A deep void of pure darkness stretched endlessly. There was no sound, no sensation, no concept of up or down, near or far. It was pure nothingness. Within that nothingness existed an astral body of consciousness. It was neither alive nor dead. It simply existed.
It was a void so complete that even time itself seemed unwilling to exist within it.
Thought should not have been possible here, yet awareness lingered, fragile and uncertain, like a flame refusing to go out within that body of consciousness.
'Where... am I?'
The question echoed within him, unanswered.
'Is this hell? Or heaven?'
Before another thought could form, a screen-like notification appeared before him.
『BASE ACTIVATION SEQUENCE - INITIATED』
The screen did not merely appear in the darkness. It overwrote it.
Reality itself seemed to bend, as though the void had been forced to accept something foreign, something absolute.
『Synchronization in progress...』
『Synchronization... 0.1%』
『Synchronization... 0.5%』
『Synchronization... 1%』
The numbers advanced steadily, neither rushed nor delayed. It was a smooth process of ascension.
『Synchronization... 10%』
『Synchronization... 50%』
『Synchronization... 80%』
With each increase, something unseen began to take shape. Awareness sharpened. Identity stitched itself together thread by thread, like fragments of existence being forcibly assembled into a whole.
'What is this...? What does this "synchronization" mean?'
No answer came from within his thoughts.
『Synchronization... 100%』
『BASE SYSTEM - SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE』
『BASE SYSTEM - ONLINE』
The void trembled subtly around the astral body of consciousness, as if the very foundation of existence had acknowledged the completion of a process it could not refuse.
『BASE SYSTEM ACTIVATION REWARDS』
『Base Classification - Mystic Master Base Acquired
Base Potency - Absolute (100%) Acquired』
『BASE SYSTEM AWAKENING REWARDS』
『PASSIVE SKILL: Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding Acquired
ACTIVE SKILL: Identification Acquired』
『REINCARNATION RECORD - REGISTERED
Rewards Confirmed
Combat Proficiency - Integrated
Blade Compatibility & Utility - Absolute
Assassination Aptitude - Acknowledged』
The messages ended there.
'So... this is a system? What does this "base" mean?'
Before he could process what was happening, he felt something unfamiliar, a strange sensation that could not be described with normal words. Another notification appeared.
『MASTER ASTRAL BODY OF CONSCIOUSNESS HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED WITH MASTER NEW BODY』
______________________________________________
A sharp, burning sensation tore through him as air forced its way into lungs that had never breathed before. His chest convulsed violently, and a piercing cry tore free.
WAAAHHH!
The sound echoed loudly as blinding light flooded his vision. Shapes hovered above him, huge figures distorted and blurred by tears as his eyes struggled to adapt.
Slowly, his vision sharpened. He was finally able to see them: a man and a woman.
The man came into focus first. He was handsome, in his early thirties, with a strong, well-built frame. Golden, lush hair reached his neck, and his deep sapphire-blue eyes trembled as he looked down, filled with pride, joy, and pure happiness.
Beside him was a woman in her mid-to-late twenties, breathtakingly beautiful. Black-brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a flawless face, while her crimson-red eyes shimmered softly as she looked toward the cradle.
They stood together in the room, facing the cradle bed. The man's hands rested on the shoulders of the woman beside him, his touch calm and steady.
'...People?' he thought.
Then another cry sounded beside him. He turned his head weakly and slowly. To his shock, another infant lay beside him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of the small body. The baby had golden-lush hair and sapphire-blue eyes, clearly resembling the man.
'A... baby?'
Understanding struck him like lightning. His gaze dropped to his own tiny, fragile hands.
'I... became a baby?'
A heavy realization settled in.
'I've been... reincarnated.'
A faint, disbelieving thought followed.
'I always thought reincarnation was just a joke, something only found in movies and novels.' His eyes moved again.
A small girl, no more than three years old, stood near the bed, clutching the edge nervously. Her wide eyes were filled with curiosity, and a bright smile adorned her face. She had golden-black hair and crimson-red eyes. It was obvious she was their daughter.
'So these are my new parents... and this little girl is now my older sister.'
"Mom, they both look alike and are so tiny. Why's that?" the little girl asked.
"Hahaha, Yumi," the mother replied warmly. "They are identical twins and still babies."
"So what are their names?" Yumi asked.
"Ater and Arian," the father answered proudly. He and his wife had already decided that he would name the boys, while she named the girls.
"So which is Ater and which is Arian?" the mother asked.
"The eldest twin is Ater," he said, pointing to the other baby.
"And the youngest is Arian," he added, pointing at him.
*ding!~*
『MASTER HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME CHECK STATUS TO VIEW INFORMATION』
'Status?'
『BASE SYSTEM』
『STATUS
NAME: Arian
RACE: Human
SKILLS:
ACTIVE SKILL: [Identify]
PASSIVE SKILL: [Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding]』
『IDENTIFY: A skill granted by the Base System upon awakening. Allows the host to identify individuals and creatures. Effectiveness may vary depending on power differences, race, or special abilities. Can be activated seven times per day.』
『INSTANT LEARNING, COMPREHENSION, AND UNDERSTANDING: A skill rewarded by the base system upon awakening. It is a passive skill that grants accelerated learning and comprehension. Age is not a limitation.』
『PHYSICAL STATS』
『STRENGTH - 1
AGILITY - 1
STAMINA - 0
VITALITY - 1
HEALTH - 10
FREE STATS POINTS - 0』
『BASE CLASS - Mythic Master Base
BASE POTENTIAL - 100%
BASE REGISTER - 100%』
『CURRENT BASE INFO
BASE CLASS - Unaligned State
BASE STATE - Dormant
FLOW SKILLS - 0/10
EVO POINTS - 0/50』
'What does all this base stuff even mean...?'
Questions flooded his mind, but none were answered.
______________________________________________
Five years passed in a blink of an eye.
Under the reflection of sunlight, a boy no less than five years old stood near a lake he was around three feet nine inches tall. He had golden-lush hair and deep sapphire-blue eyes with a very cute and adorable face.
This was Arian.
Arian was dressed in a dark hooded cloak made from heavy, matte fabric dyed deep charcoal, with faint forest-green undertones that helped him blend into the surrounding wilderness. The hood was kept low at all times, casting a shadow over his young face both to conceal his identity as a Duke's son and to obey the restriction that prevented him from openly leaving his town. The cloak was long but split at the back, allowing silent, unrestricted movement whenever he ran or struck.
Beneath it, he wore a fitted tunic of muted grey-blue, secured with small metal buttons down the chest simple, practical, yet subtly noble. A soft scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck, shielding him from wind and dust while further obscuring his features when necessary. Light leather pauldrons rested on his shoulders, reinforced just enough to deflect glancing blows without sacrificing speed. His forearms were wrapped in worn leather bracers, their smooth surface marked by years of training, with fine stitching that hinted at high craftsmanship deliberately kept understated.
Around his waist were multiple belts and straps, each serving a purpose. Two of them secured his dual daggers one on each side perfectly balanced for a dual-wielding assassin. The blades were slim and symmetrical, designed for speed and precision rather than brute force. His dark, close-fitting trousers allowed agility and silence, tucked neatly into reinforced leather boots built for long travel and sudden bursts of motion. The boots were scuffed but carefully maintained, showing discipline and experience rather than neglect.
A large mutated grasshopper lay motionless before him. It was three feet five inches tall, huge compared to the size of a regular grasshopper, with a dagger embedded in its body.
『Master has killed a Tier 1 Forest Mutant Grasshopper』
『Corrupted Base Core Located - Upper Back Region』
Arian dug into the creature and retrieved a red, irregularly shaped crystal. He hesitated, then swallowed it.
『Tier 1 Mutant Forest Grasshopper Corrupted Base Core Consumed - Purification Successful』
『Master has acquired 1 Evo Point』
"It's hard to find Tier 1 mutants or hybrids around here," he muttered while scanning the area. Seeing none, he decided to check his progress, sheathing his daggers into their scabbards.
"Status."
*ding!~*
『BASE SYSTEM』
『STATUS
NAME: Arian
RACE: Human
SKILLS:
ACTIVE SKILL: [Identify]
PASSIVE SKILL: [Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding]』
『PHYSICAL STATS』
『STRENGTH - 8
AGILITY - 8
STAMINA - 10
VITALITY - 10
HEALTH - 30
FREE STATS POINTS - 0』
『BASE CLASS - Mythic Master Base
BASE POTENTIAL - 100%
BASE REGISTER - 100%』
『CURRENT BASE INFO
BASE CLASS - Unaligned State
BASE STATE - Active
FLOW SKILLS - 0/10
EVO POINTS - 37/50』
He ignored other stats and his eyes went straight to one line.
『EVO POINTS 37/50』
"Only thirteen more," he said, shivering with excitement. "Then I'll finally reach Grade One."
CROAK!!
His body froze.
He quickly hid behind a nearby bush.
"Identify."
『Active Skill Identify Activated
Scanning...
Identification Complete
INFO:
Tier 2 Mutant Bull Toad
Lives near lakes and ponds
Can last underwater for at least one hour
Poisonous skin and tongue
Mid poison resistance
Good vitality
Sensitive to sound vibrations
Afraid of higher-grade creatures
Not afraid of same or lower tier』
"A Tier 2 mutant here? It should be impossible." Well he couldn't deny the evidence that the system gave him.
From a single glance at the information, Arian understood one thing clearly. Fighting it here in an open area would be suicide.
He turned slowly and began to retreat as quietly as possible, careful not to make a sound. For a brief moment, it seemed like he might escape.
CROAK!
His heart sank.
The mutant Bull Toad was four feet five inches tall. Compared to Arian, who was three feet nine inches, the creature was huge. Its massive body tensed, and in the next instant, it leapt into the air with terrifying force.
Without thinking, Arian ran as far as his legs could carry him, his instincts screaming at him to survive. He aimed for the nearby forest, hoping the dense trees would help him lose the creature's trail.
But he was not fast enough.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently as the Bull Toad
landed behind him. The impact sent Arian tumbling forward, his small body crashing onto the ground.
He rolled over instinctively, just in time to see the creature looming above him. Its massive mouth opened wide, layers of flesh stretching apart as a long, sticky tongue twitched within.
It was ready to swallow him whole.