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Chapter 10: Ascender, Just a Click Away
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After the rain, light filtered through stained-glass windows, casting a dreamlike and serene glow over the cathedral. The faithful sat alongside clergy members on long wooden benches, praying toward the grand statue at the head of the hall.
Father Ron wiped the dust from an old book and carefully placed it back on the shelf. This was his job, but also a pastime he genuinely enjoyed in his free moments.
Today, however, there was a visitor unlike any other.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha… Divine Immortal, guide me…”
“Grant me entry into the Top Hundred soon…”
“Uoykcuf…”
A girl with long hair sat in the last pew of the church, her expression devout as she bowed her head in prayer.
But her words left Father Ron utterly baffled.
He had never heard such a peculiar blend of prayers before. Yet, the sincerity etched across her face didn’t seem fabricated.
In the end, he decided not to interrupt her prayer.
“I hope Threads of Song won’t be delayed next year,” Viya mumbled, finishing her own incomprehensible prayer.
---
Lin Qi was actually quite serious about gaming.
He had to admit that embedding open-ended dialogue into games was a creative idea—innovative even.
But this feature came with one undeniable "drawback."
It could get awkward.
If Lin Qi were forced to immerse himself fully in a prayer, begging for blessings from gods whose existence he barely understood, he’d feel a creeping sense of shame. His scalp would prickle, and discomfort would overwhelm him.
Likewise, when interacting with NPCs, Lin Qi kept conversations brief.
After all, compared to formalities like “Oh sir, I’ve brought you what you asked for,” he preferred blunt efficiency: “Here’s your quest item.”
After much deliberation, Lin Qi opted for humor to navigate these interactions—it felt less painful that way.
---
After finishing his prayer, Lin Qi wandered around the church. No demons, no hellish jokes, no secretive nuns—just an ordinary place of worship. And disappointingly, not even a buff after praying.
While exploring, he noticed something intriguing: a few individuals bore red markers above their heads. These indicated high-level characters—ones he couldn’t possibly defeat right now.
To Lin Qi, this discovery was delightful—not because he enjoyed masochistic challenges against higher-level foes, but because it proved the game’s NPCs had fixed levels.
This was excellent design.
From experience, Lin Qi knew how frustrating dynamic leveling systems could be.
You start off weak, struggling through battles with low-tier enemies just to survive. After countless trials, you finally reach level 99, armed with legendary gear and newfound strength.
But then? You step outside only to find that those once-pathetic grunts have scaled up to match you, forcing yet another grind.
To Lin Qi, this mechanic undermined players’ efforts—an unavoidable compromise for maintaining long-term engagement.
“Lady, are you searching for something?” A deep voice called out from behind him.
Viya turned to see a clergyman approaching her.
“I’m looking for something very important,” Viya said earnestly.
Ron smiled warmly and offered help: “Describe it to me. Perhaps I can assist.”
“It’s something incredibly significant.”
“You’ve already mentioned that, my lady.”
“Without it, my life will come to a standstill.”
“That sounds terrible,” Ron replied, his smile fading slightly.
“It defines who I am today.”
“There are still some friends of mine here in the church. I can ask them to join the search—but please, describe it more specifically.”
Viya paused, coughed lightly under Ron’s scrutinizing gaze, and responded solemnly: “I’m looking for something to do.”
Ron froze, caught off guard by her peculiar answer. His tone grew somber: “My lady, please refrain from such jokes.”
Viya ignored his remark, staring intently at the glowing number '3' hovering above his head.
“So even a Level 3 is too strong for me right now?” Lin Qi opened his character stats to check his current level.
Level 0.
Well, that explained a lot.
Suppressing the urge to vent, Lin Qi began analyzing whether the game’s leveling system held deeper implications. Given that NPC levels weren’t dynamic, it meant their power aligned directly with their narrative roles.
Coupled with earlier discussions about Ascenders, Lin Qi formed a rough hypothesis: “Level 0 represents ordinary people. First Ring equals Level 1; Second Ring equals Level 2.”
“And considering that elite mob back in the starter village was First Ring… the level cap likely doesn’t exceed ten—a reasonable limit without excessive inflation.”
As he pondered, Lin Qi realized something obvious. Since the game allowed free conversation, why not simply ask the NPC?
“What do you know about Ascenders?” Viya asked abruptly.
The sudden change in topic threw Ron off balance. “Why are you asking?” he replied cautiously, wary of being played again.
But when his eyes landed on the emblem engraved on the steel pen hanging from Viya’s coat, realization dawned: “You’re a student of Rothesia Academy?”
“Not yet,” Viya corrected.
“But soon, I assume,” Ron said kindly, offering his blessing. He adopted a familiar tone: “I think I understand why you’re asking. When I first heard about Ascenders, I found the concept equally vague. All I knew was that they represented success incarnate.”
“Let me ask you something,” Ron continued. “What purpose do you think Ascenders serve?”
Viya answered without hesitation: “Combat.”
“A stereotypical view,” Ron shook his head. “Unfortunately, the disparity among Ascenders… well, it’s complicated.”
He sighed deeply: “Take First Ring Ascenders, for example. Some are groomed since childhood with private tutors, meticulously planning every aspect of their laureates. For these elites, killing a hundred men poses no greater challenge than slaying one.”
“On the other hand, others spend years clawing their way into the realm of miracles, barely scraping together a handful of laureates. Such individuals might easily be beaten senseless by three or four young opponents.”
“The majority fall into the latter category.”
“But don’t worry. The true value of lower-ring Ascenders isn’t combat—it’s their ability to perceive and manipulate magical flows. They can control alchemical constructs beyond mortal comprehension.”
Ron spoke slowly, his words heavy with meaning. It was as though he were reminiscing, tinged with nostalgia.
“Hmm.” Viya nodded thoughtfully. “What exactly are laureates?”
Seemingly accustomed to Viya’s directness, Ron proceeded deliberately: “You can think of them as… origins of spells?”
“Each laureate grants an Ascender mastery over a new ability.”
So they were skill books.
From Ron’s explanation, Lin Qi pieced together the game’s power structure: Ascenders were the hardware; laureates were the software. Without proper software, relying solely on default functions made one easy prey for others.
No wonder that Ascender got obliterated by a single counterattack… Lin Qi recalled the aggressive Ascender he’d encountered earlier. At first, he assumed it was just a bug—but now he realized the man was just terribly weak.
“How does one become an Ascender?”
“To ascend, one must possess sufficient innate potential, enter the Void Domain, choose one of thirteen kingdoms, and knock upon its gates…” Ron explained soothingly.
“This process is complex and arduous. You shouldn’t focus on it just yet. Becoming an Ascender is a long journey.”
Lin Qi remained silent, distracted by something interesting. Next to the Level 0 indicator on his stats screen, there was a small plus sign.
Curious, he clicked it.
[Level: 0 -> 1]
Simultaneously, half of his total experience points vanished.
---
Viya’s previously vacant gaze sharpened slightly as she turned to the priest.
“Take another look?”
At first puzzled, Ron quickly sensed the shift in Viya’s magical aura. It was no longer chaotic but pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
This was unmistakably the signature of an Ascender.
Ron’s smile froze mid-expression. One thought dominated his mind: Damn it, I got fooled again!
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