I stared at the glowing status screen hovering in front of me, the faint blue light reflecting in my violet eyes. My fingers hovered in the air as if I could physically reach out and tear it down.
---
Name: Orin Lumis
Age: 17
Rank: F-Tier
Soul Core: F (Dormant)
Class: Unawakened
Skills: None
Attributes:
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F
Intelligence: D
Mana: E-
Charm: E-
Luck: F-
---
I sighed. F-Tier in everything that mattered, with only my intelligence and charm rising to a mediocre E-. Even my mana, the resource that powered magic in this world, barely scraped by. And then there was luck—a painful reminder that fate had no love for me.
In Eldoria, one's rank wasn't just a measure of strength but a reflection of their soul. Everyone was born with a Soul Core, the mysterious energy source that determined their potential. From F-Tier to SSS-Tier, your Soul Core was your fate, your ceiling, and your destiny.
And mine? Dormant. Useless.
I closed the screen with a sharp wave of my hand, watching the glowing letters fade. My violet eyes shifted toward the open window, where the trade town of Everharbor bustled with life. Somewhere out there, Reynard Caine—golden boy, genius, and my complete opposite—was probably charming the masses or training to become the next legend.
Reynard was the same age as me, but the gap between us couldn't have been wider.
His rank? E+. Still considered weak by this world's standards, but miles ahead of me. His stats were already leagues above mine, and he had something else—something that no amount of effort on my part could replicate.
The system.
Unlike my dull status window, Reynard's system was alive. It gave him quests, showered him with rewards, and practically carried him on a golden path to success. I remembered the description from Kingdom of Eldoria: A guide given to the chosen to shape their destiny and claim greatness.
---
Name: Reynard Caine
Age: 17
Rank: E+
Soul Core: E (Awakened)
Class: Blazing champion
Skills: [Swordsmanship (E)], [Fire Affinity (E)]
Attributes:
Strength: E+
Agility: E
Endurance: D-
Intelligence: E
Mana: E+
Charm: C
Luck: B
---
Even his charm and luck were ridiculous for someone his age. It was no wonder people gravitated toward him—he was practically designed to win. And his class? Blazing champion that make him a legendary warrior blessed with mastery over fire and unparalleled combat prowess.
While I was stuck as "Unawakened," Reynard had already taken the first steps toward unlocking his potential.
But the real kicker? Reynard's system gave him an edge that couldn't be measured in stats. It offered him exclusive skills, rare items, and quests tailored to ensure his rise to power.
Me? I had nothing.
Well, almost nothing.
I walked over to my desk, where a weathered map lay spread out under the faint glow of a lantern. My fingers traced a path to the dense forest just beyond the edges of town. The Blackwood Forest.
The novel had barely mentioned it—a footnote in Reynard's story, a place he'd stumbled upon by accident. Deep within its shadows, an artifact lay hidden: a shard of the Eternal Flame, capable of breaking the limits of any Soul Core. It was a tool that could shatter the boundaries of fate itself. Reynard had used it to leapfrog past the limitations of his E-Tier beginnings, setting him on the path to becoming an SSS-Tier legend.
But this time, I wasn't going to let him find it first.
My Soul Core might be dormant now, but with the shard, I could awaken it. Not only that—I could remove the limiters that kept me chained to the bottom of the ladder. If I could get my hands on the shard, I could rewrite my destiny.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Blackwood Forest was infamous for its dangers. Beasts, traps, and curses lurked within, enough to make even seasoned adventurers think twice before entering. And then there was the shard itself. The book had hinted at a toll—a cost that had to be paid to unlock its power. What that toll was, I didn't know.
But what choice did I have?
I grabbed the small pouch of silver coins on my desk, securing it to my belt. My white hair fell into my eyes as I glanced back at the map one last time. Reynard might have been born with all the advantages, but this was one thing I could do to even the odds.
"If fate won't give me a chance," I muttered, stepping toward the door, "then I'll take one myself."
The faint glow of the setting sun bathed the streets of Everharbor in gold as I stepped outside, determination burning in my chest. The path to Blackwood Forest wouldn't be easy, but I'd made up my mind.
Reynard could have his system and his golden potential. This time, the shard was mine.