Marcus sat at Lucius's desk, staring at the holographic projection above his Aetheris watch. The stats floated before him, impossibly clear and impossible to believe.
Name: Lucius Foster
Level: 1
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 6
His mind buzzed. This didn't exist in Decade Long Crusade. There was no mention of anything like this in the thousands of chapters he'd read. There were no levels, no stats, no system. And yet, here it was—hovering right in front of him.
The implications of it all weighed heavily on him. If this world had a system, if he had a system, it could be a massive advantage—or a massive liability. He tapped through the different tabs, trying to learn more.
The Skills tab displayed the few abilities he currently had:
• Basic Mana Manipulation – The ability to channel mana into basic objects or for minimal magical effects.
• Swordsmanship (Novice) – Very basic skill with a sword.
• Unarmed Combat (Basic) – Simple punches and kicks; no refined technique.
"Not exactly stellar," Marcus muttered. At least the system wasn't lying—he was starting from the bottom. But, despite everything, he couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. He'd spent countless nights reading stories where protagonists started off weak, clawing their way up. Now it was his turn.
Or was it?
"Is this system unique to me?" Marcus wondered. He had no idea if other people in this world had similar stats or if this was some anomaly specific to him. And if it was unique, did that mean it gave him an edge? Or would it make him a target?
He needed to test it. Find out how much of this was real and how much was just some weird glitch.
He looked around the room, his eyes landing on a paperweight. He grabbed it, turning it over in his hands. If the system said he could manipulate mana, he needed to try. Slowly, Marcus focused on the object, willing his mana into it.
At first, nothing happened. He clenched his fists, narrowing his focus. Basic Mana Manipulation, he repeated mentally, as if saying it over and over would trigger something.
Then, faintly, the paperweight began to glow. A soft, blue light emanated from the object, and Marcus felt the mana flowing through his hands. It was weak, and the glow barely lasted a few seconds, but it worked.
Marcus grinned, exhilaration coursing through him. It Works.
However, he quickly realized just how unpolished his skill was. If he were to face anyone with real power, his rudimentary mana control wouldn't stand a chance. He needed time. Time to train, time to understand the system, and time to blend in.
Marcus let out a long sigh. Time wasn't exactly something he had in abundance.
....
Leaving the study, Marcus ventured deeper into the mansion. He still didn't know much about Lucius's life, but what he'd gathered so far painted a troubling picture: enemies in high places, an upcoming academy, and expectations Lucius had clearly failed to meet.
The mansion itself was a strange combination of both old-world elegance and futuristic technology. Floating holographic displays and advanced gadgets were seamlessly integrated into antique furniture and arcane architecture. Every room he passed was another reminder that this world was a blend of magic and technology, a combination he found both fascinating and daunting.
He wandered through corridors, trying to avoid running into more of the staff or family members. Every interaction carried the risk of exposing him as a fraud, and he wasn't ready to deal with that yet.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a training hall. The room was massive, lined with all kinds of combat equipment—weights, swords, and even what looked like mana-infused devices meant for magical exercises.
This place was a testament to the wealth and power of the Foster family. Marcus couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Back in his world, having access to such elite resources would've been the stuff of dreams. Here, it was all laid out for him—if he knew how to use it.
He moved further into the hall, examining some of the gear, when a voice cut through the silence.
"Finally decided to take training seriously, did you?"
Marcus spun around to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was tall and lean, her sharp eyes giving off a commanding presence. This was Instructor Thalia, and from the way she carried herself, Marcus knew she didn't tolerate laziness.
"Thalia," Marcus muttered, trying to sound familiar, like Lucius would. "Yeah… I've been slacking. Thought it was time to change that."
Thalia's eyes narrowed, studying him with a calculating look. "About time. I've been telling you for weeks that your skills were falling behind. You can't just rely on your family's name to carry you through the academy."
Marcus swallowed. He had no idea what Lucius had been doing—or not doing—leading up to this point, but it was clear he wasn't living up to expectations.
"How about we see if you're serious this time?" Thalia suggested, a gleam of challenge in her eyes. "Grab a weapon. Let's spar."
Marcus's heart leapt into his throat. He wasn't ready for this. But refusing would be worse. Thalia was clearly someone Lucius had been training under, and if Marcus wanted to avoid suspicion, he had no choice but to go along with it.
He picked up a nearby sword, its weight feeling awkward in his grip. The Swordsmanship (Novice) skill flashed in his mind, reminding him that while the system provided the basics, it didn't make up for muscle memory or practice.
Thalia wasted no time. As soon as Marcus stepped into the training circle, she attacked. Her movements were fluid, a deadly mix of physical prowess and mana-infused strikes. Marcus barely had time to raise his sword before she was on him.
He blocked the first strike, but her follow-up nearly knocked the sword out of his hands.
Damn, she's fast.
Every time he tried to retaliate, Thalia countered easily, pushing him back with precise blows. Sweat began to form on his brow as he struggled to keep up. The system was helping, but it wasn't enough. His body couldn't keep pace with her refined techniques.
Just when he thought he was done for, Thalia sent a mana-infused strike toward him. On instinct, Marcus tapped into Basic Mana Manipulation. The mana surged through him, and his sword flared with light. He managed to parry the strike, deflecting it just enough to avoid a critical hit.
Both Thalia and Marcus paused, surprised by his sudden burst of mana control.
"Hmph," Thalia muttered, lowering her weapon. "I see you've been holding back."
Marcus let out a shaky breath, his arms trembling from the exertion. He had barely survived that. But to his relief, Thalia seemed impressed.
"Maybe there's hope for you after all," she said, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "We'll continue this tomorrow. But don't think you'll get off easy. The academy won't tolerate half-baked students."
She left the training hall, leaving Marcus to catch his breath.
...
Once the adrenaline from the sparring session wore off, Marcus realized something crucial: the sword wasn't going to cut it. His skill with it was too underdeveloped, and while he could improve over time, he needed something more practical—something that could give him an edge while he worked on his close-combat skills.
That's when his eyes fell on a rack of weapons in the corner of the hall. Among the usual swords and polearms was something far more familiar to him—a modified handgun.
He picked it up, inspecting the sleek design. It was no ordinary firearm. The gun was equipped with both traditional bullet functionality and mana-infused capabilities, allowing it to shoot energy-based projectiles. This, Marcus thought, could give him the range and flexibility he needed.
The system responded immediately to his decision, unlocking a new skill:
Basic Firearms Proficiency (Level 1) – Provides basic knowledge on handling and shooting handguns. Includes reload techniques and accuracy improvement.
He strapped the handgun to his side, feeling a wave of relief. At least now he had something practical for defense.
But he wasn't done. The sword was still too unwieldy for him. His hand reached for a small dagger instead—a compact, lightweight blade that felt far more manageable. The system acknowledged this as well, adding another skill:
Dagger Combat (Level 1) – Enhances short-range, close-combat fighting using small blades. Focuses on agility and precision.
With the handgun at his side and the dagger sheathed at his belt, Marcus felt more secure. He still had a long way to go, but at least now he wasn't completely defenseless.
As he made his way back to his room, Marcus checked the Aetheris watch again, eager to explore more of the system's features. But as he tapped through the menus, the screen flickered—just like before. A warning message flashed across the display:
"WARNING: Unknown System Detected. Leveling Limitations Bypassed."
Marcus's heart skipped a beat. A new screen appeared, showing what looked like a series of encrypted messages. He couldn't decipher any of it, but the implications were clear.
The system was malfunctioning. Or worse—it was something beyond his control.
He stared at the glitching interface, a cold feeling settling in his gut.
What the hell is going on?