side, as if acknowledging his declaration. And for the first time, Kael understood one truth above all: this world rewarded those who dared, not those who waited.