Restarting As An SSS-Rank Rogue

If the sun wasn't up, he'd be drowning in darkness right now. But Kael didn't panic. He didn't freeze. Because unlike the first time he woke up here, this time... he knew exactly where he was.

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

[Floor Panel]

Welcome, Participants, to The Silent Wilds.

Your trial begins now.

Clear Condition: Survive for 90 days. Only 200 will ascend. If more than 200 remain at the end, the top 200 based on Survival Points will advance.

Current Participants: 2000/2000

Survival Points & Elimination Rules:

Hunt the beasts of The Wilds. Eliminate other participants. Half of their points will transfer to you. Uncover hidden trials and challenges within The Wilds.

⚠ Prepare. The Eclipse Hours will come.

Kael exhaled slowly. So I'm back.

The floating panel was just as he remembered. Cold. Indifferent. A simple block of text, spelling out the rules of this hellish game. They called it a "tutorial floor," but there was nothing tutorial-like about it.

It was a death sentence for most.

His first time here, he had woken up in a blind panic, heart pounding, breath short, convinced he was about to die. Now? He knew exactly what to do.

Kael steadied himself and clenched his fists. He was alone just like last time—unfortunate enough to wake up far from a group—but that was fine.

Better, even.

Other people were useful, sure, but they were also liabilities. His plan was simple: Find a group. Use them. Get stronger. Then leave before the backstabbing starts. Because it would start. It always did.

"I'll stay just long enough to sharpen myself—then I'm on my own. I won't make the mistake of trusting anyone for too long."

This wasn't about pride. This was about survival. And Kael had no plans to die here.

That being said, he could only acquire the skill he wanted during the eclipse hours. With a few days still to go, Kael set off, weaving through the dense forest, his eyes scanning the shifting shadows between the trees.

His footsteps were light, his senses razor-sharp. One hand rested on the hilt of his daggers, the other free to react at a moment's notice. Though the events of the tutorial floor were a distant memory, his instincts as the one who reached the top of the tower remained sharp.

This place still gives me the creeps.

The air was thick with the scent of damp wood and unknown flora. Leaves rustled even when there was no wind, and unseen creatures scurried just beyond his vision. The real threats—the nocturnal beasts that lurked in the shadows—would only emerge at night. But danger was never truly absent.

Snakes. Spiders. The unseen killers.

Kael exhaled slowly, keeping his nerves steady. He had fought beings that could shatter mountains, yet there was something about an unseen, creeping venom that put him on edge.

After about twenty minutes of silent travel, he paused. Near the base of an old tree, a cluster of mushrooms caught his eye. Is that what I think it is?

He crouched down, extending a cautious hand.

"Inspect."

A translucent screen flickered into view.

[Shrimp Shroom (Uncommon)] – A versatile, edible mushroom prized by alchemists for potion crafting and valued by chefs as a flavorful ingredient in hearty soups.

Kael smirked. Just what I was looking for.

He swiftly harvested a handful, tucking them into his pouch. Every resource counted. There was still plenty of time before nightfall, and he planned to gather as many ingredients as possible before finding a group to join up with.

Time drifted by. Kael moved with quiet efficiency, collecting rare herbs and keeping out of sight. The forest was a puzzle, and he was careful not to misstep.

Then—

Voices.

Distant, but clear.

Kael's body tensed. He instinctively melted into the shadows, inching toward the sound. His breathing slowed, his heartbeat steady as he moved unseen.

The conversation grew clearer. A group of seven or eight people stood in a small clearing, their expressions tense.

"What were those things we saw…?"

"They had to be one of the beasts from the tutorial panel."

"Should we have fought them? There were only two. We could've taken them."

"Don't be stupid. We don't know what they're capable of."

Kael's eyes narrowed. They had probably encountered one of the Forest Beasts. Since it's still morning it most likely wasn't a dangerous one.

Still, if a group that size couldn't even handle two forest beasts in broad daylight, they were better off giving up now. Kael turned to leave, unimpressed. But then—

"Calm down, everyone."

A confident voice cut through the murmurs of uncertainty.

Kael glanced back. A tall young man with sharp brown eyes and a muscular frame stepped forward. His presence alone seemed to steady the others.

"I know this situation is sudden, but we're not helpless," the man continued. "We have three rangers, two warriors—myself included—a rogue, a caster, and a cleric. That's a well-balanced team." He paused, scanning their faces. "If we work together, we can take them down before they become a problem."

No one objected. In fact, most of them looked relieved, as if the weight of decision-making had been lifted from their shoulders.

So that's their leader, huh?

Kael's gaze lingered on him—Liam, if he'd heard correctly. Unlike the rest, this one carried himself with certainty. More importantly, his assessment wasn't wrong. Despite their initial hesitation, the group had everything they needed to succeed.

Especially the cleric.

Clerics had a big role to play in the tutorial floor. Without healing magic, even minor wounds could become death sentences. No antibiotics. No med-kits. Just raw survival skills and whatever nature provided. Kael could manage without a healer, but most of these people? They wouldn't last long if things went south.

For now, he remained hidden, watching. If they crumbled at the first sign of real danger, he'd know they weren't worth his time.

The group huddled, whispering plans. Minutes later, they moved with newfound confidence, stepping carefully through the thick underbrush. Kael followed at a distance, silent as a shadow.

Then—they stopped.

Just ahead, nestled in a shallow clearing, two massive creatures wallowed in a pool of thick mud. Boars. But not the kind anyone would recognize.

Their hides, crusted in hardened muck, looked like natural armor. Their tusks—longer, sharper, almost blade-like—glinted under the dappled sunlight. One snorted, sending ripples through the murky water. The other, slightly smaller, rooted through the soil, searching for something unseen.

"They haven't noticed us," a ranger whispered. "If we time it right, we might take one down before they react."