Arthur had always known that growth came with limits. But he had never felt one as sharply as he did now.
Three days had passed since he absorbed the Low-Level Void Raider corpse. One hundred Attribute Points had flowed through him, refining every muscle, tendon, and energy channel. Every motion, every breath, every heartbeat had become more efficient. He moved like a finely tuned instrument; nothing wasted, nothing out of place.
And yet, when he tried to push further, to circulate energy beyond the boundaries of his body, the flow refused. It wasn't pain—it was resistance, calm but unyielding. His body had reached a ceiling.
Arthur leaned against the wall of the small Greyhaven apartment. Outside, the city was waking. Narrow streets, low buildings, and quiet alleys stretched as far as his eyes could see. Greyhaven wasn't flashy. It wasn't important in the eyes of the World Government. But it was home. Safe. Stable. And here, his limits had become painfully clear.
He exhaled and called up the system interface.
[Adaptive Attribute System]
[Host: Arthur]
[Current Rank: Martial Artist Rank 1]
[Attribute Points: Fully Allocated]
A translucent panel appeared, displaying information he had never noticed before. The screen was filled with numbers, bars, and labels. At the center was a table outlining the stat ceilings for each rank.
Martial Artist Rank Stat Limits
Rank 1 - 100 Stats Point
Rank 2 - 200 Stats Point
Rank 3 - 400 Stats Point
Rank 4 - 800 Stats Point
So on.
Arthur stared at the chart. Each number represented a ceiling, a limit to human—or near-human—capability.
He had reached Rank 1's maximum potential. Every stat—strength, endurance, speed, recovery, and technique mastery—was fully optimized. His hundred points had been distributed as efficiently as the system allowed. There was no more room for improvement without breaking through to Rank 2.
The truth settled over him. Limits were not walls—they were gates. And he was standing at the first one.
Arthur clenched his fist and felt the subtle strain of energy flowing through his arm.
When he punched into the air, the force was solid, audible, and tangible. It was enough to dent reinforced wood, but nothing more. He flexed his fingers and could almost feel what Rank 2 might feel like. A Rank 2 punch could break thin steel.
Rank 3 could shatter concrete. Rank 4… could destroy reinforced barriers.
The difference between ranks wasn't just raw power; it was control. Precision.
Efficiency. And Arthur's body now reflected Rank 1's absolute limits.
Later that afternoon, Arthur accompanied his younger brother Leo to the public training hall. Greyhaven's facility was modest—a simple reinforced structure with a few training posts, dummies, and a small practice arena. Not many martial artists lived here, and those who did were mostly Rank 1 or 2. It was enough to defend the city from Low-Level Void Raiders, the type that scouts sometimes sent to test defenses.
Leo was practicing punches and kicks, moving energetically but inefficiently. Each strike leaked energy. Arthur could see the difference clearly. A Rank 1 martial artist had limits, but wasted movement made even those limits smaller. Rank 2 martial artists, however, moved with efficiency, their energy flow refined, their muscles trained to exact responses. Rank 3 was when combat became deadly. Rank 4… that was elite, the kind of martial artist who could hold a city against a significant Void Raider incursion.
A screen in the corner of the hall flickered to life, showing the distant skyline of Aurelius Prime, the Main City. Skyscrapers towered into the clouds, energy shields shimmered around strategic districts, and massive floating defense platforms drifted between towers. The screen zoomed in on combat footage: colossal beings clashing, energy rippling outward with each strike.
The reporter's voice rang out:
"…Void Raider forces are concentrating their strongest attacks on Main Cities, particularly Aurelius Prime. Outer cities, including Greyhaven, have only encountered scattered Low-Level Void Raiders, mostly scouts or stragglers. Local defenders have been able to handle these threats efficiently…"
Arthur's chest tightened.
He understood the pattern now. Greyhaven was secondary. Not worth sending the main force. Not worth risking elite Void Raiders. Only small scouting units appeared here. Dangerous, yes, but manageable. The Main City—the heart of civilization—was where the real battles happened, where the strongest martial artists fought, and where the Void Raiders sent their most powerful units.
The broadcast returned to Aurelius Prime. The screen showed high-tier Void Raiders colliding with elite martial artists. The shockwaves were visible even through the camera. Entire city blocks trembled with each strike. Only Rank 6 or higher martial artists could withstand the force without serious injury. Arthur's eyes narrowed.
Low-Level Void Raiders, like the one he had absorbed, were on par with Rank 3 martial artists. That was dangerous for him now, but manageable. Greyhaven's safety was relative. His family would not be directly threatened by these forces.
That evening, Arthur climbed to the rooftop of the apartment building.
Greyhaven stretched below him in quiet streets, glowing windows, and calm alleys. The city might be modest, but its survival wasn't an accident. Its safety meant he could grow without rushing, without risking his family.
He summoned the interface once again.
[Rank: 1]
[Total Stat Points: 100 / 100 – Maxed]
[Punching Force: 100 kg]
[Status: Fully Optimized]
Arthur flexed his fist. He could feel the energy circulating perfectly, every muscle fiber in place. The punch struck the air with controlled force, the kind that could dent reinforced wood. Rank 2 would break thin steel. Rank 3 would shatter concrete. Rank 4 would tear through reinforced barriers as if they were paper.
He exhaled slowly, contemplating the scale of the world outside Greyhaven. The Void Raiders were not mindless invaders. They targeted what mattered most—Main Cities, strongholds, the places that could produce threats or resources. Greyhaven was safe because it wasn't important enough.
But this safety was also a limitation. Few strong opponents came here. Few opportunities existed to truly test his strength. To grow beyond Rank 1, Arthur would need patience, discipline, and calculated risks.
One day, he would break through the Rank 1 ceiling. One day, he would climb to Rank 2, then Rank 3, and beyond. But for now, Greyhaven was home. His family was safe.
His path forward required preparation, strategy, and steady progress.
Arthur clenched his fist, feeling the weight and promise of the future. Ceilings were not walls. They were gates. And he had reached the first one.