[This villa is yours, Sir, because the previous owner left and later died on the Stellar Battlefield. He owned all 61 acres of this land. According to the rules, no official entity can claim this property until it has been vacant for 20 years. When you claimed this place, it had been vacant for exactly 19 years, 3 months, 2 days, and 14 hours. Since the previous owner has no direct family present in this world, this property is now rightfully yours.
Any more questions, Sir?]
"So, when new people spawn here, do they just appear randomly?"
[No, Sir. There are set spawn points in the main city of Nexus, as well as in all other cities and even villages. However, in rare circumstances, individuals can spawn at inactive points. This depends on various factors, including proximity and anomalies during the transfer process. From your old world to this one, your circumstances relegated you directly to this area.
Yours is truly a special case, Sir. You happened to be near this location when you arrived, so you were pulled to the outskirts of Valeria.]
"I see. What was the name of the previous owner of this villa? Also, tell me more about the Stellar Battlefield."
[The previous owner was named Pine Steinford. Unfortunately, Sir, you cannot access detailed information about him or the Stellar Battlefield without a Star 2 authorization level.]
"And what exactly are the differences in the Star Levels you've mentioned?"
[Each Star Level correlates with an individual's stage of growth and how the Primordials of the Old Age gauged one's value. The system is as follows:
Star 0 – The Infant: Helpless and dependent, with no discernible value or capability. Like a baby, they exist with potential but no contribution.
Star 1 – The Toddler: Beginning to explore their surroundings and show the first signs of capability, though still heavily reliant on others.
Star 2 – The Child: Developing basic skills and understanding, capable of performing simple tasks and beginning to contribute.
Star 3 – The Teenager: Full of potential but inconsistent. They possess growing power and knowledge but require guidance.
Star 4 – The Young Adult: Independent and functional, they take responsibility for themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
Star 5 – The Adult: Stable, reliable, and highly capable. They take on significant roles and responsibilities with confidence.
Star 6 – The Mentor: Experienced and wise, they guide others and contribute to larger systems with efficiency and insight.
Star 7 – The Master: Leaders or masters of their craft, wielding immense influence and shaping the lives of many.
Star 8 – The Legend: Transcendent beings of mythical status whose contributions define eras and leave lasting legacies.]
"I see. Alright, you mentioned before that if I officially register with the Arcane System, I'll get a rank based on my strength and abilities. But my abilities will only be visible to me—why is that? I mean, it's a good thing that my abilities are private, but it's kind of unsettling. This Arcane System is like a network, and every network can track the history of its users."
[That is because the Primordials decided that allowing anyone to easily discover others' abilities could lead to catastrophic consequences if such information fell into the wrong hands. To prevent this, they altered the Arcane System's properties. While it supports visual meetings and other network functionalities, a personal 'mini-Arcane' is grafted directly onto the user. This graft can be removed at any time if desired.
Its primary purpose is to communicate with the Will of the Universe and display your abilities. This universe is unique—it has a Will of its own and reveals to its inhabitants the abilities they possess. However, I cannot disclose more about the Universe's Will unless you reach Star Level 5 or join a Faction. The Arcane System is exclusive to this universe, Sir.]
"Thanks. Now, tell me more about the factions and the power systems in this world. Also, send all the basic knowledge I'll need for day-to-day living to my phone. Alright, so it's safe to assume the server is secure, so I might use it, but... well, this is getting fun. I can't wait to taste more... interesting things."
[Sir, there is a simpler way to acquire this knowledge. If you accept the Arcane System grafting, all the information you need and desire will be transferred directly to your brain. There will be a sharp pain, but it lasts only a second. Over time, you'll grow numb to it.
So, what do you decide, Sir?]
"I accept. How do I connect to it? Is there something I need to do?"
As he spoke, a glowing blue window materialized before him, displaying the words:
{Do you accept the grafting of the system onto your being and soul?}
So, this is it… I accept the grafting. Begin.
{As requested by the user, I will now begin the grafting process.}
The screen vanished, and a voice echoed in his mind:
[Welcome aboard. Would you prefer me to remain as a voice, or should I display as a visual window for assistance, Sir?]
Jolted by the sudden voice in his head, he wore a look of surprise before replying, "Keep it visual."
[As you wish, Sir. I will now transfer the required knowledge. Please bear with the sharp pang—it won't last long.]
"Eh… wait, wait, wait, wha—ARGH!"
The sudden, piercing pain drove him to his knees, clutching his head with both hands. After a moment, the pain subsided. Slowly rising to his feet, his legs shaky, he shouted, "NEVER AGAIN! GIVE ME A DAMN WARNING NEXT TIME! ARGH!"
Groaning, he collapsed onto the sofa, rubbing his temples. First of all, I need to assess and organize the information I've just received.
[Yes, Sir.]
He took a piece of paper from the kitchen counter and started writing down what he deemed worth remembering.From what I just classified about the factions, the most important details are as follows:
Luminian Dominion
Leader: Queen Seraphina the Radiant
Shadow Realm
Leader: Lord Erebus the Veiled
Draconian Empire
Leader: Emperor Drakor the Flameborn
Aetherian Coalition
Leader: High Chieftain Zephyrus the Swift
Sylvan Court
Leader: Queen Elowen the Verdant
Aquan Dominion
Leader: King Poseidon the Tidecaller
Terra Consortium
Leader: Archduke Gaia the Unyielding
Celestial Federation
Leader: Empress Astra the Eternal
Phantom Alliance
Leader: Elder Wraith the Ghostwise
Flame Dominion
Leader: Emperor Ignis the Inferno
Human Faction: Dominus Vitae
Leader: Faerign Augustus Magnus
Well, this was kind of long. Now, what should I do? Even though all of this seems interesting, I don't want to be owned by a faction, he thought. From what you told me, besides joining factions, I can create my own or be a freelancer. A mercenary, huh?
[Yes, sir, as you just said. You can indeed do so. What choice would you like to make for your future?
1-Being a mercenary—if so, you will need to register yourself and virtually join the group of mercenaries to gain your rank and title.
2-Join a Faction.
3-Create a Faction.
4-Or stay as a Star 0—basically a normal citizen here.
[Make your choice wisely, sir.]
A choice, he thought. Well, I have already decided. Like Rose Kennedy once said, "Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?"