NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1 : Death… ?
Sora stood at the edge of the battlefield, his heart pounding in his chest as he faced the formidable team of players before him.
At level 49, he had trained tirelessly, honing his skills and mastering his abilities. Yet, in this moment, surrounded by the chaotic energy of the clash, he felt the weight of his limitations.
His friends rallied around him, their expressions a mix of determination and worry. They had come together, bound by their shared quest, yet the odds didn't seem to be in their favor.
The opposing team wasn't moving with precision, and their coordination was sloppy, full of flaws in execution. But their overwhelming strength more than made up for it, leaving Sora and his allies constantly on the defensive.
They had ventured into this valley for a quest, hoping to use the opportunity for growth and, hopefully, to help Sora break through the level 50 bottleneck that had been frustrating him for weeks.
However, the required experience to level up had been increasing at an agonizing rate. They dared to enter the valley because of the massive reward tied to the quest—one strictly limited to players below the Lord level, or level 50.
He glanced at his companions, each of them fighting but struggling to match the overwhelming strength of their enemies. A few had already suggested retreating, their eyes darting around in search of an escape.
But where could they flee to? They had tried running before and ended up cornered in a dead end. Now, they could only fight to the death, hoping to break through the enemy lines and ensure at least one or two of them survived.
"Stay focused, Sora!" shouted Lara, a fierce archer known for her unyielding spirit and sharp eyesight, as she noticed Sora's momentary distraction. With her bow in one hand and an arrow in the other, she was charging a powerful shot. "We can't give up now!"
Sora nodded, tightening his grip on his weapon.
In the chaos, Sora's mind raced, weighing his options. He had faced many challenges before, but this felt different—a clash where every moment mattered, and failure would mean losing everything they had worked for.
As a volley of spells erupted from the enemy team, Sora felt a surge of determination. He couldn't let his friends down. Drawing on the skills he had developed, he prepared to unleash a powerful attack, one that could turn the tide of the battle. But deep down, a nagging doubt lingered. Was he strong enough to face this challenge?
With a deep breath, Sora took a step forward, ready to confront the daunting forces ahead.
"Together!" he shouted, rallying his friends. "We fight as one!"
The battle was chaos. Sora's heart raced. They fought bravely, but the enemy was methodical in their attack.
Their healer was targeted first. Despite his best efforts to keep the group alive, he was overwhelmed by a barrage of enemy spells. His health plummeted, and before Sora could react, the healer crumbled under a devastating strike.
Next, the enemy focused on Enzo, their wizard. His spells lit up the battlefield, but the relentless pressure from enemy mages wore him down. A final magical blast sent him to the ground, his mana depleted and his body shattered.
Lara and the other archer fought side by side, arrows raining down on their foes. But one by one, they became the next targets. Lara's sharp eyes couldn't save her this time, an enemy assassin closing in, delivering the final blow. The second archer fell soon after, arrows scattered at his feet.
Karim, the tank, stood tall, shielding the remaining members of the team. His defense was unmatched, but even he couldn't hold off the combined might of the enemy. When his shield broke, he was struck down swiftly.
Now, Sora stood with only one friend behind him, the battlefield eerily quiet around them. Defeat felt inevitable. His remaining ally was Rachel, his childhood friend and his brother's widow. After his brother's death, he had sworn to protect her and help her to the best of his abilities.
She was the reason he always chose safe missions and played it cautious. Rachel was his motivation to grow stronger and become a better version of himself every day.
Now, both of them understood that there was no way out. The world had seemed like a game for the past few years, but today, it felt all too real. If they died, there would be no respawn. Only death awaited them.
Sora opened the menu, frantically searching for the option to activate the system's delete character feature. He glanced at Rachel and said, "I'm sorry, Rachel, but we can't leave anything to them." The look in his eyes and the memory of him gathering the treasures their friends had dropped made Rachel realize his intentions.
His words suggested that she should consider doing the same. With over thirty enemies still standing, the fate they faced at the hands of their foes would be far worse than a simple character deletion. Deleting their characters meant… death. Facing these enemies also meant death.
Without a word, Rachel stepped toward Sora and abruptly left the party. In one swift motion, she drew her dagger and plunged it into his back. He staggered forward, low on HP, shock and betrayal washing over him.
As he gasped, "Rachel… why?" she stepped back, a twisted smile forming on her lips.
"It's called hunting," she revealed coldly. "You and your friends were the target."
The weight of her betrayal crashed down on Sora. "I will fucking kill you," he whispered, fury igniting in his chest.
Rachel's eyes glinted with malice as he drew his last breath. "That's what he said," she replied, before he fell into darkness.
—---------------------
[Innate skill : Prestige has been Triggered]
Sora awoke to an expanse of nothingness, a void that felt both foreign and familiar. Confusion washed over him as he strained to see anything, only to be met with an overwhelming darkness.
Am I dead? What was this notification
The thought echoed in his mind, heavy and unsettling. Panic began to creep in, gnawing at his thoughts as he floated aimlessly in the abyss. Time felt suspended, and with every passing moment, his hope waned.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, a determination sparked within him.
I need to find out what's happening.
He concentrated, trying to summon the familiar interface he had come to rely on. With a mental command, the menu flickered into existence before him, glowing with vibrant colors against the darkness.
[Profile: Sora Hashino
Status: Dead
Class: Swordsman (Level 49)
Title: Master
Power Level: 8.3 Millions
Energy Level: B
Body Level: B
Talent Level: 1 (Growth Factor)
Skills:
Sword Mastery (Level 10)
Shield Block (Level 8)
Critical Strike (Level 9)
Dodge (Level 7)
Mana Regeneration (Level 5)
Innate Skill:
Prestige (blinking)]
His heart sank as he took in the sight of his profile. The word "dead" hung ominously above his name, a stark reminder of his fate. He scrolled down to view his skills, each one marked with impressive advancement: Sword Mastery, Dodge, and more, all bearing the fruits of his relentless training.
As he continued scrolling, a bright line caught his attention, blinking rhythmically: Innate Skill: Prestige. Sora's brows furrowed in confusion; he had never seen that line before. What was an innate skill? His curiosity piqued as he wondered what it could mean.
Sora stared at the blinking text, a mix of hope and regret swirling in his chest. Prestige—the name seemed to resonate with something deep inside him, a promise of a second chance. But why had he only discovered this skill now, after he had lost everything? A wave of sadness washed over him; if only he had known sooner, maybe things would have been different.
As he focused on the skill, a detailed explanation unfolded before him:
[Innate Skill: Prestige]
Description: The ability to reset your training and experiences upon death or by choice after reaching Level 50. When activated, all levels and skills revert to zero, allowing for a fresh start.
[Death Activation: Upon dying, the Prestige skill will prompt you with the option to reset your character, effectively beginning anew. Cooldown : 30 days]
[Manual Activation: Alternatively, you can choose to activate this skill voluntarily upon reaching Level 50. No cooldown]
Sora's heart raced as he absorbed the information. This was his chance. He could start over, potentially leading to a different outcome. Yet, the realization that he hadn't taken advantage of this skill earlier stung like a fresh wound. If he had just kept training, he would have unlocked this before reaching his tragic end.
Determined, he reached to click "Yes" to activate the reset. But suddenly, he stopped. It seemed like he hadn't read everything. There was an "Options" section that he had missed, and there were three greyed-out options he couldn't read. The first option shocked him:
[Skill Option 1: You have the option to change your appearance and full identity. However, this will incur a waiting period of one month, during which life continues outside the void.]
[Skill Option 2: Locked (Level 70)]
[Skill Option 3: Locked (Level 90)]
[Skill Option 4: Locked (Level 100)]
He could barely comprehend the implications of the new appearance and identity he could choose. Would he be able to recognize himself? Would his friends?
A heavy weight settled in Sora's chest. He could disappear and start fresh, but at the cost of losing his connection to everything he had fought for. The thought of isolation was daunting, but perhaps it was a necessary sacrifice. Could he bear the thought of waiting while the world moved on without him?
He clenched his fists, resolve solidifying within him. This was his moment to decide. He could choose a new path—one that might lead him to redemption or to failure once again. With newfound determination, he knew he had to make this choice wisely.
"If I keep my old identity, that bitch Rachel will have me killed again before I even reach Level 10. She wouldn't let anyone discover what kind of ugly specimen she is. There's no way I can come back to life, leak this secret innate skill of mine and die for no reason. I have to be smart about this—start fresh, disappear, and make sure she can't touch me again."
Sora took a deep breath, steeling himself against the storm of emotions swirling within him. The thought of leaving behind everything he had known—the bonds he had forged, the memories he cherished—felt like a heavy anchor pulling him down. Yet, the alternative was even worse. The betrayal stung, and the knowledge that Rachel had targeted him would haunt him if he let it.
He closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing his friends—their laughter, their victories, and the camaraderie that had propelled them through countless trials. They had fought so hard together, and now, in this void, he felt their absence more keenly than ever. But could he really return to that life, knowing what lay beneath the surface?
"New identity," he muttered to himself, testing the words. If he chose this path, he could shed the weight of the past and emerge stronger. With a final glance at the profile screen, he felt a surge of hope. "This time, I'll do it right. I'll learn from my mistakes."
Resolute, he reached for the blinking option. He had made his decision. With each heartbeat, he could almost feel the chains of his old life loosening. This was his chance to reshape his destiny, to rise from the ashes of betrayal and failure. Sora pressed the button, embracing the uncertainty that lay ahead.