No one had ever suspected that the quiet boy sitting at the edge of the class knew the origin of the magic circle beneath them.
He was Zion, a reincarnator. In his past life, he had been Augur Von Weise, a vampiric prodigy and the strongest genius of his generation. Yet even his unparalleled talent wasn't enough to save him. His life was cut short by none other than his father—Asmodeus, the God of Vampires and the embodiment of Lust, the most powerful being in existence.
"That's not important now," Zion muttered, shaking off the bitter memories that threatened to consume him.
This life was his second chance, an opportunity to surpass his previous achievements and finally destroy the one who had ended him. But to do that, Zion knew he needed an Ascendant-grade system—a power so rare that even the gods coveted it. Anything less would be insufficient for his goal.
Suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped the room, and he, along with his classmates, was transported to a radiant, unfamiliar realm. Standing before them was Fortuna, the Goddess of Opportunity. Her presence was as overwhelming as it was serene.
"You have been chosen as heroes to save your world," Fortuna declared, her voice calm and detached. "Your world has been placed in a temporary stasis to delay its destruction. This pause will last for 100 years—or until one of you defeats the 10th Rank Boss ruling over it, or reaches the 11th rank yourselves. However, reaching the 11th rank is nearly impossible."
Her words carried a weight that chilled Zion to his core.
"Your journey begins with a trial. Your performance will determine the system you receive. The rankings are as follows:
Trash – 1st Rank
Common – 2nd Rank
Uncommon – 3rd Rank
Excellent – 4th Rank
Rare – 5th Rank
Epic – 6th Rank
Legendary – 7th Rank
Mythical – 8th Rank
Transcendent – 9th Rank
Limit – 10th Rank
Ascendant – 11th Rank
Good luck. Farewell."
With that, Fortuna disappeared, leaving behind only confusion and an ominous silence.
Zion found himself in a dark, narrow underground cave. The air was damp, the walls rough, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed around him. He gritted his teeth, already assessing the situation.
"This is no ordinary trial," he murmured.
His thoughts were interrupted by a low growl. A malnourished orc, nearly nine feet tall, emerged from the shadows, wielding a rusted mace. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Zion, intent on crushing him.
Zion's hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. His movements were swift, precise—too precise for someone his age. With one clean strike, the orc fell, its life extinguished.
Unbeknownst to Zion, Fortuna watched from above, her serene demeanor cracking for a brief moment. His precision had caught her off guard.
"You have killed a Tier 1 enemy. Temporary status increase achieved."
Zion crouched by the corpse, inspecting it.
Orc Corpse
A malnourished orc, cast to the outskirts to test the strength of an unknown outsider. Unfortunate for it, its life ended here.
Without a looting skill, Zion had to rely on his instincts. He pierced the orc's chest with his sword, crudely extracting its mana core.
He glanced at his timer. Two hours wasted. Only one remained to clear this trial.
"I must kill every monster in this cave," he muttered, his pulse quickening.
But as if fate itself was testing him, a loud rumble echoed through the cavern. Emerging from the darkness, a horde of seventy-five orcs charged toward him, their roars filling the air.
Zion's heart sank. He was no longer the invincible prodigy of his past life. He had no overpowered abilities, no loyal servants to shield him. This was the harsh reality of his rebirth.
For the first time, Zion admitted it. He had been arrogant, ignorant, and overconfident in his assumed superiority. His past life's strength had blinded him to his current limitations.
But even as the odds stacked against him, he refused to yield.
"This isn't over," he whispered, his grip on the sword tightening. "Not until I've destroyed him. Not until the King of Lust falls."
Lady Luck—or perhaps Fortuna herself—seemed to smile faintly at his resolve.
And the battle began.