A blinding light suddenly wrapped around Naxiel—and at the same time, he lost his consciousness.
[Host has died]
[revive]
Chapter 2
He opened his eyes.
Naxiel woke up on a different bed. Confused, he looked at the ceiling and the different surroundings.
"Where is this?" Naxiel said, confused. "Wasn't I already dead?"
After looking around for a while, Naxiel immediately realized where he was.
"This is my old house."
"The old concrete walls creak every time the wind blows."
This is really my old house. The place I used to rent.
Naxiel touched his chest. His heart raced.
"I... am I safe?" Why?"
This should be impossible to remember the moment when he started losing consciousness because his chest was pierced by that creature. Even though he was dead at that time, considering the state of the dungeon, his body would completely disappear within a few minutes. There are still many terrifying enemies surrounding it.
"But I survived and managed to get out of that situation."
Is he just dreaming?
If that situation really happened, maybe he was truly dead, and if he was still alive, his chest would——.
While lost in thought, Naxiel fell to the floor facing a large mirror in the room. His heart trembled when he saw his face in the mirror. His face was—younger, smoother. This is not his face when he was 29 years old, full of scars, but the face he had when he was 12 years old.
"I really came back, this isn't a dream."
[Time has been adjusted. Awakened detected. The Adaptive Leveling System is now active.]
In front of it, a transparent holographic display appears, glowing a soft blue. The texts floating in the air are mesmerizing.
[Welcome, Naxiel Crowne.]
[Level: 1]
[Stats: Strength 3 | Agility 4 | Intelligence 5 | Endurance 2 | Luck 1]
Naxiel looked at the holographic display with admiration. The screen was like a hope that would change her life. His hand hesitantly tried to touch the screen. Sliding to display the new attachment.
[Initial Skills Available:]
Basic Slash: Basic attack using a sharp weapon.
Survivor's Instinct (Passive): Provides better survival instincts in dangerous situations.
"Are these my stats and skills?" Very bad."
Naxiel rubbed his face, trying to stay calm.
"This thing... I never had it in my past life. If this is truly a second chance... I will not be the weak person I once was."
[Congratulations on becoming a player]
[The system will help the host become the strongest.]
"Click—confirm."
[Resurrection reward]
[Receive 5000 xp and 3 new skills have been learned]
[Would you like to accept it?]
Yes/no
[Resurrection reward received: +5000 XP | New Skills: Alchemy, Combat Skills, Elemental Magic.]
New skill:
Combat Skills: The ability to master combat and various weapons. Will increase as the host levels up.
Alchemy: The ability to mix ingredients to create potions, healing elixirs, or even weapons. Will increase as the host levels up.
Elemental Magic: Can master magic based on elements such as fire, water, wind, earth, etc. It will increase along with the host's level.
"I immediately leveled up to level 10?"
Crazy...
Naxiel saw the increase in his stats: his strength surged, his mind was sharper, and his body felt much stronger.
"125–146–200....incredible," said Naxiel.
"All my stats are really different from the original."
"This is even more extraordinary than hunter rank-S."
With this, I will be stronger. The system is like a cheat. Naxiel had never felt power like this.
Naxiel was so happy that he jumped on his soft bed.
"What are you doing? Stupid little brother."
The sound of an adult woman's voice mocking him could be heard at the door of his room.
"Are you still bragging about being a great hunter?"
Naxiel looked in the direction of the voice. His eyes welled up seeing a figure he cherished so much.
"Si..sister?"
Akeno Crowne is Naxiel's stepsister. In his first life, Akeno died due to a dungeon break that occurred at her university.
Naxiel only had Akeno after the death of his stepmother and his father was bedridden in the hospital due to a mysterious illness and coma. One of the reasons Naxiel became a hunter was to cover his father's ongoing medical expenses in the hospital.
"Hah...you're still so whiny."
"Are you going to take on another mission today?" Akeno asked worriedly.
Naxiel, who was on the bed, got down and approached Akeno.
"Yes, I will do my best too today," Naxiel replied.
"Do your best... don't get hurt and die, okay?"
"Come down for breakfast," Akeno invited.
"Okay... but can't you see this system?" Naxiel whispered softly.
[System Alert]
[New Quest: Basic Body Training]
Push up, Run, Meditate.
(Deadline: 12 hours.)
Punishment: Failure to reduce stats and cause excruciating pain.
"What the hell is this!! Quest"
"I'm going to lose my stats points?"
"And... what kind of punishment is that, it's ridiculous."
After that, after seeing the quest, Naxiel chose not to undertake it.
When Naxiel wasn't paying attention busy with his work, the holographic screen turned red.
[System Alert: Quest abandoned. Curse of Darkness and Eternity will be added to the stats.]
[Time remaining: 0 hours 0 minutes]
Suddenly, a black shadow appeared around Naxiel's body, creeping from the tips of his fingers to his entire arm. The excruciating pain spread throughout his body like thousands of needles piercing his flesh.
"Pain!! I will die if this continues like this..."
The pain is extraordinary. Naxiel's weak body will die if it experiences that 3 or 4 times. As a result of leaving the quest, some of his stats decreased. He also experienced excruciating pain for 30 minutes.
[Player stats have been updated]
[Stats: Strength 120 | Agility 137 | Intelligence 185 | Endurance 100 | Mana 500 | Luck 90]
[Cursed]
Abyssal veil: Gaining an aura of darkness that brings disaster to oneself and those around, leading oneself towards monstrosity.
Eternal life: Immortal life, but the soul will be shattered because it cannot die and feels infinite suffering.
[Player is reminded to complete the given quest.]
[Quest has been updated]
Push up 200 times | Run 10 kilometers | Meditate for 1 hour
[Deadline 12 hours]
[Time remaining: 11 hours 58 minutes]
The system gave him a second chance by giving him a repeat quest.
"Alright!"
I will complete this quest!
"If this system can truly give me power, then nothing can stop me from becoming the strongest."
For the first time, Naxiel began his training. Every time she undertook a quest, pain coursed through her entire body. Even after 10 times, his hands trembled violently.
Every time he went out to train outside, there would be some hunters who would insult him and bring him down.
"The weak, rank-F, stupid hunter," always followed him during his daily training. It had become Naxiel's daily fare.
However, every time the notification [Quest Completed!] sounds, a new urge arises.
"10 XP and +1 Strength?"
I have to keep getting stronger.
Day by day passed, and the training became a habit. His body slowly changed, his muscles began to show, and each step felt lighter. Every time he finished completing the same quest, the rewards he received were different.
There was a time when the system gave Naxiel a rather difficult quest, causing him to fail in completing it.
[Quest Failed. Penalty Applied: Increased Dark Curse.]
In an instant, Naxiel's body felt as if it were being bound by chains of shadow. The piercing cold flooded every vein in his body. This pain is different. Naxiel screamed in pain; his body fell to the ground.
On the hologram screen:
[Curse Enhanced: Abyssal Veil +10 | Eternel life +10]
Naxiel's dark aura could be felt with a slight clarity.
After that, five months passed, and the changes in Naxiel's body were truly remarkable. His once skinny body is now muscular, with broad shoulders and strong arms. His eyes radiated confidence.
This is something he has never had before. His stats are also very different now.
[Level: 25]
[Stats: Strength 850 | Agility 560 | Intelligence 370 | Endurance 340 | Mana 675 | Luck 145]
[Cursed: Abyssal Veil 25 | Eternel life 15]
After working hard for 5 months, the results of his stats are very satisfying.
"Now... no one will insult me as the weak one anymore... and my revenge—"