Today marked Raiden's third birthday, and the Goldheart estate was alive with celebration. The grand hall was filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses as family members and friends gathered to honor the young heir.
The Goldheart family, never one to do things halfway, had spared no expense to make this day unforgettable. Festive banners lined the walls, and tables were heaped with food and delicacies from across the kingdom.
But amidst the joyous atmosphere, one thing was noticeably missing: the birthday boy himself.
"Where could Raiden have run off to?" Lady Elise asked, a hint of concern in her voice as she looked around the hall. She wore a radiant smile that only barely masked her growing worry.
Her husband, Lord Cedric, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You know him—he's curious about everything. I'm sure he's simply exploring one of the rooms. Kent will find him soon enough." He gestured toward Raiden's older brother, who was already making his way out of the hall to track down the little troublemaker.
•••••
Meanwhile, in a quiet room at the far end of the estate, Raiden sat on the edge of a plush bed, his eyes glued to a translucent screen hovering before him.
Today wasn't just his birthday—it was also the day the Fusion System had activated, marking his second major power in this life. And what a gift it was.
"So," he muttered to himself, staring at the glowing blue text that filled the screen, "this is what she meant.'"
Unlike the Skill Draw System, which allowed him to purchase skills with skill points and track his basic stats, the Fusion System was something altogether different. The screen displayed a description of its capabilities, each more enticing than the last.
[Fusion System: Activated]
[Function: The Fusion System allows the user to merge items, spells, and skills to create new, more powerful versions. Fusion is fueled by skill points, which can be transferred between systems. Compatibility and rank influence the success rate and cost of each fusion.]
Raiden's gaze drifted over the descriptions, his lips curving into a grin. "So, I can combine skills… just think of the possibilities."
He pulled up his Skill Draw System interface to compare. The two systems looked similar, though the Fusion System's interface was edged in silver rather than blue. Raiden's sixty acquired skills from the Skill Draw System were displayed, ranked from E-Rank to D-Rank. He had no high-tier skills yet—no C-Rank, B-Rank, or anything above—but he could feel the potential simmering just under the surface. And, more importantly, he saw a way to change that.
"Let's see…" He scanned his list of skills and noticed a new button labeled [Transfer Skill Points]. Raiden tapped it, and a prompt appeared:
[Enter amount of skill points to transfer to the Fusion System:]
Raiden glanced at his skill points on the Skill Draw System—sixty in total. "All right. Thirty points to start," he decided. He entered the number and confirmed.
[Transferring 30 Skill Points…]
Two notifications flashed in quick succession: one from the Skill Draw System confirming the transfer, and the other from the Fusion System, which now displayed thirty points in its own interface.
"Perfect," Raiden murmured. His gaze returned to the list of skills, and he began considering which ones to fuse.
The Fusion System indicated that he could only merge skills of the same rank, and compatibility would play a role in the fusion's success. Raiden's eyes gleamed as he selected two of his E-Rank skills, each relatively unused: [Light Touch] and [Silent Step].
Once he selected the skills, a new panel appeared with additional information.
[Selected Skills: Light Touch, Silent Step]
[Compatibility Rate: 70%]
[Fusion Cost: 3 Skill Points]
Raiden smirked. "Three points, huh? Let's see what you've got."
He confirmed the fusion, and the panel displayed a progress bar.
[Fusing skills…]
Raiden held his breath as the screen hummed. A few seconds later, a new notification popped up.
[Fusion Successful! New Skill Acquired: Shadow Glide]
[Description: Allows the user to move with near-invisibility and reduced sound, blending into shadows for a short period. Ideal for stealth and evasion.]
Raiden's eyes widened in delight. "Shadow Glide…" he murmured, testing the name on his tongue. He liked the sound of it. And the skill itself—near-invisibility combined with silence—was leagues above his two original skills. Excited to try again, he selected two more E-Rank skills.
Raiden fused six more E-Rank skills, burning through fifteen skill points but yielding three new D-Rank skills in the process.
Each fusion brought him closer to more potent abilities, and the thrill of seeing his skills evolve was exhilarating. But just as he was about to attempt another fusion, a loud crash shattered the silence.
Booom!
The door to the room burst open, sending splinters flying across the floor.
Raiden looked up, startled, as his older brother Kent strode into the room, his expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
"Well, there you are," Kent said, folding his arms. "Father is furious. You know you're supposed to be down there, right?"
Raiden forced an innocent look onto his face, which Kent only found half-convincing. "I was… busy," Raiden replied, quickly closing his system interface. "Important things, you know?"
"Important things?" Kent's eyebrow arched, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, I see. Important enough to miss your own birthday celebration, then?"
Raiden gave a playful shrug. "Maybe. Besides, I thought you were here to 'protect' me?"
Kent chuckled, ruffling Raiden's hair as he walked over to the bed. Despite being only ten, Kent was a force to be reckoned with. He was every bit the prodigy Raiden was, if not more. While most children awakened their mana hearts at age ten, Kent had awakened his at seven. His power, even now, was terrifying.
"Father's going to make you pay for this, you know," Kent teased. "He looked ready to have a statue commissioned of you, and here you are, hiding out in a room."
Raiden rolled his eyes, letting out a small laugh. "Well, if he wants me in a statue that badly, he can always wait."
Kent shook his head, laughing, but his tone softened. "Come on, birthday boy. I'm supposed to be the rebellious one, remember? Now let's head out before they send a search party."
Raiden hopped off the bed and glanced at his brother. "Fine. Lead the way."
As they made their way down the hall, Raiden felt a growing respect for his older brother. Kent was strong, talented, and had a natural ease about him, despite the pressure that came with being the firstborn.
Raiden had tried challenging him once or twice in the past, using skills he kept hidden from his family. Each time, Kent had humbled him effortlessly.
They reached the grand hall, and the noise of the celebration greeted them, with servants bustling around and family members raising glasses to toast.
Raiden's mother spotted him and let out a relieved sigh, her face lighting up as she waved him over.
"There's the man of the hour!" she called, smiling brightly.
Raiden couldn't help but smile back as he glanced up at Kent, who gave him an encouraging nod. "Ready for your big moment?" Kent asked, nudging him forward.
Raiden shrugged. "Let's get it over with."
He knew that he still had a long way to go before he could truly hold his own against his prodigious brother. But with the Fusion System and the Skill Draw System by his side, he was determined to make his mark in his own way.