Ash froze in shock. The status screen before him left him utterly bewildered. It wasn't the fact that he had two cores that rattled him—though that was astonishing in itself. No, what truly shocked him were the words etched beside them: Legendary Cores.
He had never heard of such a thing. Not in any novel, not in any library—nowhere. There was no mention of a legendary core, as if the knowledge had been erased from existence.
Ash frowned, his mind racing. "A normal core allows you to maximize your stats up to a certain limit," he muttered to himself. "A G-rank individual can increase their stats to a maximum of 100. But increasing the limit isn't as simple as it sounds. To reach that limit, you must train your body relentlessly—breaking, rebuilding, over and over again."
His voice grew quieter. "And only after reaching that limit in any one Stat can someone ascend to higher ranks. But two cores... and legendary ones at that? Where does that limit even lie?"
Even in the novel just because the Protagonist has that OP system, he was able to grow more quickly compared to others.
Even though Ash's system provided him with cheat skill like 'Skill Creation' and a unique class "Magic swordsman" it's still not enough for him to beat the growth rate of that Crazy system, he knew that he needs to work harder than The Mc.
The thought made his chest tighten. But he also knows if he uses his unique skill combined with Runes, he might be able to surpass the growth rate of that crazy system. As his mind spiraled with questions, the system's soft chime interrupted him.
[Congratulations, Host For reaching a Milestone. You may now choose an additional elemental affinity.]
The list of elements unfurled before him:
[1. Water]
[2. Earth]
[3. Ice]
[4. Darkness]
[5. Space]
[Locked]
[Locked]
[Locked]
Ash's eyes lingered on the word "Space". It was tempting—powerful and promising rapid progress.
But the thought unsettled him. He clenched his fists, remembering his struggles to master Celestial Step. Relying on the Space element might make his training easier and faster, but it would also weaken his foundation in long run.
A powerful Martial arts with a weak foundation may sound promising right now but in long run it will be very dangerous for him.
"I need a foundation first," he whispered, determination flaring in his eyes. "I choose the Water element."
The system responded instantly.
[Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the Water element.]
A sudden shift rippled through his body. Something moved deep inside, awakening like a sleeping beast. Ash blinked, trying to make sense of the sensation.
"Is this… connected to the Water element?" He extended his hand instinctively. Mana surged within him, rushing toward his palm as if obeying his will. A shimmering ball of water formed above his hand, perfectly smooth and radiating power.
Ash paused, recalling something Aelion had mentioned in passing. Only Mages can use elements to attack from long distances. The old man's words echoed in his mind.
"Now that my class is fully unlocked…" Ash muttered, his gaze fixed on his hand. "Let's see if that still holds true."
The power was intoxicating, but Ash maintained focus. If this works, I'll have broken another limit.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Let's see what this can do."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the water ball at the cave's entrance. The impact was immediate and devastating.
BOOM!!!!
The explosion blasted the cave open, shattering stone and echoing through the air. Dust and debris rained down around him. Ash stared, dumbfounded.
Ash shielded his eyes from the dust and debris, coughing slightly as the air cleared. The entrance was completely obliterated, shards of stone scattered across the ground.
"If someone else had made that water ball, it wouldn't even have scratched the wall," he murmured, awe mixing with a tinge of fear. "So, this… this is the power of a legendary core."
His smirk grew into a grin. "Looks like Mages aren't the only ones who can attack from a distance anymore."
The realization was thrilling—but also dangerous. If anyone found out what he was capable of, the repercussions would be monumental.
He took a deep breath, then willed water to surround his body, washing away dirt and sweat. Switching to the air element, he dried himself quickly. Once clean and dressed, he stepped out of the cave.
"I've probably attracted attention with that noise," he muttered. "Better move fast."
Using the square-and-triangle footwork technique, he dashed away with remarkable speed, his body moving like a blur. After covering a safe distance, he stopped to catch his breath. He pulled out a small mirror, inspecting his reflection.
"With a charm stat of 32, I'm definitely more handsome than before," he mused, noting the faint changes to his features. Though his face wasn't drastically different, the power beneath his skin was undeniable.
Ash made his way toward the hidden house of Aelion. As he approached, he saw Aelion standing atop a tall tree, staring intently at the sky. The sight was… strange, even for him.
"Why are you staring at the sky like that?" Ash called out, curiosity lacing his voice.
Aelion didn't look down. "You're asking as if you haven't heard the prophecy that was announced," he replied with a snort.
The word prophecy sent a chill down Ash's spine. His heart skipped a beat. In the novel, the prophecy was a turning point, but it wasn't supposed to happen yet. It was too early.
"I-I was sleeping," Ash lied, trying to mask his growing panic. "I didn't hear anything. If you don't mind, could you tell me what it said?"
Aelion finally glanced at Ash, an eyebrow raised. "You slept through a once-in-a-lifetime event?" he sighed, shaking his head.
But then, his gaze sharpened as he studied Ash more closely. Something about him was… off. Aelion's eyes narrowed, his focus shifting to the faint shimmer of Ash's aura.
"Wait a moment," Aelion said, stepping closer. His tone was curious but edged with suspicion. "Your aura… its Peak G-rank, but it feels different. Stronger—no, far stronger than any G-rank I've seen. Did you—" His eyes widened. "Did you break through?"
Ash stiffened under the old man's scrutinizing gaze. His mind raced, searching for an explanation that wouldn't raise further questions. "Y-Yeah," he stammered, feigning casual indifference. "I guess I reached Peak-G-rank."
To rank up, a person must push their core to its absolute limit. Depending on their class, some focus on strengthening their physical power, while others prioritize agility or other attributes.
Ash had just stepped into G-rank, but Aelion mistakenly assumed he was already at the peak of G-rank. The reason? His aura was far stronger than usual, a result of possessing Legendary cores.
Ash Lied as he knew the abnormal amount of aura of legendary core can't be hidden for long if he didn't do something, and the main thing was that there was not one but two legendary cores.
Aelion's eyebrows shot up. "You guess? That's not exactly a small milestone, Ray. How—"
"Can you just tell me the prophecy?" Ash interrupted, forcing a shaky grin and waving off Aelion's words. "That's the reason I came back so quickly. I don't want to miss out."
Aelion frowned but eventually relented, the weight of the prophecy clearly still on his mind. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't think this conversation is over."
Ash let out a silent breath of relief, thankful that the prophecy had left Aelion distracted enough to let the matter slide—for now.
If the old man had pressed harder, Ash wasn't sure he could have concealed the truth about his double core or the sheer anomaly of his power.
"Fine. Listen closely. The prophecy went like this:
"Beyond the Veil where echoes wane,
A shadow walks, unbound by name.
Forged in silence, where time stands still,
.
.
.
---
.
.
.
The heavens sing of chaos's end,
A conqueror crowned, the stars he bends.
Turn and turn, the toll is clear,
The lost returns, the end is near."
Ash's blood ran cold. This was… wrong. The prophecy was nothing like the one he remembered from the novel.
In the novel, the prophecy spoke of a hero—a savior destined to protect the world. But this one… this one painted a picture of someone who would destroy it.
It was more cryptic, shrouded in mystery, unlike the clear-cut prophecy he knew. And the only major variable that could have caused this change… was him.
He forced a shaky smile. "Thanks, master I'll… think about it. I'm heading to my room. I'm exhausted."
Aelion nodded absently, his gaze already returning to the sky. Ash let out a breath of relief and retreated to his quarters.
Once inside, Ash collapsed onto his bed, gripping his head in frustration.
"I'm screwed," he muttered. "The prophecy has changed. It's all wrong. The universe practically screamed my identity to everyone!"
His thoughts spiraled. In the novel, the protagonist's prophecy was heroic—pure, noble, inspiring. But mine? Mine paints me as a tyrant, a monster hungry for power.
He slammed his fist against the mattress. "Fine," he hissed through gritted teeth. "If the universe is afraid of me and wants me to be a villain, I'll give it one. Let them come. I'll make them regret it."
A cold smile spread across his face. For now, though, he needed to act carefully. Time was his most valuable resource, and he couldn't afford to waste it. He had to find his next rune, hide his double core, and prepare for the storm that was sure to come.
"Let's see how things play out," he muttered, closing his eyes. "But I'm not going down without a fight."
With that, Ash drifted into a restless sleep, his mind racing with plans for the battles to come.
***
While Ash drifted into a restless sleep, far away in a quiet corner of the human kingdom, the wheels of fate began to turn.
In a dimly lit orphanage dining hall, 8-year-old Ray(real MC) sat cross-legged at a rickety table, shoveling spoonsful of lukewarm porridge into his mouth.
The chatter of the other children filled the room, but Ray barely noticed. His focus was on his food—an essential skill in the orphanage, where seconds were a rare luxury.
Suddenly, a cold, metallic chime echoed in his mind. The spoon fell from his hand as words blazed into his vision, suspended in the air like firebrands.
[EMERGENCY QUEST GENERATED]
[QUEST: KILL THE ABYSSAL SOVEREIGN]
[Time Limit: None]
[Reward: ????]
[Penalty: ????]
Ray's breath hitched, his body locking in place.
"FUCK!" he shouted, the curse bursting out of him before he could stop it.
The hall went silent. Every eye in the room turned toward him.
"Ray, watch your language!" snapped one of the caretakers, striding over with a stern glare. "You'll frighten the younger children!"
Ray barely heard her. His eyes remained glued to the glowing text that no one else could see. His hands trembled as he whispered under his breath, "What the hell is this? What's an… Abyssal Sovereign? And why me?"
The system offered no answers. The quest remained cold and unyielding, its ominous implications sinking into Ray's chest like lead.
"Ray? Are you listening?" The caretaker's voice brought him back to reality.
"Y-Yeah, sorry," he stammered, forcing a sheepish smile as he picked up his spoon. "Just… choked a little."
The caretaker frowned but eventually walked away, muttering something about "drama queens."
Ray exhaled shakily and lowered his spoon. His appetite was gone.
Abyssal Sovereign? he thought, the words repeating in his mind like a curse. What kind of joke is this? I'm eight. I can't even fight the older kids here, let alone… whatever that is.
I haven't even awakened yet. whatever this system is, it definitely said it will fully unlock after I will awaken then suddenly it is giving me this quest.
Urrhhh!!!
The system didn't care for his protests. The glowing text burned itself into his vision one last time before fading:
[QUEST AUTOMATICALLY ACCEPTED]
Ray gulped. A chill ran down his spine. Somewhere deep in his soul, he knew this wasn't just a prank or some strange hallucination. The weight of destiny bore down on him, suffocating in its intensity.
***