After three relentless years of training, something still gnawed at Akira.
No matter how strong he became, a strange emptiness lingered in the back of his mind. A weight he couldn't shake.
"Ugh… I'm so stressed out!" he groaned, running a hand through his hair and pacing in circles. "I know I was given immortality for a reason. But it can't be just that—right? There has to be something more!"
He slumped against a tree, frustration bubbling in his chest.
"Water magic, fire magic, wind—anything! Julia's had her very own water magic, and the others too. But me?"
His eyes narrowed.
"I get the one ability no one else has… and I still feel like I'm falling behind."
Since the age of seven, he'd dreamed of awakening elemental power. Something flashy. Something useful. But when his system granted him immortality instead… it felt like a cruel joke. Useful? Sure. Powerful? Yes. But inspiring? Fulfulling? Not so much.
He let out a deep sigh and looked at his hands—hands that could shatter stone, take a hit from a raging beast, and move faster than the eye could follow.
He was undeniably stronger now—faster, tougher, sharper. Years of blood, sweat, and grit had carved him into a force to be reckoned with. He could crush a boulder with his bare fists and dodge arrows with ease.
And yet…
"Why does it still feel like something's missing…?"
His brows furrowed.
"System!" he called out at last, clenching his fists.
_________________________
[LEVEL: 47]
[EXP: 12,700/322,500]
Stats:
Strength: 43,873 Mana: 2,330/2,350
Speed: 342 HP: ∞
Durability: 5,200.
Bonus stats:
Exp bonus: 2℅
Strength bonus: 3%
Skills:
- Keen instincts Lvl: 5 (max)
Danger instincts: Lvl: 5 (max)
Mana cost: 0
- Weapon summoning (Light) (30) Lvl: 4 (max)
Mana cost: 50
________________________
"And that's all there is to it…" Akira muttered, staring blankly at the open air as if the system might suddenly give him answers. "Three years. Monsters, beasts, sleepless nights… I've trained my body, honed my senses. And it's still not enough."
He kicked a small rock in frustration.
"What the hell even is a bonus stat, anyway?"
Rustle—rustle.
His danger sense flared.
"Huh?" He snapped to attention, dagger instantly in hand. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Suddenly, a wild crash of branches erupted as a man tore through the bushes—completely naked—sprinting for his life.
"HEEELLLPP MEEEE! SOMEBODY!!!"
The stranger's white hair was a tangled mess, his muscular build offset by the wild panic on his face. A massive boar thundered behind him, eyes wild and snorting rage.
Akira blinked. "…What in the actual—?"
But he didn't hesitate.
"Just hang on!" he shouted, and dashed forward.
He dismissed his dagger mid-stride. No need for weapons this time. He tightened his fist, planted his feet—and as the boar charged at him, he met it head-on with a single, devastating punch.
CRACK!
The boar crumpled like a bag of bricks, skidding to a stop a few feet away—completely unconscious.
The stranger collapsed to his knees, gasping.
"Thank you, thank you!" he wheezed. "I thought I was going to be bacon food!"
Akira raised a brow, arms crossed as he eyed the man up and down.
"…Why are you naked?"
The man huffed, brushing sweat off his brow. "Stupid trees tore my clothes to pieces. And the boar's been chasing me since sunrise. I didn't plan on making a naked forest run, alright?"
Akira exhaled and looked away, trying not to let the ridiculousness distract him—but the moment passed, and that hollow feeling crept back in.
The stranger noticed.
"Hey now… what's with the long face?"
Akira hesitated, then quietly admitted, "I don't know. Something feels… off. Like I'm still missing something."
He looked down at his hands—the same hands that had just knocked out a beast with a single punch.
"I'm strong, yeah. But it doesn't feel like enough. Like all this training hasn't given me what I'm really looking for."
The man blinked—then laughed.
"You just punched a boar like it was a plush toy. And you think you're not strong?"
He stood up (still very much naked) and clapped a hand on Akira's shoulder.
"Kid, I don't know what you're looking for. But strength? You've got that."
Akira gave a small, tired smile.
"Thanks… I guess."
The stranger, still catching his breath, suddenly straightened up and pointed at Akira with a spark in his eyes.
"You know what you need?"
Akira blinked. "A therapist?"
"A mentor, dumbass."
He snapped his fingers like it was the most obvious solution in the world.
"Someone to guide you. Give you tips, tricks, training—you know, help you surpass even your own limits." He grinned.
"And I know just the guy for the job."
Akira leaned forward, curious despite himself. "Who?"
"Me!"
The man struck a proud pose—still completely naked.
Akira stared. Blinked once.
"Seriously?"
"Yup!" the man beamed, hands on hips like a hero.
"I'll be your mentor. What do you say?"
Akira slowly crossed his arms and gave the man a long, hard look.
"You… got chased by a giant boar and ended up naked in the woods."
He squinted.
"And you want to train me?"
The man gave a sheepish shrug. "Okay, technically true. But I was only messing around. That wasn't serious combat. Let me reintroduce myself—Sora Algeyante, former elite warrior, full-time wanderer, part-time boar magnet."
He offered a quick salute.
Akira sighed. "Akira. And you're... definitely suspicious."
He narrowed his eyes. "How do I know you're not just some crazy guy trying to scam people in the woods?"
Sora gasped dramatically, clutching his chest.
"May this be my first and my last—I am not a bandit!"
Akira raised a brow. "Could've fooled me."
"Hey! What kind of bandit runs around naked in broad daylight?"
Akira paused.
"…Fair point."
"Exactly!" Sora said, triumphant.
"Anyway, enough about me being epically humiliated by a boar. The point is—I'm experienced. I've seen things. Fought monsters. Taught people. I could help you figure out what's missing."
He gave a wink, standing tall and proud—which only made Akira cringe slightly as he tried not to look down.
"Yeah, experienced. So experienced that you couldn't even fend off a boar," Akira muttered. "Experienced my ass…"
Sora flinched, dramatically wounded.
"Ouch. Those words cut deep, kid."
Then he wagged a finger.
"Also—for the record—I'm not old. I'm thirty-four. My white hair? Genetics. Don't judge a book by its hair color."
"Okay…" Akira crossed his arms, skeptical. "So what exactly do you know about teaching?"
Sora grinned. "I'm not a professional or anything—but I know a thing or two. Follow me. My place isn't far from here."
Akira stared at him. Still naked. Still suspicious.
His eyes narrowed. "…You're inviting me to your house. While naked."
Sora's cheerful smile twitched into a dangerous glare.
"Don't make me clobber you for that look, brat. You coming or not? 'Cause if you're not, I'm leaving you here in the woods with the boars."
Akira sighed and muttered, "Fine, fine... Lead the way."
Still, he kept his guard up as they walked.
Twenty minutes later…
"And… here we are!" Sora announced, swinging open the creaky door to his so-called home.
Akira stepped in—and immediately regretted it.
The house was barely holding itself together. Dust covered every surface, the floorboards creaked with every step, and the only furniture in the living room was a single crooked table and a chair with one leg shorter than the others. A stale chunk of bread sat on a plate like it had been forgotten last week. A broken window rattled in the wind.
"…This is your house?" Akira muttered, eyes twitching.
Sora rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Yyyyep. Been here for two weeks. Bit lonely, but it's got character."
"It's got termites," Akira replied flatly.
"Wait here, I'll get dressed. Happy now?"
Sora disappeared into another room, and after some fumbling, returned fully clothed at last. With dignity restored, he led Akira outside behind the house to a clearing surrounded by trees.
Sora grabbed a short stick from the ground and pointed it at Akira like a teacher with a ruler.
"Alright, lesson one: Open. Your. System!"
Akira blinked. "For real?"
"Yes! Trust the process. Do it."
"…System," Akira muttered, and the familiar glowing screen flickered into view in front of him.
"Good. Now—have you checked your skills lately?"
Akira's face went blank. His eye twitched.
"…About that."
A long silence.
Sora narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me… you forgot you even had skills."
Akira scratched his cheek, awkward. "Well, not forgot exactly… I've just been training so hard, I didn't really stop to check… Besides, I never take it as that important."
"You've been training for three years, and you never grasp importances of skills?!"
Sora was losing his mind.
"You absolute dumbass! What kind of musclehead doesn't know how important skills are?!"
Sora smacked his forehead.
"Systems have an encyclopedia of its own. It gives you information about the necessary intel of systems, this could help you grow, realize your potential and affinities—you could've unlocked something far of value years ago if you just study more."
Akira gulped.
"…So I've been grinding like a lunatic for nothing?"
"Oh no, the strength is real. But you've basically been swinging your fists with the safety locked on. You've got power—just no finesse."
Akira finally looked at the screen with narrowed eyes, muttering,
"Guess it's time I actually start reading the fine print…"
"Okay, listen up," Sora said, tapping the stick against his palm like a drill sergeant.
"Skills may not be as flashy as your Main Ability, but they're crucial. Think of them like a survival necessity—you have the strength, but you don't have the tools to simplify things. Skills are maybe random, but they will help you out if things are desperate, even small things have uses to help big problems."
Akira gave a sheepish grin, patting the back of his head.
"Thanks for clearing things up. Guess I got tunnel vision from all the training. Three years of swinging and sprinting—I forgot I even had a system…"
He laughed awkwardly, then looked up with resolve.
"Alright then—Skills!"
The glowing system screen flashed to life, lines of text forming as Akira read aloud:
_______________________________
71 skill points remaining...
- Weapon summoning (Heavy) [Locked]
Requirements: Strength 1,000 and 12 skill points.
- Weapon summoning (Medium) [Locked]
Requirements: Strength 500 and 7 Skill Points.
- Blood (Healing) [Locked]
Requirements: 6 skill points.
- Blood manipulation [Locked]
Requirements: 17 skill points.
- Vampire [Locked]
Requirements: After unlocking blood(healing) and 9 skill points.
50 More...
________________________________
"Hmm, unlock: Blood manipulation, Blood(healing), Weapon summoning (Heavy), Weapon summoning (Medium), And Vampire."
_______________________________
Access granted.
Unlocking... Blood manipulation, Blood(healing), Weapon summoning (Medium) & (Heavy), and Vampire.
Are you sure you wish to choose these skills?
- Yes
- No
_______________________________
"Yes!"
_______________________________
[CONGRATULATIONS!!!]
You have unlocked a new skill.
Skills:
- Weapon summoning (Heavy)
Bonus set weapons: Reaper scythe (Personal weapon)
Mana cost: 200
- Weapon summoning (Medium)
Mana cost: 100
- Blood (Healing)
Mana cost: 80
- Blood manipulation
Mana cost: 100
- Vampire
Mana cost: 200
New skill Unlocked.
- Weapon summoning (Special)
Bonus set: Special personal weapon
Requirements: 50 Skill points
- Blood manipulation (puppet mastery)
- Blood manipulation (Zone)
- Blood manipulation (Blood shape)
11 more...
20 Skill points remaining...
_______________________________
Akira stared at the system screen, mouth agape.
"Blood... Manipulation?" he muttered, stunned.
The list of newly unlocked abilities flashed before Akira in glowing text. His thoughts ran wild—this was far more advanced and versatile than anything he'd imagined.
"Hm, what did you just say?" Sora blinked, snapping his head toward Akira. "Did you say Blood Manipulation?"
Akira nodded slowly. "Yeah... That's what it says. I didn't know I had anything like that."
Sora whistled, genuinely surprised. "Wow. That's unheard of... It's quite a rare type. Are you sure that is a skill? I've never heard of something like that, you're one odd duck."
Sora stepped closer, folding his arms. "Alright, don't just drool over the skill name—get the details. System screens give you deeper explanations if you ask the right way."
"How?"
"Just shout: 'System: Skill Info.' It'll open up the specifics. Trust me, it's how you learn to actually use your skills properly."
Akira nodded.
"Alright then—System: Skill Info! Blood Manipulation!"
The screen shimmered, then opened into detailed text:
_______________________________
Access granted.
Skill: Blood Manipulation
Info:
– Allows the user to sharpen and reinforce weapons using blood, enhancing their durability and cutting power.
– Grants the ability to enhance the user's physical capabilities by controlling their own blood flow.
– Advanced effect: Zone-based manipulation requires unlocking "Blood Manipulation: Zone" to affect external blood sources.
– Using this skill consumes the user's blood or that of another by unlocking "Vampire" to use.
_______________________________
"Keep going," Sora urged, eyes gleaming.
"Info: Blood Healing!"
_______________________________
Access Granted
Skill: Blood Healing
Info:
– Uses the user's own blood to heal wounded allies, including cuts, bruises, and moderate injuries.
– Over time, as the user grows, this ability can restore clean lost limbs or repair crippled bodies.
– Cannot resurrect the dead.
_______________________________
"This one's insane…" Akira muttered.
"I've heard good things, now next."
Akira nodded. "Info: Vampire."
_______________________________
Access Granted
Skill: Vampire
Info:
– Absorbs or drains an enemy's blood through open wounds.
– Can be used to fuel Blood Manipulation or accelerate Blood Healing.
– Successful hit can cause temporary paralysis (2 seconds) if "Blood Paralysis" is unlocked.
– Cannot absorb blood from divine, high-ranked, or incompatible targets.
_______________________________
Akira's eyes lit up. "It all ties together... I can heal, fight, and even cripple enemies—if I play it right."
Sora grinned wide.
"Now that's what I call potential."
He pointed his stick again.
"You've got a system with combo synergy. Most people have one straightforward path. You? You've got a whole web of strategies. Now you just need to learn how to weave them into a fight."
"To be frank, Akira," Sora said, stretching his arms behind his head, "that system of yours… it's no joke. Systems are weird, kid. Full of mystery—like they've got their own logic we're not meant to understand. I've seen thousands of warriors, but I've never heard of anyone unlocking that many skill sets from just one main ability."
Akira slumped against the wall, his body still buzzing from the adrenaline of earlier discoveries. He stared into the dancing flame of their campfire, expression unreadable.
"It's kinda messed up, huh?" he muttered. "I trained my butt off for years to get here. And now that I finally check my system, it turns out I've been walking around with this broken skill set without even knowing. Why can't I just learn Blood Slash or something instantly if I already have Blood Manipulation? Would've saved me three years of backbreaking training."
Sora laughed, not in mockery but understanding. "I get you. Makes you feel like you're dancing to the system's tune, doesn't it?" He tossed a small twig into the fire. "As for me, I don't really have a system. But I knew alot most systems won't help you to get where you wanna be. So, I suggest prioritize on the good side of things, a system's potential may be limitless, but the indomitable will of humans is just as strong."
"Systems are very confusing."
"Yep." Sora nodded. "That's systems for you. Twisted, unpredictable, and built different for everyone. Take this, for example—there's a guy out there whose main ability is healing magic. Sounds peaceful, right? But his actual skillset? Pure offense. Steam blasts. Scalding waves. Even boiling mists. The guy melts faces for a living."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "That's ridiculous."
"I know, right? It's like gambling. Some people might obtain good main abilities but bad skills or the opposite way around. You just got lucky your skills are in sync. Most aren't."
Akira let the information settle. It made sense, in a twisted way. Systems weren't built on logic or fairness—they were built on randoms.
A long yawn escaped Sora as he stood and stretched. "Enough brain damage for one night. We've got a long day ahead. Rest up. Lesson two starts at dawn."
Akira nodded silently. The fire crackled beside them as they lay on their worn bedrolls under the stars.
A strange calm washed over him.
He finally understood: his system wasn't just a power—it was a puzzle.
And the only way to solve it… was to live through it.