Sora knew the market well enough to estimate the average prices of items, and as he considered his next moves, his mind focused on one thing: maximizing his growth. The journey to reclaim his power would require careful planning, and equipping himself with the right gear—particularly items that could boost his XP gain—was critical. But it would come at a significant cost.
For now, equipping himself as a level 1 wouldn't break the bank. He estimated that basic low-level gear would cost no more than 10 or 20 gold—pocket change compared to the expenses he would face later. But as he progressed through levels, particularly to levels 10, 20, and 30, he would need to cycle through gear, and for those items, he estimated an additional 25,000 gold would be required.
The real challenge came when considering the costs at higher levels. Once he reached level 40, the expense would skyrocket. He estimated around 50,000 gold just to get decent XP-boosting gear for that stage. And for level 50, he wouldn't need XP-boosting items anymore—he'd need high-end combat gear capable of keeping him alive in the toughest dungeons and zones. Preparing for that would cost him at least 75,000 gold.
In total, he calculated that he would need around 150,000 gold just to equip himself properly from level 1 to 50. And that was just to cover the essentials, nothing extravagant.
Since his goal was to save enough to pay for his full gear, and keep 30 000 for travel expenses or any other necessities, he was lacking around 100 000 gold.
But the bigger question remained: how was he going to make that much money?
Sora sighed, realizing that hunting wouldn't be enough to fill his coffers. After a full day of grinding low-level creatures, he hadn't even managed to make 50 gold. At that rate, even after reaching level 10, the income from hunting wouldn't increase significantly. The grind was simply too slow to meet his goals.
He needed another way—something more reliable and lucrative.
The answer, of course, was a job.
He opened his job panel and quickly scanned through the various professions he had taken up over time. His highest skill was Blacksmith (Level 0 previously Level 17), which he knew could be profitable if he had the right materials and investments. But that required an initial gold outlay he wasn't ready to make.
His other gathering jobs, while useful, weren't going to give him the fast returns he needed:
Mining (Level 1 previously Level 12)
Fishing (Level 1 previously Level 8)
Herbalism (Level 1 previously Level 7)
These skills could provide him with extra income if he needed to gather resources for crafting or selling to other players, but they would be slow to level and also required their own investment. They weren't going to generate the quick cash he needed to outfit himself.
Then his eyes landed on the last job in his list: Human Resources Assistant (Level 0 previously Level 4).
A small chuckle escaped his lips. Back before the world had transformed, he had earned a degree in human resources management and worked briefly in that field. The system had apparently translated that into a job in the new world economy, albeit at a low level.
"Assistant de direction des ressources humaines," he muttered, the French words rolling off his tongue before he mentally translated it to English: Human Resources Assistant.
It was almost laughable. The idea of taking up an administrative job in a world where strength and combat prowess ruled seemed absurd. But Sora knew that jobs, even those unrelated to combat, had their value in this world. There were many non-combat roles that players filled to keep the world running smoothly. Logistics, trade, management, and even administration—these were in high demand.
The thought of using his degree in the new world was intriguing, and at Level 1, he has never been an expert, but the job was still there. If he could take on contracts or tasks related to human resources, he could earn decent money with low risk. Plus, as he leveled the job up, he'd unlock more lucrative opportunities.
Making money with jobs made sense. Jobs, unlike combat grinding, could offer steady income without risking his life. Even small contracts in human resources would be easy to complete, and as his HR job leveled up, the rewards would increase. It wasn't the most glamorous way to make money, but it was efficient.
He had heard of people taking non-combat jobs and making a good living off them. The more contracts they completed, the more gold they earned. It wasn't as fast-paced as combat, but it was safer and steadier.
Sora smiled to himself. He could try different jobs and see how much he could earn.
He could spend the first 4 months earning money, or he could do as he first imagined and look for opportunities.
Sora examined the level 10 sword he had in hand. It was the only item he kept from the bank, knowing it would serve him well on his journey to Córdoba. He hadn't sold it because, despite its relatively modest power, it was something he could actually wield on the road. Better to have something than nothing.
According to a fellow player he had spoken to at the inn, and the map he had purchased, Córdoba was roughly 500 kilometers away. Though the original distance between the village and the city had been significantly shorter, the world's geography had stretched during the update, making the journey more than ten times what it once was.
"I'll make it there in a few days if I push hard enough," he thought, steeling himself for the journey. He had no intention of wasting time. Running at full speed, he could probably cover massive ground in hours.
Players like Sora, still under level 10, fell into the "Innocent" power level bracket, which protected them from higher-level threats while within the safety of city walls. This protection extended to interactions with other players of the same race, preventing any powerful individuals from bullying weaker ones. But outside the city barriers, the world was far less forgiving—there were no safeguards, and the wilderness was a free-for-all.
Sora pulled up his status panel to evaluate where he stood:
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[Status Update]
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 1)
Class: None (Level 9)
Title: Innocent
Power Level: 82
Energy Level: E
Body Level: F
Talent Level: 2 (Growth Factor)
Skills:
Sword Mastery (Level 1)Shield Block (Level 1)Critical Strike (Level 5)Dodge (Level 5)Mana Regeneration (Locked)
Innate Skill:
Prestige
Though his level was low, Sora's overall power level made him stronger than the average level 9 player, placing him on par with many level 10 players. His raw power allowed him to sprint at speeds of up to 100 km per hour and, if pushed, punch through a brick wall—though he'd likely break a few bones in the process. His body, however, hadn't caught up to his growth; his Body Level remained at F because he had never trained it properly.
Body training was essential. It wasn't just about leveling up; to truly harness one's strength, a player needed to condition their body to handle the higher speed, resistance, and resilience that came with increasing levels. Without it, leveling up was like enlarging a vessel— with no matter to keep it sturdy. Players who didn't train their bodies were prone to mistakes, sluggish reactions, and an inability to fully utilize their strength.
The analogy Sora had heard many times before echoed in his mind: "Leveling is like enlarging a cup. It grows bigger, but the material stays the same, making it thin and fragile. Training tempers the cup, makes it sturdier, and reinforces it. Improving one's skills,body and mental would fill the glass" A player could reach their maximum potential by pushing their physical and mental limits in tandem with leveling up.
Right now, though Sora's stats were impressive for his level, he knew that compared to experienced players who had trained rigorously, he was sorely lacking. His body wasn't conditioned to handle weapons effectively, and his rapid growth had left his body far behind in terms of refinement. It made him inefficient with his sword and other combat maneuvers.
Before setting out for Córdoba, Sora realized that it would be foolish to ignore his body's development any longer. He couldn't simply rely on his power level; he needed to maximize his physical strength and agility through basic training to better prepare for the challenges ahead.
With that in mind, Sora decided to walk back to the auction house and buy training materials. He bought special clothes, running shoes, and all kinds of training equipment used by adventurers who needed to undergo body training.
He bought a few sets of Training Gear.
He knew what high level players used to "fill the glass". It was brutal, but he could only go with this if he wanted to be efficient. Even crossing 500 kilometers could be challenging, so he would not leave anything to luck.
The sets to train cost 5000 gold each, and they could be adjusted to a specific difficulty at his taste.
Set 1: Burden Gear
Description: Weights distributed across the body to increase resistance. Enhances explosive strength, stamina, and endurance over time. Movement is slowed drastically, forcing the body to adapt to the added burden.
Sora scanned the description of the Burden Gear. It was exactly what he needed to push his body.
"This will force me to move slower and train my body's power at the same time. Carrying all that weight will help me develop explosive strength and stamina, something that I've been lacking. The longer I wear this, the stronger my movements will be once it's off."
Set 2: Torture Gear
Description: Inflicts continuous micro-damage to the body, stimulating defense growth. Enhances pain tolerance and overall durability by forcing the body to heal minor injuries caused by the gear itself. Long-term use results in increased resilience and natural damage resistance.
Sora winced at the thought of wearing the Torture Gear.
"It's going to hurt, but this will help me withstand damage in the future. Building up my pain tolerance and natural defense could be the difference between life and death in a fight. If I can endure constant damage, taking hits from enemies will be much easier."
Set 3: Slowed Perception Gear
Description
Slows the wearer's perception of time and movement. Enhances reaction time and anticipation by forcing the user to adapt to a faster-paced environment. Ideal for improving reflexes and precision in combat.
Sora read through the description, nodding to himself.
"This will be the ultimate challenge. It will make everything feel like it's moving at lightning speed. If I can learn to fight while wearing this, then once it's off, normal combat will feel so much slower. It'll sharpen my reflexes and give me an edge in battle when every second counts."
Each gear set had its own purpose, and Sora could already see how combining them could push him to a new level.
If I use these correctly, my body will be conditioned for anything. Time to start working on filling up that glass.
He looked at the Burden Gear in his inventory.
Without hesitation, he began strapping the weights to his arms, legs, and torso. Each piece locked into place with a heavy click.
Once fully equipped, a notification appeared before him:
[You have equipped training gear.]
[Special boost activated: All training effects are doubled due to your Prestige Level. Growth Factor: 2. Training efficiency doubled.]
Sora's eyes widened. What the—? He hadn't expected this. His Prestige ability seemed to have more advantages than he originally thought. Double training efficiency? That meant he could push his body twice as fast as before. A grin crept across his face as he realized just how overpowered this boost could make him if used correctly.
Wasting no time, Sora headed toward the outer edge of the village and began his routine. The heavy weights strapped to his body made every movement laborious, every step a challenge. His feet felt like lead, and after only a few minutes, his legs started to burn. But he pressed on, running around the city's massive wall, forcing himself to maintain speed despite the incredible weight slowing him down.
The sun was high in the sky by the time he stopped to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his body screaming for relief. But instead of resting, he swapped out the Burden Gear for the Torture Gear.
Another notification appeared, but this time he just brushed it off. He already knew the drill.
The Torture Gear did exactly what its name suggested—small, continuous pricks of pain all over his body, minor enough to be bearable but irritating enough to constantly remind him it was there. His skin ached, his muscles screamed, but the gear did its job. Over time, the micro-damage would strengthen his body's resistance to pain and make him tougher. Every stab and pinch would make him just a bit more resilient.
Sora alternated between the two gear sets, running until exhaustion with the Burden Gear, then resting in the Torture Gear to train his pain tolerance. By the time the sun began to set, he was drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling with fatigue.
Just as he was about to head back to the inn, another notification appeared:
[Your body strength has increased from F to E.]
He stared at the message in surprise. Already? He knew the training would be effective, but this was faster than expected. His body was finally starting to catch up to his power level. He pulled up his status screen and saw that his power level had jumped to 122.
A grin tugged at his lips. He was only level 9, but his stats were comparable to a level 11 player. The Body Level E had given him a significant boost, especially in strength and stamina. It's not much in the grand scheme of things, he thought, but it's enough for now. My body feels stronger, more durable. This is what I needed.
His mental strength hadn't changed, though. He had retained all of his experience and knowledge from before the reset, which made him a formidable opponent despite his relatively low level. In a way, this was his greatest advantage—he wasn't just relying on brute force or stats. His mind was sharper, his reflexes faster, and his tactical awareness was on par with seasoned players.
With his body now in better condition, Sora decided it was time to leave the village and head west, toward Córdoba. He packed his belongings, took one last look at the village, and began his journey.