Not sure this changed but. Don’t unlock it.

"Birthday?" Bai Mina repeated softly, her voice laced with faint disbelief as she slowly turned her gaze away from Kyle and Trisha and settled it on Oliver. There was a subtle stiffness in her posture now, her brows drawing together as she tried to process what she had just heard.

Her eyes lingered on him longer than necessary.

Searching.

Trying to find even the smallest hint of truth in their words.

Even the faintest crack in his composure would have been enough.

But Oliver was unreadable.

Completely.

His face remained blank, calm to the point of being unsettling, as he simply stared at the two of them with empty, emotionless eyes. There was no irritation, no denial, no surprise—nothing that could give away what he was truly thinking.

And yet...

It was true.

Today was his birthday.

And he had forgotten.

’What use is it to mark another year closer to one’s death?’ Oliver thought silently, his gaze unfocused for the briefest moment as his mind drifted inward. ’For some, maybe they prefer that kind of leisure... maybe they find meaning in it. But to me... it’s nothing more than a useless distraction.’

His attention returned to the present.

He lingered for a moment, letting the silence stretch just slightly, before finally speaking.

"I see."

That was all.

Simple.

Flat.

Devoid of emotion.

At those words, Trisha’s expression trembled.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Her lips tightened faintly, her eyes flickering with restrained anger as though she was on the verge of losing control.

For a moment, it seemed like she might snap.

Like she might abandon all restraint and lash out.

But she stopped herself.

Her fingers curled slightly, nails pressing into her palm as she steadied her breathing.

’Keep it together...’ she told herself firmly. ’He’s trying to manipulate you into losing your shit. Don’t fall for it. Not here.’

Slowly, she regained control.

A smile formed on her lips—controlled, deliberate, but not genuine.

"Just because you are now a Ranker," she said lightly, her tone carrying an edge beneath its calm surface, "doesn’t mean you won’t pay for what you did to us back in the Summoning Grounds."

The threat was clear.

Undeniable.

Kyle frowned slightly, stepping forward as he fixed Oliver with a cold, measuring look.

"As you can see," he began, his voice steady, "I am also a Ranker."

He paused briefly, letting that statement settle between them.

"It’s quite the surprise you made it this far on your own," he continued, his lips curling faintly. "Honestly... I didn’t expect it."

There was no respect in his gaze.

Only disdain.

"But I didn’t come here for praise," he added, his tone dropping slightly. "I came to tell you something."

A brief silence followed.

"Watch your back."

The words hung heavily in the air.

Then, without waiting for a response, Kyle turned around. His coat shifted slightly with the motion as he cast Oliver one last detestable glare over his shoulder.

"See you around, Oliver."

With that, he walked off, his steps steady and unhurried.

Trisha followed him closely, her expression still tense despite the calm mask she maintained.

The two of them disappeared further into the Crow.

Silence lingered behind them.

Throughout the entire exchange, Bai Mina had said nothing.

She had simply watched.

Carefully.

Closely.

Her gaze never once leaving Oliver’s face, observing every detail—every lack of reaction, every absence of emotion.

He remained calm.

Unfazed.

Completely indifferent to their threats.

It didn’t make sense.

And that was what unsettled her.

Finally, she spoke.

"To be threatened by a fellow Ranker is a big deal," Bai Mina said, her tone measured but carrying a quiet concern. "And that Kyle... he’s not someone to take lightly."

She paused briefly, her eyes drifting in the direction they had gone.

"I’ve heard his father is the head of a powerful guild," she added. "Someone with influence... someone dangerous."

Her gaze returned to Oliver.

"Would it really be wise to let him walk away like that? Without even asking for an apology?"

Oliver didn’t answer immediately.

He let her words linger in the air.

Then, slowly, he shook his head.

A simple gesture.

A wordless response.

He didn’t care.

His gaze shifted away from her, scanning the hall that had gradually filled with Rankers.

Dozens of them.

Standing, talking, observing.

Most of them unfamiliar.

Faces he did not recognize from his first life.

’So many new ones...’ he thought, his eyes passing over them without interest.

And yet—

None of them stood out.

’They probably lived short lives... or died meaningless deaths,’ he concluded silently, turning his gaze away.

Time passed slowly.

The elevator doors opened and closed at intervals, each time revealing another Ranker stepping into the hall. Some carried themselves with confidence, others with quiet caution, but all bore the presence of individuals who had survived long enough to stand among the elite.

Bai Mina greeted each one politely.

A nod.

A brief exchange.

A small smile when necessary.

Oliver paid them no attention.

At most, a passing glance.

Then—

A voice rang out.

Deep.

Authoritative.

Commanding enough to silence the entire hall instantly.

"Rankers... shall we begin the meeting."

All eyes turned.

Standing ahead was a man dressed entirely in black. His frame was massive, his muscles clearly visible beneath his clothing, stretching the fabric with every slight movement.

His presence alone demanded attention.

Oliver recognized him immediately.

Of all the Rankers present...

He was the strongest.

Shaggy Burnell.

’So it’s him...’ Oliver thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

If he remembered correctly, this man had already defeated a Disaster-class entity on his own at this point in time.

A feat that placed him above the rest.

And if they were to fight now—

Oliver knew the outcome.

He would lose.

At least...

Not without his second summon.

Following the announcement, the Rankers began to move, one after another, heading toward a large open doorway. There was no hesitation, no argument—only quiet acknowledgment.

Shaggy Burnell led the way.

Inside, the room they entered was vast.

Dimly lit.

The atmosphere was heavy, pressing down on everyone within it.

At the center stood a massive table—dark and smooth, its surface almost glass-like as it reflected faint outlines of those seated around it. Surrounding it were chairs that resembled ancient, worn thrones, each one crafted with an imposing presence, as though meant for rulers rather than mere individuals.

One by one, the seats were filled.

Oliver took his seat at the far end of the table, distant from the others.

Detached.

Bai Mina sat closer to the front, within clear view of Shaggy Burnell.

Most seats were occupied.

A few remained empty.

Not everyone had come.

Some were absent.

Others... perhaps uninterested.

A few seconds passed.

Then Shaggy Burnell cleared his throat, placing both hands firmly on the table.

"As you might not know," he began, his voice steady and filled with confidence, "I am Shaggy Burnell, the number one Ranker in the world."

There was no arrogance.

Only certainty.

"The rankings have also been updated," he continued, "but that’s not what we are here for today."

As he spoke, the glassy surface of the table shimmered.

A faint light spread across it.

Then—

A list appeared before each Ranker.

Their rankings.

Oliver glanced down.

His name appeared.

Eighteenth.

Out of the thirty Rankers present.

’So this is the world ranking...’ he thought quietly.

He wondered how it was determined.

By the system?

Or by recognized feats?

If it wasn’t the system...

Then he was far lower than he should be.

"Now that that is out of the way," Shaggy continued, drawing their attention back, "let’s move to the real issue."

"There are no world leaders present today. So for now... I will lead this discussion with the authority you grant me."

No one objected.

"The next Catastrophic Glitch will occur within a few months," he said.

A murmur spread faintly.

"And we have no idea where it will appear."

That was the problem.

Oliver’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’A Catastrophic Glitch...?’

In his past life, such events occurred every few years.

Massive portals.

Monsters flooding into the human world.

Destruction.

Death.

But—

This wasn’t supposed to happen now.

Not for years.

’Something is off...’

"What’s the reason for this? Are we having a budget cut or something?" one Ranker asked rudely.

"No," Shaggy said, rubbing his temples. "It’s something strange."

"The Kiyakoya family is gathering data... but something is wrong."

He paused.

"It’s almost like our machines have lost their use."

"Sabotage?" another asked.

Shaggy nodded slightly.

"Or coincidence... but I doubt it."

A female Ranker, her eyes dim and her body wrapped in black cloth, leaned back in her chair, resting on her walking stick.

"Is this related... to the increase in monster power?" she asked.

Shaggy paused.

Then nodded.

"I suspect so."

He turned to Bai Mina.

A signal.

She stood immediately, placing her hands firmly on the table.

"Something is happening across the entire first level of the game," she began.

"Monsters are getting stronger."

Her voice was steady.

"Goblins. Orcs. Ogres. All evolving beyond expected levels."

"What used to be manageable threats are now dangerous—even for experienced parties."

She paused.

"But that’s not all."

Her expression hardened.

"A few months ago... I, along with members of The Crow, encountered a Disaster-ranked anomaly."

The room went silent.

"It wasn’t normal."

She inhaled slightly.

"It had taken the body of a real human."

A heavier silence followed.

"And when I returned to the Silver Guild... I confirmed it."

Her voice dropped.

"A human... had been turned into a monster."

The weight of that statement settled over everyone.

"More than ever," she continued, "we need to put aside our differences."

Her tone grew firmer.

"Because my instincts are telling me something."

She paused.

"These two conditions... are connected."

No one spoke.

"If this continues..."

Her fingers pressed harder against the table.

"Humanity might be facing a world-ending crisis."

"A glitch we cannot predict."

"A horde of disasters to follow."

Her voice lowered.

"It would be devastating."

A final pause.

"It would be the end of humanity."

***Author’s note***

Thank you for the patience. Continue to support please.