Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat! Chapter 13: I’ve Been Reborn

The sll of fried pastries wafted through the air as Ethan bit savagely into a breakfast roll, releasing all his pent-up hunger unto the unsuspecting food.

Across from him, Lyla sipped her porridge in small, delicate mouthfuls. Her eyes sparkled with amusent as she watched Ethan's intense expression. Occasionally, when their gazes t, she'd stick her tongue out playfully, eliciting a strange mix of awkwardness and warmth from him.

Around them, people glanced curiously at the mismatched pair, Ethan's bedraggled appearance clashing starkly with Lyla's polished deanor. Murmurs buzzed, speculating on their relationship.

Ethan had never felt this self-conscious in his life.

As soon as he polished off his last bite, he practically bolted out of the shop, eager to escape the weight of those prying eyes.

To his dismay, Lyla slipped her arm through his as they walked. "Ethan, doesn't this feel familiar sohow?"

Her unexpected closeness made his heart skip a beat, though the sudden, hostile stares from nearby n quickly dampened the mont.

"Uh..." Ethan stamred, unsure of how to respond.

Lyla scrutinized him for a mont before letting go of his arm. "I'm heading to the library, see you later!"

She hopped a few steps backward, waving cheerfully as she left. "Oh, by the way, my na's Lyla Silverwood. Silverwood, like the trees that shine in the moonlight!"

"Lyla Silverwood" Ethan murmured. In his past life, he'd only known her as Lyla, never her full na. Yet, the na tugged at a corner of his mory, teasing him with familiarity he couldn't quite place.

As Lyla disappeared into the distance, she turned back to wave one last ti. Ethan returned the gesture, silently wishing her to stay safe.

This life... seed to be going pretty amazing.

For the first ti in years, Ethan allowed himself a small smile.

---

Ethan hailed a cab, not caring about his rumpled appearance, and headed straight to Aeon Corporation's flagship store.

The staff there didn't bat an eye at his unkempt look, treating him with unyielding professionalism. One employee eagerly guided him through their inventory, explaining the features and price points of each VR capsule.

When Ethan inquired about a high-safety model, he was led to the second floor's premium showroom.

The most basic capsules started at $30,000 and offered full-imrsion VR with only moderate operational sensitivity.

Take, for instance, the one Lyla had given him, the Model 207 headset. It wasn't entry-level, but it was far from top-tier. Priced at $1,500, its sensitivity maxed out at a re 68%. In comparison, even the cheapest gaming capsules boasted an impressive 92% sensitivity.

Elite players didn't just rely on skill, they needed top-of-the-line equipnt to compete.

After careful consideration, Ethan settled on the Model XVI-701 capsule.

Its features were staggering.

Constructed from specialized alloys, the capsule could withstand water pressure at depths of 3,000 ters. Its shock absorption system was so advanced that a fall from a hundred-story building wouldn't cause fatal injuries to its occupant.

The door? Made of blast-proof glass, rumored to withstand explosive charges.

It ca equipped with an independent power supply capable of running for a week during outages, an automated oxygen system to counter gas attacks, and thirty-two surveillance caras to record external threats. The built-in GPS ensured its location could always be tracked.

In essence, the capsule was less of a gaming accessory and more of a personal fortress.

Most importantly, it eliminated the delay between disconnecting from the ga and logging off, a feature that had cost Ethan dearly in his previous life.

Back then, he had been attacked in reality while still online, leaving his character vulnerable during the mandatory 20-second logout period. The result? His death in-ga and the loss of a priceless artifact.

The price of this fortress-like capsule was equally staggering: $168,000. Ethan's bank balance, standing at $180,000, would be all but wiped out.

Though slightly dissatisfied with the operational sensitivity—still capped at 92%—he consoled himself with the knowledge that it could be upgraded later. Aeon Corporation even offered a generous trade-in policy, allowing older models to be exchanged for 80% of their original value toward a new purchase.

Ethan's lips curled into a determined grin as he proceeds with the purchase. This ti, nothing would stand in his way.

Aeon Corporation's custor service was stellar, far better than that of any global tech giant he'd dealt with before.

Still, the sting of spending $168,000 lingered...

The sales associate politely asked for a delivery address, and Ethan froze.

The Model XVI-701 capsule asured over 11 feet in length, 6.5 feet in width, and nearly 6 feet in height. His current Studio apartnt barely fit his bed, let alone a massive VR capsule.

"Uh... I'll confirm the address later," Ethan said awkwardly.

"Of course, sir," the associate replied with a practiced smile. "Just notify us whenever you're ready. We offer 24/7 delivery and installation services. Once you confirm, we'll have it at your doorstep within two hours."

Leaving Aeon's flagship store, Ethan sighed.

There was no way around it, he needed to find a bigger place. Buying property was out of the question with only $12,000 left in his account, so he'd have to rent.

But... did he really want to move away from his neighbor, Lyla?

In his past life, their relationship had grown complicated. Despite never officially dating, they'd shared more than just simple monts. Moving felt like giving up on rekindling that connection.

After so hesitation, Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Lyla's number.

"Hello?"

"Lyla, it's ."

"Ethan? How did you get my number?"

"Uh..." Ethan realized too late that they hadn't exchanged numbers yet in this tiline. "That's not important. Are you busy right now? I need to discuss sothing with you."

"I just got to campus," Lyla replied. "I was going to study with a classmate, but I can let her know sothing ca up."

"No need to cancel. Just et at the west gate in half an hour."

"Alright, see you there."

---

Ten minutes later, Ethan arrived at the west gate by cab, only to find Lyla already waiting for him.

She had clearly co straight after their call, a fact that made Ethan feel slightly guilty. He'd told her thirty minutes, but she was here early.

"Ethan," she teased the mont he stepped out of the car, "you've had a crush on for ages, haven't you?"

"Wha—?" Ethan stumbled, caught completely off guard.

"Either that, or you're a stalker. How else would you know my na and my phone number?"

Ethan opened his mouth to respond but faltered. He hadn't thought this through at all, and now Lyla was jumping to conclusions.

Before he could explain, her expression shifted to a pout.

"I can't believe this!" she said, voice trembling. "You just broke up with Ivy two days ago, and now you're already after ?"

Ethan panicked. This misunderstanding had snowballed out of control. But...

"Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "How do you know I broke up with Ivy two days ago? And how do you know her na?"

Lyla froze, a flash of guilt crossing her face. She turned her head sharply, refusing to et his gaze.

"That's... not important," she muttered.

Ethan chuckled, her reaction was oddly endearing. "Not important, huh? Alright, fine. But if I told you I've been reborn, would you believe ?"

The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself. He didn't know why, but he couldn't bring himself to lie to her. Even so, his heart raced as he waited for her response, fearing she'd think he was crazy.

Lyla turned to face him, her eyes searching his.

"Uh... to be precise, I regressed back in ti," Ethan clarified nervously. "Do you... believe ?"

Lyla stared at him for a long mont, her gaze unwavering.

Finally, she tilted her head. "Huh?"

Then, after a pause, she shook her head.

But to his surprise, she eventually nodded.