'Well, let's start with introductions, shall we?' I was surprised, but I tried to stay calm as I questioned the strange voice.
[It would be better if I explained everything so Master can understand better.]
And so, the explanation began.
This world was starkly different from my last. A term to simplify it would be that it was a fantasy world. Skills and Abilities existed here. Although everyone has these, the voice told me that my case was a bit more special.
I was born with a Skill that helped me identify, improve, and deal with Skills a whole lot better. A cheat Skill known as the Unique Skill: Wisdom Monarch.
Skills come with Tiers; from Tier 1(T1) to Tier 10(T10) and the very rare Unique tier. Abilities aren't ranked but they can be levelled up; the maximum level being LVL100.
Most T9 to T10 Skills and some Abilities with special circumstances have the aptitude to converse with their Users. However, since these skills are so rare, knowledge about it is quite limited.
The explanation, for some strange reason, felt really familiar to me. Nevertheless, I was much too occupied with the present to think further about it and simply dismissed it for now.
'So... what you're telling me is that I got one of the most powerful, rare skill... out of nowhere? Just like that? Without any repercussions?' I ask, finding this situation quite unbelievable.
[Yes, Master. If it may ease your worries, you could consider your death as the price.]
I sigh, this information a bit too much to take in; but I was still wondering about one more thing.
'Since you call me Master... then that name you registered... is that mine?' I ask, really curious.
[Yes, Master. That is the name Master was born with in this world. Zenais Hortensia.]
I raise a brow. It was surprising to hear that I had a name in this world considering there was no other signs of life around here. 'So... who gave it to me?'
[Your mother did, Master.]
So, I had a mother. '...is she dead?' I ask the most probable question.
[Current status of Meriessa von Herven Hortensia confirmed: deceased.]
I guess when I said that I didn't have any hopes I was just deluding myself. I couldn't help but be downcast at the news but I accepted it and decided to move on. '...Thanks.'
'How about my father?' I ask. Maybe still hopeful.
[Current status of Enoch von Herven Hortensia confirmed: deceased.]
With a sigh, I close my eyes. 'Well, that's that I guess.' As soon as I think so, Mr. Monarch begins to speak again.
[Would you like for me to list the rest of your family members' names, Master?] He asks. I contemplate it for a bit before I shrug. Might as well.
'Go ahead.'
[As you wish, Master. Master's maternal grandmother's name is...] He begins listing as he said he would.
Perhaps it was due to me being a baby currently but I was really, really tired. As I listened to Mr. Monarch list away the members of my family, I drifted off to sleep, not paying that great of an attention due to the sleepiness.
.
.
.
The beautiful warm rays of the morning sun shone again through the open window in that shabby shack of a house. I woke up to the usual trills of the morning birds, another question wedged into my mind. A question that I had been dwelling on for a few days.
Drowsy, I yawn, my little fists clenching unconsciously as I did so. 'Mr. Monarch, would you perhaps know the reason for my lack of feeling hungry? I've noticed that I still don't feel hungry though I haven't eaten in 5 days. Is it another trait of this world?'
During the five days that I had been awake, she had never once felt hungry. Though it was true I wanted to eat, it was more a craving than a need to eat. I had thought it as weird but I was undergoing much weirder circumstances that I didn't question it much. Not that I had someone who could answer, anyway.
But now that I do...
[Reason unidentified.]
...guess not.
Just as I was about to give up with a sigh, Mr. Monarch continues. [Initiating body scan...]
I blink for a second as a way of comprehension and then I can't help but smile. It seems like I earned a really, really competent Skill.
[Master.] I turn my attention back to Mr. Monarch. [After a thorough body scan, I have detected something strange. Master's core is different from the usual cores found in other humans in this world. That relates to the reason why you are unable to feel any hunger currently.]
'...' Of course, I had no idea what a core was so it was time for more explanations.
[Every living organism has a core. Each of these cores are different, not a single one should be identical to another.]
[There are five main types of cores; Common, Medium-level, High-level, Elite-level, and Legendary-level.]
[Core are a requirement to life, a regimen. This is due to cores being the source of every organism's vitality and mana. The higher the rank, the higher the level of vitality and mana. And, Master... this is where your core is most peculiar.]
I tilt my head, a little worried. 'Why? Is it damaged?'
[Negative. Rather than that, one could say that it is excessively healthy.]
'???' Confused, I raise a brow and MR. Monarch kindly provides further explanation.
[In all of this world's history, the most powerful core a human had received was a High-level one.]
I gasp, understanding what he was trying to say. 'Are you insinuating that I have surpassed that record?'
[Precisely. Surpassing so much so that you have a core quite... extraordinary.]
As I was feeling confused again, Mr. Monarch says, [Master has a core level that is a mix of Elite and Legendary-level, Master.]
An involuntary gasp escapes me again as I stare into the distance, shocked. '...is that even possible?'
[Well, in the records of this world, it has not been mentioned, but... it is possible.]
'...hah. So, why do I have it?'
The question caused another big explanation, [You see, Master, each creature is born with a specific core type. However, even these types have different levels within their ranks which is different for every creature.]
[Although creatures can't upgrade their cores, they can 'level up' as they train and become stronger. However, if the creature hits the max level of the core type, then they can no longer level up their cores.]
'I see... So, the reason why is...?' As I asked, a thumb naturally went into my thumb, perhaps due to my mind being occupied that my body was acting by itself.
[The type of core an organism receives at birth cannot be decided, predicted nor inherited. The core is always received by chance. The average core type a human has had is the Medium. As for coexisting cores such as yours, Master, it is due to the fact that you have been reborn here and the core from your previous life traversed with you.]
[Cores coexisting is a foreign concept unrealized due to the fact that cores co-existing can overwhelm the mortal body and cause it to explode with too much power. Usually, this happens when the human is quite young, so no one has realized that their babies dying as such may be due to the fact that they had received the core from their previous life along with their current life's core. Either way, none of those could have ever been a High-level core such as yours, Master, otherwise it would've been found in the record of this world.]
'Huh...' I blink in confusion. He was saying his points in an order that didn't make all that sense for someone who had no prior knowledge to this. I had some questions but decided to refrain from asking until after the explanation was finished.
[Therefore... my hypothesis is that since the levels of the cores from both the current and past life is high, it became even more dangerous for Master's current fragile body. However, for some reason, the two cores, decided instinctually on their own to merge to cause your body less stress.]
[It seems they activated your innate powers on their own for a moment to create a barrier to do so, which has kept you alive unlike others in your case. And they began merging immediately within that barrier.]
What even... So, the gist of it is that I had two cores, they made a barrier to protect me and merged to create a mix of Legendary-Elite for some strange reason??
'Ugh... I need a minute to process it all… I just got here a few days ago...'
[Negative. Master is 3 months old.]
'WHAT!?'