Lucian clenched his fists, feeling the light, powerful fabric of his new outfit against his skin. The way the coat adjusted, the way his sword felt like an extension of his arm—it all felt... unnatural.
This gear was built for someone far stronger than me.
The thought gnawed at him. His body felt different. His movements were sharper, his steps silent, his reflexes just a bit too fast.
Had he really changed so much from just one battle?
Lucian exhaled, glancing down at his hands.
"If I keep this up... what kind of monster will I become?"
The question lingered in his mind, unsettling and unanswered.
He flexed his fingers again, gripping the Abyssal Fang Blade. The sharp hum of power vibrated beneath his fingertips.
Whatever the answer was, there was no turning back now.
Lucian exhaled slowly, his mind still buzzing from everything that had happened.
The fight.
The loot.
The realization that he had actually killed an A-Rank monster.
But more than anything—
He needed to see how much he had grown.
"Status Window."
A familiar blue screen materialized before him, glowing softly in the dim dungeon light.
And when the numbers unfolded—
Lucian froze.
[Status Window]
Name: Lucian Rengoku
Race: Human
Level: 150 (+149)
Class: None
Rank: C-Rank (Previously Unranked)
Health: 4,500/4,500
Mana: 3,100/3,200
Stamina: 1,000/5,000
[Attributes:]
Strength: 550(+538)
Agility: 700(+685)
Endurance: 600(+590)
Dexterity: 800(+737)
Intelligence: 750(+737)
Luck: (???)
[Skills Acquired]
[Swords Mastery (Lv.1)] – Increases proficiency and attack speed with swords.
Lucian stared.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Level 150. C-Rank.
That's not possible.
He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
His fingers twitched as he scrolled through the numbers again. No errors. No glitches.
I was just a Level 1 before.
And now I'm standing at C-Rank?
His heartbeat pounded against his ribs. This wasn't just leveling up—this was skipping entire years of progression.
Was this even normal?
He turned to Ignis, voice quieter now.
"...Is this supposed to happen?"
The dragon chuckled, golden eyes glinting.
"Did you believe power comes in equal increments?"
The dragon's golden eyes gleamed, as if he had been expecting this reaction.
"No. True growth is determined by the limits you surpass."
Lucian blinked.
That statement alone forced him to rethink everything he thought he knew about the System.
This wasn't some simple level-up grind.
It wasn't about slow and steady progression.
"So… the more I push myself, the faster I grow?"
Ignis smirked.
"Precisely."
Lucian's grip on his sword tightened.
That meant something important—something most people probably never realized.
If the System rewarded pushing past limits, then…
People who played it safe—who only fought at their level—would always be stuck in the slow lane.
But people who fought beyond their rank?
They would advance exponentially faster.
That's why he had gained so much from just one kill.
Because he had risked everything.
"You begin to understand," Ignis rumbled.
Lucian took a deep breath.
His C-Rank stats were real.
His growth was real.
And if he wanted to keep climbing…
Then he would have to keep taking on impossible fights.
His gaze hardened.
For the first time, he wasn't just looking at his stats.
He was looking at the path ahead.
And he had no intention of slowing down.
Lucian had come into this dungeon as prey.
Now?
He was still far from being a predator.
But he was climbing.
Lucian scrolled further down—
And that's when he noticed it.
[Skills:]
[Skill Growth Acceleration (EX)] – All skills gain proficiency at an increased rate.
[Language Comprehension (EX)] – Instantly understands and can speak any language.
[Spatial Inventory (EX)] – Grants access to a personal storage space outside of physical reality.
[Appraisal (EX)] – Can analyze and identify items, creatures, and status effects beyond the normal system limit.
Lucian's brows furrowed.
EX-Level again.
He had seen it before, but he still didn't know what it actually meant.
He turned to Ignis.
"Alright, I have to ask—what does 'EX' actually mean in my skills?"
The dragon chuckled, his massive golden eyes gleaming.
"You are only now questioning it?"
Lucian exhaled, crossing his arms.
"I was a bit preoccupied with, you know, not dying."
Ignis let out a deep, rumbling laugh.
"Fair enough."
Then—his amusement faded slightly, replaced by something more serious.
"EX-Level skills are different from normal skills.
They are at their absolute limit—
the final step before breaking free of the System's shackles."
Lucian's breath hitched.
"Breaking free of the System?"
Ignis nodded.
"A normal skill progresses steadily.
But an EX-Level skill?
It has reached the maximum threshold.
It no longer levels up—
it needs a push to fully integrate with you."
Lucian's fingers curled.
"Integrate?"
Ignis's gaze sharpened.
"Yes.
Once an EX-Level skill integrates, it no longer functions as a System skill—
it becomes a part of you.
It will no longer need System notifications, proficiency increases, or restrictions."
Lucian swallowed hard.
"So these skills… aren't just maxed out. They're waiting for something."
Ignis smirked.
"Precisely."
Then, his expression darkened slightly.
"But do not be arrogant.
You are still too weak.
If you force an EX-Level skill to integrate before you are ready…"
His golden eyes gleamed.
"It will consume you instead."
Lucian's breath caught in his throat.
"…Consume me?"
"The System acts as a stabilizer.
Without it, an unprepared body cannot handle the full burden of integration.
Skills like [Appraisal (EX)] and [Spatial Inventory (EX)] seem harmless now, but imagine them operating without limits—
without restrictions."
Lucian's mind raced.
Would his [Appraisal] start seeing things it wasn't meant to see?
Would [Spatial Inventory] stop obeying physics altogether?
Ignis watched his reaction with quiet amusement.
"For now, think of them as Max-Level Skills that will not evolve further until you are strong enough."
Lucian exhaled, his grip on his sword tightening.
"So I have skills that are waiting to evolve beyond the System itself…"
Ignis nodded.
"And when they do… you will no longer be bound by its rules."
Lucian's throat went dry.
The implications were terrifying.
And exhilarating.
Lucian stared at his stats, still processing the massive leap in power.
But before he could celebrate—
"Do you believe power comes in equal increments?"
Ignis's voice cut through the silence, his golden eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom.
Lucian looked up, confused.
"You leveled up significantly, but do you understand why?"
Lucian opened his mouth, then hesitated.
In games, leveling up was just a numbers game.
You killed enough monsters, you gained experience, and you slowly got stronger.
But this… this wasn't that.
"Explain it to me," Lucian said cautiously.
Ignis let out a low, rumbling chuckle.
"Good. You are willing to learn."
Ignis raised a claw, and suddenly—
A translucent screen appeared before Lucian, filled with numbers and requirements.
[Rank Progression System]
Rank
Level Range
Enemies Required for Promotion
Example
E → D
10 - 49
999 E-Rank or 99 D-Rank or 1 C-Rank
D → C
50 - 99
999 D-Rank or 99 C-Rank or 1 B-Rank
C → B
100 - 199
999 C-Rank or 99 B-Rank or 1 A-Rank
B → A
200 - 399
999 B-Rank or 99 A-Rank or 1 S-Rank
A → S
400 - 599
999 A-Rank or 99 S-Rank or 1 SS-Rank
Lucian studied the table carefully.
"So that's why. Killing something above your rank jumps progression."
Ignis nodded.
"Indeed. The system rewards those who surpass their limits."
Lucian swallowed. That meant—
Someone who killed 999 D-Rank monsters to reach C-Rank…
Was far weaker than someone who killed just one B-Rank monster.
"This is why two warriors of the same rank may have vastly different strengths," Ignis continued.
"Rank is a measure of progression, not absolute power."
Lucian let out a slow breath.
The implications were staggering.
Ignis's tone sharpened.
His massive golden eyes locked onto Lucian's.
"You are my successor. That means you must never be satisfied with fighting at your rank."
Lucian felt a weight settle on his shoulders.
This wasn't just about gaining strength.
This was about mindset.
"Most stay within the safety of fighting their own rank," Ignis rumbled.
"But true warriors break their limits, constantly pushing themselves against stronger foes."
Lucian gritted his teeth.
This was the difference between those who struggled to grow…
And those who ascended.
Ignis's voice grew softer but carried even more weight.
"You must always fight above your own rank, Lucian. Otherwise—"
The dragon's gaze bored into him.
"You will never be worthy of carrying my name."
Lucian's fingers tightened into fists.
It wasn't just about training.
It was about being willing to fight things stronger than himself—again and again.
To struggle. To suffer. To endure.
That was the path forward.
Lucian exhaled.
And for the first time…
He understood.
Lucian's fists clenched.
His mind still reeled from everything he had learned.
The System wasn't just about slow, gradual progression.
Power came from surpassing limits.
Fighting stronger foes meant growing exponentially faster.
Rank alone didn't determine strength—experience did.
Just reaching C-Rank like this meant nothing.
If he wanted to continue climbing,
He had to keep fighting impossible battles.
He had to keep fighting things that could kill him.
Lucian took a deep breath.
Then he looked at Ignis.
"So… what's next?"
Ignis's golden eyes gleamed.
He smirked, amusement flickering across his expression.
"Now?" The dragon's voice rumbled, deep and powerful.
"Now, we see if you can survive actual training."
Lucian swallowed hard.
Something about the way Ignis said that…
Made him very, very uneasy.
Survive?
Not endure. Not complete. But survive?
…That's not a good sign.
Then—
The cavern shuddered.
Lucian took a breath, steadying himself.
Everything had finally settled.
He had a weapon. He had gear. He understood the System better.
For the first time, he wasn't completely powerless.
Then—
The world shifted.
A pulse. Deep, suffocating. Like the air itself had turned to stone.
Lucian's stomach twisted.
Something was coming.
He didn't see it. Didn't hear it.
But he felt it.
A presence. Heavy. Absolute.
Predatory.
His throat went dry.
He turned to Ignis.
"You're kidding… right?"
The dragon smirked.
"Your next opponent has arrived."