Gearing up

Noah weaved through the city square, past panic-stricken players calling out to one another. The tension in the air was suffocating—fear, disbelief, and anger mixing into a storm of voices. But he ignored it all. 

His destination was clear.

The towering silhouette of the stone clock tower loomed in the distance, stretching high into the dark, gloomy sky. It had been a popular spot in Aether Odyssey, a place where combatants and couples alike gathered to take in the breathtaking view of Crystalmere. Now, it was a vantage point—a place to think.

By the time Noah reached the top, the sky and atmosphere had slowly returned to normal, and the sun was setting. The sunset bathed the city's rooftops in a golden glow, casting long shadows onto the streets below. In the distance, the crystal-clear ocean shimmered, its radiant waters giving Crystalmere its name.

Noah exhaled.

"So this is really happening, huh?"

He rested his hands on the cold stone railing, his fingers tightening as he thought about the reset, the admin, the rules, and this new reality.

Nothing made sense.

Yet, at the same time—it did.

Noah sighed and muttered— "I have to start all over again… This is such a pain in the ass."

Shaking off his irritation, he thought about opening his interface—or rather, the panel. Without hesitation, he raised two fingers and swiped downward through the air in a swift motion.

"Panel, open!" he commanded.

In response, a translucent blue screen flickered into existence before him, casting a faint glow on his face.

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‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎[Noah Vance] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Level: 01

Class: None

Skills: None

Stats:

Strength: 10

Vitality: 10

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 10

Perception: 10

Dexterity: 10 

___________________________

Seeing the translucent panel, Noah muttered to himself, Looks like I'm back to square one.

Noah's thoughts raced as he stared at the translucent panel. I need to level up fast. Get stronger. Find good gear.

He clenched his fists. In a world where strength dictated survival, wasting time wasn't an option. On top of that, he had to avoid dying—the battles beyond the 80th mark would be brutal, and unprepared players wouldn't stand a chance.

As he scanned the bustling city streets, a vague memory surfaced—an article he once read about a player who had stumbled upon an NPC in Crystalmere and, against all odds, received the legendary A-Grade sword, Bloodhymn.

Most dismissed the story as fake, while others chalked it up to sheer luck or some obscure hidden mechanic. But Noah wasn't the type to ignore potential advantages.

Maybe I should try my luck.

His eyes roamed the streets until they landed on a frail old man hunched over a wooden crate near a bustling marketplace stall. A faint exclamation mark hovered above the NPC's head.

Noah's lips curled into a smirk. Bingo.

He approached casually, "Hey old man, You got a quest for me?"

The old man wheezed, wiping his nose. "Ah, young man! I need someone to deliver this package to the blacksmith across town. My legs are too fragile, and I can't handle the walk. Please, take this package—I'll make sure to give you a reward."

Noah almost scoffed. A simple delivery quest? It sounded too mundane to be worth his time. But if this really was that NPC…

"Fine. I'll do it."

The package was surprisingly light, and the journey through the city took only a few minutes. When he reached the forge, the blacksmith, a bulky man with soot-covered arms grunted at him. "Hmph. Good work, kid."

A familiar notification flashed before Noah's eyes.

___________________________

[Quest Complete!]

Rewards:

5 Gold coins

4 Silver coins

Bloodhymn (A-Grade)

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Seeing the notification, Noah's eyes widened in shock. Without wasting a second, he performed an air gesture similar to how he opened his panel—but this time, he used only a single finger.

"Inventory, open."

And there it was.

A sleek, jet-black sword with crimson engravings pulsed faintly along its blade.

No way…

Without hesitation, he equipped the sword, gripping the hilt as a subtle hum of energy coursed through it. An A-Grade sword right at the start? The rumors were true.

His lips curled into a smirk as he muttered, "Well… that was easy."

Satisfied with his newly acquired A-Grade sword, Noah grinned to himself. "If I can get a weapon like this so easily, I should secure some good gear too—especially since I have plenty of money right now."

His gaze drifted down to his current outfit—standard beginner's clothes. The dull, ragged fabric looked unimpressive, barely offering any defense.

Yeah… this isn't gonna cut it.

Determined, he headed toward a well-known mercenary shop. The place bustled with players browsing for gear, the air filled with the clinking of metal and murmurs of negotiation. Racks of armor and weapons gleamed under the warm torchlight, each piece promising survival in the brutal world ahead.

Then, something caught his eye.

A black hooded cloak hung on a display stand, its fabric shimmering with an unnatural sheen as though it were enchanted. Intrigued, Noah stepped closer and examined its details.

___________________________

[Shadowveil Cloak]

- Defense: Equivalent to A-Grade armor (Lv. 4 Protection)

- Enchantment: Temperature Control (Automatically adjusts to the wearer's environment)

___________________________

Noah's eyes shone with excitement. This is perfect.

Just as he reached for it, a rough voice cut through the air.

"Hah! The likes of you couldn't afford that."

Noah turned to face the shopkeeper—a burly, middle-aged man with crossed arms and a mocking smirk.

Noah raised an eyebrow. "How much is it?"

The shopkeeper scoffed. "Three gold coins."

Without hesitation, Noah pulled out his pouch and flung three gold coins straight at the man's face. The crisp clink of metal rang out as the coins bounced off his forehead.

But Noah wasn't done. He flicked an extra silver coin at the shopkeeper—this time, with a bit more force.

Noah Smirked and said—

"That's for the disrespect."

The shop fell silent. The shopkeeper, stunned, could only watch as Noah grabbed the Shadowveil Cloak, swung it over his shoulders, and walked out without another word.