Liam gazed at his profile, feeling a mix of emotions. He was impressed by most of his stats—greater than average strength and agility were nothing to scoff at—but his eyes lingered on one line that made him frown.
Dexterity: Less than average.
It wasn't entirely unexpected. Even in his previous life, he'd always struggled with tasks requiring fine motor skills, often clumsy with his hands. Still, seeing it quantified like this made it feel more real. He brushed off the mild shock and closed the profile tab with a sigh, trying to focus on the positives. At least he had some powerful skills, though he couldn't see the details yet.
Just as the profile tab vanished, another screen materialized before him, catching him off guard.
[Notice]
[Due to many people asking for a system, the god has decided to give otherworlders a system that will help them learn the language and understand this world.
The system given to you will vary from person to person. The system's personality will mirror your inner self.]
Liam raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new development. A system that matched his inner personality? That sounded both promising and ominous. There was a part of him that sensed there might be more to this "system" than the screen was letting on, but he decided to accept it anyway. After all, he needed every advantage he could get in this unknown world.
He pressed the button on the side of the screen, and the text disappeared, leaving only a small notification that read:
[System will be fully integrated after one day.]
Liam sighed, a mix of anticipation and frustration bubbling up inside him. One day seemed like an eternity when you were in a completely unfamiliar place. But there was nothing he could do about it now, so he decided to make the most of the time he had.
With the system integration now in the back of his mind, Liam took a moment to survey his surroundings. He realized with a start that he could see much farther and more clearly than ever before. In the distance, beyond a field of tall grass, he could make out a small village, the smoke from chimneys rising lazily into the sky.
Curious, he glanced down at his hands, expecting to see the familiar sight of his own fingers. Instead, what he saw made him freeze. His hands were different—smoother, stronger, and somehow more refined. The nails were neatly trimmed, and the skin was unblemished.
What the...?
Feeling a strange sense of dread mixed with curiosity, he quickly found a nearby river that snaked its way toward the village. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding trees and sky like a mirror. Liam leaned over and stared at his reflection.
The face looking back at him was not entirely his own. It was him, but younger—perhaps in his late teens or early twenties. His features were sharper, his skin flawless, and his eyes...they seemed brighter, more alive. He looked like someone who had never known the pain and fatigue of his previous life.
Mesmerized by the transformation, Liam muttered to himself, "Will he like me now?"
He blinked, startled by his own words, and immediately felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. Coughing to hide the flush rising in his cheeks, he quickly straightened up, glancing around as if someone might have heard him.
"Narcissist," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
It didn't take long for him to connect the dots. His youthful, enhanced appearance had to be one of the effects of the skill [Empowerment]. But was this all it did? And what about the other skills he had chosen? The lack of detailed information was frustrating, but there was little he could do about it now.
As he mused over his newfound appearance and abilities, his attention was drawn to the nearby forest. The trees stood tall and dark, their dense canopies casting long shadows over the ground. Liam's mind quickly jumped to one thought: monsters. If this world was anything like the fantasy worlds he had read about, the forest was likely teeming with them. And what better way to test his new powers than by confronting whatever might be lurking within?
A small, confident smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. With a thought, he activated one of his skills, [Divine Shield]. A soft, golden light emanated from his hand, forming a light golden spherical barrier above his hands. The shield shimmered like sunlight on water, its surface smooth and almost liquid in appearance.
Liam admired the shield for a moment, a spark of excitement in his eyes. This was real. This was power. And he intended to use it.
With a deep breath, he took a step toward the forest, his senses sharpening as adrenaline began to course through his veins. He didn't know what awaited him in those dark woods, but he was ready to find out.