Lisa's scream tore through the air as she plummeted downward, her body free-falling through the sky at an uncontrollable speed.
The sheer terror of falling from such a height sent waves of panic through her mind. The wind rushed past her ears, drowning out her own ragged breathing as she braced for what she was certain would be a fatal impact.
But then—
THUD!
Her body slammed into a designated training field enclosed by a glowing blue barrier, shielding the area from the outside world. The impact wasn't fatal, but the sheer shock of the experience had her gasping for breath.
She lay there on her back, chest rising and falling erratically, struggling to process what had just happened. Her hands trembled, her heart raced, and cold sweat clung to her skin.
The only sound aside from her frantic breathing was the sound of footsteps—slow, steady, unbothered.
Lisa turned her head slightly and saw Ali walking through the entrance, stepping onto the field with that same unshakable calmness, his expression unreadable as he made his way toward her.
Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto him.
"W-What was that?!" she choked out, her voice a mix of anger and fear. "I thought I was gonna die—"
Ali simply looked down at her without a hint of sympathy.
"Have you ever entered another world as a Reincarnator?" His voice was firm, unaffected by her panic.
Lisa was still panting heavily, but she forced herself to answer.
"H-Haaah—No." She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down. "My dad got me a job as a waitress right after we got into the Slum. He went into the worlds and came back to open his business. After that, we ascended through the Craftsman route."
Ali's sharp eyes didn't leave her as he processed the information.
'Craftsman route.'
It was a path that allowed non-fighters to ascend to higher levels by proving their worth in other ways. They would apply for ascension through a Supervisor, who would then evaluate their skills, achievements, and total wealth in Paradise Coins before deciding if they were worthy of advancing.
It was the safest path—but it was also one for the weak.
Ali remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you have access to your Spirit?"
Lisa, still catching her breath, shook her head.
"No." She sat up slightly, pushing herself up with shaky arms. "I don't have any spells. But I can shoot. And stab."
She pulled out a handgun from her holster and a small combat knife, holding both in a stance that was clearly meant to look threatening.
Ali's gaze flickered over her awkward posture, and in his mind, only one thought registered—
'What the fuck is that?'
Her stance was terrible—her feet were positioned incorrectly, her grip on the knife was all wrong, and the way she held the gun was so unnatural that Ali was certain she'd break her wrist if she actually fired it under pressure.
He didn't even bother correcting her.
Instead, he spoke.
"Okay. Attack me. I won't use my Spirit. And you can shoot."
Lisa hesitated for a second, but when she saw Ali standing there with his hands in his pockets, she gritted her teeth and quickly raised her gun.
But—
SLAP.
The next thing she knew, her gun was gone.
Ali had slapped it right out of her hand before she could even react. The weapon landed several meters away with a dull thud.
Lisa's eyes widened in disbelief as her mind struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
'What—how did he—?!'
She barely had time to recover before she lunged forward with her knife, aiming straight for his midsection.
But—
She couldn't reach him.
No matter how many times she stabbed forward, the blade never met its target. Her attacks fell short—just out of reach.
Confused and flustered, Lisa looked up—and her stomach dropped.
Ali's hand was resting on her forehead.
That was why she couldn't reach him.
He had been holding her back the entire time with just one hand on her head, his arm fully extended while she swung wildly at empty air.
Lisa's breathing turned shallow.
In a final desperate attempt, she tried stabbing at his arm instead.
But before the blade could connect—
Ali casually threw her away.
THUD. THUD.
Lisa hit the ground hard, rolling several times before coming to a painful stop. Every part of her body ached from the impact.
She groaned, pushing herself up onto her elbows, her breath ragged. She was already feeling the sharp sting of bruises forming across her arms and legs.
'She's never been in a real fight.'
Ali watched her with indifference.
Lisa's first instinct wasn't to check her surroundings.
It wasn't to see what Ali was doing.
Her first reaction was to look at her gun on the ground, as if a weapon would save her.
Ali moved.
He lunged forward, his large frame rushing toward her like a predator.
Lisa's panicked gaze snapped up just in time to see his silhouette closing in.
Heart racing, she swung her knife wildly in his direction and—
She flinched.
Her eyes squeezed shut in fear, her body bracing for impact.
But the impact never came.
Instead, when she slowly opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the sight of Ali's hand right in front of her face.
She hadn't even touched him.
She had completely missed.
Ali's voice was calm.
"You flinch—"
His middle finger flicked her forehead.
"You die."
Lisa stumbled back slightly, rubbing the spot where he had flicked her.
Ali ignored her and raised his hand, summoning a collection of small metal pieces from his inventory.
In an instant, they merged together mid-air, forming two floating metal spheres.
He barely spared Lisa another glance as he focused on his own training, manipulating the spheres through his telekinesis, refining his control.
While Lisa struggled to learn basic survival, Ali was perfecting his craft.
Time passed.
By the end of their session, Lisa was collapsed on the ground, completely exhausted, her chest heaving from sheer fatigue.
Meanwhile, Ali remained standing, his metal pieces still flowing effortlessly around his arm like liquid metal.
'My Spirit cost is lower. My control has improved. I can manipulate these pieces passively while focusing on other things.'
Ali watched the smooth movements of the metal, satisfied with his progress.
'The weight-to-Spirit ratio has improved.'
Then, his gaze shifted downward.
Lisa lay sprawled on the ground, staring up at the sky, looking lost in thought.
Ali spoke.
"Why do you want to be a player?"
Lisa's tired eyes remained on the sky for a few seconds before she finally answered.
"To be free."
Her voice was soft, but firm.
"I want to leave the shop, the slimy merchants I have to deal with in the guild. You know, I had a friend who was a player. She used to come back and tell me about the beauty of the worlds she entered, about the supernatural things she saw out there…"
Lisa's fingers curled into the dirt.
"I was so jealous of her."
She exhaled.
"That was until she ascended. And left me behind."
Slowly, she sat up and turned to look at Ali.
"I want to be like you."
Ali's gaze remained steady as he spoke, his tone carrying the weight of certainty.
"You feel trapped…"
He turned his head slightly, looking toward the barrier surrounding them, the one that had kept them isolated from the rest of the training ground. Then, without hesitation, he opened his interface, his sharp black eyes scanning the new control screen he had access to—one that allowed him to end the training session or shut down the barrier whenever he pleased.
With a simple command, he deactivated it.
The translucent blue walls flickered for a moment before vanishing completely, allowing the full expanse of the massive training field to stretch out before them.
Ali turned to Lisa and nodded toward the other players, the ones who had been beyond the barrier the entire time.
"Look at them…"
Lisa followed his gaze, her violet eyes settling on the countless players scattered across the field—some sparring in close combat, others running laps on the track, and a few testing their spells against the indestructible dummies placed throughout the training area.
Their movements were sharp, their expressions intense, but something about the way they carried themselves—**the tension in their shoulders, the way their eyes flickered toward their interfaces from time to time—**made Lisa's brows furrow slightly.
Ali's voice broke the silence.
"Do they look free to you?"
Lisa continued watching the players, her mind processing his words. She didn't answer immediately.
Ali didn't need her to.
"Every single one of them looks at their timer running down with dread and fear before they're thrown into those 'beautiful worlds' you speak of." His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. "In truth, those worlds are graveyards for most of them."
Lisa's fingers twitched slightly at his words.
"Don't see me, or any of the ranked players, as examples."
Ali turned his eyes toward her now, his cold gaze piercing right through her.
"We are the exception."
Lisa blinked.
"These guys—" Ali nodded toward the **hundreds of players training tirelessly, pushing themselves to their limits, desperately trying to get stronger.
"They are the example you should be looking at. This—" he gestured to the vast training ground, "is what awaits you as a player."
Lisa didn't respond.
She didn't know what to say.
Ali let her sit with those words for a moment before continuing, his tone unwavering.
"Lisa, you said you were jealous of your friend."
Lisa snapped out of her daze, her attention returning to him.
Ali's next words caught her completely off guard.
"But I would say the same can be said about her."
Lisa's brows furrowed. "What?"
Ali looked her dead in the eyes.
"She probably looked at you with jealousy in her heart."
Lisa's confusion turned to frustration.
"Why would she be jealous of me?" There was heat in her voice now, a sharp edge of anger beginning to rise. "You're acting like you know everything about me—"
Ali didn't let her finish.
"You have a family."
Lisa's breath hitched slightly, her anger cut short by those words.
Ali's voice was firm.
"You have your father with you. Most don't."
Lisa's lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Ali continued, his tone never wavering.
"Most players are alone. Most miss their families every single day."
Lisa lowered her head slightly, her fingers curling into her palms.
Ali didn't stop.
"That's something you've never had to deal with. Lisa, you have more freedom than everyone you see here."
Lisa's breath grew unsteady.
"You can learn any skill with your father's support. You could become a merchant in the guild. You could become a player."
Ali took a step closer, his presence looming over her.
"You have options."
Lisa's eyes widened slightly as she absorbed those words.
"Most players?"
Ali's voice softened—just a little.
"They only have one."
It was only then that Lisa realised—The cage she thought she was in? It had been open this whole time. She had chosen to stay inside it.
Lisa's shoulders trembled slightly as her own thoughts crashed into her like a tidal wave.
'What should I do? I don't know—'
She turned to Ali, her eyes searching for guidance.
"What should I do?" Her voice was quiet. Uncertain.
She was opening up to him. But Ali didn't let her spiral. He cut her off.
"This is the last lesson I'm giving you."
Lisa looked up at him sharply. Ali's face remained unreadable.
"You aren't fit to be a player."
Lisa froze.
"And it isn't worth what you'd lose in return."
His words struck deep.
"My advice?" Ali continued, his tone calm but absolute.
"Go back to your father and help him. Make it so that he doesn't have to worry about you so much."
Lisa's breath caught in her throat.
Ali's next words were softer—but they held more weight than anything he'd said before.
"Constant worrying will harm him."
For a long moment, Lisa didn't move.
Then—
Her lips parted slightly. Her shoulders relaxed. And finally—She smiled.
"You're right."
Her voice was clear this time. No hesitation. No doubt. Lisa looked at Ali, her eyes full of newfound resolve.
Then—She reached out and took his hand.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The next thing she knew, they were soaring through the air, rocketing upward at incredible speed.
Lisa's scream of surprise filled the sky, her arms clutching onto Ali for dear life, her face flushed red—partly from anger, partly from something else.
Ali smirked slightly.
'That wasn't too bad. I saved someone's life's today'
He controlled their descent, smoothly directing them back toward the merchant's shop.
The moment they landed, Lisa burst through the door, practically throwing herself into her father's arms.
The old merchant's eyes widened in shock as his daughter clung to him, tears streaming down her face as she spoke through choked sobs.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry."
Her father remained frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by the sudden outpouring of emotions.
But then—
His arms slowly wrapped around her, pulling her close.
Lisa pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her face still streaked with tears—but this time, there was determination in her eyes.
"I'll be the best merchant in the entire guild."
And as if to prove her words, she reached down, slid the ring off her finger, and placed it into her father's hand.
Ali watched silently.
Lisa then turned, her gaze settling on him one last time.
She lowered her head deeply.
A respectful bow.
Then—
Without another word, she ran upstairs to her room.
Ali finally stepped forward, approaching the counter.
He didn't say anything. Ali picked up the mask on the counter that was waiting for him.
The He simply reached out—waiting.
The merchant, still clutching the ring in his hand, looked up at him.
Then—The merchant extended his hand. And dropped the ring into Ali's palm. The interface confirmed the trade. The mask and ring would be traded to Ali for nothing in return.
Ali didn't linger. He simply nodded.
"Take care."
Then he turned—and left the shop, the setting sun casting his long shadow across the cobblestone streets.
'That was easy.'
A small smirk played at his lips as he made his way home.
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