Wind.
Cool, clean, alive.
Rikuya's eyes opened to sunlight streaming through a cathedral of ancient trees. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, carrying scents of moss, wildflowers, and something unmistakably pure. His fingers sank into the soft grass, still damp with morning dew.
For a moment, he simply breathed.
Alive again.
Whole again.
His body was no longer aged. It was young—reforged. Lean, powerful, balanced. This vessel wasn't just strong—it felt prepared. Like it had been built to house his soul.
He sat up, eyes adjusting to the emerald glow of the forest.
Then—
Ping!
A melodic chime echoed in his mind.
"Goooooood morning, Rikuya-sama!"
A small, rune-winged fairy blinked into the air in front of him. She sparkled with a gentle golden aura and spoke with the energy of a festival bell.
"I'm Sena! Your personal Support Interface, assigned directly by Akuro-sama!"
Rikuya arched a brow. "He really sent me a fairy."
"Guide fairy, thank you. Not just cute, but fully integrated into the divine system infrastructure of Arathia!" Sena declared proudly.
A translucent screen appeared beside her.
[Initializing Status Window…]
Name: Rikuya Kagehisa
Race: Human (Enhanced Vessel)
Age: 22 (Calibrated)
Title(s): ???
Stats: ???
Rikuya frowned slightly. "No stats?"
Sena twirled in the air. "Your stats are… hidden, sealed even. Akuro-sama said you're 'too stacked' for this world's system to quantify properly."
"…Figures."
Then another notification pulsed to life in front of him—this one glowing with a deeper golden light.
Skill Unlocked: [Perfect Replication]
Type: Passive/Active Hybrid
Grade: Unique
Description:
Allows the user to replicate any observed skill, technique, or ability with 100% accuracy.
Unlike standard mimicry, Perfect Replication automatically evolves the copied skill to its optimal, most advanced form based on the user's capabilities and potential.
Analysis Time: 3–10 seconds (based on complexity)
Skill Evolution: Instant upon replication
No degradation or compatibility loss
Copied skills are considered [Original] for the user
Passive augmentation based on hidden user stats
Warning: Excessive replication may trigger Skill Sync Instability. Evolving incompatible skills may cause unpredictable effects.
> "Why settle for a copy… when you can become the pinnacle?"
Rikuya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This isn't just mimicry. It's perfection."
"It's Akuro-sama's gift," Sena said, voice gentler now. "He said no god has ever earned their title by copying alone… but by surpassing what came before."
Then, another window opened.
[Combat Memory Archive Downloaded…]
Style Data Synced: 4,219 Techniques Recognized
Tiger Fang School – Mastery
Shadow Wind Step – Mastery
Iron Spiral Blade Flow – Mastery
Twelve-Form Staff Harmonization – Mastery
Hiten Thousand Stances – Mastery
[And thousands more…]
Every technique. Every martial art. Every battle-earned form from Earth.
Rikuya hadn't just reincarnated. He brought everything with him.
He stood slowly, posture perfect, hands relaxed—but ready.
"Alright, Sena," he said quietly, "Let's see what this world has to offer."
Rikuya scanned the trees one last time, feeling the air, listening to the forest's rhythm.
But before he could take a step—
"Wait!" Sena suddenly said, floating up to eye level.
"Akuro-sama left one last message. Actually... more like advice."
She cleared her throat, puffed out her chest, then dramatically furrowed her brows and lowered her voice in a ridiculously accurate imitation of Rikuya's tone.
"'Don't spend every breath chasing strength. Sometimes, the greatest warriors… are the ones who remember how to live.'"
Then she struck a dramatic pose, mimicking his serious expression with puffed cheeks and squinting eyes.
Rikuya blinked. "...Is that really necessary?"
Sena grinned. "One hundred percent."
He sighed through his nose, trying to hide the small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Tch. Damn god sent me a clown."
"A wise clown," she said with a wink.
Rikuya turned toward the forest path, the wind brushing past like a welcome.
And for the first time in a long, long time—
He didn't feel like he was walking into battle.
He felt like he was walking into life.
Rikuya walked through the forest, his senses alive with the new world around him. The air was fresh, the ground solid beneath his feet, and the sounds of nature hummed all around him in perfect harmony. Every step felt like a discovery.
As he walked deeper, he noticed the first unusual sight—trees laden with strange, colorful fruits hanging like jewels from their branches.
"Look, Rikuya-sama!" Sena's cheerful voice chirped from above, as she zipped around him. "These are Glimmersweet Orbs! A rare fruit that grows only on trees infused with elemental energy. It's known to boost mana and physical energy, and it's a delicacy in several regions of Arathia."
A soft chime echoed as she displayed a system window.
---
[Glimmersweet Orbs]
Type: Fruit
Effect: Boosts mana and physical energy for 30 minutes.
Warning: Can cause temporary hyperactivity in some individuals.
Common Location: Elementally infused groves.
Rikuya's eyes shifted to a nearby cluster of flowers, their petals shimmering like iridescent glass. He leaned down to examine them.
"What about these?"
Sena floated beside him, eyes twinkling. "Ah, those are Lunar Petals. They have a calming effect on spirits, but also cause the person who smells them... to laugh uncontrollably."
Rikuya raised an eyebrow. "Lunar Petals?"
Sena nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! They're harmless, but they're a bit... playful. If you ever feel down, just take a sniff."
Rikuya muttered to himself, shaking his head with a smirk. "Lunar Petals. This world is certainly full of surprises."
As he stood up, he pointed toward a group of vines climbing up a tree, the leaves looking sharp like blades.
"What about those?"
Sena followed his gaze. "Ah! Those are Ironbite Vines. They're extremely dangerous. They're carnivorous—just one touch can send you into a deep sleep, and then they'll slowly drain your energy for nourishment. You don't want to get too close unless you're prepared."
Rikuya nodded thoughtfully but then noticed something amusing—a plant with large, squishy-looking purple pods growing along the ground. He knelt down, examining it, then looked up at Sena.
"And these?"
Sena floated over, her face lighting up. "Ah, those are Squishblossoms! They're completely harmless, but they're not edible. Some people use them for fun—they burst into harmless goo when squashed, kind of like a stress ball!"
Rikuya's mouth twitched as he caught her infectious excitement. "Squishblossoms?"
"Yep! They're a favorite for kids to play with, and some adventurers like to use them as target practice."
Rikuya couldn't help but laugh, though it was a bit awkward. It felt... different. He had expected a world full of chaos and danger, but there was an undeniable charm to the small joys this place offered.
"Well, this world certainly has its quirks."
"Every world does!" Sena grinned. "That's what makes life so fun, right? Now, come on, Rikuya-sama! There's so much more to see!"