When Zeke woke up the next day he was still in shock. He still couldn't believe that he had traveled back in time. He just lay in bed thinking about his regression and what he should do next.
'My regression definitely has something to do with that mysterious skill, 'Glitch???'.'
He had gained the skill as a reward for a System Achievement after he created 10 new EX-grade item recipes, successfully becoming the first of his species to do so. The skill didn't have a description nor did it specify the activation prerequisites. The only thing he knew about the mysterious skill was that it was a single-use skill.
'I need to consider the consequences of my actions. I can't rely on my knowledge of the future. Even minor changes can result in major differences between the original timeline and this one. But no matter what price I have to pay, I will not let them die this time.
The most important thing right now is to brew the Sanguine Tears of Demonic Angels elixir for myself and Cass. I know a way of obtaining the ingredients but I will need some help for that. I will also need access to a high-level lab with the necessary equipment because it would be next to impossible to brew the elixir without them. And even if I do get access to a lab, it will be very difficult without my skills.
But if I somehow succeed, the rewards will definitely be worth it. Not only will I be able to awaken and evolve our bloodline, but I can also gain a System Achievement. I wonder what will it be.
Let's make some short-term goals for the next three years. First I need to gain access to a lab and start brewing some low-level potions. Second, I need to obtain the ingredients for the elixir. Third, actually brew and consume the elixir before we unlock the System in three years. I also need to start training with Cass. I can't be as powerless as last time. The only other thing left is to think of a way to explain the source of my knowledge without revealing that I'm from the future.'
[There are 10 grades for items. From F-grade to EX-grade. The difference between an item below the S-grade and one above it is very huge. Therefore the System categorises them separately. For example, S-grade and above potions are categorized as elixirs.]
After organizing his thoughts, Zeke freshened up and went downstairs. Katherine was painting in her studio. It was a hobby of hers and she was really good at it too. With the number of paintings she had painted, she could easily open a successful art gallery. He didn't disturb her and went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.
There was a plate with chocolate chip pancakes stacked in it and a note that said 'Ezekiel' on it. He put the plate in the microwave. Once the pancakes were done heating, he practically inhaled them. It had been a long time since he ate Katherine's food and he had missed it dearly.
Katherine had quietly appeared while he was eating and was observing him. She didn't know why, but Zeke felt a little different from usual. Especially when he started crying the night before. She didn't know what had happened but she would find out for sure.
Seeing that he was about to finish she said, "I see that you liked the pancakes. I can make more if you want." Zeke, startled to see her standing there, suddenly blushed.
'How long has she been standing there for? I didn't even hear her footsteps let alone sense her presence. This is so embarrassing. Did she see me gorging all those pancakes too? High-level Players sure are scary.'
He replied while trying to hide his embarrassment, "N-N-No thanks. I'm full. They were delicious."
He quickly put the plate on the sink and fled to his room. 'Why was I stuttering? It honestly feels like I've become a child again, even mentally.' Just as he had this thought, his brain started working again.
'Wait a minute. Maybe I have become a child again. What if, I didn't regress at all? What if I received the memories of myself from a parallel timeline? That would explain the crying from last night. And the embarrassment from that I felt just now.
But if parallel timelines exist then are there multiple Systems, or does a single system oversee them all?'
After thinking about it for a long time and reaching no clear conclusion, he decided that he didn't have enough information and that this was way above his pay grade. But at the same time, he was excited. It had been a long time since he found something this interesting. His insatiable curiosity, which had been suppressed by his obsession with brewing that elixir, began resurfacing.
At the same time, Cass who was in school was attending a history class.
"About 1200 years ago, Planet Earth was about ten times smaller as compared to today. There was no Aether or mana present in the atmosphere. This time period is known as the Olden Era. Planet Earth from this time period is now known as the Olden Earth. During this time period, humans were the only intelligent race present. The humans of that time only had an average lifespan of about 73 years.
Then one day, an emotionless voice suddenly rang inside every creature's mind. It was what is now commonly known as the System.
'Unawakened Planet#54673242 discovered'
'Initiating Awakening'
Some other names that you may encounter are Soul Records and Akashic Records so don't get confused.
Anyways, before the humans could comprehend what was happening, pure Aether was introduced into Earth's atmosphere and Earth's size expanded to its current size. Aether is a more primal version of mana that boasts extraordinary abilities. If a creature can successfully withstand its baptism, it can evolve. At the same time, it is incredibly unstable.
That is why the System uses it to awaken unawakened planets. It reduces the overall population of the planet by culling the unsuitable. More than half of the human population died, unable to adapt to the sudden changes. The survivors, at least the ones that were 10 and above years old, unlocked the System. They could suddenly see a system interface floating in front of them. It resembled a status screen in the games of that time, so they started calling themselves Players.
The System divided creatures into grades based on their level.
F Grade: Level 1-50
E Grade: Level 51-100
D Grade: Level 101-150
C Grade: Level 151-200
B Grade: Level 201-250
A Grade: Level 251-300
S Grade: Level 301-350
SS Grade: Level 350-400
SSS Grade: Level 401-450
EX Grade: Level 451-500
Animals and plants also began to evolve but their situation was hundreds if not thousands of times better than humans. Animals, especially the predators, had stronger bodies, so most of them survived. The plants' situation was even better than the animals' despite the blatant difference in their physiques.
This was because the plants channeled all the excess Aether that they couldn't withstand into Earth through their root systems. Although this slowed down their speed of evolution a lot, over 95% survived. They are now collectively known as monster beasts. Monster beasts also awakened their innate abilities which they instinctively knew how to use.
This left us, the humans in a dangerous situation. Our numbers were already very low, our strength weak, and to make matters even worse, we were scattered. This all changed when we discovered that we could increase our strength in the form of levels by hunting monster beasts. We slowly started becoming stronger. Humans also started building small settlements, but they were often destroyed by monster beast tides.
But we didn't give up and slowly discovered that we too had our advantages. Although humans didn't have any innate abilities, humans reproduced quickly unlike the monster beasts who needed longer gestation periods completely opposite to their unevolved selves. We also found a trait that we had neglected, our adaptability and plasticity.
Many humans experimented and fused monster beast bloodlines, to grow stronger thus forming the Demi-Human species. We also discovered that we could gain strength without hunting monster beasts by absorbing the mana present in the atmosphere but realized that it was too difficult for us to absorb mana without exploding.
Slowly but surely, our bodies began adapting to the atmospheric mana. Each generation was better than the last until our bodies began accepting mana readily. This led to our evolution from the Olden Humans to the current Neo-Humans. We became faster and stronger, our senses became more acute, and even our lifespans increased to 150 years.
The small settlements gradually grew into larger ones, eventually forming cities. About 900 years ago, leaders of the 10 largest cities came together and created the Earth Federation. Order was gradually restored, and we actively began reclaiming land. But disaster soon struck again.
600 years ago, when the first Neo-Human reached level 150, the System's voice rang again.
'Three native individuals of Planet#54673242 have reached Level 150.'
'Prerequisites met. Ending Tutorial'
'Planet#54673242 is found to be ownerless and does not come under any Faction's territory.'
'New species detected: Neo-Humans.'
'Subspecies detected: Demi-Humans'
'Prerequisites met. Species: Neo-Human is eligible for the formation of a new Faction. Do you accept?'
'New Faction: Earth Federation successfully created.'
'Notifying the four closest Factions. A Faction War will be initiated for the ownership of Planet#54673242.'
'Participant Factions:'
'1. Celestia'
'2. Infernia'
'3. Garden of the Fair Folk'
'4. Spirit Alliance'
'5. Earth Federation'
'New Faction detected. Granting a grace period of 750 years.'
'For 750 years, restrictions will be applied on the other Factions' troops.
'May the best Faction win.'
That was when hell began.
[It seems that dumb Realm_Weaver isn't that dumb after all. I misunderstood him in the last chapter. I thought that he had forgotten to give some contextual details but as it turns out, he was just waiting for the right moment.]
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