The dense forest of Elaren's Veil stretched endlessly before Gok Sun Ji. It was a low-level zone teeming with weak monsters: wolves, slimes, and goblins. For any other player, this area was merely a starting point, a place to grind out the basics. For Gok, it was the stage for his rebirth.
Gripping the Infinite Blade, Gok felt the surge of raw power coursing through him. The weapon's glow pulsed rhythmically, as if alive. He took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Let's see what you can do."
A pack of wolves emerged from the shadows, their glowing red eyes locked onto him. Snarling, they circled, ready to pounce. Gok tightened his grip, raising the Infinite Blade.
"Alright, let's test this thing."
With a single swing, the blade hummed, unleashing a blinding arc of energy. The forest erupted in chaos. Trees splintered, the earth split open, and the wolves were vaporized before they could even howl. A deafening shockwave rippled out, shattering everything in its path.
When the light faded, Gok stood in the center of a massive crater, the forest before him completely obliterated. His eyes widened as he stared at the devastation.
> SYSTEM ALERT: You have destroyed 49.7% of Elaren's Veil.
Warning: Excessive damage may attract unwanted attention.
"Half the zone?" Gok whispered, disbelief etched across his face. "With one swing?"
The Infinite Blade's glow dimmed slightly, as if it were satisfied with its display. Gok chuckled, the sound laced with both awe and exhilaration. "Alright, Infinite Blade. You're insane."
---
The destruction didn't go unnoticed. Across Rankers, players in nearby zones were bombarded with notifications.
> [World Chat]: What's happening in Elaren's Veil?
[World Chat]: Half the map just disappeared!
[World Chat]: Is this some kind of event?
Gok glanced at the chat and smirked. "Let them talk. They'll know soon enough."
---
Back in Ashfall Haven, the sudden destruction triggered alarms in the Adventurer's Guild. A group of mid-level players, led by a self-proclaimed "rising star" named Rynal, gathered to investigate.
"We can't let someone go around destroying zones like this," Rynal declared, rallying his team. "If we find the culprit, we'll get rewards and recognition!"
Unbeknownst to them, their target was already heading toward the next zone.
---
As Gok walked through the barren wasteland he had unintentionally created, he opened his stats menu. To his surprise, it displayed something unusual.
> Player: Gok Sun Ji
Level: 1
Weapon: Infinite Blade
Abilities Unlocked: 1/∞
The single unlocked ability read:
> Ability: Devastation Swing
A basic attack enhanced by the Infinite Blade. Capable of catastrophic damage.
Gok raised an eyebrow. "If that was just the first ability, I can't wait to see what comes next."
But something else caught his attention. A shadow loomed in the distance, growing larger with each passing moment. He instinctively gripped the Infinite Blade and prepared for a fight.
The ground trembled as a massive figure emerged: a World Boss. It was a colossal, dragon-like beast known as Ragnok the Earthbreaker, a creature that normally required hundreds of high-level players to take down.
Ragnok roared, its voice shaking the skies. A health bar appeared, stretching across the top of Gok's vision.
> World Boss: Ragnok the Earthbreaker
Level: 150
Gok's lips curled into a grin. "You showed up at the perfect time."
As Ragnok lunged, Gok swung the Infinite Blade once more. The energy it released was even greater this time, slicing through the air like a divine judgment. The ground split open, and the sky seemed to tear as the wave of power struck the World Boss.
The beast froze mid-attack. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, Ragnok's massive form crumbled into dust, its health bar depleting instantly.
> SYSTEM ALERT: You have slain Ragnok the Earthbreaker.
+10,000 XP.
Warning: Your actions are destabilizing the zone.
Gok stood amidst the ruins, the Infinite Blade humming softly in his hand. He looked at the notifications and grinned. "Looks like I'm back."
But as he turned to leave, another message appeared.
> SYSTEM ALERT: Rank 0 has taken notice of your actions.
Gok's smile faded. He tightened his grip on the Infinite Blade. "Good. Let them notice. I'm coming for them next."
---