[LEVEL UP]

"Blacksmithing? It's been a while since I've heard that—crafting weapons the old-fashioned way," Jon muttered as he opened the first page of the book, intrigued by its contents.

Blacksmithing had become a rare trade, overshadowed by the advancements of modern technology. It seemed almost obsolete, but Jon was genuinely considering diving into it.

He'd been seeing a lot of unranked realm weapons lately and had just stumbled upon something about bronze realm weapons, which reminded him of the spear he'd recently acquired. "Wouldn't it be great to forge my own gear?" he mused, closing the book and slipping it into his bag.

"Before I relax, let me check something real quick."

'Status.'

[STATUS]

[NAME: JON WHYTE]

[AGE: 19]

[LEVEL: 12]

[CLASS: NONE]

[TITLE: NONE]

[STRENGTH: 40 AGILITY: 38(6) STAMINA: 45(7) MANA: 300 HEALTH: 50]

[SKILLS: INSTANT CALCULATION (FIRST REALM) LEVEL 5, MOON (FIRST REALM) LEVEL 5,]

[TRAITS: COMPOSURE (THIRD REALM) LEVEL 5, SOLDIER'S PHYSIQUE (EVOLVABLE)]

[STATUS POINTS: 24]

"Hmm, my stats doubled after that restructuring a while back. So, killing zombies can level me up, and I can get stronger by acquiring skills like 'Soldier's Physique.' Honestly, it feels like a cheat, but I'm not complaining. I can even power up my skills like I did with Moon."

He had been too busy to fully grasp the changes in his status window, but now that he had a moment, he could piece together some of the mysteries. Status points, for instance, could probably be used to boost his attributes like strength or agility. The rest, he'd figure out as situations unfolded—no sense wasting time on what he couldn't answer right now.

Sinking back onto the bed, he let out a long breath. Forty minutes had passed since he started sorting through the rewards from the orbs. With about an hour and twenty minutes left to relax, his thoughts wandered to his parents. He hadn't brought his phone to the stadium, which left him worrying. His father's message replayed in his mind, a cryptic warning tied to the chaos happening now.

Were his parents safe? If so, why wasn't he with them? The thought gnawed at him, hinting at the possibility that they had abandoned him. Still, that message was the only hope he clung to.

Jon remembered the closeness they once had, up until he turned sixteen. After that, everything changed. They grew distant, sending him off to school for entire semesters without contact. When they did finally see each other, they acted as though nothing was wrong. By the time he turned eighteen, he had stopped caring, viewing them as strangers in the same house.

That was why his father's casual message about something potentially life-threatening infuriated him. His trait, however, kept his emotions in check, allowing him to stay calm despite the situation.

Perhaps it was the weight of his memories, or maybe the effect of his composure trait, but a sudden wave of exhaustion hit him, and he drifted off to sleep.

***

DEEP IN SPACE, ABOVE EARTH

Space, where humans could not survive without protection, was home to a pair of individuals who defied that rule. The couple stood, gazing at Earth below—a view reserved for the extremely wealthy or those lucky enough to journey into space. And even then, most saw it through the safety of reinforced glass.

But not this couple. They stood, unshielded, watching the planet in all its splendor.

"Are you sure?" the woman asked, her voice thick with emotion, her tear-filled eyes betraying her struggle. "Yes," the man replied, though his face mirrored her turmoil. "Let's go," he said softly.

The woman gave a silent nod and vanished, leaving the man standing alone. After five long minutes, he too disappeared, leaving only a single tear to streak across the void.

***

An hour later, Jon's eyes fluttered open. He stretched, but as his thoughts began to clear, the weight of reality hit him again. He washed his face in the bathroom, grabbed his spear, and left his room.

Down in the lobby, Jenny was waiting for him, but she wasn't alone. Standing next to her was the girl he had noticed earlier—creamy hair, green eyes, and a stunning figure that would be hard to forget. Cynthia.

Jenny, facing away from the entrance, was chatting with Cynthia, who was the first to spot Jon. Their eye contact barely lasted two seconds before Jenny turned around and started toward him.

"Hey, are you—whoa!" Jenny exclaimed.

"What?" Jon asked.

"Is it just me, or did you get taller?"

"Taller?" Only then did Jon realize the changes in his body. His previous sense of emptiness had vanished, replaced with the strength of a soldier's physique.

He had been around 5'10" just two hours ago, but now he stood a solid 6 feet tall.

"Wow, I didn't even notice. I've always wondered what it'd be like to be 6 feet."

But there wasn't much time to savor the change. In a world where something could make you grow taller at a whim, there was little room for wonder. "Are we heading out?" he asked.

"Yeah, but she wanted to come too, and I didn't know how you'd feel, so I brought her along," Jenny said, gesturing to Cynthia, who shot Jon a look that said, Even if you say no, I'm still coming.

With a resigned sigh, Jon nodded. "Alright."

The three of them approached the hostel's entrance, where three security officers were stationed. Most students were too scared of the zombies to even think about leaving, so it was strange to see three students ready to head outside.

"You sure you want to go out there?" one of the officers asked, concern in his voice.

They hesitated briefly, but the effects of their traits kicked in, bolstering their resolve. Nodding, they stepped through the door into the night.

It was dark—darker than usual and strangely quiet. Even the flickering streetlights did little to push back the heavy shadows. As the saying goes, you never know what the night will bring.

Though they should have felt fear, their traits kept them calm. The tension between Jon, Jenny, and Cynthia was palpable, but it wasn't fear—it was anticipation. Cynthia finally broke the silence.

"We might find some zombies behind the hostels," she suggested.

"Yeah, let's check back there," Jenny agreed.

"Alright," Jon said, indifferent to their destination.

Though Cynthia's second skill wasn't much help in combat, it was invaluable for support. Her [Field Observation] had never steered them wrong before. Whatever was behind those hostels, they were about to find out.