Chapter 2: "A Fatal Mistake"
Ban frowned, focusing on the attributes of the three classes:
1- Mage: High attack power with a rare healing ability.
2- Warrior: High health and strong defense.
3- Archer: High agility with armor penetration and continuous damage.
Ban thought carefully. This decision would have major consequences… Each class had its strengths and weaknesses, but—
Damn it, which one should I choose?
Mage had low health and would fall quickly.
Warrior was a tank, built to take hits.
Archer was mobile, designed to break armor and snipe enemies from afar...but
Wait… what about the support units?
Suddenly, Ban's eyes lit up as he remembered a particular group of support units. They wouldn't fully appear until later in the game, but what was available now would fill the gap.
Ban made his decision. "I choose the Mage."
** Selection confirmed**.
The images of the Warrior and Archer vanished, leaving only the Mage's image floating in the air before it enveloped Ban's body. He suddenly found himself clad in a tattered mage's robe, holding a metal staff topped with a large red gem.
{Status Window}
Ban Warsaw – Level 1 (0/10 EXP)
Mana: 100/100
Health: 100/100
Strength: 5
Defense: 1
Agility: 1
Remaining Stat Points: 0 (Mana cap cannot be increased. Each health point increases by 10.)
Equipment:
Tattered Mage Robe – No bonuses.
Tattered Mage Staff – No bonuses.
Tattered Mage Boots – No bonuses.
Skills:
1. Lightning Bolt (Lv.1) – Costs 10 mana. Deals 10% of the user's power to a single target. (Cooldown: 1 second.)
2. Flame Burst (Lv.1) – Costs 15 mana. Deals 20% of the user's power in a 2-meter radius. (Cooldown: 10 seconds.)
3. Meteor fall (Lv.1) – Costs 85 mana. Deals 100% of the user's power to a single target. (Cooldown: 1 minute.)
4. Heal (Lv.1) – Costs 40 mana. Restores 10% of health to the user or an ally. (Cooldown: 35 seconds.)
Total Combat Power: 10/100
"Only four skills? I remember there being five… or did I forget?" Ban shrugged, focusing on what lay ahead.
**Support Units Unlocked – Choose between Spearmen and Archers.**
"Finally!" Ban sighed in relief and instantly chose the Spearmen.
They were weaker, but they could protect him—far better than Archers, who would need protection themselves. In just ten levels, he'd unlock Warriors, and with them, his survival would be secured.
[Spearmen – Level 1]
Total Combat Power: 3
A tactical formation map appeared before Ban, showing six deployment slots for the Spearmen. Without hesitation, he placed them at the front as his vanguard.
**The system has provided all available assistance. Best of luck, Player.**
[Zone Unlocked: Wolf Ruins]
The system's voice faded, replaced by eerie silence.
Ban found himself in a vast, dark forest surrounded by dead trees. He gripped his staff tightly and began moving forward.
The Spearmen took position ahead of him.
Awoooooo!
Suddenly, from the shadows, three wolves leaped at them.
Above them, red text read: "Ordinary Wolf – Level 1"
"System, what are the monster ranks?"
[Monster Ranks]
Ordinary
Elite
Boss
Overlord
King
Emperor
Legendary
**These aren't level numbers like 1, 2, or 3, but rather power tiers. A higher-tier enemy is significantly stronger, even at the same level**
Ban understood and raised his staff. "Lightning Bolt!"
A blue lightning strike shot down from the sky at incredible speed, hitting one of the wolves and taking a quarter of its health.
"Nice!" Ban shouted, waiting a second before casting it again.
He refrained from using stronger spells—they drained mana quickly and had long cooldowns. Lightning Bolt, on the other hand, had a one-second cooldown and actually restored mana instead of consuming it.
Of course, the wolves wouldn't just stand there and wait to die. They lunged at him—and that's where the Spearmen came in.
The first wolf was impaled by a spear, letting out a painful howl. The second dodged and bit one of the Spearmen, while the third charged straight at Ban.
"Lightning Bolt!"
The wolf lost half its health. At this rate, he needed two more hits to finish it. But its claws were already inches from him—
Ban quickly dodged backward, barely evading the attack, and launched another Lightning Bolt.
The wolf groaned in pain but refused to retreat. Savage wolves weren't known for fear—especially in this deadly environment, where they either killed or died trying.
One final Lightning Bolt struck, killing the wolf.
[EXP +0.2]
"Just 0.2?! You've got to be kidding me!" Ban complained, rushing to assist his Spearmen.
They had taken some damage—bite and claw marks visible on their bodies—but nothing critical yet.
Ban launched more Lightning Bolts, finishing off the remaining wolves. Even after all that, he didn't gain a full experience point.
"Damn system."
He looked at the wolves' remains and found a few gold coins and two fangs.
[Inventory Unlocked]
A window appeared in Ban's mind, revealing a 40-slot inventory.
He stored the fangs inside, while the gold didn't take up space—it simply vanished into his balance.
**Collect 100 gold coins to unlock the shop and access powerful items]
"I'll worry about that later," Ban muttered, continuing forward.
He wouldn't lie to himself—he was excited. His childhood dreams had returned, his adrenaline pumping.
Power. The feeling of strength surged through him.
I want more.
He pressed on, deeper into the ruins.
Wave after Wave of Wolves
Groups of wolves kept appearing.
The Spearmen weren't the best fighters at this stage, but they served their role—shielding Ban from two enemies while he dealt with the third.
However, they had two major flaws:
1. They gained no experience, remaining weak.
2. They struggled when faced with five wolves at once, especially when one was Level 2.
Ban didn't hesitate. He cast Lightning Bolt, then followed it up immediately with Flame Burst—a powerful area attack that engulfed the entire group in flames.
All wolves lost half their health, while the Level 2 wolf lost a third.
Ban kept attacking while retreating.
The Level 2 wolf engaged the Spearmen, while the other four rushed toward Ban.
He zapped one with Lightning Bolt, but another bit into his arm.
[Health: 98/100]
Ban kept his composure, focusing on the weaker wolves first.
Lightning Bolt!
[Health: 96]
[94]
[90]
[86]
[80]
By the time his health hit 80, all four wolves were dead.
The Spearmen, despite their injuries, had almost finished off the Level 2 wolf.
One last Lightning Bolt.
[EXP +0.5]
Ban looted the wolves, finding more fangs and coins.
He cast Heal on one Spearman, then idly spammed Lightning Bolt to refill his mana while waiting for the Heal cooldown.
Little did he know… this commotion had drawn the attention of the Boss.
A massive Level 3 Alpha Wolf stepped out of the shadows, accompanied by a pack of twenty wolves.
Ban's face paled
"I'm dead".