A rickety waggon trundled along a dirt road, its wooden wheels creaking as it carried a group of weary travellers toward a small village nestled at the forest's edge. Among them sat a young man, his expression dazed as he stared at the open book in his hands.
His name… no, he couldn't remember. He had just woken up in a foreign world, rescued by a kind-hearted merchant who found him unconscious in the wilderness. His memories of his past life were hazy, but his body retained the exhaustion of countless sleepless nights grinding through RPGs, MMOs, and strategy games.
As the waggon swayed, he turned another page. The novel in his hands wasn't anything special, just a generic fantasy tale about an overpowered hero. But as his eyes roved over the last sentence of the chapter, a sudden, invisible force struck his mind.
[You have read a complete chapter of All Skills from Games are Mine in Reality.][Activating Unique System Ability: All Skill from Games are Mine in Reality][Granting all skills, levels, and experiences accumulated in previous life.]
A surge of power exploded within him.
His body tensed as raw energy flooded his veins. Every skill, every ability, every level he had ever attained in countless games coalesced within him. Swords, magic, stealth, crafting, god-tier buffs—everything surged into his consciousness. A million lifetimes of gaming experience condensed into reality.
Then, just as suddenly—
[ERROR! Power overload detected.][Adjusting parameters to stabilize host][Sealing all skills and levels. Default state: Level 10.]
The overwhelming sensation vanished. The flood of knowledge, the godlike strength—all of it was gone—locked away. His fingers trembled as he clenched them into fists. Though the immense power had been sealed, a small ember of it remained, simmering beneath the surface.
He exhaled sharply, eyes burning with newfound determination.
The waggon slowed. They had reached the village.
Little did he know, the moment he stepped onto that soil, the world would soon learn of a being that defied all logic—one whose potential surpassed even the gods.
The wagon came to a slow halt as the village gates creaked open. The smell of freshly baked bread mixed with the earthy scent of the soil filled the air. Villagers cast curious glances at the newcomers, but the young man, who had been lost in thought, barely noticed.
Stepping off the wagon, he felt... different.
No, he had become something entirely different.
Even though the system had sealed all of his terrifying powers, the foundation of every skill and experience he possessed from countless games remained rooted deep within him.
He clenched his palm, and at that moment—
[Passive Skill: Swordsmanship (MAX Level)] Activated.
Adjusting Mastery Level... Set to Level 5.
In that instant, countless experiences of wielding swords in thousands of games flowed into his mind. The stance of a knight from a mediaeval RPG... The fluid swordsmanship of an assassin from an action game... Even the brutal yet efficient strikes of a dark soul-like game.
All merged into one.
It wasn't just knowledge. It was muscle memory. His body moved as if he had lived through countless battles—because in some way, he had.
The terrifying thing was...
"This... is only Level 5 Mastery?"
At Level 5, he already possessed the instincts of a veteran swordmaster. He could perfectly control his breathing, footwork, and grip without even thinking.
Yet, deep within his mind, he could feel it...
If he unlocked Level 10 Mastery, he could split the skies with a single swing. If he unleashed Level 20 Mastery, he could shatter space itself.
And this was just swordsmanship.
[Basic Magic Understanding (MAX Level)] Activated.
Adjusting Fireball Mastery to Level 3... Set.]
With a mere thought, a small flame flickered in his palm.
At Level 1 Mastery, it was nothing but a basic spell.At Level 2, the flame's temperature tripled.At Level 3, it became highly compressed, and the fireball's speed and destructive force increased exponentially.
He could already tell...
If he raised his mastery to Level 10, he could burn an entire city to ashes with a single cast.If he dared to push it to Level 50, he could ignite the world itself.
"This... this isn't just copying game skills into reality."
His power wasn't simply about gaining skills from novels and games...It was about understanding their very essence and evolving them beyond the limits of reality.
This world followed the rules of magic and swordsmanship, but his skills had already surpassed the logic of this world.
"If I slowly unseal my power step by step... how terrifying will I become?"
He looked at his own hands and couldn't help but chuckle.
The sound of villagers bustling around snapped him back to reality. He was still just a nameless wanderer who had been rescued from the forest. For now...
"Let's keep a low profile."
As he followed the merchant into the village, he hid the fact that he was already standing at the apex of this world.
[System Notification][Skill Slot Unlocked: Passive Swordsmanship (MAX)][Skill Slot Unlocked: Basic Magic Understanding (MAX)][Skill Slot Unlocked: Assassin's Movement (MAX)][Skill Slot Unlocked: Blacksmith Forging (MAX)][Skill Slot Unlocked: Alchemy Mastery (MAX)][Skill Slot Unlocked: Archery Mastery (MAX)]
The village was quiet, nestled in a valley where rolling green fields stretched as far as the eye could see. The dirt roads were uneven, worn by the footsteps of farmers and wandering merchants. Wooden houses, aged by time, stood in neat rows, their rooftops coated with dry straw.
It was peaceful—idyllic, even.
Yet, to the young man who had just arrived, it was nothing more than a temporary rest stop.
He walked through the village with slow, steady steps, his mind still absorbing the sheer absurdity of his power. Even though his system had sealed the majority of his overwhelming abilities, the foundation of every skill from his past experiences remained. He wasn't just a beginner who had been thrown into another world—he was an existence far beyond that.
And soon, he would prove it.
As he wandered through the marketplace, the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air. Merchants shouted over one another, waving their hands to lure customers to their stalls. Children ran barefoot, laughing as they weaved between the adults.
It was the kind of scene he had seen countless times in fantasy RPGs and isekai novels.
But what truly caught his attention was not the bustling market nor the simple daily life of the villagers.
It was the paved stone road leading out of the village.
The road stretched far beyond the hills, cutting through vast plains and sparse woodlands.
It was well-maintained—a clear sign that it led to an important city. And at that very moment, a waggon stood at the edge of the village, waiting to depart. Merchants, travellers, and adventurers had already climbed aboard, their chatter blending into the background noise of the village.
His eyes lingered on the waggon for a brief moment before he smirked to himself.
"The first step to becoming stronger in any Isekai world... is always the Adventurer's Guild."
It was the natural progression.
To level up, gain skills, and unlock more power, he needed experience. To gain experience, he needed to fight. And where better to start than a city filled with adventurers, dungeons, and guilds?
Without hesitation, he approached the waggon and stepped aboard.
The wagon rocked gently as it traveled along the stone road, the wooden wheels creaking against the uneven surface. The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the fields, bathing the landscape in a golden hue. Birds chirped in the distance, their songs mingling with the rhythmic clatter of hooves against stone.
Seated at the back of the wagon, he took a moment to observe the people around him.
Most of the travelers were simple merchants, dressed in thick cloaks and carrying bags of goods. A few wore the signature leather armor of low-ranked adventurers, their weapons strapped to their backs. Some held iron swords, others carried wooden staves, likely beginner mages who had just started their journey.
Their conversations were lively—stories of recent hunts, rumors of bandit attacks, and the ever-present talk of the dungeon beyond Arcanum City.
To them, the dungeon was a place of danger and opportunity. A place where men either made a name for themselves or died in obscurity.
But to him?
"A training ground."
He leaned back against the wooden railing, closing his eyes as he felt the weight of his hidden power settle within him once more. Even though his stats were sealed at Level 10, the knowledge, instincts, and techniques of countless lifetimes still coursed through him.
With a simple thought, he activated one of his passive skills.
[Passive Skill: Assassin's Movement (MAX Level) Activated.][Adjusting Mastery Level to 2...]
Instantly, his breathing slowed, his presence fading into the background like a shadow melting into the darkness. His heartbeat became silent, his movements imperceptible.
No one noticed him.
Not the merchants beside him.Not the adventurers scanning the wagon for potential threats.
At just Level 2 Mastery, he had already erased his presence so perfectly that even experienced scouts wouldn't be able to sense him. It was absurd. And this was only one of the countless abilities he had at his disposal.
"If this is what a mere Level 2 Mastery can do..."
His fingers twitched.
If he dared to raise it to Level 10, he would become a ghost—undetectable by sight, sound, or magic. At Level 50, he could probably walk through walls, existing outside the very concept of presence itself.
The realization sent a thrill through his veins.
Even though he was supposed to be "weak" right now... he was already beyond the limits of this world.
A chuckle almost escaped his lips, but he held it back.
For now, he would play along.
For now, he would pretend to be just another traveler on his way to the city.