《Codex of Power》 1: In the Wake of Chaos Loud noises, explosions, and blinding lights erupted in the background of a crumbling house. Inside, two children stood amidst the chaos. One, with black hair and brown eyes, appeared to be on the verge of fainting, while the other¡¯s voice was drowned out by the overwhelming noise. ''Fuck... It¡¯s way too fucking loud...'' ¡°D...mi...Da...¡± ''Who even is yelling right now?... Fuck, I can¡¯t hear a damn thing.'' Gradually, clarity returned to the boy¡¯s senses as he heard another child shouting. ¡°DAMIAN, PLEASE DON¡¯T FAINT! GET UP RIGHT NOW! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!¡± Damian, slowly pushing himself up, glanced toward the source of the voice. ¡°Ah, fuck, you¡¯re alive, Stephen?¡± ¡°Hah... Hah... Yeah, pretty much... Hah... I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on anymore... It¡¯s total chaos out there... and you¡¯re bleeding a bit around your head.¡± ¡°Yeah... obviously... they¡¯re the fucking Drakmire soldiers... fuckers don¡¯t even know they¡¯re working for the Bloodspires...¡± Damian winced, touching his head. ¡°...and it¡¯s just a concussion, so no worries there... Can you stop gawking like an idiot and fucking help me up?¡± ¡°By Serenys, stop cussing so much! You¡¯re just nine years old... and you seem to know way too much about these guys... the Bloodspires? How even¡ª¡± ¡°Does it really matter right now, little Stevey? Point is, I knew about it and tried to prevent it, but I guess it wasn¡¯t enough.¡± Stephen glared at him for a moment before replying, ¡°I¡¯m older than you by two years...¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever... Were you watching Remir¡¯s bar?¡± The children glanced outside a shattered window, where the scene of corpses and blood trails sprawled across the ground. They then noticed a flickering green light source, revealing the words ¡®Remir¡¯s Bar.¡¯ Stephen nodded. ¡°For a bit, yeah... It¡¯s about 50 meters from here. We should move when their patrol squads go elsewhere, but we¡¯ll have to hurry. If what you said is right, then I won¡¯t hesitate. I¡¯ll take my chances. My instincts are telling me that another group is on the way, and I¡¯m not gonna wait to find out if they¡¯re Drakmires or one of us Skaldri. This place is done for, anyway.¡± ¡°Alright, then. You better start praying to your god for survival.¡± ¡°And what about you? You¡¯re still not gonna put your faith in any of the gods?¡± Damian looked at the red-haired boy with an unwavering gaze. ¡°Not a chance. I¡¯ll get by on my own, I know that much... Go use those blood-red eyes of yours and start finding the locations of those fucking hellhounds, if you ain¡¯t gonna pray.¡± ¡°¡­Oh Serenys, please bless me with strength to survive this ordeal, and please forgive this foolish child. He does not know any better¡­¡± Stephen muttered before continuing his prayer for about ten seconds while Damian suspiciously watched him. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m done... When do we make a run for it?¡± ¡°Ten seconds, and we go on ¡®one.¡¯¡± Both children began counting in their heads. ''10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...'' They immediately bolted toward the battered doors and rushed toward the green-lit bar. However, as they reached the 30-meter mark, Stephen sensed a strange atmospheric shift and turned to his right. Damian, a bit slower, noticed this too and yelled at him. ¡°STEV¡ª¡± BOOM! A magical bomb exploded, sending Damian flying to the left. The force slammed him into a wall, and he fell to the ground. Struggling to rise, Damian looked over at Stephen and saw blood staining his head and torso. ¡°Fuck... this fucking... this can¡¯t be happening... I tried saving them, but they¡¯re just too fucking egoistic... and now Stephen¡¯s on the ground... probably dead. Shit...¡± Through the smoke, Damian heard the echoes of soldiers shouting and running, their armored figures moving swiftly. He gritted his teeth. ¡°Hah... Fuck... now this... Hah... Just... Hah... Just why did I accept that deal with that stupid fucking god, Serenys?... Seriously now, just fuck my fucking life.¡± ************************************************* ¡°Billie Jean... is not my lover...¡± A man and a woman, both around 20 years old, walked together. The man was singing Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, dancing and snapping his fingers. To mock the woman¡¯s obvious irritation, he continued singing, ¡°¡­She¡¯s just a girl, who claims that I¡¯m the one¡­¡± He paused, looking at the girl, who seemed to be warming up her hands. The girl, clearly angry, spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°One more word out of your mouth, and I swear to god I will pull that damn ear off.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°¡­But the KID IS NOT MY SO¡ªAHHH OK STOP! I¡¯M SORRY!¡± ¡°Seriously, fuck this! I can¡¯t believe this! How the hell did you even get a 100 on the exam?? That makes no sense! I worked my ass off to get a 94, while you... you slept and played games the whole week!¡± ¡°That, milady, is what you call a skill issue.¡± ¡°OH FUCK THIS! C¡¯MERE AND LET ME FUCKING KILL YOU ALREADY!¡± ¡°AHH OK STOP! STOP! I¡¯M SORRY!¡± After nearly a minute of pinching his ears, she finally relented, letting the poor man go. He then looked at the blonde-haired girl and asked, ¡°¡­So... about that bet we made¡­¡± ¡°A win is a win. You can request anything from me. Damian, I¡¯m not a sore loser, you know?¡± ¡°I never said anything about it, Lily.¡± ¡°Oh, and obviously, if you ask for something too brash, I¡¯ll straight-up kick you in the balls.¡± He pretended to look scared, pouted, and said, ¡°Damn, what¡¯d I ever do to you, girl?¡± ¡°¡­Tch, I should¡¯ve punched you instead... So, out with it, what¡¯s your request?¡± ¡°Would you go on a date with me?¡± Lily, initially baffled by the question, stood silent for a moment. ¡°¡­Huh? Wait, wha, hold on. Wha¡­¡± Damian didn¡¯t stop there and continued, his blush evident, but his resolve unshaken. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna hold off on this any longer. I can¡¯t hide my feelings anymore.¡± ¡°Wait... hold on... I¡¯m no¡ª¡± ¡°I like you, Lily. Ever since we met a year ago.¡± ¡°Wait... ple¡ª¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll say it as many times as you want me to. So, would you go out wi¡ªKFFH!¡± ¡°I SAID WAIT A BIT!!¡± She hit him with her handbag. Damian, groaning, thought to himself, ''Goddamn, what the hell¡¯s in her handbag? It¡¯s fucking heavy... huh? Why¡¯s she breathing so heavy?'' ¡°...Uh, are you okay?¡± ¡°...You¡¯re not pranking me or anything, right?¡± With boundless confidence, he replied, ¡°Absolutely not. I wouldn¡¯t do that to anyone.¡± ¡°...¡± ''Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes...'' Lily, oblivious to his inner turmoil, was thinking, ''HE LIKES ME? HOLY SHIT!! WHAT THE FUCK!!! BUT HOW THE FUCK DOES HE SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE? FUCK, I DON¡¯T THINK I CAN EVER SAY THAT! OK, calm down now, girl...'' ¡°Lily?¡± ¡°...Hm, ah, yes?¡± ¡°...Uh, so, about my question?¡± ¡°...¡± Damian thought, ''She¡¯s gone real quiet... is she okay?'' He realized it was probably because he¡¯d asked out of nowhere. ''Man, if she rejects me, things might get awkward between us later on... But I have to go through with it!'' ¡°¡­Tell me?¡± ¡°Huh? Did you say something, Lily?¡± ¡°¡­What do you like about me?¡± ¡°Well, you have pretty eyes, they shine like emeralds... Your smile gives me butterflies in my stomach, and you make me feel like I¡¯m in a utopia.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And that¡¯s just the top of my head! Well, you also have a nice body, and you¡¯re also very cu¡ªKHFF!¡± ¡°SERIOUSLY, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE, YOU PERVERT?!¡± ¡°¡­Goddamn, my stomach... not again...¡± ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°¡­So, about the answer?¡± Damian asked again, and Lily, still blushing, finally replied, ¡°¡­Yes, I like you too, Damian.¡± ¡°¡­Ahh, that¡¯s actually so nice to hear... and kind of relieving as well.¡± ¡°So, when are we going for our date?¡± Damian froze, clearly caught off guard by her words. It wasn¡¯t what he expected to hear. Lily, still blushing but now a little annoyed, added with a playful edge: ¡°You¡¯d better have the best date planned out, or I¡¯ll leash you when we get home.¡± ¡°¡­Whoa, didn¡¯t know you were into that kind of thing. I guess I¡¯ll have to adjust my tastes, huh?¡± ¡°H-Huh??? No, wait, that¡¯s not what I meant¡ª¡± Damian chuckled, unable to hold back the laugh. ¡°Pfft, ahahaha.¡± ¡°¡­You¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I got it planned out. How about we grab some food first?¡± ¡°¡­Sure¡­¡± The two of them went to a restaurant for dinner and then enjoyed desserts elsewhere. They wandered through various shops until midnight, talking and enjoying each other¡¯s company. The night was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos that had taken place earlier. Damian couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful that Lily had accepted his feelings. ¡°¡­So, how was it, all in all?¡± Damian asked. ¡°¡­Well, it was good, for a first date¡ªaround a 7 out of 10, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°¡­But it was the best because you were here,¡± Lily said, smiling. ¡°¡­And here I thought I was the only one allowed to say cheesy lines.¡± ¡°Oh, please... not this again,¡± she muttered. Damian, clearly overhearing her, struck a dramatic pose and grinned. ¡°Ahaha, no need to worry! After all, your knight in shining armor is here!!¡± ¡°Ahhh, please stop! There are other people watching us!¡± Damian continued his playful banter, intentionally embarrassing both of them in public. A few people nearby couldn''t help but comment. ¡°Ahh, youth these days,¡± an old man sighed. ¡°Tch, I hope they break up already...¡± muttered a random guy, probably someone who had never been in a relationship. As they continued their playful back-and-forth, Lily noticed a strange light flickering in the sky. ¡°Hm, what¡¯s that? There¡¯s a flashing light in the sky...¡± Damian, hearing her words, quickly turned around to look. Slowly, more people began noticing the strange light, which seemed to split into multiple trails. They whispered among themselves: ¡°Hey, do you think that¡¯s a comet?¡± ¡°Nah, no way¡ªit¡¯s splitting apart. Maybe a satellite?¡± Damian¡¯s gut twisted. Something about it felt off. ¡°¡­Uhh, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s getting too close to us?¡± Lily said. ¡°Lily?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Run.¡± The two sprinted as fast as they could, heading away from the light that seemed to grow closer at an alarming speed. The crowd, a bit slow to react, only began to realize the danger as the light source rushed toward them. BOOM!!! The ground trembled violently. Screams echoed around them as explosions tore through the city. Fire spread across buildings, and electricity lines crackled ominously in the darkness. The streetlights flickered and died, leaving the world in an eerie half-darkness. Behind an apartment complex, Damian and Lily collapsed, breathless and shaken by the chaos they had just witnessed. Damian turned to Lily, his voice filled with concern. ¡°Haah, are you okay?¡± She continued panting, nodding in response. ¡°Hooh... okay, we¡¯ve gotta go out and help them... and we still don¡¯t know what caused this, so we have to be careful. Haah... We got insanely lucky. The damage seems random¡ªnot concentrated in one area¡ªotherwise, we¡¯d be dead right now.¡± Lily took a deep breath before replying, ¡°Haah, yeah... but if it¡¯s a meteorite, there could be radioactive metals. Shouldn¡¯t we...?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it was a meteorite,¡± Damian interrupted, shaking his head. ¡°It didn¡¯t look like it had any rocks in it to begin with.¡± ¡°But even then, Damian, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too risky to...¡± ¡°¡­Lily?¡± Damian noticed her sudden silence. Confused, he looked at her face. She was pale, her eyes wide with fear. He followed her line of sight, his stomach sinking as he realized what she was staring at. ¡°Lily, why¡ª¡± But as he looked up into the sky, he saw something that made his blood run cold. It was unbelievable. Something straight out of novels or books¡ªthings he had read about, but never imagined could happen in real life. There, in the sky, were two cracks in space itself¡ªtwo rifts that seemed to tear reality apart. And through them, two eyes appeared. One glowed yellow, the other red. Both Damian and Lily instinctively wanted to look away, but they couldn¡¯t. They were drawn to the sky, unable to break free from the force that seemed to pull their gaze upward. Damian, whose worldview was grounded in science, had his entire understanding of reality shattered in an instant. As he stared into the yellow eye, he thought to himself, Huh?... For some reason, why does it feel like that yellow eye is looking at me? And he was right. The red eye seemed to be looking elsewhere, but the yellow one was focused on him¡ªdirectly at him. Suddenly, a blinding light surrounded him. It felt like an explosion of energy, and before he could even react, it pushed Lily away from him. She scrambled to her feet, shouting something, but Damian couldn¡¯t hear her over the deafening rush of energy. In the next moment, everything went dark. 2: Meeting the Cause "Damian, can you come up here for a second?" ''Huh? Lily? What''s she doing in my room upstairs?'' Damian groaned as he woke up from the couch in the living room. "Yeah, give me a sec." He climbed the stairs and pushed open his bedroom door, only to find Lily standing in front of the mirror, dressed in a green bodycon dress while applying makeup. ''Damn, she looks stunning.'' "Perfect timing," she said, glancing at him through the mirror. "Can you help me with the zipper on my back?" "Oh, yeah, sure." As Damian helped her, he asked, "Why are you dressing up so fancy?" "...Did you forget?" ''Shit. What the hell? Did I actually forget something?'' "Nah, I''m just messing with you," Damian replied with a smirk, though internally, he was panicking. "...You really did, huh?" Lily sighed. "Now that I think about it, you''re not even dressed properly¡­ It''s our one-year anniversary, you idiot." Damian froze. "¡­Huh? Wait, hold on, what do you mea¡ªnghh." He groaned as a sudden headache hit him. Lily frowned. "Well, I guess it makes sense. You''ve been exhausted for a while. You finally got some proper sleep." "Hm? Uh, yeah, I guess so. I think I need to sit for a bit¡­ catch my breath." "Sure." After a few seconds, Lily turned to him. "So? How do I look?" "...You make me want to tear that dress off," Damian said, standing up and admiring her. Lily blushed. "Ehehehe, of course." Then, with a playful smile, she added, "Looks like my hero is already dressed up." "Huh? What the¡ªwhen did I get dressed?" Lily grabbed his arm. "You''re really out of it, huh? But we should be fine for a bit. C''mon, let''s take a picture in the mirror." "Hm, sure, I guess." She took out her phone, and Damian wrapped an arm around her. "Smile~" Damian looked into the camera and smiled. Click! Flash! "AH¡ªwhat the fu¡ªIs your phone''s flash a flashbang grenade or what?" As his vision adjusted, he turned back to the mirror¡ªonly to freeze. ''What the¡­ Where¡¯s my reflection?'' It was only now, as the initial daze wore off, that he noticed something was wrong. He hadn¡¯t realized it earlier because he¡¯d been too focused on Lily. But now¡­ something was seriously off. ''Why the hell am I not in the mirror¡­? And¡­ Lily¡¯s eyes¡­ What¡¯s wrong with her eyes?'' As he turned to face her, he saw them¡ªone glowing yellow, the other red. "Lily" suddenly grabbed him and pinned him down. "Oof! What the fu¡ª" Damian struggled, but he couldn''t break free. Her grip was like iron. Then, from her mouth, fire erupted. Blazing hot flames surged toward his face. "AHHHHHHH FUCKKKK!! WHAT THE FUCKK!!" His vision burned white¡ªthen faded into darkness.
Damian jolted awake with a scream. "AHHH SHIT FUCKK!!¡ªWhat the fu¡ª" He gasped for breath. It was a dream. "...Oh, fuck me. What a weird dre¡ªhuh?" His surroundings were unfamiliar. He wasn¡¯t at home. He wasn¡¯t even in his room. ''Where the hell am I?'' Damian found himself standing in a place that looked almost¡­ divine. The sky stretched endlessly, filled with soft, swirling clouds that formed a sea beneath him. Majestic golden pillars upheld a massive circular structure above, glowing with a mysterious luminescent energy. Before him, a grand staircase led to a throne. Sitting on that throne was a woman with long black hair, wearing a blindfold. She was clad in flowing white and gold robes. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. To her left stood a man, completely covered in golden armor with glowing red streaks. A massive axe rested behind him. To her right, an angelic figure with dark red hair and white wings stood. But those wings were tainted¡ªblack feathers were scattered throughout them. A golden halo hovered above her head, and her crimson eyes burned into him. She held a spear in her right hand. The woman on the throne spoke first. "Greetings, Damian Ashford. My name is Serenys, Goddess of Time. I have summoned you here to make a deal." Damian stood there in silence. "¡­Human? Is everything alright?" He exhaled sharply. "¡­Fuck my life. Am I seriously dreaming right now?" The red-haired angel¡¯s eyes flared. "How impertinent! You dare speak such foul words before the Goddess!?" A powerful energy surged from her, and her golden halo blinked rapidly with a deep crimson glow. Damian felt his body shudder involuntarily. A crushing force pressed down on him, compelling him to kneel. He gritted his teeth, trying to resist, but his body wouldn''t move. "Cease this display at once, Azarel," the armored man spoke firmly. "He is unaware of the presence he stands before." "Thalgor is right, Azarel," Serenys added. "He is confused. We must explain, for we are running out of options." Azarel clicked her tongue and bowed her head. "Yes, oh graceful one. Forgive me for my impudence." "It is fine," Serenys said. ''What the fuck is with this bitch? I already hate her.'' Serenys then turned to Damian. "Are you alright, child?" "Yeah, pretty much¡­ So you''re a goddess, huh?" "Yes, I am Serenys, the Goddess of Time. And I wish to make a deal with you." Damian took a moment to process her words. ''It seems like they can¡¯t read my thoughts, despite being divine beings. That¡¯s good to know.'' "Before that," he said, "I have a couple of questions." "You may proceed." "What¡¯s going on with Earth? What were those flashes of light? What were those cracks in the sky? Why did they have eyes? And how soon can you send me ba¡ª" Serenys cut him off. "Your planet is undergoing an evolution. It will change, and so will the species inhabiting it. The flashes of light were attacks¡ªblasts from the ones who came from the other side. We call their domain Xal''Zaroth." "Attacks? And Xal''Zaroth? What is that?" "Xal''Zaroth is a collection of realms inhabited by monsters of various races. The gods they follow rule over these realms. A war is currently raging between them¡­ and now, your world has been dragged into it." Damian fell silent. "As for the cracks in the sky," Serenys continued, "they are tied to the deal I wish to offer you." He sighed. "¡­I don¡¯t really have a choice here, do I?" "You are quick to understand your situation, human," Thalgor said. "But worry not. We will not treat you unfairly." "Yes," Azarel added. "And we shall even forgive your previous transgressions." ''...What the hell did I even do?'' Damian thought. He turned back to Serenys. "I do have one question, though," he said. "Will my world¡­ my family and friends survive?" Serenys hesitated. Her gaze drifted upward for a brief moment before she finally spoke. "Your girlfriend, Lily, will survive. But the others¡­ I do not know. There is much chaos unfolding on your planet." Damian''s eyes narrowed. "¡­How do you know her name? And while we¡¯re at it, how do you know mine?" Serenys smiled slightly. "I am a goddess, Damian. Such knowledge is trivial for us." "¡­Then how do you know whether she survives or not?" Serenys gazed at Damian with an unwavering expression. "I looked into her future and saw glimpses of her strength. After all, once you humans awaken, you always find ways to grow stronger." Damian frowned, considering her words. ''Hmm... she doesn¡¯t seem to be lying. Not that it would matter¡ªshe¡¯s a god. Not much I can do about it even if she was. But why does a god need my help? That¡¯s the real question.'' He exhaled and crossed his arms. "Fine, I accept. So, what¡¯s the problem?" Serenys¡¯ lips curled into a faint smile, relief evident in her gaze. "A couple of centuries ago, there was a Goddess of Balance and Time. Her name was Celtheris. She was revered by her followers and cared for them deeply. But like all gods, she had an enemy¡ªVaelgorath, the God of Destruction. He waged war against her, a war so violent it shook the realms. Celtheris emerged victorious, but at a terrible cost. When gods clash, the realms they fight on can shatter. To protect her followers, she was forced to split her very existence into two halves¡ªone to hold the realm together, the other to safeguard her people. But before he perished, Vaelgorath cast a curse upon the half protecting the realm. Since both halves shared the same divine essence, the damage spread to the other as well. Celtheris was no more. Instead, her two halves became separate deities. One became Veltrissa, the Goddess of Balance and Time¡ªtwisted by the curse. The other¡­ is me." Damian let out a low whistle. "Damn." "Since then, Veltrissa and I have been at war. When gods wage war, they each choose a champion¡ªa mortal proxy to fight on their behalf. Thalgor here was Celtheris'' champion in the war against Vaelgorath, while Azarel fought in a different war long before that." Damian turned to the two warriors. "Then why do you both follow Serenys now?" A heavy silence followed. Then, Azarel finally spoke. "We didn¡¯t." "Huh?" Thalgor sighed. "As Celtheris'' champions, when she split, so did we. Our existence fractured along with hers. Only our followers remained untouched." "So¡­ there are two of you under Veltrissa as well?" "Yes." Damian tapped his fingers against his arm, absorbing the weight of the revelation. ''So those black feathers on Azarel¡¯s wings and the red streaks on Thalgor¡¯s armor¡­ they¡¯re not just markings. They¡¯re damage. That¡¯s why they feel¡­ off. As if they don¡¯t belong. They really are desperate, huh?'' "Alright. Then how did you bring me here?" "I used my divine energy," Serenys explained. "Opening portals isn¡¯t difficult for a god, but in my weakened state, it¡¯s no simple feat." "And I¡¯m guessing that yellow eye was you and the red one was Veltrissa?" "You catch on quickly." "So¡­ why me?" Damian asked, his voice carrying a mix of skepticism and frustration. "I¡¯m just an engineer. What do I have to do with any of this?" Serenys¡¯ expression turned somber. "Veltrissa and I each chose a champion to end this war. However, she did something no god should ever do¡ªshe created a bridge between two parallel timelines." Damian narrowed his eyes. "A bridge? You mean gods can¡¯t travel to other timelines?" "Oh, we can," she admitted. "But we have placed a strict taboo on it." "Why?" "Because if a god freely travels between timelines, it risks destroying both¡ªthe one they enter and the one they leave. Worse, the god who initiates the travel risks complete erasure. It¡¯s a reckless gamble, and no sane god would take that risk. Yet, Veltrissa did. No one knows why, but the damage is done. The timelines are now at risk of collapsing, and it¡¯s too late to reverse it." Damian rubbed his temples. "Okay, but that still doesn¡¯t explain what I¡¯m doing here." "When gods win a war, their champion becomes an angel. And a god can have only one champion at a time. By interfering with your world, Veltrissa created an anomaly¡ªa human from another timeline. To restore balance, that anomaly must be eliminated before they kill my champion. Likewise, to them, you are the anomaly that must be erased. Only one can exist. Either you¡­ or them." Damian¡¯s jaw clenched as the weight of her words settled in. His eye twitched. "Permission to cuss?" Serenys tilted her head slightly. "You may proceed." "Fuuu¡ª! GOD-FUCKING-DAMMIT, WHAT THE FUCK?! FUUUCK! FUCKING¡ª" He cut himself off, inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly. "¡­Okay. Why me? You could¡¯ve picked anyone else, but you chose me. I¡¯m no hero. I don¡¯t even like heroes." Serenys studied him carefully before answering. "When I searched for a champion, I used my power to witness the past, present, and future of every human on the planet. But when I looked at you¡­ I saw nothing." Damian stiffened. "What?" "I couldn¡¯t see anything. Something about you blocks even a god from perceiving your existence. I took a gamble, hoping that choosing you would lead to the best possible outcome." A bitter chuckle escaped Damian¡¯s lips. "Haaah¡­ fuck me. Alright. So, what do I get out of this?" 3: Serenys’ Bargain "¡­Haaahhh, fuck me¡­ So, what do I get out of this?" At that moment, Azarel declared, "Goddess Serenys has a wide variety of powerful skills. She can bestow upon you one skill of your choosing." "A skill? Like an ability?" Thalgor explained, "It is an ability that can assist you in various ways¡ªpassively, actively, or in combat." "Hmm¡­ Wait, before that, can''t you just send me back home after the anomaly is dealt with?" Serenys sighed, her tone tinged with sadness. "Unfortunately, I do not possess the power to open a bridge once more¡­ And even if I did, I would be forced to choose another anomaly, forcing the cycle to continue." "So I''m fucking stuck here, huh?" Damian vented, frustration clear in his voice. "Not necessarily. If you gain enough power, you can return to your own planet on your own. Of course, one of my skills could assist you in that regard." "Hmm, I see. May I see the list of skills, then?" A panel appeared before him in the next second. "Huh? What''s this? A system panel?" Serenys, sensing his confusion, spoke, "That is the Codex of Power." "Codex?" "Yes. It is a compendium that records everything that exists. The Codex has many names, but it is most commonly called the Codex of Power. Every being encounters it at the beginning of their true evolution." "I see¡­ So this must be your list of powers?" Damian asked. "Precisely. Keep in mind, you may only choose one skill of any rank, so choose wisely." He then thought, Hm? Ranks? ¡­Ahh, I see. The ranking system goes from F to L, huh? The ranks, in order, are: F ¡ú E ¡ú D ¡ú C ¡ú B ¡ú A ¡ú S ¡ú SS ¡ú SSS ¡ú L But why can I only choose one skill? And what''s this "Innate" skill? As if sensing his curiosity, Thalgor explained, "Each rank influences your combat capabilities differently. Skills are categorized based on their impact on existence itself. For example, a ''D'' rank [Barrier] consumes little energy, but if you pour more into it, you can still block powerful attacks¡ªprovided you''re strong enough. On the other hand, an ''S'' rank [Time Stop] drains energy at an extreme rate. The longer you use it, the more energy it consumes. Skills must align with your talents and class. If they don''t, your body won''t register them¡ªlike how someone without a time affinity can''t use [Time Stop]. Skills don''t always consume energy either. Some require life force or stamina instead. Additionally, they can be classified as passive or active abilities." "And the ''Innate'' skill?" Damian asked. "An innate skill is one a being is born with. It automatically occupies one of the five available skill slots and is tailored to a being''s class. However, not everyone possesses one¡ªthe chances of having an innate skill are only 5%." "I see¡­ So how do I check my talents?" "Simply say or think the word ''Status,'' and your full status will be displayed." Damian thought, Status. STATUS Name: Damian Ashford Age: 20 Class: All-Star Class Description: A unique class possessed by only one being. Grants exceptional talent in every field of existence but only up to Rank A. Growth beyond Rank A is impossible regardless of effort. Talent Rank: A Attributes: Strength: F- Speed: F- Durability: F- Agility: F- Endurance: F- Intelligence: F- Sense: F- Innate Skill: Systematic Analysis (A) Skill Type: Active Effect: When activated, the skill rapidly analyzes all available information in the user''s surroundings and constructs the most optimal course of action based on the user''s intent. Functionality: -Instantly provides tactical and strategic analysis. -Breaks down combat patterns, environmental factors, and complex problems. -Generates real-time predictions based on available data. -Simulates different scenarios and provides the best possible solutions. Activation Cost: -Mental strain increases with complexity; excessive use may cause fatigue or disorientation. Limitations: -Accuracy depends on the data available; missing or false information can lead to incorrect conclusions. -Continuous usage may cause cognitive overload, limiting prolonged activation. So I have a nice innate skill¡­ but all my stats are at F-. Guess the system has subranks: F-, F, and F+. Makes sense. But what''s this class? The All-Star? And I''m limited to A-rank? That''s kinda sad¡­ but at least I have access to all power types. Should I ask them what to do? ¡­Nah, I''ll figure it out on my own. For now, I should pick something that helps me get back home. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Serenys then spoke, her voice firm. "Time is of the essence. Maintaining a mortal''s physical body in my haven drains my energy. I cannot afford to waste any more." "¡­Alright," he muttered, irritation still lingering. He barely had time to choose a skill properly. Damian exhaled slowly, his patience wearing thin. No matter how much he tried to stay calm, the thought of being stranded in an unfamiliar world gnawed at him. He had a life before this¡ªa future, plans, people he cared about. And now? Now, he was left grasping at whatever scraps of hope he could find to make it back home. Then, an idea struck him. Wait a second¡­ can''t I use [Systematic Analysis] to determine the best skill for me? ¡­Yeah, that should work. Hopefully, I can find something useful. His eyes lit up at the thought. Taking a deep breath, he activated it. [Systematic Analysis] Instantly, his mind surged into overdrive, scanning through every skill in the Codex at an incredible speed. The divine beings in front of him sensed the shift immediately. Serenys observed him closely. "It appears he already has an innate skill¡­ and he seems to like it." Azarel smirked. "I guess that means we don''t have to replace it." Thalgor shot him a glance. "¡­You''re just happy we''re not losing two skills instead." That was right. If Damian hadn''t possessed an innate skill, Serenys had planned to grant him two¡ªone innate and one standard skill. "Obviously," Azarel snorted. "This brat cusses too much¡ªeven in Her Grace''s haven." Serenys chuckled softly. "It''s alright, Azarel. He doesn''t seem like the type to serve anyone, even if he suffers for it. To him, freedom matters above all else. Even now, he''s trying to find a way back home¡­ while secretly keeping his guard up against us." Thalgor nodded. "Of course, oh Heavenly Grace. It is only natural. After all, the boy had no choice in being thrown into Velmora for our sake." "Hmph, I still don''t understand why it had to be him. I could have gone instead and handled everything myself." "No. If a divine being like you intervened, the other gods or entities would take notice. They would kill you, and we would be weakened as a result. Cease your frustration toward the boy just because you cannot take action yourself." "Tsk." While the two continued their argument, Serenys kept her focus on Damian. He was still deeply engrossed in the Codex, seemingly ignoring them. Yet, as she watched him, a smile formed on her lips. Even while searching for a skill, he''s paying attention to our conversation. Looks like he possesses a mental skill as well. I wonder what he''ll choose¡­ since I can''t see his future. And¡­ will he notice that method too? After a few moments, [Systematic Analysis] deactivated, and a slight discomfort ran through Damian''s head. He grumbled internally, Damn, they really were talking about me while I was right there¡­ Hmm, there''s a slight pain in my head. So it drains mental strength, huh? But the processing speed was insane. It really is a perfect skill for me¡­ I guess I have my results now. There are currently four methods that can help me get back home. Skills [Portal] Rank: S Description: Creates a portal between two locations. Conditions: The destination must be within sight or vividly remembered. Requires divine energy. Limitation: Consumes large amounts of divine energy for long distances. [Time Repair] Rank: SS Description: Rewinds time on the user''s body, restoring injuries and reverting their location to a previous state. Conditions: Affects only the user''s body, not external factors. Requires divine energy. Limitation: Excessive use causes severe mental strain and memory instability. [Sacrifice] Rank: S Description: Exchanges something of value for an equivalent reward. Conditions: The cost scales with the exchange, often requiring a portion of lifespan as payment. Requires divine energy. Limitation: Cannot sacrifice anything for an increase in lifespan. These three skills could help me get home. But each one comes with a serious problem. [Sacrifice] requires an equivalent exchange. For all I know, it could demand an entire world just to send me back. And since I''m not a genocidal maniac, that''s a no-go. [Time Repair] lets me rewind my body''s state, including my location at the moment of activation. If I had enough energy, I could keep rewinding until I returned to the point I was summoned. I''d need to find a way to incorporate spatial travel, but it''s one of the better options. [Portal] might be the best bet¡ªit''s a straightforward way to travel between dimensions. All three require divine energy¡­ She''s trying to make me her follower, isn''t she? No way I''m falling for that. Which means¡­ I''m left with only the fourth method. But if I ask for that, they might kill me¡­ Ah, screw it. No other choice anyway. Damian took a deep breath, meeting the gazes of the three beings before him. "I''ve decided what I want." The two champions fell silent. Serenys tilted her head slightly. "And what have you chosen?" Damian spoke with unwavering resolve. "I won''t take any skill." "Hm?" Azarel and Thalgor voiced their confusion. "Instead¡­ I''ll take your divine energy." A heavy silence filled the space. None of them had expected that. "You dar¡ª" Thalgor''s enraged voice thundered, but Serenys raised a hand, stopping him. She was grinning. "So you really figured it out, huh?" "Yeah¡­ Those three skills were altered to require divine energy. I doubt that restriction was natural. Meaning, you modified them¡ªto make me dependent on you." Serenys remained silent, still smiling. "You wanted me as your follower but knew I''d refuse if I realized the catch beforehand. But the fact that you''re using divine energy to keep me here proves it can be used for dimensional travel. So, the only safe way for me to return home is by taking it myself." "¡­Ahahahahaha¡­ You really are sharp. That skill of yours is something else." "Of course¡­ You''re desperate to have the anomaly killed, which means you don''t care how the future unfolds. Divine energy would make me strong enough to handle the anomaly. And finally¡ªyou can''t harm me while I''m here. Otherwise, you''d have already forced me into servitude with your mental manipulation skills." Serenys''s smile widened. "So, I took a gamble¡ªto see if you''d get angry, and to confirm whether you were willing to part with divine energy. Turns out, I was right on both counts." "True, true. Looks like I''ve been had, ahahahahaha." "Of course, I want divine energy that isn''t bound to you¡ªit should be mine alone." Azarel''s expression darkened. "You wish for uncontracted divine energy? You imbecile, how dare you¡ª" "Azarel, calm down. My plan has failed, and I have no other options. But he has no options either¡ªI can''t send him back regardless." It''s a shame he didn''t blindly accept a skill. Even giving him two wouldn''t have made him my follower. Whatever blocks my powers from gazing into him would''ve been useful, but now¡­ "But¡ª" "Quiet, Azarel." Serenys''s tone turned cold. Azarel flinched but ultimately bowed, though she shot Damian a furious glare. Heh. Yeah, fuck you too. Serenys exhaled softly. "Very well. Let''s make the deal." Divine Contract Party A: Damian Ashford Party B: Serenys, the Goddess of Time Condition 1: Party B shall grant Party A uncontracted divine energy. Condition 2: Party A shall kill the anomaly for Party B by any means necessary. Failure to do so will result in Party A''s soul becoming the property of Party B. By fulfilling Condition 1, Party A shall retain the uncontracted divine energy. Damian added, "Include a clause stating that you and your followers won''t attack me after I kill the anomaly. Of course, I won''t attack them either." Serenys smirked. "Hmm, fair enough. Added." Damian read over the contract carefully. It seemed solid. "Okay, I agree." Immediately, the divine contract split into glowing particles. Half entered Serenys, and the other half merged into Damian. A strange sensation washed over him. So this is what forming a contract feels like¡­ It''s weird. I don''t feel anything, yet at the same time, I do. Serenys then spoke. "The contract is sealed. Now, you will be transported to Novaros. The anomaly is there." Damian nodded, then hesitated. "Wait, how do I find them?" "¡­I don''t know." "¡­Huh?" "I can''t track the anomaly." "¡­Fuck." "But that also means neither Veltrissa nor I can track you either. The same goes for the anomaly." She paused before adding, "I do know one thing¡ªthey will be the same age as you." Damian cursed under his breath but quickly collected himself. So anyone born within a year''s span is a suspect. Great. Just hope I don''t die before figuring it out. "¡­Alright. Send me in." Serenys raised her hand, and a swirling portal began to form. The two champions looked at Damian one last time. VOOOM-! Thalgor spoke firmly, "Damian Ashford¡­ Try not to die." Azarel added coldly, "¡­Kill the anomaly, or I''ll come for your head." Serenys''s voice was calm. "Your divine energy will manifest upon your awakening. Complete your mission, and you get to keep it. Best of luck, Damian Ashford¡­ you''ll need it." Before he could respond, a blinding light engulfed him. And once more, the world faded to darkness. 4: The Day Rey Became Damian A young boy sat in a quiet corner of the orphanage, tinkering with scraps of metal and spare parts. His small hands moved with practiced ease, assembling and dismantling makeshift devices¡ªnot out of necessity, but simply because he found it fun. After an hour of indulging in his hobby, he set his tools aside and ran outside to join his friends. Laughter filled the air as they played until the evening. When dinner was over, exhaustion weighed on him, and with a tired yawn, the four year old boy¡ªRey¡ªcrawled into bed, drifting into sleep. But at night, the orphanage was jolted awake by a piercing scream. Rey''s scream shattered the quiet night, his voice raw with terror. He thrashed, sobbing uncontrollably, his body trembling as if trapped in a horrible nightmare. The caretakers rushed to his side, their voices soothing, their hands gentle¡ªbut nothing they did could calm him. For twenty agonizing minutes, he wept, his cries filling the halls until, at last, he collapsed into unconsciousness. Fearing for his health, the caretakers wasted no time. He was taken to the clinic immediately. And when morning came, Rey''s eyes flew open. A sharp gasp tore through the stillness of the clinic''s room. "GRAGHKGHHH!" Rey gasped for air, choking as if he had been drowning moments before. His throat burned, his chest heaved, and a sharp, splitting pain pounded in his head. The room was cold. The scent of disinfectant and something metallic lingered in the air. A device beeped steadily beside him, its rhythmic pulse at the rate of a heartbeat. A nurse with red hair rushed to his side, placing a hand on his back to steady him. A faint warmth spread through his body¡ªsome kind of energy. "Child, are you alright?" "...Huh?" His voice came out hoarse, unfamiliar. "Are you alright?" the nurse repeated, concern etched on her face. "...I need some water. Could you please get me some?" "Of course. Just hold still and try not to move too much." Rey nodded weakly, his mind still reeling. As the nurse hurried away, he clenched his fists, trying to focus. What¡­ language did I just speak in? The thought sent a fresh jolt of confusion through him. He groaned, pressing his fingers against his temple as another wave of pain crashed over him¡ªbrief but intense. Damn it¡­ I need to rest and sort out my thoughts. But first, water. When the nurse returned, he gratefully took the glass, drinking it down in slow gulps. But the deeper problem wasn''t solved. He lay back down, and slept once more. Four hours later. Rey''s eyes fluttered open, and the moment his mind cleared, reality sank in. Shit¡­ it really happened. I look like a kid now. His heart pounded in his chest. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, as if testing to see if the reflection would change. But it didn''t. His hands stayed small. His body, fragile. No matter how much he denied it, this was real. He was Damian. Or at least, he had been. Now, his body was that of a child, yet his memories spanned far beyond that. A heavy weight settled in his chest. No wonder my head hurts...There are too many memories packed into my brain...And the extra four years I apparently lived here aren''t making it any easier. He let out a slow breath. The pain was duller now, but the reality wasn''t any less frustrating. Well¡­ at least I''ve finally awakened. But right now, I just need more sleep. My head''s still a mess. With that final thought, he closed his eyes again, letting the exhaustion take over. As sleep pulled him under once more, memories surged through his mind¡ªhis family, his friends¡­ Lily. Then, he immediately woke up. His hands instinctively reached out¡ªgrasping at nothing. When the overload finally subsided, Rey''s tear-streaked eyes fluttered open. He stared blankly at the ceiling fan, and lifted his left hand towards it. ...Damn. I really did lose my old life. The thought sank deep into his chest. I wanna see them already. I feel like a damn alien here. For a long moment, he simply sat there, lost in his thoughts. But his peace was short-lived. BANG! The door burst open, and two children came barreling into the room. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Rey! Are you okay?!" "Waah! Rey, please don''t die!" Before he could react, both kids tackled him onto the bed. "Kh¡ªoof!" Rey wheezed as the impact knocked the air from his lungs. Goddamn, these kids gotta chill-I just got my thoughts in order! Before he could pry them off, a sharp voice rang out. "You children! How many times have I told you not to cause stress for the patient?" All three froze and turned toward the source. Standing at the doorway was a stern-looking doctor, appearing to be near his forties. He had black hair and green eyes. Behind him stood the same nurse from earlier, with an amused expression. Axel, a frail-looking boy no older than six, clenched his tiny fists. His blue hair was slightly disheveled, and his purple eyes tearing up. His lower lip quivered as he cried out. "But... but we wanted to see Rey! You didn''t let us see him for so long!" "Yeah! You didn''t let us see our friend! We can''t trust you!" Another boy, louder and more aggressive, stomped his foot. Stephen, the same age as Axel, had fiery red hair and matching red eyes. Unlike Axel''s timid nature, Stephen was the type to fight back. His glare was sharp, aimed directly at the old doctor, Gerard, who seemed to remain unbothered by the outburst. Damian, lying in bed, sighed and raised his hands in an attempt to calm them down. "Wait, guys, hold o¡ª" "The hell do you mean ''so long''!? It''s just been a couple of hours! No one''s gonna die from an ordinary headache!", Gerard cut him off, snapping. Axel flinched at the harsh tone, his tears finally spilling over. His small shoulders trembled, and tried his best not to cry. Seeing this, Stephen''s face darkened. His hands curled into fists, and before anyone could stop him, he lunged at the doctor. "You made Axel cry! What''s wrong with you, damn geezer!?" "Ack¡ªstop pulling my hair, you brat!" Gerard flailed as Stephen latched onto him, yanking at his graying hair. Axel sniffled, wiping his tears with his sleeve, while Damian could only watch the chaotic scene unfold. He sighed, rubbing his temple. Goddamn, watching this is giving me a headache. With a groan, he decided to intervene. "...You know, Stephen? Aren''t you older than me?" The two froze mid-battle. Stephen turned toward Damian, his expression one of pure betrayal. "...Huh?" "You''re supposed to be the mature one... What the hell''s wrong with you?" "...Ahh, I''m sorry." "Hah! That''s right, brat! Listen to him!" "That doesn''t mean you''re off the hook, Uncle Gerard." Gerard stiffened. "You''re an actual adult, and here you are, picking a fight with a six-year-old." Silence. Gerard''s face mirrored Stephen''s perfectly¡ªboth looking like they had just been scolded by the heavens themselves. "Heegh... looks like you''re fine now, eh?" A voice, laced with amusement, finally interrupted the awkward atmosphere. Damian glanced over to see Ruby, the nurse from earlier, smirking as she leaned against the doorway. "Ah, thank you for your assistance, Aunt Ruby," Damian said, giving a slight bow. "Sure, sure. And thanks for taking care of my kid, even though he''s two years older than you." Damian shot a look at Stephen, who suddenly found the floor very interesting. "...It''s fine. I''m used to his antics. It''s what makes dealing with Uncle Gerard easy too." "Ahaha, of course. My kid inherited my looks, but it came along with his dad''s personality. It''s a shame... If he were even a little like me, he''d be breaking hearts in the future." "...We''re right here, you know?" Ruby''s smirk dropped instantly, replaced by a sharp glare. "Yeah, that''s the whole damn point!" She crossed her arms, her voice rising. "Seriously, causing this level of noise in a patient''s room? We''re in a clinic, you know? When we decided to come to Raventhorn, we were supposed to have an esteemed image in the locals'' eyes... They would''ve praised us for our efforts in helping them..." "..." "..." "...But instead, thanks to you two and your endless bickering, we''ve become the laughing stock of this town." Ruby let out a deep, regretful sigh, her earlier amusement fading into quiet disappointment. "¡­Either way, I don''t think it''s that bad, right?" Stephen tried to lift his mother''s mood. "¡­Yeah, it really shouldn''t be. I''ve heard good things about our clinic." Outside the clinic, illuminated display lights spelled out ''Silverleaf Clinic.'' Ruby''s expression darkened as she cracked her knuckles. "Oh, really now? Little Stevey, the whole town knows you skip school every day just to play with these two. Even after I gave you a nice scolding, I''m still hearing these rumors¡­ Tell me, Stephen, are they just rumors?" "¡­But Rey''s smarter than everyone, even the teach¡ª" "Enough." Stephen immediately shut his mouth, lowering his gaze to avoid further angering his mother. Ruby''s glare then shifted. "And you," she turned to Gerard. "Do you seriously think I haven''t heard about you frequenting Remir''s Bar? Sneaking out at night to drink with your ''pals''¡ªdo you think I wouldn''t know?" "¡­But honey, I haven''t been drinking that much lately¡­ I just thou¡ª" "And don''t even get me started on those drunk fools coming here just to leer at me. Seriously, do you have any idea how much of a pain that is to deal with?" Gerard immediately went silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. As Ruby continued venting her frustrations, Axel tugged at Damian''s shirt. Damian glanced down at him. "I''m scared¡­ I don''t wanna be here anymore, Rey." Damian placed a hand on his chin, considering. Hmm¡­ True, I don''t wanna be here either. But at the same time, I do. It''s kinda fun watching them get scolded¡­ but who knows if I''ll be thrown into the lot next? After a few seconds, he finally nodded. "Sure, let''s get outta here. On one condition." "Hm?" "Call me Damian instead of Rey." Axel blinked in confusion. Why does Rey want me to call him Damian? ¡­Does he think his name is Damian? Ehh, is his brain okay? Panic set in as Axel suddenly flailed his hands. "Eh? What''s wrong, Axel?" Stephen asked, concerned. "Rey¡­ Rey thinks his name is Damian! Waaaah!" The entire room froze. Immediately, Ruby, Gerard, and Stephen sprang into action, bombarding Damian with concerned looks and questions. Damian, once again suffering from their nonsense, sighed deeply. Of course, this happens again. It took him ten minutes to calm them down. "Like I said, I just thought it''d be a better name than Rey!" "¡­Really?" Ruby eyed him skeptically. "Yeeesss, so for the last time, let me go back home now." "Hmm¡­ Well, I guess your condition isn''t that bad after all.", Gerard said, while stroking his beard. Stephen turned to his mother. "Mom, can I go train now? It''s still noon." "You have exams to prepare for, don''t you?" "Eh? But Ma, plea¡ª" "No." Stephen sulked, fidgeting with his fingers. Meanwhile, Gerard casually removed his coat and changed his shoes. Ruby narrowed her eyes. She knew exactly what he was up to. He''s heading to Remir''s Bar¡­ at noon?! No! I can''t let that happen! Most of our patients come in the evening from Remir''s Bar after getting into drunken brawls. He needs to be here! Hmm¡­ what can I do to keep him from leaving? Ideas flashed through her mind at lightning speed before a smirk crossed her face. "You know what? Since we don''t have many patients right now, your lovely father is free to help you prepare for your exams!" "Huh?" "¡­Huh? Wait, hon¡ª" "Isn''t that lovely? You two can bond over studying! Ahh, I''m so happy!" Ruby clasped her hands together, practically radiating joy. "¡­" "¡­" Father and son exchanged a long, defeated glance. Damian, watching the scene unfold, smirked. Damn, she''s good. With that, he turned to Axel. "Alright, let''s head back to the orphanage. See you later, Stephen!" Grabbing Axel by the back of his collar, he led the still-sniffling boy toward the exit. "Okay! Bye! See you later, both of you!" Stephen waved, smiling. "Mghh¡­ Bye, Stephen," Axel murmured sadly. As they stepped out of the clinic, Damian looked at Axel and smiled. "Shall we go?" "Mm." A small breeze passed by, ruffling his hair as he glanced toward the orphanage. I guess it''s time to go back home. And with that, the two made their way back. 5: Everheart Haven As the two children walked through the town, they noticed old vehicles going through the roads. On the sides of the roads were various shops and vendors, each selling different kinds of wares. "Best ingredients in town! Come and get them fast before they sell out!" "Mercenaries, take a look at some of the finest weaponry, made of pure stainless steel! Some even have enchantments placed on them!" "Hey, who are you kidding? I doubt these have enchantments. There''s no way¡ª" "These are approved by the great Merkel Union! You can see their trademark symbol placed on the weapon." "Ohh! I didn''t know that. Thanks, let me buy one then..." Damian put his fingers on his chin, Hmm, their technology is definitely impressive, but not to the level of my previous world... At best, it''s on par with Earth''s 20th-century technology. He then smirked wryly. That aside, some of these guys are blatant scammers, judging by the way they talk alone. He looked over at Axel, who noticed this and asked, "Damian?" "...Yeah, you definitely won''t survive in this place." "...Ehh? What do you mean, Damian? Am I... Am I going to die?" Axel''s eyes welled up with tears. "Huh? No, I was just thinking out loud." "Ehh? Are you going to di¡ª" "No, I''m not... That aside, you really did call me Damian, huh?" Axel, fidgeting with his fingers, spoke. "Mm. You did want to be called that, after all." "..." Damian sighed. This kid probably doesn''t have many friends outside of us. He chuckled and said, "Yeah, of course, I did. That aside, how''s your workout going?" Axel suddenly stopped. His eyes darted around before he hesitantly spoke. "...I don''t like training. It hurts my body." "Ahahahaha, don''t worry, Axel. It only hurts at the start. Afterward, you''ll enjoy working out. Then again, don''t do as much as Stephen. He''s already an awakened, even though it happened recently. You have yet to awaken, after all." "But even then..." "Okay, how about this? From tomorrow on, I''ll train along with you both. That should make it fair. Since I can keep Stephen in check a bit, it should be fine." "..." Damian extended his hand toward Axel. "So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?" "...Okay." Axel smiled and shook his hand. Perfect, now I have an excuse to train myself as well. In this world, my personality developed into someone who''s book-smart and hates training. It was like that during childhood, though it changed when I got older... Man, I miss my muscles. As Damian reminisced about his past life, the Divine Contract came to mind. Ah, fuck, that''s right, the anomaly... Hmm, let me check my status for now. STATUS Name: Damian Ashford Age: 20 Class: All-Star Class Description: A unique class possessed by only one being. Grants exceptional talent in every field of existence but only up to Rank A. Growth beyond Rank A is impossible regardless of effort. Talent Rank: A Attributes: Strength: F- Speed: F- Durability: F- Agility: F- Endurance: F- Intelligence: F- Sense: F- Divine Energy: F- Skills: Innate Skill: Systematic Analysis (A) Skill Type: Active Effect: When activated, the skill rapidly analyzes all available information in the user''s surroundings and constructs the most optimal course of action based on the user''s intent. Hmm, looks like everything''s in order... and there''s a new row for divine energy. He smirked at the deal he made, then thought about his four years on this planet. Looks like my time here wasn''t a complete waste. I was originally interested in technology, which led me to understand Novaros'' history. Veydros¡­ One of three continents, divided into four kingdoms, and I''m in the kingdom of Solmaria. Raventhorn is a town located on it''s outskirts. It''s ruled by Baron Cedric Vaelmont. From the rumors, he''s practically a coward and doesn''t visit this town. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Instead, he left a steward in charge¡ªa man named Alric Fenlow. The rumors say he''s a coward as well, refusing to properly manage the town. He doesn''t take action against the bandits on the trade routes and apparently bribes them to leave him alone. Meh, it ain''t my problem until it becomes one. The two continued walking for a couple of minutes until they reached an orphanage. A sign at the front read ''Everheart Haven''. As they approached the entrance, they saw a security post where a guard was sleeping. "Hey, excuse me?" Snore¡ª "Hey, uncle? Wake u¡ª" Snore¡ª "HEY!" "Huh? Wha? Oh, it''s you kids. C''mon in." "...Seriously? Sleeping on duty?" Damian muttered. "Huh? You say somethin''?" "Nothing. Please let us in, uncle." "Yeah, yeah, wait a bit... let me just find my keys." After some shuffling, the guard finally found the keys and let them in. The two children walked into the orphanage. Inside, they saw several children playing around. As they entered, the children noticed them and ran toward them. "Hey, Damian! Are you okay?" "I heard you got sick. Are you feeling better now?" "Yea, I''m fine. It was just a headache." "Hello, children. What seems to be the matter?" A voice interrupted their conversation, and the children turned to look behind them. They saw a figure wearing a priest-like robe and a pair of spectacles. "Father Edric!" their voices chimed in unison. "Oh, it''s you, Damian. I take it your health has improved?" "Yes, Father. My headache is gone now. Thank you for taking care of me." "Of course, it''s my duty to help people as the benevolent priest of Serenys. Our duty is to show compassion and kindness to all." "I see. I still don''t want to put my faith in gods." Especially not after what happened. "Ahahaha, it''s quite alright, child. Now, go on and return to your business, children." "Thank you, Father Edric," all the children said in unison. ...Father Edric Holloway. He''s suspicious. Something about him tells me I can''t trust him. I don''t know what it is... [Systematic Analysis] He ran the skill for a few seconds before returning to reality. There isn''t enough information to draw a conclusion. But I''ll keep track from now on. "Damian?" "Hm?" He turned to his right and looked at Axel. "Can we go play for a bit?" "...Yeah, sure, why not?" Meh, screw it. I''ll start training afterward. They played until evening before returning for dinner. Eventually, they headed back to their dormitory. "I''m tired now. Good night, Damian." "Mm, good night." As Axel drifted off to sleep, Damian thought to himself, Well, I guess it''s time to train. I went to the library earlier and read about some types of powers¡ªaura for weapon masters, mana for mages, and holy energy for priests, which is a weaker version of divine energy. I also found a book about Awakened who follow the path of the mage. I can''t immediately delve into the path of a weapon master since my body still lacks strength. So, I''ll start with this instead. He glanced at the book resting on his bed and shifted it into the moonlight to read. He continued for two hours before finally stopping. ...Hm, so basically, mages use mana to perform spells. Each mage has to figure out which element they can wield, then learn to convert the mana into that element. After that, they must master manipulating it to create spells. Some basic spells are public, but most mages keep their spell techniques a secret. I don''t have to worry about discovering my element since my class is the All-Star. So, I guess I can just start with the Basic Mana Breathing technique. Flipping through the pages, he found diagrams of the human body detailing the workings of the Basic Mana Breathing technique. ...So first, we have to create a mana core, which is usually formed behind the brain. It''s supposed to be dangerous, but there''s a strong correlation between brain wavelengths and mana wavelengths, making it easier to form. But there''s a problem¡ªI don''t know if multiple energies can coexist in one body. I already have a core of Divine Energy in my right chest. Normally, I wouldn''t risk something like this, but when I ran [Systematic Analysis], I found a possibility. The only reason multiple energy cores might work is because of the All-Star class. If my theory is correct, that means I can create cores for other types of energy, too¡­ Haah¡­ it''s risky, but I guess I''ll give it a shot. Damian closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. First, sense the mana, then draw it in. A mana core forms once a person reaches a certain threshold. He felt the energy stir around him, and the mana naturally flowed toward his head. Immediately, a warm and smooth sensation spread across the region. This feels... amazing. I''ll continue for as long as I can. He kept up the technique, absorbing mana until fatigue crept in. "Haah... I guess that''s my limit for now. And it looks like I was right...Hwaaaghh, what time is it?" The clock showed 3:37 AM. "...Damn. Nearly five hours, huh? I should get some sleep." As exhaustion took over, his consciousness faded. TRIIINGG¡ª! "Hwa? What the¡ª?" The blaring alarm jolted Damian awake at 8 AM. He groggily turned it off. ...I didn''t set an alarm. Blinking sluggishly, he took in his surroundings. Where am I...? A moment later, realization hit him. Oh. Right. New life. And I did set an alarm...Yesterday, that is. "...Haah, fuck." After stretching and dragging himself out of bed, he quickly went through his morning routine. After washing up, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. "Okay. Time to tinker with my tools." Leaving his room, he made his way to the Storage Room. Heh, it''s funny how they put up a ''Keep Out'' sign, but they couldn''t stop a kid like me from getting in anyway. The caretakers had scolded him countless times for sneaking in, but no matter what they did, he always found a way. Eventually, they just gave up and let him have access¡ªhim and only him. Good job, kid me. He smirked, patting himself on the back. As he stepped inside, his eyes swept over various devices, watches, and scraps of metal. So far, he had worked with a few interesting gadgets: Magic Watches ¨C Similar to smartwatches, these could track time and use a sensor spell to set alarms. Heartbeat Sensors ¨C These used a resonance spell to synchronize with a person''s heartbeat and mana flow. Gate Switches ¨C Security devices that combined sensor spells with defensive magic, activating a barrier when triggered. This is perfect. I can learn these spells once I finish forming my mana core. Thanks to the Gate Switch spell, I''ll also get to practice combining multiple spells. But until then, he had to keep his powers hidden. The standard age of Awakening was eight. Any earlier, and a child was considered a genius. Stephen was undoubtedly talented, but his parents had the power and influence to handle any issues that came with that. Awakening at four years old is unheard of. If word gets out, I''ll be in trouble. I have to train my mana in secret, at least for another two years. As he formulated his training plan, he glanced inward at his body once more. So, my plan is simple: Create a mana core and start learning spells. Train my body to handle an aura core. Use Stephen and Axel as an excuse for physical training. A small grin formed on his face. Yeah. This should work.