Hello everyone
From now onwards, I continue writing the first person point of view.
I hope you like it
______________________
I woke up.
My consciousness was returning slowly, like waking from a deep sleep.
My body ached all over, and every muscle felt sore.
For a moment, I couldn't move, as if my body was still catching up with my waking mind.
With a great effort, I pushed myself up with my hand. I managed to sit up, my muscles protesting with the effort.
I looked around, my eyes taking in my surroundings.
The ruined labyrinth within the forest was gone. In its place was a desolate plane.
I gasped, the words slipping out of my mouth, "What happened?"
I tried to recall what had happened, but my mind was blank. Then, a severe headache hit me. It was sudden and sharp, causing me to scream out in pain.
'Arghhhhhh....'
Slowly, my memories started to return. They came back to me in flashes, like a movie playing out in my mind.
I remembered everything. Every detail, no matter how small, was etched into my mind. I had been chased by phantom wolf spirits. I had found a hidden dungeon.
I had fought a boss monster for the first time - the Knight of the Void. I had died due to my own stupidity and carelessness.
The sensation of dying, the endless ocean swallowing me into eternal darkness, it all felt so real.
But then, a mysterious light had saved me. It had brought me to outer space and presented a golden staircase leading upwards.
I muttered to myself, the words barely audible, "I see. So that's what happened."
I added, my voice filled with a mix of confusion and doubt,
"More importantly, I defeated that monster and survived. If it weren't for the mysterious power I awakened, I certainly would have died."
I shook my head, trying to clear it. Thinking too much about things I couldn't answer would only give me a headache.
So, I forced myself to stand, despite the protest from my aching body. I checked myself for any wounds, but found none. It felt like a dream, but this was my reality.
As I stood there, taking in the desolate landscape around me, the gravity of my situation began to sink in.
This unknown world I found myself in was not something to be taken lightly. It was a place where only the strongest could survive.
The constant threat of death was always looming, and the fear of losing everything, including myself, was even more terrifying.
To avoid such a fate, I had no choice but to become stronger and understand the system.
The system... what was it exactly? Was it some kind of governing force in this world, or just a fragment of the universe's law? What was its purpose? Why was I here in this world?
Why couldn't I remember anything about my past life, except for my name and some general knowledge about Earth? But what was Earth? Why did the word feel so familiar yet so distant? I knew the word 'game', but I couldn't remember ever playing one.
Questions swirled in my mind, one leading to another. But I stopped myself, pushing the questions aside, and focused on the present.
I had to survive, to become stronger. And to do that, I needed to understand the system. With a newfound determination, I muttered a single phrase, "Status."
[Asher Starborn]
[Title: Flame Vanquisher, Voidslayer]
[Traits: Sovereign Serenity]
[Lvl: 12]
[Exp: 6650/10,000]
[HP: 1200]
[MP: 600]
[Str: 35]
[Agi: 30]
[Int: 45]
[Wis: 30]
[Cha: 35]
[Luk: 40]
[Unallocated Pts: 80]
[Skills: Flame Burst (S), Quick Heal (E)]
I stared at the screen, my eyes catching the (S) next to Flame Burst and the (E) next to Quick Heal. "An update?" I murmured to myself, the words barely audible.
The system responded, its tone as emotionless as ever.
[System: Host, you absorbed the Knight of Void's soul essence. System upgraded.]
"Soul essence?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity. "What does that mean? And what does it have to do with the system upgrade?"
The system began to explain, its voice steady and unchanging.
[System: Soul essence is the core of a monster's being. It's the purest form of their energy, their life force. When a monster is defeated, this essence can sometimes be captured. It's incredibly valuable, as it contains the monster's power and abilities. It ranges from G rank to SSS rank, with SSS being the highest. It's used to upgrade the 'Ascension Level', enhancing your own abilities and power.]
I took a moment to process this. The information was dense, but I just nodded, silently indicating for the system to continue.
"So, the system used the Knight of Void's soul essence to upgrade itself?" I asked, trying to make sense of it all. "And that's why my skills have these new ratings?"
The system confirmed my understanding,
[System: Affirmative, Host. The upgrade has improved the system's capabilities and introduced a new mechanism for skill development. Skills can now evolve or level up, becoming more powerful or gaining new effects. The ratings indicate the current power level of the skills.]
As I let the information sink in, my gaze fell on the 'title' section of my status. "I completely forgot to ask," I murmured to myself. Then, louder, I asked, "What is 'title'?"
The system responded in its usual emotionless tone.
[System: The 'title' is a recognition of the host's achievements. The title 'Flame Vanquisher' was awarded to the host for defeating the Inferno Spirit Wolf. This title enhances the host's abilities when using fire-based skills. The title 'Voidslayer' was awarded to the host for the victory over the Knight of the Void. This title boosts the host's strength when combating void-type enemies.]
After digesting the system's explanation, a new question formed in my mind. "How do I acquire a new title?" I asked.
The system responded in its usual emotionless tone.
[System: The host can acquire new titles by completing specific quests or achieving seemingly impossible feats. Each title has its own unique requirements and is automatically awarded upon completion of these requirements. The benefits and enhancements provided by each title will be activated immediately upon acquisition.]
I was taken aback by the information I had just learned. "Isn't my system too overpowered?" I mused to myself, a sense of disbelief creeping in.
I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders.
But there was no point in overthinking it. The system was a part of my reality now, and I had to make the most of it.
Shaking off my doubts, I decided to focus on the task at hand - distributing my stats.
With 80 unallocated points to distribute, I took a moment to think deeply about how to do it.
"Strength and agility are crucial for my physical prowess," I mused aloud.
"But intelligence and wisdom are just as important for mastering my skills and abilities."
Nodding to myself, I decided to distribute these points equally among these four attributes.
"Twenty points each should do it," I said, finalizing my decision.
A satisfied smile spread across my face as I finished the task.
"Inventory," I muttered, curious to see if I had acquired any rewards from defeating the Knight of the Void.
A cube-like screen appeared before me, mostly empty except for four items.
I was taken aback by what I saw. [1 legendary grade weapon, 1 unique grade armor, 2 skill books].
I hadn't expected to receive such valuable items. A sense of anticipation filled me as I prepared to inspect my new items.
With a smirk on my face, I couldn't help but mutter, "Jackpot!"