The screen flickered as new lines of data appeared under the Medal of Dominion. 'Core Attributes increased by twenty. Charisma increased by three. Courage Surge, passive ability: activates when Health drops below thirty percent. Strength increases by ten percent for one minute.' Aiden's grin widened. "An equippable? Not bad at all." He clipped the Medal of Dominion onto his chest, the metallic glow catching the dim light around him. Just the extra three points in Charisma alone made this thing worth a fortune, but a percentage-based buff on top? That was power with a capital P. No level requirement, either. This was what separated ordinary drops from Legendary equipment—gear designed to break limits. What made it even rarer was how it worked. It wasn't like the Tome of Carnage, which granted its effect just by sitting in your inventory. Nor did it take up an armor or accessory slot.It existed independently, an equipment type all its own. Items like this were practically unicorns. Even players pushing past Level 100 rarely saw one drop. The hall guard stepped forward and handed Aiden a carved wooden token. "Your pass to the central hub." That was all he needed to move freely through the central hub. Aiden accepted it with a brief nod. His business here was done. Spawn points were small ponds. The real ocean waited beyond. The game truly began the moment a player stepped into the central hub. That was especially true for a Beastmaster. Sure, Aiden's level was miles ahead of the crowd, but his skill set was bare bones. His only skill—Beast's Resonance—barely scratched the Level 3 of other classes. Completing his first Class Advancement had become his top priority. Nothing else mattered more right now.... Two hours later, at the far edge of Spawnpoint 9527, blue light surged beneath his boots. His form blurred, then vanished through the portal. When his vision cleared, an enormous city unfolded before him—stone walls the color of storm clouds rising so high they split the skyline. A clear ping resonated through the air, followed by glowing text across his vision. 'You've entered a new area: Leaftport.' "Finally." He looked up, admiring the battlements that stretched endlessly in both directions. A cold wind rolled off the walls, carrying the sound of distant crows. It fit the mood—grim, vast, alive. The central hub was a world of opportunity, but every advantage came with danger. Out here, eerie creatures could spawn from thin air, tearing through anything that breathed. NPC or player—it didn't matter. If an eerie creature took you down, you stayed dead—no second chances. New players used to whine about how difficult "Doomsday" was, but once they got here, they realized the spawn point was actually a mercy.Even Aiden, with a full lifetime's worth of experience, kept his guard high. He summoned Grey, the divine beast that emerged in a swirl of wind and silver light. Its scales shimmered faintly as it lowered its head beside him, a low rumble echoing through the air. Together, they made their way toward Leafport's main gate. ... "ID!" The gate guards blocked his way with their halberds. "This should cover it." Aiden held out the wooden pass. The nearest guard's eyes flicked to the glowing emblem pinned to his chest—the Medal of Dominion—and his posture changed in an instant. He straightened, then lowered his weapon with a respectful bow. "An honored warrior. Please, proceed." Aiden blinked once, then realized what had happened. The emblem wasn't just decorative—it carried authority. A quiet smirk crept across his face. Perks on top of power? Guess that works for me.He stepped through the gate and into Leafport, the city unfolding before him like a memory reborn. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the Ascension Hall. The place was enormous—its marble floor gleamed beneath a cascade of pale light, and towering columns stretched up toward a ceiling lost in shadow. Hundreds of mentors stood in neat formation, waiting for players to approach. Even with that many, it still wasn't enough. For a hub as large as Leafport, they were drops in an endless sea. Aiden knew this hall all too well. In his last life, he'd spent three miserable days just waiting to advance his class. Three days of standing in line, afraid to step away even for a moment. The only time he'd left was when the system kicked him offline for hitting the playtime limit. Most players didn't dare move. The scalpers made sure of it; they'd swoop in the moment someone left and claim the spot without mercy. Now, as Aiden crossed the vast hall, everything felt different—no noise or chatter, just the hollow echo of his own footsteps. For hundreds of feet in every direction, there wasn't another soul in sight. The emptiness carried a strange weight—quiet, heavy, almost sacred. Aiden let out a low whistle. "Guess timing really is everything." Skipping that three-day queue alone was a win worth celebrating. Early progress mattered—it was how you built momentum, one step at a time. He strolled through the plaza, scanning the row of mentors stationed along the far side. Dozens of NPCs could handle Beastwarden advancement, but he knew exactly who he wanted. After walking several hundred yards, he stopped before an older man with silver hair tied back in a rough knot and eyes like sharpened steel. This was Darius Geuder, the highest-ranked Beastmaster mentor. More importantly, he was the only one capable of unlocking the hidden subclass—the Beastcaller. Of course, only a select few ever qualified. Aiden stepped forward and placed a fist over his chest. "Master Geuder, I'm here to advance my class."