Two days. One dead teammate. Multiple beast kills. And finally – that sweet level up notification.

Alone in his dormitory, Ethan pulled up his status window.

<Human: Ethan Brandon>

<Rank: Peak-Iron>

<Talents: Enhanced Speed (F Grade), Protective Shield (F Grade), Iron Enhancement (F Grade)>

<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf(High-Iron), Razorback Boar(High-Iron), Black Beetle(Mid-Iron)>

<Level 2>

<Health Points: 400> <Mana Points: 400>

<Strength: 40> <Agility: 40> <Intelligence: 40> <Vitality 40>

<Free Attributes: 5>

<Skills: None>

‘Some progress. Although not as fast as I wanted, but it’s steady nonetheless.’

Not as fast as he wanted, but steady.

Those Mid-Iron Razorback Boars had pushed his Iron Enhancement up to F Grade. Both his wolf and boar transformations now sat at High-Iron, ready for the next evolution.

If only he could find some High-Iron or Peak-Iron beasts. That would unlock the real power spike – Bronze rank. But those ferocious beasts weren’t exactly hanging around near the city walls.

‘At least the grind had paid off.’

Ethan had maximum stats across the board for Iron rank. Plus that level up bonus – five free attribute points to place wherever he wanted.

‘Better save these,’ he thought, eyeing those unspent points. ‘Never know when you’ll need that extra edge in a specific attribute.’

Ethan turned the Low-Iron core in his hand, anticipation building. This was it – his ticket to Bronze rank.

<Low-Iron Rank Core> <Devour>

Nothing. No rush of power. No system notifications. Just… nothing.

‘What?’

Confusion hit harder than any beast. His stats were maxed, he’d hit the Iron rank ceiling.

‘Why am I not advancing?’

The silence of the empty dorm room offered no answers.

His predecessor’s memories were useless here, cannon fodder didn’t get briefings on rank advancement.

‘Bronze core…’ The thought hit like lightning. ‘Of course. You need Bronze to reach Bronze.’

He immediately headed to the weapon shop.

‘Another core wasted, but lesson learned.’

The old shopkeeper’s eyes lit up as Ethan entered. “More Low-Iron cores today?”

“Not this time.” Ethan matched the merchant’s smile with his own. “I need a Low-Bronze core.”

The old man’s eyebrow shot up. Interest sparked in his eyes.

“Bronze cores are very rare,” the old man said, leaning forward. “Only got six in stock. All strength-type beasts.”

“That’s fine.” Ethan kept his voice steady. “How much?”

“Five Peak-Iron cores.”

The price hit like a physical blow. Ethan’s current stash was five Mid-Iron cores and one Low-Iron.

‘My networth suddenly felt pathetic.’ He shook his head.

The math was brutal. One Peak-Iron core could get you four Low-Iron cores. Five Peak-Iron meant at least ten Mid-Iron cores, and that was just in theory.

Reality was even worse. Trading up meant premium pricing.

Supply and demand at its finest.

Sure, Ethan could trade one Mid-Iron core down for two Low-Iron cores all day long. But going the other way?

That required extra Stars, a ‘convenience fee’ that made climbing the power ladder exponentially more expensive.

‘No wonder most scouts stay stuck at Iron rank,’ Ethan thought. The system wasn’t just rigged, it was mathematically designed to keep the weak in their place.

“I’ll trade this low-iron core for stars then,” Ethan said, adjusting his strategy on the fly.

The merchant’s smile widened just a fraction. “A hundred stars for a low-iron core.”

Quick and clean.

The old man handed Ethan the coin pouch after receiving the core.

“Thanks.” Ethan turned to leave,

…

Feeling hungry, Ethan decided to eat at a small resturant.

just one of countless hole-in-the-wall places that kept District Three’s soldiers fed. But after days of bland military rations, even cheap food smelled like gourmet.

‘It’s not like buying a meal will make my journey to bronze rank any slower.’ Ethan thought.

As the restaurant came in sight, a woman’s back caught his attention as she left the restaurant.

Something familiar about her silhouette tugged at his memory, but he couldn’t place it.

Maybe his predecessor’s memories playing tricks again.

The meal hit differently after days of military slop. With real flavours and actual seasoning.

“Thanks for the meal.” Ethan dropped fifty stars on the counter, earning wide eyes from the young woman and her father working there.

“Sir!” The woman scrambled for change. “The meal’s only twenty-five stars-“

Ethan waved it off, already heading for the door. “Keep it.”

Her grateful smile followed him out. “Thank you!”

Small kindnesses. They didn’t advance his rank or boost his stats, but they reminded him he was more than just another grinding monster.

Back in the dormitory, Ethan crashed into his bunk.

Dawn broke. Another day, another scouting mission. The squad assembled at the gates, weapons checked, expressions grim. Everyone knew the beast activity had spiked. Good news for Ethan, bad news for anyone without a secret power-leveling ability.

“Five-hundred meter perimeter check,” the captain ordered. “Standard formation.”

Perfect setup for Ethan’s disappearing act.

Two days of grinding later, Ethan’s hands sank into the Mid-Iron wolf’s chest. Core extracted, mission accomplished.

“Finally,” he muttered, the glow of his tenth Mid-Iron core reflecting in his eyes. “Ten cores.”

The collection had been frustrating.

It was as if he was determined to stay in the Mid-Iron farming zone. He had encountered nothing but mid-iron beasts and nothing of higher rank.

But ten Mid-Iron cores meant one Bronze core at the exchange. One Bronze core meant rank advancement. And rank advancement meant freedom from being a slave to the system.

Ethan wiped blood from his hands and checked his status. Still Peak-Iron, but not for long. Tomorrow would change everything.

His plan was being fulfilled with each passing hour.

Ethan would set up the “re-awakening” scenario during a team mission when danger hits. Act surprised when his rank suddenly jumps to Bronze as his talent increases. Play the confused but grateful soldier.

Everyone loved a good second awakening story.

The military would want to study him, of course. Maybe run some tests.

But they’d also value him more.

…

Arriving back at the city, Ethan headed straight toward the old man. The pouch of ten mid-iron cores hit the counter with a satisfying clink.

“A bronze core, thank you,” he said, cutting straight to business.

The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re quite fast at farming cores. Are you a hunter?”

“Had some stored,” Ethan replied smoothly. “Borrowed the rest from friends.”

The shopkeeper clearly didn’t buy it, but cores were cores regardless of origin. “Here you go, strength-type low-bronze core.”

The core gleamed differently than its iron counterparts – same size but with energy so dense it practically hummed in Ethan’s palm.

“Thanks.”

Ethan said before leaving hurriedly, he had no time for small talk. Not when ascension waited.

He practically flew back to the dormitory, heart pounding harder than it had during any beast fight.

After securing the door with a cabinet, he perched on his bunk and held up his ticket to a new life.

<Low Bronze-Rank Core> <Devour>

‘Yes.’

The core dissolved into pure energy, rushing into his body like a river finding the sea.

The power surge made his previous level-ups feel like static shocks. This was lightning, raw and transformative.

<Ding! Your Strength has advanced to Low-Bronze Rank>

Ethan immediately checked his attributes. He felt that he had broken through significantly.

<Human: Ethan Brandon>

<Rank: Low-Bronze>

<Talents: Enhanced Speed (F Grade), Protective Shield (F Grade), Iron Enhancement (F Grade)>

<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf(High-Iron), Razorback Boar(High-Iron), Black Beetle(Mid-Iron)>

<Level 2>

<Health Points: 400> <Mana Points: 400>

<Strength: 60> <Agility: 40> <Intelligence: 40> <Vitality 40>

<Free Attributes: 5> <Skills: None>

Ethan’s face split into a grin as he scanned his status window.

“Low-Bronze rank!”

His strength had spiked to 60, officially crossing the threshold.

But his other stats remained stubbornly at 40. His talents and transformations hadn’t budged either, despite all those Mid-Iron beasts he’d devoured.

Bronze rank wasn’t a simple one-and-done upgrade. Each attribute needed its own Bronze core to advance. Four more Bronze cores meant… well, more grinding.

But that could wait. The important part was done

‘Tomorrow I’ll head into the forest and push for an E-Rank talent evolution. Then I’ll act like I’ve just re-awakened mid-battle.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep