Morning sunlight trickled in through the dusty windows of the old church, casting a golden hue over the modest room. Ethan lay on the bed, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, his breathing slow but steady. The events of the previous day still echoed in his muscles—aches and bruises singing in pain, but beneath it all, a fire burned in his chest.
Hestia entered the room quietly, carrying a warm towel and a small vial of potion. She sat beside the bed, watching him for a moment before gently nudging his shoulder.
"Ethan," she whispered. "Are you awake?"
His eyes fluttered open. "Yeah... barely."
She smiled softly. "You scared me again, dummy. But... I'm glad you're okay."
Ethan offered a small, tired grin.
"Let me check your status, okay?" she asked, setting the items on the nightstand.
He nodded and began to sit up with a wince, slowly untying the bandages around his torso. His shirt had already been discarded to treat his wounds, and now he lay shirtless on the bed, facing down.
Hestia climbed up and straddled his back gently, her divine hands glowing faintly as she activated the falna.
Moments passed in silence.
Then—
Her breath caught.
Her eyes widened.
"What...?"
The runes of his status glowed brightly across his back. Hestia's hands trembled as she read through the numbers.Ethan
Level: 1
Strength: S-973
Endurance: S-910
Dexterity: S-940
Agility: S-925
Magic: A-850
Skills:Limit Break (Rank E) – Temporarily push beyond limits at the cost of physical backlash.
Combat Instinct (Rank D) – Sharpened awareness and reaction in high-stress battles.Development Abilities:Hunter
Abnormal Resistance
"Ethan…" she whispered. "Your stats… They're all in S-rank… Already."
He didn't respond immediately. His face was buried in the pillow, his body too exhausted to move.
"You could level up now," she continued, her voice still tinged with disbelief. "No—you should. No one stays Level 1 with these kinds of stats. This is incredible!"
But Ethan's voice came low, firm, despite his condition.
"No."
Hestia blinked. "What?"
"I'm not leveling up," he said again, clearer this time. "Not yet."
She frowned. "Why? This isn't a game, Ethan. You're risking your life every time you go in there."
"I know it's stupid," he admitted. "I know I'm being reckless. But... I feel it. This isn't my limit. Not yet. If I level up now, I'll lose the chance to push further before the reset. I want to break the boundary—truly push what a Level 1 can be."
Hestia stared at him, stunned into silence. She could see it in his eyes—his unwavering resolve. The same stubborn fire that had guided him this far.
"Idiot," she said quietly, but not unkindly. She placed a hand gently on his head. "Fine. If that's your decision… I'll support you. Just… promise me you'll rest today, okay? You're no good to anyone if you die."
He chuckled softly. "Deal."
As she climbed off him, Hestia glanced one more time at the glowing status on his back and smiled proudly.
He's not just any adventurer, she thought. He's something far greater.
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