DOS · JOY (JOY) · May 17, 2026 · May 17, 2026
diff --git a/.claude/CLAUDE.md b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ This file is the primary context for any AI coding agent working on this reposit
 - **Genre:** Hybrid MMO + Top-down ARPG (NOT full open-world MMORPG)
 - **References:** Diablo IV, Path of Exile 2, Lost Ark
 - **Setting:** Near-future ~2050, post-apocalyptic, MetaDOS universe
-- **Tone:** Dark sci-fi, cyberpunk, cultivation-progression, AI NPC society
+- **Tone:** Dark sci-fi, cyberpunk, body/soul survival, AI NPC society
 
 ## Four Signature Features (DO NOT LOSE TRACK)
 
 1. **AI Agent 24/7** - When the player is offline, an LLM-driven AI agent fully controls their character (farms, quests, socializes with NPCs and other players' agents). When the player returns, they take over control. This is a near-unique feature in MMO/ARPG space.
-2. **Reincarnation with progression reset** - Death is permanent for the body. Consciousness transfers to a new body via SECOND token or special item. Progression resets (roguelike-MMO hybrid). Cultivation tier may carry over partial.
+2. **Reincarnation with progression reset** - Death is permanent for the body. Consciousness transfers to a new body via SECOND token or special item. Current-body progression resets in a roguelike-MMO hybrid loop. Durable soul/profile carryover rules are deferred until the reincarnation design is sharper.
 3. **Time-as-Currency** - Time is both the current body's survival resource and a spendable economy resource, adapted from MetaDOS and the `In Time` inspiration. Running out of body time triggers death/reincarnation; spending time creates hard tactical tradeoffs.
-4. **Consciousness transfer to NPC/synthetic bodies** - Sci-fi explanation (mind upload, synthetic bodies, Nibirium-enhanced cloning). NOT spiritual reincarnation.
+4. **Consciousness transfer to NPC/synthetic bodies** - Sci-fi explanation (mind upload, synthetic bodies, cloning, and body imprinting). NOT spiritual reincarnation.
 
 ## Actor and Body Model (CORE)
 
@@ -27,18 +27,16 @@ This file is the primary context for any AI coding agent working on this reposit
 - Each important actor body should eventually resolve to a bundle: `BodyProfile`, `CharacterStats`, `CharacterTraits`, `SoulProfile`, `MemoryRecord`, `AgentPolicy` or NPC policy, `AgentRuntime`, and `AgentActivity`.
 - Reincarnation destroys or retires the current body. The durable player consciousness transfers into a new body, with only explicitly designed layers carrying over.
 
-## Cultivation System (sci-fi, not Chinese-style)
+## Advanced Body Progression (DEFERRED)
 
-6 tiers:
+The previous cultivation / Nibirium XP concept is explicitly deferred and must
+not be implemented in the current vertical slice. It felt too close to a
+traditional XP bar. The slice uses level and character stats as the progression
+baseline.
 
-1. Awakening - Activate Nibirium absorption
-2. Enhancement - Body strengthening
-3. Core Formation - Energy core formation
-4. Evolution - DNA / special ability evolution
-5. Transcendence - Beyond human limits
-6. Ascension - Near-divine
-
-International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consciousness transfer).
+Future advanced body or soul progression needs a fresh design pass before any
+implementation. Do not add cultivation tiers, Nibirium XP, tier-up rituals, or
+Cultivation Master mechanics without a new approved design update.
 
 ## Gameplay Architecture
 
@@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 
 - Migrate LLM calls to `api.dos.ai` / Go LLM Gateway, models:
   - Haiku 4.5 for NPC chat (fast, cheap)
-  - Sonnet 4.6 for boss / quest / cultivation master dialog
+  - Sonnet 4.6 for boss / quest-critical dialog
 - RAG memory: Supabase pgvector or Qdrant
 - Voice: OpenAI Realtime API via ephemeral token (NOT API key in client) OR ElevenLabs
 - Client AI: Unity Sentis for small perception (optional, phase 3)
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 - Agent operates within Fusion server tick (server-authoritative)
 - Agent decision loop: pull state from Fusion -> reason via LLM gateway -> emit action intent -> server validates -> apply
 - Anti-abuse: agent inherits player's rate limit + capability cap
-- Agent persona: derived from player history + character cultivation tier
+- Agent persona: derived from player history, current body stats, and player profile
 - Agent death = body death = reincarnation triggered (same as player death)
 
 ### NFT / Blockchain
@@ -233,7 +231,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 - Guild / social (phase 2)
 - Reincarnation mechanic
 - AI agent for offline players
-- Cultivation tier progression
+- Advanced body progression beyond level/stats is deferred until redesigned
 
 ### Recommended Reading List
 
@@ -305,7 +303,6 @@ Scope:
 - Reincarnation MVP (die -> SECOND token -> respawn with reset)
 - Time-as-currency MVP (body time meter, earn/spend loop, zero time triggers reincarnation placeholder)
 - AI agent control (simple: agent farms one designated area when player offline)
-- 2 cultivation tiers playable (Awakening + Enhancement)
 - NFT Hunter skin equip + escrow
 - Multiplayer 4-20 players per zone
 - Basic chat (Nakama channels first, Supabase sidecar only if useful)
@@ -316,7 +313,7 @@ OUT of scope for vertical slice:
 - Marketplace
 - Pet breeding
 - Multiple zones
-- Tier 3-6 cultivation
+- Advanced body progression
 - Voice NPC
 - Full quest system
 
@@ -336,6 +333,7 @@ OUT of scope for vertical slice:
 - Final game name (SECOND SPAWN is codename, may rename after vertical slice playable)
 - SECOND token economy design (cost per reincarnation, source, sink)
 - BodyTime tuning (where time drains, how it is earned, how it can be spent, and whether it can convert to/from SECOND token)
+- Advanced body or soul progression replacing the deferred concept
 - Hunter NFT integration approach: Option 1 (preset hero) vs Hybrid 1+3 (modular pieces)
 - Phase 2 LLM model split (when to use Haiku vs Sonnet)
 - Voice NPC vendor (OpenAI Realtime vs ElevenLabs vs self-host)

diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ This file is the primary context for any AI coding agent working on this reposit
 - **Genre:** Hybrid MMO + Top-down ARPG (NOT full open-world MMORPG)
 - **References:** Diablo IV, Path of Exile 2, Lost Ark
 - **Setting:** Near-future ~2050, post-apocalyptic, MetaDOS universe
-- **Tone:** Dark sci-fi, cyberpunk, cultivation-progression, AI NPC society
+- **Tone:** Dark sci-fi, cyberpunk, body/soul survival, AI NPC society
 
 ## Four Signature Features (DO NOT LOSE TRACK)
 
 1. **AI Agent 24/7** - When the player is offline, an LLM-driven AI agent fully controls their character (farms, quests, socializes with NPCs and other players' agents). When the player returns, they take over control. This is a near-unique feature in MMO/ARPG space.
-2. **Reincarnation with progression reset** - Death is permanent for the body. Consciousness transfers to a new body via SECOND token or special item. Progression resets (roguelike-MMO hybrid). Cultivation tier may carry over partial.
+2. **Reincarnation with progression reset** - Death is permanent for the body. Consciousness transfers to a new body via SECOND token or special item. Current-body progression resets in a roguelike-MMO hybrid loop. Durable soul/profile carryover rules are deferred until the reincarnation design is sharper.
 3. **Time-as-Currency** - Time is both the current body's survival resource and a spendable economy resource, adapted from MetaDOS and the `In Time` inspiration. Running out of body time triggers death/reincarnation; spending time creates hard tactical tradeoffs.
-4. **Consciousness transfer to NPC/synthetic bodies** - Sci-fi explanation (mind upload, synthetic bodies, Nibirium-enhanced cloning). NOT spiritual reincarnation.
+4. **Consciousness transfer to NPC/synthetic bodies** - Sci-fi explanation (mind upload, synthetic bodies, cloning, and body imprinting). NOT spiritual reincarnation.
 
 ## Actor and Body Model (CORE)
 
@@ -27,18 +27,16 @@ This file is the primary context for any AI coding agent working on this reposit
 - Each important actor body should eventually resolve to a bundle: `BodyProfile`, `CharacterStats`, `CharacterTraits`, `SoulProfile`, `MemoryRecord`, `AgentPolicy` or NPC policy, `AgentRuntime`, and `AgentActivity`.
 - Reincarnation destroys or retires the current body. The durable player consciousness transfers into a new body, with only explicitly designed layers carrying over.
 
-## Cultivation System (sci-fi, not Chinese-style)
+## Advanced Body Progression (DEFERRED)
 
-6 tiers:
+The previous cultivation / Nibirium XP concept is explicitly deferred and must
+not be implemented in the current vertical slice. It felt too close to a
+traditional XP bar. The slice uses level and character stats as the progression
+baseline.
 
-1. Awakening - Activate Nibirium absorption
-2. Enhancement - Body strengthening
-3. Core Formation - Energy core formation
-4. Evolution - DNA / special ability evolution
-5. Transcendence - Beyond human limits
-6. Ascension - Near-divine
-
-International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consciousness transfer).
+Future advanced body or soul progression needs a fresh design pass before any
+implementation. Do not add cultivation tiers, Nibirium XP, tier-up rituals, or
+Cultivation Master mechanics without a new approved design update.
 
 ## Gameplay Architecture
 
@@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 
 - Migrate LLM calls to `api.dos.ai` / Go LLM Gateway, models:
   - Haiku 4.5 for NPC chat (fast, cheap)
-  - Sonnet 4.6 for boss / quest / cultivation master dialog
+  - Sonnet 4.6 for boss / quest-critical dialog
 - RAG memory: Supabase pgvector or Qdrant
 - Voice: OpenAI Realtime API via ephemeral token (NOT API key in client) OR ElevenLabs
 - Client AI: Unity Sentis for small perception (optional, phase 3)
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 - Agent operates within Fusion server tick (server-authoritative)
 - Agent decision loop: pull state from Fusion -> reason via LLM gateway -> emit action intent -> server validates -> apply
 - Anti-abuse: agent inherits player's rate limit + capability cap
-- Agent persona: derived from player history + character cultivation tier
+- Agent persona: derived from player history, current body stats, and player profile
 - Agent death = body death = reincarnation triggered (same as player death)
 
 ### NFT / Blockchain
@@ -233,7 +231,7 @@ International-friendly framing. Explained via science (Nibirium, biotech, consci
 - Guild / social (phase 2)
 - Reincarnation mechanic
 - AI agent for offline players
-- Cultivation tier progression
+- Advanced body progression beyond level/stats is deferred until redesigned
 
 ### Recommended Reading List
 
@@ -305,7 +303,6 @@ Scope:
 - Reincarnation MVP (die -> SECOND token -> respawn with reset)
 - Time-as-currency MVP (body time meter, earn/spend loop, zero time triggers reincarnation placeholder)
 - AI agent control (simple: agent farms one designated area when player offline)
-- 2 cultivation tiers playable (Awakening + Enhancement)
 - NFT Hunter skin equip + escrow
 - Multiplayer 4-20 players per zone
 - Basic chat (Nakama channels first, Supabase sidecar only if useful)
@@ -316,7 +313,7 @@ OUT of scope for vertical slice:
 - Marketplace
 - Pet breeding
 - Multiple zones
-- Tier 3-6 cultivation
+- Advanced body progression
 - Voice NPC
 - Full quest system
 
@@ -336,6 +333,7 @@ OUT of scope for vertical slice:
 - Final game name (SECOND SPAWN is codename, may rename after vertical slice playable)
 - SECOND token economy design (cost per reincarnation, source, sink)
 - BodyTime tuning (where time drains, how it is earned, how it can be spent, and whether it can convert to/from SECOND token)
+- Advanced body or soul progression replacing the deferred concept
 - Hunter NFT integration approach: Option 1 (preset hero) vs Hybrid 1+3 (modular pieces)
 - Phase 2 LLM model split (when to use Haiku vs Sonnet)
 - Voice NPC vendor (OpenAI Realtime vs ElevenLabs vs self-host)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ versioned release tag yet, so entries are organized as pre-alpha snapshots.
 - Nakama OSS backend base with TypeScript runtime modules, local config, custom
   Supabase-auth bridge, profile bootstrap, soul update, memory write, and agent
   decision RPC.
-- Agent context, soul, character trait, BodyTime, cultivation, policy, and memory
+- Agent context, soul, character trait, BodyTime, level/stats, policy, and memory
   contracts.
 - Unity gateway client with Nakama fallback, local memory seeding, NPC chat,
   speech bubble, and prototype voice cue.

diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ especially `docs/design/02-vertical-slice-spec.md` and
 - [x] Go LLM gateway scaffold with health/readiness, character context, memory,
   soul update, NPC chat, voice-session contract, and agent decision routes.
 - [x] Agent context contract covering player profile, body state, soul,
-  traits, cultivation, BodyTime, agent policy, and compact memory.
+  traits, level/stats, BodyTime, agent policy, and compact memory.
 - [x] Prototype Unity gateway client with Nakama fallback, profile/memory sync,
   NPC chat, local voice cue, and speech bubble.
 - [x] Local player agent prototype toggle for bounded movement intent.
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ MVP, and a visible offline-agent prototype.
 - [ ] Add BodyTime meter MVP with one earn source and one spend sink.
 - [ ] Add reincarnation placeholder flow: death -> SECOND token check ->
   respawn with current-body reset.
-- [ ] Add cultivation tiers 1-2: Awakening and Enhancement.
 - [ ] Add one dungeon instance with one boss and grounded dialogue.
 - [ ] Add one Hunter NFT skin equip placeholder with DOS Chain escrow design
   still server-authoritative.
@@ -84,7 +83,6 @@ MVP, and a visible offline-agent prototype.
 - [ ] Add RAG memory for NPCs with Supabase pgvector or Qdrant.
 - [ ] Expand quest system beyond the first vertical slice questline.
 - [ ] Add multiple zones with travel.
-- [ ] Add cultivation tiers 3-4.
 - [ ] Add marketplace and NFT trade.
 - [ ] Add guild system before PvP.
 - [ ] Add voice NPC if ephemeral-token cost and reliability are acceptable.
@@ -93,7 +91,6 @@ MVP, and a visible offline-agent prototype.
 
 - [ ] Guild PvP up to 50v50.
 - [ ] Pet breeding system.
-- [ ] Cultivation tiers 5-6.
 - [ ] Movement-only mount system.
 - [ ] Economy balancing.
 - [ ] Live ops infrastructure.
@@ -104,7 +101,7 @@ MVP, and a visible offline-agent prototype.
 - [ ] Seasons and content updates.
 - [ ] Modding support.
 - [ ] Sentis on-device AI for client perception.
-- [ ] More cultivation paths.
+- [ ] Redesign advanced body or soul progression after the vertical slice.
 
 ## Deliberately Out of Scope
 

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/AgentContextDto.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/AgentContextDto.cs
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ public sealed class BodyProfileDto
         public CharacterStatsDto stats;
         public CharacterTraitsDto characteristics;
         public BodyTimeDto time;
-        public CultivationDto cultivation;
         public string lifecycle = "alive";
         public AgentPolicyDto agent_policy;
         public SoulProfileDto soul;
@@ -101,13 +100,6 @@ public sealed class BodyTimeEventRequestDto
         public string note;
     }
 
-    [Serializable]
-    public sealed class CultivationDto
-    {
-        public string tier;
-        public long progress_xp;
-    }
-
     [Serializable]
     public sealed class AgentPolicyDto
     {
@@ -202,7 +194,6 @@ public sealed class ActorProfileRequestDto
         public CharacterStatsDto stats;
         public CharacterTraitsDto characteristics;
         public BodyTimeDto time;
-        public CultivationDto cultivation;
         public SoulProfileDto soul;
         public AgentPolicyDto agent_policy;
     }

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/SecondSpawnGatewayClient.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/SecondSpawnGatewayClient.cs
@@ -567,7 +567,6 @@ private sealed class GatewayBodyProfileDto
             public CharacterStatsDto stats;
             public CharacterTraitsDto characteristics;
             public BodyTimeDto time;
-            public CultivationDto cultivation;
             public AgentPolicyDto agent_policy;
             public SoulProfileDto soul;
             public MemoryRecordDto[] memory;
@@ -588,7 +587,6 @@ public static GatewayBodyProfileDto From(BodyProfileDto body)
                     stats = body.stats,
                     characteristics = body.characteristics,
                     time = body.time,
-                    cultivation = body.cultivation,
                     agent_policy = body.agent_policy,
                     soul = body.soul,
                     memory = body.memory

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/Networking/NetworkPlayer.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/Networking/NetworkPlayer.cs
@@ -12,16 +12,15 @@ namespace SecondSpawn.Networking
     /// owns every <c>[Networked]</c> property. Per Pillar 4 (Server-authoritative
     /// gameplay) and Hard Rule #2 (LLM never mutates state directly).</para>
     ///
-    /// <para>Vertical slice scope: position + rotation + cultivation tier +
-    /// HP + agent flag. Inventory, quest progress, NFT lock state are
+    /// <para>Vertical slice scope: position, rotation, level, combat stats,
+    /// BodyTime, HP, and agent flag. Inventory, quest progress, NFT lock state are
     /// persisted in Supabase (durable layer), not held in
     /// <c>[Networked]</c> properties (session layer).</para>
     /// </summary>
     [DisallowMultipleComponent]
     [RequireComponent(typeof(SimpleKCC))]
     public sealed class NetworkPlayer : NetworkBehaviour
     {
-        [Networked] public int CultivationTier { get; set; }
         [Networked] public float Hp { get; set; }
         [Networked] public float Stamina { get; set; }
         [Networked] public int Level { get; set; }
@@ -68,7 +67,6 @@ public override void Spawned()
 
             if (HasStateAuthority)
             {
-                CultivationTier = 1; // Awakening - starting tier per docs/design/04-cultivation-system.md
                 ApplyDefaultStats();
                 if (EquipmentVisualId == EquipmentVisualCatalog.None)
                 {

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/UI/HUDController.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/UI/HUDController.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ private void OnGUI()
             var rect = new Rect(_panelPosition.x, _panelPosition.y, _panelSize.x, _panelSize.y);
             GUI.Box(rect, "SECOND SPAWN");
             GUILayout.BeginArea(new Rect(rect.x + 12f, rect.y + 24f, rect.width - 24f, rect.height - 32f));
-            GUILayout.Label($"Level {player.Level} | Tier {player.CultivationTier}", _labelStyle);
+            GUILayout.Label($"Level {player.Level}", _labelStyle);
             GUILayout.Label($"HP {player.Hp:0}/{player.MaxHealth} | Energy {player.Stamina:0}/{player.MaxEnergy}", _labelStyle);
             GUILayout.Label($"ATK {player.AttackPower} | DEF {player.DefensePower} | AGI {player.Agility}", _labelStyle);
             GUILayout.Label($"BodyTime {FormatSeconds(player.BodyTimeRemainingSeconds)} / {FormatSeconds(player.BodyTimeMaxSeconds)}", _labelStyle);

diff --git a/backend/gateway/README.md b/backend/gateway/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ following boundaries; the prototype has not wired every item yet:
 - Per-player rate limits + daily token budget (Redis)
 - Server-side intent validation (no LLM-driven state mutation)
 - Prompt injection defense (reuses DOSafe patterns)
-- Provider routing (Anthropic for boss / cultivation master dialogue,
+- Provider routing (Anthropic for boss / quest-critical dialogue,
   Convai for general NPC dialogue in phase 1)
 
 Reuses the operational pattern of `D:\Projects\DOSRouter` (the Go LLM