Sanato's eyes fluttered open to find himself standing before the grand altar of an ancient temple. He had not arrived of his own volition—mysterious forces had drawn him directly into this sacred space. The temple's stone walls, intricately carved with ancient runes, glowed softly in the dim light. The polished marble of the altar shimmered with an ethereal radiance that filled the room with quiet solemnity.
Meharu was already standing before Sanato. He also has a confusing look in his face.
Before any formal proceedings began, two young women stepped forward from the assembled crowd. The first, with flowing yellow hair and sparkling green eyes, approached confidently. In a clear, melodious voice she declared: "My name is Eurieal Manules. I am the princess of this kingdom, and I warmly welcome the great heroes to our land."
Immediately following her, a second figure emerged—a young woman with sleek black hair and deep brown eyes. With calm authority, she announced: "I am the chief priestess of this kingdom, and my name is Salina."
A ripple of respectful murmurs spread through the gathering. The two leaders' dignified declarations set the tone for the sacred proceedings.
At that moment, Sanato's elder brother, Meharu, stepped forward with commanding confidence. His presence was magnetic—a striking contrast to Sanato's own uncertainty. Addressing them, he said, "My name is Meharu Junwoo, and this is my little brother Sanato Junwoo. Can you guys tell more about the situation right now? I'm still confused about thing that happened today."
"Yes ,of cause great hero Meharu, but before that could you tell us your rank and level" Eurieal asked with a respectful voice.
Sanato tilted his head ,"Level and rank! What are you talking about right now? I'm not quite following you."
"Ohh.. Let me explain about it to you great heroes, in this world there are ranks and levels that displays capabilities of each individual. There are 10 ranks , they are Rank E , Rank D , Rank C , Rank B , Rank A , Rank S , Rank SS , Rank SSS , Rank L and finally Rank LL." Salina said with calm voice.
Then Eurieal comes forward and said, "You don't have to be fear you just have to say 'open system window' and you will able to see your system window"
Then with his usual confident Meharu said, "Open system window."
In response to his clear command, a spectral display materialized before him—visible only to him. The mystical interface shimmered into existence, revealing his formidable power:
Level 750, Rank SS.
A collective gasp arose from the onlookers. One of the assembled followers exclaimed,
"Wow, Meharu! Your strength is truly unmatched!"
Another added,
"This is the power our kingdom needs!"
With the crowd's admiration echoing in the background, Princess Eurial stepped closer to Meharu. With a gentle smile, she said softly,
"Your power brings hope to our people. We are honored by your presence."
Chief Priestess Salina nodded in agreement, adding,
"May the Goddess guide you on your path. Your strength shall protect us all."
After this moment of celebration for Meharu's display, all eyes turned to Sanato. Encouraged by the reverence for his brother yet burdened by a sense of inadequacy, Sanato hesitantly reached out to activate his own system window. In contrast to his brother's, his display remained hidden from the crowd—visible only to him. After a brief, tense pause, a faint glow appeared, revealing a modest result:
Level 1, Rank E.
Silence fell over him for a moment. In his heart, Sanato murmured under his breath,
"How can I ever measure up? I'm nothing compared to him…"
But before despair could take hold, Princess Eurieal's warm voice broke the quiet. Leaning toward him with sincere encouragement, she said,
"Do not be disheartened. Every great hero starts somewhere. Even the smallest spark can ignite a blazing fire."
Chief Priestess Salina offered a gentle smile and added,
"Your journey has only just begun, Sanato. Believe in your hidden potential—time and perseverance will reveal your true strength."
As these words settled over him, Sanato felt a quiet determination stirring within. Though his humble beginning was evident in his system's display, he resolved then and there to embrace his destiny. The sacred glow of the altar bathed the assembly in soft light as both leaders' words and the crowd's approving murmurs filled the air.
In that solemn moment, with Meharu's triumphant power celebrated and the kind words of Princess Eurial and Chief Priestess Salina resonating in his ears, Sanato silently vowed:
"I may start as Level 1, Rank E—but I will work hard and rise to become the hero this kingdom so desperately needs."
And so, amidst the gentle hum of hope and reverence, the seeds of Sanato's journey were sown—a journey that promised transformation, growth, and the forging of a hero from the most unassuming of beginnings.
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