Rhode

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Rhode Alante (罗德·阿兰特)
Alias(es)	Guild Leader; Starlight's leader
Species/Race	Half-breed; exact lineage unknown
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Starlight Mercenary Group; formerly leader of the world’s most powerful online gaming guild
Occupation/Role	Summon Swordsman; mercenary leader
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 1	3	Awakens in the Twilight Year as a Half-breed Summon Swordsman. His former skills remain recorded but are locked at insufficient level and reset to E-rank proficiency.
Level 2	6	Gains experience from defeating Wind Serpents; receives a skill point.
Level 3	6	Gains another skill point from the same battle.
Level 4	6	Gains another skill point from the same battle.
Level 5	6	Spends skill points to raise Moon Shadow Swordsmanship from 1/3 to 3/3, then to 1/4; unlocks Shadow Blink.
Level 8	16	Reaches level 8 while fighting Wraiths in the Mist Ruins.
Level 10	17	Reaches level 10 through accumulated Wraith experience and unlocks the Talent Tree.
Summon Master talent	18	Chooses Summon Master, enabling him to summon and maintain two entities simultaneously.
Star Trace evolution	20 21	Uses a Gargoyle Heart to forcibly evolve Star Trace; the Holy Sword subsequently produces a Mana Condensate.

Background / History

Rhode spent seven years in the Dragon Soul Continent game after the death of his younger sister, repeatedly pursuing extreme goals to escape his grief. He became a top-tier player and leader of the world’s strongest online guild. After his parents died in a plane crash, he resolved to leave the game and return to reality. Instead, he led one final raid against the Void Dragon and was killed in the battle. 1

He awakens in his own body aboard a Silver Scales Merchant Guild airship after being rescued from the Paffield Plains. He discovers that he has arrived in the Dragon Soul Continent’s distant Twilight Year, retaining his memories and game knowledge but starting again at level 1 with his race, attributes, and former Summoned Spirits inaccessible. 2 3

After surviving the airship disaster and the Mist Ruins, Rhode takes over Lize’s former mercenary group. He passes the Deepstone City Mercenary Association evaluation against Sereck, renames the group Starlight, and becomes its leader. 23 33 36

Rhode acquires and restores Sairiel Haunted House as Starlight’s stronghold. He intends to rebuild the power and glory once held by his former guild, both to prepare for the catastrophe he knows is approaching and to avoid repeating a past humiliation he regrets. 38 43 44

Appearance

Rhode is a handsome, pale young man whose appearance is often mistaken for fragility or aristocratic softness.

• Slender, comparatively weak-looking build in contrast to his actual physical ability. 2
• Sickly pale skin, initially attributed to lack of sunlight. 2
• Fair, feminine-looking face; he was mocked in childhood for resembling his younger sister. 23
• Often conceals his face beneath a cloak to avoid unwanted attention. 31
• Frequently carries or summons a white longsword. 6

Personality

Rhode is calm, analytical, and highly disciplined. His former experience as a guild leader lets him assess combat conditions, terrain, enemy behavior, and teammates’ emotional states with unusual speed. He normally avoids revealing more of his capabilities than necessary, recognizing that the Summon Swordsman class is unknown to most people in this era. 3 9 10

Although outwardly reserved, he is protective of companions and willing to take responsibility in dangerous situations. He leads Lize and Mace through hostile terrain, chooses to face the Shadow Phantom alone to protect them, and pushes Lize and Marlene to develop practical confidence rather than remain dependent on others. 10 21 39 50

His detached expression is largely habitual. Having once used a cold demeanor to cope with ridicule and later to manage a powerful guild, he finds it difficult to show warmth even when he cares about others. 23

Abilities & Skills

Summon Swordsman

Rhode possesses the rare Hero Class Summon Swordsman, combining sword combat with the use of summoned cards and spirits.

• Formerly held numerous sword arts and alchemy skills, though most are initially locked by his level. 3
• Uses Summoning Cards to call Elemental Spirits and magical weapons without spoken incantations. 35 36
• His class is suited to fighting enemies above his level, though it is less effective against large groups without support. 6
• The class depends heavily on Soul Power; repeated high-cost techniques can leave him exhausted. 6 17

Moon Shadow Swordsmanship

Rhode’s core sword style, raised through skill-point investment after the Wind Serpent battle.

• Reaches 4/4 proficiency by level 8. 6 17
• Includes Shatter Blade, a powerful white sword-light attack effective against groups and magical enemies. 6 17
• Includes Silver Moon Arc, a condensed sword-aura strike. 34
• Shatter Blade consumes substantial Soul Power, forcing Rhode to use it selectively. 6 17

Shadow Blink

A mobility technique unlocked after Rhode advances Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.

• Greatly increases Rhode’s speed for sudden repositioning and evasive movement. 6 42
• Lets him attack from blind spots or flank enemies during combat. 35 49
• Does not eliminate danger when surrounded by numerous enemies. 42

Summon Master

Rhode’s chosen level-10 talent path.

• Allows him to summon two entities simultaneously. 18
• Resolves the limitation created by Star Trace counting as one summoned entity. 18
• Enables coordinated attacks with summoned spirits, such as the Soul Bird. 18

Tactical and Environmental Knowledge

Rhode retains extensive knowledge from his time as a player.

• Identifies monsters, boss mechanics, weaknesses, equipment, dungeon routes, and quest objectives from memory. 10 21 23
• Navigates the wilderness and Silver Moon Forest with near-complete familiarity. 10
• Reads opponents’ equipment and likely combat styles before engaging them. 49
• Uses terrain, timing, summons, and enemy blind spots rather than relying only on direct force. 17 34 50

Physical Attributes

Rhode’s exact status screen remains hidden until his bloodline is identified, but he estimates his attributes to exceed normal human standards. 9 27

Attribute	Estimated range	Notes
Strength	6–8	Above average; likely capable of wielding a heavy two-handed sword one-handed.
Constitution	10–15	Exceptionally high; allows him to remain mobile after severe injury and the airship crash.
Agility	7–10	Supports rapid dodges and swordplay.
Willpower	8–9	Barely sufficient to resist the Shadow Phantom’s mental attacks.
Perception	6–7	Lets him sense nearby beings and observe his surroundings even with his eyes closed.

27

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Star Trace — Tenth of the Eternal Holy Sword; Rhode’s primary summoned white longsword. Grants a +3 attribute bonus while wielded and later evolves through a Gargoyle Heart. 3 6 20
• Eternal Deck — A set of Summoning Cards retained after Rhode’s arrival in the Twilight Year. 3
• Soaring Soul Bird — Wind-attribute summoned spirit awakened from a Soul Core; can incapacitate enemies and assist in battle. 9 11
• Flame Slayer — Powerful spirit card obtained by purifying and evolving a Soul Core; particularly effective against undead and Evil Spirits. 33 39
• Ring of Will — Refined from a Black Iron Ring; activates a Will Shield that grants immunity to mental attacks. 13
• Mana Condensate — Equipment produced after Star Trace’s evolution. 21
• Ring of Mist — Magic ring kept by Rhode after dividing Gargoyle loot. 20

Relationships

• Lize Noel — Companion and Spirit Master; Rhode rescues her during the Wind Serpent attack, helps her overcome survivor’s guilt, and accepts leadership of her mercenary group. She becomes Starlight’s first member and trusts him deeply. 5 10 23 44
• Mace — Merchant who travels with Rhode and Lize after the airship crash; increasingly relies on Rhode’s wilderness knowledge and combat strength. 10 11
• Carter — Leader of the Star Moon Mercenary Group; meets Rhode aboard the airship and witnesses his combat ability against the Wind Serpents. 3 6
• Sereck — Deepstone City’s “Shining Swordsman”; evaluates Rhode and fights him to a draw, afterward recognizing his talent and strength. 33 36
• Mobie.Daler — President of the Deepstone City Mercenary Association branch; initially skeptical of Rhode but recognizes him as a mercenary after the evaluation. 33 36
• Marlene Xenia — Talented Mid-Ring Mage seeking practical experience; Rhode tests and defeats her to expose the gap between magical theory and combat experience. 48 50
• Helen Keller — Noblewoman who initially attempts to seize Rhode’s carriage; becomes fearful after Rhode uses the Soul Bird against her. 26
• Ben — Helen’s head guard; his initial contempt changes to respect after witnessing Rhode’s strength and tactical awareness. 28 30

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival and Airship Disaster

Rhode awakens in the Twilight Year, learns of his new circumstances from Lize, and begins rebuilding his strength from level 1. He protects the airship from Wind Serpents, defeats the Wind Serpent Lord, and survives the resulting crash. 2 8

Journey to Riverwood and the Mist Ruins

Rhode guides Lize and Mace through the Silver Moon Forest, obtains the Ring of Will, explores the Mist Ruins, unlocks Summon Master, evolves Star Trace, and defeats the Shadow Phantom. 10 23

Founding Starlight

He takes command of Lize’s mercenary group, passes the association evaluation against Sereck, changes the group’s name to Starlight, and activates the Mercenary Group Construction System. 23 33 36

Establishing the Stronghold

Rhode buys Sairiel Haunted House, defeats Master Sairiel, acquires the Soul-Binding Stone, and renovates the property into Starlight’s first stronghold. 38 43

Early Recruitment

Seeking to prevent Starlight’s disbandment and build its strength, Rhode pursues high-value missions and accepts Marlene’s application only under strict operational conditions. He defeats her in a sparring match to demonstrate the necessity of practical combat awareness. 46 50

Trivia

• Rhode’s former game skills reset from SS-level proficiency to E-rank after his arrival in the Twilight Year. 3
• His body’s mixed bloodline remains unidentified; its unusually balanced attributes do not match a known race cleanly. 27
• He has completed merchant-protection quests hundreds of times in his former game experience. 10
• Rhode’s old guild later became the strongest guild in the game after defeating both the Kingdom of Light’s parliament and the Dragon of Night. 44