Zane leaned forward on the counter.
"How do I level up fast?"
The guild worker chuckled—a low, gravelly sound. He looked like the kind of man who'd seen too many rookies ask the same question.
"Simple. Fight monsters above your level. The higher the risk, the better the XP."
Zane frowned.
"That's obvious. Where can I find them?"
The man shrugged.
"Check the quest board. Monster bounties, locations, all that."
Zane waved a hand.
"That's general info—you said that's free. Now for the real question."
His tone shifted—colder, sharper. Like a businessman about to swallow a rival whole.
"Where do I actually go if I want to level up fast?"
The man—grey stubble, chipped tooth, a glint of experience in his eyes—studied him for a beat, then smirked.
"Alright. You did pay for it..."
He leaned in, voice low.
"I don't have coordinates, but word is there's a party that comes through here—levels up unnaturally fast. Most adventurers grind for weeks to gain a single level. These guys? They gain three in one."
Zane narrowed his eyes. Too good to be true. Was he being played? Or was this a legit lead?
"Go on."
"My guess?" The man's voice dropped lower.
"They found a Denji Dungeon."
Zane tilted his head.
"Denji?"
"Yeah. Rare type of dungeon. Monsters inside give four times the usual XP. Beast-class, sometimes even Abyssal-class creatures. Brutal, but if you survive, you come out stronger. A lot stronger. If you can find that party—or join them—you'll be in luck."
Zane crossed his arms, his voice dry.
"Let me guess. Their name's not free either."
The guild man chuckled.
"Info's a business too, kid."
Zane rolled his eyes and swiped 1,000 CP across the counter with a flick—casual, but deliberate.
"Don't get greedy."
The man caught the transaction like a street magician palming a coin.
"Pleasure doing business. They call themselves Tiger Heart. Pretty sure they just arrived in this Safe Zone not long ago."
Zane gave a small nod, then turned and walked toward the exit. The bustling noise of the guild hall faded behind him as he stepped into the city streets.
The name Tiger Heart lingered in his mind. A high-level party leveling at that speed? Tempting. But did he really want to chase after someone else's path? To fight shoulder to shoulder in a system designed to keep everyone the same?
He shook his head with a faint smirk.
Why am I even thinking like this? My goal is clear—beat God's Game.
His thoughts drifted to his earlier encounter with Jack. That offer to join his party had felt a little too easy. Too friendly. And Zane didn't need reminders about how fast people could change.
Joining a party... too predictable, he thought. Not what I came here for. I'll find my own way. My own pace.
His footsteps echoed on stone as he headed toward the outskirts, toward the land he'd just bought. Having a place of his own—even just a patch of dirt—offered a kind of freedom. No teams. No politics. Just strategy.
The Safe Zone was vast, full of unspoken power plays, guild rivalries, and invisible lines. But none of that mattered where he was going.
The city's noise slowly dulled behind him as he entered the outer districts. The difference was immediate—fewer people, rougher buildings, the air heavier with smoke and sweat. It felt like the edge of the world.
But it also felt right.
He checked his map. Not far now.
As he walked, the difference between the glittering inner city and the crumbling outskirts became more obvious. Trash lined the alleys. People sat slumped in shadows. Guards were nowhere to be seen. This wasn't just another neighborhood. This was the Slums.
Perfect, Zane thought. A place where no one looks too closely.
He turned a corner and spotted it—his land. Just a modest plot wedged between two sagging buildings. It wasn't much. But it was his.
He stopped at the edge, staring at it in silence. No noise. No distractions. Just space.
A quiet place to think. To build.
To plan.
Zane exhaled, the weight of the day slipping from his shoulders. For the first time in a long while, he felt in control.
I'll build it—and I'll build it my way.
He turned, eyes scanning the slums one last time before stepping onto his land. It wasn't paradise. But it was a start.
Zane stepped onto the empty plot, the silence around him a welcome change. He opened his system interface.
"How do I place the hut?" he asked.
The system responded instantly.
"Scan the property deed on the screen."
He scanned it. A soft hum, then a glowing drag-and-drop interface appeared.
[Just drag the building to where you want it, the system said.]
Zane hovered the model over the plot, then paused.
"This hut's 2x2, right? Can I upgrade it later—or do I need to buy a new one?"
"That's up to you. You can upgrade the hut, but it has a limit. Buying a new one will start at a higher base level and often has better long-term potential."
Zane placed a hand on his chin, thinking. He did want a solid place—something decent, maybe even fortified. But if it looked too luxurious, it might attract attention.
Prying eyes are the last thing I need right now.
"Show me building options for something larger. Maybe 4x6. Nothing too extravagant."
Blueprints flickered into view. Most prices were ridiculous—but not for him.
One caught his attention.
30,000 CP. Sleek, minimal, and sturdy. Looked like a training lodge disguised as a back-alley cabin.
He tapped to buy it.
The new building materialized inside the interface—digital and glowing. He dragged it into place on the land.
As soon as it hit the ground, a low rumble echoed. Light shimmered across the plot.
And then the building began to form—stone by stone, plank by plank—rising from the dirt like a summoned fortress.
Zane watched, arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Now we're getting somewhere.