I'm Seo Jonhu, just a normal corporate worker. But today, in the year 2060, my favorite game—ORDER—is finally releasing. It's a virtual reality game, the long-awaited sequel to its legendary predecessor. And as one of the top-ranked players in the original game, I can't wait to dive in.
Time for Launch
3...
2...
1...
Login Start!
[Scanning body...]
[Scan Complete.]
[Choose a nickname.]
I thought for a moment before deciding. "Void."
[System: Welcome to ORDER. Player Void, welcome to the tutorial.]
[Tutorial Quest: Defeat any 1 beast.]
Let's begin the journey of Void.
As soon as the tutorial started, a few tiny goblins appeared before me. But... they weren't moving?
DING!
[CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON.]
Sword
Spear
Axe
Bow and Arrow
I hesitated, scanning my options. Then, with a smirk, I made my choice.
"I think I'll go with... Bow and Arrow."
Back in my college days, I was really good at archery. So, naturally, I thought, If I aim properly, I can take down the Behemoth.
Confidently, I drew my bow, took aim at the towering beast, and released the arrow.
SWISH!
But instead of hitting the Behemoth...
THUNK!
The arrow veered off course and pierced straight through the zombie's head.
The weakest monster in the tutorial.
A long silence followed. Then—
[Congratulations! You killed the zombie.]
[You passed the test.]
[You will receive your ability... very soon.]
Before I could even react, the system forcefully transported me back to the lobby, where countless other players were gathered, chatting, preparing, and checking their stats.
I stood there, still processing what had just happened.
Did I seriously just pass the tutorial... by accident?
Here's how it could flow with your addition:
Suddenly, a massive screen materialized in front of everyone in the lobby, casting a glowing light over the gathered players.
The screen displayed the number of kills each player had made, along with which monster they had defeated.
"Let's see how everyone did in the tutorial," the system's voice echoed, as the numbers started to flash across the screen.
[DING!]
[6 players killed Behemoth.]
[1.9M players killed the Orc.]
[9.7M players killed the Goblin.]
[3M players killed the Skeleton.]
[807K players killed the Ghost.]
[101 players killed the Demon Knight (Sword of Behemoth).]
[1 player killed the Zombie.]
[0 players killed the Lich.]
[0 players killed the Spear Demon.]
[0 players killed the Abyss Serpent.]
[0 players killed the Shadow Reaper.]
[0 players killed the Titan Golem.]
[0 players killed the Infernal Wyvern.]
[0 players killed the Blood Fiend.]
[0 players killed the Nightmare Wraith.]
[0 players killed the Chaos Chimera.]
[0 players killed the Death Harbinger.]
[0 players killed the Phantom Executioner.]
Seo Jonhu stared at the massive screen in shock. There are way more monsters than I expected... but I only got five types?
It finally clicked in his mind. Every person must have been given different monsters.
Around him, the lobby buzzed with excited discussions.
"Wow, 6 players actually managed to kill the Behemoth!" one player gasped. "I fought it, but that thing was impossible! How did they do it?"
"Whoever killed Behemoth must be getting the strongest abilities," another speculated.
Then, suddenly, a loud, mocking laugh echoed across the lobby.
"HAHAHA! Look at this! Some idiot actually killed the Zombie—the weakest monster! How dumb do you have to be?"
Seo Jonhu froze.
They don't know it was me... right?
Seo Jonhu took a deep breath. I don't have time to think about this.
His gaze flickered back to the numbers on the screen. If 9 million people killed a Goblin… does that mean 9 million people will get the same ability?
As if reading his mind, murmurs spread across the lobby.
"Wait, if we killed the same monster, does that mean we all get the same ability?"
"That would suck! What's the point of being unique then?"
Before the discussion could grow louder, the entire lobby began to shake.
RUMBLE!
The massive screen in front of them started to glow and distort, warping in shape. Then, right before their eyes, the screen transformed—its pixels twisting and shifting until they formed the delicate figure of a beautiful fairy.
With shimmering wings and an ethereal glow, she smiled gently, her voice echoing throughout the hall.
"I know what all of you are thinking."
The lobby fell into an eerie silence.
"Are the people who killed the same monster going to get the same ability?" she continued.
She let the suspense hang in the air for a moment before answering.
"The answer is—no."
A wave of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"The monster you killed will determine the rank of your ability. But even if two people killed the same monster, their abilities will be completely different—while still staying within that rank."
Seo Jonhu exhaled in relief. So even though 9 million people killed the Goblin, they won't all have the same power... That's good.
But just as he was starting to process it, he realized something else.
Wait… then what rank does killing a Zombie give me?
The fairy's wings shimmered as she continued speaking.
"Now, let me explain the ranks of abilities available in ORDER."
She raised her hand, and glowing letters formed in the air.
Mortal Rank
Elite Rank
Awakened Rank
Heroic Rank
Calamity Rank
Abyss Rank
Mythic Rank
Transcendent Rank
Paradox Rank
Omniversal Rank
The fairy's voice rang out clearly, her ethereal glow illuminating the entire lobby.
"There is something important you all must know."
She paused, letting the players focus.
"The rank of the ability you receive is not set in stone."
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"Even if you start with a Mortal Rank ability, through sheer hard work, training, and special encounters, you can evolve it all the way to Omniversal Rank."
Seo Jonhu's eyes widened. So even the weakest skill has the potential to become the strongest?
The fairy smiled as if she could hear his thoughts.
"Your path is yours to carve. The stronger you grow, the stronger your abilities will become. Now… it is time to receive your abilities."
As soon as she finished speaking, the entire lobby was bathed in a blinding light.
[DING!]
A system window appeared in front of Seo Jonhu, displaying his stats.
[ VOID ]
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 19
Health: 76
[DING!]
[Player Void killed the Zombie.]
[Measuring reward…]
[DING!]
[You have obtained the ability: Self-Healing.]
[Through future trials and tests, you can acquire more skills.]
Seo Jonhu's eyes widened. "Self-Healing? What kind of ability is this?"
Curious, he cut his finger slightly with his own nails and waited.
Nothing happened.
Wait… is it broken?
Just as he was about to panic, he noticed the wound slowly closing—so slow that he could barely notice it happening in real time.
His jaw dropped.
"What?! Now I understand… this is why the Zombie is the weakest monster!"
[DING!]
[Your skill rank is… Below Mortal.]
A wave of disbelief washed over him. Below Mortal?! There's a rank lower than that?
But before he could react—
[ERROR… ERROR…]
The system window glitched, flickering wildly.
[DING!]
[The Zombie you killed was from The Kings BloodLine.]
Seo Jonhu's heart skipped a beat.
"What…?!"