The first rays of dawn broke over the village, casting long shadows as Jae-Hyun stood in the clearing behind the hut. The cold air nipped at his skin, but he paid it no mind. He was already halfway through his morning routine, his body moving with a relentless determination.

His breaths came in sharp, controlled bursts as he finished his tenth lap around the clearing, the frost-covered ground crunching beneath his boots. The cold air bit at his exposed skin, and his legs burned with every step, muscles screaming for relief. But Jae-Hyun ignored the pain, each stride hammering home a singular truth: rest wasn’t an option. Not anymore.

The system chimed softly in his mind:

Daily Training Quest Progress:

* 10 km Run: Complete (20/10)

* 100 Sword Swings: Complete (100/100)

* 15 Minutes of Mana Concentration: Complete (15/15)

Jae-Hyun smirked faintly, wiping the sweat from his brow. The familiar interface appeared before him, and the "Claim Reward" button flickered at the bottom of the screen. But instead of claiming it, he dismissed the notification with a sharp flick of his hand.

"Not yet," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "I’m not done."

He began the second half of his sword swings, each motion deliberate and precise. The weight of the blade felt heavier with each strike, his muscles trembling from the strain. By the time he completed the last swing, his arms felt like lead, but the system chimed again:

Daily Training Quest Progress: Complete. Reward Available: Rank D Daily Training Loot Box.

The notification lingered in his vision, but Jae-Hyun ignored it. Instead, he knelt in the clearing, closing his eyes as he began the second half of the mana concentration exercise. The familiar sensation of energy flowing through him calmed his mind, each breath steadying his resolve. As he pushed further, the system chimed again, a new notification catching his attention:

Daily Training Milestone Achieved: Progress Surpassed. Bonus Reward: Rank C Daily Training Loot Box Upgrade.

Jae-Hyun’s eyes snapped open, his focus momentarily broken. The reward flickered in his vision, the upgraded box glowing faintly as if mocking his earlier efforts. He hesitated, curiosity gnawing at him, before finally opening the box. A soft glow enveloped him, and the system displayed its contents:

Reward Obtained: [Ring of Accelerated Growth] - Rank C

* Type: Accessory

* Effect: Increases experience gain from all sources by 20%. Enhances stamina regeneration during training by 30%.

He stared at the ring, its simple design belied by the power it promised. As he slid it onto his finger, a faint pulse of energy coursed through him, a sensation that felt almost alive. It wasn’t flashy, but it carried the promise of progress—a small but vital step toward becoming the weapon he needed to be.

Later that morning, as he prepared to continue his training, Elder Hyun arrived with Ahri in tow. The elder’s expression was grim, his cane tapping softly against the frost-covered ground as he approached.

"Jae-Hyun," the elder began, his voice heavy. "I’ve been examining the fragmented stone you brought back."

Jae-Hyun turned, his expression guarded but curious. "And?"

Elder Hyun held the fragment in his weathered hands, its surface faintly pulsing with a dim, ominous glow. "This didn’t simply appear in the wild. Whoever placed this here wasn’t careless," he murmured, his voice heavy with thought. "This stone has a purpose, one tied to forces beyond anything we’ve encountered. And I fear this is only the beginning."

He paused, his sharp gaze meeting Jae-Hyun’s. "There’s a reason behind this, Jae-Hyun. False rumors about your deaths spread like wildfire days ago. If someone believed you and Ahri were gone, they may have set this in motion without expecting you to return."

The weight of the elder’s words settled over Jae-Hyun like a shroud. "So someone wanted this village defenseless," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "Someone wanted chaos."

Jae-Hyun’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the fragment. "So someone wanted to attract monsters here," he said, more to himself than the others. "But why?."

Elder Hyun nodded slowly. "Be careful, Jae-Hyun. Whatever forces are at play here, they are beyond the comprehension of most."

Jae-Hyun said nothing, his thoughts churning as the elder and Ahri departed. His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened, his frustration bubbling to the surface. Whoever was behind this, they were powerful. And he wasn’t ready to face them. Not yet.

Later that afternoon, Jae-Hyun ventured into the nearby forest to grind experience and test his abilities. Summoning the system interface, he navigated to the summoning menu. The goblins he had relied on previously were listed as usual, their summoning cost minimal. But his eyes lingered on a new addition: Dire Claw.

Summon: Dire Claw. It costs 3 times the amount that it would take to summon a simple goblin.

He hesitated for a moment before confirming the summon. Shadows coalesced in the clearing before him, forming the hulking figure of the Dire Claw. Its sharp claws glinted in the sunlight, and its glowing eyes fixed on Jae-Hyun with a feral intensity.

"Stronger," Jae-Hyun muttered, observing the beast’s imposing form. It wasn’t just bigger than the goblins—it was faster, deadlier. But the cost reflected its power.

He scrolled further down the summoning menu, his gaze falling on another name: Chitterfang Queen. His heart skipped a beat, the memory of his battle with the monstrous queen flashing in his mind.

Summon: Chitterfang Queen

* Requirements: Level 35

Jae-Hyun grimaced. "Level 35," he muttered. "Figures." The battle against her had pushed him to the brink, and he knew now he wouldn’t have stood a chance without going berserk.

With the Dire Claw at his side, Jae-Hyun delved deeper into the forest, his blade flashing as he cut through lesser beasts. Each kill brought a flurry of experience notifications, their steady rhythm building the faint thrill of progress. The Dire Claw proved invaluable, its raw power overwhelming enemies that would have taken Jae-Hyun much longer to defeat alone. Fighting alongside the Dire Claw felt different—it wasn’t just a tool; it was a devastating ally, tearing through enemies with brute strength while Jae-Hyun focused on precision strikes. Combined with the ring’s enhanced experience gain, he noticed his levels climbing at a startling pace.

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The system chimed softly:

Level Up: 15! Level Up: 16!

Jae-Hyun paused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "So this is the difference," he murmured, his gaze flicking to the Dire Claw. "Stronger summons, faster experience... I’m moving faster than ever." The thought fueled his determination, and for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine the possibilities. How far could he push this? How much stronger could he become with the right strategy?

But the smirk faded as his thoughts darkened. He wasn’t just chasing strength for the sake of it. Every moment he grew stronger, he closed the gap between himself and his enemies. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms as his father’s mocking voice echoed in his mind: "You’ll never be more than a disappointment." The memory of Tae-Jun’s laughter, sharp and cruel, was a dagger twisting in his gut. "You’re weak, Jae-Hyun. Pathetic. Just stay out of our way."

Each word replayed like a curse, a reminder of their betrayal. His chest tightened, the weight of those moments threatening to crush him. But above the cacophony of their derision, one image burned brighter: his sister. Her wide, frightened eyes, the way her small hands had clung to his, pleading for him to protect her. He had failed her once. He wouldn’t fail her again.

"Every second I waste, they grow stronger," he murmured, his voice bitter. "I need to grow stronger. Faster."

"I don’t have time to waste," he growled, his resolve hardening. "I’ll crush them. All of them. But first, I need this."

Promises and Departures

Four days passed in relentless training and grinding. Each morning, Jae-Hyun pushed his body and mind to their limits, methodically chipping away at his weaknesses. The Dire Claw’s raw strength and the Ring of Accelerated Growth accelerated his progress, but even with these tools, the experience gain slowed noticeably by the end of the fourth day.

The system interface chimed softly as Jae-Hyun sat beneath a tree, sweat dripping from his brow and breath coming in steady bursts. His progress displayed before him:

Status Update:

* Name: Jae-Hyun

* Level: 20

* Health: 350

* Stamina: 140

* Mana: 110

* Strength: 30

* Agility: 32

* Intelligence: 28

* Resilience: 35

* Perception: 30

* Eclipse Domain: 10%

Skills:

* Predator’s Insight (Rank D): Enhanced to highlight critical weak points more vividly.

* Reaper’s Claim (Rank D): Efficiency increased; now harvests energy in a bigger radius.

* Reaper’s Summon (Rank C): Summon cap increased; mana cost adjusted for stronger summons.

* Pierce the Veil (Rank D): Refined strike targeting; reduces stamina usage during critical hits.

Accessories Obtained:

1. Amulet of Endurance (Rank D): Stamina recovery increased by 15%.

2. Shadow Cloak (Rank C): Grants a faint aura of concealment, enhancing stealth and minor evasion.

3. Bloodstone Ring (Rank B): Converts 5% of damage dealt into health recovery, stacking with other effects.

Passive Skill Obtained:

1. Pasive: Predator’s Precision – Increases critical hit chance by 10% against targets with visible weak points

Jae-Hyun closed the interface, his jaw tightening. He’d hit a wall. The system’s growth had slowed, and the creatures in the surrounding forest no longer offered enough experience to sustain his climb. His path was clear: the city. It was the only place where he could find new opportunities, and answers.

That evening, Jae-Hyun stood in the center of the village, his blade sheathed and pack slung over his shoulder. The faint glow of lanterns illuminated the worried faces of Elder Hyun and Ahri as they stood before him.

"You’re leaving," Elder Hyun said, his tone more observation than question.

Jae-Hyun nodded. "There’s nothing left for me here. If I stay, I’ll stagnate. I need to grow stronger. Faster. The city is my next step."

Ahri’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. She glanced briefly back at the village, her fingers brushing the strap of her pack. "And you weren’t going to tell us?"

Jae-Hyun hesitated, his gaze shifting briefly to the ground. "It’s not about leaving you behind. This is something I have to do."

"And you think we don’t understand that?" she snapped, her voice trembling. "You just... planned to walk away without a word?"

Elder Hyun raised a hand, his sharp gaze softening slightly. "Ahri, let him speak."

Jae-Hyun took a breath, his tone even but firm. "I’m grateful for what this village gave me. But this isn’t where my fight is. My fight is out there—against the people who took everything from me."

Ahri’s shoulders slumped, but she said nothing more. Her gaze lingered on Jae-Hyun, a mix of frustration and sadness flickering in her eyes. Elder Hyun stepped forward, placing a hand on Jae-Hyun’s shoulder. "The city is dangerous, boy. Be careful. Whoever placed that fragment—whoever spread those rumors—they’re watching. And it’s likely no coincidence those rumors began when you were thought to be dead."

Jae-Hyun’s eyes narrowed. "Because of those rumours."

"Exactly," Elder Hyun replied.

As Jae-Hyun approached the village gates, he heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind him. He turned, startled to see Ahri walking toward him, a small pack slung over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice sharper than intended.

"I’m coming with you," she said simply.

"Ahri—"

"The village doesn’t need me right now," she interrupted, her tone firm. "If they do, they know how to find me."

Jae-Hyun’s brow furrowed. "You don’t have to do this."

"I know," she said, stepping past him. "But I want to. You saved my life. The least I can do is help you with yours."

Her words were practical, but there was something unspoken in her eyes—something she wasn’t ready to admit, even to herself. Jae-Hyun didn’t press further. He nodded, turning back toward the path ahead.

The air was still as they left the village behind, the faint glow of its lights disappearing into the distance. The trees closed in around them, their gnarled branches casting twisted shadows under the faint moonlight. Jae-Hyun’s unease grew with each step, a subtle tension prickling at the edges of his senses. He glanced over his shoulder more than once, half-expecting shadows to follow. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made his hand twitch toward the hilt of his sword, but the forest remained silent.

"Something wrong?" Ahri asked, her tone quieter now.

"No," Jae-Hyun replied, though his hand lingered near the hilt of his sword. "Let’s keep moving."

As they stopped to rest for the night, Jae-Hyun sat silently, his back against a tree, the rough bark digging into his armor. The night stretched endlessly before him, the cold air biting at his skin, but his thoughts burned hotter than any flame. His sister’s face loomed in his mind, her wide eyes brimming with fear and desperation. The memory twisted his gut, forcing him to confront the weight of his failures.

"You’re weak, Jae-Hyun," his brother’s voice sneered in his head, the words laced with scorn. "Pathetic. Always have been, always will be."

Jae-Hyun’s jaw tightened, his nails biting into his palms as his father’s cold disdain followed. "You’re no son of mine. You’ll never amount to anything." Their words carved into him like a blade, each syllable driving him further into the abyss of his anger.

But it was her voice, small and trembling, that broke through the darkness. "Jae-Hyun... help me." The memory of her tears, the helplessness in her plea, ignited something deeper within him—a fury, a resolve.

He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the chill night air. "I’ll save you," he said aloud, his voice steady but cold. "No matter what it takes."

The promise wasn’t just a declaration. It was a vow etched into the very core of his being, a flame that would never extinguish.

He clenched his fists, his breath steadying as he whispered into the darkness, "I’ll save you. No matter what it takes."

The promise hung in the air, unyielding as the night itself.