Talent Acquired: Mana Saint (SSS-Grade)
Description: A being intrinsically connected to the flow of mana, achieving near-perfect symbiosis with magical energy.
Attributes:
Mana Capacity: 100 times greater than standard awakened individuals
Mana Purity: 100% refinement rate (zero impurities)
Offensive Modifier: Mana-based attacks deal double damage
Defensive Modifier: All incoming damage reduced by 50%
Recovery Rate: Mana regeneration operates at 100 times normal speed
Environmental Interactions:
Mana-Deprived Zones:
All parameters decrease by 20%
Physical discomfort manifests proportionally to mana absence
Mana-Saturated Zones:
All parameters increase by 30%
Visible mana resonance occurs ]
[ Congratulations, Host! You've hit the jackpot... just avoid graveyards and anti-magic zones. ]
I steadied myself to examine the remaining gifts, though my luck seemed to have run dry.
1. Bloodline Acquired
Bloodline: Verdant Dryad (S-Rank)
Description: An ancient lineage granting dominion over nature and enhanced vitality in natural environments.
Primary Abilities:
Nature Manipulation:
Create and Control plant life within a 50-meter radius
Create powerful Emerald vine as hard as steels and malleable as clay.
Generate Wood Golems
Enhanced Vitality:
Passive HP regeneration increased by 500% in forests
Mana costs reduced by 40% in natural habitats
Apply a 1% HP/sec healing aura to allies within 10m in nature-rich areas
Solar Empowerment:
Direct sunlight grants:
30% increased attack power
50% faster stamina recovery
20% movement speed bonus ]
[ More bloodline abilities will unlock as Host grow in power ]
2. Skill Obtained
[Gearshift (S-Rank Skill)]
Temporarily increases user speed by:
2x (base activation)
3x (mid-tier mastery)
5x (max proficiency)
"Damn, two S-Ranks? The system's being stingy," I thought, bracing as I opened the final gift...
3. Class Book
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Class Book:
Class: Worldstrider Archivist (SS-Rank)
Description: A reality-walking scholar specializing in spatial manipulation and artifact analysis.
Core Abilities:
Eye of the Archivist
Analyze any object/construct up to 5 major ranks above user level
Reveals:
Material composition
Historical significance
Weak points (if applicable)
Limitation: Living creaturs above five Major ranks can sense if host tries to analyze them
Dimensional Jump
Instant teleportation to any visible location (max 1km)
Ignores all obstacles
Cost: Scales with distance (10 mana per 100m)
Spatial Severance
Create razor-thin dimensional cuts that slice through all things.
Mana Cost:
50 MP (standard materials)
*Higher mana consumption of the enemy or target is stronger than host.
Archive Mind
Perfect recall of all documented locations/artifacts
+300% learning speed for spatial magic theories, any language. ]
"Hmm, at least it's not just an S-Rank," I thought as I closed the system screen. The bonding ceremony was now over, and now we will no go back to our houses —though I wasn't keen on the bloodline.
Why bother keeping it? In this world, bloodlines are like legacies—you can't hold two at once. Better to ignore it… or gift it to someone else.
My lion cub, Ragnar, is only Rank 7 and in system terms, S-Rank means quite high and it can even evolve if certain conditions are met too—so he'd make better use of it than me.
Decision made. I'd transfer the [Verdant Dryad Bloodline] to him, after retunring home.
Curious, I used the Status Screen on Ragnar. Now that we're bonded, I could view his stats - unlike mine, which remained unchanged aside from our new connection.
[Status - Bonded Monster]
Name: Ragnar
Species: Nether Lion
Special Abilities:
-Nether Fire
A flame that hungers for life itself.
Deals enhanced damage to all living beings (2.5x multiplier)
Burns 20% longer than normal fire
Causes lingering soulburn (50% of initial damage over 10sec)
"Not even ashes remain when it's done."
-Indomitable Heart (Passive)
Combat Resilience:
Immunity to fear/charm effects
50% resistance to stun/sleep
Potential : Peak of Knight Rank
[Ranking System]
Knight Tier (3 levels per stage):
Private
Specialist
Corporal
Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Colonel
Brigadier
General
Marshall
Beyond Knight:
Lord
Duke ]
"Hmm, I don't think the Verdant Dryad bloodline is compatible with you, buddy," I mused, watching Ragnar's dark flames flicker. His Nether Fire was the antithesis of life—the polar opposite of the verdant, nature-bound power I'd considered giving him.
"Sigh. Guess we'll wait until you get a bloodline that won't make you combust," I muttered, slumping back as the ceremony concluded.
The director gave his farewell speech, and soon, the crowd dispersed. I lingered just long enough to exchange goodbyes with my only two real friends here:
Amelie – My ex. We dated, even slept together (lost my virginity at 12—normal in this world), but it fizzled out. No toxicity, just… boredom. Now she's joined an organization, while I declined. We parted on good terms.
Brian – A hulking gym rat who could pass for a young Hercules. Met him as a teen when he became my punching bag. No matter how many times I knocked him down, he'd bounce back. Eventually, we grew close—almost like brothers.
As I turned to leave, Michel (my twin) cornered me—again.
"Are you really not joining an organization?" she asked for the hundredth time, arms crossed.
"Yes," I repeated, exasperated.
She scowled but then—unexpectedly—grabbed my hand. "Fine. Don't come crying to me when I surpass you."
"Don't worry. I've got a powerful Master now. Just watch me."
Michel's eyes narrowed, her "don't bullshit me" glare sharp enough to cut steel. "At least make your lies believable," she snapped.
I shrugged. "I'll explain everything to Mom and Dad after dinner. So get ready—" A smirk tugged at my lips. "—because my Master gave me some gifts too."
"I look forward to it," Michel sneered as we settled into the car.
We lived in Red Diamond City—one of this world's grand metropolitan hubs. Like all major cities here, it was divided into four stratified sectors:
Outer District – Commoners, laborers
Inner District – Merchants, low-tier adventurers
Elite District – Established warriors, scholars
Core District – Where powerful figures like our parents resided
The Core wasn't just a neighborhood; it was a floating archipelago of steel-and-crystal towers hovering above the city, accessible only by authorized portals. Each residence there could withstand a Duke rank monster's assault.
"At least we're far from the infested zones," I muttered, watching the security drones scan our biometrics at the gate. First-grade cities like ours maintained 500-Kilo meter buffer zones between civilized areas and the monster-ridden wilds.
Michel kicked my shin. "Stop mumbling. Mom will skin you if you' don't give a proper explanation this time."