Erd was a perfectly normal human being. He lived a humdrum life, governed by the monotonous rhythm of work and sleep. That morning, like all the others, he was on his way to the office, staring into space, his thoughts wandering to trivial matters. It was then that a deafening noise shattered his daily routine.
A shock. A moment suspended in time. Then nothing.
When he opened his eyes, Erd expected to see the pale neon lights of a hospital or absolute nothingness. But what he discovered left him speechless. A brilliant blue sky, immense trees with lush greenery, and a gentle breeze caressing his skin. He sat up suddenly, his body intact, without pain or injury.
- Where am I?
The scenery around him looked like something out of a fantasy video game. He was still wearing his street clothes, but he felt strangely different. A new energy was flowing through him, like an unknown force that filled him completely. Then a voice echoed in his head.
[Single Skill Activation: Analysis].
A semi-transparent screen appeared before his eyes. The letters, bright and strange, formed comprehensible words:
Name: Erd
Race: Human
Status : Alive
Skills: Elemental Magic (Beginner), Analysis (Unique)
Magic? Erd couldn't believe his eyes. He wasn't just another human in this world. He possessed extraordinary abilities. Excitement washed over him.
- If I can use magic... then I must learn to use it!
First steps into an unknown world
Erd began to explore the area. He was walking through a dense forest, where the sound of birds singing and the wind rustling through the leaves created a natural symphony. Suddenly, a noise caught his attention.
Growling.
Three black-furred wolves lurked in the shadows. Their shining eyes stared at him with obvious hostility. Erd felt a surge of adrenalin. His instinct was to flee, but another voice inside him was refusing to do so.
- This is the perfect opportunity to test my skills!
He grabbed a simple wooden sword from the ground and stood guard. The wolves attacked without delay.
The first leapt. Erd narrowly dodged and struck with his sword. The impact resounded, but the weapon only grazed the beast. He had to be faster, more precise.
A second wolf tried to attack him from the side, but Erd, buoyed by adrenalin, leapt backwards. Instinctively, he used his Analysis skill.
[Black Wolf - Level 5]
Skills: Beastly Fang, Increased Agility, Night Vision
A smile stretched his lips.
- So I can copy the skills of monsters...
A shiver of excitement ran through him. He concentrated his energy and activated the copy. A strange sensation ran through his body, as if a foreign power was mixing with his own.
[Skills learned: Beastly Fang, Increased Agility]
Immediately, he felt his muscles become more supple, more responsive. His body naturally moved with surprising speed.
The fight shifted in his favour. He dodged attacks with fluidity, then countered with greater precision. His wooden sword split the air and dealt a decisive blow to the last wolf.
Silence.
Erd caught his breath. He had just won his first battle in this world.
Unlimited power
Over the next few days, he trained tirelessly in the forest, battling various low-ranking monsters: goblins, giant snakes, vampire bats. With each victory, he used Analyse to copy their skills.
This is how he acquired :
Minor regeneration (Giant snake)
Thermal detection (Vampire bat)
Muscle strengthening (Fighting Goblin)
But what intrigued him most was the strange peculiarity of his magic. No matter how much Analysis he used, he never felt tired or lost energy.
- Is my reserve of magic infinite?
He cast several elemental spells over and over again, trying to exhaust his resources, but to no avail. He was like an inexhaustible source of mana.
- If that's really the case... I could become the most powerful being in this world.
A shiver of exhilaration ran through him. But his excitement was brutally interrupted by an imposing presence.
Encounter with the Dragon
As he moved deeper into the forest, a gigantic shadow passed overhead. The beating of its wings caused the trees to tremble, raising a powerful wind.
Erd looked up.
And he saw it.
A majestic dragon, its body covered in brilliant blue scales, landed in front of him. Its golden eyes stared back at him with an indecipherable intelligence.
There was a heavy silence. Erd didn't dare move. He knew that the slightest mistake could mean his instant death.
The dragon opened its mouth slightly, letting out a fine vapour. A warning? An invitation?
Erd didn't know yet, but one thing was certain: his new life had taken an unexpected turn.