Free Web NovelChapter 1: Xander
A few days after transmigrating to this world, Xander stood by the narrow window of the inn, gazing at the evening bustle on the cobblestone streets below. A curvaceous woman in the adjacent alley caught his eye, flashing him a bold, flirtatious smile.
This was the finest room at the Oxhollow Inn, offering a clear view of Tanchapel’s most iconic landmark — the gleaming Silver Hourglass, headquarters of the Silver Order.
Not far away, a young pickpocket deftly relieved a wealthy merchant of his coin purse. The boy’s movements were precise and practiced; he likely carried at least three levels in the Thief path.
Everything looked and felt exactly like the real world.
The only difference was Xander himself.
"Status," he thought silently. A familiar translucent panel materialized before his eyes.
---
Name: Xander
Race: Human/?
Attributes:
Strength – 11
Dexterity – 16
Constitution – 9
Intelligence – 14
Wisdom – 14
Charisma – 13(+1)
Class: Noble Rank 3 (150/200)
Adventurer Class: None
Health Points: 10/26 (Fever) freewebnovel.cσ๓
[Weakness Penalty: Attributes Reduction - 70%]
Exp: 40 (Noble) [Unused]
SP: None
AP: None
Class Skills (Noble – Baron):
Dignity – 25
Management – 31
Perception – 16
Diplomacy – 19
Accounting – 28
Horsemanship – 30
---
Beyond these game-like details, the world around him pulsed with genuine life. After three days of careful observation and questioning locals, Xander had confirmed three critical truths.
First, he had transmigrated into the very game world he had dominated on Earth — now reimagined as the continent of Eudroya.
Second, this was no simulation. Every soul here breathed, bled, and dreamed. He recognized faces from his past playthroughs, now fully alive.
Third, he was in serious trouble.
If his memories held true, he had arrived on the eve of the Great Shattering. The peaceful era before him would soon fracture beyond recognition. The age of arcane supremacy was ending. The gods would soon unite to shatter the Arcane Reservoir, claiming this fertile land for themselves.
And at the heart of it all loomed the Fifth Arcane Tablet.
Xander rubbed his temples, forcing his thoughts into order. For now, the Shattering itself was months away — half a year, give or take. As a former Legend-tier player who once stood among the gods of Eudroya, that window, though tight, was enough to forge a path to survival.
His more immediate crisis was far grimmer.
The high fever ravaging this frail body could claim him at any moment from a mere chill. Three days of integrating the memories of this fourteen-year-old youth had revealed the full extent of his dire straits.
A month earlier, a horde of gnoll marauders had overrun Redoak Vale, seizing the family castle and the rich mines beyond. The boy had fled to Tanchapel, hoping the city lord would dispatch soldiers to reclaim their lands.
The journey had been too much for the sickly youth. He succumbed to fever, creating the opening for Xander’s soul to cross over. Coincidentally — or perhaps by design, the boy’s name had also been Xander.
Merging souls had been agonizing. Xander had expended tremendous effort to ease the remnant’s passage, making a binding vow in return: he would safeguard what the boy cherished most — his territory, his younger brother, and a certain woman.
Their memories and emotions had fused. Breaking that oath would tear at Xander’s very spirit.
Thus, while the Great Shattering loomed like a distant storm, Xander’s first priority was reclaiming Redoak Vale within the month. Failure would invite the remnant’s curse, further crippling his already pathetic attributes. Unacceptable.
Back in the game, his legendary Ranger-Thief hybrid had shattered limits. When he finally ascended as Ruler of the Dusk, his base attributes exceeded 100 combined, with Dexterity soaring past 20. That edge had granted him the signature passive [Anti-Gravity Steps], allowing brief vertical movement along walls as if gravity were a suggestion.
It was this overwhelming agility that defined his legend. At the peak, only eleven players had achieved godhood. Xander had been one of them.
Now? This body was laughably weak. A lone goblin could probably end him in single combat. No combat class whatsoever — just the pampered skills of a minor noble. Diplomacy and Horsemanship offered marginal utility, but nothing for true adventuring.
At least the boy hadn’t foolishly chosen a wizard path. With the Arcane Reservoir’s destruction looming, most spellcasters would plummet five full levels. The old order would collapse, and new powers — along with divine faiths, would rise amid the flames of war.
A firm knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Xander called, returning to the edge of the bed.
A young woman with warm brown hair entered. She looked about twenty, weary from exertion, her well-worn leather armor bearing fresh blade marks. Her ears tapered slightly — not fully elven, but unmistakably touched by fey blood.
This was Elyra, his loyal butler and bodyguard — the only one who had remained at his side. Xander recalled the night the barns burned. She had charged through gnoll lines without hesitation, dragged him from the flames, and carried him nearly five kilometers from Redoak Vale to Tanchapel. Her sword and armor showed the scars of that desperate flight.
"Master, I visited the City Hall again today," Elyra said, setting her blade aside. Fatigue lined her pretty features. "The officials gave the same excuses. But I earned twenty silvers on a quick escort job. We can cover next week’s rent, and there will be soup tonight."
"Elyra, how much do we have total?" Xander asked suddenly.
She blinked in surprise. Since his fever broke, this was the first time he had spoken to her so directly.
"Twenty-nine silvers," she replied promptly.
"Not enough," Xander muttered, frowning. "Did my mother leave behind the jewelry case?"
Elyra’s expression shifted from surprise to anger. "Master Xander?! You would sell your mother’s keepsakes?"
He nodded calmly. "There was a pearl necklace inside. It should fetch a decent sum."
She stared at him, disappointment clouding her eyes. "Don’t tell me you plan to return to the gambling dens?"
Xander paused. The original youth had indeed been lured by a false friend into Tanchapel’s rigged casinos shortly after arriving, losing what little coin remained and worsening his condition. That "friend" had clearly been a casino plant targeting vulnerable nobles.
"I won’t allow it," Elyra said firmly. "If you need coin, I’ll earn it. But we cannot afford more foolishness. Young Master Wayne already owes two months’ tuition at the Runeforce Academy. If we fall further behind, he’ll be expelled."
Xander chuckled softly. "Elyra, I’m not asking for the necklace to gamble. I need it to heal this body."
"Heal?" She looked confused.
"My condition hasn’t improved. I know a priest of the Silver Order. With proper payment, he can cast Remove Disease and Cure Light Wounds. I cannot remain this weak noble any longer. I must train. I must fight. I need to retake our lands and protect those who matter."
He rose from the bed, changing into fresher clothes. A spark of resolve animated his movements.
"Trust me, Elyra."
She hesitated, teeth clenched, then retrieved the small jewelry box from their meager luggage. Inside lay the delicate pearl necklace.
"I’ll accompany you to ensure—"
"No need," Xander interrupted gently but firmly. "You’ve pushed yourself all day. Rest. I may not return tonight. Be cautious — two rough-looking men in the alley earlier were speaking about you. Their intentions seemed ill. Even as a Rank 1 adventurer, we must stay wary of the gangs here."
Elyra remained seated, stunned, as Xander departed.
Today’s young master felt... different. Sharper. More commanding. A trace of his late father’s noble bearing had returned.
Outside in the corridor, Xander glanced at the system log and shook his head slightly.
"I feel guilty using it on her... Last time, I hope."
[Log]:
[Dignity (25) activated...]
[Wisdom check...]
[Skill successfully activated...]
