The human empire of Alwyn, Soma Town.
Though the town boasted only basic amenities—a potion shop, equipment store, appraisal office, and personal storage—it seemed no different from other towns in the Alwyn Empire.
That is, until recently.
Word had spread among players that the leveling areas around Soma Town catered smoothly to levels 1 through 10.
Add to that the abundance of NPC-issued quests, some even hidden, and Soma Town had skyrocketed to become one of the most popular hubs in the empire.
Every moment, players materialized in the teleportation hall’s magic circle, their meager coin purses funding quick resupplies before they rushed to the surrounding leveling zones to grind.
Others lingered in town, browsing player stalls for gear to bolster their strength.
The streets and squares buzzed with a constant stream of adventurers, alive with vibrant energy.
“Top-quality level 3 white plate armor! 12 defense, only ten coppers—bargain of the day!”
“Stocking up on low-tier herbs for potion crafting—grab ‘em quick!”
“Arcane Missile, Fireball! Mages, come check if these suit your build!”
“Freshly forged bronze staff! Boosts ice damage by 10%—name your price!”
The mention of a bronze-tier item drew a crowd, with over a dozen players swarming the vendor’s stall, eager to glimpse the prize.
Others pushed to break through the throng.
In Epoch, gear drops were scarce, with attribute-enhanced items typically reserved for elite monsters or higher.
In these early server days, a bronze weapon—especially one with elemental bonuses—was a rare gem, making the frenzy understandable.
Nightwish passed by, sparing the stall a glance before looking away.
Once, she might’ve joined the gawking crowd, but now it barely piqued her interest.
After all, her own weapon was no less impressive.
Dagger of Assassination (Bronze)
Level Requirement: 3
Type: Main Hand Weapon
Attributes: Attack 15, Agility +3, 5% chance to apply Deep Wounds on hit
Attack Speed: 2.1
Restriction: Rogue
She’d gone through hell to snag it from a hidden chest, nearly dying in the process.
But the boost to her leveling speed proved it was worth every risk.
Leaving Soma Town, Nightwish hurried toward the level 3 grinding zone.
Having started the game three days late, she’d clawed her way to level 3—a common rank among players, but impressive for a solo rogue.
The top rogue was only level 4 with 30% experience, after all.
“Gotta level fast to catch up with Big Sis Yoyo and the others,” she muttered, tightening her grip on the bronze dagger and quickening her pace.
But as she approached the Wanderer Camp she’d grinded at yesterday, a narrow path branching into the forest depths caught her eye.
When did that appear?
Having spent three days at the camp and passed through this forest dozens of times, Nightwish prided herself on her sharp memory.
She was certain this path hadn’t existed before.
Drawn closer, her rational side screamed that wasting time was foolish, but an inexplicable hunch tugged at her.
What if there’s a rare encounter waiting?
She hesitated, fingers curling around her dagger.
The odds were slim, but her bronze dagger had come from a similar stroke of luck—a hidden chest tucked in a cave’s corner.
She couldn’t pass this up without checking.
Decision made, Nightwish ventured down the path, unaware that what awaited wasn’t a lucky find but an open expanse of ruins teeming with bat-like creatures.
Dark Bat, Level 3
The name and level hovering above them were unremarkable—level 3 monsters were common around Soma Town.
But to Nightwish, they were anything but ordinary.
She understood instantly: a new grinding spot, untouched by others.
Soma Town’s leveling zones were indeed well-balanced, with ample monster variety for each level.
But with Epoch’s explosive launch population, zones below level 5 were overcrowded.
Take the Wanderer Camp—its high-defense, low-experience mobs deterred most players.
Yet, even there, guilds had carved out territories in recent days, leaving solo players like Nightwish to scramble for scraps.
Initially, she’d avoided competing for Wanderers, considering other towns.
But those were just as packed, and only after securing her dagger’s defense-piercing edge did she settle on the camp.
Without it, she might’ve hit level 4 by now.
This new zone was a godsend.
As Nightwish stepped forward, a rustle nearby halted her.
Her gaze snapped toward the sound.
“Someone else?”
Spotting figures in the distance, she wasn’t surprised—others could stumble upon this place too.
But her attention locked onto the group’s leader, a paladin clad in striking armor.
“Gladiator Set?” she whispered, stunned.
That was among the best heavy armor sets at this stage, dropped only by Fallen Gladiators in saith: the underground arena.
With a 0.15% drop rate, it took roughly 600 kills per piece.
For a level 3 paladin to wear a level 5 set, they’d likely spent a fortune on gems to lower the equip requirements.
Glancing at the gaggle of girls trailing him, Nightwish smirked, pegging him as a spoiled rich kid.
Confident in his gear, the paladin pulled ten Dark Bats at once, aiming to wipe them out.
To others, it might seem reckless, but Nightwish knew better.
With that set, plus early paladin skills like Defensive Stance and Holy Shield, his defense likely hit 50, with 150 health.
Early-game monsters couldn’t touch him.
Following his lead, Nightwish prepared to pull a couple of bats.
If he could handle ten, she could manage one or two.
The girls behind him, including a priestess, chatted carefree, unbothered by the fight.
The paladin, brimming with confidence, activated Holy Shield and Defensive Stance, charging with his shield raised.
Then the ten Dark Bats struck.
The paladin dropped.
The girls’ laughter died.
Nightwish’s foot, mid-step, froze.
Tftc!