Level Up

Takami was about to head home when a stranger blocked his path. The man, wearing a dark coat and a cold expression, scanned Takami from head to toe.

"You're the one who took care of that spirit?" the man asked.

Takami tensed up, unsure of the stranger's intentions. "Yeah… why?"

The man sighed and pulled something from his pocket—a small stack of cash. "That job was supposed to be mine, but since you already handled it, take the reward."

Takami hesitated but eventually accepted it. "Thanks, I guess."

As he walked away, the stranger narrowed his eyes. "He has a low Grant level… so why does he feel different?" He turned and vanished into the shadows.

Takami stopped by a store, bought some supplies, and headed home. As soon as he stepped inside, his family froze, staring at him in shock.

"Where did you get the money for that?" his mother, Akane, asked cautiously.

Takami felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't told them about his mission, and explaining everything would only make them worry. So, he lied.

"I… sold my weapon to someone who really needed it," he said.

Akane didn't seem convinced. She had always feared that one day, desperation might push him toward the wrong path. But after a deep breath, she nodded. "Just don't do anything reckless."

They ate dinner in relative peace, but Takami felt his mother's lingering doubt. After showering, he collapsed onto his bed.

"Let's see what happens next…"

The next morning, he woke up groggy but felt… different. Stronger. As he sat up, a faint glow pulsed in his hand.

["Growth Recorded."]

A strange warmth spread through his body, and then—information flooded his mind.

[— "Physical strain recorded. Enhancing endurance."— "Combat engagement recorded. Refining reflexes."— "Spiritual confrontation recorded. Grant level stabilizing."]

Takami gasped, clutching his chest. It wasn't a game-like system telling him what to do—it was something analyzing his actions and rewarding him based on real growth.

Staring at the glowing interface before him. The system had been quiet since his first mission, but now… it had changed.

A new section had appeared. The Daily quest.

[Growth Imprint – Awakening Phase|Current Level: Low Grant Level (Yellow)Quests:

|[Daily Growth Challenge]: Increase reaction speed by 0.2 seconds. (0/1)

|[Combat Adaptation]: Engage in a battle lasting over 2 minutes. (0/1)

|[Spirit Recognition]: Identify a hidden spirit presence without visual confirmation. (0/1)]

Takami frowned. "These aren't just random tasks… They're based on my weaknesses from yesterday."

He then took out all his quests with some extras.

A thin, translucent interface appeared before him, different from last time.

[ Growth Imprint Active_

|Current status: Low Grant Level (Yellow)

His hands trembled as he stared at the numbers. "Did I… level up?"

Meanwhile, at Azure Dawn Headquarters, the guild Yuri and Jimin worked for, Guild President Sora Tenma addressed the gathered members.

"The spirits have changed," he announced. "They're evolving at an alarming rate. We've discovered a new phenomenon—Dorms."

A tense murmur spread through the room.

Sora continued, "Spirits are now congregating and forming territories. Within these Dorms, they devour humans and absorb their Grant. Once they've evolved, the Dorm collapses, and they attack in a swarm."

A guild member raised his hand. "How do we stop them?"

"If you encounter a Dorm above your Grant level, report it immediately. If your level matches or exceeds it, form a team of at least five before engaging. Do NOT enter alone."

Yuri and Jimin exchanged glances.

"Have you heard from Takami?" Yuri whispered.

Jimin shrugged. "No. Why?"

She frowned. "I texted him, but he hasn't replied…"

"Pfft. You think he's mad about yesterday?"

Yuri glared. "Of course not, idiot."

Takami, unaware of the meeting, decided to test his strength. He stepped outside and focused. Immediately, the Growth Imprint responded, showing nearby spirit activity.

Then, he felt it. A strange, eerie wind carried the scent of spirits.

At the end of the road, he saw it—a Dorm. A large, circular space cloaked in pulsating darkness, something he had never seen or heard about.

His body tensed, but instead of fear, he felt… drawn to it. As he stepped forward, all his fatigue vanished.

A new notification flashed:

[ Growth Triggered: Entering Dorm.All physical limits temporarily lifted.]

Takami smirked. "Now this is getting interesting."

Inside the Dorm, spirits immediately noticed him. Their twisted forms lunged, shrieking, but Takami's reaction speed was sharper than ever. He dodged, countered, and struck down each spirit with a deadly efficiency he never had before.

He clenched his fists. "So this is what power feels like…"

As he took down the final spirit, his body pulsed with energy. The Growth Imprint recorded his progress.

The Dorm collapsed, and a dust cloud exploded outward.

Just then, a guild attack team arrived, but by the time the dust cleared… Takami was gone.

At home, Takami sat on his bed, staring at his hands. His heart pounded. He decided to check the Mission search

The Mission Search tab pulsed, revealing new options. Unlike last time, they weren't simple extermination requests.

[|Available Missions:

|Low-Class Spirit Subjugation – Reward: 500 yen

|High-Class Spirit Observation (Stealth Required) – Reward: ???

|Guild Evaluation Request (Requires Background Check)]

Takami's grip tightened. The system wasn't just guiding him—it was adapting to his own path.

A message flickered.

"Your Growth is Yours. Choose Wisely."

For the first time, he felt like this wasn't just about getting stronger. This system wasn't controlling him—it was responding to him.

And that was terrifying.

"I've come too far to call this a dream," he muttered. His fingers clenched. "From a weak low Grant Level human… to someone who cleared a whole Dorm or whatever it's called, alone."

He checked his level again.

[Current status: Low Grant Level (Green).]

He grinned. "If colors mark my growth… then I'll just keep going up."

His reflection in the window twisted slightly. For a moment, his eyes didn't look human.

And for the first time, he realized something.

Power… was addicting.

---

-CHAPTER 6: THE 6TH SEAT "NYX"-

END OF CHAPTER NOTES ✍️:

1. What is a Charge?, A Charge is when spirits move together in a massive wave, attacking anything in their path. Unlike a Dorm, which is a structured evolution zone, a Charge is pure destruction—spirits rampage without strategy, overwhelming their targets with sheer numbers and aggression.

2. Why is it all focused in Japan?, The other half of the Life Scale was positioned toward Japan at the time it was shattered. As a result, the imbalance between the human world and the spirit realm was strongest there, making it the epicenter of supernatural activity.

Last Chapter Next Chapter