In another place near the academy, at a hotel, Raven sat by the window, his eyes fixed on the bright screen before him. The system, a mysterious gift he had obtained when he was seven years old, was his constant companion. He marveled at the information displayed, feeling a familiar mixture of pride and determination.
He opened his status window to review his progress:
[Name: Raven Storkleive]
[Title: ???]
[Talent: SSS+]
[Rank: F-]
[Affinity: All Elements] (concealed)
[Agility: F-]+
[Strength: F-]+
[Mana: E+]+
Remaining Points: 1.1 (30 points needed to level up one attribute)
[Quest: Kill one of the Abyssal Dominion spies at the academy] (Finished Quest)
Rewards: Strengthening Potion (Low), 0.1 point
[Strengthening Potion: Drinking this potion helps you to boost your strength by 5%]
Raven scrolled down to view his previous reward.
[Quest: Survive the assassination] (Quest finished)
[Previous reward: All Elemental Affinity]
He continued to scroll further, reminiscing about a quest from five years ago.
[Quest: Kill 1000 goblins] (Quest finished)
[Previous reward: SSS+ Talent]
Raven leaned back in his chair, his mind drifting back to the day the system first appeared. It was an ordinary day, one that had turned extraordinary with the arrival of the bright screen that only he could see. The system had guided him, provided him with quests, and rewarded him for his efforts. It had shaped his destiny, turning him into someone far beyond the ordinary.
"Hard to believe it's been ten years," Raven murmured to himself, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "The system has been a blessing and a curse."
He thought about his journey, the countless battles he had fought, and the quests he had completed. Each challenge had made him stronger, sharpening his skills and abilities. The latest revelation of his SSS+ talent with spatial manipulation had been a significant milestone, but it was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.
Raven's eyes flicked to the latest quest he had completed: killing one of the Abyssal Dominion spies at the academy. "That was close," he muttered, recalling the dangerous encounter. "But it had to be done."
The system had also given him an All Elemental Affinity, a rare and powerful ability. He kept this concealed, knowing that revealing it would attract too much attention and danger. The strength boost from the potion would be helpful, but he needed to accumulate more points to enhance his overall abilities further.
"One step at a time," he reminded himself. "I've come this far, and I won't stop now."
Raven sighed, looking out the window at the academy in the distance. The stakes were higher than ever, with the leaders of Terra Concord watching closely and the Abyssal Dominion lurking in the shadows. He knew he was a key player in a much larger game, and the weight of that responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Despite the challenges, Raven felt a surge of determination. "The system chose me for a reason. I have to live up to that potential," he said aloud, his voice firm. "I will navigate the dangers, outsmart my enemies, and protect those who matter. The future is uncertain, but I'm ready to face it head-on."
As he closed the system screen, Raven allowed himself a moment of reflection. The journey had been long and arduous, but it had also been filled with growth and discovery. He had come a long way from the boy who had first encountered the system, and he knew there was still much more to achieve.
"Tomorrow is a new day," he whispered to himself, a determined look in his eyes. "I will overcome any challenge that comes my way."
Back at the orphanage, Lyranthor tossed and turned in his bed, caught in the grip of another nightmare. His subconscious mind replayed the haunting visions of his battles against the outer gods and the destruction of reality.
In the dream, Lyranthor stood on the precipice of the universe, his body battered and bruised. The outer gods loomed before him, their forms shifting and writhing, an amalgamation of chaos and power. Each god exuded an aura of malevolence, their eyes burning with an unholy light.
"You are but a speck in the grand scheme of things," one of the outer gods hissed, its voice echoing through the void. "You cannot hope to defeat us."
Lyranthor tightened his grip on his sword, the weight of his resolve grounding him. "I will fight until my last breath. I will not let you destroy everything I hold dear."
The battle commenced, a cacophony of clashing energies and titanic blows. Lyranthor fought valiantly, his movements a blur of desperation and determination. But despite his efforts, the outer gods were relentless, their power overwhelming.
A blast of dark energy struck him, sending him sprawling across the shattered remnants of reality. He struggled to rise, his vision blurring as pain coursed through his body. The void around him seemed to close in, suffocating and oppressive.
"Is this the end?" Lyranthor whispered, his voice barely audible. "Am I truly powerless against them?"
In the depths of his despair, a familiar voice cut through the darkness. "Lyranthor, you are stronger than you think. Do not give up."
It was his mother, Ranni. Her presence was a beacon of hope in the void, her words filling him with renewed strength. "Remember the power within you. Remember the reason you fight."
With a surge of determination, Lyranthor pushed himself to his feet. "I will not fall here. I will fight for those who depend on me."
He channeled his remaining energy, his body glowing with an ethereal light. With a roar, he launched himself at the outer gods, his sword cutting through the void with unparalleled precision.
But as the battle raged on, the outer gods unleashed a devastating attack, shattering the fabric of reality. The universe fractured, splitting into countless sub-realities, each one drifting into the void.
"No!" Lyranthor screamed, the sound echoing through the broken cosmos. "I can't let this happen!"
The dream faded into darkness, and Lyranthor awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat. His heart pounded in his chest, the remnants of the nightmare lingering in his mind.
He sat up, taking deep breaths to calm himself. "It was just a dream," he muttered, trying to steady his racing thoughts. "But it felt so real."
It was already morning when he woke up, the sun shining brightly through the window. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, preparing to rise, he noticed something unusual. There, resting on the small wooden table beside his bed, was a mysterious book. Its cover was ancient and worn, yet it seemed to emit a faint, otherworldly glow.
Lyranthor reached out cautiously, his fingers trembling slightly as he picked up the book. "Where did this come from?" he wondered aloud, turning it over in his hands. The cover was inscribed with intricate symbols that he couldn't quite decipher.
He opened the book, and to his astonishment, saw his name and status written on the first page:
_____________________________________________________
**[Name: Lyranthor ******]**
**Level: 9**
**Attributes Points: None**
**[Vigor: 10]**
**[Mind: 11]**
**[Endurance: 13]**
**[Strength: 12]**
**[Dexterity: 15]**
**[Intelligence: 9]**
**[Arcane: 8]**
_____________________________________________________
Lyranthor's eyes widened as he read the information. "This... this is my status?" he whispered, disbelief colouring his voice. "But how?"
He felt a strange connection to the book as if it held the answers to the questions that had plagued him. The dream, the outer gods, the shattering of reality—could this book be the key to understanding it all?
"This can't be a coincidence," he muttered, flipping through the pages. The text was in a language he couldn't read, but the diagrams and illustrations hinted at something powerful and ancient knowledge.
His heart raced "Could this be connected to my dreams?" he speculated.
The book seemed to pulse with energy, resonating with his very being. He knew that understanding its secrets could help him become stronger.