Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Lower Domain, Celestial ID

[Eternal Ascension] was divided into three known domains, places that every single player, regardless of race or world, would eventually have to pass through.

The first was the [Lower Domain].

Once a player cleared their [Novice Village] and completed their assessment, they were sent there without exception.

It was the true beginning of the game, the point where survival became real.

The [Lower Domain] housed all players between level 10 and level 50.

Death was common. Progress was slow. And the gap between the weak and the strong widened rapidly.

After that came the [Higher Domain].

Only players who reached level 50 were allowed to ascend to it. The environment was harsher, the enemies smarter, and the rewards far greater.

Players between level 50 and 100 gathered there, and by that point, no one was inexperienced anymore. Everyone had blood on their hands.

And finally, there was the [Eternal Domain].

Only those who surpassed level 100 could reach it. The place where danger was pushed to its absolute limit, and where opportunity was just as extreme.

Fortunes could be made overnight. Entire legacies could be destroyed just as quickly.

Leon hadn’t spent much time in the [Eternal Domain] in his past life.

Not because he wasn’t strong enough to survive there, but because that was where everything ended for him.

That was where he had been ambushed by the [God of Eternity] and its servants.

The memory lingered at the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside. There was no point dwelling on it now.

A few seconds after saying "Leave" inside the [Novice Divine Temple], Leon felt his body lighten.

The world blurred. And then, he appeared in a small plain.

Grass stretched out in every direction, short and pale, swaying gently despite there being no visible wind.

Then the system reacted.

Ding!

[You have been transported to the "Lower Domain"]

[This is the very first step players take to achieve true ascension, do not falter.]

Leon exhaled slowly.

"So this is it..."

Before he could take more than a few seconds to observe his surroundings, another panel appeared.

Ding!

[You may now select a personal ID, and the system will refer to you as such.]

"There it is," Leon said with a grin.

This was a defining moment for every player.

Once you entered the [Lower Domain], the system no longer referred to you by your real name alone.

From this point onward, you would be known by an ID, a name displayed on your panel, visible to other players, monsters with intelligence, and even certain system interfaces.

You could keep your real name if you wanted. Almost nobody did.

Based on what Leon remembered, at least ninety-nine percent of players chose a different ID.

Some wanted anonymity. Others wanted intimidation. Some just wanted something that sounded cool.

In his past life, Leon had chosen [LeonMagic].

It wasn’t creative, but it wasn’t taken, and it represented his playstyle well enough.

This time, though...

"Hm."

Leon hesitated.

Using the same ID didn’t feel right. This was a different life. A different path. Repeating the same name felt like chaining himself to the past.

He considered several options. None of them felt right.

And then, suddenly, it was as if something clicked.

An idea surfaced in his mind, clear and sharp.

Leon lifted his head slightly.

"Celestial," he said calmly. "Is it taken?"

He expected the system to immediately deny it.

In his past life, he had tried dozens of names: simple ones, powerful ones, symbolic ones.

Almost all of them had already been taken.

Something like "Celestial" should have been claimed long ago.

And yet—

Ding!

["Celestial" is available.]

Leon blinked.

"...That’s not normal."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

There was no way an ID like that would be left unused in a game with so many players.

Millions were in the [Lower Domain] after all. And yet, the system was telling him it was available.

Leon didn’t hesitate. Regardless of the reason, he wouldn’t pass this up.

"Confirm."

Ding!

[You have selected "Celestial" as your ID.]

[Only the true celestial may be allowed to select this ID.]

Leon tilted his head slightly.

"So that’s it," he muttered. "Restricted by conditions."

Still, one thing bothered him.

"There are 199 other Celestials before me," Leon thought. "Did none of them try to take this ID?"

Or were they simply unable to?

He decided not to dwell on it. Whatever the case, the system had allowed him to take it, and that was enough.

Another panel appeared almost immediately.

Ding!

[You may now do whatever you see fit in this domain, Celestial. May the will of the "Heavenly One" be with you.]

"Hah," Leon let out lightly. "Sure."

As the panel faded, a familiar notification popped up. A message.

Leon opened his friend list and noticed something odd.

Emilia’s name was no longer displayed as Emilia.

Instead, it read: [Saintess].

"...Another strange ID," Leon muttered.

Just like "Celestial," that ID should have been taken ages ago.

And yet, Emilia had it. This only reinforced his suspicion.

Certain IDs were probably locked behind [Titles] or [Talents]. If you didn’t meet the conditions, the system simply wouldn’t allow you to select them.

He would have to ask Emilia about her talent later to confirm it.

A message appeared.

Ding!

[Saintess: I guess we appeared in different spaces. I’m in some kind of desert...]

Leon replied without hesitation.

Ding!

[Celestial: Level 10 players don’t spawn that far from each other at the start. Just focus on getting stronger, we’ll meet eventually.]

A second later—

Ding!

[Saintess: Alright (＾▽＾)]

"...?"

Leon stared at the message.

"How is she doing that?" he muttered, confused by the strange symbols.

Still, he smiled faintly.

He considered asking her about her talent, but decided against it. Now wasn’t the time. Emilia would need to focus on surviving.

The [Lower Domain] might be the first stage, but it was anything but safe.

There were millions of players spread across it. Most weren’t aggressive, but Leon wasn’t naïve.

Especially when it came to players from high-level worlds.

Some of them were monsters even at level 10.

As for those from eternal-level worlds... They were on a completely different level.

Fortunately, most of them had already advanced to the [Higher Domain] or beyond.

The ones still here were exceptions, like Titan and the others from [Fated Star].

Leon doubted he would run into them anytime soon. He summoned his status panel.

---

[Name: Leon Rykard]

[ID: Celestial]

[Talent: 100% Drop Rate (SSS)]

[Title: Celestial Being #200]

[Sub-Talents: Constitution Enhancement (E-Level), Strength Enhancement (F-Level), Vessel of Darkness (B-Level)]

[Level: 10 (0/10,000)]

[Constitution: 424 (+871)]

[Strength: 384 (+808)]

[Agility: 405 (+490)]

[Spirit: 419 (+615)]

[Skills: Appraisal (Lv.4), Vision Enhancement (Lv.4), Powerful Fireball (Lv.6), Lightning Strike (Lv.3), Crescent Slash (Lv.2), Darkness Barrier (Lv.1)]

[Combat Power: 3,264 (+6,718)]

[Free Points to Allocate: 20]

[Eternal Coins: 3,138]

[Reputation Points: 100]

---

His combat power hadn’t changed much since the assessment.

But that didn’t matter. It was still hovering around 10,000. At this stage, that was absurd.

Still, Leon knew better than to be satisfied.

"This is nowhere near enough," he said quietly.

Without hesitation, he spoke again.

"Put all my free points into [Spirit]."

Ding!

The numbers shifted instantly.

Leon felt a subtle surge of energy course through his body.

His combat power finally crossed the threshold. Officially surpassing 10,000.

Even so, Leon remained calm. This was only the beginning.

If he wanted to truly dominate the [Lower Domain], he needed far more strength, and this was where his [100% Drop Rate] talent would shine.

Just as Leon took his first step forward—

BOOM!

The ground in front of him exploded.

Earth and stone burst upward as a massive shadow erupted from below.

Leon instantly stepped back, eyes sharp.

An enormous snake emerged, its body thick as a tree trunk, scales coated in dirt and rock.

"Hah," Leon said lightly. "Already?"

Appraisal!

---

[Earth Snake]

[Level: 10]

[Combat Power: 7,000]

[Details: A snake that lives in the earth, located in the "Hell" area of the "Lower Domain"]

---

Leon’s eyes widened slightly, "7,000 combat power..."

Then it clicked: there were four possible spawn zones in the [Lower Domain].

[Easy], [Intermediate], [Hard] and [Hell].

Depending on your assessment result and combat power, the system placed you where it believed you belonged.

In his past life, Leon had started in the [Intermediate] zone.

This time, he was in [Hell]. No wonder this monster was so strong.

The snake lunged at him, its jaws wide open.

Leon didn’t flinch. He raised his staff and pointed it forward.

Powerful Fireball!

BOOM!

The fireball detonated on impact. Flames engulfed the Earth Snake instantly.

Its massive body twitched once, then collapsed. Dead on the spot.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com