Chapter 32 – The Limit
The ruined town stretched endlessly in silence, broken only by the faint whisper of the wind through shattered windows and collapsed rooftops.
Seth moved through it at an unhurried pace, his figure blending easily into the shadows of crumbling buildings. The streets were emptier than ever—beasts that once prowled freely now appeared only sporadically, fewer each day.
It had been five days since the storm, and every single one of them he had spent hunting. Every alley, every collapsed store, every shattered home—he had carved his way through them all.
At first, he thought he'd eventually clear the place out. But the town refused to empty. No matter how many beasts he killed, they seemed to multiply again, drawn especially toward the Waterhouse.
The further he pushed toward that ruined district, the more suffocating it became. The number of beasts hadn't just increased—they had grown stronger.
Worse, Seth had felt it: the distinct pressure of at least three novice-ranked beasts lurking among them. And not merely level one. Just the memory of it made his skin prickle, but it also stoked his curiosity. What could possibly attract so many beasts?
The situation practically screamed of danger.
Still, despite the danger, Seth's lips curved into a grin. Because at this moment, he had something worth celebrating.
He summoned his system panel, eyes darting straight to the glowing numbers that mattered most.
SP: 503.7
Over five hundred.
Seth froze, his breath hitching—then burst into laughter. His voice echoed across the ruined town, coarse and ragged from disuse, yet brimming with wild joy.
"Haha… hahahaha! I'm rich! I'm rich! Do you hear me,I'm fucking rich. I'm loaded with SP!"
His laughter was harsh, cracked, but genuine.
For five days, he had deliberately refrained from checking his total, wanting to savor the surprise. And he wouldn't lie the payoff was more than worth it.
This was by far the highest number of SPs he had ever had at a time.
Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, Seth turned his gaze to the rest of his panel.
NAME: Seth
TRAIT(S): Weapon Mastery [+]
CORE: Initiate — Level nine
SATURATION: 100%
STATS—
Physique: 25.0 [+]
Spirit: 24.0 [+]
ITEMS—
Soul Weapon: Sword
SP: 503.7
Seth rubbed his hands together, grin refusing to fade. "Maybe I'll be like those protagonists I used to read about. Suppress everything with overwhelming strength. Heh… why not?"
With a final chuckle, he focused on his stats. First, equalization. He tapped the plus beside his spirit.
Spirit: 24.0 → 25.0
The familiar warmth spread through him, sharp clarity flooding his mind. Balance was restored. His grin widened.
He tapped the stat again.
For a heartbeat, the number flickered.
Then a red notice burned across his vision:
SPIRIT: 25.0 → 26.0
ERROR.
LIMIT REACHED.
"…Huh?"
Seth's grin collapsed, replaced with a stunned blankness. His mouth worked soundlessly for a moment.
He tried again. The same cold message.
His heart sank.
"No… no, no, no…" He dragged his hands through his hair, laughter bubbling up again—but this time it was hollow, tinged with despair. "If I'd known I was this close, I would've broken through long ago… Damn it!"
He slammed a fist against the nearby wall, dust and plaster raining down. "I could've been Novice rank by now. Hell, maybe even Level Two or Three already!"
Something swelled in his chest, a knot of emotions pressing hard against his throat. He didn't know if he wanted to laugh or scream, so he did neither. He just stood there, staring at the panel, letting the storm of frustration run its course.
Finally, his breathing steadied.
"Fine," he muttered, voice low and bitter. "Fine. Let's see if Physique is the same."
He tried it.
Physique: 25.0 → 26.0
ERROR.
LIMIT REACHED.
The words burned like mockery.
"…Fucking hell." His voice was flat now, drained. His shoulders sagged as he dismissed the screen. All that earlier excitement vanished into smoke, leaving only weariness behind.
"Seems like it's time to rank up…"
He stood in silence for a while, then finally turned back toward the direction of the half-ruined building he had been using as shelter these past weeks.
It was familiar now, in its own broken way. Familiar enough to call his place.
And it was here, in this forgotten ruin, that he had decided to take the next step. To evolve.
To finally cross into the Novice rank.