This world seemed to reset itself every day.
It was likely designed that way—to ensure players always had enough monsters to level up.
Coincidentally, it also solved Kael's problem of food and shelter.
Because the supplies in Aunt May's house refreshed as well.
With nothing to worry about, Kael threw himself completely into mastering Firebolt.
As time passed, fewer and fewer players remained in the beginner village.
By the seventh day, there were fewer than forty left.
The elimination rate had reached around seventy percent.
Before entering Aetherion, none of them had received proper training or relevant knowledge.
Under those conditions, anyone who could reach level 5 had at least some talent.
During these seven days, there was one person who stood out.
Kael.
While others fought monsters and leveled up, he did nothing but practice Firebolt every single day.
Naturally, more and more people began to notice him.
Some were curious how he managed to live inside Aunt May's house, while they themselves triggered dialogue the moment they got close.
Some found him annoying, thinking he was just trying to stand out.
None of it affected Kael.
By now, most of the remaining players had reached level 4 and were close to level 5.
They gradually lost interest in him.
A few kind players even offered to help him level up.
Kael refused every time.
He wasn't willing to bet his life on someone else's goodwill.
Besides—
With his current progress, solo leveling was no longer out of reach.
Firebolt casting time: 1 second.
His clothes were worn and ragged, almost like a beggar's.
But his eyes were brighter than ever.
Over the past days, he had made countless mistakes.
More than once, a misconstructed spell caused the fireball to explode prematurely.
If he hadn't reacted quickly, he might have killed himself.
Constant casting and meditation had also strengthened his mind.
[Status] Name: Kael Class: None Constitution: 4 Strength: 3 Intelligence: 6 (+1) Agility: 3 Spirit: 12 (+2) Talent: Fire Affinity Effect: Increased mastery of fire skills, +10% Fire Damage Skills: Firebolt, Basic Meditation Soul Shards: 0 Simulation: Insufficient Soul Shards Recommended Class: Mage
For some reason, his class still showed as "None."
Even without leveling up, his base attributes had improved.
This was the result of training.
By the twelfth day, one player finally reached level 5 and left the beginner village in a flash of white light.
Beginner Village #1022931 was left with only one player.
Kael.
That same day, Kael pushed his casting speed down to 0.5 seconds.
His Intelligence reached 8.
His Spirit reached 16.
"…Time to hunt rabbits."
He ended his training and stepped onto Rabbit Plains once more.
As before, he chose to hide in the grass.
Passing by the spot where he had hunted his first rabbit, he saw one again.
Black fur.
Just like before.
Their eyes met.
"Whoosh—!"
The rabbit burst forward instantly, moving in a zigzag pattern like a streak of black light.
Kael's focus sharpened.
With his increased Spirit, his perception had improved. He could barely track the rabbit's movement.
It closed the distance rapidly.
Its legs compressed like springs.
"Now!"
Kael rolled to the left, narrowly dodging the charge.
At the same time, he raised his staff.
A fireball formed instantly.
He aimed at the predicted landing point.
The rabbit, unable to change direction midair, collided with it.
Boom!
The explosion detonated behind the rabbit, and the combined force of impact and momentum slammed it into the ground, leaving a small crater.
But—
Not a fatal hit.
The rabbit shook its head and immediately leapt away, dodging the second fireball.
It was still fast.
But not as fast as before.
The missed shot told Kael everything he needed to know.
No Stun.
He immediately abandoned the idea of closing in.
Instead, he retreated while casting again, predicting the rabbit's movement.
The third fireball landed near its feet.
Closer.
But not enough.
Kael remained calm.
His eyes stayed locked on the target as his mind constructed the spell—something he had done countless times.
The fourth fireball—
Hit.
Boom!
The prediction was correct.
The rabbit's condition worsened visibly. Large patches of its body were scorched black.
It almost looked pitiful.
Kael didn't hesitate.
Another fireball.
Boom.
[System Notification] +5 EXP
The rabbit dissolved into fragments of light.
Kael let out a breath.
He could feel it clearly.
He had grown stronger.
He picked up two Copper Coins.
No rabbit leg this time.
Leaving Rabbit Plains, he casually tossed the coins into a jar at "Aunt May's house"—or rather, his house.
After reviewing the fight, he meditated to recover before heading out again.
…
Night fell.
Kael staggered back into the village.
"Mark… I need potions."
Things didn't always go as planned.
That white rabbit—
It had used a feint.
It lowered its body as if preparing to charge, baiting Kael into dodging—
Then struck for real.
The impact felt like a hammer smashing into his abdomen.
His mind went blank.
The spell structure he knew so well refused to form.
But instinct kept him moving.
He barely tracked the rabbit's position.
Using his staff like a stick, he managed to block one attack, creating just enough distance to breathe.
Pain surged through his body.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
The white rabbit charged again.
The distance between them was already short.
It closed in instantly.
Kael's eyes caught the pre-motion of the charge.
His body wanted to dodge—
But he stopped himself.
"No… it's another feint."
The rabbit's legs hadn't fully loaded.
This time, it was still a fake.
It slipped past Kael.
If he had dodged, he would have exposed an opening—and the real attack would have followed.
Again and again, the white rabbit used feints.
Not once did it commit.
Kael adapted.
Learning from it.
But a rabbit was still a rabbit.
After several failed attempts, it grew impatient.
Kael raised his staff.
A fireball formed instantly.
He aimed at the predicted landing point.
The fireball exploded in front of the rabbit.
The blast seemed to make it hesitate.
The two entered a brief standoff.
Kael's body released adrenaline.
The pain faded, replaced by heat.
Without pain interfering, his casting became faster.
Seeing Kael raise his staff again, the white rabbit abruptly changed direction and leapt high.
But—
No fireball came.
The spell was still forming at the tip of the staff.
"Thanks for the lesson."
"…Goodbye."
Boom!
The fireball struck.
Before the rabbit could recover—
Another.
Boom!
And another.
Boom!
[System Notification] +5 EXP
The white rabbit shattered into fragments of light.
It left behind a rabbit leg and two Copper Coins.
"…Was that really just a copy?"
No one answered.
Kael turned and ran toward the village.
Right now, he couldn't feel pain.
That was only because of adrenaline.
Once it wore off—
He might not even be able to move.
And if that happened—
He would die out there on the plains.