The aftermath was silence.
The battlefield, once echoing with roars of death and desperation, lay still. The scorched streets of New Elysia—a once-bustling megacity—now resembled the hollowed-out carcass of a dying beast. Towers that once shimmered with neon lights and mana-flowing conduits stood broken and battered. Rubble was everywhere, mingled with soot, blood, and the craters left by detonated barriers. Smoke curled like phantom fingers through the jagged skyline, thick and acrid. The stench of death clung to the air.
And in the center of it all, Ori lay unconscious—his breath shallow, skin smeared with blood not all his own.
Twenty minutes and fifty seconds—that's how long the siege had lasted. It felt like eternity compressed into flame, steel, and screams. Twenty minutes of horror, of monsters pouring out of nowhere, wave after wave of claws, teeth, and energy blasts. Twenty minutes of death, destruction, and defiance. Orion—formerly Ori—had endured it all, barely clinging to life as waves of dungeon-born abominations shredded the city's defenses.
He'd awakened within the siege, surviving only through sheer instinct, raw desperation, and something deeper... a will that refused to die.
Then came darkness.
---
Three weeks passed.
A monitor beeped steadily beside his bed. Fluids dripped from mana-reinforced IV tubes into his veins. Magi-tech machines softly hummed, casting pale glows across sterile white walls. The room smelled of disinfectant, ozone, and faintly of incense—a warding tradition for comatose Awakened.
Orion opened his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't move. The ceiling above was unfamiliar, crystalline tiles laced with protective runes. Sunlight filtered through a translucent mana-screen, casting dim warmth across the polished floor. He turned his head and winced.
A nurse, seated in the corner, sprang up. Her expression flickered between shock and relief. "You're awake!" she gasped, scrambling to the wall-mounted communicator. "Room C-19! Patient Ori is awake!"
Orion closed his eyes again. Not from pain, but from the surge of memories—not all his own.
He remembered.
He remembered *dying*.
He remembered falling asleep in one world and waking in another. The brief flashes of his former life—the constant hunger, the odd jobs, the siblings, the quiet determination to do more with less. Then this world's Ori. His laughter, his hope, the vivid bond he had with his family. His final moments—racing to reach them as the Tower Siege erupted.
The shelter was gone.
His mother, sister, grandfather—dead.
Orion hadn't just inherited a body. He had inherited a grave.
He sat up slowly. His body protested, but it moved. Stronger than he expected. His gaze swept the room. To the left of his bed, a narrow table overflowed with small packages, mana-imbued flowers, and holographic cards. A delicate bracelet sat atop a folded letter.
He touched it, instinct guiding him.
It belonged to Ori's sister.
Tears blurred his vision before he realized he was crying. Not just for himself. Not just for Ori. But for *everyone* who had fallen that day.
A knock broke the silence.
Two figures entered. Clad in black tactical armor woven with runes, they exuded authority and power. The Awakened Association. He recognized the insignia instantly.
The woman stepped forward first. Tall, dark-skinned, hair braided with mana-wire. Her eyes missed nothing. "You're awake. Good. I'm Officer Kael."
Beside her, the older man offered a short nod. "Rayne. Evaluations Officer."
Orion didn't speak. He just looked at them, alert but wary.
Kael stepped closer. "We reviewed the footage. You awakened during the siege. You were not registered before. That makes you an *emergency Awakened*. That status carries obligations—and benefits."
Rayne handed him a sleek, glowing data-slate. "Five days. That's how long until the Tower Academy holds its entrance exams. You qualify. But you'll need to register officially, undergo testing, and survive the preliminary dungeon trials."
Kael's tone softened, but her eyes stayed sharp. "We also wanted to say… we're sorry about your family."
Orion froze.
Rayne added, "Their DNA was verified. They're among the confirmed casualties."
Kael placed a small item on the nightstand—a polished obsidian token, engraved with a glowing silver rune.
The Awakening Seal.
Once they were gone, the silence returned.
Orion stared at the token. Then he picked up one of the cards.
> *"We mourn with you, Ori. Your family was beloved in Sector Nine. May the Tower guide their souls upward."*
He held onto the bracelet and sat in stillness.
---
Later that evening, a nurse brought a tray of food—enhanced with minor healing properties. Orion ate in silence, his thoughts grinding like ancient gears. The physical pain was fading. But the weight of inheritance remained. Ori's soul was gone, but his love, grief, and aspirations lingered in the marrow of this new body.
When the room dimmed for night-cycle, Orion sat cross-legged on the bed. The moonlight from the mana-screen traced faint silver lines along his skin.
And finally, the voice returned.
> **"Welcome, Orion."**
A luminous panel flickered into view before him.
**\[SYSTEM ACTIVATION COMPLETE]**
**Welcome, Orion.**
> **Race:** Hybrid – High Human Variant (Awakened)
> **Class:** Unassigned
> **System Authority:** Locked \[Pending Class Selection]
> **Skills:** None
> **Essence Fragments Absorbed:** 0
> **Inventory:** Empty
> **Special Conditions:** \[Welcome Package Pending]
Another tab blinked open.
> **Status Panel (Basic)**
* Strength: 19
* Agility: 21
* Vitality: 23
* Mana: 34
* Perception: 18
* Intelligence: 29
> *Note: Physical stats recovering from trauma. System recommends stabilization before engaging in combat.*
A third prompt followed.
**Quest Created: \[Path of Ascent]**
**Objectives:**
* Register with the Awakened Association
* Complete Physical and Magical Aptitude Evaluation
* Meet Minimum Entry Requirements for Tower Academy
**Time Limit:** 5 Days
A fourth prompt hovered beneath the rest, flickering softly.
> **Optional Reward: Open Welcome Package?**
He stared at it.
But didn't touch it.
Not yet.
Not until he understood exactly what he was dealing with.
He closed the panel with a thought. The light faded. The room dimmed. And for the first time since waking up, he smiled faintly.
"I'll start from zero," he whispered. "But I won't stay there for long."
The evaluation chamber was nothing like the hospital.
Polished stone. Runed walls. Monitoring crystals pulsing faintly with observation magic.
Behind mirrored glass, analysts watched as he stepped into the testing square.
**First: Stat Calibration.**
A circular platform lit beneath him, scanning silently. Despite the injuries and weight loss from weeks unconscious, the raw numbers shocked the observers.
**Strength:** E-
**Agility:** Mid E
**Mana Output:** Mid E to Low D
**Vital Capacity:** Stabilizing
No dramatic fanfare. Just murmurs behind the glass.
**Second: Combat Instinct Assessment.**
Light-based illusions flared to life, casting shifting forms — wolves, bandits, a flickering mimic — each mimicking real threat patterns.
Ori didn't fight with flashy powers. He moved with clarity, control, adjusting on instinct, using terrain, momentum, timing. His strikes were precise — efficient.
The projection faded.
A score appeared on the main wall:
---
**Combat Instinct Rating: 82/100**
---
Again, muted surprise among the evaluators.
"Unknown class," someone noted. "High awakening potential."
"No affinity type yet? Or hidden?"
"Flag for monitoring."
Ori ignored them.
He stepped outside into the cooling air, evening shadows stretching across the cracked pavement. In his hands was a sealed welcome package — instructions, a dungeon map, orientation guides, maybe even his first training script.
He didn't open it. Not yet.
He sat on the nearest bench and stared at the sky.
A ping from his system appeared:
---
**New Quest: Prepare for Tower Academy**
**Objectives:**
– Clear Level 1 Dungeon
– Survive Level 2 Dungeon
– Unlock Combat Class
---
No voice accompanied it. Just quiet.
The weight of it pressed down on him — but not in a crushing way.
In a *calling* kind of way.
He stood.
Somewhere, a clock tower rang out seven sharp chimes. In the distance, the dungeon quarter flickered with activity. Quiet footsteps echoed from other Awakened heading to their night runs.
Ori moved to follow them.
His fingers tightened around the sealed package.
**"Let's see what this system can really do."**
And he disappeared into the city's waiting dark.
The welcome package sat quietly in his system, waiting.
He could feel it there—like a silent pulse beneath the surface of his consciousness, a promise of something new, something powerful. It had been there since the moment the system granted it to him. Yet until now, he hadn't dared open it. The weight of what it might contain had made him hesitate. What if it was more than he could handle? What if accepting it meant irrevocably changing the path ahead?
But now, standing on the edge of his first true challenge—a level 1 practice dungeon designed to test and hone his abilities—the lingering doubts faded. No more delays. No more waiting. It was time.
He took a deep breath, centering his thoughts. With a focused will, he reached inward and summoned the package. It unfolded smoothly within his mind's eye, like a scroll unraveling in slow motion. Data streamed into him like a soft tide, weaving itself carefully into his very essence.
---
**Bloodline of True Harmony**
The first gift was more than just a name or title—it was a revelation. The Bloodline of True Harmony.
He felt it immediately. Not as a rush of raw power, but as a profound alignment deep within his core. This bloodline was a masterful weaving of elemental forces—no longer separate, no longer in conflict. All elements… each synchronized and balanced within him.
There was no longer fire warring with water, or earth resisting wind. Instead, they flowed as one, threads in a seamless tapestry of energy. It was balance incarnate, a state of perfect equilibrium that transcended ordinary limits.
This was not simply about power; it was about potential—limitless potential. The elemental forces no longer fought for dominance but existed in coexistence, amplifying each other, forming a stable foundation on which he could build anything.
---
**Custom Class: The All Master**
Next came the declaration of his class. The All Master.
Unlike conventional classes, which locked users into a single archetype or path, this class was crafted for flexibility and survival above all. It was designed for the ultimate test of adaptability—whatever the challenge, whether in a dungeon, a skirmish, or deeper trials ahead.
Passive growth when alone meant he could advance without the need for constant battles or parties. He would grow steadily, sharpening every aspect of himself even in solitude.
Versatility was key. Offensive, defensive, supportive—he could shift his focus as the situation demanded, adapting seamlessly. There was no rigid role here, no narrow specialty.
This class was a reflection of the bloodline's harmony—embracing every role, every skill, every strategy. It was the embodiment of mastery in its fullest sense.
---
**Skill: I Just Rub**
The name made him smirk slightly—simple, almost casual.
But the power it held was anything but ordinary.
"I Just Rub" was deceptively straightforward. Anything he physically rubbed—equipment, skill tomes, even other items—would evolve and improve. More than that, it allowed him to copy abilities by touch.
Every battle, every encounter became an opportunity to grow stronger, to learn something new. The possibilities were endless.
He could refine a basic sword into a weapon of legend, or upgrade an ancient spellbook with newfound knowledge. He could even replicate powerful abilities from foes, storing them away for his own use.
This was a skill that promised exponential growth, fueled by the simple act of contact.
---
**Skill: Extraction**
The next skill slid into his awareness with a sharp clarity.
Extraction—the ability to draw elemental power, skills, or attributes from defeated enemies.
But it wasn't mere theft.
It was learning.
Adapting.
Growing.
Each victory became a lesson, a source of new strength. The fragments of defeated foes became pieces of himself, seamlessly integrated into his expanding arsenal.
With Extraction, every foe could become a stepping stone, every battle an opportunity to ascend higher.
---
**Skill: Super Growth**
The crown jewel of the package revealed itself next.
Super Growth.
Experience, stats, and skills—everything would now progress at ten times the normal rate.
A true game-changer.
Though this was only a level 1 practice dungeon, with this advantage, he could sharpen his edge faster than most, preparing himself for whatever lay beyond.
He could master skills faster, strengthen his body with each passing moment, and adapt to dangers with lightning speed.
This was the edge that would set him apart, the force multiplier for everything he did.
---
**Skill: Raphael: Lord of Wisdom**
Then, almost like a presence entering his mind, came Raphael.
Not a voice, not quite a separate being, but a semi-sentient intelligence bound to him.
Raphael was a master strategist and scholar.
It processed thoughts millions of times faster than normal, simulating countless battle scenarios in seconds, analyzing enemy weaknesses and strengths, synthesizing skills to create new, optimized abilities.
It could instantly construct and cast spells it had seen before, weaving multi-elemental magic and barriers in real time.
In combat, Raphael could take control of his body autonomously, making flawless tactical decisions and freeing him to focus on broader strategies.
It managed connections to familiars, summons, and slaves, maintaining perfect control and balance.
Calm, logical, and fiercely loyal, Raphael was a guide, a weapon, and a guardian in one.
---
**Skill: Mana Absorption**
Finally, the last gift settled deeply into his system.
Mana Absorption.
A skill both passive and active.
He could draw ambient mana from the world around him, refining it into usable elemental energy.
More than that, he could actively drain mana from enemies, magical constructs, and even spells cast nearby—reclaiming precious energy that others wasted.
Excess mana could be stored in auxiliary pools or converted into elemental charges for later use.
Advanced traits enhanced this skill: mana regeneration boosted through vampirism, instant fueling of spells with drained mana, and even the disruption of enchanted objects through mana destabilization.
Mana Absorption was the lifeblood that would sustain his power, the unseen reservoir from which he could draw endlessly.
---
As the final strands of information locked into place, his system presented a new notification with undeniable clarity:
*"Welcome to your first dungeon challenge."*
Coordinates, dungeon floor level, and a ticking time limit flashed before him.
The gateway to his first trial inside the practice dungeon awaited.
He let out a steady breath and centered himself.
With a calm but resolute step, he moved forward.
The air shimmered as the entrance materialized before him—a swirling portal framed in ancient runes and humming with potent energy.
---
Inside, the environment shifted immediately.
The chamber was vast, dimly lit by a spectral glow that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves.
The air was thick with latent mana, heavy with the promise of danger and discovery.
He summoned his status panel.
Immediately, a detailed display filled his vision—his stats, skills, bloodline, and class lay spread before him like an intricate blueprint of power.
Every detail was crisp and vibrant.
---
# SYSTEM STATUS PANEL
**MASTER STAT:** 20
*Note:* Adding 1 point to Master Stat increases all attribute categories equally.
**LEVEL:** 8
**CLASS:** The All Master (Passive growth enabled)
**BLOODLINE:** True Harmony (All elements balanced within)
---
**SKILLS:**
* I Just Rub: Ready
* Extraction: Ready
* Super Growth: Active
* Raphael: Fully operational
* Mana Absorption: Active
---
**MANA POOLS:**
* Ambient Absorption: 75% full
* Drained Mana Reserve: 40% full
* Elemental Charges: 30% full
---
**NOTIFICATIONS:**
* Dungeon Time Limit: 2 hours 30 minutes remaining
* Unknown anomaly: Faint irregularity detected beneath system surface
* Raphael recommends caution and analysis before engagement
---
Beneath the surface of the data, however, a faint irregularity flickered—a subtle blip, a shadow of something concealed.
Curious, he leaned in to investigate, but before he could dive deeper, the chamber trembled.
A low, ominous rumble echoed through the vast space.
The dungeon itself was awakening.
The challenge had begun.
---
Time was running.
Every second now counted.
And though his powers had just been revealed, the true test was only starting to unfold.
---
Would he rise?
Or would the practice dungeon claim him as it had so many before?
Orion stepped carefully into the dim chamber beyond the swirling portal. The faint glow of spectral light cast long shadows on the uneven stone floor. The air hummed with latent energy, thick and charged. His first dungeon challenge had begun.
He focused inward, seeking the presence of his elemental forces. The Bloodline of True Harmony within him wasn't just a passive trait—it was a living balance. All elements lived in harmony, each synchronized, balanced deep inside his core. But balance didn't mean mastery. Not yet.
He decided to start simply. One element at a time.
His fingers twitched as he summoned the fire element first, the one most familiar to him. A tiny spark flickered at his fingertips. It burned without consuming, warm and alive. He willed it to grow, feeling the flow of energy from his master stat—the single unified power source underpinning everything.
The flame expanded smoothly, controlled perfectly by his will. No wild bursts, no runaway blaze. It danced like a flame contained in a glass orb.
*This is control,* he thought. *Not just power.*
Focusing harder, he shaped the flame into a small blade of fire, a concentrated edge humming with heat. He flicked it forward in a precise slash, watching the sparks scatter. The thrill of creation sparked something deeper within.
As he felt the blade pulse with his essence, a new notification flashed in his mind: *Skill Acquired: Elemental Blade — Generate and control a weapon of pure elemental energy.*
Almost instantly, another notification followed, shimmering with an ethereal glow: *All Elements Skill Acquired: Elemental Blade — Mastery of elemental weapon creation applied to all elements.*
He smiled to himself. The Bloodline truly was a symphony. Every elemental skill learned with one element was granted for all, instantly.
Next, he reached out to the water element. The cool essence swirled gently at his palm, fluid and adaptive. He shaped it into a whip-like lash, flowing and flexible. He lashed it out, feeling the wetness splash and retract seamlessly.
*Water is freedom,* he thought. *The opposite of fire, but just as deadly.*
The Elemental Blade skill adapted perfectly to water too, the fiery blade becoming a shimmering whip of water that could cut and bind. He could already imagine combining elements — fire's heat with water's flow, earth's weight with wind's speed.
Experimentation was necessary.
As he moved through the chamber, shadows twisted and shifted. His first enemies appeared—golems formed of rock and metal, sluggish but tough.
He attacked first with fire. The elemental blade slashed through the metal golem's arm, sparks flying but the golem barely faltered.
Switching to earth, he summoned a stone hammer, solid and heavy, and smashed down with crushing force. The golem stumbled, cracks spreading across its rocky surface.
The monsters were slow but durable. They gave him a chance to test defense and agility. He raised a shimmering barrier of wind, light but swift, deflecting a crushing blow with a whoosh. The sensation of the wind barrier was like holding back a storm, effortless and natural.
Another notification appeared: *Skill Acquired: Elemental Barrier — Generate protective shields from elemental energy. All Elements Skill Applied.*
With every ability, every movement, his mastery deepened. He wasn't just wielding fire or water or earth separately; he was weaving them into one flowing force, balanced and whole.
The golems crumbled beneath his varied assault. Each victory taught him something new. Extraction activated automatically—tiny fragments of elemental power, skills, and attributes were drawn into his system, merging with his essence.
With each fragment, his master stat increased slowly. From 20 to 21. The increase felt like a pulse spreading through his entire being.
*It's small,* he thought, *but every bit counts.*
The challenge pushed him to adapt quickly. He found himself weaving attacks—launching a fiery blade, then striking with earthen force, then swirling water to bind and slow enemies.
Raphael's presence was constant in the background, analyzing and simulating. The semi-sentient intelligence suggested combinations and strategies in silent flashes of insight.
At one point, a massive stone golem lunged forward, and Raphael took momentary control, maneuvering Orion's body with perfect timing to dodge a devastating strike and counter with a wind-powered slash that cut through the golem's armor.
The fight was intense but brief. The golems fell, one after another, and he pressed forward deeper into the dungeon.
The environment shifted. The spectral glow dimmed, and an ominous silence settled. The air was thick with anticipation.
Before him loomed a massive door etched with glowing runes.
He sensed the power behind it. The boss chamber.
His system alerted him again: *Boss room detected. Prepare for imminent combat.*
He activated his status panel once more.
His master stat stood at 21 now, reflecting his first gains.
All elements shimmered equally, a balanced gauge of power and potential.
His skills were ready, his bloodline thrumming with latent energy.
But beneath the surface of the data, something flickered—a faint anomaly, a hidden shadow.
His curiosity sparked, but the door ahead suddenly rumbled, a deep growl echoing through the chamber.
The dungeon itself seemed alive, warning him—the real test was about to begin.
He steadied his breath, tightened his grip on his elemental blade, and stepped forward.
The challenge was only just unfolding.