Jhin was sipping a richly brewed Americano atop the border wall.

He was tired. The battle that raged through the night, followed by constant movement, had worn him down.

'But everything's ready now.'

[Skill: "Soft skills(S)" has been activated.]

From his vantage point atop the wall, Jhin could overlook the entirety of Zone 2. His field of vision stretched wide — even the Central Plaza, far in the distance, was easily visible.

'Better performance than expected.'

Well, it had evolved into an S-rank "Soft skills."

If it didn't at least perform like this, the S-rank title would be meaningless. Jhin checked the incoming radio message.

–The decoding's done. The rest is up to you.

"Got it. Thanks."

He responded lightly to Bellatris's transmission and finally spotted a few figures scattered around the festival — each one leaking an unnatural aura.

Just as expected, the Company had targeted this festival for their attack. And how many lives would be lost as a result of their goal?

Suddenly, Bellatris's words resurfaced in his mind.

'A reckless and foolish plan…'

Sure, Dean had claimed this was their best fighting force — but to Bellatris, the risk was too great.

She wasn't wrong.

If they failed, the tower they built would crumble entirely. Arc would collapse right here.

"There's always been risk."

Even so, Jhin pushed forward with the festival. Just to deal with the Company?

He steadied his breath, eyes of golden light flaring open. The enemy movements were now precisely locked into his vision.

'No matter how solid a wall may be, if it crumbles from within, it'll collapse completely.'

And when it did, the price would be a cascade of uncontrollable casualties.

[Skill: "Slaykill (F)" has been activated.]

He leapt from the wall in one smooth motion and landed silently on a nearby rooftop, continuing forward. Despite falling from a significant height, there wasn't so much as a sound on impact.

Thanks to the skill.

'Even stepping on grass won't make a sound — silent movement.'

Just like in the novels he'd read.

Jhin grinned as he vaulted over a few more rooftops. His first target appeared ahead.

The man was just waking, stretching his limbs lazily.

But—

Sshhk.

A thorn blade, drawn from Scarecrow's gauntlet, slashed cleanly through the man's neck.

Like slicing tofu, the severed head spun midair before flopping to the ground.

[You have eliminated "Trigger of Sloth: Roman."]

[You have gained EXP.]

[Reward acquired: "Necklace of the Slothful."]

Without missing a beat, Jhin darted toward his next target.

[Another one located.]

Players dispersed across Zone 2 were transmitting updates by the second. Guided by "Soft skills," Jhin easily tracked the enemy flows.

'Next target — rooftop of the building two blocks ahead!'

He kicked off the narrow alley walls, scaling upward swiftly. Reaching the rooftop took mere moments.

A trigger, tongue lolling from its mouth, spotted him and lashed its tongue sharply in his direction.

[Skill: "Fireball (F)" has been activated.]

He fired a fireball to the side, twisting his body midair from the impact. Landing on the rooftop, he smoothly dodged the whipping tongue.

His counterattack was instantaneous.

[You have eliminated "Trigger of Gluttony: Ron."]

[You have gained EXP.]

[Reward acquired: "Gourmet Blade."]

Another radio message buzzed in his ear.

–…Don't make so much noise.

"Thanks. You blocked the sound for me, right?"

–Whatever. You've got three left. Wrap it up.

"Okay."

Jhin touched down again and resumed his pursuit with Soft skills and the incoming transmissions guiding him. By pushing "Slaykill" to its limit, he could sprint between buildings at high speeds.

It consumed a lot more power now — but unlike before, he no longer risked draining his battery in an instant.

[Skill: "Concentration (S)" has been activated.]

[power consumption reduced by 50%.]

This skill also allowed for refined, high-precision control, using only the exact amount of power needed.

His head was starting to throb from the strain, but he easily ignored it.

He had an S-rank composure skill, after all.

Shhk!

Shhk!

Sshhk!

In the blink of an eye, he located and sliced down all remaining triggers. He caught his breath, surveying the area.

All five targets had been neutralized.

But it wasn't over yet — the leader was still at large.

'…Where are you hiding?'

Suddenly, Soft skills picked up on someone retreating in a hurry. They looked like a player, but something about their movements felt off.

As expected, the figure was a member of the Company.

Jhin powerged to snatch the man's radio.

"…Didn't I tell you not to get caught by me?"

–What did you do…?

"You should've just stayed hidden when I gave you the chance. Right?"

–You think this'll stop me?

The voice on the other end seethed with rage, but Jhin didn't care. He focused only on the signals pouring from the device.

[Skill: "Soft skills(S)" has been activated.]

Jhin smirked and muttered,

"Found you."

"Do you all have goldfish memories or something?"

The enemy had hidden in the nearby underground.

Even Arc needed a sewer system — a place no normal person would ever venture into. Perfect for hiding.

"…Kyle!"

The remaining Company member shouted, fury twisting his voice. Jhin didn't flinch.

"I said I'd kill anyone who showed themselves. Didn't I?"

"…You bastard!"

"Shh. You know it's a festival today, right? Don't kill the vibe."

Just like the one he'd seen at the church, the man wore a white holy robe. It marked him as part of the same group — the one that controlled demons.

Grid and the demons…

Turning humans into monsters — it wasn't surprising they belonged to the same faction.

"If you think this ends here, you're a fool. Even you—"

"Enough talk. Let's finish this."

"What?"

Jhin activated "Slaykill" to its extreme, warping through space as he rushed the man.

He grabbed the enemy by the throat — the man trembled, paralyzed by fear.

"W-what the hell…!"

"I want to see Millie's performance too, you know."

Crack!

With a single blow, he crushed the man's windpipe.

The Company member dropped dead, pitifully and without resistance — or so it seemed. But Jhin didn't relax.

Despite clearly being dead, the man's corpse was swelling with ominous power, growing stronger by the second.

"Bellatris… you watching?"

–Yeah.

"Separate me and this thing into a sealed space. You can powerge that, right?"

–You say that like it's easy.

"Can you or can't you?"

–Just lure it outside.

Jhin grabbed the corpse, which had begun to writhe with surging power, and flung it away without hesitation. The dead man's body had already begun to contort grotesquely.

Horns sprouted from his skull. Wings burst from his back.

A bison? The thing bared sharp teeth and charged at him with a vicious snarl.

"Uuuoooorrrhh!!"

Bellatris's sound-blocking spell would suppress the roar from reaching the outside — but that didn't mean it could fully nullify the shockwave.

Jhin vaulted out of the sewers, moving swiftly. It wasn't a wide-open area, but he powerged to emerge into an alleyway nestled between the slums.

–Isolation complete.

Quick work, as always.

Whooomph!

Jhin kicked off the building wall and spun mid-air, one full rotation.

The monster that had lunged after him had now fully emerged — a creature resembling a minotaur.

It was obvious what it was.

A higher-tier trigger. One that had reached the very end of its desire.

"Extender…"

He exhaled slowly, drawing out a long thorn from his gauntlet. If it really was an Extender, he'd need to be extra cautious.

『Kyle… You have come to choose your place of death!』

As expected of an Extender — a monster with intelligence.

And then, it screamed.

["Extender of Ambition: Mateo" has activated 'Speaker Down'.]

"Ghhk…!"

Caught off guard, the screech tore through his eardrums instantly. Blood dripped from both ears.

There was no time to recover.

The Extender charged straight for him.

『Do you still think you are the Kyle of Exodia 1?!』

Wings folded, the beast aimed its horn like a spear.

Jhin frowned, clenched his fist, and said coolly:

"Told you to shut up."

[Skill: "Fireball (F)" activated.]

[Skill: "power Focus (E)" activated.]

Ridiculous as it seemed, there was a fireball packed into his clenched fist.

As the Extender neared, Jhin swung that burning sphere straight into its face.

The charging Extender was struck head-on and slammed into the ground in a heap.

Groaning, the monster barely lifted its head to look at him.

"H-How…?"

Jhin simply furrowed his brow.

"That hurt like hell."

His hand — now charred black — bore the brunt of the fireball. The skin was mangled and scorched.

But in moments, the burns began to heal.

And as the muffled ringing in his ears cleared, it seemed even his eardrums had recovered fully.

[Skill: "Rapid Regeneration (F)" activated.]

The monster's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What did you do…? How can you cast both magic and healing… at the same time?!"

"No clue. Why would I explain that?"

Jhin chuckled and began to conjure another fireball, letting it swell in his palm. As the sphere grew larger, it burned and peeled away his skin — but he didn't flinch.

The stronger it became, the more damage it inflicted.

And the more power it would unleash.

"Right — you asked if I'm still the same Kyle from Exodia 1?"

As his skin melted and regenerated in a loop, the fireball ballooned in size.

"Of course I'm not."

"What?"

"I've gotten even stronger."

The monster unfurled its wings and soared into the air again — perhaps for a final, all-out attack. Its power spiked with overwhelming force.

"You arrogant insect! I will crush—!!"

"How many times do I have to say it?"

[Combo Skill: "Fire Explosion (F)" activated!]

Jhin cut off the monster's shriek mid-sentence and hurled the fireball — now many times larger than his fist — straight into its core.

BOOM!

A single blast — and the Extender's upper body was blown to ash.

"…I said shut up."

["Extender of Ambition: Mateo" has been defeated.]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

Two levels gained in one go.

Considering Extenders had a base level of at least 150, it was no surprise the EXP was massive.

[You may claim your rewards.]

Stat Points: +5

Growing Headband

[Claim all rewards?]

Jhin brushed the system message aside and exhaled slowly.

His hand, mangled again by the fireball's blast, was already mending itself.

[Skill: "Rapid Regeneration (F)" activated.]

"…That should do it."

He grinned inwardly.

Of course — the real beginning of Exodia started after your job change. That saying was no joke.

A variety of new skills.

Power far beyond before.

It was why he played Exodia 1 for five whole years, even though the difficulty was absolute hell.

With this, he'd filled the gaps in both his offense and his skill variety.

Pop! Pop-pop!

As the battle ended, the isolation field lifted, and fireworks began to explode in the distance.

Jhin looked up at the night sky, now lit with brilliant colors.

"Wasn't the fireworks show supposed to be last?"

–You were a bit too flashy.

"The monster was a bit too rowdy."

From the other end of the radio, he could hear Bellatris sigh.

Then she asked quietly:

–By the way… what exactly is your class?

"Hm?"

–I know you've gone through your job change, but I still can't figure it out. Magic, healing, martial arts… Honestly, you're more like the Kyle from Exodia 1 than ever. You've become kind of a monster yourself.

She hesitated, then added:

–Is it hard to tell me?

Jhin shrugged and looked up at the sky, fireworks still blooming above.

His class, huh…? He had no reason to hide it anymore.

This wasn't just a game now.

If Bellatris — Arc's commander-in-chief — knew what his class was, it could actually help with dungeon strategies down the line.

'…Not like anything will change if she knows.'

After all, this job was one-of-a-kind.

Jhin smirked and said:

"Librarian."

–…What?

"My class is 'Librarian.'"