"My name… is Arven. I am the relic of a being who once ruled over the Abyss of the End. My former master was a Tier 9 existence—feared across countless cosmos. And I…"
His eyes gleamed with a cold, eternal light.
"…am what remains of his legacy."
"Huh...? What do you mean by that? Are you some kind of god, or just this... whatever ruler of the Abyss your master was?"
"Oh, you won't get it with words alone," Arven replied with a lazy grin, then lifted a single finger. "Let me show you—the painful way."
A spark ignited deep inside Evan's soul.
A heartbeat later, his mind was flooded. Images, voices, memories—not his own—crashed into him like an unstoppable tide. A different life, a distant past... It all poured into him in an instant. And with it came agony.
Evan's body convulsed. The sheer overload of memories ignited a strange heat within him as if his entire being was burning from the inside out.
Arven watched calmly, unfazed. He knew Evan wouldn't die. Not now.
"He'll understand everything… once he wakes up."
Hours passed. The sky outside his apartment turned bright as the morning sun bathed the world in light.
Evan suddenly jolted upright from his bed, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.
He scanned the room in a daze, heart pounding like thunder.
"Arven... you still here?"
"Where else would I be? We're bound now, remember?"
"No, I just... I had to check. Those memories felt so damn real. I lived them—his pain, his regrets... The way he was broken again and again, only to rise each time. The loneliness… the madness."
He paused, wiping his face.
"And then that old man… the one who saved him. The one who gave him a home. His death was the trigger, wasn't it? That's when your master started becoming something... else."
"Exactly. That old man was the only light left in his world. When he passed, my master stopped being human… and became a legend."
"I can't believe someone like that… came from nothing. Just a normal guy. But he became the most feared Ancient Death God of Primordial Souls."
"And yet, no one believed in him at first," Arven said, his tone a bit softer now. "He was seen as a nobody. Edgy, reckless, unstable. But in the end, he stood alone at the peak, wielding powers that defied even Tier 10 beings."
"But..." Evan frowned. "I never got to hear his name. Like... something blocked it from me."
"There was a barrier. His name isn't something you can handle yet. But don't worry," Arven said, floating lazily. "In time… you'll hear it too."
Evan sat in silence. He had thought his life was painful. But after reliving that man's journey, his own struggles felt… lighter somehow. Less suffocating.
"I won't compare anymore. That guy… he lived through hell itself."
He took a deep breath, then stood up.
"Anyway, I've got no time to mope. I'm leaving for CGA today. There's no turning back now."
With that, Evan summoned his system window, checking over the changes in his status. A quiet smirk played at his lips.
His stats had grown. Not massively—but enough to brush against the limit of his current Tier. Several attributes were inching toward the cap, floating between the 20–30 range.
Soon, the system would lock them out.
And that could only mean one thing—
He was nearly ready to ascend.
To Tier 1.
================
◆ HP: 13,240 (Regen: 66.20/min)
◆ MP: 19,330 (Regen: 96.65/min)
◆ Strength (STR): 96 {+12 Red} (67↑)
◆ Agility (AGL): 61 {+12 Red} (81↑)
◆ Vitality (VIT): 24 {+13 Red} (47↑)
◆ Intelligence (INT): 33 {+19 Red} (134↑)
◆ Endurance (END): 55 {+10 Red} (23↑)
◆ Stamina (STA): 04 {+10 Red} (66↑)
◆ Spirit (SPT): 20 {+4 Red} (60↑)
◆ Unassigned Stats: 00 (0↑)
◆ Attack Power:3,068.4 (Physical, {STR+AGL} *1.2) | 2,899.5 (Elemental, INT*1.5)
◆ Defense:2059+160 ({END+STA} 1)
◆ Storage Summon:2,613/4,200
--> 852 × Normal Summons
--> 349 × Elite Summons
--> 2 × Mid-Boss Summon
================
Evan noticed that his summon storage was about halfway depleted after his battle with Lucas, but he wasn't too concerned since Nexus always had an abundance of bodies for him to use.
Meanwhile, his focus shifted to the new items in his arsenal, which seemed almost too overpowered.
==========
[Talent: Draconic Insight – SSS Rank] [🔒]
Type: Passive/Active Hybrid – Skill Transmutation
Description: A sovereign legacy whispered from the hearts of ancient True Dragons. Draconic Insight infuses the user's soul with the primordial understanding of Dragon Tongue—the language that shaped creation. With it, the user can evolve any learned skill into its Draconic Variant, transforming ordinary abilities into overwhelming forces of destruction, dominion, or defence. This talent grows alongside the user, reshaping their combat style into something feared by even the heavens.
🔹 Core Effects:
• Dragon's Voice (Passive)
Allows the user to invoke the Primordial Dragon Tongue when casting skills.
➤ Skill effects gain an additional +35% amplification in potency, range, or impact.
➤ Enemy resistances are partially ignored if the user's INT or WIS exceeds theirs.
• Dragon's Might (Active)
Temporarily boosts the raw force behind all skill-based abilities.
➤ +25% to all stat-based skill amplifications for 30 seconds.
➤ Skills temporarily gain tier-up effects, acting one grade higher.
(Cooldown: 180 seconds)
• Dragon's Curse (Active)
Infuse skills with a draconic mark that destabilizes enemies.
➤ Cursed targets suffer -20% DEF and M.RES.
➤ Additional effects based on skill type (e.g., fire skills cause burns, shadow skills cause fear). (Duration: 12 seconds | Cooldown: 60 seconds)
• Dragon's Wisdom (Passive Growth Effect)
Skills gradually adapt and evolve with continued usage.
➤ After 50 uses, a skill begins shifting into a Draconic Variant, gaining new traits.
➤ The user can store up to 5 evolved skills at once.
➤ Skills adapted into Draconic Variants gain new names and visuals.
__
[Talent: Radiant Sanctum – S Rank]
Type: Passive/Active Hybrid – Life & Holy Energy Manipulation
Attribute Affinity: Light | Life | Holy
Description: An ancient talent born from sacred domains long buried beneath the stars. Radiant Sanctum grants the user command over life energy and divine radiance, allowing them to mend the wounded, smite the wicked, and become a beacon of hope on the battlefield. As the user grows, their connection to the sanctified currents of existence deepens—bringing restoration or judgment with each breath.
🔹 Core Abilities
• Sanctum Pulse (Active – Area Heal)
Unleash a wave of radiant life energy that restores vitality to allies within a 12-meter radius.
➤ Heals 20% of max HP over 5 seconds.
➤ Removes basic debuffs (poison, burn, minor curses). (Cooldown: 45 seconds)
• Radiant Lance (Active – Offensive Spell)
Condense holy light into a piercing lance that targets enemies with unholy or corrupt auras.
➤ Deals magic damage scaling with INT.
➤ +30% bonus damage to undead, demons, and corrupted entities.
➤ On hit: Briefly blinds target for 2 seconds. (Cooldown: 25 seconds)
• Halo of the Sanctum (Passive Aura)
A gentle, passive field of light envelops the user.
➤ Allies within 5 meters gain +5% HP regen and minor resistance to debuffs.
➤ Slightly weakens dark-type skill effectiveness around the user.
• Benediction (Active–Targeted Blessing)
Imbue a single target with radiant protection for 10 seconds.
➤ Reduces incoming damage by 15%.
➤ Increases healing received by 25%.(Cooldown: 60 seconds)
__
[Ability: True Dragon Body – SSS Rank] [🔒]
Type: Transformation | Draconic Body Art | Bloodline Fusion
Requirements: Assimilation of a True Dragon's Bloodline (minimum 10%)
Nature: Permanent Enhancement + Active Awakening
Description: Forged from the fusion of ancient bloodline inheritance and legendary draconic traits, the True Dragon Body represents the highest possible evolution of a mortal's physique toward that of a Primordial Dragon. This ability manifests only when a host possesses a substantial draconic bloodline, innate compatibility, and mastery over core draconic instincts such as Fear, Scale, Breath, and Tongue. With a touch of Draconic Insight, this power surpasses natural growth and forcibly rewrites the user's body into a vessel worthy of true draconic might.
Once awakened, the user no longer walks as a mortal but as a hybridized dragonic entity.
🔹 Core Traits and Effects
• Draconic Flesh:
The user's skin evolves into scaled tissue resistant to blades, magic, poison, and elemental force.
➤ +80% Physical Defense
➤ +50% Elemental Resistance
➤ Immune to Bleeding and Minor Status Conditions
• Dragon Fear Domain:
Passive aura effect emitted at all times. Enemies within 20 meters suffer mental suppression.
➤ -25% effectiveness to all enemy actions (weakened will, shaky casting, unstable swordplay).
➤ Lesser beings may faint or flee without a fight. (Elite enemies require Mental Resistance to stay composed.)
• Draconic Pulse Core :
The user's heart mimics a Dragon Core, releasing elemental waves according to bloodline affinity.
➤ Every 15 seconds, gain a +20% temporary damage buff of the primary element (Lasts 5 seconds).
➤ May absorb environmental mana to recover faster.
• Breath Channeling (Awakened):
Infuse mana into your core and exhale it as a condensed Draconic Breath Attack.
➤ Scaling based on INT + END + Bloodline Purity
➤ Cooldown: 90 seconds (Base Breath)
➤ Can evolve based on the element.
• Dragon Tongue – Command of Instincts:
The user can influence lower dragon-type creatures or reptilian beasts.
➤ Use Dragonic Speech to issue single-word commands (Submit, Flee, Halt).
➤ Higher dragons may react with recognition or aggression depending on bloodline purity.
🔸 Passive Enhancement: True Form Resonance
• Strength, Endurance, and Vitality are permanently increased by +100.
• Maximum HP +40%, Mana Capacity +30%
• Stamina loss from physical arts reduced by 25%.
• Skill evolution rate increases for all Dragon-related abilities.
===========
"Well… my talents are too overpowered, honestly. But they're still at such a low level. If they were even half-awakened right now, I could probably beat a newly formed Tier 1 Hunter without breaking a sweat."
"Hmm... maybe you are a brat," Arven said, scanning him thoughtfully. "But I'll give you this—just by observing your growth in this life, it's clear. You're destined to surpass 99.9% of the entire cosmos. The remaining 0.1%? Just anomalies."
"True, I guess." Evan gave a casual shrug. "But wait… what do you mean 'in this life'?"
Arven smirked. "Come on. Growing this fast in a single life? Taking over a weak Tier 0 body and wielding a soul that rivals a peak Tier 5 warrior? Do you think I can't see through that? You're a returnee—from a different timeline. With my knowledge and experience, I'd say… you've come back at least twice. This must be your third life, right?"
"Ah… yeah. You're right," Evan admitted quietly. "I came back to the past with all this as my reward... for surviving those lives and all that suffering."
"That kind of power only comes from great pain," Arven said with a sigh. "I don't envy you."
"Haha… I guess not." Evan smiled weakly, glancing at the clock.
His eyes widened. "Shi... I'm gonna be late again!"
He rushed to get dressed, pulled out a pack of instant noodles he'd been saving, and wolfed them down. While eating, he did one last scan of the room—this would be the last time he'd stay here. Since he was leaving for Nexus, there was no point holding on to it. Might as well return it.
As he double-checked his bags, he noticed Arven still hovering nearby, eyes glued to his status screen.
"Hey. We need to move. What're you doing?"
"I'm coming… just browsing your status. But let me ask you something—why haven't you used the Eternal System yet? It's supposed to be bound to you."
"You mean that locked system?" Evan blinked. "Yeah, it's still sealed for like... eight more weeks. Since you were sealed when I received it, the system hasn't authorized full access yet. It's only partially active."
"Hmph… I could probably fix that. But let me ask something else—what the hell are you doing?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean this—packing? Leaving? That's not what I'm talking about!" Arven snapped, his tone sharpening. "Why are you sitting on all this power and not using it properly? Your class is low-level. Your talents are stagnant. Your skills—don't get me started—are barely mutated even though I can sense fragments of evolution inside your body. Are you seriously this clueless? You're wasting everything!"
Evan blinked in confusion. "W-What? I don't understand. What do you mean by talent upgrades and class mutations?"
Arven dragged a hand down his face.
"You're a fool," he muttered. "The guy who originally gathered all these complementary talents—he did it for something. He wanted my previous master's legacy. But fate denied him. Despite all his preparation, he couldn't obtain it. Why? Because destiny chose you instead."
"Wait... what? That guy—you mean the one who attacked our world—he was searching for something?"
"Exactly. He was preparing to gain my master's legacy. He gathered multiple death-related physiques, but none evolved to the Death Monarch level. None matched."
Arven narrowed his eyes.
"Until he learned of a certain physique—an incomplete one. Not in its prime state yet…"
"In Nexus," Evan finished the sentence, realization dawning.
"Yes. He learned of it. Came to claim the final piece of the legacy. He already had two Soul Orbs—Soul Equipment of unimaginable value—thanks to extreme luck and the very talents you now possess."
Evan's breath caught.
"These talents… they're connected?"
"In synergy," Arven confirmed. "They're built to plunder, fuse, evolve—talents, skills, energies, even bloodlines. That guy won many victories because of them… until you killed him in the last timeline."
"And now I have it all." Evan exhaled slowly. "And no one's left to compete for it…"
"Exactly. But you're sitting on a goldmine like a clueless peasant."
That last line stung more than Evan expected.
"...Then tell me," he said, voice firming. "What should I do? How do I use my talents the right way?"
Arven's expression shifted, finally seeing the right question asked.
"Start by using your Evolution Talent. Don't waste it. Try evolving your physique first—it holds the key."
"You sure that'll work?"
"Absolutely. Just trust me."
Evan closed his eyes and spoke aloud.
"Talent. I wish to evolve something."
[
"I wish to evolve my Physique."
[
"...Then can I evolve anything else—skills, class, or talents?"
[
Evan frowned. "So I'm stuck… like this?"
"Hmph. Looks like I'll have to step in after all," Arven muttered.
With a snap of his fingers, Arven pulled open a flickering golden panel—The Eternal Omniverse System interface.
"What are you doing?" Evan asked, eyeing the strange data streams and encrypted locks.
"Trying to force re-authorization. But this system… it's deeper and more complex than I expected. It's not just sealed—it's intentionally buried. I'll need a few hours to unlock full access."
"If you're saying it'll work, then fine—but can you come with me while doing it? I need to leave now."
"Yeah, yeah. Just shut up and walk. I'll keep working on it while we move."
Arven vanished with the system panel as Evan rolled his eyes, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
He did one last check around the room. Nothing was left behind. Unlike his previous place, there wasn't much sentiment attached to this apartment. It had always felt like a temporary stop on a long road.
Outside, he spotted Horace fixing up a water pipe. Evan handed him the room key, offering a casual goodbye. But to his surprise, the bulky, gruff man dropped the tools and wrapped him in a sudden hug, grinning.
"Take care, kid."
"...You too," Evan muttered, returning the gesture, unsure what to make of it. That guy sure had a weird way of showing emotion.
He slid into the waiting taxi and sped toward the CGA. Traffic was surprisingly light. In just a few minutes, he was standing in front of the Association gates again.
After asking around, he eventually found Darian emerging from his office.
"Sir Darian, I'm here... for the transfer."
"Oh? That was quick. I half-expected you'd forget or flake out. But since you've come... I'll honour my word. Raven made me promise, after all."
"That's why I'm here."
"You sure about this, though?" Darian asked, his face turning serious. "Nexus is no joke. You've got no family to tie you down here, sure, but heading to Nexus now—at Tier 0? That's almost suicidal. The weak are nothing more than pawns there."
"I understand. But I'm ready. I won't be a pawn for long."
Darian sighed, studying Evan's face.
"...Then I won't stop you. But remember—Nexus has wonders... and hells. And no one knows which one you'll land in."
Evan nodded, determined.
They walked down to the basement level, where fewer hunters lingered. A few noticed Darian personally escorting someone and started checking Evan's status screen, curious.
[Name: Evan Ravencall]Tier: 0Level: 100Title: NoneClass: Necromancer (D)]
With a scoff, most lost interest. Just another rich kid getting handed opportunities, they thought.
What they just saw was a system panel Evan created to make people mistakes and view him as a peak one who is about to ascend to Tier 1 but his original level is just near seventy.
But Evan didn't care. What he needed stood right in front of him.
The Nexus portal glowed ominously—like a maw between stars, ready to consume.
Suddenly, Arven appeared beside him, eyes wide.
"Wait… it can't be."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"That portal... the signature it's giving off—this isn't just a portal. It's a fragment of something I know too well. A tiny shard of the Abyss itself."
Evan froze. "What?!"
"It's faint. Minuscule, like a speck of dust—but unmistakable. I was born in the Abyss. That place... it's imprinted into my very soul. If this is truly part of it, then the cosmic gods must've sealed it off long ago and repurposed it as a Nexus link."
"And what does that mean for me?"
Arven smirked, dark amusement flashing across his face. "It means... I might be able to reconnect something powerful through this shard."
"Wait, what exactly are you trying to do?!"
Before Arven could explain, Darian clapped Evan on the back.
"Hey, you alright, kid? You were spacing out."
"Oh! Sorry, just... mesmerized by the portal's aura. It's overwhelming."
"Haha! Just like me back then. First time always hits the hardest."
He handed Evan a small pouch. "A parting gift. It's not much, so don't bother returning it. Just drop by when you're back. Let me know which Expanse you end up in."
Darian walked away with a wave.
Evan opened the pouch and blinked in surprise. Amid a pile of bronze coins was a single silver—worth a hundred bronze on its own.
[Currency Structure]100 Bronze = 1 Silver100 Silver = 1 Gold100 Gold = 1 Platinum
The pouch contained 5 Silver and 50 Bronze—550 Bronze in total. A substantial gift. He smiled faintly.
"He's more generous than I expected," Arven noted. "Maybe you meant more to him than you thought."
"Maybe. Or he just paid back a debt... to both me and Raven."
Evan tucked the pouch away and turned back to the portal.
"Alright, explain this Nexus place again. I need a full picture." Arven asked
Rey nodded as he said. "Let me give you the breakdown."
Nexus Prime is a dimensional realm split into Seven Expanses, each governed by power, danger, and Tier.
Zeroth Expanse – Newbie Ground. Only Tier 0 hunters are allowed here. It's where fresh Adventurers train, survive and level up without interference from higher tiers.
First Expanse – World of Wonders. The entry into true power. Humans begin to awaken further, and demi-lifeforms are introduced. Limit: Tier 1. Regions are ruled by powerful beings called Lords.
Second Expanse – The start of real danger. Death rates spike. Rewards are greater, but so are risks. Rulers here are known as Overlords, who command multiple Lords beneath them. Limit: Tier 2.
Third through Sixth Expanses – Increasingly dangerous and restricted to higher Tiers and so on as the name suggested.
Fourth: Ruled by Noble families of Upper Kingdoms and Empires
Fifth: Ruled by Kings
Sixth: By Emperors
Seventh: By Monarchs – the apex of strength.
"You see, Monarchs sit atop the cosmic food chain," Evan said. "And yet, I—now a Monarch—is nothing in front of them by the growth rate of mine."
"But why did you think you're weak? Once your physique evolves... you'll surpass even them, given time." Arven said with full of determination.
Evan took a breath, deeply moved by the intensity in Arven's voice. A part of him wanted to cry—but he swallowed it down. Too many eyes were on him.
With a final glance around, he stepped forward and entered the portal.
No cheers, no sounds followed. Silence.
Evan opened his eyes—only to find the world around him twisted, dark... and terrifying.
To Be Continued...