"System bounded to host. Welcome, Host, to the Arcane Ascension System. Given your current state of being a mystic with less power than a flickering candle, you should be grateful for this miraculous opportunity to not be completely useless."
Cruzer blinked, taken aback by the unexpected tone of the system. "Wait, what? Did you just insult me?"
"Correction: I merely stated the obvious," the system replied, its cold mechanical voice dripping with sarcasm. Then the information panel appeared in Cruzer's mind.
Host name: Cruzer
Age: 18
Level: 0 (Previously 39)
Mystic Level: None (Previously None)
Talent Level: 0 star (Previously 3 star)
Skills: One-handed Swordsman, Fury Cutter, Sword Barrage
Magic: Rank 0 Spells (Fireball Level 3, Sparks Level 3)
As he read the system panel, Cruzer was suddenly startled. He looked at his talent and saw that instead of increasing, it had decreased to 0 star. Panicking, he asked, "Hey system, what did you do to me? Why did my talent and level decrease?"
"Your pathetic talent and level has been dissolved by your hidden talent and it has been reset. You need to understand that your original talent was so unimpressive that it got absorbed and merged with your awakened hidden talent upon the system's activation. Your unique talent now allows you to evolve your talent."
Cruzer's eyes widened. "Evolve my talent? What does that mean?"
"It means, Host, that unlike the majority who are stuck with their initial talent levels, you have the potential to improve and ascend beyond your initial limits. However, the host will need to fulfill certain conditions to improve his talent level."
"What conditions?" he asked excitedly as he learned he could go beyond his original talent level, giving him unlimited potential.
"You will need to acquire various herbs, monster parts, special materials, and cores of monsters and behemoths to increase your talent. The higher the talent level, the rarer the materials."
Cruzer took a deep breath, processing the information. Despite the system's snarky remarks, he couldn't deny the glimmer of hope it provided. A hope that he would one day have the same talent as his childhood friend and regain the dignity that he had lost.
Then suddenly his face turned pale, drained of all color. He remembered that tomorrow was the day their talents would once again be measured.
"Oh no," Cruzer thought, panic setting in. "Tomorrow is the talent assessment. If my talent is measured as 0 star, I'll be expelled for sure. The academy has a strict policy against admitting anyone below 3 star talent. How am I supposed to explain this? I'm utterly doomed."
"System, is there any way to remedy this?" Cruzer asked desperately.
"Host should explore all the features of the system," the system responded nonchalantly.
A new interface opened up in Cruzer's mind, showcasing various system features: Shop, Skill Fusion, Talent Enhancement, and others. However, all of them were greyed out.
"How do I unlock these features?" he asked, feeling a mix of hope and frustration.
"You need to level up and reach different ranks to unlock each of these functions," the system replied. "For now, focus on increasing your level and understanding your abilities. As you grow stronger, more features will become available to assist you."
Cruzer sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He would probably be expelled tomorrow once his talent ranking came out. While his long-term future seemed bright, his immediate future was bleak.
He gritted his teeth and asked the system, "Isn't there any way I can change my talent back? If I can't do it, then I will be expelled."
The system paused for a moment before responding, "There is a way, Host. You have been granted a mission. Complete it, and you might stand a chance."
A new interface popped up in Cruzer's mind, displaying the details of the mission.
Mission: Level Up! (Because Mediocrity is Not an Option)
Objective: Gather materials from the following low-level monsters:
Forest Wolf (Fang) x 50, Goblin Warrior (Core) x 50, Flame Lizard (Scale) x50, Ice Phoenix Hatchling (Feather) x 25, Qi Serpent (Heart) x 1
Reward: Talent Level restored to 3 stars for 6 hours, plus host will have one chance to use the shop feature.
Time Limit: 12 hours
Cruzer's eyes widened as he read the mission details. "Are you serious? I have to hunt all these monsters in just 12 hours? This is impossible!"
"Correction: This is challenging. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Remember, Host, this is your opportunity to rise above mediocrity and prove your worth," the system replied, its tone mockingly encouraging.
Cruzer took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Alright, fine. I don't have a choice. It's either I succeed or I get expelled."
He decided to head home first and then prepare a plan to hunt the required monsters to gather materials. Wolf fangs, goblin cores, and ice phoenix hatchlings were relatively easy to hunt and were abundant near the region of his academy. However, the problem lay with the Qi Serpent and the Flame Lizard. Reaching their territories would take him more than 12 hours.
First, he decided to check his bank account and see if he could buy those materials. He logged into the academy's website, where items could be bought using academy credits. After searching, he found the prices for the Flame Lizard Scale and Qi Serpent Heart.
The Flame Lizard Scale was priced at 500 academy credits, while the Qi Serpent Heart cost 750 academy credits. Cruzer realized he had just enough to buy both but would have to live frugally from now on. He bought the Flame Lizard Scale and the Qi Serpent Heart, watching as his balance dwindled to nearly zero.
With the materials purchased, Cruzer changed from his academy dress into the basic Mystic outfit provided to students by the school. Since he was poor and couldn't afford higher-tier ones, his outfit was worn out and washed out in color. The fabric was thin and frayed at the edges, with patches where it had been mended multiple times. Despite its state, Cruzer wore it with a sense of determination. He knew he had to make the best of what he had.