Ren Karsten collapsed to his knees, his broken sword slipping from his trembling hands. The world was dying around him. Towers of flame pierced the skies as gods descended from the heavens, their divine forms tearing through the last remnants of humanity's resistance.
The voice of Serak, the God of Dominion, thundered above the ruins of Eryndor City. "You mortals dared to steal the power of creation. Did you believe you could escape divine judgment?"
Ren looked up weakly, his vision blurry. His friends and comrades—once powerful players turned warriors in this game-turned-reality—lay dead around him. He could barely breathe as Serak pointed his golden spear toward him.
"It's over," Ren muttered, choking on blood. "If only… if only I could go back."
The spear struck, pain enveloped his body, and everything went dark.
---
Ren's eyes shot open, his breath coming in short gasps. He bolted upright and instinctively clutched his chest.
No wound. No pain. No gods. Just… silence.
His gaze darted around, taking in the familiar sight of his old, dingy apartment. The cheap VR headset lay on his desk next to a stack of instant noodles. The faint hum of the neon lights outside flickered through the cracked blinds.
Ren froze when he noticed the date displayed on his wall calendar.
March 7, 2045.
His heart stopped. "No way," he whispered. It was five years before Ascendant Realms—the hyper-immersive MMORPG—merged with reality and turned humanity's world into its twisted playground.
"I'm… back?"
---
Chapter 2: Preparing for the Unknown
Ren didn't waste a second. He plugged in his neural interface and booted up Ascendant Realms. The familiar orchestral theme played as the title screen loaded. A surge of emotions hit him all at once: nostalgia, disbelief, and hope.
He logged in immediately, skipping the intro cinematic. His blank character stood before him in the customization menu. This was his chance to rewrite everything.
---
System Panel: Ren Karsten
Name: Ren Karsten
Race: Human (Temporary)
Class: None (Select a starter class or begin classless progression)
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Luck: 5
Health: 100 / 100
Mana: 50 / 50
Stamina: 50 / 50
Skills: None
---
Most players would start with one of the default classes: Warrior, Mage, or Rogue. Not Ren. He knew from his years in the game's cruel reality that those options were traps. Hidden classes—ones few players knew how to unlock—were where true power lay.
Ren selected "classless" progression and moved forward. He spawned in the beginner area: Valoria Meadows, a picturesque zone with rolling green hills and soft blue skies.
---
Monsters in Valoria Meadows
Ren scanned the field, already familiar with the early-game enemies wandering nearby:
1. Field Slime (Level 1)
Health: 30
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 1
Weakness: Fire damage deals 200%.
2. Meadow Hare (Level 2)
Health: 50
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 4
Weakness: Piercing attacks bypass 50% of defense.
3. Young Razorbeak (Level 5)
Health: 120
Strength: 6
Dexterity: 8
Special Ability: Dive Attack – A high-damage aerial strike that leaves the user vulnerable for 2 seconds if it misses.
Weakness: Aim for the glowing patch on its chest during a dive for critical damage.
The young Razorbeak was the most dangerous creature here, and most players would avoid it until they were at least Level 5. Ren smirked. "Not me. I need that XP boost now."
---
The Razorbeak screeched from above as Ren stepped onto its territory. The bird-like monster flapped its massive wings, glowing red eyes locking onto him.
> Young Razorbeak (Level 5)
Ren tightened his grip on the beginner sword in his hand—a flimsy, rusted blade given to all new players. He wouldn't rely on brute force. Instead, he would exploit its weaknesses.
The Razorbeak screeched and dived toward him, claws extended. Ren's years of experience kicked in. He rolled to the side just before it struck, the bird crashing into the ground.
"Big mistake," Ren muttered. He dashed forward, targeting the glowing patch on the Razorbeak's chest. His sword struck true, triggering a critical hit.
> Critical Hit! 90 Damage Dealt.
The Razorbeak shrieked in pain, thrashing wildly as its health bar dropped by 75%. It struggled to lift off again, but Ren wasn't about to let it. He leapt onto its back, stabbing down into its wings to pin it to the ground.
> Final Strike! 40 Damage Dealt.
You have defeated Young Razorbeak!
+500 EXP
A notification popped up:
> Level Up!
---
Level Up: Ren Karsten
Level: 1 → 3
Attributes:
Strength: 5 → 7
Dexterity: 5 → 9
Endurance: 5 → 6
Intelligence: 5 → 7
Wisdom: 5 → 6
Luck: 5 → 6
Skill Points Available: 4
---
Ren allocated his points carefully, prioritizing Dexterity and Intelligence to prepare for the hidden class he intended to unlock.
---
The Next Step: The Forgotten Caverns
With his level boosted and his confidence high, Ren wasted no time. His goal was the Forgotten Caverns of Vyrendyll, a hidden dungeon on the far edge of the Valoria region. It was here that he could unlock the Voidwalker class, one of the most broken hidden classes in the game's early years.
But the journey wouldn't be easy. Between him and the caverns lay even more dangerous monsters.
---
Monsters in the Forgotten Caverns
1. Cave Crawler (Level 7)
Health: 200
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 6
Special Ability: Acid Spray – Deals 25 damage over 5 seconds.
Weakness: Their unarmored underside is exposed when they attack.
2. Phantom Wisp (Level 8)
Health: 150
Intelligence: 15
Special Ability: Blink – Teleports unpredictably, making it hard to hit.
Weakness: Physical attacks disrupt their blink ability for 3 seconds.
3. Void Sentinel (Level 10 - Elite Mini-Boss)
Health: 500
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 12
Special Ability: Void Slam – Deals 50 AoE damage.
Weakness: The glowing crystal in its chest amplifies incoming magic damage by 200%.
---
Ren approached the entrance to the caverns, a determined glint in his eye. With every step, he reminded himself of what was at stake. This time, he wasn't just playing a game. He was preparing to change the future.
"Let's get to work," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly as he entered the darkness.