Prestige Grinding : I Can Reset My Level

Inside the cage, Sarsha sat in eerie stillness, her earlier struggles proving futile against the powerful trap she was in. She had tried every trick to escape, but the cage was beyond anything she could overcome, even impossible to phase through.

Her heart raced when she saw her friend and general, Klunor, charging with Captone and reinforcements in tow.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she dared to hope. She even felt tears welling up as she watched them breach the outer defenses. 'Maybe… just maybe…'

But then, the sun vanished as something appeared above, casting a shadow over everything. The smile faded from her face as her heightened senses slowed the scene around her, each agonizing detail clear as day.

'So, this is it', she thought, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'To fall to a monster like him… it's not the worst way to go, I suppose. But it's a shame…'

She glanced at the timer, her heart heavy. Two seconds.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable and stood up. Her life had brought her to this final stand, and she would face it with dignity.

As her immunity disappeared, the cage vanished, and the sky seemed to explode with spells and weapons, each one aimed directly at her.

In that split second, she felt the crushing weight of Captain Ralph's staff among the barrage.

Her voice trembled over the comms, "I'm sorry for today's losses. I'll be… leaving first."

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As her life faded, Sarsha felt her consciousness leaving her body.

Appearing as something akin to an astral form in a dark void, she tried to make sense of her situation. 'Time to return to my world, I guess. Dying before the second update, with barely any War Points to my name, and being forcibly disconnected during a Tier 4 War... I don't think any Tier 1 talent has fallen this low before. My family will be so ashamed of my performance during this "Third Chance."'

She began to picture her family and clan's reaction to her early return. 'How am I supposed to face them? What kind of future do I even have after this?'

But as her thoughts went in all directions, she noticed something strange. 'Why am I not back in my body yet?'

Sarsha had experienced another death before and knew the routine. This delay was unusual. A sense of panic welled up in her as the realization struck her: she wasn't returning. She floated aimlessly in the void, searching for any way out.

After what felt like an eternity, a light appeared in the distance. Her heart raced, as she started hoping. She moved toward the light, desperate to leave the darkness.

Then, a soft, feminine, voice broke through her thoughts, warm and almost comforting. "Wake up, girl. Your life isn't over."

Sarsha froze mid-movement. 'Whose voice is that? Could it be that Klunor and the others have found a way to revive me?' she thought.

Shaking her head in disbelief. 'No, that's impossible. No one on our side had the ability to preserve souls. My soul should have returned long ago.'

Still, the voice filled her with hope, and she accelerated toward the light. The promise of a second chance at life was too enticing to ignore.

'If this is real... I'll stay far away from NEU's wars. I'll level up quietly and find my revenge on my own terms. Wait for me, Ralph Eden.' Determination appeared in her eyes as she disappeared into the light.

As the light enveloped her, Sarsha felt her senses returning.

'I can feel mana again... and life force.' Control over her energy and body gradually returned.

She heard the faint sounds of birds chirping and sheep bleating. A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips. 'I'm alive.'

Lying on her back, Sarsha slowly opened her eyes. A calm lake stretched before her, surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Animals roamed freely under the warmth of the sun. In the distance, a mountain range loomed—a sight that reminded her of her hometown.

'But this isn't the Dark Elf Kingdom. I don't recognize these mountains... Where am I?'

As she turned her head, her gaze landed on familiar faces, and her body froze.

Her breathing quickened, and her hands trembled uncontrollably. 'No way. No way. No way. This can't be real. This is a test. The higher-ups must be testing me. It's the only explanation.'

Her trembling worsened, drawing the attention of one of the figures. The man sighed loudly and said, "I told you to put your mask on. You're scaring her to death. What will you do if she fights us to death again? We already killed her once."

Sarsha mustered her courage and looked at the speaker. He was tall, with dark hair and dark eyes but she didn't remember him or his name. 'But why does he talk like he knows me?'

She suddenly felt a presence slipping past her mental defense. 'Mental power! Are they trying to control me?!'

Panic overtook her, and she instinctively tried to access her inventory but found it was empty. She activated a skill to turn invisible. As she turned to flee, a calm, familiar voice halted her in her tracks.

"We're not here to harm you," the voice said calmly, as if trying to sound kind..

'It is him. Ralph. Eden. Why is he here?' Facing the trio, she started taking walking backward, trying to distance herself from them.

The woman beside him spoke next, her tone gentle, and warmer. "Welcome back to life."

Sarsha recognized the figure who spoke last. 'Kara Spirine. She's the one who trapped me a while ago. She's the one who sealed my fate."

The third person spoke next, "Relax, Sarsha. We won't do anything to you. Kara revived you because she felt regret for what happened during the war. She preserved your soul and used her skill to bring you back." Pausing, he added, "There's no way you can evade our senses with your current strength. We've had a lot of time to grow stronger since that battle."

Sarsha looked at this person, 'I don't know him, but he's the only person whose level I can see. Level 160! The other two are above that level! I'm dead.'

Her gaze darted around the area. Dozens of figures—humans, undead, and beasts—stood or sat quietly, watching her every move. Many were level 160 or higher. She felt their piercing gazes as if they could see through everything she had.

Accepting the futility of resistance, Sarsha canceled her invisibility skill and let out a long sigh. Her trembling stopped as resignation replaced fear.

"When did I die?" Sarsha demanded, her voice sharp. "And what do you want from me?"

Sora glanced at Kara, remembering she said she wanted to handle this.

Following his gaze, Sarsha turned to Kara, waiting for an explanation.

Kara hesitated, her voice softer than before. "I don't know how to put this… Alius already summarized it. Before the war in Sweden, I avoided fighting other players. But at my master's request, I followed Ralph to the front lines and took part in my first war. Thinking back on those days that happened decades ago, I miss the innocence I had then." She paused, her gaze distant. "Since that battle with you and your comrades, I've fought in wars where millions have died. Sometimes, I try to tell myself it wasn't real, but deep down, I know the truth doesn't change."

She took a slow breath before adding, "Yet through all those years, there's one face I've never been able to forget… yours."

Sarsha's body tensed, her hands trembling. 'Decades? Millions dead? Did the Dark Elf Kingdom fall? Did humans win the Supremacy War? How long have I been dead? And why revive me now?'

Her thoughts spiraled between confusion and anger.

"You!! You killed me decades ago? You took parts in countless battles, and now you decide to revive an enemy from years ago? What, for torture?" she yelled, her fury erupting.

Sora groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "You're misunderstanding her completely. I get how bad that sounded, but it's not what you think. It hasn't been decades since your death—only eight or nine months have passed outside. The reason it feels like decades is because we've gone through trials with different time flows—years in some cases. In the [Ascension Tower], for example, we fought simulated battles where millions died. But those were simulations. The battle against the Dark Elves is actually the only official battle we've ever fought."

He exhaled, then added, "By the way, we met Klunor there too."

Sarsha's fury lessened as she pieced together the truth, her trembling stopping. Yet, her voice remained sharp. "Damn it, could you people explain things properly from the start? Did you have to scare me like that?"

Kara's expression turned regretful, and for a moment, she remained silent. Finally, she spoke again, her voice filled with emotion.

"I don't regret stopping you back then," she admitted. "But I've carried the weight of it ever since. I knew that if I didn't save your soul in time, a piece of me would break forever. Keeping it safe… knowing I could bring you back… was the only thing that kept me sane after the war."

She continued. "Reviving you now felt like the right thing to do—for both of us. I wanted to return the life I've helped taking. And… I wanted to apologize for how brutal that moment was. There's no reason for us to remain enemies since the battle is over."

Sarsha frowned, her confusion evident.

Finally, she spoke. "What are you even saying? You weren't the one who killed me. If anyone should apologize, it's him." She pointed at Sora.

Turning back to Kara, she continued, "But why are you acting guilty? I was your enemy. Dying to you was my own failure. I don't befriend enemies—Klunor is an idiot for doing that—but I know how to separate war from personal matters."

Her expression hardened. "So let's be clear. I don't need your forgiveness, and you don't need mine. Get a grip. You've done what you wanted—now let me go."

Another silence followed her words.