The early rays of dawn filtered through the grimy windowpane, casting soft golden streaks across the wooden floor. Arthur stirred awake in his cramped bed, the bedsheet tangled around his legs from a restless night. Sweat still clung to his skin, the remnants of chaos that had plagued his mind.
He sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck and exhaling deeply. The memories of the soul transfer, the other Arthur, and the overwhelming flood of information still lingered like a fog in his thoughts.
"Today's the day I must choose the path I'll walk on," Arthur muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His voice was quiet, but the weight behind those words was unmistakable.
Suddenly, a mechanical chime echoed inside his head.
> [System Synchronisation: Complete]
> [Survival System has been awakened]
> [Say "System Panel" to open the interface]
Arthur's heart leapt. A jolt of excitement surged through his veins, wiping away the last remnants of sleep. He'd been waiting for this moment—enduring uncertainty, confusion, and soul-crushing questions. But now, the system had finally arrived.
"The system... it's finally here," he whispered with anticipation in his eyes. He took a breath, then spoke aloud:
"System Panel."
With a soft, blue shimmer, a translucent interface materialized before him like a holographic window hanging in mid-air. Its light bathed the dim room in a soft glow.
> [System Interface Loaded]
>
> [Stats]
> [Shop]
> Missions]
> [Daily Login Rewards]
>.[Newbie Gift Pack]
> [Tap to explore each option]
Arthur's fingers hovered over the display. With a tap, he opened the [Stats] tab first.
---
> [Stats]
> Name: Arthur Grayrat
> Species: Human
> Occupation: None
> Title: None
> Strength: 10
> Agility: 10
> Stamina: 10
> Skills: None
> Talents: None
---
Arthur raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"My stats look completely ordinary," he muttered. "But that's to be expected. I haven't trained or awakened anything yet."
He closed the tab and opened the next one—[Shop].
Instantly, a massive catalog opened before him, filled with endless items. His eyes widened in awe as he scrolled past categories that included Spells, Skills, Talents, Titles, Weapons, Armor, Beast Eggs, Bloodline Essences, Soul Orbs, and more.
Every item shimmered with promise, but all of them had one thing in common—they required System Points (SP) to purchase.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"System," he asked aloud, "how do I earn system points?"
> [Answer: Dear Host, you can acquire system points by completing missions assigned by the Survival System.]
"Missions?" Arthur repeated, intrigued.
> [Affirmative. Missions are divided into four primary categories:]
>
> Daily Missions: Up to 1,000 SP and various minor rewards
> Weekly Missions: Up to 10,000 SP and medium-tier rewards
> Monthly Missions: Up to 100,000 SP and high-tier items
> Yearly Missions: Varying rewards depending on mission complexity
Arthur absorbed the information slowly, nodding to himself.
"So, missions will be the core of how I grow stronger in this world," he said thoughtfully.
He then tapped on the [Daily Login Rewards] option, curious about what awaited.
> [Congratulations, Host!]
> [You have received 10,000 System Points as your Daily Login Reward.]
Arthur's jaw dropped.
"Ten thousand points?! Just for logging in?"
His eyes sparkled. "If earning system points is this easy… then I really might have a chance to rise quickly."
Then he remembered.
"Oh, right—I also have the Newbie Gift Pack."
He tapped on it.
> [Opening Newbie Gift Pack...]
> [Congratulations, Host. You have obtained:]
> Path Finder Talisman
> 10,000 System Points
Another 10,000 points!
Arthur could barely believe his luck, but what caught his attention more was the item.
"Path Finder Talisman…?"
> [Item: Path Finder Talisman]
> Use: When activated, the talisman scans the host's physique, spirit, and potential to recommend the most suitable path of growth.]
Arthur stared at it in amazement.
"So with this… I can find out which path is right for me. Magic? Cultivation? Aura? Bloodline? Or Soul Power…"
His heart pounded. For the first time, he felt a true sense of direction in this new world.
"This… is my first real step," he whispered.
Without wasting another second, Arthur took a deep breath and activated the Path Finder Talisman. The moment he did, the talisman in his hand burst into a radiant golden glow. Warm, divine light enveloped his body, swirling around him like liquid flame. It pulsed gently—almost like a heartbeat—and Arthur instinctively closed his eyes as the energy began to seep through his skin, diving deep into his soul, reading every fiber of his existence.
The room faded away. For a moment, Arthur felt weightless—suspended in a glowing void where time and sound ceased to exist. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the light retreated, the talisman vanished into specks of golden dust, and his feet gently touched the wooden floor again.
Ding!
The system panel materialized before him with a soft mechanical chime, its bright interface more vibrant than before.
> [System Interface – Updated]
> Name: Arthur Grayrat
> Species: Human
> Potential: High
> Talent Affinities:
> Soul Power: 100%
> Cultivation: 60%
> Magic: 40%
Arthur's eyes widened as he stared at the stats, blinking slowly to process the meaning behind them.
"Soul Power… one hundred percent?" he whispered in disbelief.
He paced the room slowly, hand resting on his chin. "Does this mean I'm a natural-born soul master? But… cultivation and magic… I've always admired those paths. The novels I read always glorified them. Powerful cultivators, mighty mages… Isn't that the kind of journey I wanted?"
A heavy silence filled the room—his thoughts spiraling between personal desire and reality.
Just then, the system responded to his inner confusion.
> [Dear Host, the Path Finder Talisman has identified only the three paths you are most attuned to. While other paths exist, your body and soul show maximum compatibility with these three.]
> [In particular, Soul Power shows a perfect synchronization with your spirit root and mental constitution. Your natural soul sensitivity, inherited unknown factor, and dormant resonance with beast spirits makes you highly suited for the Soul Path.]
Arthur was stunned. "Beast spirits… resonance?"
The system continued, its voice calm and informative.
> [Additionally, Cultivation and Magic paths are also compatible, albeit to a lesser extent. You may pursue them in parallel, especially since the Soul Path shares some spiritual and energetic principles with both.]
Arthur's expression gradually shifted from confusion to curiosity, then to resolve.
"So I can walk multiple paths? I don't have to give up on cultivation and magic completely?"
> [Correct. Though your main path should be Soul Power for maximum efficiency and growth potential, you are not restricted from integrating techniques from the other two. In fact, doing so may unlock hidden potential and synergistic breakthroughs.]
Arthur exhaled deeply, the weight lifting from his chest.
"That… that's actually even better than I hoped."
A small smile tugged at his lips. This wasn't a limitation—it was an opportunity. A unique one. His talent wasn't one-dimensional—it was layered, complex, and filled with promise.
He sat down at the edge of the bed and looked out the window, where the morning sun had now fully risen. Its light painted the city of Eldor in soft amber tones. The streets bustled with early workers and hovering mana beasts in the distant skies. This was a new world—filled with danger, yes, but also immense wonder.
"This world runs on power," Arthur whispered, more to himself than to the system. "And if I'm to survive… I need to master everything I can."
He clenched his fists.
"Soul Power will be my foundation. But I won't stop there. Cultivation, magic—I'll take them all. I'll become someone this world can't ignore."
> [Motivational trigger detected.]
> [New Mission weekly Unlocked: The First Step]
>
> Begin training in Soul Power
> Learn or acquire your first Soul Ring
> Reward: 5,000 SP, 1 Random Basic Skill (Soul Path), Beginner's Meditation Manual
Arthur grinned.
"Good. Then let's begin."