Liam's eyes fluttered open, taking in the dim surroundings as he slowly regained focus. He found himself lying on the cold stone of the strange altar, and for a moment, his mind swirled with fragments of memories from the trial, each one laced with a lingering tension. As the haze in his vision began to clear, he sat up, piecing together where he was and what had happened.
"Right… the trial," he muttered, his voice echoing softly in the empty space.
Quickly, he opened his profile, anticipation building as he saw the line he'd been waiting for:
[System Integration in Progress]
[Time Remaining: 2 hours]
A smile broke across his face. Soon, he would have access to a system—a partner that would elevate his skills and serve as a guide in this world. The weight of that thought filled him with excitement, and with a determined breath, he stepped down from the altar, eager to make the most of the time remaining. He decided he'd hunt some monsters nearby to keep himself sharp until the system integration was complete.
As Liam entered the forest, a strange silence settled around him. The usual sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls were replaced by an unsettling quiet that made the shadows seem thicker, more watchful. The air was cool and damp, carrying a faint earthy scent that mingled with a sense of mystery. His [Auto Counter] skill's sub-ability, [Focus], activated automatically, heightening his awareness. He could feel every shift in the forest's energy, each presence that lurked behind the trees and underbrush.
Before long, [Focus] alerted him to the presence of a small, rabbit-like creature with a single, spiraled horn atop its head. At first, Liam thought it was passive—a harmless herbivore by appearance. But as he observed it, he felt a wave of bloodlust radiate from the creature, sending a chill down his spine.
"Ah, of course," he muttered with a smirk, shaking his head. "Even a rabbit in this world is hostile."
He conjured a sword using [Divine Shield], the blade shimmering with a pale glow. With a quick, decisive motion, he threw the sword, watching as it pierced the rabbit cleanly. The creature dropped instantly, and as soon as it hit the ground, the conjured sword dissipated into thin air.
For a brief moment, he considered summoning multiple swords, testing the limits of his conjuring ability. But the thought seemed reckless. In an unknown world, testing his skills against real threats seemed wiser than expending energy for curiosity's sake.
As he prepared to move further into the forest, his [Focus] activated again, sensing another wave of bloodlust—this time from multiple sources. Peering through the dense foliage, Liam quickly identified them: a pack of dark wolves, their yellow eyes glinting with a fierce hunger.
He stepped forward, expecting them to attack, but to his surprise, the wolves suddenly halted. They stood motionless for a moment before turning tail and retreating into the depths of the forest, disappearing among the shadows.
"Strange…" Liam muttered, frowning as he watched them vanish. "Why did they flee?"
His instincts told him there was something more at play, something he didn't yet understand. Perhaps they sensed his growing strength, or maybe it was something in the forest that had unsettled them.
Curious, he opened his profile again to check for anything new, hoping it might shed some light on his encounter.
[Profile II]
Aamon (Liam Hemsworth)
Health: 100 (Average 100)
Strength: 370 (Average 250)
Agility: 170 (Average 120)
Defense: 190 (Average 250)
Dexterity: 10 (Average 100)
Luck: 55% (45% + 10%) (Average 50%)
[Possessed Skills]
1. [Divine Shield]:
Passive ability [Divinity]: Automatically nullifies dark or cursed magic attacks.
Can sustain almost every attack except for pierce effects like arrows or bullets.
Creates 3 barriers at a time, with an area twice the user's TSA (total surface area). Barriers can be combined.
More than 3 barriers can be created, but at the cost of mental strength, potentially leading to a coma if overused.
Attributes can be applied to the shield for a cost of mental strength, varying by the attribute's strength.
Passive ability [Retribution]: Stores the damage the shield absorbs, and after 30 minutes, the stored damage is distributed to the attackers. This effect can be paused or deactivated.
2. [Auto Counter]:
Passive ability [Focus]: Allows the user to sense his enemies even when blinded or unable to use vision, but does not detect objects or traps.
Passive ability [Counter]: Automatically triggers a physical counterattack when the user is attacked, even if s/he loses consciousness. It will retaliate against enemies and allies unless they are among most trusted.
The counter is a form of martial arts, reflecting physical damage but not casting magical skills.
High stamina consumption, ineffective without a strong body.
3. [Empowerment]:
Enhances physical and magical abilities but decreases defense.
Increases the amount of physical and magical power gained from level-ups but decreases the defense gained.
Breaks the user's power barrier, allowing him to reach heights unobtainable for his age.
Works well with [Brew of Forbidden Arts] and [Auto Counter] due to physical attribute growth.
Reduces the effect of time on the body, slowing aging or wear.
Passive ability [Stampede]: Activates when the user loses a fight, causing him to enter a frenzy and unleash his full potential. After defeating the target, the user falls asleep, with the sleep duration increasing based on the fight's length.
4. [Brew of Forbidden Arts]:
Passive ability [Life Exchange]: The user can spend vitality (HP) to increase dodge chance. The ratio is based on HP spent, causing the user to move at superhuman speed but unable to attack or choose where to dodge.
Passive ability [Forbidden Arts]: Grants exceptional knowledge in martial arts and self-defense techniques.
Passive ability [Forbidden Knowledge]: Increases intelligence and situational awareness, allowing the user to grasp and react to situations more effectively. Increases luck.
5. [Mark]:
Passive ability [Endless Variety]: The user can place various curses, buffs, debuffs, abnormal states etc and see their location. Only the user can remove the [Marked] effect.
Extra knowledge about curses, buffs, debuffs, etc is given to user.
Passive ability [Normal Mark]: It is applied through direct touch with the target or the fluids touched by the user. It can be applied to inanimate objects. It has a time limit of 12 hours and will disappear after the limit .
Passive ability [Soul mark] : Sealed
Passive ability [Blood mark] : It is applied through consumption of the user blood. It can't be added to inanimate objects. It is a permanent mark bound by the body only.
[Inherited Skills]
• [Forbidden Library: Mind Palace] enhances understanding, memory, and probability calculation.
• [True Light] guides the way through darkness.
[Body Restricted Skills, Blessings, Curses, Abnormal States, etc., Not Found]
[Title]
[Description Not Available Due to a Seal]
• Overworlder
• Curse Lord
• Shield of Hope
[Effects of Current Titles Are Hidden]
[Blessing found]
•Fruit of Knowledge II
[Curse found]
•Dark wolf leader's curse
After examining his profile, Liam notices something strange — a faint glow highlighting a particular section: [Curse found: Dark wolf leader's curse]. He focuses on it, and more details emerge.
[Dark Wolf Leader's Curse]
A curse placed by the dark wolf leader upon a formidable opponent as a warning to its kin, marking them as a threat.
Liam chuckles, realizing why the wolves had scattered after his last encounter. But now, the curse could bring unwanted attention, a beacon to other dark beasts. He decides it needs to be removed. As he looks more he finds something interesting.
[Curse Removal Option: Activating Divine Shield will remove the curse. Note: Doing so will sever your ability to practice dark and curse magic. Proceed?]
"Dark and curse magic?" Liam mutters. He doesn't feel any particular attachment to those magic. Besides, with [Mark], he already has a powerful edge, even if it demands physical contact to activate its effects.
"Yes," he affirms.
A soft hum rises, filling the air around him as his [Divine Shield] skill activates. Golden light radiates from his body, forming intricate patterns that converge into a tattoo on his hand. As the glow fades, he examines the mark — it resembles a sun, radiating faint warmth, a symbol of Divine Shield blessing. Feeling lighter, Liam sets his sights toward Rogya Village, intent on finding information about "Overworlders" and understanding his own identity.
As he approaches the village's entrance, he feels the effects of his disguise spell fading and quickly reapplies it. He takes a moment to adjust his appearance, blending in with the villagers and masking his aura as he strides purposefully toward the local tavern.
Inside, the tavern is bustling with villagers — farmers, hunters, and a few rough-looking travelers.
The tavern keeper, a burly man with a shrewd gleam in his eye, was wiping a mug with a rag, the kind of man who had seen his share of travelers and seemed unbothered by the presence of one more.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, his tone polite but detached.
"Looking for some answers," Liam replied, leaning in slightly. "Tell me about this village and anything you know of an… overworlder."
At the mention of an overworlder, the tavern keeper paused, raising an eyebrow. "That kind of information doesn't come cheap," he said, leaning closer. "Especially with the kind of curiosity you're showing. I'll need something a bit... substantial."
Liam frowned as the man named a sum far beyond what he had on hand. He weighed his options; he had no desire to draw attention to himself by causing a scene with a simple villager. But he couldn't leave without what he needed.
With a casual smile, he reached over and patted the tavern keeper's shoulder. In that moment, he silently activated [Mark], setting the stage for what he intended to do next.
The tavern keeper flinched slightly, eyeing him suspiciously. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his tone turning guarded.
Liam ignored the question and whispered under his breath, "[Mark activate]... [Hypnotize]."
The tavern keeper's eyes lose focus, his expression softening into a vacant stare.
"Now," Liam begins, his voice calm yet firm, "tell me about this village, and everything you know about Overworlders."
The tavern keeper blinks slowly, his mind under the influence of Liam's command. "Rogya Village… It's close to Shadow Forest and the Rogya River, just a day's travel from the capital, Befardo. Most folks here keep to themselves, away from the kingdom's politics."
Liam listens, noting the village's position on the edge of civilization, nestled between Celestiya's heartland and the untamed wilderness. The village appears to be a quiet outpost, an isolated community untouched by the chaos of the wider world.
The tavern keeper's tone grows slightly darker, as if he's recalling a memory. "There's been talk of strangers… otherworldly visitors known as 'Overworlders.' Some say they bring strange powers and unearthly items."
Liam raises an eyebrow, intrigued. He's heard of Overworlders but never had concrete details about them. This information might be a key to unlocking his own mysteries.
Before he can ask further, the tavern keeper snaps out of his trance, blinking in confusion. He shakes his head, unaware of what has just happened, and busies himself behind the counter.
Liam smirks, satisfied. His [Mark] skill worked perfectly, gathering the information he needed without drawing attention. With new insights in mind, he prepares to uncover more about his connection to this mysterious world and the Overworlders' secrets.