It's been seven years since I came to this world.
At first, I had no idea where I was. The surroundings were unfamiliar, and nothing made sense. But after a while, as I learned more about the structure of this world—its rules, its power systems—I realized something shocking: this was the world of a novel I had read before, a story that once existed only in fiction.
The novel didn't have a title that stood out, just a simple name. But the world it described was vivid, full of powerful characters and complex conflicts. There was one thing about it, though, that always struck me as odd: there was no male lead, only a female main character. I never understood why the author chose to write it that way, but that's how the story unfolded.
Unfortunately, I never got to finish reading it. I don't know how the novel ends, but I do know one important detail: the villain of this world, the most dangerous person to ever exist here, is Levi D. Tempest.
In the story, Levi was more than just a formidable opponent—he was an anomaly. At the age of sixteen, he reached Rank-6 Initial, a level no one had ever achieved at such a young age. The world was shocked. No one could have predicted that someone so young would break through to a rank that seasoned warriors had struggled their whole lives to touch.
But that wasn't all. Soon after his rise to Rank-6, Levi was accused of something unthinkable—killing Thorfin, the President of Nexus, and even his own family. As a reader, I remember the confusion, and the lack of details. The novel never explained why or how it happened. It just... did. One moment Levi was a side character, a character that did not have a talent, a figure everyone despised that ruined the reputation of the D clan, the next he just became a rank 6 - Initial which caused all the people to be shocked and after a few days his family was told they were killed and in the end, it was all blamed on Levi, that he was the one who killed his own family to ascend to rank - 6.
Then came the conflict between Levi and the female lead, the protagonist of the novel. Even though they were engaged to marry each other by their family. She liked him in the beginning, even though he was not talented but in the end, she started to hate him as she believed Levi was responsible for her family's death, and they eventually came to blows. But even though she was meant to be the protagonist, she stood no chance. Levi overpowered her completely. The fight barely lasted long enough for her to get her footing. In the end, she died before she could even land a proper strike.
That's where the novel took an unexpected turn. In the following chapter, Lyra—the main character—was transported back in time. I remember reading that part, and wondering what it meant for the story's progression. But then... I ended up here.
Reincarnated into this world.
Two years after I arrived in this world, I awakened the mana within my body. I was five years old at the time, and that day wasn't just the start of my mana awakening—it was also when I unlocked my system. At first, I didn't expect to have a system. I thought it would be just me, working hard like everyone else, grinding my way up through sheer effort. But the system changed everything.
It's called "Tips and Tricks," and it does exactly what the name suggests. It gives me tips—guidance on how to gain strength, where to train, and what I should focus on. And the tricks? They're skills, and techniques, like sword arts or even magic spells. Each piece of advice, each trick, made it easier for me to grow stronger, faster than I ever could have on my own. The idea of getting more strength also came from the system.
Of course, there's always a catch. Every piece of wisdom the system gives comes with a price. To learn from it, I have to complete system quests. They aren't mandatory, though. The system never forces me or punishes me if I don't complete them, which is a relief. It's more like an offer, and it's up to me whether to take it or leave it. But I always choose to do them. I have to. I want to be powerful in this world—stronger than anyone else.
Now, at ten years old, I've reached Rank-4 Middle, but I keep that hidden. Everyone around me thinks I'm at rank 3, and I plan to keep it that way for now. Revealing my true strength could cause unnecessary problems. Is a ten-year-old advancing to Rank-4? That would raise questions. People would start wondering how I managed to cross a barrier that even most adults struggle to reach. They might start prying into my training, and my abilities, maybe even discovering the existence of my system.
For now, it's better to stay under the radar. I'll reveal my true strength when the time is right—when Levi shows the world what he's really capable of. Until then, I'll keep growing, quietly, unnoticed.
Now let's see, I don't know why I check my status every time, maybe I just like seeing myself getting stronger.
[Status]
Name: Kael Shade
Age: 10 years
Title: [None]
Physique: [Boundless Darkness Physique]
Mana Core: Rank-4 Middle
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[Stats]
Strength: 250
Agility: 230
Stamina: 270
Endurance: 240
Intelligence: 280
Luck: 500
Skills
Shadow Step: (Level Max)
Silent Strike: (Level 6)
Mana control: (Level 8)
Assassin's Instinct: (Level 5)
Dagger Mastery: (Level Max)
Stealth Movement (Level Max)
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Affinities
Darkness: 100%
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Every time I look at my status screen, a surge of satisfaction runs through me. The feeling of becoming stronger, of seeing my stats rise, it's addictive in a way. Knowing that I'm pushing beyond the limits of what others think possible—it drives me.
There's one thing that stands out on the screen, though, something that even now I don't fully understand: my physique. I don't know exactly what it is or where it came from, but it's been a massive help.
Thanks to it, I managed to break through the barrier between Rank-3 and Rank-4 with ease, a barrier that even adults struggle with. And that's not all. My mana core developed faster than I ever expected.
It's still only half of the full potential, though—the system told me that when I reach Rank-7, I'll gain the other half of the fragment that completes my physique. The revelation about Rank-7 shocked me. Until that moment, I believed like everyone else that there were only six ranks. Even the novel didn't mention anything beyond Rank-6.
With this physique, I could have easily sped through to almost Rank-5 in no time, but I chose to slow down. There's a reason for that. Instead of just rushing through the ranks, I focused on cultivating my strength carefully.
The system taught me that true strength comes during the transitions between the main ranks, not the sub-ranks. That's the moment when you have the best opportunity to push your limits, to gain lasting power. Once you pass that window, the chance is gone. So, I've been taking my time, building up my strength, and only then advancing to the next rank.
The reason I chose the dagger as my weapon wasn't just because I wanted to avoid the swordmaster path—it's because it fits perfectly with my darkness element and the physique that comes with it. Both seem to pull me toward the shadows, making the assassin's path the most natural choice. The dagger is swift, precise, and lethal in the right hands, and with my abilities, it became the ideal tool for me to master.
I've made a lot of progress on this path, and surprisingly, most of the skills I use weren't granted by the system—they're my own creations. I've developed nearly 10 skills the remaining are from the system, in that only six of them are in my regular rotation. I keep three others as my trump cards, reserved for when things get serious. The rest are passive skills that work in the background, like Assassin's Instinct. That one's a lifesaver, a passive skill that alerts me whenever someone with malicious intent is nearby. It's almost like having a built-in danger sensor, always on, always watching.
One thing I've noticed, though, is that I lack a skill that allows me to read or analyze someone else's stats. It's a bit of a weakness—never knowing exactly how strong my opponents are. But honestly, I'm okay with that. The abilities I've gained so far are more than enough. I've learned not to be greedy for everything. Chasing after every possible advantage would only lead to trouble. If you try to grab too much too quickly, you risk being swallowed by the very power you're trying to harness.