The next morning dawned with a quiet heaviness—a subtle aftertaste of a hangover that had nothing to do with alcohol. Instead, it was the kind of exhaustion that seeped deep into the mind, brought on by the relentless flood of information and new sensations from yesterday's awakening. Kairo blinked against the pale light filtering through the thin curtains of his room at the Harven Inn. His head throbbed gently, but not from pain—more like a cognitive overload, as if his brain was struggling to process the sheer amount of data his new System was pumping in.
Dragging himself out of bed, he shuffled into the small dining room where a few early risers nursed their breakfasts in silence. He took a seat at a weathered wooden table near the corner and spread out a crusty piece of warm bread beside a bowl of hearty stew, the steam rising in little wisps. His fingers automatically summoned the familiar translucent blue windows of his system.
[Kairo Dusk – Level 3]
HP: 130/130
MP: 80/80
STR: 10
AGI: 14
INT: 16
WIS: 13
LCK: 5
Points: 0
Magic: [Flicker Spark (Lv. 1)] – 10 MP
Title: [Reincarnated One]
Affinity: Shadowflame Magic (Tier 1 unlocked)
He glanced down at his hands resting on the table. A faint flicker of shadowy flames still hovered between his fingers when he thought of casting Flicker Spark. The spell was modest for now — nothing more than a flicker of black-and-purple flame that could barely singe a twig. But it radiated heat, tangible and real. More importantly, it was his power. His first step into a world that promised infinite paths.
"Still no class options," he muttered under his breath, frowning as he swiped through the menus. He knew the system was holding something back, a gate not yet opened. The nagging feeling that he needed to prove himself gnawed at him.
Then, without warning, a new window blinked to life with a crisp ding that cut through the morning's quiet.
[Main Quest Unlocked: Forge Your Path]
Objective: Complete a C-rank mission.
Optional: Use a magic skill to win a battle.
Reward: Class System Access, +300 EXP, ??? Item.
Kairo's eyes snapped open wider, a rush of adrenaline surging through his veins. He set down his bread, stood up, and tightened the straps on his worn leather gloves.
"Alright," he said with a determined grin. "Let's do this."
⟡
Outside, the town of Harven was beginning to bustle. The scent of wood smoke mingled with fresh pine and the distant clang of a blacksmith hammering iron. The Quest Board stood at the center of the town square—a sprawling corkboard cluttered with parchment after parchment, pinned tightly with wooden nails and coloured ribbons.
Most of the requests were D-rank: simple delivery runs, pest control, errands to fetch herbs or fix broken fences. Kairo scanned through them, ignoring the easy, low-stakes tasks. His eyes caught something pinned at eye level—a mission marked with a bold C-rank stamp.
[Mission: Smoke on the Mountain]
Location: Mt Suldra, 2km east of Harven
Details: A fire-type elemental beast is terrorising miners and scaring them away from rich veins.
Rank: C
Reward: 300 Silver Jewels, Bonus for clean subjugation.
Warning: Fire affinity recommended.
Required: Magical aptitude preferred.
Kairo tore the parchment from the board, his heart pounding a little faster. Almost immediately, the system chimed.
[Quest Accepted: Smoke on the Mountain]
A few townsfolk nearby glanced his way, whispering. Their eyes held scepticism. A new face—young, unproven—accepting anything above a D-rank mission? Most would laugh or shake their heads.
But Kairo didn't care. They didn't have the advantage of a gamer system. That invisible, mechanical edge that guided his every step.
With nothing more than a nod, he set off toward Mt Suldra.
⟡
The mountain loomed on the horizon like a jagged black fang slicing into the sky. Smoke curled lazily from its peak, staining the blue with dull grey wisps. The path was rocky and unforgiving, twisting sharply as it climbed higher through thickets and loose gravel. But Kairo's agility, bolstered by the system's passive upgrades, made him light on his feet. He moved with the surety of someone who could react faster than most.
Ding.
『Passive Skill Upgraded: [Improvised Manoeuvre] Lv. 2』
– Dodge window extended by 0.3 seconds
– Counterattack bonus increased
By midday, the forest gave way to a barren, scorched clearing near a yawning cave mouth. Charred rocks and blackened bones littered the ground, telling silent stories of a fierce, recent battle.
Then Kairo saw it.
A hulking figure—a beast of molten stone and searing flame, standing easily two metres tall. Its body was rough-hewn rock cracked with flowing lava veins, its wolf-like snout snarling with glowing orange eyes that burned like coals.
『Enemy Identified: Emberhowl – Lv. 7』
HP: 350/350
Element: Fire
Status: Aggressive
The beast turned toward him, letting loose a bone-rattling roar that echoed off the mountain cliffs.
Ding!
『Boss Encounter: C-Rank Variant – Danger Level High』
Kairo's gaze sharpened. "Time to test this magic."
He extended his right hand, fingers twitching.
"Flicker Spark!"
A jagged flame erupted, black at the core with purple edges, darting through the air and striking the beast's shoulder. The fiery wolf snarled, cracks appearing along its molten hide.
『28 Damage Dealt. Burn Chance: Success – 5 Damage per 2 seconds for 10 seconds.』
It is charged with earth-shaking force.
『Combat Mode Activated』
Kairo rolled sideways, narrowly avoiding a lava fist that exploded where he'd stood moments before. He slashed at the beast with his dagger.
『12 Damage Dealt』
Hardly enough to dent such a creature.
He retreated quickly and summoned his magic once more.
"Flicker Spark!"
The bolt struck the creature's chest, making it stagger slightly.
But the beast's jaws opened wide, and a jet of flame surged toward him.
"Shit—"
He dived behind a boulder just in time, the heat scorching his cloak's edge.
『Status Effect: Singed – Minor burn, -2 HP/sec for 10 seconds』
Kairo bit back a curse. Healing potions were precious, but this was the moment.
He swallowed a Minor Healing Potion, feeling the warmth restore 40 HP instantly.
The system chimed again.
『New Combat Passive Triggered: Shadowflame Surge (Locked) – Conditions: Use Shadowflame Magic in 3 consecutive actions during battle. Progress: 2/3』
One more cast.
Heart pounding, Kairo skidded to a halt and sent the third Flicker Spark flying.
The flame struck true. The beast howled in pain, cracks spreading rapidly across its molten form.
『Shadowflame Surge (Unlocked – Lv. 1): Temporarily increases Shadowflame spell power by 15% for 10 seconds after 3 consecutive casts. Cooldown: 90 seconds.』
Kairo smirked through sweat and dirt. "Got you now."
He surged forward, faster and fiercer. Each subsequent flame grew brighter, hotter, and sharper. The enhanced magic seared the beast's core. With a final, desperate cry, the Emberhowl lunged—only for Kairo to sidestep and strike its exposed maw with the full force of a boosted Flicker Spark.
『Critical Hit! 62 Damage Dealt. Emberhowl HP: 0/350』
The creature erupted in a spectacular explosion of black and red flames that faded into ash.
Ding!
『Boss Defeated – +400 EXP』
『Level Up! You are now Level 4! Stat Points +5』
『Quest Complete: Smoke on the Mountain – Return for reward』
『New Item Acquired: Ember Core (Rare) – A condensed core of elemental fire. Can be absorbed, traded, or used in forging.』
Kairo sank to one knee, chest heaving but grinning widely.
"I love this system," he said, voice hoarse but triumphant.
⟡
Back in Harven that evening, Kairo presented the Ember Core to the questmaster and collected his reward—300 Silver Jewels—and the feeling that the world was starting to tilt in his favour.
The system chimed insistently.
『Main Quest Complete: Forge Your Path』
+300 EXP
Item: Class Selection Token
+Feature Unlocked: Class Advancement Available
Ding!
Class selection is available. Choose 1 of the following paths:』
Spellblade – Melee combat with enchantments.
Shadowflame Adept – Ranged caster, high Damage Over Time (DOT).
Trickster Rogue – High agility build, critical hits and traps.
Kairo's eyes lingered on the second option.
Shadowflame Adept. It felt natural—like a part of him had always been waiting to ignite.
But the glimmer of a question whispered at the edge of his mind: What if he could blend melee with magic? Harness the fire in both fists and spells?
"Not yet," he said softly, closing the menu and sliding the token into his pouch. "I'll sleep on it."
⟡
That night, the dream came—a flickering memory or a warning from deep inside.
He stood alone in a vast field burning under a blackened sky, surrounded by shadows that whispered secrets in an ancient tongue. Symbols carved in glowing runes floated around him, their light pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
A voice echoed in his mind, low and commanding:
"The Shadowflame is not merely a weapon… It is a hunger. Master it—or be consumed."
Kairo awoke with a start, sweat soaking his shirt. His fingers glowed faintly with black embers that crackled softly in the dark.
His path was becoming clear.