An attack range of 130 meters. In the world of Azure Prime, that number alone pushed Ash Valor into the realm of the elite.
"It’s time," Ash muttered, looking at his accumulated Guild Contribution Points. "No more hoarding."
Years of tedious grinding had netted him over half a million points—roughly six hundred gold pieces. It was a modest fortune for a commoner, but today, it was his fuel. Ash liquidated every point, scouring the guild markets for attribute-boosting consumables. He bought Soul Condensing Pills, Strength Fruits, and even local delicacies like Osmanthus Cakes that most ignored.
The notifications flooded his vision:
[You have consumed Osmanthus Cake: Vitality +2]
[You have consumed Soul Condensing Pill: Stamina +2]
[You have consumed Fruit of Strength: Strength +3]
Six hundred gold converted into hundreds of raw attribute points. It was a massive leap.
"I’m close," he whispered, feeling the surge of power through his limbs. "I need to hit Level 60. Now."
His Soulbound Weapon granted a 30% experience bonus, but the tradeoff was steep—it siphoned away 40% of his total gains to level itself. His progress was a slog, but it was a slog he could sustain.
"Chitin, go! Clear the Level 40 mobs," Ash commanded. Without a dedicated healer, his undead companion was better used as a meat shield and kill-count farmer. While Chitin tore through the lower-tier trash, gathering coins and materials, Ash took up his position.
He didn't need to move. He was a stationary battery of destruction.
A swarm of monsters tried to close the gap, but Ash’s range was absolute. Even when they reached him, his Lifesteal kicked in, his health bar fluctuating as he converted every arrow's impact into vitality.
[-35,965: Crushing Blow]
[-17,693]
The numbers were staggering for unbuffed, basic attacks. Gold-tier gear was a cheat code in human form.
"Once I hit Level 60 and swap to Silver-Tier equipment, my base damage will break twenty thousand," he calculated. He wasn't Vera Laine—he didn't have the backing of a dynasty—but his output was starting to turn heads.
The grind was relentless. Seven mobs per pull, fifteen hundred experience per volley. It didn't feel like he was pushing for Level 60; it felt as easy as the crawl to Level 30.
Most players relied on guild carries for Level 60 dungeons. Ash Valor was an anomaly—a solo farmer who outperformed entire squads.
"Ash," a voice boomed, interrupting his rhythm. It was Orion, a Level 90 powerhouse. The veteran looked at Ash with genuine curiosity. "Where the hell did you get that Lifesteal?"
Ash didn't miss a shot. "Achievement reward, sir. It triggers after ten million kills."
Orion whistled. "Ten million? You’re a goddamn monster. You want me to put you in the guild newsletter? Make you a poster boy for the rank-and-file?"
"Don't you dare," Ash groaned. High profiles were dangerous. Even now, there were kids years younger than him who had already surpassed Level 60. He needed to stay under the radar.
Orion’s gaze shifted to the skeletal pet. "A Silver-Tier Phantom Summon? On a public-tier beast? You’ve either got a secret benefactor or you found a gold mine."
"Just got lucky," Ash lied smoothly. "Found a Level 60 boss with its throat already cut. Right place, right time."
"Luck is a skill in this world," Orion clapped him on the shoulder. "The Guild needs to invest more in you. Reach Level 60, and I'll find you a spot in the high-tier boss raids."
Ash nodded, though he knew the truth. Orion's "high-tier" bosses were likely Level 70. With his current setup—extreme range, Blink, and Lifesteal—Ash was already confident he could solo a Level 50 Elite.
The strategy was simple: stay out of range, blink when they close in, and out-sustain them.
While Ash was buried in the grind, the world changed.
[Planar Broadcast: Rift Gate established between Southhaven and Peerless City. Peerless City is now linked to ten major hubs.]
The news hit Southhaven like a shockwave. The world was shrinking. High-level reinforcements could now move between cities in seconds. The fragmented defenses of humanity were finally merging into a unified front.
Then, the global rewards began to cascade:
[Azure Prime players have conquered the 130-man Dungeon. All Stats +10, Gold +100]
[Aldric Thane has slain a Silver-Tier Abyssal Lord. All Defense +10]
[Evan Valor has sealed an Abyss Rift. Southhaven Stats +10]
For the first time in centuries, the front lines were moving forward. Humanity was reclaiming its world, and Ash Valor was riding the wave.
After two months of nonstop slaughter, the notification he’d been waiting for finally appeared:
[Level UP! Current Level: 60]
[All Stats +10, Free Points +20, Attack Speed +0.1, Range +10m, Base Attack +1000]
Ash spent the next two weeks hunting Elites, liquidating his hoard to afford a total gear overhaul. He bought Chitin a full set of Level 60 Bronze-Tier armor, but for himself, only Silver would do.
He dropped thousands of gold on the Radiance Set.
[Radiance Plate (Silver-Tier): Str/Agi/Vit +60, Defense +300, HP +2000]
[Set Bonus: +20,000 HP, +500 Defense]
The transformation was total.
Ash Valor: LV60
Attack: 26,006
HP: 63,000
Range: 120m
Skill: Ninefold Shot
"This," Ash breathed, "is the slow burn paying off."
His attack power now rivaled B-Rank Archers. He cleared a Level 50 dungeon solo just for the First Blood achievement, boosting his attack by another thousand. He was ready for the next plateau.
But the world wouldn't give him the time.
A siren blared—not from the city walls, but from the system itself. A blood-red text box filled the sky.
[EMERGENCY BROADCAST: THE MORTIS REALM HAS BREACHED THE LEVEL 40 DUNGEON.]
[The Undead Legion is invading. If the dungeon falls, Azure Prime will be consumed. The Plane will be abandoned and scrubbed to prevent cosmic contamination.]
[ALL PLAYERS, REGARDLESS OF LEVEL, REPORT TO THE FRONT LINES IMMEDIATELY.]
The peace of Southhaven shattered. The atmosphere turned from celebration to apocalypse in a heartbeat.
"Into the dungeon! Now!" Orion’s voice echoed through the guild comms. "Empty your banks! Spend every coin you have on consumables! If we lose, your gold is worthless anyway!"
Ash felt a cold pit in his stomach. He looked at his Soulbound Weapon. It needed one more push to reach Silver-Tier, but he was broke.
"I need a loan," Ash shouted over the chaos of the guild hall. "I need 200,000 Gold. I’ll pay back double!"
People looked at him like he was insane. No one had that kind of liquid cash.
Ding!
[You have received a transfer: 260,000 Gold]
Ash blinked. A private message from Orion appeared: "It’s not mine, it’s the Guild’s emergency fund. If we survive, you owe us 520,000. If we don’t... well, it won't matter."
"I won't waste it," Ash promised.
He sprinted to the Exchange, buying Enhancement Gems and Refined Gems in bulk.
[Soulbound Weapon Evolution Successful: Silver Longbow (Unique)]
[All Stats +100, Attack +1000, Range +50, Attack Speed +0.5]
[Special Effect: 0.01% Chance to trigger DEATH STRIKE.]
Death Strike. An instant-kill mechanic.
He didn't stop there. He bought two Luminary Rings, boosting his Critical Strike rate to 42% and pushing his range to a staggering 200 meters.
By the time he stepped into the teleportation circle, Ash Valor was a different creature.
Attack: 120,000 (Buffed)
HP: 100,000+
Attack Speed: 2.5
He arrived at the Level 40 Dungeon to find a nightmare. The Mortis Realm wasn't just a cave—it was an endless grey plain under a dying sun. Tens of thousands of Undead Knights and skeletal giants were charging the breach.
"Tanks to the front!" commanders screamed. "Healers, stay alive!"
Ash felt the buffs hitting him.
[Hazel Lane’s Warbrand Aura: Attack +20%]
[Clair Stone’s Battle Fervor: Attack +800]
His attack power climbed, hitting an astronomical 150,000.
Ash drew his bow. He didn't need to be on the front lines. He stood 200 meters back and opened fire.
Thrum-thrum-thrum!
His arrows were blurs of light. Ninefold Shot tore through the skeletal ranks.
[-109,865]
[-213,695 (Crushing Blow)]
Level 80 Skeleton Champions, monsters that should have been unstoppable bosses to a Level 60 player, were being turned into bone dust before they could even see their killer.
"Ash!" Hazel Lane’s voice came through the comms. She was frantic, her mana dipping as she healed the frontline tanks. "Your output is in the Guild's Top 100! How?!"
"Don't talk to me!" Ash snapped, his eyes locked on a distant cluster of undead. "I’m focused!"
He unleashed Chitin, the skeleton pet diving into the fray to provide a momentary distraction for a faltering squad. Ash moved with the rhythm of the battlefield, using Blink to reposition every time a wraith tried to flank him.
Hours passed. The experience bar was flying. He hit Level 61 in the middle of the massacre.
"Ash!" Orion’s voice cut through the noise. "Stone is pinned down! Level 90 Boss to the West! Provide cover!"
Ash turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the towering Abyssal Lord looming over his guildmates. He wasn't afraid. He raised his Silver Longbow, the 0.01% Death Strike chance shimmering in his mind like a promise of execution.
"I’ve got him," Ash said, and let fly.