Lina was stunned. The boy they had found in the forest was supposed to be easy prey, a valuable piece of merchandise that would line their pockets. Instead, one of her companions lay on the ground, his head severed from his body in a pool of warm blood. Another clutched his neck, trying to stem the bleeding that seeped through trembling fingers, and the last escort whimpered with a kunai lodged in her shoulder. But the worst part wasn't that.
Her sword… her sword had been destroyed.
Fear coiled around her chest like a cold serpent. It had all happened in seconds. There had been no warning, no margin for error. One moment they were in control, and the next, they were on the brink of disaster.
Then she heard a pained groan. Her injured companion, the one struck by the kunai, began to breathe laboriously. Lina rushed to her side, but what she saw made her frown deeply. Her companion's skin was pale, her veins visible beneath the surface as though something was draining her vitality.
"Poison?" Lina murmured, a shiver running down her spine.
It made no sense. The wound wasn't fatal. It was a clean cut with minimal blood loss. And yet her companion was in alarming condition. Without hesitation, Lina pulled the kunai from her shoulder. The moment the blade left her body, her companion's expression shifted. Her breathing stabilized, and color began to return to her face.
Lina exhaled in relief… until she felt something.
Her own body weakened.
It was an instant, a fleeting moment, but she felt it clearly. Her strength, her aura, was being drained, her energy sucked away as if the kunai itself were alive. With a startled cry, she dropped the weapon, which landed on the ground with a dull thud. Her heart pounded as she stared at the weapon.
It looked like a simple wooden dagger.
But it wasn't.
The blade was a dull, grayish hue with an odd texture, as though the wood was both dead and pulsing with an invisible presence. She had never seen a material like it before. But what terrified her most was what she had just experienced.
It was a living curse.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her thoughts were a storm. Who in the world was the boy they had just encountered?
Meanwhile, 1765 moved through the forest with feline agility. His heart pounded, sweat dripped from his brow, and adrenaline kept him sharp. It was the first time he had killed a human. He had hunted small animals for food before, but he had never felt the weight of taking another person's life.
The feeling wasn't pleasant—a mix of relief and emptiness. But then he remembered something.
The sensation of being able to defend himself.
For his entire short life, he had lived under the yoke of others. He had endured punishments for nothing, suffered abuse without the power to fight back. But this time, he had fought. He had defended himself. And he had won.
In the midst of his euphoria, the cold, meticulous voice of S.I.L.A.S. interrupted his thoughts.
"Analysis: The situation was handled efficiently, but it could have been avoided. A direct confrontation with multiple high-lethality enemies was unnecessary. Infiltration or evasion would have been more optimal strategies to ensure survival."
1765 frowned. "I couldn't just sit still and let them capture me."
"Correct. The elimination of threats in self-defense is acceptable. However, violence must be employed with a clear purpose. Killing without reason introduces unnecessary risks and diminishes long-term mental stability."
1765 continued running in silence, processing S.I.L.A.S.'s words.
"It is acceptable to kill for survival, protection, to defend ideals, or to achieve strategic objectives," the mechanical voice continued. "But killing for pleasure or impulsively can lead to uncontrollable consequences. I recommend maintaining a rational and controlled approach in future encounters."
The young boy didn't respond immediately. Adrenaline still burned in his system, but he knew S.I.L.A.S. was right. Killing without purpose was a waste of energy. And energy was the only thing that could guarantee his survival in this merciless world.
He took a deep breath and adjusted his pace. He wasn't safe yet. He had to keep moving forward.
His first encounter with other humans had been bitter, and it only proved one thing: 1765 knew nothing about this world. S.I.L.A.S. often said that knowledge was power, and for the first time, he truly understood it. If he hadn't known how to move, if he hadn't understood the way his enemies attacked, if he hadn't prepared tools for his defense, his fate would have been different.
He didn't have a clear goal yet. His life didn't have a defined purpose. But now, at least, he had a path to follow.
He had to figure out where he was. He had to understand what this world outside the mine, where he had spent his entire life, was. And most importantly… he had to learn how to survive in it.
Thus began a new chapter for 1765. The first thing he decided was to return to the Silent Forest. After all, it was the only place he knew and the safest for him in a world full of uncertainty.
From that moment on, he took S.I.L.A.S.'s lessons more seriously. The AI's teachings had been the difference between life and death, and now he understood that every fragment of knowledge could be his greatest weapon. Instead of merely training his body, he began to spend more time analyzing his surroundings and understanding the world he lived in.
Over weeks and months, he explored every corner of the Silent Forest. He mapped it in his mind with the precision of a cartographer, identifying every exit, every possible escape route, and every safe area where he could hide. During his explorations, he discovered various paths leading to more populated lands. He was patient and vigilant, observing from the shadows, learning the routes of travelers, the customs of nearby towns, and the behavior of the people.
Until one day, he finally managed to enter a human city.
From the very first moment, the scene that unfolded before him was fascinating. Stone and wooden buildings, dirt streets bustling with merchants, the vibrant life of the citizens… Everything was exactly as S.I.L.A.S. had described in his records. In fact, the city's design was almost identical to the medieval cities in S.I.L.A.S.'s archives, with a few minor differences in organization and structure.
To survive in that place, 1765 resorted to the only viable option for someone like him: becoming a thief. With his heightened senses, speed, and training, moving through the shadows and taking what he needed without being detected wasn't a difficult task. Over time, he learned the places where information flowed most easily: taverns, markets, bustling streets. He listened to conversations, observed documents when he had the chance, and pieced together fragments of information that helped him better understand the world he was in.
He discovered that this world was much vaster than he had imagined. It wasn't just inhabited by humans but also by many other races—some mentioned in city records as beings of legend, while others were a common part of society. Creatures that S.I.L.A.S. didn't have in his archives, which meant that, in some way, this world was beyond the logic of his database.
But the most important thing he discovered was the existence of magic.
Magic was real. And not only that, but it was deeply ingrained in daily life. Guardians, merchants, and warriors used magic in various forms, from combat to the simplest tasks. There were established systems, rules that defined its use, and specific ways people could access it.
According to the texts and conversations he managed to decipher, magic in this world was based on a complex system with different categories:
Elemental Magic: Manipulates natural elements like fire, water, wind, and earth. It is subdivided into more specific branches, such as fire magic (pyromancy), water magic (aquatic), and lightning magic. Sacred Magic: Believed to come from the gods. Its use is regulated by religious orders and is associated with purification, healing, and blessings. Demonic Magic: Its origin is attributed to dark entities. It is used for curses, body alterations, and mind control, though it is banned in many regions. Runic Magic: Works by inscribing runes on objects or surfaces, creating permanent or activatable effects. Aura Magic: Focuses on enhancing the user's body, used by warriors to increase strength, speed, and resistance. It can be combined with elemental magic. Arcane Magic: The hardest to master, requiring extensive knowledge of mana. It is associated with weather manipulation, teleportation, and mass destruction. Spiritual Magic: Involves connecting with spirits and supernatural entities. Its effectiveness depends on the bond between the summoner and the spirit.
It was a complex system with multiple branches and applications. But what surprised 1765 the most—negatively—was learning the meaning of "Indómito" (Untamed).
To perform magic, the body needed to absorb mana, the energy present in the world that served as fuel for magical spells. The "Indómitos" were those who, for unknown reasons, were incompatible with mana and therefore unable to perform magic.
This condemned them to rejection.
Few races had "Indómitos," but humans were the ones with the highest number of cases. For humans who could use magic, the existence of "Indómitos" was a source of shame. Their exclusion from society became the norm, and over time, they ceased to be considered equals. In the Human Empire, the nation with the largest concentration of humans on the continent, "Indómitos" were automatically enslaved. There were no exceptions.
There were detection mechanisms in every city, magical devices capable of identifying whether a person could absorb mana. Fortunately for 1765, S.I.L.A.S. devised a plan. These mechanisms did not detect the absence of magic itself but rather unique electromagnetic frequency patterns specific to "Indómitos," something S.I.L.A.S. could easily manipulate.
But that didn't mean 1765 could use magic.
He was born an "Indómito," and as far as he knew, there was no way to change that reality. No matter how much knowledge he acquired or how much he trained his body, magic would remain an inaccessible domain for him.
However, that didn't mean he couldn't find a way to fight against it.
Indeed, while his body couldn't use magic, 1765 had found an unexpected advantage in his environment. During his escape, he sought refuge in a place known as the Silent Forest, a forgotten and feared area by humans and other races. This forest contained unique trees called Silent Willows, colossal trees with extremely resistant wood but with a terrifying property: they could absorb mana from their surroundings. Any living being that depended on mana to survive would suffer a slow and agonizing death if they dared to venture into the forest.
Information about this forest and its trees was scarce. Few dared to explore it, and even fewer returned to tell the tale. However, 1765, living there, had the opportunity to experiment and discover some of its most intriguing properties. The first and most significant revelation was that the wood of the Silent Willows retained the same characteristics as the tree, maintaining its ability to absorb mana even after being cut. This meant that any object made from this wood created a partial barrier against magic, weakening spells and partially nullifying magical effects.
Although the wood was not as effective as the living tree, it remained an invaluable tool. It was resistant, malleable, and, most importantly, could be used to craft weapons and tools with a very clear purpose: counteracting magic users.
But the wood wasn't the only special feature of the forest.
The fruits of the Silent Willows were considered a deadly poison for anyone capable of manipulating mana. Eating even one of these fruits could cause a lethal reaction in individuals with magical affinity. However, for someone like 1765, unable to absorb mana, the effect was entirely different. With S.I.L.A.S.'s help, he analyzed and modified his metabolism to harness the nutrients of these fruits, turning them into a source of pure energy.
The effects were astonishing.
His body began to strengthen at an accelerated pace. His muscles developed greater density, his resistance to pain and fatigue increased, and his speed and agility improved dramatically. S.I.L.A.S. mentioned that his evolution was comparable to that of genetically modified soldiers in his world of origin: humans enhanced to the limits of physical efficiency, capable of facing extreme situations without relying on magic.
With these advantages, 1765 became more than just a survivor. He became a predator in a world that had condemned him from birth.
Armed with the wood of the Silent Willows and a body that surpassed ordinary humans, he was able to defend himself and cautiously venture into human society, concealing his true nature. But the more he explored and learned, the clearer a grim truth became: the fate of the "Indómitos" in this world was cruel and merciless.
Indeed, even though his body couldn't use magic, 1765 had found an unexpected advantage in his surroundings. During his escape, he sought refuge in a place known as the Silent Forest, a forgotten and feared haven by humans and other races. This forest contained unique trees called Silent Willows, colossal trees with extremely resilient wood but with a terrifying property: they were capable of absorbing mana from their surroundings. Any living being that relied on mana to survive would face a slow and agonizing death if they dared to venture into the forest.
Information about this forest and its trees was scarce. Few dared to explore it, and even fewer returned to tell the tale. However, 1765, who lived there, had the opportunity to experiment and discover some of its most intriguing properties. The first and most significant revelation was that the wood of the Silent Willows retained the same characteristics as the tree, maintaining its ability to absorb mana even after being cut. This meant that any object made from this wood created a partial barrier against magic, weakening spells and partially nullifying magical effects.
Although the wood was not as effective as the living tree, it remained an invaluable tool. It was resilient, malleable, and, most importantly, could be used to craft weapons and tools with a very clear purpose: countering magic users.
But the wood wasn't the only unique aspect of the forest.
The fruits of the Silent Willows were considered deadly poison for anyone capable of manipulating mana. Eating just one of these fruits could cause a lethal reaction in people with magical affinity. However, for someone like 1765, unable to absorb mana, the effect was entirely different. With S.I.L.A.S.'s help, he analyzed and modified his metabolism to harness the nutrients of these fruits, turning them into a pure energy source.
The effects were astonishing.
His body began to strengthen at an accelerated rate. His muscles developed greater density, his resistance to pain and fatigue increased, and his speed and agility improved drastically. S.I.L.A.S. mentioned that his evolution was comparable to genetically modified soldiers from his world of origin—humans enhanced to the limits of physical efficiency, capable of facing extreme situations without relying on magic.
But that wasn't the only thing 1765 found intriguing.
Among the magical systems of this world, there was one in particular that caught S.I.L.A.S.'s interest: the runic system. It was considered an outdated method, practiced by few today. Its premise was the use of magic through matrices created by glyphs, which in turn were formed by runes. It was a complex system, akin to a sequential programming language. Unlike other types of magic, this system didn't require the user to possess magical affinity; it only needed a power source, appropriate materials, and the knowledge to inscribe and activate the runes.
Due to its antiquity and disuse, finding information about this runic language was a challenging task, leading 1765 to embark on a long search for knowledge. He infiltrated forbidden libraries, eavesdropped on conversations in taverns, and deciphered ancient documents. His dedication brought him to where he stood now, three years after his first encounter with humans.
Now, he was 12 years old, but his body no longer reflected the fragility of a child. His physique resembled that of a young adult, with muscles well-defined from years of training and survival. His skin, pale from his time in the forest, remained firm and without visible scars thanks to his enhanced resilience. His hair, short and dark, allowed him to move easily without obstruction. His sharp, perceptive eyes reflected the intensity of someone who had faced challenges beyond what most could imagine.
The knowledge 1765 had acquired during this time was analyzed and processed by S.I.L.A.S., leading to the creation of a custom runic system tailored specifically to his needs.
It wasn't a system designed for traditional magic. Both had observed the capabilities of magic in this world: fire conjurations, water freezing, devastating attacks straight out of fantasy tales. Some abilities were terrifying, while others were simply utilitarian tools. The best way to confront a mage was to eliminate them quickly, while knights were formidable combatants—strong, resilient, and capable of delivering devastating attacks with the reinforcement of their magical aura.
Runic magic, on the other hand, was slow, static, and dependent on an external power source, making it impractical for direct combat. However, was magic only meant for warfare? The answer was simple: no.
S.I.L.A.S. concluded that magic in this world had far more applications than mere combat, but society seemed obsessed with its martial uses. Throughout his learning, 1765 had to endure countless complaints from S.I.L.A.S. about the wasted potential of magic on weapons and destruction instead of its application in innovation and technology.
Those complaints had turned into what now stood before him.
Before his eyes, a humanoid sculpture made of wood, stone, and metal stood upright. It wasn't just a decorative figure; it was the result of countless hours of work, tests, and modifications. 1765 had to steal multiple tools and metal parts, dismantle ancient structures, and adapt unconventional materials to reach this point, but in the end, he had succeeded in building his first autonomous structure.
It wasn't just a statue.
It was a functional golem prototype, powered by a runic system designed from scratch with S.I.L.A.S.'s guidance and based on a combination of sequential logic and runic circuits. Every part of its body was marked with interconnected runic inscriptions, forming a network of functions that allowed movement, stability, and interaction with its surroundings.
1765 observed the golem with pride. After all, it had taken him an entire year to assemble. According to S.I.L.A.S., now that he was 12 years old, this could be considered his birthday gift. Smiling, he carefully opened a compartment located in the golem's chest. Inside was an empty space where complex symbols intertwined to form larger runic patterns. At the center was a complete circle of runes serving as the golem's central system.
The circle was designed on a movable base capable of altering the runic set depending on its position and movement. This was the golem's control core, the equivalent of a rudimentary brain capable of executing preset commands.
1765 took a steel cylinder carefully crafted by him. Inside, it contained a strange dark blue liquid. The mixture had been developed by him using materials found in his environment: pulverized minerals, extract from the fruits of the Silent Willows, and other refined compounds.
According to S.I.L.A.S., this dense and viscous concoction functioned as magical fuel, allowing the golem's runic system to have a stable energy source without relying on traditional mana.
With precision, 1765 fitted the cylinder into the golem's compartment and waited.
"What now?"
Then, S.I.L.A.S.'s voice resonated in his mind:
"Initializing systems."
Suddenly, the golem's symbols began to glow with a bluish hue, and the structure started moving slowly. First, one hand, then the other. The movements were rigid, clumsy, but with each small adjustment, it seemed S.I.L.A.S. was better understanding the golem's functionality.
1765 couldn't help but think that what he was witnessing was magic. But before he could fully formulate the thought, S.I.L.A.S. corrected him:
"Although the central energy system could be considered similar to what this world calls magic, its development has been the result of the scientific method: observation, experimentation, error, and correction. Additionally, the golem's control is executed through electromagnetic waves emitted by your brain cells. In other words, more than magic... it's science."
Used to S.I.L.A.S.'s corrections, 1765 merely accepted them with a sigh.