Jin woke before the alarm, his eyes opening without urgency yet without hesitation either, as if his body had already adjusted to a rhythm that no longer depended on routine. For a few seconds, he stayed still, staring at the ceiling, not out of laziness but because he was already thinking. The fights from yesterday replayed in fragments—angles, distances, timing errors, the resistance of flesh against steel, the slight delay in his own reactions when facing the stronger hobgoblin. None of it lingered emotionally. It was all data, and data was useful only if processed.
He sat up slowly and opened the system without delay.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 7
Agility: 10
Vitality: 9
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 1
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
The numbers were still low. Better than before, but not enough to move freely in the deeper areas without risk. Yesterday had proven that clearly. The hobgoblin hadn't been overwhelming, but it had forced him to spend points mid-fight. That meant his margin for error was still too thin.
He closed the screen and stood up, moving through his morning routine without distraction. The soreness in his body was present, but manageable. That, too, was expected. His Vitality wasn't high enough yet to eliminate strain completely. It would take time. Everything would take time.
The school felt different that morning, though nothing had physically changed. The noise was louder, conversations sharper, energy uneven. Awakening had shifted everyone. Some walked with visible confidence, shoulders straight, voices louder than necessary. Others were quieter, withdrawn, already aware of where they stood.
Jin moved through it without interacting.
"…I only got Common rank," someone said nearby, frustration evident. "And my skill isn't even combat-based."
"Doesn't matter," another replied. "If we clear a gate later, we can get a chest. Even a Common chest gives stat points."
"Three points," someone added. "That's nothing."
"It's still better than nothing. You don't get stats from killing monsters anyway."
Jin didn't react outwardly, but he registered the conversation. It aligned with what he had already confirmed. For most people, growth depended on external rewards—chests, consumables, structured progress. Killing alone meant nothing for them.
For him, it meant everything.
That difference wasn't visible yet. But it would be.
He entered the classroom and took his seat near the back, as usual. No one approached him. A few glanced his way, mostly out of habit rather than interest. The bullying from before hadn't disappeared entirely, but it had weakened slightly. Awakening had shifted priorities. Stronger targets drew more attention now.
That didn't matter.
Jin wasn't interested in them.
Not yet.
The instructor entered shortly after, carrying a small metallic case. The room quieted gradually.
"As of today," the instructor began, placing the case on the desk, "your progression depends on your decisions. You've all awakened. That means you now have access to the system, to gates, to resources. But understand this clearly—most of you will not grow quickly."
A pause followed.
"Stat growth comes from chests and gate rewards. That means risk. That means competition. And that means not everyone will succeed."
The case opened.
Inside were several small vials.
"Stat consumables," the instructor continued. "Low-grade. Equivalent to what you'd find in an Inferior or Common chest."
A student raised a hand. "How much do they give?"
"Minimal," the instructor replied. "One to three points depending on quality."
Murmurs spread.
Jin remained still.
The numbers matched.
Low returns.
Limited growth.
That was the standard path.
Which meant—
His path was already different.
The class ended without incident. No one approached him. No one needed to.
Jin left the room and headed directly toward the training gate again, his pace unchanged from the previous day. There was no reason to delay. Rest had already served its purpose. What mattered now was efficiency.
The gate was more crowded than before. Groups had formed. Students were discussing roles, planning entry strategies, deciding who would take risks and who would stay back.
Jin walked past them without stopping.
"Going alone again?" the guard asked, recognizing him from yesterday.
Jin didn't respond.
The guard exhaled quietly and stepped aside.
The gate opened.
Jin stepped through.
The shift hit instantly. The weight returned, pressing down subtly but constantly. The environment was the same as before, but his perception of it had changed. He wasn't adjusting anymore. He was measuring.
He moved forward at a steady pace, not rushing into the deeper zone immediately. That had been yesterday's mistake—not reckless, but premature. This time, he would build first.
A goblin appeared from behind a collapsed structure, its posture low, eyes fixed on him. Jin didn't attack immediately. He observed the angle of approach, the speed of its movement, the distance between them.
Then he stepped forward.
The goblin lunged.
Jin shifted slightly, his body moving just enough to avoid the claws without overcommitting. His blade followed in the same motion, cutting across the neck with precision.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Vitality: 7
Mana: 2
Total: 23
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 23 = 0.23 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
Jin didn't stop. Another goblin appeared shortly after, then another. This time, he adjusted his approach slightly, experimenting with timing, testing how quickly he could end each fight without wasting movement.
Each kill was clean.
Each motion refined.
Each mistake corrected immediately.
By the time the fifth goblin fell, he opened the system.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 7
Agility: 10
Vitality: 9
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 6
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
Six points.
He considered it briefly.
Not enough for an upgrade.
But enough to shift a fight if needed.
He closed the screen and continued forward, gradually moving toward the boundary of the high-density zone again. This time, he didn't cross it immediately. He stopped just short of it.
Yesterday, he had entered and reacted.
Today, he would choose.
A group of three hobgoblins appeared ahead, moving in a loose formation. Jin watched them carefully, noting the spacing, the slight delay between their movements, the way they adjusted positions based on each other.
Fighting all three at once would be inefficient.
Unnecessary.
He waited.
Minutes passed.
Then one separated slightly from the others.
That was enough.
Jin moved.
Fast, but controlled.
He closed the distance before the hobgoblin could fully react, his blade already aimed at its lower body. The strike hit the knee joint, forcing instability immediately. Before it could recover, Jin stepped to the side and drove his sword into its throat.
[Kill Confirmed]
[+1 Free Stat Point]
The other two reacted instantly, turning toward him.
Jin stepped back.
Not retreating—resetting.
Two was manageable.
Three wasn't.
That was the difference.
He adjusted his grip again, his mind already calculating the next exchange.
And this time—
He was ready before the fight even began.