Sleep did not come easily to Eun Sung that night. His thoughts ran with images of two different lives—one which ended in apocalypse, the other just beginning again.
As the very first light of the rising sun filtered through his tattered curtains, he was already awake, cross-legged on his bed.
"System," he whispered.
Suddenly, the clear blue interface materialized in his line of sight. The appearance of it brought him a strange sense of relief. It hadn't been a dream, it seemed.
[SYSTEMA - LEVEL 1]
Eun Sung frowned. He hadn't noticed the level gauge the day before.
"Status," he commanded softly.
The screen changed, showing him his present qualities:
Status
Name: Eun Sung
Age: 18
Rank: F (Hidden)
True Rank: Unknown
Statistics
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Energy: 8
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 11
Luck: 7
Physical Status
HP: 120
MP: 150
Stamina: 100/100
Eun Sung pressed his lips together in a scowl. In his former life, before the last battle, his stats were in the thousands. Now, however, he was essentially a beginner again, only a little bit stronger than an ordinary human.
"Elements," he went on.
The display changed once more:
Elements
Shadow: 5% (Natural Aff
Water: 0% (
Fire: Locked (0%)
Earth: 0% (Locked)
Wind: 0% (Locked)
Lightning: Locked (0
Light: 0% (
System Message
Master elemental powers by tapping into elemental energy. Level up your mastery by hunting elemental-type monsters.
"Show me the skill tree for shadow element," Eun Sung requested, curious to learn what abilities awaited him.
[Shadow Element Skill Tree]
Level 1 (0-10% Mastery):
- Sacrifice (Passive): Transfer death to a surrounding human in a 10-meter area. Can't be applied to monsters or non-Earth creatures.
- Shadow Step (Blocked): Mastered at 5%.
Level 2 (11-30% Mastery):
- Shadow Binding (Trapped): Mastery level of 15%.
- Shadow Cloak (Locked): Requires mastery at 25%.
Level 3 (31-50% Mastery):
- Shadow Blade (locked): Mastered at level 35%.
- Life Drain (Trapped): Needs mastery at 45%.
Higher levels are locked until prerequisite mastery is reached
Eun Sung widened his eyes in shock. This was completely different than his past life when he only had the Sacrifice skill. The system gave him an entire progression line for each element.
There is no water element skill tree.
Water Element Skill Tree
Level 1 (0-10% Mastery):
- Locked Water Sense: Mastery of 5%.
- Water Shield (Locked): Mastery level required: 10%.
[Element locked. Defeat water element monsters to unlock]
Eun Sung cycled through each of the elements' skill trees, finding the same trends. Each offered various abilities which, when mastered, interacted with each other.
"Tell me how to increase elemental mastery," he commanded.
[System Tutorial: Elemental Mastery]
Elemental mastery can be increased by three primary ways:
1. Absorption: By defeating elemental-type enemies, you can absorb their elemental energy. Absorption efficiency is increased by Intelligence and Wisdom.
2. Practice: Practicing elemental skills constantly improves mastery over time.
3. Meditation: Focusing on a single element in areas with high elemental will increase mastery over time.
Current rate of absorption: 0.5% for each E-r [Growth in usage: 0.1% for each 10 skill activations
[Current growth in meditation: 0.2% in an hour in the high
Eun Sung nodded to himself in agreement. The system was more open than he had expected. He closed the interface and stood up, stretching his cramped muscles.
"Let me just try whatever I can do right now," he complained.
He focused his shadow side, trying to get a sense of the blackness in his small apartment. A tickling sense lingered at the edge of his perception—shadows under his bed, corners of the room, even his shadow itself on the floor.
Reaching out towards his shadow with his hand, Eun Sung concentrated, trying to control it.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, he attempted it again, concentrating more intensely. This time, there was a mild tug at his MP, and his shadow quivered almost invisibly.
System Message
Minimum mastery required for shadow control: 10%. Mastery at present: 5%.
MP usage: 10
Eun Sung let out a sigh, looking at his MP bar, which was a little smaller. The mere try at it had taken energy.
"At least I have an idea of what I'm working with," he said, rolling his shoulders. "I have to go track down some shadow creatures and get their energy."
He walked over to the window and looked out at the city. Somewhere out there were the dungeons—doorways to monster-filled worlds which had begun to manifest three years earlier in this reality.
In his previous life, as an F-rank awakener with only the Sacrifice skill, he used to avoid entering dungeons until being forced to join the raid for the SSS-rank portal. Now, he went searching for them deliberately.
Abruptly, a message flashed:
System Message
"First Step" quest is underway. Recommended: Search for E-rank shadow dungeon.
Nearest suitable position: 2.1 km southwest of the current position.
Eun Sung squinted his eyes. The system was guiding him.
"Looks like my shadow elemental affinity is giving me a head start," he grumbled. "But before I go hunting."
He opened the closet and searched through his meager possessions until his fingers wrapped around the object of his desire—a kitchen knife. Not the most ideal weapon, maybe, but it was preferable to nothing.
While grasping the knife, there was a second notification:
System Message
Weapon found: Kitchen Knife
Category: Shared Attack
Power: +2
Durability: 15/20
[Warning: Non-lethal weapon. Can be easily shattered by monsters]
Eun Sung smiled tightly. "It will have to suffice for the moment." He placed the knife in his belt and slung a frayed jacket over his back.
The start of his quest for power was just ahead, right at the entrance of his first dungeon.
He paused at the doorway, feeling uncertain, and then addressed the quiet room: "Mother Gaia, I know you're not awake to hear me right now, but I'm determined to make you proud."
This time, I will save them all." The air grew warmer towards him, although maybe it was only his imagination.
Exiting his apartment with new determination, Eun Sung stepped into the light of day. His second chance on life was actually in full swing.