We live in a world where numbers and levels apply, the higher the level the better life we had, we possess a power called Gear. Each people have different Gear, some use it for living, some use it for our safety and some are using it for evil.

16 years old with auburn hair and red eyes, a small build with a large breast. She has the appearance of a young child with a matured body and a Breaker with a level of…

Zero.

Philuffy’s Stats.

Level: 0

Battle Instinct: 1-2

Str: 150

Def: 20

Spd: 50

Int: ???

Her name is Philuffy Earhart, She live her life in the slums to become the strongest Breaker like her father who was the hero in the ancient War of Yomotsuhirasaka. He is known as Azure the Trailblazer.

Philuffy never seen her father, All she knew is that her parents were killed by a Nightmare while protecting her as a baby. But there were some words still recorded in her mind by the masked man with red and blue eyes.

He said “Maybe this was for the best… I only wanted you to live happy. By making you suffer…”

His way of words was like he was crying. She want to find this man and find out why he wants me suffer? By becoming a Breaker and work her way up to have a better life. But for some reason… She can’t level up. She did ask to anyone who knew about this disease but know one knows what it is.

Her life being a level 0 was very hard. Money that she earned was so small that she barely eat three times a day. Philuffy was jealous to the other people who can leveled up. But that won’t stop her from becoming the strongest Breaker. She trained everyday with her two-handed sword named Aramasa. It was the only memento that her mother had while she was still alive.

Her birthday was coming up so at least she want to celebrate it once, until news was heard about a Nightmare Serpent appeared from our area. But this is where the worst come in our situation. No one will ever help them, the lower levels. The fodder for the Nightmares.

She want at least become their inspiration for her birthday. That levels wont matter unless a person have a will to fight on their own.

Philuffy grabbed Aramasa to face the Nightmare Serpent alone.

The people were running away from that monster, she helped them evacuate from the area for a bit before facing the monster.

SHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

The roar of the serpent was heard. She want to help more but she have feared that this monster will take down the evacuation area if she help even further. Philuffy stood Infront of the black serpent, its appearance was like in a form of a snake with one yellow eyes.

The monster looked down on her.

She was very scared. This is her first time fighting a real monster, but she trained very hard just for this day.

She clench her sword tightly and take her battle position to strike.

“Haaah!”

The serpent strikes in an instant.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Guah!”

She manage to block it but as she fell down to the ground, she accidentally let go of her sword.

“Ah!”

The moment she don’t have the sword, time stops around her, She even wet myself from fear. She realized she wasn't ready protecting everyone.

[Someone… help Phi!]

She can’t speak out loud but she was crying for help, the serpent strikes once again but she manage to dodge some of them and ran away, suddenly She felt regret for trying to become a hero.

“Why did Phi have to be in this situation?”

She asked herself, why was she doing this!? She was starting to think like other people who doesn’t believe in themselves.

“Phi is just a level 0! Phi is too useless to live in society!”

Philuffy panicked and forcing herself to be brave. She was running aimlessly to safety. She wanted to get the sword but she just left it there and tried to live!

“Phi just want to become an inspiration to the people that level doesn’t matter for my birthday…”

Those words made her unconsciously went back for her sword because it was the only thing that left of her mother’s memory, She grabbed the sword and put up a brave face as her tears are falling that she barely see anything. She can tell the death’s door was infront of me, but her mother was brave to face death so she have to be brave as well.

“Huh? Why am I facing this monster? I am too weak from it right? I hate myself from being weak… but why I felt a will to fight it?”

She admit that she is too weak against it, She want at least put up a good fight to this monster as she die, She form a fighting position and getting ready to fight back. She wanted to run but that will was gone in an instant like someone took it from her.

SSSHHHHAAAAAAA~!

The serpent strikes its fang towards me as everything went black.

CLANG!

The sound of a clashed metal was heard.

“For a level 0…That was reckless of you… But I like your bravery to save everyone.”

A voice of a man was heard. Philuffy opened her eyes and saw a boy with spiky brown hair wearing a prestigious White and blue uniform he must be from a school where they teach them to become Breakers. He was wielding a giant sword, blocking the fangs of the serpent with his strength alone.

He must be a higher level. I realized not all high leveled people were that greedy.

“…I suggest that you leave here immediately… or you want to become my human shield.”

His eyes suddenly turn to a cold eye of the killer. She thought he felt safe being with him, instead… She felt fear towards him.

“S-sorry!”

Philuffy ran away from him but instead, she became worried about him, to her no matter how high a person’s level, they were still vulnerable to get killed. She felt the feeling of change of heart again and asked herself if there is something wrong with her.

She started to think again with regret why did she ran away again. Philuffy didn’t know if she was brave or acting brave.

“In the end… Phi rely on people with higher level…”

Philuffy made her resolve.

“Phi must help Big jerk!”

Philuffy gathered her thoughts and put up a brave face to run back.

As she returned to the battlefield, Philuffy saw the man wearing a black trench coat almost like a form of a ghost. His red claw stopped the monster’s attack by grabbing it’s face. He has white hair as his eyes are same with the Nightmare, they were yellow. He is like a Nightmare in a form of a human. Which can be rarely seen in the category of Nightmare race.

Philuffy hid behind the huge box and checked on his status, it was level 50 with a question mark? And the rest doesn’t make any sense. She has the ability to see others status through her sight, it’s her Gear called Scan.

Status:

???

Level: 1 (+50 Increasing.)

Battle Instinct: ERROR

Strength: 430

Vitality: 500

Speed: Unknown.

Intelligence: 999

His name was blurred. She was supposed to learn his name like the rest but that person can cover it.

Philuffy saw him destroyed the serpent by slashing through it with his red claw, once he returns to normal. She looked once again to his stats which made her shocked.

Status:

???

Level: 1

Battle Instinct: 30-35

Strength: 10

Vitality: 10

Speed: 15

Intelligence: 12

What is going on? His stats gotten lower. Philuffy was confused from the person's stats

“Phi know he is level 50 but his true level was level 1.”

“What about it?”

Philuffy was surprised by the sudden raise of a male’s voice as she looked behind; it was him.

“So what if my level is 1? Do you have a problem with that?”

Philuffy twiddle her thumb while making an explanation.

“U-umm… Phi um… You see… Phi… Saw the big jerk’s level is 50 and it suddenly changes to level 1.”

As she looked at him, She saw his face were looked like he was going to kill her. A murderous look.

“…You saw that?”

On the inside, Philuffy was panicking, she quickly thinks of what will she going to say to stay alive from his scary stare.

“Y-yes… Phi saw it…”

His face became somewhat scary when Philuffy tell the truth about his abnormal status, he suddenly grabbed her hand and drag me all the way out of her hometown. She got a feeling that there is more about this mysterious manipulation to his stats. 

Philuffy started to imagine bad things between him and her.