The morning sun filtered through the windows of the modest household, accompanied by the rare, comforting sound of laughter over breakfast. Following the previous night's long, meticulous meeting, the family had reached a unanimous decision: blend in. To survive the coming changes and avoid unwanted attention from powerful factions, they had to live as normally as possible.
"More eggs, dear?" Elena asked, her eyes crinkling with a warmth that had been missing for months. She hummed a quiet, upbeat tune while plating the food.
"Thanks, Mom. Keep your energy up too," Ran winked. He finished his plate, energized by the positive atmosphere. "Mom, Dad, I'm heading out now! See you later!" he called out, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
He gave them a bright, genuine smile, his footsteps lighter than they had been in years. He was in an incredible mood, and for good reason. Not only had he reached Level 5, but he had also made a staggering discovery while studying the *Beginner's Guide (Level 1000)* the night before.
The "Orb" he had received wasn't actually his Innate Martial Soul—it was a vessel, a key meant for the one million players chosen across the universe. His true soul was still hidden deep within the Orb's depths, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
*That explains why I didn't get any new skills at Level 5,* Ran thought as he walked. He realized that, technically, both he and Mia were still "unawakened."
The family had coordinated their schedule carefully:
* **Morning:** Maintain their public roles (School and Work).
* **Lunch:** Meet back at home to enter the Private World.
* **Late Afternoon:** Exit the Private World before evening to avoid the more dangerous nocturnal inhabitants.
Ran was vibrating with excitement. The guide mentioned that they could actually summon their Innate Martial Souls from the Private World—a feat they hadn't even attempted yet.
Across town at the grand plaza construction site, Ran's father, Randolf, was having an equally spectacular morning. The roar of saws and the pounding of hammers usually drained him, but today, he felt practically weightless.
He was a carpenter, and a damn good one, but hitting Level 10 in the Private World the night before had unlocked a physical perk that completely changed his day job: **Double Jump**.
With a heavy wooden beam resting easily on his shoulder, Randolf leaped toward the second-story scaffolding. Mid-air, just as gravity threatened to pull him down, he kicked off an invisible platform of condensed air. *Whoosh!* He propelled himself higher, landing gracefully on the elevated platform. What used to require setting up a cumbersome pulley system now took him three seconds.
"Show-off!" one of his coworkers yelled from below, though he was grinning.
Randolf chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow, before climbing down to find the foreman. He found Mr. Higgins reviewing blueprints near the tool shed. "Boss, you got a second?"
Higgins looked up, scowling slightly. "What is it, Randolf? We're behind on the eastern framework."
"I need to take a half-day today. I'm leaving at noon."
Higgins's scowl deepened into a frown of severe disappointment. "A half-day? Randolf, you're my best framer. I can't afford to lose you right now. We have strict deadlines."
"I know, I know," Randolf replied, keeping his tone apologetic but firm. "But I lined up another job for the afternoon. It's a lucrative gig that will help me clear out some overdue bills. Besides, I just finished the entire northern scaffold by myself in an hour."
Higgins blinked, looking over at the completed scaffolding in disbelief. He rubbed his chin. "You did all that already? Fine. Fine, get out of here at noon. But I need you back at full speed tomorrow."
"You got it, Boss," Randolf smiled.
By 12:30 PM, Randolf had completely transformed. Gone was the dusty carpenter. He wore a heavy, high-collared trench coat and a dark, wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face, completely obscuring his features in shadow. He slipped seamlessly through the bustling alleys of the Trading Plaza.
He approached a discreet merchant stall known for dealing in rare flora. Without a word, Randolf reached into his dimensional pouch and placed a single, faintly glowing green leaf on the counter: the Spiritual Blade of Grass they had harvested from the Private World.
The merchant's eyes widened. He quickly pulled out a magnifying monocle. "Pure spiritual energy... perfect condition. I haven't seen one of this grade in months. Where did you—"
"Price," Randolf interrupted, his voice intentionally roughened to hide his identity.
"Fifty silver coins. Not a copper more," the merchant haggled nervously.
Randolf nodded once. It was an absolute fortune for a single blade of grass. He easily disposed of the item as the merchant quickly counted out the heavy pouch of silver. Randolf pocketed it instantly and vanished back into the crowd. He didn't waste a second, heading straight to the market district to buy premium cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, healing potions, and sturdy leather supplies. His family was going to feast today, and they'd be well-supplied for their afternoon dive.
Meanwhile, Ran arrived at the school gates, which were buzzing with more energy than usual. Today was the University Selection Fair. Rows of stalls were set up, manned by seniors and recruiters from various prestigious universities. They were there to scout for students with high-tier Innate Martial Souls, offering academic points and scholarships to the "geniuses" of the academy.
For Ran, this was his last week before graduation. He attended not because he wanted a scholarship, but to maintain the facade of a normal student and to see if his friends would notice any change in his aura after his secret leveling.
"Ran! There you are!" He was greeted at the entrance by his two best friends, Ken and Leo.
"Where have you been, man?" Ken asked, punching Ran lightly on the shoulder. "We were trying to contact you about that security guard internship, but we couldn't get through."
"Sorry, dead battery," Ran lied smoothly. "What's the gig?"
"Minimum wage, but we get to carry real stun batons," Ken beamed.
"Yeah, but never mind that," Leo added, leaning in. "You missed some serious drama. You hear about Victor Alfonso?"
Ran shook his head, playing along. "What about him?"
"He hit Level 5," Leo whispered, pointing toward a courtyard where a crowd of students was laughing loudly. "His family hired a team of 'Party Experts' to carry him through a dungeon. Now he's flaunting that Poison Worm Martial Innate Soul of his, spitting acid everywhere just to show off. He burned a hole right through the principal's decorative bushes. He's been a total bully all morning."
Ran looked over and saw Victor. The rich boy, looking smug in his tailored uniform, was indeed gloating. He summoned a ghostly, writhing green worm above his palm, sneering down at a pair of trembling Level 2 underclassmen.
"Look at them," Victor mocked loudly for his entourage to hear. "Pathetic. Some of us are destined for the Vanguard lines, and some of you are destined to clean our boots."
Ken clenched his fists. "Jerk. I wish someone would wipe that smirk off his face."
Ran just smiled inwardly. He felt the immense, dormant power of the Level 5 Orb resting comfortably within his own soul. Victor's power was bought and paid for; Ran's was earned in sweat and blood. He patted Ken's shoulder.
"Don't worry about him," Ran said casually. "Real power doesn't need to show off against bushes."