Blade stepped into the snow-covered outskirts of Frostvale, Daylight strapped at his side. His black leather jacket, hood up, and snow raider goggles glinting in the sunlight made him stand out among the other players—many of whom wore plain starter gear.
> "Others might have passed me in level by now," he muttered, scanning the plains, "but I'm the only one with this outfit."
He crouched behind a boulder, eyes on a pack of frost wolves. With Reality Sync tingling faintly in his hands, he fired a single shot from Daylight. The bullet struck a wolf mid-leap, frost evaporating instantly, leaving a small scorch mark.
He moved swiftly, alternating between ranged shots and melee strikes with his fists, collecting XP and material as he went. Each kill dropped Low-Grade Beast Leather, Frostbite Fangs, and scraps of ice-covered metal.
> [Inventory Update: Low-Grade Beast Leather x8, Frostbite Fang x5, Scrap Metal x10]
[XP Gained: 1,420]
Blade's grin widened. Every scrap of material, every monster felled, brought him closer to buying his first close-range weapon—a sword that would complete his starter kit.
Hours passed. The snow grew thick, and the sun dipped toward the horizon. Blade finally returned to Frostvale village, hands full of materials. He exchanged scraps and leathers for coins, calculating carefully. Enough.
He strode to the village shop and purchased a sturdy steel sword, simple but reliable. It wasn't flashy, but with Daylight at his side and his Reality Sync powers simmering beneath the surface, it would be enough to fight up close while maintaining his Gunslinger façade.
> "Others may think they're ahead in levels," Blade thought, sliding the sword across his back, "but they don't have style. They don't have craft. They don't have this."
Players passing by whispered as he walked through the village plaza:
"Look at him… pistol and sword combo. Must be a Gunslinger."
"Yeah… he's got some serious gear."
Blade smirked, keeping his Pyromancer class a secret. Frostvale might be small, but it was the perfect training ground. XP to grind, beasts to hunt, materials to gather, and a first sword to complete his kit. By the time he reached Level 10, no one would even guess what he was truly capable of.
Snow swirled around him as Blade tightened his jacket, checked Daylight, and stepped back into the fields. The grind continued, and the world of Ascender Online had no idea the storm that was Metatron was only just beginning.