Chapter 3 : SSS Rank Talent
Axton couldn't believe his eyes.
A bonus?
Just for logging in with the bracelet?
The same dull, worn-looking heirloom that he hadn't even known the true value of suddenly revealed a hidden ability that was beyond anything he could have imagined.
His heart hammered in his chest as he re-read the glowing message floating in front of him.
…
[100x Multiplier Effect]
[Description : You will be granted 100x the reward that you obtain thanks to your critical hit bonus. This also affects both the quantity of the reward received as well as its efficiency.]
[Rule One : Once a reward has been upgraded by the multiplier effect, it cannot be upgraded anymore.]
[Rule Two : Upgraded rewards cannot stack on each other.]
[Rule Three : Only the possessor of the bracelet can gain access to the multiplier effect.]
******
Axton's breath got caught in his throat.
He slowly looked down at the bracelet wrapped around his wrist, the same one he had inherited from his father.
Suddenly, it no longer looked bland.
Suddenly, it felt… divine.
It was as if this power had been crafted specifically for him.
'Did Dad know about this?'
The thought hit him hard.
His father had always been secretive about the bracelet, insisting that Axton never part with it.
He had thought it was nothing more than sentimental value.
But this? This was beyond priceless.
Axton clenched his fist, excitement bubbling inside him.
If the description was true, then this ability was a cheat—no, more than that.
It was like entering a game where everyone else had to grind through mud, while he soared on the wings of a god.
Every reward.
Every drop.
Every bit of gold, every ounce of experience, every stat boost… multiplied a hundred times over.
Even money.
His lips curved into a grin at that thought.
No more job rejections.
No more humiliating interviews.
No more scraping by while others trampled on him.
If this worked, he could earn more in the game than most people made in years.
Axton felt the fire of ambition rising in him.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
And the craziest part?
This ability wasn't fixed.
It was upgradeable.
His grin widened into a smile that almost split his face.
The possibilities stretched out endlessly before him, limitless and terrifying in their scope.
He hadn't wanted to sell the bracelet anyway since it was his father's dying wish that he keep it.
But now, he would guard it with his life.
For the first time since his father's death, Axton felt tears sting his eyes.
Gratitude welled up in his chest as his father's face flashed in his mind.
"Thank you, Dad. You gave me more than just a memory. You gave me a future."
But that warmth faded quickly.
Because reality soon hit him.
In New Eden, every player entered the world with a talent.
Axton had none.
His x100 multiplier was insane, yes.
But what good was it if he couldn't even kill a rabbit?
Without a talent of his own, he wasn't even above the weakest beginner.
He let out a long sigh, shoulders slumping.
"What's the point of multiplying rewards when I can't earn any?"
As if the world itself had heard his despair, a sudden ding rang out in his head.
*Ding*
[Congratulations!]
[You have entered New Eden.]
[Thanks to the relic in your possession, you have been granted a starter pack gift.]
"Starter pack gift?" Axton muttered aloud.
His heart jumped, hope flaring like a fire in deep darkness.
The system continued.
[Selecting talent based on your physical data…]
Axton's pulse quickened.
He held his breath, anticipation clawing at him.
His palms grew clammy as he silently prayed for something… anything that would make him stand out.
If the bracelet had granted him access to New Eden, maybe it could do the same for his talent.
******
*Ding*
A glowing, multicoloured wheel appeared in the air before him, its circular surface divided into sharp slices like a roulette.
Each pie from the whole carried its own words, symbols and colour.
But they weren't just any talents.
They were all S-rank.
Axton's throat went dry.
He swallowed hard, words stuck somewhere between awe and disbelief.
The system message confirmed what his eyes refused to believe.
[You have been granted an S-rank Talent.]
[Spin the wheel to select your talent.]
His mind blanked.
S-rank?
He had been hoping, dreaming to maybe land an A-rank at best.
That would have been a miracle already.
But S-rank?
That was the stuff of legends.
That was the kind of talent that could push someone to the very top of the rankings, feared and respected by all.
Axton's hand trembled as he reached out.
The moment his finger brushed the wheel, it began to spin.
*Click,*
The wheel spun.
It slowed gradually, and then stopped.
[Congratulations!]
[You have gained the S-rank Talent – Son of War.]
Axton's eyes lit up.
A combat type!
Perfect!
With something like this, he could carve his way through enemies and grow stronger faster.
Already, he was calculating the best routes for progression in his head.
But before he could even finish a single thought, another ding interrupted him.
[x100 Critical Hit!]
[Effect initiated! Talent increased by 10,000%.]
[Choose one of these two options:]
[Option 1 : Own 50 [Son of War] Talents that can be gifted to others of your choosing.]
[Option 2 : Own the upgraded version of your talent. SSS-rank Talent – Battle God.]
Axton froze.
His brain couldn't process what he was seeing.
His talent was multiplied.
"What?!"
He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
Axton even shook his head violently, but the message didn't vanish.
"SSS-rank… Battle God?" he whispered.
From everything he had read and seen in New Eden's promotional materials, the highest ranked talent was S-rank.
That was the ceiling.
That was supposed to be the pinnacle.
So where did this "SSS-rank" come from?
A hidden tier?
A secret beyond the reach of ordinary players?
His instincts screamed that this was the kind of power that could rewrite the rules of the game itself.
And the choice?
Fifty copies of [Son of War]… or one single, upgraded [Battle God].
There was no contest.
Without hesitation, Axton slammed the second option.
*Click*
[You have obtained the upgraded talent: Battle God.]
The description appeared before his eyes.
…
[Talent : Battle God]
[Rank : SSS]
[Description : Your attack stat increases by +1 for every additional enemy that you fight.]
…
Axton stared at the words, his jaw dropping.
It was simple.
Almost too simple. But its implications…
He imagined fighting ten enemies.
That was a +10 stat boost.
A hundred enemies? A hundred stat points.
In wars, in dungeons, in raids… the more he fought, the stronger he became.
The longer the battle raged, the more unstoppable he would be.
It wasn't just overpowered.
It was broken.
"SSS-rank Battle God… Dad, you really left me a monster of a legacy."
For the first time, Axton felt it.
Genuine power surged through him.
And deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.