A glowing screen floated quietly before Rey.
The soft blue light illuminated the entire room as he stared at the updated status window displayed by the system. For a moment, Rey simply watched in silence, feeling a mixture of pride and disbelief.
His strength had grown once again.
Then his eyes shifted downward toward the list of rewards he had just received.
The words appeared clearly on the screen.
Legendary Reward
500,000 XP
150 Stat Points
500 Honor Coins
1,500 Gold Coins
5 Mana Stones
Fragment of Cosmic Reaper (Dagger)
Fragment of Dragon Emperor Slayer (Spear)
+1 Skill (Limit: 50 Honor Coins)
Treasure Map
When Rey finished reading the list, he couldn't help but smile.
"This… is incredible."
The rewards were far better than he had expected.
However, something quickly caught his attention.
Rey frowned slightly.
"System," he said inside his mind, "this Cosmic Reaper… is that the dagger I'm currently using?"
The system responded immediately.
"Yes, Host."
"That is the true name of the dagger."
Rey blinked.
"The true name?"
"Yes," the system confirmed. "The Host has now obtained one of the important fragments required to restore the weapon."
"You currently possess two fragments."
Rey nodded slowly as he processed the information.
"I see…"
Then another thought came to his mind.
"In that case… this Dragon Emperor Slayer fragment… is it meant to upgrade my Spear of Dragon Slayer?"
"That is correct," the system answered.
"Once the Host gathers all five fragments, the Spear of Dragon Slayer will evolve into a higher-tier weapon."
Rey leaned back slightly in his chair, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"So both of my main weapons can be upgraded…"
"That's perfect."
But then his attention shifted toward another reward.
The Treasure Map.
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"System… what about this treasure map?"
The system quickly explained.
"The Treasure Map reveals the locations of hidden treasures scattered across the world."
"These treasures may contain extremely valuable rewards, such as Legendary-tier treasure chests."
The system paused briefly before adding:
"If the Host is fortunate enough, you may even obtain a Mythic-tier treasure chest."
Rey's eyes widened.
"Mythic?"
Without hesitation, Rey opened the treasure map.
A large map projection appeared before him.
He immediately noticed twelve different locations marked across the map.
Each mark had a different color.
Blue.
Green.
Yellow.
Red.
Rey stared at the markings with curiosity.
"System… I see twelve marks with different colors."
"What do they mean?"
The system explained calmly.
"The colors represent the tier of the treasure chest."
"Blue marks indicate Common treasure chests."
"Green marks represent Rare treasure chests."
"Yellow marks represent Legendary treasure chests."
"And red marks indicate Mythic treasure chests."
After hearing the explanation, Rey slowly smiled.
"So that's how it works."
His gaze returned to the map.
After counting the markings carefully, his smile slowly widened.
"I'm incredibly lucky this time…"
He spoke quietly to himself.
"The map contains four Legendary chests and four Mythic chests."
Rey clenched his fist slightly.
"If I can obtain those treasures… my strength will increase dramatically."
However, as Rey continued examining the map, his expression slowly turned confused.
Many of the locations were unfamiliar.
Then his eyes stopped at one particular name written on the map.
Great Empire.
Rey frowned.
"System… where exactly are these locations?"
The system replied.
"These locations exist inside dungeons."
Rey blinked.
"Inside dungeons?"
"Yes," the system continued. "However, the Host must travel to different nations and continents to access those dungeons."
The system then highlighted one of the map locations.
"If the Host observes carefully, the location labeled Great Empire is located on the Eastern Continent."
Another location glowed.
"And the Frost Empire is located within the Northern Continent, where the Host currently resides."
Rey looked surprised.
"Frost Empire?"
The system continued explaining.
"That location exists within the territory of Xylandra."
"It is currently the first-ranked nation of the Northern Continent."
Rey leaned forward slightly.
"Wait…"
"Frost Empire…?"
His voice carried disbelief.
"Do these Empires actually exist?"
The system answered calmly.
"In the past… during the Era of Heroes, five great empires once stood side by side."
Rey listened carefully.
"But those empires did not exist on the surface world like modern nations and continents."
The system continued.
"They existed deep within areas that later became the dungeons that exist today."
Rey frowned.
"Wait… are you saying that five great empires once existed?"
"And each of them was located inside what are now called dungeons?"
The system corrected him.
"At that time, dungeons did not yet exist."
Rey froze.
"What?"
The system continued explaining.
"After the fall of one of the strongest empires… a powerful figure created the dungeon system."
"The purpose was to seal away the ruins of the five great empires."
Rey stared at the screen in shock.
This information felt like a piece of ancient history that had long been forgotten.
After a moment, Rey asked another question.
"Then… what were the names of those empires?"
The system answered clearly.
"The Great Empire."
"The Frost Empire."
"The Valhala Empire."
"The Alliance Empire."
"And the strongest among them…"
The system paused briefly.
"…was the Origin Empire."
Rey's eyes widened instantly.
"The Origin Empire?"
Out of all the names mentioned, that one shocked him the most.
It sounded almost identical to the name of the clan he had created.
Clan Origin.
Rey leaned back slowly.
"What caused these five empires to go to war?"
The system responded.
"That information is currently unknown."
However, the system added something else.
"What the system can confirm is that the war nearly destroyed the entire world."
Rey's heart skipped a beat.
The system continued speaking.
"At that time, the world was on the brink of collapse."
"But powerful heroes from the Origin Empire created a massive barrier that stabilized the world."
Rey listened with growing disbelief.
"They used their strength to prevent the world from collapsing completely."
"But the cost was immense."
The system paused briefly before revealing another fact.
"The world has remained in a recovery phase ever since that event."
"Even now, the amount of mana in the world is only one-quarter of what it once was."
Rey's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait…"
"Does that mean people in the past were much stronger than those today?"
The system replied calmly.
"That is correct."
"In that era, the native inhabitants of this world possessed extraordinary strength."
"Many of them could even fight evenly against the Players who descended into this world."
Rey fell silent.
The system continued.
"But after the creation of the barrier and the reduction of mana, the native races gradually weakened."
"However… there are still certain individuals and bloodlines that retain traces of their ancient power."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"Bloodlines?"
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"You mentioned races earlier."
"What did you mean by that?"
The system answered immediately.
"This world does not contain only the Human race."
"There are also Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, and Demons."
Rey's eyes widened again.
"So there are five races in total?"
"Yes."
The system began listing them.
"The Alliance Empire was primarily formed by the Elf and Dwarf races."
"The Valhala Empire was ruled by the Dragon race."
"The Great Empire belonged to the Demon race."
"And the Frost Empire and Origin Empire were human civilizations."
Rey felt his mind spinning.
"So many secrets about the world had suddenly been revealed.
Then one particular memory resurfaced in his mind.
Rey whispered quietly.
"Then… could Draconar actually belong to the Dragon race?"
He remembered something Draconar had once said.
The creature had claimed it was not a dungeon monster.
If that was true…
Then Draconar might actually be a survivor of the ancient Dragon race.
After receiving such an overwhelming amount of information, Rey finally sighed.
"Alright, System."
He leaned back on his bed.
"Allocate all my stat points."
"And convert all the XP."
Then he added another instruction.
"After that…"
"I want to begin training using the Simulation Function."
The system responded immediately.
System Loading…
A moment later, the system displayed the results.
All XP and stat points have been successfully allocated.
Additional Bonus: +100 Stat Points
Additional Bonus: +50% XP Applied
A translucent screen hovered quietly in front of Rey, illuminating the dim room with a pale blue glow.
After the system finished allocating all the experience points and stat bonuses, his updated status window appeared once again.
Rey stared at the numbers carefully.
Name: Rey
Level: 79
Race: Human
Role: Free
Title: Chosen One (All stats ×30)
Stats:
HP – 7,850 ×30
STR – 400 ×30 (×120%)
AGI – 300 ×30 (×85%)
SPD – 300 ×30 (×75%)
INT – 230 ×30 (×89%)
END – 200 ×30 (×95%)
MP – 120 ×30 (×10%)
Note: Additional percentage bonuses originate from Rey's armor — Absolute Veil.
Rey slowly leaned back in his chair.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Level 79 already…"
Even though the level increase seemed modest on the surface, Rey knew very well that his true combat strength was far beyond what a normal Level 79 fighter could achieve.
The Chosen One title, which multiplied all of his base stats by thirty, made his growth completely abnormal.
However, Rey knew something important.
Strength alone isn't enough.
He needed better skills.
Rey shifted his focus toward another section of the system interface.
The Will Mall.
Specifically, the Skill Section.
The screen expanded slightly, revealing a long list of abilities that could be purchased using Honor Coins.
Rey currently had a decent amount saved.
He began scrolling through the available skills.
"Hmm…"
Most of the skills cost around 50 Honor Coins.
Some were offensive abilities.
Others were defensive techniques or movement-based skills.
But none of them truly caught his attention.
Until suddenly—
Rey's eyes stopped on a particular skill.
A golden frame surrounded its description.
The name alone made Rey pause.
Blazing Wave.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he opened the full description.
Blazing Wave
Type: Offensive / Crowd Control
Category: Shockwave / Internal Damage
Rank: Legendary
Mana Cost: 560 MP
Cooldown: 28 seconds
Description
The user concentrates power within their fist before releasing a devastating pressure wave forward.
The wave moves like a blazing tidal force that tears through the air itself, penetrating the target's body and causing severe internal damage to their organs and energy flow.
This attack is not merely physical force—it carries condensed energy pressure capable of disrupting the stability of the enemy's body and defensive structure.
Base Effect
• 280% Physical Damage
• 40% Internal Damage (part of the damage bypasses external defense)
Unique Passive — Shock Suppression
When Blazing Wave strikes a target:
• Applies Crowd Control (Stun / Immobilize) for 5 seconds
• Reduces the target's Physical Defense and Magic Defense by 25% during the CC duration
• Causes energy instability, leaving the target vulnerable to follow-up attacks
Unique Active — Adaptive Force
When Blazing Wave is fully activated:
• Attack gains +100% additional Physical Damage
Adaptive Effect:
• If the target's Physical Defense is higher than Magic Defense
→ Physical Damage ignores 50% of Physical Defense
• If the target's Magic Defense is higher than Physical Defense
→ Attack converts to Magic Damage and ignores 50% Magic Defense
Effect:
Blazing Wave automatically adapts its damage type, making it extremely effective against enemies specialized in only one defensive attribute.
Visual Effect
When the skill is released, the air around the user's fist vibrates violently before compressing inward.
Then it erupts outward as a blazing arc-shaped shockwave that surges forward like a tsunami of compressed energy, crushing everything in its path.
Rey stared at the skill description.
The more he read it…
The more interested he became.
"This skill…"
His eyes shone slightly.
"It fits my fighting style perfectly."
Rey relied heavily on close-range combat and burst attacks.
Blazing Wave would allow him to release devastating power directly from his fist while also applying crowd control and defense reduction.
It was practically designed for fighters like him.
But when Rey glanced at the price—
His expression immediately changed.
"Two hundred and fifty Honor Coins?"
Rey nearly choked.
"That's ridiculously expensive!"
He rubbed his forehead in disbelief.
Then he muttered quietly.
"System… isn't there any kind of discount?"
The system responded calmly.
"Currently, the Host does not possess any discount privileges."
Rey sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
The system continued explaining.
"The skill Blazing Wave is categorized as an Ultimate Skill."
"Ultimate-tier abilities possess exceptional power, therefore their prices are significantly higher."
Rey blinked in surprise.
"Ultimate skill?"
That made him curious.
He immediately asked another question.
"So… how many skills can I actually use?"
The system answered without hesitation.
"For the Role currently assigned to the Host…"
The system paused briefly before finishing the sentence.
"The Host possesses Infinite Skill Capacity."
Rey froze.
"Infinite?"
"Yes."
The system confirmed it calmly.
"The Host may learn and utilize an unlimited number of skills."
Rey's eyes widened slightly.
"That's… insane."
Most fighters in the world were limited to only a handful of abilities.
But Rey could theoretically learn as many skills as he wanted.
However, the system quickly added another warning.
"However, the Host must remember something."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Each skill possesses its own advantages and disadvantages."
The system continued.
"Stronger skills also require significantly larger amounts of mana."
Rey slowly nodded.
"That makes sense."
He glanced back at the Blazing Wave description.
560 MP per use.
That was definitely not cheap.
Rey leaned back and crossed his arms.
"If I want to use powerful skills like this frequently…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…then I need to increase my mana capacity."
A new idea suddenly appeared in his mind.
Rey looked back toward the system interface.
"System."
"Yes, Host?"
"Does the Will Mall sell any equipment that can increase my mana?"
The system replied instantly.
"Of course."
The screen changed slightly as a new item appeared.
"If the Host desires such an item…"
"I recommend this equipment."
A beautiful necklace appeared on the screen.
Its design was elegant and mystical.
The name was displayed clearly.
Arcane Necklace.
The system began explaining its function.
"This item significantly increases Mana Capacity and Mana Regeneration."
"It is highly compatible with combatants who rely on powerful skills."
Rey stared at the necklace thoughtfully.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Looks like…"
"…I'll need to spend some Honor Coins tonight."
Item Name: Arcane Necklace
Type: Accessory (Necklace)
Tier: Epic
Equipment Class: Mage / Magic User
Base Stats
• Max Mana +50%
• Mana Regeneration +15%
Unique Effect – Arcane Surge
When the user spends more than 50% of their Max Mana in a single skill or spell, the arcane crystal within the necklace reacts.
Effect:
• Mana Regeneration increases by +75% for 3 seconds
• Cooldown: 12 seconds
Description
This necklace contains a fragment of an Arcane Crystal capable of storing and stabilizing the user's mana flow. When a large amount of mana is released at once, the crystal emits a reactive surge that accelerates mana recovery.
Rey's eyes lit up the moment he finished reading the item description.
"This is perfect."
The necklace was exactly what he needed.
With the newly acquired Blazing Wave skill consuming such a massive amount of mana, his mana pool and regeneration had become extremely important.
Without hesitation, Rey tapped the purchase option.
"System, I'll take it."
A small notification appeared.
Purchase Successful
899 Gold Coins deducted
A faint flash of light appeared before Rey as the Arcane Necklace materialized in his inventory.
He quickly equipped it.
The moment the necklace settled around his neck, Rey immediately felt a subtle change in his body. The flow of mana within him became noticeably smoother, as if an invisible current had begun circulating more efficiently through his veins.
Rey smiled in satisfaction.
"Good."
Then he turned his attention back to the skill section.
He still needed to purchase Blazing Wave.
Rey looked at the price one last time.
"Two hundred and fifty Honor Coins…"
He sighed lightly.
"Well… it's worth it."
He confirmed the purchase.
250 Honor Coins deducted.
The skill immediately appeared inside his skill list.
A faint warmth spread through his body as the knowledge of the technique integrated itself into his mind.
Rey clenched his fist slightly.
He could already feel the potential power of the skill waiting to be unleashed.
"Blazing Wave…"
A faint grin appeared on his face.
But Rey wasn't finished yet.
Because of the Legendary Reward he had received earlier, he was granted one free skill slot that could be used on a skill costing 50 Honor Coins.
Rey began browsing the Common Skill category.
Rows of abilities appeared before him.
Most of them were simple combat techniques.
But then something caught his attention.
Rey leaned closer to the screen.
"…This one."
He read the description carefully.
The skill's name appeared clearly.
Gravity Bind
Skill Name: Gravity Bind
Type: Control / Debuff
Category: Crowd Control
Rank: Common
Mana Cost: 230 MP
Cooldown: 18 seconds
Description
The user releases a heavy pressure similar to gravitational force that crushes the target's body.
This energy completely locks the enemy's movement, making their body feel as though it is weighed down by an invisible burden.
During the effect, the target's defenses become unstable due to the overwhelming pressure that disrupts their energy flow.
Effect
• Target receives Crowd Control (Immobilize / Stun) for 10 seconds
• During CC duration:
• Physical Defense -10%
• Magic Defense -10%
After Effect – Residual Pressure
After the Crowd Control effect ends:
• Movement Speed -25% for 3 seconds
Visual Effect
When the skill activates, the space around the target vibrates and compresses as if gravity suddenly multiplies.
The target becomes completely locked in place before the pressure gradually fades, leaving their movements sluggish and heavy.
Rey stared at the skill thoughtfully.
"The mana consumption is a bit high compared to other common skills…"
He rubbed his chin.
"But the effect is extremely useful."
Ten seconds of crowd control was no joke.
In a real battle, ten seconds could easily determine victory or defeat.
Rey immediately confirmed the purchase.
Because of the free skill reward, the cost was automatically covered.
The skill instantly merged into his system.
Now Rey possessed two powerful new abilities.
But he still wasn't finished browsing.
Rey moved his attention back to the Ultimate Skill section.
However, when he opened it, only three ultimate skills were displayed.
Rey frowned slightly.
"Only three?"
The system answered calmly.
"To unlock additional Ultimate Skills, the Host must upgrade the system to Version 3.0."
Rey nodded slowly.
"I see."
That meant more powerful abilities would appear in the future.
Then the system's voice echoed calmly in his mind.
"Good news, Host."
Rey slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Good news?"
The system continued.
"Host has successfully reached Level 80."
Rey crossed his arms while listening.
"That I already know."
The system paused for a brief moment before continuing its explanation.
"To upgrade the system to Version 3.0, the required level is Level 75."
Rey blinked once.
"So…?"
The system spoke again in its usual neutral tone.
"Since Host has already surpassed the required level, the System Upgrade to Version 3.0 is now available."
Rey's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
That was something he had not expected to hear today.
However, the system had not finished speaking.
"However," the system added, "the upgrade process will require a certain amount of time to complete."
Rey leaned back against the chair behind him and let out a quiet breath.
"I see…"
The information quickly ran through his mind.
System Version 3.0.
If the system evolved, it was almost certain that new features would be unlocked. The Will Mall might update. New skills might appear. More powerful items could become available.
The possibilities were tempting.
Very tempting.
Rey tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest as he considered the option.
"System," he said.
"Yes, Host."
"How long would the upgrade process take?"
The system answered without hesitation.
"The exact duration depends on the synchronization process between the Host and the system core."
"In most cases, it requires several hours to complete."
Rey narrowed his eyes slightly.
Several hours.
That meant the system could potentially become unavailable during that time.
And right now, the tournament was about to begin.
Rey exhaled slowly.
Upgrading now would be risky.
Even if the upgrade brought powerful benefits, doing it in the middle of such an important event was not a wise decision.
He shook his head lightly.
"Good opportunity…"
"…but bad timing."
The system remained silent, waiting for Rey's decision.
After thinking for a few seconds, Rey finally spoke.
"System."
"Yes, Host."
"I've made my decision."
The system's interface flickered slightly as if preparing to process the command.
But Rey calmly continued.
"I will not upgrade the system right now."
The system paused briefly.
"Understood."
Rey stretched his shoulders slightly and leaned forward.
"It's definitely good news that I can upgrade to Version 3.0," he admitted.
"But this tournament is more important at the moment."
He looked toward the entrance of the clan tent, where the sounds of the roaring crowd could still be heard from the arena outside.
"This event will decide a lot of things."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"I don't want to take unnecessary risks."
The system responded calmly.
"That decision is logical."
Rey gave a faint smirk.
"Of course it is."
Then he added casually,
"Besides… I'm curious to see how far I can go with the current system version."
He crossed his arms again.
"And once the tournament is finished…"
A confident glint flashed in his eyes.
"…then I'll upgrade the system to Version 3.0."
The system responded immediately.
"Understood."
"The upgrade process will remain on standby until the Host initiates it."
Rey nodded slightly.
"Good."
Then he leaned back again and relaxed his posture.
"So don't rush it."
His voice sounded calm and steady.
"We'll upgrade the system after the tournament ends."
The system acknowledged the command.
"Command accepted."
For now, he was satisfied with Blazing Wave.
Next, Rey moved to the equipment section.
He scrolled through several categories before stopping at the Shield section.
Five shields were listed.
Each one had a different tier and ability.
Rey casually checked each description.
But then one particular shield caught his attention.
Its tier was Rare, but the effects looked surprisingly powerful.
Rey opened the full description.
Item Name: Guardian Tide Shield
Type: Shield
Tier: Rare
Equipment Class: Free Role
Base Stats
• +120 Physical Defense
• +80 Magic Defense
• +200 HP
Unique Passive – Mana Surge
Every time the user activates a skill, they instantly recover 3% Mana.
Cooldown: 3 seconds
Unique Passive – Enduring Guard
Whenever the user receives damage from an enemy, they gain 3% HP Regeneration for 3 seconds.
This effect can stack up to 6 times.
When maximum stacks are reached, the user also gains +10% Damage Reduction for 3 seconds.
Rey raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"This shield…"
"It's actually really good."
What shocked him even more was the Equipment Class.
Free Role.
That meant anyone could use it.
Rey immediately purchased it.
559 Gold Coins deducted.
The shield appeared in his inventory.
Curious, Rey summoned the item.
A small shield materialized in his hand.
Rey blinked.
"…It's tiny."
Compared to the massive shields used by most warriors, this one was surprisingly compact.
Almost the size of a large forearm guard.
Just then, the system spoke.
"The system recommends giving this item to Luna or Emily."
Rey tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
"They are both support-type combatants, but their defenses are relatively weak."
The system continued.
"This shield will significantly improve their survivability."
Rey thought about it carefully.
"That makes sense."
After a moment, Rey made his decision.
"I'll give this to Emily."
He nodded slightly.
"As for Luna… I'll find something better for her when the Will Mall updates."
With that settled, Rey closed the system shop.
Now only one thing remained.
Training.
"System," Rey said calmly.
"Yes, Host?"
"Activate the Simulation Function."
A glowing interface appeared again.
"Please select the enemy for simulation."
Rey didn't hesitate.
"Draconar."
The system paused briefly.
"Simulation starting."
In the next instant, Rey's consciousness was pulled into the training space.
The simulated battlefield formed around him.
Standing in the distance was a massive figure.
Draconar.
The same terrifying opponent Rey had once faced before.
Rey clenched his fists.
"Let's begin."
That night…
Rey trained relentlessly inside the Simulation Function.
Over and over again, he fought Draconar's simulated form.
He tested Blazing Wave.
He practiced Gravity Bind.
He pushed his body and mind to their limits.
By the time morning arrived, Rey had fought hundreds of battles inside the simulation.
—
The next day arrived quickly.
Inside Clan Origin, everyone had already finished their preparations.
Clan members gathered near the main gate.
The tournament was about to begin.
Rey and Alex stood at the front of the group.
After confirming everything was ready, Rey gave the order.
"Let's move."
The group departed immediately.
Soon, they arrived at the massive tournament arena.
The stadium was already filled with spectators.
Thousands of people filled the seats, waiting excitedly for the matches to begin.
At the center of the arena, the referee stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Today…!"
His voice echoed throughout the stadium.
"Today is the day everyone has been waiting for!"
The crowd immediately erupted into cheers.
The referee continued.
"This is the day when every participant will prove their strength!"
"Today's matches will begin with the 5 vs 5 team battles!"
Thunderous applause filled the stadium.
Everyone had been waiting for this moment.
Inside the Clan Origin tent, Rey looked toward Tristan.
"Tristan," Rey said calmly.
"Are you sure you want to fight in the first match?"
Tristan nodded confidently.
"Don't worry, Rey."
A determined smile appeared on his face.
"I'll do everything I can to win the first round for us."
Alex suddenly spoke.
"Rey…"
He folded his arms slightly.
"I think it's better if Tristan leads this team."
Rey looked at him.
Alex's expression looked unusually serious.
"I have a bad feeling about the first round."
Rey thought for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
He turned toward Tristan.
"Be careful out there."
Tristan nodded.
As he stood up, a flash of memory crossed his mind.
The humiliation he once suffered.
The fall of Clan Glory.
The moment his reputation as a clan leader had been shattered.
His eyes hardened.
Tristan began walking toward the arena entrance.
Behind him followed the Captains of Divisions 2, 3, 4, and 5.
As they stepped onto the battlefield, Tristan whispered quietly to himself.
"I will win the first round…"
His gaze sharpened.
"Just wait…"
"…you bastards from the Arden family."