A boy slowly opened his eyes and was met with the sight of an elegant, modern-style room. The walls were adorned with sleek designs, and the soft glow of ambient lighting made everything look luxurious.

"Wow… what a beautiful room," he muttered in admiration, taking in every detail.

But just as he was about to fully appreciate his surroundings, a flood of foreign memories rushed into his mind. His body tensed, and his breath hitched. These… weren't his memories.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm.

"Elias Veyne…?" he whispered, his expression darkening.

That name—it belonged to a villain in the novel False Dawn.

"Oh damn… Don't tell me I've become Elias from that novel!"

A troubled look crossed his face as he recalled the grim reality of False Dawn. The story was set in a world that had fallen into an apocalypse. Creatures from different dimensions roamed freely, tearing apart whatever remained of humanity. The last recorded history known to mankind was from 900 years ago, when the first empire was established. Before that, everything was lost to chaos.

This world had a System, which awakened in people when they turned 15, determining their abilities.

Elias frowned. "Wait… today is Elias' 15th birthday, which means his System should awaken today."

However, in the novel, there was never any mention of how people actually received their System.

He thought about asking Elias' parents, but according to his memories, they had always told him, 'You will know when the time comes.'

Suddenly—

Everything went black.

Panic surged through Elias as his vision faded. "What's happening?!"

Then—

A holographic screen materialized before him.

[Resonating with the System…]

0%... 10%... 50%... 100%

[Resonance Complete]

A blue window appeared in front of him.

[Status Window]

Name: Elias Veyne

Potential: S

Affinity: Darkness (88), Water (96), Deep Sea (40)

Unique Skill: Avatar Summon (SSS) (1)

Profession: Summoner (Rank I)

Summon Slots: (0/2)

Profession Skills: Summoning (Water), Summoning (Dark), Summoning (Deep Sea)

Stats:

Strength: I

Endurance: I

Agility: I

Stamina: I

Mana: II

Mana Capacity: II

Luck: 63

Charm: IV

Elias stared at the screen, confusion flashing across his face.

"Wasn't the original Elias' only affinity Water? And his unique skill only increased his summons' power by 40% temporarily…"

His eyes narrowed. "Is this because I replaced him?"

Regardless of the reason, this version of Elias was much stronger than the original. A rare smirk tugged at his lips.

Maybe I have a chance to survive in this world after all.

Just as that thought settled, the darkness that surrounded him began to fade, and he found himself back in the same luxurious room.

But this time—

He wasn't alone.

---

The room was filled with figures—his family.

His father, a tall, imposing man with sharp features, stood by his side. His mother, a graceful and kind woman, was by his bed, holding his hand with a warm smile. And beside them, his older brother, with his usual arrogant yet proud expression, stood with arms crossed.

"Congratulations, Elias!" his father boomed, a rare warmth in his voice. "You've finally awakened your System."

His mother beamed. "We've been waiting for this moment."

His brother gave him a look of approval. "Not bad, little brother. Seems like you're starting with something pretty impressive."

Elias, still processing everything, nodded. "Thanks…"

"Have you decided what you want to do now?" his father asked. "Your future, Elias. You're 15 now, a critical age."

Elias took a moment to think. The world outside was dangerous. He had to be careful, but he also knew where he could grow stronger. According to the novel, his brother had attended the prestigious Nexus Institute, where he had gained a high position within the academy. It was no wonder his brother had always been so arrogant in the story.

Elias' memories flickered, and he realized that his path was already set before him. The Nexus Institute would be his best chance to survive—and to grow strong.

"Yeah," Elias said, his voice steady. "I think I'll attend Nexus Institute."

His family exchanged approving looks. "Good choice," his brother nodded, the cocky smirk still present. "You've got potential. Make sure you don't waste it."

Later that evening, Elias was alone in his room, his thoughts racing. The weight of his new life—of his new identity—pressed on him. He needed to understand his powers and how to use them. His first step? Testing his summoning skill.

He closed his eyes, channeling the water affinity that surged within him. A summoning circle appeared before him, glowing faintly. He focused, willing it to form.

And then—

A massive explosion surged from the circle.

The room was immediately engulfed in a flash of water and blinding light. Elias staggered backward, his instincts kicking in just as the air around him grew thick with moisture. The force of the explosion sent a shockwave through the room, knocking over furniture and splashing water in every direction.

His family scrambled back, startled by the violent surge.

Suddenly, servants rushed in, drawn by the noise. They froze at the sight.

Before Elias, a creature emerged from the smoke— a blue, four-foot-long snake, its scales shimmering with an ethereal glow. It slithered gracefully around the room, its eyes locked onto Elias with an almost predatory focus.

Elias' eyes widened as he glanced at the creature's stats.