The world was dark.
Leon Thorne could feel nothing, hear nothing, and see nothing. It was as though he floated in an endless void, his thoughts scattered like whispers on the wind. The last thing he remembered was the screech of metal, the blaring of horns, and the violent crunch of glass shattering as his car spun out of control. Death had come quickly, but what awaited him now felt like an eternity of silence.
Is this what it means to be dead?
Suddenly, a voice echoed within the void, cold and detached.
[Initializing System... Welcome, User. Reincarnation protocol complete.]
Leon's consciousness snapped into focus. His eyes shot open, and he found himself staring at a sky filled with swirling clouds of purple and gold. He lay on a soft patch of grass in the middle of a vast, unfamiliar forest. Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their bark glowing faintly with an ethereal light, casting long, strange shadows across the ground.
Where am I? he thought, sitting up slowly, his muscles stiff but intact. He patted his body, half-expecting to find injuries, but his skin was smooth and unblemished. In fact, his body felt... different. Stronger, more agile. Like the limitations he'd felt in his old life had vanished.
As he struggled to his feet, the voice returned, this time more urgent.
[Congratulations, User Leon Thorne. You have been reborn in the world of Eryndor & chosen as the host for the Ancient Ascension System.]
Leon blinked, feeling a sudden weight in his mind, a presence that had not been there before. A screen materialized in front of his eyes, translucent and shimmering with faint blue light.
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[Name: Leon Throne]
Class: None
Level: 1
XP: 0/100
HP: 100/100
Mana: 50/50
Skill: Soul Absorption
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He stared at the screen in disbelief. A system? Like in a video game? It took a moment to process. Leon wasn't a gamer by any means, but he'd heard enough about fantasy worlds from friends to recognize what was happening. A system, leveling up, cheat skills... it was almost too surreal to be true.
"Soul Absorption?" Leon muttered, reading the line that caught his eye. As soon as he spoke the words aloud, an explanation appeared beneath the skill name.
[Soul Absorption: The user can absorb the essence of defeated creatures, gaining some of their abilities, attributes, and experience.]
He wasn't sure whether to feel excited or terrified. Absorbing souls sounded like something out of a horror movie. But before he could dwell on it, a rustling sound from the bushes caught his attention. Leon tensed. He turned slowly, half-expecting to see a wild animal ready to tear him apart.
Instead, a small, goblin-like creature with sharp fangs and red eyes crept out from the underbrush. It snarled at him, brandishing a crude knife, saliva dripping from its mouth. Its intent was clear: Leon was the prey.
[Combat initiated.]
The system's cold voice rang out again, and a notification appeared.
[Enemy: Forest Goblin - Level 3]
Level 3? Leon's heart pounded in his chest. He was level 1, unarmed, and facing a creature already two levels stronger than him. Panic surged through him as the goblin lunged forward, slashing with its jagged blade. Leon barely dodged, his feet moving instinctively as adrenaline pumped through his veins.
[Use Soul Absorption upon defeating the enemy to gain abilities.]
The system's words echoed in his head as he stumbled back, narrowly avoiding another strike. He needed to fight, and he needed to win. But how? He had no weapons, no magic, no real combat experience.
Wait... the stick!
Leon's eyes darted to a broken branch on the ground, just within reach. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and swung it with all his might as the goblin charged again. The branch struck the goblin square in the face, knocking it off balance. It howled in pain, clutching its broken nose.
Fueled by desperation, Leon didn't stop. He struck again and again, putting every ounce of strength into each blow. The goblin crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
A ding echoed in Leon's ears, and a wave of energy surged through him. The system screen flashed.
[Forest Goblin defeated. 150 XP gained. Level Up!]
[Level 2 achieved. XP: 50/200.]
[Soul Absorption activated. Acquired skill: Minor Regeneration.]
Leon panted, staring at the creature's body. He had done it. He had actually killed a living being. The realization weighed heavily on him, but before he could process the moral implications, his body suddenly felt... different. Warmth spread through his muscles, and the small cuts he'd suffered during the fight closed up, healing rapidly.
MinorRegeneration...
The system wasn't lying. The goblin's ability had become his own.
He shook his head in disbelief, trying to grasp the reality of the situation. He wasn't on Earth anymore. This world—Eryndor—was a place of magic, danger, and monsters. And somehow, he had a system that could make him stronger.
As Leon wiped the sweat from his brow, the sound of footsteps reached his ears. He froze, turning toward the source. A figure stepped out from behind a tree, a woman with silver hair and emerald eyes that gleamed with intelligence and curiosity. She was tall, regal, and unmistakably not human. Her pointed ears gave her away.
An elf.
She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "Who are you, outsider?" she asked, her voice filled with suspicion. "And why does the magic of the forest react to you?"
Leon swallowed hard. He wasn't sure how to answer. But one thing was certain: his journey in this new world had just begun.
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**End of Chapter 1**