1,000,000,000 EXP is enough for a player to reach around level 170 from level 1.
This mean, the trio has a chance to leapfrog from level 1 to level 170, with just a single mission.
Though the level itself can be reached by an average player, with a moderate level of effort made in around 6-9 months, the jump itself isn't something that can be achieved often by even the top player in this game.
If they're playing this game normally, being able to break through an important milestone immediately, within what is essentially a beginner town, countless opportunities and fame would be open for them, and they would be able to grow their strength at a pace unlike anyone had seen before. They would become an instant legend, and would be able to freely make their mark on the world…
To be repeated, if they’re playing this game normally.
When you receive enough EXP to level up, you don’t actually level up right away. Instead, the game will ask you if you want to spend the EXP point you currently have to level up, and you have the option to say no.
In essence, this means that you're allowed to both stays within the same level as you are, and be able to stock up your EXP as much as you want.
There can be many benefits to this. Using beginner resources freely, preparing yourself so that you will level up in the best condition, abusing the automatic full HP and MP recovery to survive a difficult fight, etc...
But, the con simply outweighs the pro several times.
Unable to access higher level dungeon and field, unable to increase status through leveling up, unable to receive job change, getting locked out from important quest…
In other words, you essentially won't be able to move anywhere, without each roadblock presenting upon you being increasingly more prohibitive than the last.
As such, aside from griefer and challenge run players, essentially all the players will decide to level up sooner or later and will go and enjoy their journey through the setting of Isekai Online, as the dev intended.
But well, of course the trio here decided to stay at level 1 instead.
And there is a reason why they decided to go with that option…
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“As expected, we’re growing too fast.”
The trio looks through their parameter panel, as they munch through the foods they bought at the market, generously using the money they got in excess.
[Parameter:
HP: 16600/16600
MP: 2180/2180
EXP: 1,000,000,000
STR: (100+110) * 140% = 294
AGL: (0+210)*145% = 304,5
END: (0+110)*150% = 165
DEX: (0+310)*150% = 465
INT: (0+110)*140% = 154
Unallocated stat: 0]
“(Lick) Doing a rough calculation, the amount of stats we have right now is the equivalent of a level 138 player, rising through pure stat allocation. Accounting for all the normal title and stats gain they could obtain, we’re still an equivalent of a level 100-110 player used by a veteran, at least.”
“(Lick) If we were then to immediately raise our level to 170, we could then gain the equivalent of a level 384. Even accounting for bonus stat, we can still be the equivalent of a level 300-330, in the best case scenario.”
“And remember, we handily defeated three groups of evildoers, with the equivalent status of a level 100-150, with an even weaker status than this. (Lick)”
Licking through a matcha ice cream cone, Rose blankly analyzes her parameter, with a small bit of ice cream around her lip.
“Munya~...So that means, if we were to level up like regular players, we would be tripling the strength of a normal player at the same level?" (Marigold)
"Not quite, considering that we can breakthrough to the important milestone of a 4-digit statline for the maximum of 3 main parameters, we would be at least quintuple the strength. Though one could say that status isn't everything, but…" (Rose)
“Kyu...(With our skills and abilities as well, that just make us even more stronger than them…) (Slurp)” (Dragon)
Chowing down on BBQ sticks and slurping down cup noodles, both Mari and Dragon also stand in their place contemplating, while letting oil and meat juice cover their entire mouth. Talk about working while playing, I guess.
“With all of our skills and abilities active and in their full capacity, that would be another quadruple of our status at least, bumping us to the equivalent of a top 1000 player… (wiping Mari and Dragon’s cheek)” (Rose)
“That would be the veteran rankers who play this game since its launch day, with the lowest of them to be at least level 600 and above, right? (wiping Rose's cheek)" (Marigold)
“Kyu (And if we’re accounting our actual skill and abilities…)” (Dragon)
As they're simultaneously wiping each other's mouth with a tissue, a concerning scenario pop out of their head…
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“Kahaha, so you three are the one, huh?”
A random top 100 players pop up in front of them, adorning themselves with needlessly top-of-the-line gears, stand before their way, a trio of level 170 players, in a towering manner.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“I heard that you’re the trio who have been taking out all challengers standing your way with only one move...Interesting! To think I can meet the reckoning of another Last Boss Player!"
“...So, you came to challenge us?”
Rose, stepping out to meet any challenger, comes out to face them, gently wielding a wooden sword to her side.
Hearing such, they laugh out loud, arrogantly.
“Kahaha, of course not…”
“I came to end you.”
"For if I held the honor of being the one who ends the reign of a Last Boss Player, my fame and my strength will rise to another height!"
“Pity yourself for growing too strong, for your meteoric legend will perish by my hand.”
With intense bloodlust, they pull out a myth-rated weapon, wrapping itself in a powerful aura, threatening to consume them apart. Pointing the weapon toward them with a smile maliciously baring all their fang, the player finally reveals their hostility.
"One forest can't house two tigers, one peak can't be taken by two challengers! With the weapon in my hand, I will make sure to-"
“Consecutive normal slash”
“...Eh?”
And that is the last line he uttered that day, before he collapsed into a chunk of meat, before disappearing into particles. Wiping the blood away from the sword, Rose put away her sword, and they continued on their journey…
“Kahaha, so the legend is true! You three are the one, right?”
Before the blood even dries, another random uncrowned ranker stands across their way, gloating about themselves all over again, repeating the cycle ad nauseum...
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“Surely that kind of scenario wouldn’t happen right, Big Sis?” (Marigold)
“I think not. If there is any consolation, the people in this world aren't as unrepentantly bloodthirsty and death-seeking as the fighter we meet daily... But, we would at least be accepting challengers like that at least a dozen times. Considering how fast word and fame can travel if we let them escape, and considering how competitive the top player is in ensuring their ranking, some version of that scenario is likely…” (Rose)
“Kyu (And that is only one among countless trouble we would face, that would distract us from our enjoyment...)” (Dragon)
“Exactly. We're all in for a challenge, but not if it would distract us from our vacation." (Rose)
Eating the ice cream to the cone, Rose resolutely said so. Even with a little bit of cream on the corner of her lip, her eyes still convey an all-too-important message with great sterness.
“So, we all agree to stay as level 1 for now, to prevent us from growing too strong and attracting unwanted attention and distraction right, Big Sis?" (Marigold)
“Kyu (Don’t forget to also train ourselves as well, to make us accustomed to this world’s rule as well)” (Dragon)
"That is also the reason, but that isn't the end of it. I was suspecting that the level itself holds some interesting secret." (Rose)
“Kyu (Now that you mentioned it, the title [Equaling Goliath] is suspiciously impossible to achieve unless you’re specifically level 1. If there is any more higher-ranking title, the only reasonable way is to stay as level 1 as well…)” (Dragon)
“Not to mention, the fact that there isn’t any cap on EXP stocking...I guess we will find out in due time then, Dra-kun and Big Sis.” (Marigold)
“Kyu.” (Dragon)
“Exactly...for now, we have come to the place we wanted to visit.” (Rose)
Finished eating their snack, for now, their feet have carried them to the front of a giant gate.
Passing it, an open field lay in front of them, filled with people training their fighting skills against countless dummies, one hit at a time. And in the middle of it all, a giant building, from which you could see countless players simultaneously practice their move in unison, under the watchful eyes of a stern and powerful instructor, looking at all of them with eagle eyes, and pointing out their flaw and way to improve.
In short, what they’re seeing before them is Tutoria’s Training Dojo, famed for successfully training all the generations of heroes, directly from the First to the latest. Many people have personally come to this place to learn of their secrets, and many legends have all owned their greatness from here.
For people seeking the path of strength like the trio, this is definitely one of the first places you must visit.
“So here it is, Tutoria's Training Dojo...in here, we should be able to learn about how people get stronger in this world. I can't wait to learn and trade pointers!" (Marigold)
"Kyu (Also, finding potential opponents to duel against. I can't wait to test my claw against rivals.)" (Dragon)
"Also, learning more about how to properly run and managed a Dojo, so that I can bring this knowledge back home to apply to my place." (Rose)
“? Big Sis, don’t you already run a successful Dojo at home, in which people line up for miles to challenge and trade pointers with the Three Stooges?" (Marigold)
"That's more the merit of the Three Stooges themselves, and Mother who is managing it in my place, than it's anything I can teach the disciples. In fact, I think Mother is secretly turning it into a flower-viewing and decorating club to promote her family's floral shop these days…" (Rose)
"And to think she also still successfully teaches people in her spare time from her floral shop...My Soon-to-be-Mother is Omnipotent." (Marigold)
"That she is...well, let's greet the master of the dojo first, to ask them for our own corner to train." (Rose)
“Oh, I noticed something in the background...You come and ask him first, Big Sis, I need to do something over there.” (Marigold)
“Kyu (And I found something interesting over there, so I will come to that place as well if you don't mind)" (Dragon)
“Sure, I will go to see the Master on my own then.” (Rose)
Marigold then goes to the pile of broken dummies on the ground, to go and fix them up. Meanwhile, JustADragon is going to a group of trainees who is in the middle of something.
Finding herself alone, she then proceeds to politely go inside...
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Mike Stärke is the 100th Headmaster of Tutoria’s Training Dojo.
A young man with short light brown hair, brimming with strength and talent, he officially took over the Headmaster position from the previous owner of the seat, Eagle Stärke, after he suffer a critical injury in the War Against Fate, and happily retired in the ripe old age of 150 years old. He had taken this position for several years and had personally trained up a few Irregulars himself.
Safe to say, he has an eye for people, fostered by years of experience, both in watching on and following the instruction of his predecessor and also in his years as the Headmaster himself. He also is one of the few people who can keep himself calm against the absurdity of any Irregular coming up, from having to meet so much.
One could say that he had seen them all, from people showing off their unthinkable strength, to people blossoming their talent in all directions, to people just being eccentric of all kinds.
When asked about his secret to be keeping so calm, he replied: "I just learn to remove any expectation."
"Any pre-conceived notion, any common sense, any delusion that you think you understand the world...I work diligently to remove it. Remove all bias and the supposed way you learn how the world work, and always look at everything with fresh, unbiased eyes."
“Don't weigh yourself down by what you think it should be, and instead free yourself into thinking what it could be.”
“Don’t limit others by your perception, for that is how you limit yourself. Learn that you’re not bigger than the world, and that’s how you attained true understanding.”
With eyes filled with vicissitude in life, despite still being in his 20s, his word carries true weight, heavy enough even a kid would find wisdom.
Safe to say, he has gone through a lot in his life. So much so, that he is confident that nothing would surprise him anymore.
"(Look like we have three powerful figures entering into this Dojo... let's see who they are.)"
While he was busy training the new patch of rookies, he spot the trio, just as they were entering the yard outside.
It is an unusual occurrence, but not that unusual.
“(Judging by the aura around them, they should be around level 130...no, judging by the weight of their step, they should be around level 380.)”
"(They would be pretty powerful among the newbie we have here who is barely a chick, but not to the extent that it would be truly unusual. They don’t seem to be that strong...)”
“(...And yet, why do I think of them as powerful?)”
Finding himself asking that question, he suddenly raises his vigilance.
His instinct, honed from those years of experience having his common sense shattered over and over again, is blaring up against them.
"(They could be hiding their strength, disguising themselves as only moderately strong...or they could also be some sort of individual with a very high latent power, or having some sort of secret ability, or having the backing of powerful monsters as their summon…)"
“(Either way, they should still be within my expectation...Ah, I done it again, having any sort of pre-conceived notion.)”
“(Empty my mind, trust my instinct, and watch them closely...they could be more trouble than they worth.)”
Noticing that only one of them is coming inside the main building, he raises his concentration while still acting nonchalantly and watching over the trainee, he takes a glimpse at who they could be...