"Status," I called forth.
This time, a golden screen shimmered into existence before my eyes, letters etched in deep black creating a beautiful contrast. It hovered silently in front of me, as it laid my stats, potential and skills for display.
< Status Window >
Name: Thorin Frostbane
Age: 16
Rank: E-
Potential: B-
Race: Human
Affinity: ice
[ Attributes ]
• Strength: E-
• Speed: E-
• Agility: E-
• Intelligence: E
• Endurance: E-
• Mana Core: E-
[Skills]
> Bloodline skill: Ice Manipulation (E-Rank) [Growth type]
> Acquired Skills: Frost bullet, basic swordsmanship(17% mastery)
[Status effect]
• None
"E- Rank with a potential of B-, huh..." I muttered, eyes lingering on the glowing screen.
In this world, rank wasn't just a Alphabet—it was your power, it decided how will you get treated in this world. The global power hierarchy followed the standard classification: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS and finally, SSS. Each major rank was further divided into three minor rank that is Initial(-), Middle() and Peak(+). I was barely at the starting line with potential enough to just reach B-.
Currently, humanity had 1 SSS- Rank and only Four SS+ rank individuals—each one a living legend. Beneath them were five SS ranks and two SS- ranks. That was it. Beyond that, no Human has ever progressed past the SSS-, atleast as per the records.
"The Demon King…" I whispered.
He alone bore the title of SSS Rank and on verge of becoming SSS+ rank—a True monster. And if that wasn't terrifying enough, he commanded four Demon Lords, each one at SS+ rank. all of them had even been on the brink of breaking into SSS- before the protagonist and his squad killed them in a battle.
That's the scale of what I was up against.
And here I was, an E- rank with a bloodline skill barely able to reach B- rank, thinking about how to take down enemies that could tear apart cities with a wave of their hand. And yet, I couldn't help but smirk faintly after all i had a system. But before i could ask System anything.
[Host, would you like to merge Status and System? It is highly advised, as this will unlock your potential.]
"My potential? Didn't I just see it?" I asked, slightly confused, eyes narrowing at the blue screen hovering in front of me.
[Host, every individual's power is tied to their soul. The body is merely the medium to channel it. After integration, your soul and the original Thorin's have merged. The Status is currently bound only to Thorin's soul.]
Ah… so that's why. My soul, the one that came from Earth, still hadn't registered its influence through the system.
But then I noticed the word it used—merge. My soul didn't overwrite Thorin's… we fused. I wasn't just an invader occupying someone else's body. I was Thorin Frostbane now… and he was me. But it still brought my earlier doubt I had after integration which I had forgotten before.
"System," I said slowly, "if I've merged with Thorin's soul, why don't I feel... any different? why didn't I become something between mixture of both?"
[Restricted Information.]
I raised an eyebrow. "Restricted? I can be told about an apocalyptic Demon God descending, but I can't get info about myself?"
[Host, I can provide a hint—reach SSS+ rank to access that information.]
My jaw nearly dropped. "Just say you're not gonna tell me," I muttered in disbelief. SSS+? That was closed to Impossible. At that level I might aswell solo the demon king
Still, the idea wasn't completely insane. Okay, it was mostly insane. But I had a system. Maybe that gave me a real shot but the real issue was surviving—If I could survive long enough to get there… maybe.
"System, start the merge," I said, firm and resolute. I did the only thing I could do for now.
[System Merging Initializing...]
[Merging Progress: 15%... 42%... 71%...]
[System Merged Successfully.]
It took less than five minutes. Quicker than expected.
The blue and gold interfaces that previously hovered in front of me vanished, replaced by a single, radiant green screen edged with golden runes. The black inscriptions on it seemed sharper, more Fine.
But if you ask me whether I liked the new interface then—
"System? Why green? Come on, I definitely wasn't some environmentalist ready to yell 'Go Green' at every moment in my previous life," I grumbled, staring at the green screen in front of me.
Don't get me wrong—I've got nothing against environmentalists or their noble mission to save the planet. But green? Seriously? Of all the colors?
"System, can you just… I don't know… change your color? Golden, maybe? Or blue? Even red! Hell, I'd take pin— NO not pink aswell, anything but green and pink," I said, almost pleading.
[Host, I am not a chameleon] it replied flatly, as if my pleading doesn't matter.
"So… I'm stuck with a green interface for the rest of my life?"
[Host, just accept it.]
It was clear the system had no interest in humoring me. I sighed in defeat.
'Poor me'
Once I'd recovered from the tragic event that occurred just now, I turned my focus back to what really mattered—the new screen and the details it displayed.
Because no matter how much the color annoyed me… this was important to me.
And I needed every bit of it.
< Status Window >
Name: Thorin Frostbane
Age: 16
Rank: E
Potential: Limitless
Race: Human
Affinity: ice & Void(locked)
[ Attributes ]
• Strength: E
• Speed: E-
• Agility: E-
• Intelligence: E+
• Endurance: E
• Mana: E
[Skills]
> Bloodline skill: Ice Manipulation (E-Rank) [Growth type]
> Acquired Skills: •Frost bullets
•Basic swordsmanship (17% mastery)
•Void Manipulation (D-Rank) [Growth type] {locked}
[Status effect]
• None
[ Additional features ]
>System shop
>Training dome
>Quests
>Inventory
>????
"..."
No words left my mouth as I stared at the screen in front of me.