Chapter 3: The Path of PowerMorning came slowly.
Golden light filtered through the trees, waking Ethan from shallow sleep. He opened his eyes instantly, hand already on his sword.
I really am changing.
In his old life, he would have groaned and rolled over. Now, his body reacted before his mind.
He sat up and checked his surroundings. The corpses of the wolves were gone—dragged away by other beasts during the night.
"Food chain," Ethan muttered. "Just like my old world."
Only crueler.
He stood and stretched. His muscles felt firm, filled with energy.
"Status."
[Status Window]Name: Ethan / Aren Valen
Level: 3
HP: 120 / 120
MP: 170 / 170
STR: 11
AGI: 13
VIT: 9
MAN: 17
INT: 15
LUK: 10
Skills:
Basic Sword Mastery (Iron)
Wind Magic (F-Rank)
Mana Sense (Passive)
Killing Intent (Passive)
Titles: None
"So this is my starting line."
Too weak.
Ethan knew it clearly. Three wolves nearly pushed him to the edge. If knights or mages found him now, he would die again.
I won't allow that.
Training BeginsEthan raised his sword.
Once.
Twice.
A hundred times.
His movements were slow at first, awkward. Sweat soaked his tunic. His arms burned.
[Sword Mastery Proficiency +0.3%]
Again.
[Sword Mastery Proficiency +0.3%]
The system responded to effort.
Hours passed.
By noon, Ethan collapsed onto the grass, gasping.
"Not enough…"
He lifted his hand and focused.
Mana… respond.
A faint breeze gathered.
[Wind Magic Proficiency +0.5%]
The air sharpened slightly.
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
AmbushThe ground trembled.
Ethan froze.
Mana Sense screamed.
Something big was coming.
From between the trees, a massive creature emerged—a boar larger than a horse, tusks like spears, red eyes filled with rage.
[Monster Identified]
Iron-Tusk Boar – Level 6
"Level 6…" Ethan whispered.
His grip tightened.
Perfect.
The boar charged.
The ground exploded beneath its hooves.
Ethan dodged to the side, barely escaping the tusks. The wind pressure alone sent him flying.
Too strong head-on.
He rolled, stood, and slashed at its leg.
Clang!
The blade barely cut the skin.
"Tch—!"
The boar roared and turned, swinging its head violently.
Ethan felt something snap inside him.
Fear?
No.
Excitement.
[Killing Intent Activated]
The world slowed.
The boar hesitated.
Ethan moved.
Mana flowed into his sword.
"Wind… Cutter!"
The blade screamed as compressed air wrapped around it.
Slash—!
Blood sprayed.
The boar shrieked and charged again, maddened.
Ethan didn't retreat.
"Again!"
Another slash. Deeper.
His vision blurred. His stamina dropped rapidly.
[Warning: HP Below 40%]
"So what?!"
The boar leaped.
Ethan stepped forward instead of back.
"One strike…!"
He thrust upward with everything he had.
CRACK—!
The wind exploded.
The boar collapsed mid-air, its chest torn open.
Silence followed.
Ethan fell to his knees.
Blood—some his, some not—soaked the ground.
Then—
[Boss-Type Monster Slain]
[EXP Massive Gain]
[Level Up!]
[Level 3 → Level 5]
[Level Up!]
[Level 5 → Level 7]
[Stat Points Acquired: +20]
[Skill Evolution Available]
He laughed weakly.
"So this is… power earned through blood."
Skill Evolution[Basic Sword Mastery → Iron Sword Mastery]
[Wind Magic (F-Rank) → Wind Magic (E-Rank)]
[New Skill Acquired: Battle Focus (Active)]
Warmth flooded his body. Pain faded. His breathing steadied.
Ethan stood.
[Updated Status Window]Level: 7
STR: 14
AGI: 17
VIT: 12
MAN: 20
INT: 16
LUK: 10
Skills:
Iron Sword Mastery
Wind Magic (E-Rank)
Mana Sense (Passive)
Killing Intent (Passive)
Battle Focus (Active)
He stared at the forest ahead.
"This is only the beginning."
Images flashed in his mind—his half-brother's face, the castle walls, the sneering nobles.
Ethan raised his sword, wind swirling around the blade.
"I will climb," he said calmly.
"Step by step. Level by level."
The forest answered with silence.
And somewhere far away—
Fate shifted.