[Time is an odd thing. Eleven years have passed since your first meeting with Elvynna. You've been so immersed in your magical studies that you even forgot to celebrate the last winter solstice...]

[You've reached Practitioner Lv2!]

[Another spring dawns, marking your fifteenth year as Elvynna’s apprentice. The peach trees you planted together have grown tall and sturdy, casting their shade in the summer and yielding fruit come autumn...]

[You've advanced to Practitioner Lv3!]

[In your sixteenth year together, the neighbor’s little brat has blossomed into a graceful young lady, experiencing her first crush… and you’ve ascended to Practitioner Lv5!]

Two breakthroughs in one year? Eirik felt his pulse quicken.

Elvynna, too, had made strides—achieving Practitioner Lv9 and stepping into the realm of the Elemental Mage. At this stage, she could summon towering elemental giants, her power growing far beyond the ordinary. Yet, despite her progress, she seemed stuck at a crossroads, unable to push through to the next level—the Savant.

In this world, the major magical thresholds were Stalwart, Practitioner, and Savant. Was there more beyond that? Possibly, but Eirik had no way of knowing for certain... yet.

"Sixteen years of training, and I’ve helped Elvynna reach Practitioner Lv9…"

It sounded impressive, but to Eirik, the journey felt slow. He had pledged to help Elvynna ascend to become the Elf Empress. This was just the beginning.

"Elvynna’s stuck. Perhaps it’s time for us to venture out, gather some real-world experience, and maybe explore the next dungeon," Eirik mused.

"Going on a training journey sounds perfect!"

Elvynna's eyes gleamed with eagerness. Despite all the knowledge she had gained from their secluded studies, she had never set foot into the outside world. How far could this simulation technique truly carry them?

Her excitement grew. Little did they know, the upcoming events would test them in ways they never imagined.

[The Seventeenth Year: A Great Crisis Strikes Aelsryel City]

[Buried deep beneath the earth, special seeds—nourished for decades by the blood of prodigies—finally gave birth to an ancient divine tree. Its massive branches reached out, casting their shadow over half of Aelsryel City, draining the blood from the majority of its inhabitants!]

A chilling illustration accompanied these words—a monstrous tree, its roots violently tearing through the earth as its branches twisted through the bodies of common folk and scholars alike.

An ancient divine tree? An opportunity, perhaps? Eirik’s heart raced. In many stories, such trees were harbingers of great power and treasures for the protagonist. But this tree was different—dark, malevolent, almost demonic in nature. It thrived on the blood of the gifted, and that made Eirik uneasy.

He recalled Elvynna once mentioning how talented students from Starlight Academy had gone missing in recent years, and how little had been done to investigate. Perhaps that was why Elvynna had preferred her studies in seclusion—at least there, they were safe from such dangers. But now, it seemed, this mysterious force was no longer content to remain hidden.

"I thought staying hidden would protect us... but now it seems we’ve drawn the attention of something far worse than we could have imagined…"

Elvynna’s breath quickened as she watched the unfolding catastrophe within the game. In real life, prodigious students from Starlight Academy had vanished without a trace. And now, it seemed, someone was feeding this demonic tree with their blood.

The tree’s hunger for flesh was unlike any monster they had faced. It wasn’t merely a force of nature—it was likely something summoned from a much darker realm.

If the tree were allowed to fully mature, it wouldn’t just threaten Aelsryel City. It could turn the entire northern region into a forbidden zone, a demonic wasteland. Such an event would have catastrophic consequences...

Meanwhile, in the game, scholars had already begun to confront the tree.

The city of Aelsryel had become a battlefield. Elemental power filled the air, crackling with destructive force. But despite their best efforts, the scholars were no match for the demonic tree. Every branch seemed to move with a life of its own, swatting away the mages with ease. Worse yet, the tree’s vitality was endless. Even when its branches were severed, they regenerated in an instant.

The scholars pressed on, suffering heavy casualties, but it was as though the tree was impervious to their attacks. As it absorbed more blood and flesh, its form swelled, and it loomed over the entire city.

"This tree... It must be at Savant Lv2! An immortal body!"

Someone cried out in terror. Savant Lv2? Eirik’s heart sank. This wasn’t just any monster—this was a second-rank Savant, a being with the power of immortality. No wonder it could massacre the city’s inhabitants so easily.

Eirik himself was only at Practitioner Lv3, and Elvynna, though formidable, was at Practitioner Lv9. They were no match for a Savant of this caliber. The situation was dire.

"We should retreat and let the NPCs handle it. Maybe there’s still a chance for survival…"

Eirik murmured to himself. But before he could act, something unexpected happened...

Elvynna, unwilling to stand idly by while innocents were slaughtered, charged at the demonic tree, engaging it in a brutal clash.

She summoned elemental giants, each one as colossal as mountains, but the tree was even more terrifying. From its trunk, eerie, enchanting melodies echoed, resonating through the air and shaking the hearts of those who heard it—its demonic music threatening to shatter the spirits of the city's inhabitants...

The battle between the human and the tree was so intense that it seemed as though the very heavens themselves would collapse under the force of their elemental clashes...

In the end, Elvynna was overwhelmed. The tree’s razor-sharp branches cleaved her apart, and she fell in battle.

Your chosen future empress has fallen, leaving you heartbroken. In this moment, you must make a choice…

??

She’s dead?!

Eirik stared in disbelief. He had expected the appearance of the tree to be a moment of growth, not the death of Elvynna. After all their years together, she had been cut down so quickly?

His heart was filled with a thousand curses, but he couldn’t help but admire Elvynna. Despite knowing she stood no chance, she had charged in without hesitation. That bravery... that was the kind of heroism worth honoring.

Now, Eirik had three choices to make:

[1. Survive, seeking refuge with your junior sister Pixie, whose esteemed lineage might offer a way out of the city.]
[2. Life and death together. Heartbroken, you choose to end your own life.]
[3. Charge forward, following Elvynna’s will, and battle the demonic tree until the very end.]

Forget it—if my wife is gone, how could I survive alone?

This game was supposed to help Elvynna become the empress. The first option might bring in a new heroine, but Eirik had barely even held Elvynna’s hand. Giving up now felt like a waste.

With a deep sigh, he made his decision: he would face the tree. If he died, so be it. At worst, he could reset the game. Next time, he’d make sure to get his revenge on that cursed tree!

["You watched as Elvynna perished, your heart broken and resolute. You followed her path, charging towards the demonic tree, and met your tragic end…"]

[Game Over.]

Just like that? It felt too sudden.

"That tree... must be the first boss in the game, right? Dying once is normal. Next time, I’ll need to be more careful, take it down before it fully matures."

The game’s conclusion screen appeared before Eirik.

[Your first life has ended. Your achievements are rated as white.]

Achievement levels were color-coded—gold and purple were the best, while white was the worst. Eirik’s first playthrough had earned him a white rating, indicating a poor performance.

[Name: Eirik]
[Early life marked by poverty and abandonment. A mere citizen, without promise. Though you later became a magic scholar, your potential was limited.]
[Perished heroically in the wake of the demonic tree’s onslaught, your name now forgotten by all.]
[Overall Image: A mere insect from another world.]

"Insect..."

Eirik stared at the term for a long moment. The system’s evaluation felt harsh.

Settlement Reward: Mirror of the First Life

A mirror? What was this?

Eirik clicked on the system’s description.

[One Life Mirror: Reflects real-life talents in the simulation, duration: twelve hours.]

Huh? So after all that, it was just a regular mirror? He didn’t have any talents in real life, so this item seemed pointless.

Even a direct transfer of the memories from this simulation would’ve been a better reward. The Grimoire of Arcane Mastery was something he had longed for—its powerful spells and the vast knowledge it contained could’ve opened the gates to higher realms of magic.

But now, all he had was this lowly Mirror of the First Life, reflecting only his failures.

"Maybe the low score is why I got this… I’ll need to do better next time," Eirik muttered to himself, determination flickering in his eyes. "I’ll aim for a higher score—this time, I'll be ready."

The system had already hinted at the rewards for higher achievement: legendary magical traits, rare spellbooks, and even more powerful artifacts. These treasures would vastly enhance his abilities and open up new paths. He couldn't afford to squander this opportunity again.

Despite the disappointment, he couldn’t help but feel a rising sense of excitement. The first playthrough was over, but the game wasn’t finished yet. In fact, it had just begun.

With a sigh, Eirik closed his eyes and steeled his resolve. He wasn’t going to let this defeat hold him back. There was so much more to uncover, so many mysteries left unsolved.

Next time, he would be prepared. The demonic tree wouldn’t be the end—it would be his first victory.

He'd make sure of it.