The treatment they received was far from ordinary—private quarters, reinforced security, and complete privacy. It was clear that Clan Rose viewed Rey not merely as a guest, but as a strategic existence.
Once everything was settled, Rey gathered Melvin, Elysa, and Luna in the his room.
“I’ll be staying in my room for quite some time,” Rey said calmly. “Unless it’s something urgent, don’t disturb me.”
They nodded in understanding. None of them questioned his decision. By now, they had grown accustomed to Rey’s peculiar behavior—especially when it came to matters involving his strength.
Rey entered his room and closed the door behind him.
The moment silence enveloped the space, his eyes sharpened.
“System,” Rey spoke in a low voice.
“Open all rewards. After that, display my status and inventory.”
A familiar sound echoed within his mind.
Ding dong.
“All rewards have been successfully transferred into the inventory.”
A translucent blue interface unfolded before him.
Inventory
- Total Stat Points: 500
- Mana Stone: 21
- Low-tier Potion: 18
- Mid-tier Potion: 20
- High-tier Potion: 9
- Gold Coins: 12,500
Rey’s eyes widened slightly.
“Five hundred stat points…?”
A grin slowly spread across his face. “Good. Very good.”
His gaze sharpened with anticipation.
“With this, my strength will increase drastically. I can finally train with my full power inside the Simulation.”
Then—
He froze.
“…Wait.”
Rey leaned closer to the status screen.
“System,” he said slowly, his tone turning cautious, “why are there additional percentage modifiers in my stats?”
The system responded instantly.
“The equipment Assassin Cloak currently worn by the host has activated and evolved.
Would the host like to view detailed information?”
Rey’s expression lit up with realization.
“Oh—right. That cloak.”
He chuckled softly. “I almost forgot about it.”
A spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.
“Yes. Show me the details.”
Equipment: Absolute Veil
Tier: Legendary
Source: First Time Reward
Stat Enhancements
- STR: 250 ×30 (×120%)
- AGI: 200 ×30 (×85%)
- SPD: 210 ×30 (×75%)
- INT: 120 ×30 (×89%)
- END: 110 ×30 (×95%)
- MP: 10 ×30 (×10%)
Passive Ability — Authority Execution
- Every attack received is absorbed, granting STR +25% for 5 seconds.
- This effect can stack up to 3 times.
- Maximum AGI bonus: +45%.
- Internal Cooldown: 3 seconds.
Special Ability — Absolute Offensive
- Trigger: After Authority Execution is activated.
- Effect: Grants +85% Critical Damage to the next physical attack.
- Note: This effect applies to one attack only.
Rey stared at the interface in disbelief.
Then—
“Hahahahaha!”
His laughter echoed through the room, filled with genuine delight.
“After all this time…” Rey said, gripping the edge of the bed, “…this cloak finally shows its true worth.”
He exhaled deeply, eyes burning with anticipation.
“And once I allocate all my stat points… my combat power will skyrocket.”
Without hesitation, Rey began distributing every single stat point.
The process was swift.
Efficient.
Absolute.
When the light faded, a new status window appeared.
Status
Name: REY
Level: 51
Race: Human
Role: Free
Title: Chosen One (All Stats ×30)
Stats:
- HP: 17385 ×30
- STR: 350 ×30 (×120%)
- AGI: 300 ×30 (×85%)
- SPD: 310 ×30 (×75%)
- INT: 220 ×30 (×89%)
- END: 210 ×30 (×95%)
- MP: 10 ×30 (×10%)
Rey slowly clenched his fist.
“…This power,” he muttered, “has already surpassed Level 100 players.”
A calm smile formed on his lips.
“Good.”
He raised his head.
“System. All stat points have been allocated.”
Then, without pause—
“Activate Simulation Mode. I want to train with my new combat power.”
“Understood, Host.
Activating System Simulation.”
The world shattered into white.
Rey found himself standing within a vast, boundless space—pure white in every direction. There was no sky, no ground, yet he felt perfectly stable.
Before him appeared the system’s avatar—a small, humanoid figure composed of shifting light.
“Host,” the system spoke,
“This is the Simulation Room.
All monsters previously encountered by the host are available for selection.”
Rey nodded.
“Good. But first, I want to test my raw power.”
He looked around.
“System. How large is this space?”
“There is no need for concern.
The simulation area is infinitely scalable.
All combat impact and residual effects will be fully absorbed.
The host may release their full power without restriction.”
Rey smiled faintly.
“Perfect.”
He turned forward.
“System. Create a massive stone block. Distance—five hundred meters.”
The space rippled.
A colossal stone mass materialized in the distance.
Rey bent his knees—
And vanished.
In a single blink, he appeared beside the stone.
His eyes widened.
“…This speed,” he whispered. “Incredible.”
He exhaled slowly.
“But I’ll need better precision control.”
Turning his attention forward, Rey spoke again.
“System. Summon Minotaur, Level 87.
I want a sparring match.”
The air distorted.
A holographic form emerged, solidifying into the exact Minotaur Rey had once fought—a towering beast radiating raw aggression.
The moment its form stabilized—
Rey disappeared.
Before the Minotaur could even react—
A fist struck its torso.
BOOM.
The monster exploded into fragments of light.
It never had a chance to act.
Rey stood silently, his arm still extended.
“So this is my strength now…”
Rey stood silently within the endless white expanse of the Simulation Room, his breathing slow but steady. His gaze rested on his clenched fist, faint traces of light still dispersing around it.
“My power has increased by an absurd margin.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Just moments ago, with nothing more than a casual strike, he had annihilated a Level 87 Minotaur—a monster that once pushed him to the brink of exhaustion.
“Back then, I struggled. I bled. I nearly lost control.
Now?
A single punch.”
Rey exhaled slowly.
“This cloak… Absolute Veil. It truly grants an overwhelming advantage.”
He lifted his head.
“System,” Rey spoke calmly, his voice echoing across the white void.
“Summon five Minotaurs.”
“Confirmed. Generating targets.”
The space rippled.
Five massive Minotaurs materialized at different positions, their towering frames radiating raw hostility.
Rey moved.
He didn’t rush to kill them.
Instead, he trained.
He practiced his punches, adjusting force output.
His kicks, refining balance and angle.
His movement, pushing speed while maintaining precision.
He darted between enemies, sometimes allowing blows to graze him—testing Authority Execution, feeling the surge of strength stack within his body.
His movements became sharper.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
After finishing the fifth Minotaur, Rey barely felt winded.
“…Good,” he murmured.
But he wasn’t done.
“System. Summon ten Minotaurs.”
This time, the pressure rose.
Ten monsters attacked simultaneously, coordinating instinctively. Rey found himself pushed back several times, his breath growing heavier.
Still—
He restrained himself.
He deliberately avoided using his full power.
“Step by step.
If I rely on brute force alone, I’ll never truly master this strength.”
He focused on control, footwork, and timing.
Minutes passed.
Then—
“System,” Rey said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, “summon twenty-five Minotaurs.”
The moment they appeared—
The battlefield exploded.
Rey was forced to unleash everything.
His fists roared through the air.
“Justice Punch!”
A shockwave obliterated three Minotaurs at once.
He spun—
“Execute Punch!”
Another monster’s head vanished in a burst of light.
Authority Execution stacked repeatedly, his muscles screaming as power flooded every fiber of his being.
This wasn’t training anymore.
This was survival.
When the final Minotaur fell, Rey dropped to one knee.
His breathing was ragged.
Blood streaked his arms.
His stamina was nearly depleted.
Yet—
He was smiling.
Rey looked down at his trembling hand.
“…This power,” he whispered, “…I need to train even harder.”
His gaze sharpened.
“If I want to conquer Floor 7, hesitation isn’t an option.”
Time passed.
Minutes.
Hours.
Within the Simulation Room, Rey trained relentlessly.
Strength.
Control.
Combat strategy.
Each aspect evolved at an astonishing pace.
He learned how to limit his power, how to release it in layers, how to avoid unnecessary destruction.
Yet one truth remained—
If he released his full power, there were still limitations.
He couldn’t maintain it for long.
The strain was immense.
But compared to before?
His growth was undeniable.
Now, even highly evolved monsters posed no serious threat.
Finally—
“System,” Rey said, his voice steady, “end the simulation.”
“Training session concluded.
Exiting Simulation Mode.”
Rey awoke back in his room.
His body felt heavy, but refreshed.
“Three Hours”
He stood up, stretched slightly, then left his room.
“I should meet them. We need to prepare.”
As he walked through the corridor, Rey stopped in front of Melvin’s room.
Just as he raised his hand—
He heard voices inside.
“…Elysa, are you serious?” Melvin’s voice whispered teasingly.
“But Rey is handsome. And kind. He’s also an amazing leader.”
Luna giggled softly.
“Then why don’t you just tell him honestly?”
“Shhh!” Elysa hissed, flustered.
“Lower your voices! Someone might hear!”
Melvin laughed.
“Hahaha! You’re embarrassed? Relax. It’s late. No one’s around.”
Outside the door, Rey froze.
His heart skipped a beat.
“…What?”
Nervous, he shifted his foot—
BANG.
The door flew open.
“…!”
Luna opened it from the inside, eyes widening.
“Rey?! You’re here?!”
Elysa froze, her face instantly turning red.
Melvin nearly choked.
Luna blurted out, “Rey… w-were you eavesdropping?”
Rey panicked.
“N-No! Of course not!”
“I—I just arrived! I didn’t hear anything!”
He forced a laugh.
“So… what were you talking about?”
“…Something about me?”
Elysa puffed her cheeks and turned away.
“N-No,” she said stubbornly.
“We weren’t talking about you.”
Melvin and Luna glanced at her.
Elysa continued, “We were just talking about someone amazing we admire.”
“…But not you.”
Rey smiled awkwardly.
“Trying to hide it, huh…
Fine. I’ll uncover your secrets one by one.”
Melvin cleared his throat.
“Rey… you’ve been in your room for three days. Are you okay?”
Luna nodded quickly.
“Yes. We were worried. Eris, Evelyn—everyone was.”
Rey raised his hand reassuringly.
“I’m fine. I was just training… and experimenting.”
In Rey Minds.
“What? Three days? I just train in Simulation Mode only 3 hours.”
Then he paused.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Wait.”
He stared at them.
“Your levels… they’ve increased significantly.”
The three exchanged guilty smiles.
Luna bowed her head slightly.
“…We’re sorry we didn’t tell you.”
Melvin continued, “We didn’t want to become a burden to you.”
Elysa nodded, eyes lowered.
Rey was stunned.
Then he smiled warmly.
“It’s fine,” he said.
“You did well.”
Melvin looked up.
“Actually… we entered a dungeon with Eris, Evelyn, and some Clan Rose members.”
“Evelyn taught me magic control,” Melvin said proudly.
“And Eris trained Elysa on efficient assassin techniques.”
Rey chuckled.
“So that’s why.”
He nodded approvingly.
“You’re already qualified to register as B-Class Adventurers.”
They smiled brightly.
Elysa — Level 38
Melvin — Level 37
Luna — Level 32
Rey took a deep breath.
“Once our current affairs are settled,” he said seriously,
“We’ll resume dungeon conquest.”
“I want all three of you to reach Level 50.”
They stiffened.
“After that,” Rey continued, “I’ll establish my own Clan.”
Silence.
Then—
Elysa’s eyes sparkled.
Melvin clenched his fists.
Luna smiled through happy tears.
“R-Really?” Luna asked softly.
“So… we’ll be clan executives?”
Rey laughed loudly.
“Hahahaha—of course not.”
Their smiles faltered.
Rey grinned.
“You won’t be executives.”
“You’ll be my core riders.”
“Your position will be equal to mine.”
“…We’ll just recruit strong candidates to fill executive roles.”
Before anyone could react—
A voice echoed from behind.
“I will.”
Everyone turned.
“I will become one of your executives.”
Rey spun around.
Standing there were Tristan, Eris, Vincent, and Evelyn.
Tristan stepped forward, expression serious.
“Ace. I’ll join your clan.”
“…Is that a problem?”
Rey stared at him.
“Tristan… have you lost your mind?”
Eris sighed.
“Ace. You were isolated for three days.”
She continued grimly.
“…Clan Glory has been destroyed.”
Everyone froze.
“…What?”
Eris spoke calmly.
“This information hasn’t been made public.”
“The order came from Duke Arden’s family.”
“They seized all assets.”
Rey’s aura flared.
“…MAREK.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“My spies confirmed it.”
“Marek is the successor candidate of House Arden.”
“They’re moving.”
“They aim to destroy all major clans.”
“And seize full control of the Guild.”
“Willson and Drax are currently in negotiations with noble families.”
Rey growled.
“What about the Royal Family?”
Eris looked at him quietly.
“…Have you forgotten?”
Rey clenched his teeth.
“…Useless.”
“So, next is Clan Rose, Obsidian, and Aegis?”
Vincent nodded slowly.
“We don’t have confirmation.”
“But based on Arden’s movements…”
“…Clan Rose is likely the next target.”
Suddenly—
Rey’s aura erupted.
Melvin, Elysa, and Luna collapsed, nearly losing consciousness.
Eris and Evelyn rushed to support them.
Fear gripped everyone.
Tristan swallowed hard.
This aura…
It surpasses Level 90.
No… this is Level 100 territory.
Rey suppressed his power.
His eyes burned with fury.
“So…” he said coldly,
“…is there no way to stop this?”
Tristan inhaled deeply.
“We must wait for Willson and Drax.”
“However…”
He looked straight at Rey.
“There is one possible solution.”
Rey’s voice was sharp.
“What is it?”
Tristan answered—
“We must conquer Dungeon Floor 7.”
“And if possible… retrieve the corpses of high-tier monsters from Floor 6.”
“…But accomplishing that in the near future…”
He shook his head.
“…Is nearly impossible.”
Rey’s expression hardened.
“Then it’s decided,” he said in a low, resolute voice.
“I will establish my own Clan—soon.”
Everyone present instinctively held their breath.
“After that,” Rey continued, eyes burning with conviction,
“I’ll gather the strong. We will enter Dungeon Floor 7.”
He clenched his fist.
“We’ll conquer it.”
“And then—”
His gaze sharpened, as if piercing through invisible enemies.
“I’ll bring back the heads of the high-tier monsters from Floor 6.”
Silence fell.
“I will show those useless nobles,” Rey said coldly,
“exactly who I am.”
The weight of his declaration struck everyone like a hammer.
Tristan was the first to move.
“Ace,” he said firmly, stepping forward,
“I will join your Clan.”
Rey turned toward him.
“Not just me,” Tristan added.
“My loyal subordinates will follow you as well.”
Rey stared at him intently.
“Have you made up your mind?” Rey asked.
“Are you absolutely certain you want to follow me?”
Tristan didn’t hesitate.
“Ace,” he replied honestly,
“after Clan Glory’s destruction… I’m one hundred percent certain.”
He clenched his jaw.
“Other major clans will fall next. This is only the beginning.”
Before Rey could respond—
Eris stepped forward.
Her hand trembled slightly as she clenched it into a fist.
“Lord Ace,” she said, her voice firm despite the emotion beneath it,
“I—and all members of Clan Rose—will join your Clan.”
The words echoed.
Rey froze.
Tristan froze.
Even Vincent widened his eyes in shock.
None of them had expected this.
Tristan turned toward Eris.
“…So we’ll be together again,” he said quietly.
Eris shot him a sharp glance—
Then turned her face away.
Tristan sighed in frustration, but inwardly—
“Finally…
After all this time… we’re on the same side again.”
Vincent glanced at Evelyn.
Evelyn lowered her head, cheeks slightly flushed.
“Ace,” Vincent said after a pause,
“give me some time to decide.”
Rey nodded calmly.
“That’s fine. The choice is yours.”
Soon after, Vincent returned to his own Clan.
Eris and Tristan headed toward the main hall—Tristan had matters he needed to discuss privately.
Melvin, Elysa, and Luna returned to their rooms.
Rey was left alone.
He walked slowly toward the artificial lake within Clan Rose’s grounds.
The moonlight shimmered across the water, painting the surface in silver. A gentle breeze brushed against his face.
For the first time in days—
He allowed himself to relax.
“Everything is moving faster than I expected…”
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
“Notification: Will Stall is now eligible for upgrade.
Would the host like to proceed?
Yes / No”
Rey stopped.
“…Finally.”
He had been waiting for this moment.
“Yes.”
“Upgrade requires consumption of 1 Mana Stone.
Proceed?
Yes / No”
“Yes.”
The interface expanded.
New options flooded his vision.
Equipment.
Weapons.
Potions.
So many potions.
Strength-enhancing potions.
MP recovery potions.
Poison resistance potions.
Some even reached Grand-tier.
However—
Most options were locked.
“Requirement: Level 70 to unlock advanced items.”
Rey exhaled slowly.
“…Still a long way to go.”
As he was browsing—
“Rey?”
He turned.
Elysa stood behind him, slightly hesitant.
Rey was startled.
“Oh—Elysa. You surprised me.”
They stood side by side, gazing at the lake.
They talked casually for a while.
Then—
“Rey,” Elysa asked softly,
“can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Rey replied.
“What is it?”
She hesitated, cheeks faintly red.
“…Did you have a girlfriend back on Earth?”
Rey stiffened.
“Why is she suddenly asking this…?”
He cleared his throat and answered with composed seriousness.
“…No. I’m still single.”
“I was focused on my job.”
Elysa’s eyes lit up almost instantly.
“Focused on work?” she asked curiously.
“But don’t you spend most of your time in this VRMMO game?”
Rey waved his hand awkwardly.
“Ah—no, not really. I only played at night.”
Elysa laughed softly.
Rey watched her smile.
She looked healthy.
Happy.
And for that—
He felt grateful.
He decided to ask in return.
“…What about you?”
“Do you have someone?”
Elysa shook her head quickly.
“N-No.”
She looked away shyly.
“I should… go back to my room.”
She bowed lightly and left.
Moments later—
“Notification:
Progress initiated for Title — ‘Bond of the Strong’
Candidate: Elysa”
Rey’s eyes widened.
“…Oh?”
“Reminder:
Candidate affection must be genuine.
Forced bonds are invalid.”
Rey smiled faintly.
“I understand,” he replied.
He returned to his room and rested that night.
The next morning—
Rey prepared himself and went to see Eris.
“Any updates?” Rey asked.
“About Tristan… or Willson and Drax’s meeting with the nobles?”
Eris shook her head.
“I don’t know the details.”
Then she added, “But Drax said he’ll arrive at Clan Rose by noon.”
Rey nodded.
“I see.”
He paused.
“I’m going out to meet someone.”
“If Drax arrives,” Rey continued,
“inform me immediately through magic.”
Eris nodded.
“I will.”
Rey left Clan Rose.
As he walked—
“Alex…
You know this game better than anyone.
You understand its systems… its secrets.
You must know what comes next.”
Each step forward carried a new question.
And somewhere ahead—
A storm was waiting.
[author]
Thank you for reading this chapter.
Your support truly means a lot to me.
The story will continue to build toward bigger challenges, deeper dungeons, and stronger bonds. I hope you’ll stay with Rey on this journey.
If you enjoyed the chapter, feel free to leave a comment or support the novel.
See you in the next chapter!
[/author]