Chapter 2: Awakening in a New World

Years passed, and Lahsiv grew quickly into his new body. From the outside, he was nothing more than a typical child, but inside, his mind remained sharp, calculating, and constantly analyzing his surroundings. He had already mastered the language of this world by the age of five, using every moment of his childhood to understand the intricacies of his new environment. He observed his “parents” closely, learning about their culture, society, and most importantly, the power structure of this world.

From what he had gathered, this world was called Valarion. It was one of two worlds that existed in a precarious balance, connected by a mysterious force and portals that facilitated a constant, low-scale conflict. People here had the ability to awaken and harness something called Light Karma, a form of energy that allowed them to grow stronger by unlocking their body’s potential through Mandala points.

But that was only half the story.

Lahsiv’s system was a game changer. It wasn’t just a tool; it was the key to power unlike anyone else in this world. He could see his stats and monitor his growth, something others were blind to. The most intriguing aspect, however, was the display of Dark Karma. In this world, Dark Karma was viewed as forbidden, an evil force that brought corruption. It was said that accumulating too much of it would destroy one’s soul. But Lahsiv had other plans. Unlike the rest of this world, he had no qualms about utilizing whatever power was available to him.

‘Dark Karma… Light Karma… It doesn’t matter. Power is power,’ he thought as he sat in silence on the wooden floor of his family’s modest home, his eyes narrowing as he concentrated on the system’s prompt.

[Name: Lahsiv]

[HP: 120/120]

[Strength: 6]

[Agility: 5]

[Defense: 5]

[Body Rank: Mortal (0 Mandala Points unlocked)]

[Soul Rank: Mortal]

[Light Karma: 0]

[Dark Karma: 0]

[Titles: None]

[Innate Weapon: Unawakened]

[Next Awakening Milestone: 12 years old]

At seven years old, Lahsiv was far from powerful, but he was already laying the groundwork for his eventual rise. The system had indicated that his innate weapon, whatever it might be, would awaken when he reached twelve. Until then, he would learn all he could and wait patiently for his chance to grow stronger.

But something else had been gnawing at him—the strange darkness within his soul that he had noticed since his reincarnation. No matter how much he focused on Light Karma, he always sensed that dark energy deep inside him, waiting to be unleashed. And the system confirmed it: he could harness both Light and Dark Karma, a forbidden combination in this world.

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‘They avoid Dark Karma out of fear… but I’ll use it without hesitation. I’ll do what they can’t.’

One evening, as Lahsiv pretended to sleep in his bed, he overheard his parents speaking in hushed tones by the fireplace. They were discussing the academy—an institution that trained young children to harness their Light Karma abilities. Most children began their formal training at twelve, but only the best and brightest from the various villages were accepted.

“Lahsiv,” his mother whispered, her voice full of pride, “he’s been learning so quickly. Do you think… do you think he has the potential to join the Academy?”

His father paused, his voice heavy with thought. “Perhaps. He’s different from the other children. Smarter. But… something about him unsettles me. He’s so cold, even as a child.”

Lahsiv smirked, though his face remained hidden in the darkness of his bed.

‘Cold? You have no idea,’ he thought.

While his parents wanted what was best for him, they couldn’t possibly understand the depth of his ambition. The Academy wasn’t just an opportunity—it was his first stepping stone toward power. It was there that he would begin to build his reputation and his strength.

As he lay quietly, pretending to be asleep, the system prompt suddenly flickered in front of him, something it rarely did unprompted.

[System Alert: First Trial Available]

[Dark Karma Trial: Unleash latent power through Dark Karma absorption. Completion will allow Dark Karma abilities to manifest earlier. Warning: Failure may lead to soul corruption.]

Lahsiv’s heart quickened. This was it—the opportunity he had been waiting for. The system was offering him a path to power, but it came with a risk. He could sense the darkness inside him growing restless, begging to be unleashed, but he also knew the consequences if he failed. The very thing that could make him stronger could also destroy him.

‘Corruption?’ he mused. ‘I’ll risk it.’

Without hesitation, Lahsiv accepted the trial.

The air around him seemed to thicken, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. His body felt paralyzed, unable to move. His vision darkened, and for a moment, he thought he had fallen asleep. But this was no dream.

He found himself standing in an empty void, the ground beneath his feet cold and featureless. The air was thick with a strange, oppressive energy. In front of him, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness—its form constantly shifting and flickering. It had no face, but its presence exuded malice and power.

“You seek to harness the Dark Karma, child?” The figure’s voice was like a chorus of whispers, echoing around him.

“Yes,” Lahsiv replied without fear. “I will control it.”

The figure seemed to smile—if such a thing were possible. “Control? No one controls the darkness. It consumes everything. Even you.”

Lahsiv’s lips curled into a smirk. “That’s what you think.”

The shadow let out a guttural laugh, and then the trial began. Dark tendrils of energy shot out from the void, wrapping around Lahsiv’s body. Pain lanced through him, searing his mind and soul. Every nerve screamed in agony as the dark energy tried to corrupt him, to take control. But Lahsiv fought back with sheer willpower, refusing to be overtaken. His mind was cold, calculating, unyielding.

‘This is nothing,’ he thought, grinding his teeth against the pain. ‘I won’t be beaten by this.’

The trial raged on, each moment testing the limits of Lahsiv’s resolve. The darkness clawed at him, trying to break him, but Lahsiv held firm. Slowly, inch by inch, he began to bend the dark energy to his will. The pain subsided, replaced by a raw, untamed power surging through his veins.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the shadowy figure dissipated, leaving Lahsiv standing alone in the void, victorious.

[Dark Karma Trial Completed: Early Manifestation of Dark Karma Abilities Unlocked]

[New Skill: Shadow Veil (Rank 1) - Cloak yourself in dark energy, becoming invisible to the naked eye for a limited time.]

[Warning: Continued use of Dark Karma may lead to further soul corruption.]

Lahsiv opened his eyes, now fully aware of the raw power coursing through his body. He had passed the trial, and now, he possessed abilities beyond the comprehension of the people in this world.

‘This is only the beginning,’ he thought as he sat up, staring at the system prompt with a cold smile.

In a few years, he would enter the Academy, but by then, he would already be far ahead of the others. While they struggled with the basics of Light Karma, he would wield both Light and Dark forces with terrifying precision.

‘Let them underestimate me. Soon, they’ll all see what true power looks like.’

And so, Lahsiv’s path toward domination began, his thirst for power growing ever more insatiable.