"Status"
After murmuring that word, a semi-transparent black screen appeared in front of me. Purple letters floated softly, displaying detailed information about me.
[
Level: 1
Name: Noah Maxwell
Race: Arkhon
Age: 19
Titles: The First
Fragments: 1/6
Strength (STR): 10
Stamina (STA): 10
Constitution (CON): 10
Intelligence (INT): 10
Charisma (CHA): 10
Mana: 25
Luck: 100
Skill(s): (Extraction – EX) - (Appraisal – EX)
]
"I really... I'm not human."
The information I received from my alter ego fit together like pieces of an incomplete puzzle. Just as he had said, they were fragments, disconnected parts, empty spaces where something—or someone—had deliberately limited my understanding. Even so, I now had a clearer idea of what my power truly was.
My power... was similar to that of the entity that once saved humanity. When someone awakened, a window like this would appear, revealing their class and attributes. Normally, everyone started at level 1. The average attribute value for an adult human was around 5. To level up, you had to kill monsters. Each defeated creature granted experience, and there was a 5% chance of obtaining one of their skills.
But what no one knew... was that when a creature was killed, only 5% of its experience was actually absorbed. The other 95% went directly to the entity. That "experience" was, in reality, fragments of the monsters' souls, used as fuel to force the evolution of the Awakened, breaking through limits that would otherwise be impossible to surpass.
And my power?
Well... my skill, [Extraction], gave me two choices whenever I defeated an enemy: I could absorb 100% of their experience, or directly steal one of their skills.
But, of course, there were rules.
The target could only be up to 50% stronger than me in level... and couldn't be weaker. If the enemy's level was lower than mine, the skill simply wouldn't activate.
An absurd ability. And even more terrifying... this wasn't even its true potential. I was just scratching the surface.
My second skill, Appraisal, was equally dangerous. I could analyze absolutely anything: objects, creatures, people... anything, as long as its level wasn't 50% higher than mine. Like Extraction, this power had hidden layers that I had yet to discover.
And then, there was the title.
"The First..."
Thanks to it, my Luck was abnormally high. So high that improbable events began to happen with increasing frequency. Luck... or perhaps, a crueler form of misfortune in disguise.
But what really caught my attention... was my race.
"Arkhon..."
Nothing.
No explanation. No clue. Not even a hint.
The only thing I knew... was that I had never been human. That lineage had always been dormant within me. And only after fusing with that stone... did it awaken.
My eyes scanned my new body, now visibly more refined. I could perceive details I wouldn't have noticed before. Mana veins pulsed beneath my skin, forming perfect, symmetrical circuits, as if I were some kind of masterpiece of engineering.
My musculature... wasn't bulky or grotesque. It was lean. Precise. Like the body of a predator, shaped by nature itself for perfection. Every fiber seemed tailor-made, designed for maximum efficiency, both in combat and mana control.
But what truly held my gaze... was the core. Instinctively, I placed my hand over my chest, where the crimson stone pulsed in sync with my heartbeat. It no longer seemed like a simple crystal. It was embedded in my flesh, surrounded by mana branches that intertwined like roots, connecting directly to my heart.
My fingers slid across my skin, tracing the marks that now adorned my body. They weren't mere tattoos. They were glyphs. Complex arcane symbols, drawn in thin, metallic lines, as if seared into my skin. The lines connected at perfect angles, forming a large pentagon at the center of my chest.
At each of the five vertices... there were grooves. Perfectly carved recesses—circles, triangles, and other patterns—that fit organically into the symmetry of the markings.
As I looked, my entire body tingled. A mix of anticipation... fear... and excitement. Because somehow, even without explanation, I knew. I knew exactly what was meant to be placed there. And once those spaces were filled... something would awaken.
My eyes returned to the screen.
[Fragments: 1/6]
"What exactly... are these fragments?"
I sighed. The night breeze blew softly, rustling my hair. I ran a hand through it, closing my eyes for a brief moment.
"It's late... I better get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day."
I turned and went back inside. Each step echoed with the weight of the recent events. My mind was still racing, but I knew that forcing answers wouldn't lead anywhere. Time... only time would reveal them.
My mother used to say: "Don't rush. Think before you act." And that... that's what I believed in.
Click
I opened the bedroom door. Entered and closed it with a gentle push. Put my clothes in the laundry basket and headed for the bathroom.
Hot water ran down my skin, flowing down my back, washing away the day's tension. Steam filled the small shower, silencing the outside world for a few precious minutes. I ran my hands over my shoulders, chest, tracing the lines that now resembled ancient circuits, my living tattoo. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, as if the water could cleanse not only my body but everything that had changed inside me.
After the shower, I put on clean clothes, a comfortable black T-shirt and a light hoodie. I sat at the edge of the bed and shouted:
"Alter...?"
[…]
'Maybe... he's still asleep. I fused too much of my power...'
He said he was part of me, an extension of what my body couldn't absorb. During those 12 hours of fusion, my consciousness worked nonstop, assimilating what it could. Maybe that's why I still felt so exhausted.
I lay down. The softness of the mattress was an unexpected relief. My eyes grew heavy. And then... I fell asleep.
The Next Day
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, painting the room in a soft golden hue. My eyes opened slowly, still heavy, as if the night had lasted only a few minutes. The headache was gone. My body... felt 100% recovered.
I got up without hurry, taking a deep breath of the morning air. It was cold, clean... too silent.
The absence of everyday sounds—horns, hurried footsteps, human voices—made the loneliness sink in deeper.
After a quick shower, I dressed in practical clothes: sturdy dark pants, a simple T-shirt, and a light but functional jacket. I strapped a knife sheath to my hip, more for precaution than necessity, and began packing my backpack.
Calmly, I packed the essentials: water bottles, canned food, a LED flashlight, a small first-aid kit, a lighter, rope, and a notebook with a pen. You never know when you'll need to write something down. Finally, I folded a thermal blanket and placed it at the bottom of the bag.
I zipped it up and stood still for a moment, observing the environment. The house was exactly as I had left it the night before, but now, in daylight, it felt even emptier.
"Aunt... Ana..."
I sighed and slung the backpack over my shoulders.
"Today is the first day... of the rest of my year. Alone... on this planet."
My goal was clear: explore the city. I needed to understand what had happened, map out the surroundings, and find the source of the noise I heard yesterday.
"I need to see how the creatures are evolving..."
And above all... learn about this new world. After all... I'd be alone here for a whole year.
Adjusting the backpack straps, I went down the stairs. The world had changed. And now... it was my turn to change with it.
As I opened the door, the morning air hit my face—a fresh breeze, yet strangely heavy. I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.
The first thing I noticed was how the air felt different—denser, heavier. It wasn't just the morning humidity or the psychological weight of an empty city. It was something beyond that... something alive.
That energy... mana. It was as if the world itself was breathing. Mana was no longer a theory, nor just something Alter told me about. I could feel it in the air filling my lungs, in the almost imperceptible vibration beneath my feet, in the faint hum that danced in my ears. Subtle... but omnipresent.
"Everything... has mana now," I murmured, looking around.
The leaves on the trees, once just green, now seemed more vivid, as if bathed in liquid light. The grass beneath my feet shimmered with a faint greenish-blue glow, almost invisible to the naked eye, but obvious if you knew where to look.
The wind blew gently, making the leaves dance over the cracked asphalt. Everything was absurdly silent, except for a distant, muffled metallic sound, like something scraping against a building's structure.
I walked along the sidewalk, passing abandoned cars, open doors, shattered storefronts. It was as if the city had been evacuated in a hurry. No bodies. No blood. Just... absence.
"They were really teleported... all at once."
My eyes scanned the surroundings. I began making mental notes: bakery on the corner, pharmacy across the street, a market with shattered glass doors... All valuable information. Any detail could be crucial later.
Suddenly, a crash. A car fell from the top of a building. The sound of twisting metal echoed through the silent streets. Instinctively, I ducked, looking toward where the vehicle had landed.
"What the hell was that?"
At the top of a commercial building, something moved. A giant rat, about two meters long. Its body was bulky, covered in dark, matted fur. Amber eyes glowed intensely, and its long teeth clicked in a rhythmic snap. Razor-sharp claws scraped the concrete as it sniffed the air, alert to any movement.
"Definitely not human..."
I crouched, sliding between cars, careful not to make noise. I watched for a few more seconds. The creature let out a dry hiss, a mix between a growl and steam, before retreating into the building.
"So... it begins. The creatures are starting to appear."
I took a deep breath and stood up. My adrenaline was through the roof. I knew I'd have to face one sooner or later, but not now. Not unprepared.
I headed toward the supermarket. If there were still supplies inside, it would be my first stronghold. Stock up on food, find potable water, check for flashlights, batteries... maybe a knife or a multitool.
The city was now a survival field. And I... I was the last player left.
4o