A radiant magic circle glowed at the center of the grand palace hall, its intricate patterns pulsing with ancient energy. Within its aura, six figures stood, dazed and disoriented.
One of them blinked rapidly, his voice filled with confusion. "W-Where… is this? What's going on?"
The magic's hum faded, and with it, the palace itself seemed to settle into reality. Next to the ray stood five others—two girls and three boys—each around his age. Their expressions ranged from shock to fear.
At the far end of the hall, a figure in regal attire rose from his throne. His deep voice echoed through the chamber. "Welcome, heroes, to the kingdom of Aetherion. We have summoned you to—"
The king hesitated. His sharp gaze darted across the group, lingering a fraction longer than expected.
"Wait… Six? That's not right." His brows furrowed. "There were supposed to be five..."
The murmurs among the gathered nobles grew louder. Tension hung thick in the air.
"What do you mean, heroes?" one of the boys demanded, fists clenched as unease tightened his expression.
Another girl, overwhelmed, took a trembling step forward. Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded. "Please… send us back. I don't belong here."
The hall erupted with frantic voices—questions, panic, disbelief. But amidst the chaos, only Ray remained silent. His sharp gaze flickered across the surroundings, assessing the architecture, the magic circle's faint glow, the king's unease.
Finally, he spoke—his voice calm yet deliberate. "If you can't send us back, what do we do next?"
The king, visibly unsettled by Ray's composed demeanor, cleared his throat. "Ah… yes, well. First, let me give you some basic information about this world."
As explanations unfolded, Ray absorbed every detail. Three factions existed—the human kingdoms, the demi-human races, and the demon empire. The five major human kingdoms included Aetherion kingdom, Holi kingdom, Zaithiriyan kingdom, Nytheris kingdom, and Mythrendor kingdom.
The demi-humans, consisting of elves, dwarves, druids, and more, were governed by a council. Meanwhile, the demon faction ruled under a singular demon king.
"Now, please place your hand on the crystal ball," the king gestured toward a pedestal. "It will reveal your status."
Excitement flickered in David's eyes. "Alright, I'm going first!"
He stepped forward and pressed his hand to the glowing crystal. In an instant, light burst forth, forming a floating card.
David Paul
Job: Hero
Rank: 0
Level: 1
STR: 100
AGI: 100
VIT: 100
DEX: 100
INT: 100
Gasps filled the room. Then cheers erupted.
"Heroes… We have heroes!"
David grinned, his confidence swelling. "I'm a hero, huh? Not bad."
The whispers continued, and soon, realization dawned—his stats were unusually high.
"Wait… What's with my stats?" David asked, startled.
The king rubbed his chin before explaining. "A level 1 child typically has around 10 points per stat, while an average adult starts at 15-20. Your stats, however, match those of a Rank 1 warrior. It's truly remarkable."
Sandra clung to David's arm, excitement brimming in her expression. "Hehe, my David is amazing!"
David smirked, basking in the praise. "Of course. It's me, after all." Then, curiosity flickered in his gaze. "So… If rank upgrades every 100 levels, what happens at level 1000? Do I become Rank 10?"
The room fell silent for a moment. The king sighed, a solemn tone creeping into his voice.
"According to legend, only one person has ever reached Rank 10 and ascended beyond mortal existence. As for Rank 9… it hasn't been seen in over 800 years."
A weight settled over David's thoughts—but only for a moment.
"Alright, how about you guys?" He turned toward his companions.
"Me next!" Sandra eagerly placed her hand on the crystal.
Another flash of light. Another card emerged.
Sandra Smith
Job: Sage
Rank: 0
Level: 1
STR: 50
AGI: 50
VIT: 50
DEX: 75
INT: 100