Ding!
<
It was a lengthy process for me to fully comprehend the current situation.
As soon as I opened my eyes, a video game-like menu notification abruptly appeared in front of me, revealing something that I am still struggling to fully grasp.
The excruciating pain and weakness that had nearly taken my life have now vanished.
I find myself standing in a vast, empty hall with a marble floor, miraculously restored to full health.
"Just as I anticipated, the Awakening process went smoothly," a young man's satisfied voice draws my attention.
The boy's body emits a black flame aura, slowly transforming into the Supreme Sorcerer with its skeletal head: Zeta Maurer.
"Congratulations, Alstair. You are now a Magician, a novice one to be precise. While your life may have been spared, the trials and tribulations are far from over. Do not mistake the life of a Magician for one of ease and leisure," Zeta congratulates me with a heavy tone.
"Could you explain this?" I ask, pointing to the game-like menu bar in front of me.
Without warning, Zeta flies towards me and grabs my right hand, revealing a silver bracelet that I had not noticed before.
There is a small sculpture engraved on the bracelet in a weird language that I can surprisingly understand: Sorcerer's Bracelet.
"This is a System, Alstair. The Sorcerer's Bracelet on your hand is a crucial Magician Equipment that will keep you tethered to the System. If you wish to stay alive, you must abide by the System. Consider it a gift for saving me," Zeta explains, his tone turning dark. "Or it could prove to be a curse for you, if you are weak enough to succumb to its demands," he adds with a sinister laugh.
Zeta's explanation provides me with a better understanding of my current predicament.
While magic is not new to the Knights, the Magician System that Zeta speaks of is a new concept that has yet to be fully explored among our kind.
"So, let me get this straight. With this System, I can return to my world and still be alive, correct? My main concern is ensuring that I can provide for my family financially," I hastily inquired, disregarding whether the System was a blessing or a curse, as Zeta clarified.
"At the moment, you are still alive. However, thousands of Magicians have chosen to end their lives as the Supreme Sorcerer System dictates their every move. They were too feeble to meet the System's demands. If you are not strong enough to bear its weight, you could end up on that list," Zeta responded nonchalantly, "...if you wish to rid yourself of the System now, your family will only have a corpse left to mourn, Alstair. There is no turning back from that decision, except through death," he continued in a callous tone.
Ah, the classic do-or-die situation.
I have faced it countless times before.
Ever since I sacrificed my dream of receiving a proper education and settled for a life as a lowly Knight just to put food on the table for my family, this has become a routine occurrence in my life.
But death was never an option for me, as long as I had to fight for the sake of my loved ones.
It was disheartening and distressing to see my mother and sister succumb to depression when the Knights Association declared my father as Missing in Action.
I refuse to let my own status as Killed in Action be another reason for my family's downfall.
"Alstair, you appear surprisingly calm," Zeta's sudden comment grabs my attention. "I can sense your unwavering determination just by looking at you. I never would have expected such a strong spirit from the lowliest Knight in the human world," he adds, smirking.
I can't tell if he's teasing me or genuinely admiring my composure.
"Living with the constant threat of death for the past ten years has forced me to develop the skills of survival and maintaining control, Zeta. It's the only way I can stay sane as a Knight with my constant weaknesses," I reply.
"Well, now is your chance to prove it," Zeta retorts, snapping his fingers. In an instant, a bolt of lightning strikes down from the sky, summoning a towering and muscular man engulfed in blue sparks.
The air crackles with thunder around the mysterious figure.
His white eyes, lit up by the sparks of lightning, lock onto me, sending a chill down my spine.
I can sense the murderous intent emanating from him.
Amidst my confusion, a notification from the System pops up.
I can see the annoying grin on Zeta's face and know that this is a death mission.
How am I supposed to defeat this strange Thunder Warrior with my own limited power?
I don't even have a weapon like most Knights do.
Before I can even take a step back, the Thunder Warrior charges forward and strikes my stomach with his knee, sending me flying until I slam into a nearby wall.
The pain is excruciating, but at the same time, I feel numb from the electric shock that courses through my body, crushing my muscles and nerves.
I feel completely powerless and unable to stand.
>Health Power:70%
>Mana Power :100%
I glance at the System and see my current condition.
It's not yet critical, and I can feel my strength slowly returning.
But it won't last long if I continue to take hits from the Thunder Warrior.
As the Thunder Warrior takes a step closer to me, preparing for his next attack, my heart races with panic.
I quickly scan the System's notifications, and my eyes land on a section labeled 'Magician Attribute.'
>Magician Attribute:
>Fulgurite Gemstone x5
*Activate the Soul of Lightning, requires Sorcerer's Bracelet to enhance, can be used for casting Lightning Spell for once
Without hesitation, I select the Fulgurite Gemstone from the System, even though I have no idea what the Soul of Lightning is.
The gemstone appears in my hand, and I quickly slot it into five holes in the Sorcerer's Bracelet.
Suddenly, a surge of blue lightning surrounds me, illuminating my body.
> You Activated The Soul of Lightning!
> You Earned New Magician Skill!
>Passive Skill:
Magic Barrier
Mana Regeneration
As I tap into the mystical energy, my body is invigorated and my power begins to return.
A flash of lightning catches my attention and I swiftly dodge the Thunder Warrior's incoming strikes.
Despite the quick and forceful assault, I hold my ground with the help of my Magic Barrier.
Gathering my strength, I lunge forward and land a heavy blow to the Thunder Warrior's face.
Success!
He staggers, giving me the perfect chance to deliver a final blow with a powerful kick to his head.
But suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning appears, throwing off my vision. With the thunderous roar of a dragon, the Thunder Warrior counterattacks, sending me spinning and crashing into snow-covered houses.
Confused and disoriented, I struggle to understand what's happening.
My attack is thwarted by a powerful Lightning Spell, leaving my body numb and vulnerable.
As the snow falls slowly around me, I see the Thunder Warrior calmly approaching with his sharp eyes fixed on me.
The crackling lightning surrounding him speaks volumes of his mastery over the element.
> Health Power: 30%
> Mana Power: 80%
System notification warns me of my current dire condition.
If I continue to act recklessly in this state and get hit by the same Lightning Spell, death is inevitable.
The electrifying force of the spell courses through my body, almost paralyzing me.
Fortunately, my right hand has recovered, allowing me to quickly check my inventory in the System.
I frantically search for a "Recovery Potion" to boost my healing.
>Recovery Potion:
>Health Potion x5
*Restores 50% of Health Power with each use
I grab one Health Potions and consume them rapidly, surprised by how fast they work.
My Health Points shoot back up to 80%, dispelling the numbness and sharpening my focus.
Just in time, as I see a bolt of lightning strike towards me from the north.
I swiftly dodge to the left, narrowly avoiding the Thunder Warrior's deadly attack.
He stands in the distance, surrounded by crackling thunder, his left hand aimed at me like a gun.
I know that most Knights rely on a Magical Rod to cast spells, but this one seems to wield magic solely with his hand.
I must learn his technique if I want to survive this battle.
I try to mimic his stance and focus my palm, hoping to conjure a Lightning Spell.
But it didn't work!
"Shoot! Lightning Bolt!"
"Lightning!"
"Thunder!"
"Die!"
What in the world?!
I keep shouting, trying to unleash the Lightning Spell, but it refuses to come out!
In my nervous state, the Thunder Warrior charges at me, his fist charged with electrifying power.
I instinctively raise my hand to block his barrage of punches and kicks, each one threatening to break my bones.
I cursed under my breath as his jab landed on my stomach, causing me to vomit before being kicked to the ground, my face scraping against the cold snow.
My body felt numb from the short-range Lightning Power attack, and I fought to stay conscious.
Despite my shaking legs and bloody mouth, I refused to pass out!
Health Power> 40%
Mana Power> 60%
A notification from the System reveals the dire situation I am in.
All the Red Potions I consumed were for naught.
As I try to catch my breath, the Thunder Warrior's sparks of lightning become more visible.
His left palm, posed like a gun, aimed straight at me, a clear sign of his intent to end my life with a deadly Lightning Spell.
One strike from this powerful spell could easily kill me in my weakened state.
I'm not accept such a fate!
I still have the strength to fight, I don't want to be seen as a lifeless body by my family!
The looming threat of death only fuels my determination.
As the Thunder Warrior prepares to cast his spell, I also concentrate and aim my right palm at him.
With my hand posed like a gun, mirroring the Thunder Warrior, I gather all my remaining strength and willpower.
In that crucial moment, I feel a surge of lightning flowing through my hand, creating a spark unlike any I've seen before.
The Thunder Warrior's expression turns to one of concern, surprised by my quick reaction.
The opportunity for me to survive had revealed!
I will win this battle!
I release my own Lightning Spell, similar to pulling the trigger of a gun.
The clash of our spells creates a deafening explosion, destroying everything in its path. As the bright light and loud sound dissipate, it becomes a battle of endurance to determine the victor.
I collapse to my knees, exhausted and trembling.
Once again, I cough up blood, the strain of casting such a powerful spell taking its toll on my body.
My vision blurs, a sign that death is approaching.
But I refuse to give up, slapping myself to stay conscious despite my failing body.
In the silence that follows the clash of our spells, I see the Thunder Warrior still standing, covered in steam and smoke.
But as the smoke clears, I am frozen in shock at the sight before me.
The Thunder Warrior has fallen, a gaping hole in his chest and half of his neck missing.
Seconds passed, his body hitting the ground along with the fading sparks of thunder.
> You Unlocked Lightning Bolt!
> You Earned New Magician Skill!
>Active Skill:
Lightning Bolt
>Passive Skill:
Magic Barrier
Mana Regeneration
Health Regeneration
Well, the System notification had give me an explanation that I had mastered Lightning Bolt Spell.
Luckily enough, I managed to master it before the Thunder Warrior destroy my body with his Lightning Bolt.
> You get 5.000 Monster Diamond!
> You get Fragment of Thunder Warrior Soul* (x1)
*increasing Magician Power
Suddenly, a notification captures my attention.
I've received 5,000 Monster Diamonds, a rare and valuable currency that can be converted into real money.
It's like having a diamond among knights.
My mother and sister would be overjoyed if I could use this to support them for two month!
I can feel the excitement bubbling within me as I stand up, my breathing now steady.
My latest skill has been a game-changer.
It not only helps me regenerate my health, but also relieves the numbness that has been plaguing me.
It's a relief to finally have some control over my own body.
Now I shift my attention toward Fragment of Thunder Warrior Soul, which I immediately used it since it can improve my Magician Power as written in the System.
> Mana Power increased 5%!
> Mana Damage increased 5%!
> Magic Barrier defense increased 5%!
As I take a deep breath, I feel a surge of power coursing through my body. It's a subtle change, but I can sense my magical abilities improving.
But before I can celebrate my small achievement, a familiar figure appears in the midst of a black flame - Zeta.
His arrogant smirk and eerie blue eyes give away his evil intentions.
"Better than I expected," he says, his gaze sharp and piercing. "Your determination to return to your family is not just empty words."
I remind myself of my recent success - completing a difficult quest and proving myself to the System.
"Now bring me back home, Zeta," I demand.
But he points a bony finger at me, his tone warning me not to get too cocky.
"The System is not as simple and easy as you think, boy."
Before I can process his words, my senses pick up on a strong presence approaching from my right. Instinctively,
I raise my arms to protect myself as a massive stone fist slams into my body with incredible force.
I'm thrown like a rag doll, crashing into a nearby building.
The pain is excruciating, and I can't help but vomit as my body struggles to withstand the blow, even with the protection of my Mana Barrier.
As I received the latest notification from the System, it dawned on me that I was about to face a new trial, one with even more formidable monsters.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I sprang to my feet, readying myself for the looming battle with the Stone Golem.
Its heavy footsteps caused the ground beneath me to tremble, but I refused to be intimidated.
Curse you, Zeta!
I will defeat his damned Golems and back to my family!