Then came a sudden screen in front of Ilias.
{Objective: - Two cores to be awakened at least once (2/2)}
{Reward: - Karmic records integration}
{Karmic records integrated}
{Aspect: unlocked}
{Please stay status host, to unlock the system}.
Ilias blinked, staring at the glowing words as they flashed in front of him. He felt confusion stir within him. A system. Everyone had one except him. He knew that much. It was called the Akashic Records. But this—this was something different. Karmic Records. He had never heard of it. The phrase itself felt heavy in his chest, like an unfamiliar language that tugged at the back of his mind.
Yet, the feeling that followed was not fear—it was excitement. He didn't know the first thing about his powers. This was his chance, right? The screen had come alive, offering him a chance to uncover what had been locked away, to know what he was truly capable of.
He could feel the weight of the moment, his heart beating faster. He whispered, "Status," his childish voice soft, unsure of what would follow.
{Current name: - Ilias (????th reincarnation) (Alypos)}
{Age: - 12}
{Rank: G-/F+}
{Affinities: - Water (100%), Life (100%), Death (70%), Ice (100%), Lightning (85%), Pain (100%), Soul (80%)}
{Aspect: - Evolution, ???, ???}
{Race: - Human (Max: E-)}
{Strength: - 1.5/10 (G-)}
{Agility: - 1.8/10 (G-)}
{Constitution: - 1/10 (G-)}
{Dexterity: - 1.3/10 (G-)}
{Charm: - 2.5/10 (G)}
{Mana: - 2/10 (G)}
{Luck: - 0.1/10 (G-)}
Ilias stared at the screen, his mind grappling with the unfamiliar terms. His heart pounded as he scanned through his stats. He had no idea what it meant to be "G-" or "F+," but seeing those affinities—Water, Life, Ice—was a reminder of something darker, something he had long buried in his memories. This wasn't just about powers. This was more than that. He felt a sudden, biting surge of frustration.
And then, his eyes froze on the aspect: Evolution.
His mind flashed back. High humans. That's what James had wanted—to evolve humans using life essence. Ilias remembered that twisted obsession, how it had driven the scientist to experiment on him, to break him down and rebuild him like some sick puzzle.
But… had it been for nothing? Had James's experiment, and his life, all been in vain?
Ilias's fingers hovered over the screen, trembling slightly, before he tapped on Evolution.
{Evolution: - Human -> High Human (E+)/(D+) [0/100 E-rank cores]}
The words blurred in his mind. High Human. He remembered James's words from the past, a chilling realization settling in his chest. This child, this new life that he had inherited, was part of the dream James had died for—a dream that he now had to confront.
But he couldn't focus on that. Not now.
Ilias forced his thoughts back to the present. He had to assess his surroundings. The child who had once lived here was dead. He could feel it—the silence was too heavy, too absolute. His surroundings were empty, abandoned, and desolate. The only thing that remained was the tick of an old hourglass, marking twelve hours. Its side sat half-full, the sand almost dead still. It had been a week. No, longer. He could feel it in his bones, the coldness in the air.
He stood, rubbing his eyes, and then turned toward the kitchen. He shuffled through the small cabinets, finding bags of rice stored in the dark. They were untouched, sealed away, waiting. His stomach growled, but there was no time to savor it. More pressing matters lingered in his mind. This child had been left behind by an expedition party, and now Ilias was the only one left.
"Food," he mumbled to himself, stepping forward. "At least I have that."
His fingers brushed against a metal spear left carelessly on the floor. He picked it up, the weight of it familiar, yet strange. It felt like his weapon, but also not his. His fingers tightened around its shaft.
And then the screen lit up again:
{Weapon type: - Spear}
{Rank: E}
{Tier: 1}
{Enchantment: Unbreakable}
Unbreakable. His eyes widened. He had seen the enchantment before. A whispered memory stirred at the edges of his mind. He hadn't even known it was enchanted. He twisted the spear in his grip, taking a deep breath as he prepared to move. His memories flooded in, a torrent of knowledge he wasn't sure he wanted. But the spear was his only defense now.
A few swings later, something remarkable happened. The screen chimed again:
{Basic Spearmanship achieved}
{Basic Spearmanship leveled up to Level 3}
Ilias blinked. He hadn't even noticed how easy it had been. The memories of the child had surged through him, guiding his body, giving him an understanding of this strange new weapon. It felt right, as if he had been destined to wield it. But that wasn't the most surprising part. No, the most surprising part was the strange sense of familiarity, a quiet acceptance that the past and present were already intertwined in ways he couldn't fully grasp.
He moved to the kitchen, eyes scanning the bags of rice. The pots were simple, and he fumbled through cooking the meal, his hands clumsy at first. But again, the child's memories lent him an understanding of the process. A few minutes later, the smell of cooked rice filled the cottage.
Ilias sat down, staring at the steaming bowl in front of him. His stomach growled again, but this time with less urgency. He took a small bite, and the tears that followed surprised him. For the first time since he had been reborn into this strange life, his lips curved into a smile.
"It tastes good," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.
It had been so long since he'd felt a sliver of comfort, since he had allowed himself to feel something real. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, letting the warmth of the food soothe the ache in his soul. Even as his thoughts drifted back to the horrors that had come before, he could finally allow himself this small moment of peace.
But as the warmth spread within him, another thought crept into his mind: What now?
There was still so much he didn't know about the powers that slumbered within him, and more terrifyingly, about the mysterious cores that connected him to his past life.
But that would come later.
For now, he took another bite, for the first time, he felt something like hope flicker in the depths of his chest.