The ashes of the Trial Guardian swirled in the crimson twilight, scattering like dust across the ruined shrine.
At their heart, something gleamed — a single shard of crystallized blue light, pulsing faintly with energy.
I knelt and reached for it, heart hammering.
[You have obtained: Glintstone Catalyst – Lesser Skill Seed]
A new notification chimed softly.
[Glintstone Catalyst – Lesser Skill Seed]
A condensed fragment of ancient skill energy. Consuming this item grants one random skill from a hidden pool. Usable once.
My breath caught in my throat.
In my past life, I hadn't even seen a Skill Catalyst until after I was Level 20 — and even then, they were rare drops from elite dungeon bosses.
Having one now, before I'd even completed a starter quest, was insane.
This alone could change everything.
I flipped the shard in my hand, feeling the subtle thrum of potential locked inside.
There was no hesitation.
If I wanted to rise faster this time, I needed every advantage I could get.
I selected [Use Item].
The shard dissolved instantly into sparkling mist, flowing into my chest like a breath of cold air.
[Skill Acquisition in Progress…]
[Random Skill Selection: Complete!]
[You have learned: Quickstep]
A new window appeared:
[Quickstep – Rare Movement Skill (Tier 1)]
Instantly dash a short distance in any direction. Grants temporary invincibility frames during movement. 10-second cooldown.
My jaw dropped.
Quickstep wasn't just good — it was top-tier for early mobility builds.
It turned dodging from a clumsy roll into a lightning-fast blur, perfect for solo bosses, PvP duels, and tight escapes.
It was the kind of skill that separated casuals from legends.
And I had it now — while everyone else was still learning how to swing their starter swords.
A sudden gust of wind stirred the broken pillars around me, carrying the faint sounds of battle back from the village — the laughter, the shouts, the clanging of basic training weapons.
The normal players.
The ones grinding rabbits and grass sprites, just like I had in my first life.
Oblivious.
Still trapped at the bottom.
Meanwhile, the SYSTEM announcement naming me — Damien Cross — still echoed in the background of every player's interface.
Congratulations to Damien Cross for completing the First Step Beyond – First Clear Bonus Awarded!
I could almost feel the curiosity stirring already.
"Who's Damien Cross?"
"First Clear Bonus? There's hidden quests already?"
"Lucky bastard probably just stumbled into it."
A faint grin tugged at my lips.
Let them think that.
Let them underestimate me.
That was the beauty of second chances — you could wear the mask of luck while grinding your way to supremacy underneath.
I pulled up my status screen to check my updated stats:
Name: Damien Cross
Level: 3
Class: None (Unassigned)
Health: 120
Mana: 60
Strength: 12
Agility: 14 (+2 from Quickstep bonus)
Intelligence: 11
Endurance: 12
Dexterity: 11
Skills: Basic Attack, Dodge Roll, Quickstep (Rare)
Equipment: Worn Leather Tunic (Common), Worn Iron Shortsword (Common)
Two levels gained from the Trial completion alone — and five free attribute points from the First Clear achievement.
I dumped three points into Agility and two into Endurance without hesitation.
Mobility and stamina were life early on, especially for someone fighting bigger enemies alone.
Every point mattered.
Every choice rippled outward.
The crimson hue of the ruins began to fade, returning slowly to the soft gold of afternoon sunlight.
The Trial was over.
The world had shifted back to its peaceful starter zone facade.
But nothing was the same anymore.
Not for me.
I stood up, rolled my shoulders, and sheathed my battered sword.
Quickstep's activation flickered in the corner of my HUD — ready for use.
Time to test it.
I focused forward — imagined a point ten feet ahead — and willed the skill to activate.
For a split second, the world blurred.
Then I reappeared exactly where I'd pictured, faster than the eye could follow.
No clumsy roll.
No heavy recovery animation.
Just pure, clean movement.
I laughed out loud, the sound raw and fierce.
This is it. This is the edge I needed.
I started back toward the village, boots crunching softly over the gravel paths.
Already, I could see players in the distance — bright-eyed beginners swinging wildly at mobs, celebrating when they managed a lucky hit.
Some looked up when I passed.
A few pointed.
The SYSTEM announcement had put a target on my back, whether they knew it yet or not.
Some would envy me.
Some would want to challenge me.
Some would want to recruit me.
It didn't matter.
I had no intention of staying small this time.
The first steps were already behind me.
Now, it was time to start the climb.
And nothing — not bad luck, not betrayals, not even the SYSTEM itself — was going to stop me.