Blue motes of light rose from the five fallen Rockhide Goblins and drifted into Solus's body like streams of azure fireflies.
Ding!
System: Congratulations on killing Level 5 Rockhide Goblin!
+51 EXP
System: Bonus Experience activated due to level difference.
[+20% EXP per level difference]
+41 EXP
Solus gained a total of 92 Experience Points from a single Rockhide Goblin, pushing his experience to 92/100 for Level 1.
It was a simple yet brutal demonstration of Ascension Online's leveling system. Progress normally took time, but by defeating monsters far above his own level, Solus earned an additional 20% experience for every level of difference.
Before he could process it, another notification echoed through his mind.
System: Congratulations on killing Level 5 Rockhide Goblin!
+51 EXP
System: Bonus Experience activated due to level difference.
[+20% EXP per level difference]
+41 EXP
System: Congratulations! You have leveled up!
Level 2!
A warm current surged through his body.
His muscles tightened with newfound strength, his senses sharpened, and the fatigue from the battle seemed to melt away. The familiar weakness of a Level 1 player was gradually disappearing.
Yet the notifications did not stop.
The remaining experience continued pouring into his body as the system rapidly calculated the rewards from all five goblins.
As a Level 1 player defeating five Level 5 Rockhide Goblins, Solus received 92 Experience Points from each kill.
When all the experience was counted, his level rose again.
Level 3
Experience: 210/225
Only fifteen more experience points separated him from Level 4.
A faint smile appeared on Solus's face.
The levels were welcome...
But they were never the reward he had been waiting for.
Then—
A thunderous notification resounded inside his mind.
System: Unique Title Obtained: The First Bastion
"The first warrior who stood alone against an impossible siege. The people remember your courage, and the kingdoms recognize your worth."
Passive Attributes
+10% Defense
+5% Maximum LP
+5% Damage Reduction against monsters
+15% Threat Generation
+10% Crowd Control Resistance
+5% Stamina Recovery during combat
Leadership Aura
When leading a party or raid:
- Allies within 20 meters gain +5% Defense
- Allies gain +3% Maximum LP
- Reduces fear and panic effects by 20%
Solus smiled.
His true goal...
Had finally been achieved.
However, the smile froze on his face as an even more unbelievable series of announcements followed.
System: Evolution condition detected.
System: The Unique Title: The First Bastion has met the requirements for evolution.
Requirements:
- Defeat Rockhide Goblins with Rockhide Pack Resolve Activated ✔️
- Defeat all five simultaneously ✔️
- Player Level Requirement: Level 1 ✔️
System: Evolution Successful!
Eternal Unique Title: The First Bastion ⭐
Rarity: Eternal (Unique)
Availability: Only one player throughout the entire world of Ascension Online can ever obtain this title.
Additional Attributes
Noble Recognition
The title grants the player the honorary noble rank:
Baron of the Frontier
A noble title recognized by every Human Kingdom.
NPC Privileges
- NPC Guards salute the player upon first entering any Human city or outpost.
- Receives priority audiences with governors and military commanders.
- 10% discount at Human NPC shops.
- Can accept exclusive Noble Quests unavailable to ordinary players.
- Gains access to restricted military facilities and strategy rooms.
- Receives free lodging at city barracks and noble inns.
Military Advancement
Should the title holder prove their leadership during large-scale wars, they may be appointed as:
General of the City
General's Authority
- Command city guards during monster sieges.
- Issue battlefield orders to NPC soldiers.
- Recruit militia NPCs during emergencies.
- Unlock large-scale defense quests and siege events.
General's Buffs
All allied NPC soldiers receive:
+15% Defense
+10% Attack Power
+20% Morale
The title holder receives:
+15% Defense
+10% Maximum LP
+10% Damage against monsters during city defense events
+20% Threat Generation
- Immunity to morale-breaking effects while defending a city.
The additional attributes left even Solus speechless.
His heart pounded violently.
None of this information existed within the sea of memories he had inherited.
That could only mean one thing.
This was the first time anyone had ever fulfilled the hidden conditions.
He had become the very first player in history to trigger this event.
Then, before Solus could even recover from the shock—
A golden announcement spread across the entire world.
☆ WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT ☆
Player Solus has earned World Recognition for obtaining the Eternal Unique Title: The First Bastion ⭐
The title holder's name has been permanently engraved upon the Ascendant Pillar beneath the Legends section.
Every NPC scholar, knight, and commander shall recognize The First Bastion as the legendary defender who earned nobility through courage rather than birth.
Only one player in the world shall ever possess this title.
"..."
Solus stood frozen.
Only then did he remember one fatal mistake.
He had forgotten to disable the display of his player name in the system settings.
His identity had just been broadcast to the entire world.
Without a doubt, countless guilds would begin searching for him.
Some would seek to recruit him.
Others...
Would hunt him down to uncover the secret behind the title.
After a brief sigh, Solus shook his head.
The announcement had already been made.
There was nothing he could do now.
At that very moment, deep within the Mistveil Catacombs Regional Dungeon, the two strongest players in Mistveil were fighting side by side.
Malakai, the current Rank One player, and Grimfang, ranked second, had formed a temporary alliance to defeat the dungeon's final boss.
The colossal Mistbound Warden let out a deafening roar as countless blades of blood erupted from the ground.
"Push! It's almost dead!" Malakai shouted.
The elite raid unleashed everything they had.
Then—
A brilliant golden light spread across the sky.
The world announcement echoed through every player's ears.
☆ WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT ☆
Player Solus has earned World Recognition for obtaining the Eternal Unique Title: The First Bastion ⭐
Everyone on the battlefield froze.
"Solus?"
"Who the hell is that?"
Even Malakai and Grimfang instinctively looked toward the floating announcement for a split second.
That single moment of distraction proved fatal.
The Crimson Warlord's crimson greatsword descended like a falling mountain.
BOOM!
The main tank was instantly crushed.
Without their frontline, the formation collapsed.
A storm of blood erupted across the arena, wiping out healer after healer before the remaining players could react.
Within seconds...
The entire raid was annihilated.
Team Wipe.
Silence filled the dungeon.
The players revived outside the instance with pale faces, unable to believe what had just happened.
Malakai's fists trembled as veins bulged across his forehead.
His eyes burned with anger.
"We were one attack away..." he muttered through clenched teeth.
Grimfang remained silent, his expression equally grim.
Malakai slowly raised his head, his gaze turning cold.
"Find him."
He looked at every member of his guild.
"I don't care what it takes."
"Search every outpost."
"Every beginner zone."
"I want every piece of information on the player named Solus."
The hunt had begun.