《Guardian of Humanity》 Chapter 1 The sky was filled with dark clouds, and a faint mist enveloped all the buildings. In the middle of the main street, plunged into total darkness, only the school library remained brightly lit. The heavy rains that evening had left the building deserted, shrouded in an eerie silence due to the absence of most people. Even the librarian, known for her constant presence, had left her keys behind after receiving a phone call. "The last person to leave the library must shelve the books, turn off the lights, and lock the doors, alright? If I return, I¡¯ll check the culprit with the security cameras, won¡¯t I?¡± Of course, there was almost no one in the library, so she was surely addressing the only person visible within her line of sight. ¡°Ah¡­ Regis, I¡¯m leaving the keys on the desk. I¡¯ll lock the door behind me, so take care, okay?¡± In this atmosphere, Regis powered on an old computer, its motor emitting a wheezing, rusty noise. He even wondered if this relic of a machine might simply give up the ghost. Logging into the forum, Regis could see the messages. AEFZKPO: What kind of trash forum is this? A story discussion? AEFZKPO: Does the person who created this thread have a shred of intelligence? AEFZKPO: Writing fiction in this day and age, seriously? And this forum doesn¡¯t even have the proper features of an online site. I could do better using my feet. Renegon: What is this idiot saying? Think you can insult people for free? You wanna get beaten to a pulp? Knight: Drag this fool here. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve publicly executed someone. [Moderator Scientific has joined the session.] Knight: The moderator¡¯s here. Didn¡¯t even get a chance for immediate execution. Lucky you. The users were laughing. [Moderator Scientific]: What¡¯s going on? Regis logged into his forum, dedicated to open discussion, and raised an eyebrow. The thread had been chaotic before he arrived, with insults proliferating everywhere. He tightened his grip on the mouse, unconsciously snapping it in his hand. ¡°Ah.¡± Realizing his mistake, Regis hid the broken mouse behind a computer and borrowed one from another workstation. [Moderator Scientific]: You think this forum is a joke? When had this discussion space turned into a den of faceless bandits? He had to clean up this mess immediately. Gripping the mouse, he scrolled to the top of the thread and started banning everyone, ensuring he blocked their IPs to prevent them from returning with alternate accounts. By the time half the users had been banned, the forum began to scroll smoothly again. Regis could finally take a breath. [Moderator Scientific]: If only people had some common sense. Knight: Well¡­ don¡¯t lose heart, moderator. Nodding to himself, Regis scrolled back through the thread, reading the criticism from his online acquaintances.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Of course, even though users were banned, their messages remained visible. He needed to write several posts to bury those cursed comments. Shaking his head, he clicked on another tab. Events like these didn¡¯t happen every day. If he could limit the number of trolls, he¡¯d have moved the forum to a private, more secure platform, but due to a lack of funds, it remained open to everyone. Even a ten-year-old with basic internet knowledge could access the site with just a link. The only defense was to fight back in a game of speed, sometimes lasting for days. He even recalled a memorable day when he¡¯d battled non-stop against a notorious group. But even they had eventually given up under his relentless counterattacks. Hmm. This latest chaos, paired with criticism, had nearly gotten him expelled from the library. The persistent clicking of his mouse echoed through the space like gunfire. Losing access to the library would have been a disaster. It was the only place with a halfway decent computer. Regis couldn¡¯t afford even a low-end machine, so if he were barred from the library for any period, the trolls would seize the opportunity. If he returned after a two-week suspension to find the forum in ruins, he¡¯d probably quit school and throw himself off a bridge. With a sigh, he rose from his chair. ¡°Hmm. I think I need another book.¡± On the table lay hundreds of books, describing bizarre, fictional monsters. After all, he needed to conduct thorough research as the owner of a fiction forum. ¡°This one. I haven¡¯t read it yet.¡± Regis pulled a dusty book from the library shelf. It was located on the top shelf, requiring him to use a ladder. Now holding the book, Regis noticed it described a strange creature. That didn¡¯t surprise him. ¡°Dimensional Monster?¡± [Warning: This book should not be read by ordinary people.] [If you¡¯ve taken this book, return it to its original position immediately.] [If you¡¯ve opened the book, leave the isolated area and stay close to others.] [Failure to comply will result in a slow and painful death.] Regis laughed. ¡°Who wrote this? It sounds like me when I started writing fiction.¡± But suddenly, a deformed shape emerged before him. ¡°Huh?¡± Regis froze. As he regained his senses, he moved quickly, his feet covering ground in mere seconds, while the entity was still forming in the floor, its manifestation nearly complete in six seconds. In this critical moment, he had to leave the library immediately. He rushed to the exit and yanked at the door, but only the sound of a lock echoed in his mind. Huh? Why was the door locked? It was still two in the morning. ¡°Ah¡­ Regis, I¡¯m leaving the keys on the desk. I¡¯ll lock the door behind me, so take care, okay?¡± He remembered the librarian¡¯s words. ¡°Damn. I¡¯m screwed.¡± Who would have thought the librarian¡¯s kindness would return as a curse? Suddenly, he felt a chill behind him. Regis instinctively dodged, narrowly avoiding the deformed arm of a figure attempting to kill him. ¡°It¡¯s¡­!¡± He realized the creature had stolen his appearance. A doppelg?nger! A monster that perfectly mimics its target¡¯s form. Their primary goal is to kill their duplicate and take their place, using any means necessary. But Regis was running now. He didn¡¯t have time to marvel at the monster. His brain raced, calculating survival chances and possible escape routes. The exit is locked. The windows. Were the windows an option? Since last year¡¯s students had smashed them during a baseball game, the librarian had reinforced them. Breaking them barehanded was practically impossible unless you were superhuman. But if I were superhuman, I¡¯d have broken down the exit door already. For now, he had to run! Just as he thought he saw a glimmer of hope, the world began to spin upside down. ¡°Can a doppelg?nger alter reality¡¯s structure¡­? No, maybe it¡¯s an illusion?!¡± ¡°Pfff¡­ Pfff¡­¡± An almost inaudible laugh could only be heard up close, but at this distance, Regis heard it clearly the devil¡¯s whisper. ¡°Ah¡­¡± How could he see, in third person, his own body? Regis wore a blank expression. His body was already collapsing to the ground. Watching the creature who¡¯d stolen his appearance, a grin spread across its face. *** "Regis!!" Huh? "Why¡­!! Why?!" What was happening? Regis opened his eyes and found himself in a different room. No, in a completely different building? "You bastard! Why did you try to lay hands on your fianc¨¦e?!" Behind the boy shouting at him, a little girl with blue hair was crying, her face buried in her hands. Was this a dream? Smack! Suddenly, his head nearly spun 180 degrees as he took the full force of a palm strike from a man who had stormed into the room. "You¡­ I should never have trusted the Polaris family." The man, who appeared to be the little girl¡¯s father, gave him a cold glare. "Wait¡­! This is just a misunderstanding! Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions, Duke Hawkins!" The man who came rushing in, panting for breath, seemed to be Regis¡¯s father, and he, too, glared at him with anger. What was he supposed to do? He couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation. Soon, the man scooped up his daughter and left the room quickly. His father followed, trying to resolve the situation. "You! Stay in your room! When I get back, I¡¯ll¡­!!" Baron Polaris practically spat blood as he cursed him. Frowning, Regis convinced himself this must just be some strange dream or backdrop for a story. Typically, after death, people relive their entire life as a panorama or a film. But now? Regis was locked in his room, with the maids even turning the key to ensure he couldn¡¯t escape. With nothing to do, he sat quietly and waited. Only after Duke Hawkins had left did Regis begin to understand the situation he was in. Chapter 2 Regis rubbed his temples, hoping it was all just in his imagination, but the burning wound on the back of his hand felt stiff and undeniable. This wasn¡¯t a dream. He had been reincarnated into another world. But why? The question lingered in his mind. He wasn¡¯t particularly fond of reincarnation stories, but neither did he dislike them. "Young master, the meal will be ready in ten minutes." A woman¡¯s voice called out from behind the door. He didn¡¯t respond, and the maid didn¡¯t seem to care. It was a rather unfortunate situation. Regis used the remaining ten minutes to summarize the events that had taken place in the house. Duke Hawkins had come with his daughter, who was supposed to be his fianc¨¦e, along with another boy who was her childhood friend. Regis Polaris, who he now was, had tried to lay hands on her. And her childhood friend had defended her. What happened next was predictable: Duke Hawkins left to annul the marriage contract, and Regis was punished by his father. But it hadn¡¯t been him. So why did he have to bear the consequences of the actions of his previous self? His father had been so angry that steam might as well have been coming out of his head. Regis had thought he might be reincarnated a third time when he asked what he¡¯d done wrong, but he had simply been slapped painfully instead. Sighing, Regis got up from his bed and walked through the hallway. Of course, he passed other servants in the corridors, but their cold, dark gazes instinctively silenced him. Even when I got caught with contraband magazines at school, no one looked at me like that. "That¡¯s the delinquent young master¡­" Regis heard an insult, turned around, but the servants had all fled. Big mouths, fast legs. He clicked his tongue and stepped into the dining room. "¡­" "Tsk¡­" Regis slowly entered, scanning the faces of the other family members. Everyone seemed to have a poor opinion of him, likely because of his past misdeeds. Hmm? Why are most of them women? Three girls and one boy? Now he understood why his father couldn¡¯t punish him too harshly. He was the only male heir to the family. Sigh. The worst part was that he was the youngest. The three girls were nine, twelve, and sixteen years old, respectively. The sixteen-year-old, in particular, was giving him an icy glare. Of course, I¡¯m only seven years old. Just when he thought she might jump at him, the door opened, and his father, Drake Polaris, entered. He sat firmly at the head of the table, gripping the armrests, while the servants quickly served the meal. The way he cut his food was dignified and noble. Regis watched the others¡¯ hands. Everyone was using forks and knives with elegance. Hmm. He grabbed a chicken thigh, placed it on his plate, and took a bite.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It was delicious. "Father, Regis cannot inherit the barony!" Straight to the point, huh? Can¡¯t you wait until I finish my meal like an adult? Suppressing his irritation, Regis listened silently to his sister¡¯s complaints. "Duke Hawkins will blacklist us now! We need to mend ties with them, or the neighboring nobles will invade us!" Their father rubbed his temples. "What else can we do, Hun?" "Disinherit Regis. I should take charge of the barony!" His sister¡¯s eyes sparkled with ambition. Damn, you just want my position, huh? "You can¡¯t. Only a man can inherit a territory." "But! I¡¯ve achieved merits at the academy that place me above other nobles. I¡¯m capable!" "This isn¡¯t about merit." Just as the discussion was getting interesting, Regis spoke up. "Fine, I¡¯ll give up my title." Instantly, the room fell silent. The servants and butlers at the edges of the room, his father¡¯s wide, trembling eyes, and his sisters¡¯ curious stares all turned toward him. His mother spoke calmly. "You¡¯re giving up your title for my daughter?" "Dear, even if you¡¯re not his biological mother, he¡¯s still your son!" He nodded quietly, taking another bite of chicken. His mother fell silent. Perhaps lost in thought, but Regis didn¡¯t care. Just as his father was about to reprimand him, Regis suddenly stood. "I¡¯m not hungry anymore. Father, I¡¯m incapable of managing the territory. I believe my eldest sister is capable of caring for our subjects." His father paused mid-sentence, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Regis left for his room, enduring the cold stares of the servants who were oblivious to the situation. Of course, he took the opportunity to grab one of them. "You. Bring me what¡¯s on this paper." While waiting, he pulled open the curtain covering the window. The light blinded him momentarily. Regis laughed softly, gazing at the view outside. A fantastical, post-industrial world. Beyond the house stood advanced medieval-style buildings, with smoke visible in certain areas. Probably factory grounds. Looking down, he spotted a training field. "Ah, so that¡¯s the source of the noise." Gunfire rang out as soldiers aimed muskets at straw dummies. Hmm. The soldiers held their muskets, reloading them with powder. A Napoleonic-era musket. Considering this world isn¡¯t entirely fantastical, that¡¯s a good thing. Well, against an automatic assault rifle, these muskets wouldn¡¯t even be a threat. I guess the modern era really is a world apart. Heh. Hmm. Even if this world enjoys technological knowledge, does it also possess magic or supernatural powers? He scratched his chin. Perhaps? Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Young master, here are the books you requested¡­" Before the maid could finish speaking, he grabbed the manuals and shut the door. "¡­" The maid wore a blank expression. Regis quickly flipped through the history manual. "Basic Introduction to History." Ah! A map appeared on the second page, depicting a continent with one empire, four kingdoms, and a federation. So, this is the geopolitical layout of the world? The Gorgone Empire occupied the northern part of the continent, covering two-fifths of the landmass, followed by three kingdoms bordering the Empire and a federation with a smaller territory. The last kingdom was on the extreme opposite side of the Gorgone Empire. Regis turned the page, reading the history of the current nations. -Once, there were two continents, lands constantly changing hands, and rivers of blood flowing through the seas and oceans. Amidst the false kings, several men of great intellect forced the world into the next era, soon called the Industrial Era. Muskets and new combat methods quickly suppressed the old nations. New nations soon emerged. Among these emerging nations, the Gorgone Empire, led by its Founding Emperor, Justin Gorgone, absorbed three nations, contributing to peace in the northern territories. The central and southern kingdoms, threatened by the Empire¡¯s power, hastily formed the Alliance of Kingdoms. The Empire quickly countered these enemies by drafting a defense pact with the federation. The federation was used as a hammer against the kingdoms. Ensuring their mutual survival. To this day, only the Kingdom of Helios has remained neutral. A force of three kingdoms, a federation, and an empire has balanced each other for over half a century. Turn the page. The 17th year of the Industrial Era. The Monster Saga. -This year marked an entirely unexpected turning point for the nations, and for humanity itself. Monsters began to appear in forests, meadows, and even mountains. The death toll in the first year was estimated at 30 million humans, nearly a quarter of the population. At the time, humanity was just recovering from the industrial wars, and the new war against monsters brought war back into prominence. Monsters were immune to lead bullets. Weapons effective against humans were used against them. Humanoid monsters, though weak, were formidable foes. Under the growing dangers of the monsters, for the first time in human history, nations united to form the Grand Army of 15 million soldiers. For ten years, humanity fought alongside heroes and powerful creatures for its survival. Again and again, humans and heroes perished. Even civilians had to take up arms to fight. Farmers producing bread were forced to wield swords; children laughing in the streets became disposable. However, this approach pushed humanity against a wall. The birth rate was low. The number of mobilized soldiers dwindled over the years; the presence of men on the streets became rare. Everyone thought humanity was nearing its end. And at that fateful time¡ª The monster army launched an assault on the human coalition¡¯s central command. Turn the page. Regis was completely absorbed in the text. He turned the page. However, the last part was completely torn out. "Why is the ending torn out?" He frowned. This was the most important part of the story. In a world where monsters had nearly wiped out humanity, how had humans managed to survive and thrive until now? What had become of the monsters? He wanted to ask a servant to bring another history book, but looking at the moon in the sky, Regis decided to give up for the night. "How did humans survive?" Regis covered himself with his blanket and fell asleep. Chapter 3 "Young Master, your school instructor is calling for you." A voice came from behind the door. "Alright¡­ Go back. I¡¯ll be there in two minutes." The person behind the door remained still. Regis stayed on guard. However, upon hearing the footsteps retreat, he finally sighed in relief. Good grief, if he could avoid family conflicts by staying out of the way, that would¡¯ve been ideal. He grumbled over an incident that had occurred while he was asleep. Regis turned toward the window and swung it open abruptly, checking the water he had placed there. There were no signs of tampering, as though no one had climbed near the window. But only he knew that the water he had delicately placed in front of the window had disappeared. The door had been barricaded, making it impossible to force open unless broken down. Naturally, the only way to break into a room was through the window. Regis, though courageous, was inherently cautious. Especially after the scene he caused during the family meal. The curious gaze of his elder sister, the expression of the family head, and that of his stepmother. She wasn¡¯t overtly threatening, but his instincts warned him that she might be the most dangerous person in the house. Unlike a traditional thief, it seemed this was merely a spy sent by the mistress of the house. After verifying that all his personal belongings were still in place, he finally dressed properly. ~Stomach. "This stress has made me hungry." Regis grabbed a piece of bread from his desk and donned clothes that fit him well. He stood before a mirror, revealing a young boy of eight years old, with ash-gray hair and red eyes. Hmm. Doesn¡¯t this only exist in other worlds? Hair color is biological, naturally passed down genetically, with typical shades being blonde, black, or brown. But ash-gray? He was probably from some minority group in a distant region. At least, his father didn¡¯t have ash-gray hair or red eyes, so it must have come from his late mother. Well, he never knew her, so he couldn¡¯t complain. It was good hair. And the fashion style of this era was truly impressive. It resembled Victorian and Gothic styles of England. The only difference seemed to be the crest on the garments. A badge featuring a fox on a blue background rested on his chest. Naturally, his clothes were also blue. Was this the color representing the Polaris barony? While pondering these things, Regis finally arrived in a classroom. Of course, he was the only student. If you¡¯re wondering how he managed to reach the class, it¡¯s because he had inherited parts of his memory. So, is this a reincarnation with a fusion of the soul of the deceased? As time passed, his memory became increasingly clear. "Ah, there you are. Noble brat, sit down." A strict voice, laced with coldness, reached him. An old man with a graying beard raised an eyebrow. Who was he to give me orders? Before him stood a university student who had passed the entrance exam for one of the greatest universities in his world!Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. An old man from his time wouldn¡¯t even come close to his level. Regis thought of pouncing on him but stopped himself immediately. Huh? Why was he about to jump at him? He was a cautious person. This wasn¡¯t like him at all. Thinking deeply, he felt as though a part of his soul was changing. As if pure grenadine syrup was being forcibly mixed with water, diluting his soul as the true Regis integrated with him. This was rather bad news. He collected himself and sat quietly before Professor Gretel. He had to forcefully maintain control over Regis¡¯s soul. "Alright, let¡¯s begin the introductory course on powers." Regis listened attentively to the lecture. Introduction to Powers. Thankfully, as a noble, he had private instructors who taught him whatever he wanted to learn. At the right time and on the right subject. It would¡¯ve been tedious to feign ignorance. Imagine giving a lecture, only for your student to return the next day saying they didn¡¯t remember it. That would be a blood-boiling situation. "In this world, there are two ways to fight. The first concerns the technological revolution, the era dominated by muskets, particularly those used in past wars." "The ones used by our soldiers?" Gretel clicked his tongue. "No, those are outdated, obsolete models. I¡¯m talking about the ones used by the Empire¡¯s soldiers." Soon, he pulled a musket out of his bag. It was fundamentally different from the ones our soldiers carried. That was an instinctive observation. The aesthetics of the weapon were also distinct. If the soldiers¡¯ weapons were sticks, then this one was a magic wand. "Can I touch it?" "Of course not." Gretel raised an eyebrow and only displayed it. "This is a weapon given by the Empire after military service." Later, Gretel and Regis headed to a training center. Since the Polaris barony was financially weak, they only had old equipment, which made Gretel click his tongue again. "If I¡¯d had a choice, a wealthy family would have been better." Gretel continued to complain. Was it a personality trait or a genetic predisposition to grumble every time he opened his mouth? Regis pondered this question seriously. Soon, Gretel held the weapon in his hands, aimed at a training dummy, and with a click¡ª Boom! The dummy had a gaping hole right in the middle of its forehead. The soldiers observing from the sidelines all watched the scene with bright eyes. "How is this possible?" Regis asked Gretel. Gretel held the weapon, smoke rising from the barrel. "It¡¯s a magical condensation musket." Magical condensation? As my curiosity peaked, Gretel elaborated. "Every human possesses mana within their body, but the amount varies greatly among individuals." Ah, so mana exists in this world. "The Empire, through industrial revolution, developed a blend of technological and magical advancement. This concept is called magical engineering." "Can anyone own a weapon like yours?" Gretel smirked, proud of his weapon. "Of course not, kid. Only advanced musketeers are entrusted with such expensive weapons." Oh, naturally. A powerful weapon must come with limitations, such as production costs. "You mentioned the first way to fight. What about the second method?" Gretel laughed at his reaction. "That belongs to the elites of this world. No, rather, to the masters of this world. The Aegis users." Aegis users? My curiosity piqued. The curiosity of a university student should not be underestimated. Seeing the boy more focused than usual, Gretel was intrigued. He continued with his lecture anyway. "Each Aegis user is a high-level weapon." "What is an Aegis user? How are they different?" "You¡¯re too quick, kid," Gretel said with a whistle. "An Aegis user employs a concept different from mana. Instead of using it as fuel, they manifest it by implanting it into reality." "It¡¯s like distorting reality." "Exactly." Gretel was pleased that Regis grasped the concept so quickly. "An Aegis user manifests their mana through three processes: manipulating their ego, influencing their environment, and distorting the world." "Each Aegis user is unique. That¡¯s why their powers vary. They are ranked as local, provincial, regional, national, and continental levels." "I wonder how one manifests an Aegis." "For example, your father is a local-level Aegis user. He can manifest spears through sheer will." "How do you become an Aegis user?" Gretel laughed at the question. "Become an Aegis user? It mainly requires luck, determination, and focus!" He said it ironically, but Regis etched it into his memory. Gretel reached into his bag and pulled out a manual titled Aegis Users for Dummies. I took it in my hands, careful not to damage it. "Are you sure you¡¯re giving this to me?" "What, this book? It doesn¡¯t even cost 2,000 credits." The economy of this world differed somewhat from that of his previous world; the currency consisted of banknotes issued directly by the continental bank managing all nations'' currency. These notes were directly tied to magical engineering, making fraud non-existent. If the annual consumption of a household was around 200 credits, then 2,000 credits would equate to that of ten households. "Thank you for the lesson, Professor." Gretel didn¡¯t have time to respond. Regis quickly disappeared from the training center. "Kids these days." Gretel clicked his tongue. After leaving his instructor, Regis first visited his father instead of heading directly to his room. He had to address a problem first. "It¡¯s me, Father." He knocked on the door, and a response came quickly. "Come in." Regis opened the door and immediately saw his stepmother, Beatrice Polaris. Ah, so the culprit is here? Perfect timing. "Quickly tell me the reason for your visit," Liser Polaris said. Regis tilted his head slightly. "Father, after our family dinner, I went to my room, exhausted from the discussion. I fell asleep but heard a noise at the window." Immediately, Beatrice stirred unconsciously before regaining control of her body. Continuing, he said, "I went to check, but someone immediately jumped away from the window." "...!" Liser Polaris¡¯s eyes widened. "What you¡¯re saying is true?!" For Beatrice, this seemed like a direct threat, but for his father, it was a sign of a preemptive attack against the barony. An attempt to assassinate the barony¡¯s heir! "I will strengthen the guard around your room. Return immediately, and unless summoned, do not leave." "Thank you, Father." Regis didn¡¯t forget to cast a lingering glance at his stepmother, who stared back briefly. I know it¡¯s you. If you value your influence, I suggest you stay within limits, or I won¡¯t hold back. Beatrice smiled. Well, I suppose she¡¯s someone who knows how to control her expressions, at least a little. Laughing, Regis returned to his room. Immediately, Beatrice¡¯s glass of water shattered in her hands. Liser was startled. "Are you all right, dear?" "Oh¡­ Yes, I was just startled by the idea of assassins coming after my son," she sighed, staring at the door. "Hmm, yes. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll instruct the captain to monitor Regis¡¯s surroundings closely," Liser replied. "Yes, thank you." Beatrice smiled. Chapter 4 Before returning to his room, Regis strolled through the garden, admiring the field of flowers blooming around the house. Many flowers were visible, some common like tulips and roses, while others were unfamiliar varieties. ¡°Watch out!¡± A warning came from his right. Instinctively, Regis dodged, and a sword fell behind him, embedding itself into the wall. ¡°An assassination?!¡± He had just survived an attempt on his life. Perhaps it was the work of men sent by the mistress of the house. However, Regis was sure she wouldn¡¯t act so blatantly, or perhaps he had underestimated his opponent. This was a grievous error in judgment, and he might pay the price for it. Regis remained on guard, scanning his surroundings, pushing his senses to their limits, searching for the assassin at all costs. ¡°Sorry.¡± However, the apology came in a familiar voice. His older sister was watching him with an odd expression. She stared, then her gaze turned hesitant. Perhaps she thought it would have been better if he had died accidentally. Looking at his sister¡¯s face, Regis thought she might be contemplating just that. But the anxious looks of the soldiers behind her forced her to voice her apology. ¡°It was a mistake. Not an assassination attempt.¡± He listened, then replied instantly, ¡°I know.¡± Regis shook his head and resumed his walk. Of course, he stayed vigilant. Who knew if his sister might deliberately throw her sword next time? Meanwhile, Bellati watched her younger brother. Why does it feel like he¡¯s changed? Conflicting emotions crossed her face, but she quickly resumed her training upon hearing her combat instructor call out. When she returned to the training center with the other soldiers, Regis leaned against a railing. He had moved to a hidden spot out of sight, intrigued by the situation, even though he wanted to leave quickly. Even in this era, some people still wielded cold weapons. Well, cold weapons might remain popular even in worlds filled with rifles and guns. As if waiting for her cue, several sword-wielding soldiers rushed toward Bellati, surrounding her as they sprinted. She raised her sword and pointed it upward. ¡°Aegis!¡± A blinding light illuminated the training ground, but Regis could still see through it, accustomed as he was to similar flashes in the library. Bellati seized the opportunity to sprint forward, rushing directly into the midst of the disoriented soldiers. She spun her sword in a circle, striking the solar plexus of the closest soldier before blocking an incoming blade behind her.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Jumping backward, she deflected several swords until a blade finally slipped past her guard and grazed her face. But a blue sword appeared between them, repelling the soldier¡¯s weapon before sending him flying to the edge of the field. In mere seconds, the fight was over. ¡°As expected of a local-level Aegis user!¡± The soldiers praised her, but Bellati remained impassive, staring down at the sword in her hand. ¡°...It¡¯s not enough.¡± Regis shook his head and continued walking. It seemed there was a hidden intrigue, but it wasn¡¯t his problem. Still, this battle had broadened his horizons. ¡°Manipulation, manifestation, and distortion...¡± It seemed his sister had already reached the level of manifestation. But hearing that she was only at the ¡°local¡± level bothered him. He wondered what the power of a continental-level Aegis user would be like. Eager to know, he returned to his room and changed into comfortable clothes. To manipulate one¡¯s ego, he thought, one had to do so consciously in an environment conducive to focus. He closed the curtains, shut out the drafts, and eliminated anything that might disturb his concentration. This was a serious matter. When his preparations were complete, he sat cross-legged and focused. Good. Concentration. Concentration... He exhaled heavily, repeatedly. Minutes passed, perhaps hours. His focus became so intense that time lost meaning, and his vision blurred, dulling into colorless tones. Soon... But with his breath caught, he abruptly withdrew. ¡°Pwah!¡± Reopening his eyes fully, Regis felt his strength leave him. Unfortunately, he had failed on his first attempt. Well, even as a protagonist, succeeding on the first try would have been too easy. This was reality, nothing amusing about it. Regis shook his head, resting his chin on his hand. His room was a mess, heavy with the stifling scent of his breath locked inside. He felt he was missing something. What was it? ¡°An Aegis user manifests their mana through three processes: manipulating their ego, influencing their surroundings, and distorting the world.¡± He remembered Gretel¡¯s words clearly. This time, recalling them wasn¡¯t enough. He needed to understand the meaning of each sentence individually. First, an Aegis user possesses mana but doesn¡¯t consume it. They manifest it into the world creatively. The problem was that he couldn¡¯t sense mana within his body. Already, the first obstacle blocked him at the start. Sighing, he picked up a book from his desk and flipped through several pages. [Mana Manifestation] [Rudger Celsi] ¡°Mana manifestation must be learned by the individual. It is an innate talent brought forth by the will of the world. When the conditions are met, mana manifests miraculously.¡± Conditions. ¡°The conditions are as follows: meditate in a mana rich environment, connect with nature, and modify your personality.¡± He raised his eyebrows. This contradicted all his previous actions. Meditating in his room had been a bad idea from the start, especially since there was practically no mana in it. And the last point, modifying one¡¯s personality, he thought he had a clue about that. For now, he needed to find a solution to his predicament. Regis stood up, but the stench of his sweat forced him to call for some servants before leaving his room and heading to the garden. ¡°Young master, please return.¡± He was stopped immediately. ¡°Why?¡± The experienced soldier replied, ¡°By order of the master. You are forbidden to leave under penalty of punishment.¡± His expression was intimidating. As a modern man who had endured the scoldings of university professors, Regis wasn¡¯t fazed. It was almost comical. The soldier was briefly surprised, but quickly resumed his usual expression. Ultimately, Regis had to opt for a different environment. The garden, perhaps less ideal than a forest would suffice. Touching the well-maintained grass, he felt a faint but perceptible connection to nature. He had made the right choice to change his setting. Ensuring the area was deserted, Regis removed his shirt, leaving only his pants, and sat cross-legged again. This time, his concentration had to be stricter than before. Regis closed his eyes and focused his mind on one thing, changing his personality to harmonize with nature. It was almost second nature to him as a forum administrator. Maintaining a steady breath, faint blue auras began to form at the base of the surrounding flowers. But Regis didn¡¯t let himself waver and concentrated even more deeply. Modification. He had already gained a clue during his reincarnation. No, more than a clue it was proof. As if to confirm this, mana began rapidly and heavily concentrating within his body. Sweat poured from his body. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth. He felt his organs churn under the sudden manifestation of mana, but he was resolute. His instincts told him this was the correct path, and he pressed on. Again and again. How many hours passed? Finally, with a smoky exhale, Regis collapsed backward. The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the starry sky, filled with countless shooting stars. Unfortunately, parts of the sky were shrouded in toxic smoke from nearby factories. Raising his left hand, he saw mana coursing faintly through his skin. Clenching his fist, the mana burst outward. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± The first condition to becoming an Aegis user had been achieved.