It felt like the world wasn't the same one he had left. The snap-back was harsher this time — a violent kick that shook mind and body. Before, there had been no exchange of bodies, only trials, crossings, abysses to overcome. Now his consciousness had taken hold of an external body, and returning felt like a sudden, irresistible yank.
Back in the dungeon's cavern — the old Fortress — Twig didn't reclaim his body at once. A shaft of light fell from the ceiling, enveloping him entirely. Inside that radiant column his awareness returned, and the clothes he wore began to change, gleaming with a metallic sheen until they settled into the shape of new armor.
Aron and Jenny, who were close by, stepped back on instinct, startled by the phenomenon. The glow burned in their eyes.
"Twig…?" Jenny asked, hesitant.
Slowly the brilliance faded, revealing him — steady, calm, haloed by a different aura. Twig had returned.
His gear was now a full suit of plate over reinforced mail, a high collar guarding the neck. Rounded pauldrons covered his shoulders; vambraces and articulated gauntlets shielded arms and hands, throwing back the pale gold of the sun filtering through clouds. Below the waist, tassets ringed his hips while rigid cuisses protected his thighs; proud poleyns, polished greaves, and firm sabatons finished the defense of legs and feet.
Last, a long, heavy cape fell from his shoulders, stirring softly in the wind that breathed at the dungeon's mouth. Twig stood unmoving, mind and spirit realigning, while Aron and Jenny stared, stunned by the shift they'd just witnessed.
"What was that light, Twig? And what armor is that you're wearing?" Aron blurted, still wide-eyed at the transformation and the lights conjured from thin air.
Jenny took a step closer, eyes round. "This happened before… but not like that. What was all this now?"
"Aron, Jenny," Twig asked, still a touch disoriented, "how much time passed this time?"
The siblings traded a glance. Jenny answered, "Same as last time. No time at all. We were here talking when you went quiet, thoughtful — then that light fell on you and now you're in this new outfit. Last time your clothes just changed; now there was this whole blaze. What happened?"
So time really doesn't pass while I'm on the mission, Twig thought. Then he said, "It's like before. Only now I'm a Knight."
At "Knight," Aron's eyes flew open. "You're a knight? As in… a noble?"
"In a way, yes," Twig said. "But not in the sense you mean here. Think of it as recognition. Just as I was recognized as a Swordsman for my strength before, now I've been recognized as a Knight — a tier above a simple swordsman."
"What does being a Knight mean, then?" Jenny asked.
Twig weighed his words. "Much like last time — when I explained things and you became swordsmen too — something similar will happen now. Once you're strong enough, you'll also be recognized as Knights and gain a Knight's skills. The way you grew from mere Novices into powerful Swordsmen… soon you'll take the next step."
Aron brightened. "So if we keep leveling in the dungeons, I can become a Knight too?"
His dream of becoming a great knight is closer than he thinks, Twig mused, then answered, "Yes, Aron — a Knight recognized by the gods. But remember: to be recognized by the Seven Kingdoms, you must be knighted by a noble or another sworn knight."
He looked at them both. "And remember this, Aron, Jenny. You're growing stronger, so keep the values your mother taught us at the front: love, kindness, and above all, justice. Power means nothing if you don't defend what's right. Honor matters. That's the lesson I learned to be recognized."
The siblings met each other's eyes. Aron's face settled into a focused, earnest calm as childhood memories and vows stirred. Jenny lowered her gaze, recalling her mother's warmth — and the path ahead. A woman knight was unthinkable to most, yet Twig — and the gods — had set that gift before her.
"I swear, Twig," Aron said, palm to chest, gaze steady. "All the strength in me will serve what's right and just. I'll never use it to harm the innocent. My blade will turn against evil, so only evil feels my fury."
"Me too," Jenny said softly. "I swear — by my life and by my mother's love — to devote this gift, this chance at a full and worthy life, to what's right and just. I'll protect the innocent and stop those who do harm."
Impressed by the resolve in their eyes, Twig smiled. "Hold to that vow — not for me, but for yourselves. No matter the hardship, keep today's promise. With luck, it won't be long before you're recognized as Knights as well."
"Let's head back to the inn. I'm more worn out than I look," Twig added.
"Yeah," Aron agreed. "We fought a lot today. Rest will do us good."
Jenny nodded.
On the road, Twig mulled over their words and what they'd understood. Everything felt different now. Life as Ser Monde Rouster seemed almost like another existence. And yet, returning to this small corner of the Riverlands felt strange. It hadn't been many days as his avatar — weeks, less than a month — but the experience had fit new lenses over his view of the world.
Later that night, after they took their room, Twig lay on the straw bed to rest. He stared at the ceiling in silence, then remembered: he'd advanced a class. Curiosity stirred.
"All right… new skills," he murmured. "What did I get?"
[Ding!]
🐎 [Riding Skill]
Allows the character to ride a mount, greatly enhancing mobility and carrying capacity.
While mounted, the character's movement speed increases, and the maximum carrying weight increases by 500%.
However, weapon handling speed is reduced by half — this penalty can be mitigated through Cavalry Mastery.
⚔️ [Cavalry Mastery Skill]
Improves riding proficiency and the user's weapon handling speed while mounted.
When riding, the character's Attack Speed (ASPD) is reduced by half by default.
Each level of this skill gradually restores that lost speed.
At maximum level, the user not only recovers their normal speed but surpasses it, achieving supreme mounted combat performance.
Level 1: Beginner proficiency — restores weapon speed to 70% of normal ASPD while mounted.
Level 2: Intermediate proficiency — restores weapon speed to 85% of normal ASPD while mounted.
Level 3: Advanced proficiency — restores weapon speed to 90% of normal ASPD while mounted.
Level 4: Master proficiency — restores weapon speed to 100% of normal ASPD while mounted.
Level 5: Grand Master proficiency — increases to 125% ASPD while mounted.
🪶 [Spear Mastery Skill]
Represents the user's technical skill and experience with spears, improving attack precision and efficiency.
Level 1: Spear skill equivalent to a novice soldier.
Level 2: Spear skill equivalent to a trained soldier.
Level 3: Spear skill equivalent to a well-rounded novice soldier.
Level 4: Spear skill equivalent to a veteran soldier.
Level 5: Spear skill equivalent to a beginner spearman.
Level 6: Spear skill equivalent to a well-rounded spearman.
Level 7: Spear skill equivalent to a veteran spearman.
Level 8: Spear skill equivalent to a True Grand Spearman.
Level 9: Spear skill equivalent to a Spear Master.
Level 10: Spear skill equivalent to a Spear Grandmaster.
⚡ [Hand Quicken Skill]
Increases the user's attack speed with any equipped melee weapon, enhancing combat performance.
This skill functions with swords, spears, axes, or any other close-combat weapons.
Its duration is fixed at 300 seconds (5 minutes) for all levels, while SP cost decreases with skill progression.
Level 1: Increases attack speed by 10% for 300 seconds at a cost of 50 SP.
Level 2: Increases attack speed by 20% for 300 seconds at a cost of 35 SP.
Level 3: Increases attack speed by 30% for 300 seconds at a cost of 25 SP.
🩸 Pierce Skill
Consumes 7 SP
Hits the target using your power, dealing physical damage that scales with skill level.
The number of hits depends on the target's size — the larger the target, the more hits are inflicted.
Hit Count: Small targets 1 hit, medium targets 2 hits, large targets 3 hits.
This skill can only be used with spears.
Level 1: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 1.25× your power.
Level 2: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 1.5× your power.
Level 3: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 1.75× your power.
Level 4: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 2.0× your power.
Level 5: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 2.5× your power.
Level 6: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 3.0× your power.
Level 7: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 3.5× your power.
Level 8: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 4.0× your power.
Level 9: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 4.5× your power.
Level 10: Hit the target with a spear, dealing damage equal to 5.0× your power.
🌪️ Brandish Spear Skill
Consumes 12 SP
An area-of-effect attack that can only be used while mounted and wielding a spear.
Deals physical damage to all nearby enemies, with attack power and range scaling based on the user's Strength (STR).
Level 1: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 1.25× your power within a range equal to STR ×1.
Level 2: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 1.5× your power within a range equal to STR ×1.
Level 3: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 1.75× your power within a range equal to STR ×1.
Level 4: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 2.0× your power within a range equal to STR ×2.
Level 5: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 2.5× your power within a range equal to STR ×2.
Level 6: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 3.0× your power within a range equal to STR ×2.
Level 7: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 3.5× your power within a range equal to STR ×3.
Level 8: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 4.0× your power within a range equal to STR ×3.
Level 9: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 4.5× your power within a range equal to STR ×3.
Level 10: Strike all nearby enemies, dealing 5.0× your power within a range equal to STR ×4.
🗡️ Spear Stab Skill
Consumes 8 SP
A powerful thrusting attack that attempts to pierce the target.
If the target is pierced, the damage is applied twice.
If not pierced, the target is pushed back, taking additional damage upon collision with enemies or terrain.
Level 1: Deals 1.2× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +10% additional damage.
Level 2: Deals 1.4× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +20% additional damage.
Level 3: Deals 1.6× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +30% additional damage.
Level 4: Deals 1.8× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +40% additional damage.
Level 5: Deals 2.0× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +50% additional damage.
Level 6: Deals 2.2× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +65% additional damage.
Level 7: Deals 2.4× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +80% additional damage.
Level 8: Deals 2.6× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +95% additional damage.
Level 9: Deals 2.8× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +110% additional damage.
Level 10: Deals 3.0× your power as damage. If pierced, apply this damage twice. If not pierced, target is pushed back; on collision, +125% additional damage.
🌀 Spear Boomerang Skill
Consumes 10 SP
A ranged physical attack that throws the user's spear toward a distant target.
Damage is based on the user's Strength (STR) and the distance the spear travels.
The spear returns to the user after striking the target — if it does not embed itself in the enemy.
This skill can only be used while wielding a spear.
Level 1: Throws the spear, dealing 1.5× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 2: Throws the spear, dealing 2.0× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 3: Throws the spear, dealing 2.5× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 4: Throws the spear, dealing 3.0× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 5: Throws the spear, dealing 3.5× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 6: Throws the spear, dealing 4.0× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 7: Throws the spear, dealing 4.5× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 8: Throws the spear, dealing 5.0× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 9: Throws the spear, dealing 5.5× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
Level 10: Throws the spear, dealing 6.0× your power as damage. Range distance increases with STR.
💥 Bowling Bash Skill
Consumes 22 SP
Strikes an enemy using your power, dealing heavy physical damage and sending the target flying back by a distance proportional to the user's Strength (STR).
If the impacted enemy collides with another enemy or a solid obstacle, additional hits are triggered, up to a maximum of 3 impact hits.
Level 1: Deals 1.4× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 2: Deals 1.8× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 3: Deals 2.2× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 4: Deals 2.6× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 5: Deals 3.0× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 6: Deals 3.4× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 7: Deals 3.8× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 8: Deals 4.2× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 9: Deals 4.6× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Level 10: Deals 5.0× your power. Knockback distance based on STR.
Twig stared at the list and could only think one thing.
"By the gods… For now, on I will wield Spears, they are too OP."