Solo Leveling (Only I Level Up): The Red Player

Dr. Nathan Cole strode through the bright, sterile halls of St. Cecilia's Hospital, Xavier's medical chart tucked under his arm. His eyes scanned the pages as he walked, noting the remarkable lack of any serious injuries or lingering effects from the gate-related incident. It had been three days since Xavier had been admitted, and today, the young man was being discharged.

"Not a single major injury," the doctor muttered, his brows furrowed. "Not even a minor fracture or concussion. Physically and mentally sound. How?"

He shook his head. It wasn't just Xavier's clean bill of health that baffled him. The rumors that had circulated within the hospital about Xavier's… peculiar habits during his stay made him pause. At first, Dr. Cole dismissed them as exaggerations. A gate survivor who'd barely had time to recover, throwing himself into rigorous workouts? Impossible.

That was, until he saw it for himself.

Even now, as he approached Xavier's room, a sense of disbelief lingered in his mind. Pushing the door open, his gaze fell on the young man before him.

Xavier stood in the middle of the room, his back turned to the entrance. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his figure, revealing sweat trickling down his defined muscles. His newly sculpted physique seemed unreal—lean yet chiseled, his back rippling with strength that hadn't been there just days ago.

Dr. Cole froze, momentarily stunned by the transformation. "Is… is this just something all awakened individuals go through?" he blurted out before he could stop himself.

Xavier turned his head, meeting the doctor's gaze with a casual, slightly puzzled expression. "Huh?"

The doctor quickly recovered, shaking his head as though to clear it. "Nothing, forget I said anything."

Xavier gave a small shrug, grabbing a towel to wipe off the sweat glistening on his skin.

After running through the last few checks and handing Xavier his discharge papers, Dr. Cole left, still reeling from what he'd just seen.

…..

Standing in the bathroom of his hospital room, Xavier splashed water on his face, watching the droplets roll down his sharp, newly defined jawline. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him, the once-familiar face now subtly different.

His brown hair had a healthy, almost radiant shine. His eyes, previously dulled by fatigue and stress, now seemed sharper and more focused. But it was his body that stood out the most—toned muscles, lean yet powerful. He couldn't help but chuckle nervously.

"Man… this is crazy," he muttered, running a hand over his chest.

His gaze shifted to the glowing red screen hovering beside him:

[Status Display]

• Strength: 19

• Agility: 19

• Vitality: 19

• Intelligence: 10

• Sense: 10

• HP: 250/250

• MP: 10/10

Xavier smirked faintly. The daily quests, grueling as they were, had undoubtedly paid off. His growth felt tangible, his body now a reflection of the effort he'd poured in.

Still, a faint shiver ran down his spine as he thought back to the penalty zone. The memory was fresh, and he wasn't keen on experiencing that nightmare again.

He glanced at his inventory, where the dungeon key he'd received from the random item box floated in an ethereal void. Reaching in, he summoned the key into his hand.

Its metallic surface gleamed faintly, cool to the touch. The accompanying system screen displayed its details once more:

[A Mey To A Personal Dungeon]

• Rank: D

• Description: A key that opens a personal dungeon tailored to the user's level and abilities.

Xavier sighed, turning the key over in his hand. A quiet resolve burned in his eyes.

"Maybe… I should just try it out," he murmured. "If it's too much, I can run. That's what I'm best at, anyway."

He chuckled softly, his lips curling into a small, self-deprecating smile. But a part of him, the part that had grown stronger alongside his stats, wanted to see what he was capable of.

Before he could dwell on the thought, a knock sounded at the bathroom door.

"Mr. Xavier? Are you finished changing?" a nurse's voice called from the other side.

Xavier froze, suddenly remembering the reason he'd come into the bathroom in the first place.

"Ah, just a minute!" he called back, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

Shaking his head at his own absentmindedness, Xavier hurried to change, tucking the key safely back into his inventory.

Today marked the beginning of something new. For better or worse, Xavier was ready to take the next step.