Rhode

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Rhode (罗德)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Necromancer Faction; formerly an independent survivor
Occupation/Role	Tier 2 Swordsman; Necromancer; former professional gamer
Hero Specialty	Unawakened (partially activated, 1/3) 26
Status	Alive; pursuing the fleeing blue-robed Mage 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1: The Awakening 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 1	1	Initial state upon awakening: Strength 7, Speed 6, Constitution 8, Knowledge 2, Spirit 2, and no Mana or skills.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 2	3	Reached after killing a Skeleton Soldier; invested his first attribute point into Strength and learned Basic Swordsmanship.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 3	3	Advanced after fighting a Ghoul; invested in Constitution to restore Health and learned Basic Resistance against Corpse Poison.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 4	4	Prepared for the Skeleton Warrior by gaining an attribute and skill point, upgrading Burst to Lv. 2, and learning Intermediate Swordsmanship.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 5	5	Advanced during his battle with the Skeleton Warrior; restored himself through Constitution and learned Novice Eagle Eye.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 6	6	Reached after clearing more Ghouls in the Crypt; retained the new attribute and skill points for later use.
Tier 1 Militiaman Lv. 10	12	Had reached the advancement threshold through the Experience Points gained from Hero Alot and the ensuing undead battles.
Tier 2 Swordsman Lv. 2	12	Chose Swordsman as his advanced class, then spent 100 Experience Points to reach Lv. 2 while fighting the modified Magic Apprentice.
Tier 2 Swordsman Lv. 3	26	Recorded status before leaving the Crypt; possessed 15 Strength, 12 Speed, 15 Constitution, 5 Knowledge, 6 Spirit, and 50 Mana.

Background / History

Rhode possesses two sets of memories. One identifies him as the eldest son of a hunter from Sau Village, where a Necromancer destroyed the village and abducted his sister Rowan. The other identifies him as a 22nd-century Earth professional gamer who was playing Heroes of Might and Magic 3. He awakens in a corpse-filled crypt with both memories intact and initially cannot determine which identity explains his circumstances. 1

His prior game experience gives him an immediate understanding of status panels, Experience Points, equipment, undead weaknesses, and later plot events. However, Rhode recognizes that this world does not follow the game perfectly after he kills Alot—a Hero who was meant to become an Undead Lord—and begins relying more heavily on personal judgment. 1 13

Rowan's disappearance becomes Rhode's central personal objective. After obtaining Alot's pendant, he gains Bloodline Sense, which may allow him to detect Rowan when she is within range. The Thieves Guild later confirms that Rowan was transferred to Dya's City of Wailing. 13 30

Appearance

After weeks of fighting in and around the Crypt, Rhode's appearance is initially disheveled and battle-worn. He later cleans himself at a river and adopts Alot's clothing to conceal his identity. 27 28

• Messy short hair of an indeterminate color. 27
• Face and clothing were once obscured by bloodstains, tears, and accumulated grime. 27
• Carries numerous scabbed scars from his early battles. 27
• Wears Alot's oversized black robe with its hood raised, hiding his figure and face. 28

Personality

Rhode is intensely pragmatic. He avoids fair fights when terrain, surprise, attrition, or controlled undead can produce a safer result; even against a Skeleton Soldier, he considers relying solely on technique an unacceptable risk if another option exists. 2

His strategic thinking is shaped by his gaming experience, but he is willing to revise plans when reality contradicts that knowledge. He invests resources based on immediate survival needs, uses information as leverage in negotiations, and identifies weaknesses before committing to decisive attacks. 4 12 34

Although Rhode can be ruthless, he is not needlessly wasteful. He spares the controlled Vampire despite the Experience Points it would yield because its continued service offers greater long-term value. His decisions are consistently driven by survival, growth, and finding Rowan. 26 31

Abilities & Skills

Expert Swordsmanship

Rhode fights as a Swordsman despite having been a Mage player in his previous life. His swordsmanship allows him to identify flaws in an enemy's movements, exploit narrow terrain, and compensate for inferior physical attributes. 4 24

• Reached Expert Swordsmanship by the time he left the Crypt. 26
• Can decapitate Skeleton Soldiers and Ghouls efficiently without relying on combat skills. 11
• Uses thrusts rather than broad slashes in confined passages to conserve Stamina and preserve mobility. 6
• His recorded combat skills include Heavy Slash Lv. 3, Burst Lv. 2, Double Slash Lv. 1, and Shield Bash Lv. 1. 26

Mental Mark

Mental Mark allows Rhode to establish control over undead creatures. Its control cost is paid through Spirit or the dedicated Control Spirit attribute. 15 19

• Successfully controlled Skeleton Warriors and used them as defensive distractions against the Wolf Pack. 16 17
• Controlled Ghouls and Corpse Wolves to surround enemies and establish ambushes. 16 20
• Planted a Mental Mark in the dying Vampire, giving him complete command over it. 26
• The Vampire's control consumes 3 Control Spirit; Rhode's Control Spirit was 2, with a capacity of 5, after obtaining relevant achievements. 26

Soul Summoning

After choosing to learn Basic Soul Summoning, Rhode became able to create undead from corpses, committing himself to the Necromancer path. 15

• Activated ten corpses as Ghouls during the Wolf Pack battle, exhausting his Mana. 17
• Used the Crypt's Death Energy to transform wolf corpses more efficiently into Corpse Wolves. 19 20
• Transformation cost depends on a corpse's condition and exposure to Death Energy; partially transformed wolf corpses required only 4 Mana rather than 30. 20
• His Necromancer achievement increases Soul Summoning by one level. 15

Magic and Meditation

Rhode developed magical ability despite beginning with 0 Mana. Through meditation, he formed a connection with magical elements and eventually gained access to deeper meditation. 7 38

• Learned Magic Arrow, Great Slowing Spell, and Body Protection Shield from Alot's Spellbook. 15
• Magic Arrow Lv. 1 costs 6 Mana and deals 16 damage; Rhode used it to fatally strike the Vampire's head. 15 24
• Learned Beginner Fire Magic and used flames and smoke as part of his Crypt defenses. 20 22
• Deep Meditation increased his Spirit by 4 points and earned him the achievement Heart of Calm, improving future meditation. 39
• Deep Meditation leaves him vulnerable to interference, though he has contingency methods to mitigate backlash. 37 38

Scouting and Perception

Rhode supplements combat skill with observation-based special skills.

• Novice Eagle Eye enhances dynamic vision, allowing him to read attacks and dodge faster opponents. 5
• Novice Scout Technique grants Detection Range +2 and Perception +1, helping him select hiding places and read enemy traces. 7
• Used Eagle Eye from a watchtower to survey the Eri–Dya border and the Silver Seal Merchant Group's movements. 40

Speed Achievements

Because Rhode is apparently the first to claim several known achievements in this altered timeline, his achievements receive Speed Achievement bonuses beyond their ordinary rewards. 6 9

• Warrior's Heart — grants Strength +1 normally; when equipped as a Speed Achievement, it provides Strength +2, Speed +1, and Constitution +1. 6
• Beginner — improves Spirit and enhances meditation effects when equipped. 9
• Brave One — earned for killing a creature one tier above himself alone; grants a Skill Point and increases damage against higher-tier creatures by 10% when equipped. 10
• Blood of the Hero — earned for killing Hero Alot; grants all attributes +1 and increases damage against Heroes by 20% when equipped. 10
• Rest and Conquer Undead — increased his available Control Spirit after his controlled undead perished and after he subdued the Vampire. 26

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Iron Sword — replaced Rhode's cracked rusty sword after he defeated a Skeleton Warrior. 6
• Round Shield — acquired from a Skeleton Warrior; later used for Shield Bash combinations against the modified Magic Apprentice. 6 12
• Space Ring — taken from Alot's corpse and worn on Rhode's left index finger; stores his equipment, gold, and supplies. 13
• Alot's Thoughts — Hero-level pendant granting Bloodline Sense +3. 13
• Alot's Spellbook — contains necromancy notes, meditation knowledge, and Tier 1 spells. 14 15
• Soul Crystal — retrieved from the Vampire's coffin in the Crypt and stored in the Space Ring. 26
• Alot's map and academy badge — provide regional information and may allow Rhode to enter the Black Crow Necromancy Magic Academy. 26 31
• Lightning Strike scroll — used alongside a thrown gold coin to kill Yusuf. 44
• Black robe — formerly Alot's clothing; used to conceal Rhode's appearance while traveling. 28

Relationships

• Rowan — Rhode's younger sister; taken alive when Sau Village was destroyed. Rhode is traveling toward the City of Wailing to find her. 1 13 30
• Alot — Necromancer Apprentice and secretly a Hero whom Rhode assassinated outside the Crypt; Rhode later acquired Alot's pendant, Spellbook, maps, badge, and Space Ring. 9 10 13
• Vampire — a third-tier undead Rhode defeated and controlled through Mental Mark; serves as his primary combat subordinate and traveling companion. 24 26
• Yusuf — leader of the Silver Seal Merchant Group; initially agreed to transport Rhode, then attempted to murder him at the border watchtower. Rhode killed him with a Lightning Strike scroll. 35 41 44
• Blue-robed Mage — a Tier 3 Mage formerly attached to the Silver Seal Merchant Group; fled after Yusuf's death and is pursued by Rhode and the Vampire. 47 49 50
• Wolf King — originally led the Wolf Pack attacking Rhode; later transformed into a Corpse Wolf under Rhode's command, though it retained physical strength rather than its former Magic Arrow or Leadership Technique. 18 20

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and the Crypt

Rhode awakens in Alot's Crypt, equips himself with scavenged armor and a sword, then survives through careful use of terrain and decapitation strikes. He progresses from fighting individual Skeleton Soldiers to defeating a Skeleton Warrior despite being physically outmatched. 1 2 5

Assassination of Alot

After meditating for Mana and scouting from a tree, Rhode ambushes Alot from above and kills him with a downward sword thrust. The kill reveals Alot to be a second-tier Hero, partially activates Rhode's Hero Specialty, and grants major Speed Achievements. 7 9 10

Embracing Necromancy

Rhode kills Alot's modified corpse, claims Alot's equipment, and learns that Rowan may be found through Bloodline Sense. He then learns Mental Mark and Soul Summoning, using Skeleton Warriors, Ghouls, and Corpse Wolves to defeat the Wolf Pack. 12 13 15 16 20

Conquest of the Vampire

When a Vampire awakens within the Crypt, Rhode builds fire barriers and sacrifices his undead forces to limit its mobility. He defeats it with Expert Swordsmanship and Magic Arrow, then plants a Mental Mark in the dying creature instead of killing it for Experience Points. 22 24 26

Search for Rowan

After leaving the Crypt, Rhode crosses Eri with the Vampire, evades a Dryad Warrior, enters a nearby town in disguise, and uses the Thieves Guild to learn that Rowan was transferred to Dya's City of Wailing. 27 28 30

Silver Seal Merchant Group Conflict

Rhode gains passage with the Silver Seal Merchant Group by exposing its covert Soul Crystal shipment. When Yusuf attempts to eliminate him at the Eri–Dya border, Rhode retaliates, commands the Vampire to attack the camp, kills Yusuf, and pursues the escaping blue-robed Mage. 34 41 44 47

Notable Quotes

“My name is Rhode. I am a professional gamer from Earth in the 22nd century, currently playing the most popular third-world virtual online game, [Heroes of Might and Magic 3].” 1

“I'm really still in the game... In that case, status panel.” 1