A surge of warmth flooded Ash Valor’s veins as the first buff took hold.
[Clair Stone has cast Rallying Fervor. Attack +18.]
[Clair Stone has cast Rejuvenation. HP Regen +6/sec.]
Clair had only hit Level 1, but the potency of her support skills had already spiked. For Ash, seeing his Attack power break the 150 mark was a rarity, though it still took two well-placed arrows to drop a trash mob.
As Stone reached Level 2, their efficiency transformed. With the first run under his belt, the tank began pulling with reckless confidence, dragging six or seven mobs at a time into a meat grinder of steel and magic. The clears became a blur. By the end of their second dungeon, they were pushing Level 4. By the time they finished their sixth, the entire party had hit Level 5.
Total time elapsed: less than three hours.
"Now that’s what I call power-leveling," Ash muttered. It had taken him a grueling month to reach Level 5 on his own. He couldn’t complain, though—they were the ones footing the bill. A single dungeon entry cost ten Silver; six runs meant they had already burned through sixty Silver just to get him to move his feet.
"You’re both Level 5 now," Ash said, eyeing their stats. "Want to try for the Boss?"
Stone was sitting at 1,400 HP, and with Clair’s healing output, they could easily outlast a Boss even if their damage was subpar.
"Hold on, let me swap gear," Stone said. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a heavy, Iron-Tier ward.
Ash stared at the gleaming metal. "You had that the whole time?"
Stone shrugged, grinning. "I wanted to test my baseline strength first."
Another piece of Black Iron. Ash sighed; apparently, he was the only one in the party who was actually broke.
"Alright, let’s do this," Stone said, his excitement palpable. "Ash, stay back and focus on DPS. I’ll keep the threat locked down."
"Just stay sharp," Ash warned. In this world, a wipe didn't just mean a trip back to a graveyard; it meant a trip to the morgue.
"Ten mobs left in the hall. Let’s clear the way."
As Ash loosed an arrow into the final mob of the pack, a crisp chime echoed in his mind—a sound he had been chasing for weeks.
[Ding! Kill count reached 10,000. Strength +1.]
The One in a Million grind was finally complete. A single attribute point seemed like a small reward for such a mountainous task, but the system wasn't finished.
[Ding! You have successfully slain 10,000 enemies. Achievement Unlocked: Slaughterer.]
[Reward: All Stats +2, Silver +10.]
"What?" Ash nearly tripped over his own feet.
The achievement reward eclipsed the initial bonus. Two points in every stat meant ten points total. That was the equivalent of two full level-ups in raw power.
[Next Achievement Milestone: 100,000 Kills.]
The notification was a cruel joke, yet it ignited a spark of greed in Ash’s chest. The system wanted him to be a butcher. His silver count now sat at 31—a small fortune compared to his usual pittance.
"Wait up, guys," Ash called out, halting the advance. "Give me a second."
If they were taking on a Boss, he needed every edge. A Level 1 Boss had roughly 1,600 HP. Even with a Defense of 25, Ash could potentially down it in a dozen arrows. With his attack speed, the fight would be over in under two minutes, provided Stone held the line.
He opened the market interface. He had been holding back for too long.
[Common Might Herb: 3 Silver each. Max consumption: 10.]
Ash didn't hesitate. He dropped 30 Silver and downed all ten herbs in rapid succession.
[Strength +1...]
[Strength +1...]
Warmth radiated through his muscles, a physical manifestation of his stats breaking the 200-point threshold. Even without Clair’s buffs, his base Attack was now 153.
"Ready," Ash said, nodding to Stone. "Go."
Stone roared and charged, his shield leading the way. The Boss—a massive, tusked monstrosity—slammed into him.
[Damage Reflect!]
[-148]
Ash winced. Stone’s passive reflection was doing more damage than Ash’s basic attacks. Even after accounting for the Boss's defense, Ash was only hitting for 113.
Who is carrying whom here? Ash wondered.
"Block!" Stone shouted, his ward glowing.
Ash went silent. How many skills does this guy have? Compared to Stone's repertoire, Ash’s solitary Triple Shot felt pathetic. But it didn't matter. Stone was a mountain, taking hit after hit while Clair kept his HP bar pinned to the top.
"Clair, I told you we were the perfect pair," Stone teased between blocks.
"You're the toughest guy I know, Stone," she replied with a soft smile.
"My shield is always open for you."
Ash rolled his eyes. They weren't just a party; they were a couple. And apparently, they enjoyed flirting while staring down a man-eating boar. He focused on his draw, letting his arrows do the talking.
[-117]
[-146]
[Ding! Bloodfang Boar slain. EXP +160, Copper +400.]
The beast collapsed. The party erupted in cheers.
"Look! An equipment drop!" Clair cried.
"I found a herb," Stone added. "This run actually paid for itself. We’re in the green!"
Ash smiled. A happy team was a productive team. He pocketed his 400 Copper, feeling a sense of surrealism. He was actually making money while leveling.
"Stone," Ash said, "there's an achievement for clearing nine different Level 1 dungeons. The rewards are solid. We should hit them in order."
"There's an achievement for that too?" Stone asked, surprised. "Man, if I hadn't awakened as a Crafting Class, I’d be doing this every day. Ash, if you ever need gear forged, look me up."
The ice had thoroughly melted. The team grew tighter, the atmosphere lighter. They spent the next seventeen hours in a trance of violence. By the 32nd run, even Stone’s legendary stamina hit a wall.
"Ash, the girls need sleep," Stone said, his voice raspy. "We’re calling it for today."
"No problem," Ash said. He had made a killing today. "If you’re up for it later, let's hit the Level 2 dungeons."
Stone nodded. "Count on it. Let's aim for Level 10."
As the trio vanished toward the city, Ash tallied his gains. He was now wearing five pieces of gear, with a sixth in his pack. The equipment alone was worth 30 Silver. Total daily profit: over 60 Silver.
[Ash Valor: LV 9 (15,000/28,000 EXP)]
The level gap was widening. A single dungeon run now barely moved the needle. But for the first time, Ash wasn't worried. He had capital. He had a plan. He could carry new players for the cost of admission alone, banking the kill counts and the small silver rewards.
He opened his status one last time before bed.
[Total Stats: 225 | Attack: 197 | HP: 480 | Defense: 21]
Once I hit Level 10, the Planar Vault gives a 10 Silver bonus, he thought. Maybe then I can finally replace this scrap-wood bow.
The following weeks were a grind of a different sort. Ash cycled through teams, carrying newbies through Level 1 bosses until he finally hit the milestone.
[Ding! Level Up! All Stats +1, Random Stat Points +5.]
[Ding! Multishot leveled up. Range +5m.]
[Ding! Level 10 reached. Guild System unlocked.]
[Ding! Level 2 Dungeons unlocked. Entry fee: 100 Silver.]
[Planar Vault Reward: 10 Silver, 10 Free Stat Points.]
[Ash Valor: LV 10 | Total Stats: 251 | Attack: 220 | HP: 560 | Defense: 35 | Attack Speed: 0.25]
He was no longer a bottom-feeder. But as he looked at the 100 Silver entry fee for Level 2 dungeons, he realized the climb was only getting steeper. He spent his days in the Southhaven forums, picking up mercenary work. He was a professional booster now.
Then, the world changed.
A golden broadcast seared across the sky, visible to every Awakened on Azure Prime.
[World Convergence Rate: 60%. Fusion speed accelerating.]
[Abyss Rift frequency increasing. Monster strength and density will spike.]
[Prime Citadel energy reserves depleted by 50%. Barriers will fail within ten years.]
[All Awakened are ordered to escalate offensive operations. Reduce monster density or face extinction.]
[LIVE OR DIE.]
The celebratory mood in the city vanished instantly. The safe zones weren't safe anymore. The clock was ticking.
Ash felt the cold hand of dread on his shoulder. He couldn't stay in the shallows anymore. He took his accumulated 500 Silver and headed to the market. It was time to stop being a "budget" archer.
[Shadowsteel Bow (Iron-Tier) - 443 Silver.]
He pulled the trigger.
[Silver -443. Shadowsteel Bow acquired.]
[Shadowsteel Bow | Quality: Black Iron | Level: 10]
[Strength +10, Agility +10, Attack +30, Range +5m]
The bow was a masterpiece of dark, matte metal. With the stat bonuses, his Attack jumped by 50 points in a single second.
[Ash Valor: LV 10 | Total Stats: 280 | Attack: 289 | HP: 580 | Defense: 36]
He was still "squishy," as the tanks liked to say, but he had teeth now.
A notification pinged. It was a message from Stone.
Ash, my guild has a batch of recruits. Can you run them through the Level 1 gauntlet? Standard rates.
"Business is booming," Ash whispered.
Stone had already made it into the Skystrider Guild, a top-tier outfit in Southhaven. Ash didn't care about the prestige; he cared about the volume. He spent the next few days clearing runs for them, his kill count climbing toward the 100,000 mark.
"Ash, you should just join us," Stone suggested one evening. "We're losing people in the field. We need warm bodies, even if they're just 'Prospects.' You won't get the full benefits unless you stay in the top 10,000 for Contribution Points, but the stat passive alone is worth it."
[Ding! You have joined The Skystrider Guild (Level 2).]
[Guild Passive: All Stats +10, Attack +30.]
Ash felt the power surge. A Level 2 guild provided a boost equivalent to five levels of grinding. His Attack finally crossed the 300 threshold.
But he was still Level 10, and the guild was a shark tank. If he didn't produce Guild Contribution Points (GCP), he’d be purged by the end of the month.
He needed to hit Level 2 dungeons. But finding a group as a Level 10 Archer was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
"I'll go," a voice rasped from the shadows of the dungeon entrance.
Ash turned. A man stood there, leaned against a mossy pillar. Zane. The Phantom Summoner who had once pointed him toward the Trial Grounds.
"You're still alive?" Zane sneered, though his eyes lacked any real malice. "Not bad, kid. You've even got a Black Iron bow."
"Zane. It's been a while."
"You're Level 10. Nobody's going to pick you up for Razorback Thicket," Zane said, pushing off the wall. "Give me lead. I'll carry you through a few runs."
Ash didn't hesitate. "You're a lifesaver."
"Save the gratitude. I heard you have a line into Skystrider. Get me in, and we're even."
A few messages to Stone later, and Zane was wearing the Skystrider tag. His stats ballooned, his total attributes hitting 600. The Summoner didn't bother looking for a tank; he simply summoned a massive, armored beast.
[Earthwarden Bear: LV 15 | Attack: 412 | HP: 2600]
"This is my primary summon," Zane said, patting the bear's thick fur. "It tanks better than most players."
The Razorback Thicket was a nightmare of thorns and aggression. The Level 15 mobs had three times the stats of the ones Ash was used to. But with the Earthwarden Bear holding the line and two other high-level DPS players Zane had recruited with the promise of guild entry, the dungeon became a slaughterhouse.
Ash watched the logs carefully.
[Ding! Kill +1. Raw Meat acquired.]
He was finally getting drops from trash mobs. It wasn't much—ten copper per piece on the exchange—but it was progress.
By the end of the day, Ash had reached Level 12 and earned the Level 2 Achievement. He also hit the jackpot on their final run.
[You have looted: Shadowsteel Chestpiece (Iron-Tier, LV 15).]
He didn't even look at the stats before listing it. He couldn't wear it yet, and he needed the liquidity. It sold for 100 Silver in minutes.
The month became a blur of GCP farming and dungeon diving. Ash spent his mornings boosting Skystrider recruits and his afternoons grinding with Zane. He was a machine.
[Ash Valor: LV 15 | Total Stats: 336 | Attack: 349 | Silver: 500]
He was at his peak. And then, the system kicked him in the teeth.
[Ding! Your Guild Contribution Points (GCP) have fallen below the threshold. You have been removed from The Skystrider Guild.]
"What?" Ash stared at the screen. He had 240 GCP banked—he just hadn't spent them.
Before he could panic, a new prompt appeared.
[Zane has invited you to join The Skystrider Guild.]
Ash hit accept instantly.
"Zane? You're a formal member now?"
"Check my level, kid," Zane’s voice came through the comms, sounding exhausted but proud.
Ash opened his friend list.
Zane (Phantom Summoner): LV 19
Stone (Shield Vanguard): LV 21
Simon Cross (Swordsman): LV 22
They were no longer beginners. They were moving into the wildlands, leaving the safety of Southhaven behind. And if Ash wanted to stay alive in a world at 60% convergence, he had to stop playing it safe.