Riku had assumed that, like his father, he would inherit power from his father's genes—after all, they shared the same facial features, the same body type. But reality had other plans. The power coursing through him came from his mother's genes.
[Dark Crow awakened
The display lingered for a moment... and then everything else on the mana plate faded away, as if the system itself demanded more.
"What the... what the heck is this?" Riku muttered, staring at the blue screen, a mix of confusion and disbelief painting his face.
Could it really be... a game?
The realization hit him like a thunderclap. The message, "[You've been granted]," wasn't just a notification—it was the signature of a game system.
Riku's mind raced, recalling all the RPGs he had ever played. The logic fit perfectly. If this was indeed a system, then the mana plate wouldn't even be necessary to check his abilities. The screen would automatically display his stats, skills, and progress—everything he needed to know.
A slow grin spread across his face. "Heh... so that's how it works," he whispered. Confidence surged within him. If this truly was a system, then the possibilities were endless. All he had to do now was explore—and survive.
Riku stared at the stats and skill list displayed in front of him, his mind racing to process the information.
Name: Riku Hirota
Race: Human
Level: 1
Title: [Genes King]
Evolution: 1st Level
Mana Pool: 15
Fitness: 10
Gene: [Dark Crow]
Skill(s):
[Fly] – Harnessing the power of the Dark Crow, you gain the ability to fly. Cost: 8 Mana
[Manifest] – By consuming blood, you can replicate another individual's genetic powers. Cost: 9 Mana
[Target] – Using the Dark Crow's sharp eyes, observe your opponent from afar. When
Riku tilted his head, thinking. Dark Crow... vampires... blood... That explains the [Manifest] skill. So this gene can copy the powers of others through their blood.
He exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his chest. But where's the offensive skill? Where's the ability to actually fight?
A pang of worry struck him. Shit... flying is great, and I can scout or replicate powers, but what if the monsters I face can fly too? How am I supposed to defeat them without an attack skill?
Riku had trained under Haru with the singular goal of becoming a mutant. Yet now, standing in this strange world, a sobering realization weighed on him: the monsters here wielded immense strength and nearly limitless mana. Without a finishing blow or offensive skill, he would be easily overpowered.
"Stop complaining, Riku," he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the forest. "My mother's genes grant me some of the rarest abilities. I just need to figure out how to use them."
Still, he couldn't shake the astonishment at the title he'd received upon awakening his genes. Typically, mutants had to reach level 3 or 4 before being granted such recognition. Perhaps his [Manifest] skill had played a role—allowing him to acquire additional genes whenever he used it. With the [Genes King] ability, he could discern which genes were worth copying.
It made sense, in retrospect, that the Dark Crow genes inherited from his mother were behind this unique aptitude.
Riku exhaled, forcing himself to think practically. I need to close the screen and figure out a way out of this forest. Hesitating won't get me home.
Ding!
He froze. The familiar chime echoed in his head once more.
"What the hell? Did the screen just open again?" he whispered, crouching slightly as he inspected the air before him.
A translucent blue window shimmered into existence.
[Path to Gene Kinghood!]
[A Quest has arrived! Would you like to open the quest? Yes/No]
There was no doubt now. This world had granted him a game system. A quest? This was the first time he had encountered one outside of a game.
Riku stroked his chin, weighing his options. In XR Online, quests offered experience, rewards, and rare skills—but danger always accompanied them. How difficult could this quest be? Could he handle it?
Yet, what choice did he have? The path to becoming a stronger mutant would likely pass through this very trial. Popularity, wealth, and status held little sway for him—he was already accustomed to them as the son of a wealthy businessman.
Finally, he straightened his posture and met the screen with unwavering resolve. "Yes," he said firmly in his mind.
The quest had been accepted.
Immediately, another screen appeared before him, revealing his very first quest.
[Quest accepted!]
[First Hunt! Kill 3 monsters of any type!]
Rewards:
+21 experience
+3 mana pool
+4 fitness
+2 skill points
Name: Riku Hirota
Mutant Level: 1 — 0%
Riku studied the screen carefully, recalling his time playing XR Online. Skill points had always been used to unlock or upgrade abilities, typically depending on your chosen class. Here, however, he realized his skills would be tied directly to his Dark Crow genes.
This quest will help me grow stronger, he thought, but these rewards feel almost insignificant compared to the risk. Reaching Mutant Level 2 required 100 experience points, a steep climb from his current level.
He exhaled, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling inside. The screen vanished as he closed it, leaving him to assess the forest around him.
The thought of using [Fly] crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. With only fifteen mana, activating the skill would leave him with barely any energy. In a critical fight, relying on it could be disastrous.
He glanced at the side paths. Thick vines and undergrowth would slow him down and make him an easy target. The main path, though more exposed, offered better visibility. In a world filled with unknown dangers, he decided that being able to see what was coming mattered more than hiding.
Direct is safer. I can at least spot a monster before it surprises me, he reasoned.
Clenching his fists, Riku reminded himself of his goal. I have to get stronger. I have to survive. I have to find a way back home. Everyone back there is worried about me. I can't let them down.
With that resolve, he stepped onto the path, moving carefully while keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings. Every rustle in the trees, every shadow caught his attention.
Under the bright sunlight, thirty minutes passed without any sign of monsters.
Finally, some luck, he thought. A small sense of relief washed over him. If this continued, he might make it through the forest without a fight, saving his strength for when real challenges arrived.
Riku froze as a sharp rustling reached his ears.
He spun around just in time to see a creature emerging from the trees. It was taller than him, its jet-black fur bristling, claws gleaming, and eyes burning with a predatory intensity. A level 1 monster, no doubt about it.
"F*ck!" Riku cursed, instinctively rolling to the ground. The creature's claws swiped over him, missing by mere inches.
He scrambled back to his feet, eyes wide. "Tibbers? Seriously? Here?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing. A monster from his old gaming memories was now alive in this world.