After reaching 200 consecutive victories, every additional win in the streak permanently granted +1 extra point to the victory score—until the streak was broken.
In other words, by the time someone reached 300 consecutive wins, a single victory would grant 120 points.
That was equivalent to winning 120 matches with no streak bonus at all.
"Sigh… repeating the same thing two hundred times really does get boring."
During this time, Rei had encountered the 5th-place and 6th-place competitors as well.
But unfortunately—
They were about the same as Monshir.
Completely unable to withstand even a single blow.
They couldn't even survive Rei's 10-gold alchemical explosive or his 20-gold Corrosion Poison.
They never even earned the right to witness his magic.
Still—
The hundreds of "live combat drills" had allowed Rei to become extremely familiar with all the new items he had purchased.
When it came time for real combat, he should be able to use them flawlessly.
Given Rei's cautious personality—
Even using items required practice and rehearsal.
"Come to think of it…"
"These magical tools also contain the principles of magic."
"They aren't pure spells, but they're still closely related."
"The manifestation of Origin might not exist solely within magic."
"Perhaps Origin… should encompass all things."
If that were the case—
Then perhaps all spells and all phenomena could lead back to Origin.
Rei felt both confusion and clarity rising within his mind.
With that lingering question in his heart, he continued fighting.
Over the next dozens of battles, Rei deliberately tried defeating opponents using close combat and physical weapons.
It was certainly much more troublesome.
But from the enemy's perspective, it looked even more bizarre.
They would slash at Rei—
Yet their blades felt like they had struck a stone fortress wall.
Rei's body didn't move even a single inch.
And this absurd mage—
Was actually trying to fight them in melee combat with a poisoned dagger.
What the hell?
Is this guy mentally ill?
But the poison on his blade was terrifyingly potent.
The moment someone was scratched—
Their body went weak and began to rot.
Damn it…
Is that poison from a Tier-4 King-class monster or something?
You're using that kind of toxin to fight a Level-2 warrior in close combat?!
298 consecutive victories.
Through these matches, Rei felt he had learned quite a few close-combat techniques.
Even though he didn't possess the Warrior class, he could now imitate many of their movements.
After drinking a Strength Elixir, he could exchange several blows with warriors of the same level.
Unfortunately—
Without learning an actual combat style, he still couldn't truly match them in pure melee combat.
As for bows—
Rei had tried using one briefly.
But he didn't even know how to aim properly.
It seemed that possessing the appropriate class really was important.
That Puppeteer Secret Class Scroll he had bought earlier still intrigued him.
The only question was whether he would ever have the opportunity to multi-class into it.
[Matching…]
Only two more victories remained before he could claim the 300-win reward: the Fountain of Origin.
This time, the matchmaking process took unusually long.
Rei wasn't in a hurry.
Instead, he sat down in the center of the arena and quietly contemplated Origin.
Yesterday's battle against the Catastrophe-class monster in the dungeon had already given him several insights.
Today, after buying so many strange new items—scrolls, potions, enchanted equipment—
All of those experiences gradually transformed into thoughts about Origin.
"Each Origin follows its own line of thought."
"They differ… yet each forms a complete and coherent system."
"Even two completely opposing philosophies can manifest as valid paths to Origin."
"If they contradict each other… why can they both still be proven true?"
Fragments of knowledge from Earth surfaced in Rei's mind.
In Earth's physics—
Light possessed duality.
It was both a wave… and a particle.
Could the Origin of this world be the same?
Both this… and that?
"The foundation of all things… the source of all transformation… the origin of every spell…"
"If Origin represents all existence itself, then contemplating all things is also contemplating Origin."
Rei's thoughts continued to expand.
He thought of the ancient Chinese concept of Dao.
One gives birth to two. Two gives birth to three. Three gives birth to all things.
From there, his mind wandered again—
Back to the universe from his previous life.
Perhaps everything began from a single primordial point.
"Perhaps… no matter which path I walk, it still leads toward Origin."
"Death magic… elemental magic… life arts… souls… magical tools… enchantments…"
"My Origin Magic…"
Rei felt inspiration surging to the surface.
A mysterious realization rose within him.
The mana around him began to move naturally—
Forming countless elemental manifestations.
Yet at the same time, they seemed to shift and morph into shadows of everything he had ever seen.
At that moment—
A notification appeared in his mind.
[Match Found]
[Your Opponent: Atrlendo]
Rei sighed softly.
Of all times to reach a moment of insight…
Still—
He did not stop thinking.
Instead, he continued pursuing the thread of inspiration.
His opponent appeared in the arena.
What he saw was Rei sitting motionless in the center of the field.
A small figure—
Yet the air around him was filled with restless, intangible energy.
"Lu Cang…"
The man frowned when he saw the name.
Rank #2 — Lu Cang
298 Wins, 0 Losses
A mysterious competitor who had been completely unknown before suddenly skyrocketing to second place in a single afternoon.
Atrlendo had spent nearly all his time recently inside the arena.
He hadn't heard about Rei.
After all, he didn't read news or follow current events.
For him, it had been nothing but fight, fight, fight every single day.
This was the first time he had matched against this opponent.
But he hadn't expected…
That the opponent would be so small.
A dwarf? Or a gnome?
And why is he sitting like that?
It doesn't look like he's preparing to fight at all.
Just as Atrlendo was about to speak—
The opponent raised a slender finger to his lips.
"Shh."
[Countdown — 1]
The battle had already begun.
But Atrlendo didn't move.
Because Rei remained seated in the center of the arena as well.
So Atrlendo simply folded his arms and waited, curious to see what trick this strange opponent intended to play.
He longed for a truly satisfying battle.
But within the Level-2 ranks of Central Circle City, there was no one he could consider a genuine rival.
The only worthy opponent he had once faced in the city had already advanced to Level 3.
He felt that he was only one step away from comprehending the supreme combat essence.
But he needed a real opponent—
Someone who could push him to his absolute limits, allowing him to awaken that essence within the heat of battle.
Not a victory or defeat caused by level suppression—
But a clash against someone of the same level, someone he could truly acknowledge.
So he sat down as well—
And waited.
While doing so, he finally saw the face hidden beneath Rei's hood.
A handsome young boy.
Although…
Wasn't he a little too young?
About five minutes later, Rei finally stood up.
Atrlendo met his gaze—
And saw something unfathomably deep within those eyes.
Atrlendo spoke first.
"You… were comprehending Origin Magic, weren't you?"
Rei replied calmly.
"Yes. Thank you."
Naturally, he was thanking the man for not interrupting him.
Originally, he had only intended to think casually while waiting for matchmaking.
But inspiration had suddenly struck.
Once his thoughts deepened, he had completely forgotten he was already inside a match.
Rei studied the man before him.
This was Atrlendo, the ranked #1 Level-2 professional in Central Circle City.
A middle-aged man.
Judging from his appearance, he was already over thirty years old.
Most adventurers at that age had long since advanced to Level 3.
Yet he still remained at Level 2.
He was probably trying to comprehend the Warrior's Battle Intent.
Just as mages sought Origin, warriors pursued their own ultimate combat insight.
Atrlendo's voice was low.
"Kid… you're strong, aren't you?"
Rei nodded calmly.
"I suppose I'm not weak."
"You've already understood it… haven't you?"
Rei nodded again.
His aura remained calm, but he didn't elaborate.
At the same time, a staff appeared in his hand.
Atrlendo gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand and lowered his body into a charging stance.
"So you're an Origin Mage now."
"I hope you'll give me a battle worth remembering."
"I'm coming."
He even gives a warning first?
What admirable combat etiquette.
BOOM!
Almost the instant the thought crossed Rei's mind—
Atrlendo had already appeared directly in front of him.
Oh.
So fast.
Completely different from the opponents he had faced before.
[Repulsion Wind Blast]
[Protective Barrier]
[Water Ring of Rejection]
[Tidal Surge]
BOOM!
A violent wind explosion erupted.
A barrier formed around Rei's body.
At the same time, a flexible ring of water surged outward, pushing against Atrlendo before continuing to expand.
Then—
A massive wave rose behind it, advancing together with the water ring!
"HA!!"
[Immovable as a Mountain]
..
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