Stepping Up the Game

After days of training in the mountains, Akira knew the time had come. His body was honed, his mind sharpened, but the real battle was waiting in the world below. He had become something more than what he was before—his resolve now tempered with the fire of vengeance that could not be extinguished.

"I sold the magic stones from that E-rank dungeon to Hiroshi-san, and he compensated me well," Akira murmured to himself, a low, satisfied tone in his voice. "12,360,445.14 Won (8200 Euro). A good start... but it's nothing compared to what I'll need."

His thoughts drifted, and the satisfaction slipped into something darker. Hiroshi. The man had helped him too much, too willingly. Akira's hand clenched into a fist, feeling the weight of the unspoken debt between them.

"I can't risk exposing myself by going to Dungeon Offices—Hiroshi's been too kind. I owe him more than I can ever repay."

His grip tightened as he thought of Eri. The betrayal cut deep, every reminder a burning scar on his heart. The inheritance his father left him—the legacy he was meant to carry—gone. Gone because of her. The rage that simmered beneath his calm demeanor flared again, but he forced it down.

"Fortune stolen," he muttered, the words tasting bitter as they left his lips. The fires of vengeance were the only thing that kept him moving forward.

"She will pay."

With a swift shake of his head, he refocused. He couldn't let anger consume him—not yet. Not while there was work to do. He stepped out of the house, eyes locking onto the narrow road leading to Seoul. The city was five hours away on foot, but for Akira, it was barely an hour. His training had pushed his body to new limits, and he moved with the speed and precision of a predator.

The city was alive in every sense—cars honking, vendors shouting, a frenetic pace that filled the air with a cacophony of sounds. Akira ignored it all, his focus unwavering.

He saw a weapon shop that only created weapons for awakened people one and that was his first stop at the weapon shop. He needed something that could keep up with him. The way he was fighiting with using his body wasn't going to cut it anymore.

The bell above the door jingled as Akira entered, the dim interior offering a sense of calm amidst the chaos of the outside world. Weapons of every type lined the walls—swords, daggers, axes, and more—each piece gleaming faintly under the low light. The smell of metal, leather, and age filled the air, mixed with the soft hum of enchantments still lingering in the atmosphere.

The shopkeeper—a graying man with sharp eyes—looked up from behind the counter, his gaze appraising. "A STAR, I take it?" His voice was gravelly, his eyes sharp as if seeing through Akira's very soul.

Akira nodded, his voice steady. "That's right. I'm looking for something reliable. A sword."

The man studied him, his gaze sharpening as he assessed Akira's build, the strength in his frame.

"Reliable, eh? I can see you know your worth. We've got plenty of blades for every kind of STAR. But for you, something that complements your style… Speed. Precision."

Akira raised an eyebrow, impressed. "How do you know that?"

The shopkeeper smirked slightly. "I've been doing this long enough to spot potential when I see it. Let me show you what we've got."

He disappeared to the back, returning with a sleek black sword that seemed to hum with quiet power. The blade shimmered with a faint blue hue, and the hilt was wrapped in worn, sturdy leather, almost as if the weapon had a life of its own.

"This is a Pantho Blade," the shopkeeper said, handing it over with an almost reverent air. "Designed specifically for speed and precision. Light enough for quick strikes but powerful enough to cut through the toughest hides."

Akira took the sword, its weight a perfect balance in his hand. As he turned it, a translucent system window materialized before him.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[If the user desires to see the stats of something he has his eyes upon, simply command it.]

[The system will scan and display the details.]

Akira's grin grew wider as curiosity took hold. "So, this is how it works now?" He thought, Scan the Pantho Blade.

The stats flashed before him:

[Name:Pantho Blade]

[Type: Sword]

[Tier: C]

[Weight: 1.8 kg]

[Material: Rare black alloy with enchanted runes]

[Durability: 71/71]

[Enhancements:]

Lightweight (Passive): Designed for extreme agility, reducing weight for better speed and precision.

Cursed Edge (Passive): Saps the target's stamina by 2% per hit for 30 seconds when fighting monsters.

Akira smirked, pleased. "Not bad. This will definitely make things easier."

The shopkeeper, who had been watching intently, spoke with a knowing smile. "It's not cheap, though—2,321,351.89 Won (1540 Euro)—but for a weapon like that, it's worth every penny."

Without hesitation, Akira handed over the amount. "I'll take it."

Not far from the weapon store, Akira entered a small shop, its shelves lined with practical, combat-ready apparel. The owner, a sharp-eyed older woman, greeted him with a nod.

"Welcome, young man. What are you looking for?"

"Something tough, comfortable, and black," Akira said, his voice cool but firm.

"Oh, and I prefer the color black." 

She nodded thoughtfully before she brought out a sleek black sports suit—reinforced fiber-weave with mana-responsive stitching.

"You've got the build for these," she said with approval, handing the set to Akira.

As Akira examined it, the fit was perfect. Flexible, durable, and clearly designed for combat.

He stepped into the dressing room and put on the outfit. The material hugged his frame perfectly, providing excellent flexibility without feeling restrictive. It was light yet firm, the kind of fabric that promised endurance during intense training or combat.

As Akira looked at the fitted outfit in the mirror, a thought crossed his mind.

"System, scan this outfit."

[Name:Black Iona Cloth]

[Type: Lightweight Combat Apparel]

[Weight: 1.2 kg]

[Material: Reinforced fiber-weave with mana-responsive stitching

[Durability: 85/85]

[Enhancements:]

Flex-Frame (Passive): Adapts to the wearer's movements for maximum flexibility.

Impact Guard (Passive): Reduces physical damage by 3% during combat. Breathable Design: Prevents overheating during prolonged use.

Akira's lips curled into a small grin as he read the details. The durability was solid, and the weight was almost unnoticeable—a perfect match for his needs.

"Perfect," Akira said, emerging from the fitting room. "I'll take five of them."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Five? That'll be 6,783,171.11 Won (4500 Euro)."

Akira didn't flinch as he handed over the money. "I spend most of my time in dungeons. I need backups."

She raised an eyebrow, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Right away, dear customer," - She replied with a chuckle, already taking his measurements again for consistency as Akira thought to himself.

"I'll be spending most of my time training and fighting in dungeons, so it's better to have reserves. My only goal is to get stronger for revenge—that's all. I don't care about how much I spend."

With the clothes secured, he left the shop, his thoughts on what lay ahead.

His goal was singular: Get stronger.Get revenge nothing else.

His final stop was a small grocery store, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The smell of fresh produce and baked goods was a welcome contrast to the metal-heavy scent of the weapon shop.

Akira walked the aisles, picking up essentials with the same focused efficiency. Rice, canned goods, dried fruits, and instant noodles—practical, easy to carry. As he eyed the meat section, he let out a small sigh.

"I'm getting tired of hunted deer meat."

He grabbed a pack of marinated beef, feeling the unfamiliar urge to indulge.

At the counter, the cashier—a middle-aged woman with a warm smile—greeted him. "Stocking up for a big trip?"

"Something like that," Akira replied with a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Preparing for what's ahead."

"I've got all I need for the time being"

"Time for more leveling up."

A week passed

"A week has gone by since I got the Pantho Blade, and every cent was well worth it. Compared with fighting barehanded, this sword made clearing dungeons easy. The agility and power of this sword made me dispatch monsters as if I were just cutting through the air, and that passive trait Cursed Edge...it has come really at handly because it has destroyed them way faster."

I'd raided every E-rank dungeon I could find in the StarNet app, booked and cleared them out one by one."

Akira opened his Status Window, and that familiar rush came in as his stats came into view:

[Status Window:]

[Name: Akira Shoto]

[Level: 14]

[Attribute: None]

[Strength: 24]

[Agility: 24]

[Endurance: 24]

[Stamina: 24]

[Intelligence (Magic) : 24]

[Quest: The Path of Vengeance: A Legacy of Blood and Fire]

[Purpose:] Seek out those who have hurt you and marshal the will to exact vengeance. On this path, will and strength are forced upon you.

[Reward:] Increased power with clarity of purpose.

[ For more details...]

"I have gained quite a few levels from those E-rank dungeons but it's getting obvious that I have reached a wall.Every E-rank dungeon felt easier than the last , the experience gain has started to taper off and even monsters barely put up a fight anymore."

"If I go on like this, then I'll stagnate."

"The next step that the fake id that Hiroshi gave me allows to raid D-rank dungeons too."

Pulling out his phone he opened the app "StarNet" and scrolled through the list of available dungeons.

There were legions of E-ranks, but he scrolled past them, tapping on the D-rank section. D-rank meant tougher monsters, better loot, and more experience.

That made everything more riskier, of course. But that was just what he needed.

"Time to step it up" He said to himself, choosing the nearest D-rank from the ones available, reserving it.

A notification chimed, confirming the booking. Two hours later he would be in his first D-rank dungeon.

"Let's do this"