AFAIK level_load does not take any frame at all to complete. You can also check the following snippet:
Code:
#include <acknex.h>

void main()
{
//	level_load(NULL);
	MATERIAL* m = mtl_create();
	effect_load(m,"whatever.fx");
	printf("total_frames = %d",(int)total_frames);
}

The total_frames variable is 0, regardless of the level_load ...

Always learn from history, to be sure you make the same mistakes again...