The cave was quiet now, except for the drip-drip of water and the crunch of bone dust under Null's boots. The fight with the skeletons had wrecked the place—shattered skulls, broken ribs, scattered bits of armor lying everywhere. A weird chill still hung in the air, like the ghosts of the things he'd just killed were still hanging around, watching.
Stella padded beside him, her golden scales catching what little light there was. In the dim glow from the moss, she looked almost orange, like embers still burning. Her breath came out in little white clouds in the cold cave air. Null reached down and scratched behind her ear-fin thing—whatever dragons had instead of ears. She leaned into it and made that soft, rumbling sound he'd come to love.
"Good job, partner," he murmured. "We make a pretty good team, huh?"
His arms ached, but it was the good kind of ache—the kind that said you earned this. For the first time since the hospital, since all that time stuck inside his own body, he felt in control again. Strong. Alive.
Then, out of nowhere, a golden light flashed in front of his eyes so bright he flinched.
[World Announcement]
"The number of players who have left the beginner towns has reached the global threshold! The Level Ranking List is now unlocked!"
He blinked, momentarily stunned. "Oh. So it's really starting now."
With a small rush of excitement, he pulled open his menu. Sure enough, there was a new tab glowing at the top—Rankings. His hand actually shook a little as he tapped it open.
A glowing list appeared, gold letters floating in midair.
Global Level Rankings
Rain – Level 19
Null – Level 18
Shadow – Level 18
[Hidden] – Level 18
Blackthorne – Level 18
AzureFang – Level 18
FoodGod – Level 18
[Hidden] – Level 18
RedLotus – Level 17
[Hidden] – Level 17
Null stared at the glowing names for a moment, then let out a slow, disbelieving grin. "Second place, huh? Not bad for a guy who just started taking this seriously."
His eyes went to the top of the list. Rain.
Yeah, he'd seen that name before—back when the system had announced the first class awakenings. The guy who came right after him.
"So that's who's in first," he muttered. He wasn't surprised. Between figuring out his weird divine class, bonding with Stella, and that mess with Astro and the lightning storm, he hadn't exactly been speed-leveling. Still… seeing another name above his sparked something—a little competitive itch deep in his gut.
He scanned the rest of the list and snorted. "FoodGod? Really? Alright, sure."
Closing the menu, he looked down at Stella. "Well, partner, looks like we've got some catching up to do."
She puffed out her chest and chirped, ready to go again.
"Good answer." Null grinned. "Let's see what else this cave's hiding."
They walked deeper. The air grew colder, heavier, almost wet. The faint blue light of the moss dimmed into a sickly purple glow. The walls looked… wrong—dark veins pulsing under the stone like something alive. The smell hit next: rotten meat mixed with rust.
Stella's tail lashed. Her cheerful noises were gone now, replaced by a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the ground.
"Yeah," Null whispered. "Something's up ahead."
They slipped through a narrow tunnel that opened into a massive cavern—a cathedral of bones. Huge pillars made entirely of skeletons and skulls reached up to a shadowy ceiling. In the center stood a throne built from the same material, fused with black metal that looked half-melted.
And sitting on it… was a king.
The figure was enormous, wrapped in armor so dark it seemed to drink the light around it. A jagged greatsword rested across its knees, and from the hollow of its helmet burned two red lights, faint but deadly.
[Undead King – Silver-tier Boss – Level 35]
Null's breath caught. "Level thirty-five? You've got to be kidding me…"
The thing moved. Slowly, creaking, like an old door forced open after centuries. When it stood, the entire chamber seemed to groan. Then it roared—a sound that wasn't really sound at all, more like hatred given voice. The air itself vibrated.
Red runes flared across the floor. Cracks split open, and skeletal knights began clawing their way out, forming ranks around their king.
Stella didn't hesitate. She threw her head back and roared—an echoing, thunderous sound that rattled the bone pillars. Flames licked at the corners of her mouth.
Null couldn't help it—he laughed, breathless and exhilarated. "Alright, then. Let's dance."
He surged forward, blade flashing blue and gold. The first skeleton fell in one clean swing, the second barely had time to raise its shield before being cut down. He was moving faster now, sharper, more precise.
Stella tore through the side ranks, her tail smashing a cluster of undead into the wall in a burst of splinters and sparks. When she opened her mouth and breathed, fire roared out—bright and furious, lighting the cavern like dawn.
The Undead King raised its sword and swung. The sheer force of it made the air shiver. Null dove aside, the blade smashing into the floor where he'd been standing, leaving a crater.
"Okay," he grunted, rolling back to his feet. "You hit like a truck. But you're slow."
He charged in again, blade flaring. "[Dragon Slash]!"
The impact sent up a shower of sparks. A crack split through the King's leg armor—but the monster didn't even flinch. It turned its head toward him, slow and deliberate.
The next swing came faster than he expected. He barely got his sword up in time.
CLANG.
The sound rang through his bones. Pain shot up his arms. The force threw him back across the stone floor. His health bar dipped dangerously.
"Null!" Stella's voice rang in his mind, raw with worry.
"I'm fine!" he shouted, pushing himself up even though his hands trembled. "Just keep him busy!"
She didn't need to be told twice. Stella launched herself at the King, slamming into its chest. Her claws dug deep, wrenching loose a chunk of armor that fell with a metallic scream. Underneath, something pulsed—a glow of ugly purple energy.
The King staggered back, bellowing.
Null's pulse spiked. There. That was it.
He raised his sword. It began to glow—not blue this time, but white-hot gold. The light spread up his arms, too bright to look at.
"[Judgement Strike]!"
He swung with everything he had left.
The world vanished in a burst of blinding light. The sound hit a heartbeat later—a thunderclap that shook the cavern. When the glow faded, the Undead King stood still for one breath… then the red lights in its skull flickered out. Cracks spread through its armor like lightning across glass—and then it exploded, fragments scattering like ash.
Silence fell.
Null stood there, panting, his sword tip resting on the ground. Stella landed beside him, sides heaving, eyes bright and worried. He reached over and rested a hand against her neck.
"We did it," he said, voice hoarse but full of wonder. "We actually beat it."
Warm light poured over them. The system chimed.
Congratulations! You are now Level 20!
Before he could even catch his breath, another golden flash filled his vision.
[World Announcement]
"Player Null has reached Level 20, becoming the highest-leveled player in the world!"
For a second, all he could do was stare. Then, slowly, he started to laugh—a tired, disbelieving sound that turned into a grin.
"No way," he said, shaking his head. "We're number one, Stella. We actually did it."
She chirped and did a little hop, wings flaring just enough to stir the dust.
POV: Rain
Far away, deep in a mist-shrouded forest, a man with silver hair lowered his blade. The monster he'd been fighting vanished into motes of light. The silence that followed was peaceful—almost meditative.
Then the golden announcement shimmered into view.
He read it once, then again.
"…Null."
The name lingered on his tongue. He smiled—small, almost invisible, but real.
For years, Rain had been the best. Every game, every tournament, every ranking—his name was always on top. And honestly? It had gotten dull. Winning stopped meaning anything when no one could push you.
He'd come into Oblivion Online expecting the same. But this player—Null—kept showing up in all the major system logs. First hidden class. First Silver-tier boss kill. And now, first to reach Level 20.
For the first time in a long time, Rain felt something stir in his chest. Not anger. Not jealousy.
Excitement.
"Don't stop now, Null," he murmured, tightening his grip on his sword. "Make me work for it."
He turned toward the forest's deeper shadows, eyes sharp with new fire.
"From now on," he said softly, "you're my rival."
Back to Null
The golden light of the announcement faded, leaving the cave dark again. Null stood there, letting the quiet soak in. The number-one player in the world. It sounded crazy even in his head.
He looked toward the tunnel ahead—dark, winding, faint purple mist drifting out. Whatever was down there, it wasn't going to be easy.
He tightened his grip on Frostfang and glanced at Stella. "Come on, partner," he said with a tired grin. "Number one feels nice. Let's make sure it stays that way."
She rumbled low in her throat, matching his stride as they walked forward together—man and dragon, stepping deeper into the dark.