The ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE SYSTEM-Chapter 40: REWARDS

The moment the seventh goblin collapsed, a crisp chime rang out—clear and familiar.A glowing screen appeared in front of me, shining with a pale blue light. But this wasn’t from the Ultimate Experience System.

[COMMON SYSTEM MESSAGE]CONGRATULATIONS!You have successfully completed Stage One of the Trial Zone.You are the first participant to clear this stage.

Rewards Granted:• 10 Awakening Points(Collect 200 Awakening Points to awaken as a Superhuman)• C-Rank Dual Handguns• 5 Lucky Spins on the Fortune Wheel• Bonus Reward for Fastest Completion:→ A-Rank Mystery Box

I raised an eyebrow, and a smirk slowly curled across my lips.

"Well now... these rewards are way better than last time."

In my past life, Stage One barely gave anything. Just a few scraps to help a rookie stumble into Stage Two. Half the challengers didn’t even make it that far. But now? These rewards weren’t scraps. They were gold.

A C-Rank weapon this early? That alone was enough to shift the entire balance of power.

I flexed my fingers as the rewards materialized before me, flickering into existence one by one.Two pistols hovered in the air—matte-black, their surfaces sleek and modern. Energy pulsed softly along their frames, like a heartbeat waiting to be unleashed.

They felt solid. Deadly. Efficient.And they were mine.

I gripped them and immediately felt the pull—subtle vibration, like they recognized me. Responded to me.

"This is why I picked the handgun class."

Most players wouldn’t dare. Guns were a gamble in the early stages—ammo limitations, slow reloads, dependency on aim and positioning. They thought blades were more reliable. Safer.

But those people didn’t live through hell.

I had.And I knew the truth.If you had the skill, precision, and nerves of steel...A handgun could outperform any weapon in the game.And now, with a C-Rank set from Stage One?

"Heh. Things are about to get fun."

I holstered the pistols and turned to the rest of the rewards. The five Lucky Spins shimmered above a floating, rune-etched wheel. And then... the A-Rank Mystery Box. A cube of pure energy, pulsing softly, its contents hidden.

It was tempting.But first—fate.

I stepped toward the Fortune Wheel.

"Let’s see what kind of luck I’m working with."

I closed my eyes and took a breath. Then, in my mind, I spoke clearly to the system that truly mattered.

"Ultimate Experience System. Grant me 100 years of experience... as the luckiest person alive. In luck itself."

The reply came swiftly.

[Request Accepted – Simulating 100 Years of Peak Luck Proficiency...]

No dramatic fanfare followed.No blinding light. No music. No storm of particles.

Just silence.And yet, I knew.The gears of fate had shifted.

"Let’s see if luck favors the bold."

I raised my hand and triggered the first spin.

The Fortune Wheel roared to life—colors spinning in a dizzying blur, artifacts and gear flashing past like shooting stars.Swords. Armor. Potions. Rare skills. Vouchers.

Then—

DING![Congratulations – You have obtained: Blazing Armor (S-Rank)]

My eyes snapped open.

"...Blazing Armor?"

The name struck me like lightning.

In my past life, this item was nothing short of legend. Worn by a top-tier SR-ranked Hunter. Said to have been forged from dragonfire itself.He auctioned it for a billion dollars—and that was after surviving six assassination attempts from people who wanted to steal it.

It was a relic.A status symbol.A weapon and a shield all in one.

And I just pulled it... on my first spin.

A slow grin spread across my face.

"Yeah... I’ll definitely be using this."

The armor materialized in front of me—crimson plates glowing with heat, molten patterns etched into its frame. The air shimmered around it like a desert mirage. Every inch of it radiated danger.

This wasn’t gear.It was a declaration of war.

In this world, the rank system for challengers climbed as follows:E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, SR, SRR, R, RR, RRR.

In my old timeline, SR was the peak. Barely ten people ever reached it. And even fewer survived long enough to enjoy it.

But the world didn’t stop growing.The Trials evolved.New monsters appeared. New ranks emerged.The very definition of "strong" was rewritten.

This time, I wouldn’t chase the peak.I would become it.

I glanced at the spinning wheel again.Four more spins remained.

"Let’s not waste time."

I raised my hand and gave the command.

"Spin the last four. All at once."

The four wheels ignited.Each one spun faster than the last, glowing with power as the chamber pulsed with energy. Symbols blurred. Rows of treasures streaked past, faster than my eyes could follow.

Then, one by one:

DING!DING!DING!DING!

Rewards floated into view:

• [S-Rank Weapon: Viper Mystic Sniper]• [50 Awakening Points]• [50 Awakening Points]• [Advanced Awakening Voucher – 1 Acquired]

I froze.

It wasn’t the sniper rifle that stopped me, though the Viper Mystic Sniper was easily one of the top ten long-range weapons in the game—capable of piercing magical barriers, adaptive trajectory, and variable scope modes. A dream weapon.

But no, that wasn’t what hit me.

It was the final reward.

The Advanced Awakening Voucher.

"...I actually pulled one."

In my past life, only the top ten had ever collected five. With them, you could force evolution—break through the cap, even if your talent was average. They were keys to the SR Rank... and beyond.

They weren’t sold.They weren’t traded.They were earned through blood, sweat, and impossible odds.

And now...I had one.

"If I can gather four more..." I murmured, fists clenched. "SR Rank won’t just be a dream. It’ll be a guarantee."

But I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

The system didn’t hand out Vouchers like candy. Each one would require rare achievements, monstrous kills, and max-level synchronization with the system.That was fine. I had time. I had experience. And now... I had power.

I calmed my breathing. One step at a time.

I looked at the glowing A-Rank Mystery Box floating in my inventory.

A tempting reward.But I wasn’t stupid.

"Let’s keep this one sealed for now," I muttered. "No need to show all my cards."

I slung the sniper rifle over my back. Its weight felt perfect—heavy, but reassuring. Like an old friend.

Then, slowly, I turned toward the far side of the chamber.

There it was.A gate. Ancient. Massive. Covered in glowing runes.Energy rolled off it in waves, thick with tension. The scent of blood and fire hung in the air.

Stage Two.

The next battlefield.The next trial.The next chance to grow stronger.

I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t blink.

I stepped forward.

The heat of Blazing Armor at my back. The Viper Sniper slung across my shoulder. Dual handguns at my side. Power in my veins. Confidence in my soul.

This time, I wouldn’t fall.This time, I wouldn’t fade into obscurity.This time... I would rise to the top.

I looked at the system and gave a single, quiet command:

"Start the second challenge."

And the gate began to open.