diff --git a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/skill-progression/Get skill progression.bru b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/skill-progression/Get skill progression.bru
index 86fc043..8a09bf6 100644
--- a/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/skill-progression/Get skill progression.bru	
+++ b/bruno/neon-sprawl-server/skill-progression/Get skill progression.bru	
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ meta {
 
 docs {
   NEO-37: per-player read model; join with GET /game/world/skill-definitions for display names.
+  NEO-38: XP persists (in-memory/Postgres). These checks do not assume a fresh server—level must match placeholder curve level = 1 + floor(max(0,xp)/100). Restart server (or truncate DB in Postgres mode) to see all-zero defaults again.
 }
 
 get {
@@ -25,15 +26,24 @@ tests {
     expect(body.skills.length).to.equal(3);
   });
 
-  test("frozen prototype trio with default xp and level", function () {
+  test("frozen prototype trio with levels consistent with server placeholder curve", function () {
     const body = res.getBody();
-    const intrusion = body.skills.find((x) => x.id === "intrusion");
-    expect(intrusion).to.be.an("object");
-    expect(intrusion.xp).to.equal(0);
-    expect(intrusion.level).to.equal(1);
     const ids = new Set(body.skills.map((x) => x.id));
     expect(ids.has("salvage")).to.equal(true);
     expect(ids.has("refine")).to.equal(true);
     expect(ids.has("intrusion")).to.equal(true);
+
+    /** Matches SkillLevelCurvePlaceholder (NEO-38): level = 1 + floor(max(0,xp)/100). */
+    const expectedLevel = (xp) => 1 + Math.floor(Math.max(0, xp) / 100);
+
+    for (const id of ["salvage", "refine", "intrusion"]) {
+      const row = body.skills.find((x) => x.id === id);
+      expect(row).to.be.an("object");
+      expect(row.xp).to.be.a("number");
+      expect(row.level).to.be.a("number");
+      expect(row.xp).to.be.at.least(0);
+      expect(row.level).to.be.at.least(1);
+      expect(row.level).to.equal(expectedLevel(row.xp));
+    }
   });
 }