The moment the glowing shards of the Awakening Stone faded from his palm, John felt a deep vibration resonate through his chest, like invisible chains snapping one after another. His vision flickered white, and an ethereal blue panel emerged before his eyes.
[ System Awakening Complete. Welcome, John Ardent. ]
[ Processing soul resonance… ]
[ Awakening compatible skills… ]
[ Skill 1 acquired: Void Pulse ]
[ Skill 2 acquired: Void Brand ]
[ Generating base status page… ]
The panel expanded into a neat grid of numbers, symbols, and text, more organized than any book or scroll he had ever read.
[ Name: John Ardent ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Class: Unassigned ]
[ HP: 100 / 100 ]
[ MP: 50 / 50 ]
[ Strength: 12 ]
[ Agility: 14 ]
[ Endurance: 10 ]
[ Intelligence: 11 ]
[ Perception: 13 ]
[ Luck: 8 ]
[ Skills: Void Pulse (Lv.1), Void Brand (Lv.1) ]
[ Inventory: Empty ]
John's hands trembled not from fear, but from the sheer clarity and reality of the interface. It wasn't some vague feeling of power; it was precise, tangible, and measurable.
He focused on the first skill, and the description unfolded.
[ Void Pulse (Active) – Lv.1 ]
Cost: 20 MP
Cooldown: 10 sec
Description: Compresses void energy into a concentrated sphere and unleashes it forward in a shockwave, dealing (150% Intelligence) + (100% Strength) as damage in a small radius. Ignores 20% of target's magical resistance. At higher levels, radius and resistance penetration increase.
Then the second skill.
[ Void Brand (Active) – Lv.1 ]
Cost: 15 MP
Cooldown: 5 sec
Description: Marks a target with a Void Sigil for 15 seconds. All damage you deal to marked targets is increased by 25%. If the marked target dies while under the effect, you instantly recover 10% of your maximum MP. At higher levels, damage amplification and duration increase.
"Ren… if you could see this…" John muttered. His voice cracked before the last word left his lips.
He tightened his grip around the two skill books, now glowing faintly before fading away into shimmering particles. Ren's face burned in his mind—his laugh, his ridiculous habit of saving scraps of bread "for later," and the way he used to grin like he had outsmarted the world when in reality, he was the one always getting hurt for John's sake.
John looked down at the small pouch Ren had left him, heavy with the coins Ren had risked his life for. His nails bit into his palm.
"You didn't die for me to stay weak."
He glanced at the busy streets of the city behind him. It would have been easy to awaken in the public square like everyone else, to bask in the cheers of strangers—but John didn't want their noise in this moment. He turned his back and walked toward the forest that flanked the southern side of the city walls.
The sun was already leaning west, the forest's edge casting long shadows that pooled on the grass. Entering the canopy was like stepping into another world—cooler, quieter, with the air thick with the scent of moss and damp earth.
He found a small clearing, far enough from the main path to avoid wandering eyes. Birds chirped above, and a rabbit darted away into the underbrush at his approach.
John clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his new skills in his very bones. "Let's see what you can do."
He extended his right hand and willed the Void Pulse into existence. The air before his palm shimmered, a sphere of deep violet energy swirling into being, as if it were devouring light itself. A faint hum vibrated in his ears, growing in pitch until it snapped forward in a concussive blast.
BOOM!
The wave slammed into a thick tree trunk ahead, splintering the bark and leaving a smoking crater in the wood. Leaves rained down from the impact.
John grinned despite himself. "That'll do."
Next, he activated Void Brand. A strange, ink-black sigil appeared on the same tree's surface, faintly pulsing like a heartbeat. He struck the marked spot with his fist—his knuckles ached, but he saw the effect. The force felt amplified, sharper. The tree's wood cracked deeper than his raw strength should have allowed.
More than the raw destruction, John could feel the connection the skill created, a tether between him and the marked target that promised domination.
"Ren," he whispered again. "I'll take this strength into the dungeons… and I'll never be powerless again."
His plan was simple—start small, clear dungeons, earn wealth, hone his power, and climb until the heavens themselves remembered his name.
When he emerged from the forest, the city's southern gate loomed ahead, its stone arch framing the open fields beyond. In the distance, shimmering like a mirage, stood a large, circular portal—its surface rippling like water disturbed by unseen winds.
The dungeon entrance.
Even from here, he could hear the bustle. People of all ages and equipment quality crowded around the portal. Merchants peddled potions and basic weapons. Scouts shouted loudly, trying to recruit team members. Some waved boards listing their party needs:
"Looking for healer, Level 15+!"
"Need a tank, dungeon run starts in 5 minutes!"
"Fast clear team! DPS wanted!"
Others called more aggressively, their eyes scanning the crowd like hawks.
"You there! What level? Any rare skills? We've got space for one more!"
"Don't waste time in solo runs! Join us and get richer faster!"
The atmosphere was a mix of excitement, greed, and competition.
John walked slowly, taking it all in. Most adventurers seemed relaxed just as he'd heard, dungeons here weren't death traps for the well-prepared. For the average awakened, it was an opportunity for wealth, honor, and fame. Clearing one meant loot, coin, and bragging rights in the city's taverns.
But John knew the truth. Wealth and fame were nice—but for him, every dungeon was a step toward something greater, something far beyond what these people imagined.
He stopped a few paces from the portal. The ripples in its surface seemed to reach for him, whispering in a voice only he could hear.
He flexed his fingers, Void energy sparking faintly at his fingertips. His heart pounded—not from fear, but anticipation.
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