Restarting As An SSS-Rank Rogue

Integration Complete.

Kael's eyes fluttered open.

A familiar, sterile white room stretched out before him—vast, cubic, and eerily devoid of shadows despite having no visible light sources. He had been here before.

The air itself hummed with something unnatural, a low-frequency distortion that made his skin prickle. Just like the first time, space was fractured in places—jagged cracks in reality, glitching at the edges as if this world barely held itself together.

And at the center of it all stood the being.

A faceless figure draped in black robes, unmoving, silent. The weight of its presence felt heavier than before, as if it were actively studying him this time. Kael exhaled sharply. So I'm really back.

"..."

For a moment, neither moved. The tension in the air thickened, stretching between them like an unspoken challenge. Kael crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Aren't you going to give me the rundown?"

The being stirred, its voice resonating from everywhere and nowhere.

"Welcome, human."

The words didn't feel spoken—they seeped into his mind, invasive, as if someone had hijacked his own thoughts. Kael fought back the instinctive shiver that came with it. He already knew what was coming.

"Your planet and universe have been selected by the System for participation in the Tower. I am the one in charge of your transition."

It was saying the exact same words as before. Like a script. Similar to a machine following its programming. Kael let it speak. He already knew every single line.

"I am sure you are confused. Before we begin, do you have any questions?"

Kael sighed, rubbing his temple. "No. Just get on with it."

There was a pause. The robed figure tilted its head and for the first time, it hesitated.

"How… odd."

The weight of its voice felt heavier now, as if it was truly analyzing him. Kael raised an eyebrow. That's new.

The first time he came here, the system never showed such a reaction. It just followed its routine. But now? It was studying him.

"Most humans exhibit confusion, fear, or panic upon arrival," it said, voice laced with something akin to curiosity. "You do not ask questions. You remain calm. This is… abnormal."

Kael smirked. "Yeah? I was always told I was a weird kid."

He flicked at his ear absentmindedly, feigning boredom. But deep inside? He was testing something. The system wasn't aware of the fact that it was his second time being here. That much was clear. That meant he had a big advantage.

"Very well... soon, you will be transported into the Tower's Tutorial, where your fate will be decided." The overseer's voice echoed with an eerie certainty. "Before then, I recommend you familiarize yourself with the system that has been provided to you."

Kael narrowed his eyes. As if he didn't already know.

"System?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

And right on cue—

A bright blue panel flickered into existence before him, glowing softly in the void.

—STATUS—

Name: Kael Shizer

Race: [Human (F) - Lvl 0]

Class: N/A

Profession: N/A

Health Points (HP): 60/50

Mana Points (MP): 50/50

Stamina: 50/50

Attributes

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Endurance: 5

Vitality: 6

Fortitude: 6

Perception: 10

Willpower: 6

Intelligence: 5

Wisdom: 5

Attribute Points: 0

Titles:

N/A

—END STATUS—

Kael stared at the screen, his jaw tightening. It was all gone. Every stat he had ground for. Every title he had bled for had been erased without a trace. It was like waking up to find a game save file corrupted beyond recovery.

He exhaled slowly, his hands instinctively clenching into fists. The Tower hadn't just reset him—it had gutted him. Every skill, every advantage, stripped away like it had never existed. But then... a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Just as I expected. Everything has really been reversed…but that's fine. This is an opportunity.

Kael knew the tower now. He wasn't some clueless rookie stumbling in for the first time. This time, he wouldn't make the same mistakes. He wouldn't waste stat points on worthless attributes or grind in inefficient areas.

He was going to optimize everything and what better way to start than from zero? His eyes flicked to the Race section. Right on cue, a second panel popped up.

Human (F) - The foundation of humanity within the Tower, ranked among the lowest tiers. Common in newly initiated floors, humans are neither the strongest nor the fastest, yet they are among the most adaptable races in existence. Bonuses per level: +1 to all attributes, +1 free attribute point.

Kael let out a dry chuckle. This is nostalgic, seeing my race back to how it began. His eyes then flicked over to the Class and Profession sections of his status screen.

Classes were exactly what their name implied—specialized combat roles that granted unique abilities, bonuses, and even skills. They defined how one would fight, survive, and grow stronger within the Tower.

Professions, on the other hand, were more like secondary lifepaths—things like Blacksmith, Alchemist, or Merchant. They weren't about combat, but they still provided their own advantages.

But as of now, none of that mattered. Right now, Kael was focused on one thing… His Class.

His fingers tightened slightly. Last time, he had chosen Warrior. A solid choice, a dependable path. But it hadn't been enough. Strength alone didn't guarantee survival. Not in this godforsaken Tower. This time, things would be different.

"Woooow, this is like a game," Kael said, his tone laced with sarcasm. He already knew what was coming, but he played along. There was no point in rushing things.

The Overseer, raised a single ethereal finger.

"...Before entering the Tutorial Floor, you are allowed to choose your starting class."

With a single swipe, a new status window materialized before him. A sleek, rotating menu, softly pulsing with a golden glow.

[Please Select Your Starter Class]