#### Arrival
Arin Sato awoke to the sound of rustling leaves and the distant melody of chimes. The air smelled clean, crisp, and faintly floral—a sharp contrast to the polluted, urban atmosphere of Tokyo he was so used to. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing a sky painted in shades of blue he had never seen before, far too vivid and clear. As he pushed himself up from the soft, moss-covered ground, confusion clouded his mind. He was supposed to be on his way home, dodging raindrops in a city alley, not lying in some forest that looked like it had been pulled straight out of a storybook.
He scanned his surroundings. Towering trees with iridescent leaves surrounded him, their branches swaying gently in a breeze that whispered secrets he couldn't yet understand. A small stream gurgled nearby, its water sparkling unnaturally. Despite the strange, dreamlike beauty of the place, a deep unease settled in his gut.
"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, the words barely audible in the tranquil environment. He attempted to stand, but a wave of dizziness forced him back down onto his knees. As he steadied himself, a soft chime rang out in his mind, startling him.
A translucent screen, faintly glowing, appeared before his eyes. Arin blinked several times, unsure if it was a hallucination or some kind of trick.
**System Activation:**
**Welcome to the world of Etheria. You have been granted a unique system.**
His breath caught in his throat as he read the message. System? Etheria? The words meant nothing to him, yet they sent a thrill of anticipation through his veins. He had always craved understanding, to uncover the unknown. And now, it seemed, the unknown had found him.
The screen flickered and expanded, displaying more information:
**Skill Acquisition System:**
**Copy any skill by eliminating its owner.**
The statement was simple, but its implications were vast. The dizziness returned, but this time it wasn't from disorientation—it was from excitement. Arin's mind began to race, piecing together what little information he had. He wasn't in Tokyo anymore; that much was clear. This world, Etheria, had its own rules, its own systems, and by some twist of fate, he was now a part of it.
#### First Encounter
A rustling sound behind him pulled Arin out of his thoughts. He turned quickly, his heart pounding, but kept his expression neutral. If there was one thing he was good at, it was hiding his true emotions.
A figure emerged from the undergrowth—a young woman, no older than twenty, with long, silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. She wore simple, flowing robes, and her eyes—an unusual shade of violet—widened in surprise when she saw him.
"Oh! You startled me," she said, placing a hand over her chest. "I wasn't expecting to see anyone out here."
Arin forced a confused smile, letting his shoulders slump slightly as if in exhaustion. "I… I'm not sure where I am," he replied, feigning a slight tremble in his voice. "Could you help me?"
The woman's expression softened, and she nodded. "Of course. My name is Elara. You must be lost. This forest can be confusing to those who aren't familiar with it."
Arin's mind worked quickly, cataloging every detail about her—her appearance, her demeanor, her level of caution (or lack thereof). Elara seemed kind, perhaps naïve, but most importantly, she was knowledgeable. He needed information, and she was the perfect source.
"I… I don't remember how I got here," Arin said, weaving a bit of truth into the lie. "Everything is so strange."
Elara knelt beside him, offering a reassuring smile. "You must have wandered into the Enchanted Forest by accident. It's not uncommon for travelers to lose their way here. But don't worry, I'll guide you to the nearest village. You'll be safe there."
"Thank you," Arin said, letting his voice drip with gratitude. "I'm Arin."
As Elara helped him to his feet, Arin noticed something extraordinary. With a subtle gesture of her hand, she conjured a small ball of light that floated in the air between them, illuminating their surroundings. The light was warm and gentle, casting a soft glow on her face.
"That's… amazing," Arin murmured, allowing genuine wonder to seep into his tone. "How did you do that?"
Elara smiled, a hint of pride in her expression. "It's just a simple spell, nothing too impressive. Most people here can do something like this. It's all about harnessing your magic points."
Magic points? Spells? The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place. Etheria was a world where magic was commonplace, where people wielded powers that were unimaginable back in his world. And now, with this system, he had the potential to acquire those powers.
"Can… can you teach me?" Arin asked, widening his eyes in a way that made him look even more innocent and helpless.
Elara chuckled softly. "It takes time and practice, but I'm sure you'll be able to learn something. Let's get you to safety first."
As they walked through the forest, Arin listened intently as Elara explained the basics of magic in Etheria. Everyone, she said, was born with a unique skill, a gift that could be developed and enhanced through training and the use of magic points. The more skilled a person was, the more magic points they could accumulate and use, allowing them to perform greater feats of magic.
But what intrigued Arin the most was the rarity of certain skills—abilities that were so powerful and uncommon that they could turn the tide of a battle or elevate an ordinary person to legendary status.
And all it took to acquire those skills was a single act. An act that Arin, with his cold, calculating mind, was more than capable of committing.
#### The System Activation
That night, after Elara had guided him to a small, secluded campsite, Arin lay on the ground, staring up at the sky. Etheria's moons—three of them—glowed brightly, casting pale light over the landscape. Elara had offered him her food and a place by her fire, trusting him completely. She was kind, perhaps too kind, and that was her greatest weakness.
The system screen reappeared, this time displaying a brief tutorial on how to use his skill-copying ability. The text was concise, clinical, and Arin's heart raced as he absorbed the information. All he needed to do was will it, to focus on the act, and the system would handle the rest.
He turned his head slightly, watching Elara as she slept soundly beside the dying embers of the fire. Her chest rose and fell steadily, her expression peaceful. She had trusted him, taken him in without hesitation, and now she would be his first experiment in this new world.
Arin slowly sat up, careful not to make a sound. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sharp blade—a keepsake from his old life, though he had never had to use it until now. He moved closer to Elara, his hand steady as he raised the blade above her heart.
For a brief moment, he hesitated. But then, his curiosity—his insatiable need to understand this world and its power—overcame any doubt. With a swift, calculated motion, he drove the blade into her chest.
Elara's eyes snapped open in shock and pain, but it was too late. Her life faded quickly, and as it did, Arin felt a surge of energy course through him. The system screen appeared again, confirming the acquisition of her skill.
**Skill Acquired: Basic Light Manipulation**
A cold smile spread across Arin's face as he watched the light from the dying fire flicker and dim. He could feel the knowledge and power of the skill seeping into his mind, becoming a part of him.
This world was vast and full of potential, and he intended to explore every dark corner of it. One skill, one kill at a time.
He wiped the blade clean and stood, looking down at Elara's lifeless body. "Thank you for your kindness," he murmured, his voice devoid of emotion. "But you were just the beginning."
As he walked away from the campsite, leaving the evidence of his first kill behind, Arin felt more alive than ever. Etheria was his playground now, and he had only just begun to play.