Unexpected Legacy System Activation
Jin-Seok found a quiet corner. The Newbie Trial Zone was ahead, but something happened before anyone else noticed.
[Legacy System: Host Detected.]
[Synchronization Resuming… 55%]
[Time Elapsed: 18 years, 2 months, 11 days.]
[Warning: Dimensional Displacement Detected. Resuming paused sync…]
He froze. The text hovered in front of him. This wasn't the Tower System. Messages usually activated after clearing the Newbie Trial Zone. No one else saw it.
The progress bar moved slowly: 55%… 56%… 57%…
Voices nearby commented on his appearance, but he ignored them. Let them underestimate him.
The bar reached 99%, then froze.
[Synchronization: 100% Complete.]
[Legacy System Fully Activated.]
[Welcome, Heir of the Lost.]
[Analyzing Forgotten Timelines… Access Granted.]
[Syncing Legacy Character Slots…]
[System Visibility: Host Only.]
Jin-Seok whispered, "What… is this?"
[Newbie Gift Package Available.]
[Legacy System: Random Character Unlock Option Available.]
[1 Free Character Draw Pending…]
The options were identical: Yes or Yes.
"I'm not selecting anything," he muttered. The countdown began.
[Time Limit: 30 seconds remaining.]
[29… 28… 27…]
[3… 2… 1…]
[Time Reached. Random Unlock Initiating…]
The screen vanished.
---
The Arrival of Aris Telvhan
A slit of darkness appeared three feet away. From it, a figure emerged. About four feet tall, humanoid, skeletal under shadowed robes. Twin blue flames burned where eyes would be.
"Hmph."
[Character Unlocked: Aris Telvhan]
[Class Title: Eternal Necromancer]
[Tier: ???]
[Level: ???]
[Further Data Requires Legacy Points or Sync Progress.]
The figure looked at Jin-Seok. "Of all the cosmic jokes… This has to be a mistake."
"I see nothing impressive. Just a boy in a mask trying to look important."
Jin-Seok's mouth was dry. No one else could see the figure.
"Who… are you?" he asked.
"I am Aris Telvhan, Eternal Necromancer, Last Deathkeeper of the Old World, Master of Seventeen Forbidden Arts, and Bane of the Living Kingdoms."
He paused. "Even hearing my name should be a privilege. Lesser beings prostrate themselves now."
Jin-Seok chuckled. "Prostrate? I don't even know if you're real."
"Real? I am more real than you. I have outlasted empires and witnessed gods fall—"
[Bonus: 500 Legacy Points Granted for Unlocking a Mythic-Class Character.]
Aris muttered, "At least the system recognizes quality when it sees it."
Legacy Points and Aris's Demands
Jin-Seok stared at the floating number—500 Legacy Points. Valuable, mysterious, and important.
"Legacy Points?" he asked.
Aris waved a skeletal hand. "Currency of power. With enough, you could reshape reality. Five hundred points? Enough to slightly improve your pitiful existence."
The necromancer floated closer, blue flames burning with intensity.
"You need to increase my synchronization immediately," Aris demanded. "At least fifty percent. Anything less insults my magnificence."
"Fifty percent?" Jin-Seok stepped back. "I don't even know what synchronization is, and you're already making demands?"
"Demands? I'm making reasonable requests," Aris snapped. "Refusing shows how unworthy you are of my guidance."
"Unworthy?" Jin-Seok's temper flared. "You appear uninvited, insult me, then order me around. For all I know, you're trying to possess me."
Aris recoiled. "Parasitic? I am a legendary figure!"
"That you're trapped in a system," Jin-Seok interrupted. "Makes you the one who needs something from me."
The flames flickered. For the first time, Aris seemed uncertain.
"I… circumstances of my existence are… complicated," he admitted.
"Complicated how?"
"That's not important. You have power beyond comprehension, and I'll guide you—but proper synchronization is required."
---
Negotiating Synchronization
Jin-Seok considered it. Aris clearly knew more about the Legacy System than he did, and his power was real.
"Fine," Jin-Seok said. "But not fifty percent. One percent. Prove yourself first."
Aris sputtered. "One percent? That's barely enough—"
"Take it or leave it."
The necromancer's blue flames flared with frustration. Finally, he relented.
"Very well. One percent. But when you see the results, you'll beg to increase it."
Jin-Seok opened the system interface.
[Synchronization Enhancement Available.]
[Cost: 500 Legacy Points for 1% increase.]
[Current LP Balance: 500]
[Proceed? Yes/No]
Jin-Seok groaned. "All my points… for one percent?"
Aris shrugged. "Quality is expensive. Think of it as an investment."
Jin-Seok sighed and selected "Yes."
---
Synchronization Complete
[Synchronization Enhancement Complete.]
[Aris Telvhan Sync Rate: 0% → 1%]
[Remaining Legacy Points: 0]
[Thank you for your purchase!]
Jin-Seok blinked. "The system… mocked me."
Aris glanced at the interface. "Apparently. Never seen this before."
"You used all my points for a single percent!"
"I didn't know it would cost that much! How was I to know?"
[System Message: Please collect more Legacy Points to continue syncing with Aris Telvhan. Current balance: 0]
Jin-Seok scowled but noticed a new notification.
[Passive Skill Acquired: Soul-Hardened Mind (Rare)]
[Effect: Mind-affecting abilities reduced by 30%. Immune to low-tier mind control.]
"Your will is iron, forged in the afterworld's silence," Aris remarked. "Useful, even if mediocre."
---
System Profile
Jin-Seok activated the profile panel.
[Legacy System – Host Profile]
Name: Ryu Jin-Seok
Race: Human, ???
Level: 1
Class: None (Legacy-Class Pending)
Sync Slot 1: Aris Telvhan [Eternal Necromancer] – 1%
Legacy Points: 0
Health: 100
Stats:
Strength: 10 | Speed: 10 | Stamina: 10 | Endurance: 10 | Mana: 10 | Intelligence: 10
Titles: None
System Features: Shop & Spin (Unlocked), Inventory (Locked), System Space (Locked)
Character Draws: 0
Jin-Seok frowned. "It lists my race as 'Human, ???' and mentions unknown bloodlines."
Aris's flames flickered. "Any special ancestry from your grandfather?"
"No. Just a normal family from Blue Star. Grandfather raised me alone. My parents… I don't know."
Jin-Seok cut the topic short. "Forget them. Focus on now. At least I'm not hallucinating."
[System Message: Emotional outbursts detected. Please remain calm.]
---
Public Reaction
The plaza had gone quiet. Dozens of examinees stared at him—wide-eyed, whispering, laughing.
"Is that guy talking to the air?" someone asked.
"Ten minutes straight!" another said.
Jin-Seok clenched his teeth. "This is your fault."
Aris shrugged. "I'm just a spirit. What do I care about your social standing?"
"My social standing was fine until you showed up!"
"If you care about what these insects think, you're not ready for the Tower."
---
Dimensional Rift Arrival
Before Jin-Seok could respond, the temperature dropped. Breath misted, frost formed on the marble pillars.
BOOM.
Reality tore apart in the chamber's center. A figure stepped through—a being clearly not human, operating outside normal rules.