I'm Definitely Not Overpowered in Another World

"In this world, strength is divided into ten tiers, accompanied by six corresponding professional titles.

Tiers 1 to 3 are called Apprentice Level.

Tiers 4 and 5 are known as Professional Level.

Tier 6 is the Expert Level, also referred to as Senior Professional.

Tier 7 is the Master Level. Reaching this tier means you'll be welcomed as an honored guest by the upper nobility in any country.

Tier 8 is the Legendary Level. As the name suggests, those called Legendary Mages or Legendary Warriors possess enough strength and prestige to influence high-level decisions across nations.

However, Legendary-level professionals are rare. It's said that the Norton Empire at the center of the continent has a Legendary Archmage stationed there, and the head of the Magic Guild is also a Legendary Archmage. Beyond these two, there haven't been reports of other Legendary professionals—at least not openly.

As for Tier 9, the Mythical Level, that's just a legend. No one knows if it truly exists.

I've compared notes with some seniors, and it seems that for us Adapters, every 10 levels roughly correspond to one of these tiers in combat power. Of course, this conclusion isn't precise and should only be taken as a reference."

While enthusiastically 'playing' with the two Poring monsters, Nangong Xiao listened to Asuna's explanation, then asked thoughtfully, "What's the highest level among the Adapters right now?"

Asuna pondered for a moment, "Senior Kasumi Shiko just reached Level 36 a few days ago, currently holding the highest level among us Adapters."

[T/N: I'm still trying to figure out if Kasumi Shiko is an anime character or not. I'm struggling to find the right translation for this character's Japanese name...

I'll edit the character's name once I've figured out his/her background...

Kasumi Shiko Chinese Name: 霞诗子]

"Is it okay to casually disclose a friend's—I mean, a senior's—level to an outsider?"

Asuna smiled and explained, "It's fine because once you reach Level 10 and unlock the forum interface, you'll be able to see the levels and names of all Adapters."

"I see... By the way, did you say your senior's name is Kasumi Shiko?"

"Yes, she's a bit strict with her words but has a kind heart. She was the one who guided me when I first arrived."

"I see, that's... interesting."

"Eh?"

"Nothing," Nangong Xiao replied briefly, then added, "Level 36 is still within the Apprentice Level, meaning we Adapters are relatively weak compared to the broader continent."

"Exactly. That's why Senior Kasumi Shiko repeatedly warns us never to reveal our identity as Adapters carelessly, and certainly not to make enemies everywhere under that banner. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in situations beyond our ability to handle."

"Smart person."

"Of course. Senior Kasumi Shiko is not just smart but incredibly capable as well."

"You seem to admire her a lot."

"I do admire her, but I'm even more grateful. If it weren't for her..." Asuna trailed off with a faint smile, clearly recalling something unpleasant but choosing not to elaborate.

Nangong Xiao understood and shifted the topic, "So, how many Adapters are there now?"

Asuna hesitated briefly before answering, "Including you, Nangong-kun, there are currently only 63 of us left."

"Only 63?" Nangong Xiao's heart tightened even as he continued his battle with the Porings.

Asuna's expression grew solemn. "Every once in a while, the system issues mandatory battle missions that all Adapters must participate in, regardless of level. The tasks usually involve defeating a specific boss or annihilating a monster army.

Succeed, and you live. Fail, and you die.

Refuse the mission, and you're erased.

The last mandatory mission was three months ago. Before it started, there were 754 Adapters. By the time it ended, only 57 remained."

The cold, brutal numbers sent a chill through Nangong Xiao's heart. Yet, his hands remained steady, skillfully fending off the Porings' attacks without missing a beat.

"Nangong-kun, what we're facing isn't a pleasant otherworldly adventure—it's a death game orchestrated by That Entity.

There's no right to refuse, no reasoning to be had. Everything follows Its will. Disobedience means complete erasure.

Please make sure to adjust your mindset accordingly."

Asuna watched Nangong Xiao closely, not because she feared he'd panic and make a fatal mistake—after all, she was ready to step in if needed. What truly worried her was whether he would take her words to heart.

"I understand," Nangong Xiao replied calmly. Feeling he had mastered the combat rhythm, he swiftly finished off the two exhausted Porings with a flurry of strikes.

"Nangong-kun, I'm serious. This isn't a joke. Please, take it seriously... Eh?!"

Just as Asuna was about to emphasize the severity of the situation, she was shocked once again.

Both Mature Porings had dropped items—three in total: a minor healing potion and two white-quality Poring Cards with +1 Constitution each.

"How is this possible? Is there some event today? Did the system increase the Porings' drop rate?" Asuna muttered incredulously. She quickly opened her system interface, checking missions, announcements, and even skimming through the forum, but found no signs of any special events.

While Asuna puzzled over this, Nangong Xiao casually defeated another passing Mature Poring, which dropped a piece of equipment: leather gloves with +2 Defense.

Asuna's eyes widened even more.

Unfazed, Nangong Xiao noted that the leather gloves had no level or attribute requirements, so he equipped them immediately.

Speaking of equipment, it worked much like typical online games. A simple click in the system backpack automatically equipped the item, and the gloves appeared on his hands—though they weren't particularly stylish.

Clenching his fists, Nangong Xiao thought, These are really uncomfortable, especially since it's not even cold right now. Wearing them too long makes my palms sweaty.

Still, he acknowledged the gloves' effectiveness. Without them, his Defense stat was equal to his Constitution value of 4. The +2 Defense from the gloves boosted his defense by 50%.

This wasn't just a matter of typical game logic—the system feedback confirmed it. For example, a regular person wearing premium dragon-hide gloves would only gain protection for their hands. But for Adapters, any equipment that increased Defense applied that boost to their entire body.

This was the greatest advantage of their data-based attributes.

After equipping the gloves, Nangong Xiao continued defeating several more Mature Porings, eventually leveling up to Level 1.

With the level increase, his three base attributes naturally improved according to his bloodline growth values.

This enhancement felt incredibly refreshing to Nangong Xiao—like drinking an ice-cold soda under the blazing sun.

The only downside was that the feeling didn't last long.

Still, it was an unforgettable, top-tier sensation.

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Advanced chapters available in my Ko-Fi page:

ko-fi.com/thornedprose