Amir Mishra gazed upon the gates of Paris-Saclay University, his eyes awash with a blend of reverence and awe. This threshold marked more than just the entrance to an institution; it symbolized a pivotal moment in his life. Freed from the shackles of parental expectations, he was now the architect of his own destiny. His gaze lingered on the throng of students milling about, their youthfulness underscored by lively chatter and an air of nonchalance as they streamed into the building. They exuded a natural sense of belonging, an effortless integration into this world that seemed to elude him.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of injustice. Amir, too, had earned his place here, his admission and tuition fees paid just like everyone else. Yet, the confidence that radiated from his peers seemed a foreign concept to him. Chastising himself for this perceived weakness, he summoned every ounce of courage within him and took a determined step forward. In that moment, his world plunged into darkness.

A disorienting vertigo engulfed him as the environment seemed to warp and twist. Every orientation (up, down, left, right) merged into a chaotic whirlpool. Panic set in as he wondered if his breakfast had been tainted, perhaps an unfortunate reaction with his mounting anxiety, culminating in this embarrassing spectacle on his very first day. Would the university reconsider his admission over this?

The void remained indifferent to his turmoil, continuing its eerie, blackened spiral. Disoriented, Amir couldn't discern if he was upright or lying. Mercifully, the unsettling episode was fleeting, and soon reality snapped back into its colorful, stable form. Or so he thought. The humiliation of finding himself kneeling, drenched in sweat, and possibly emitting a less-than-dignified shriek, was quickly overshadowed by the shock of his new surroundings.

He found himself encircled by a lush, unfamiliar wilderness, standing atop a stone platform adorned with esoteric, ritualistic markings.

"What the hell?" he blurted out, questioning his own sanity.

Almost in response to his bewildered exclamation, deranged laughter echoed from behind. As he began to turn, cold metal chains clamped around his wrists and neck with a chilling finality. His mind raced to rationalize the situation as some elaborate hazing ritual by senior students; a scenario he had utterly missed in his extensive forum research. Prepared for pranks, albeit embarrassing ones, this seemed an extreme deviation. Instinct urged him to resist, and he thrashed wildly until a viscous, warm liquid began to spread beneath him. It was blood-red, a sinister hue that screamed danger, yet a part of him clung to the hope that it was nothing but a ruse.

Suddenly, a guttural voice shattered the silence.

"At last! Hahaha," it bellowed, followed swiftly by another.

"I told you increasing the sacrifices and adding the chains directly into the ritual would work."

The conversation, steeped in cliché and cringe-worthy theatrics, momentarily eased Amir's anxiety. The exaggerated drama suggested a harmless, though elaborate, initiation rite. Still, the circumstances of his sudden disorientation and relocation nagged at him. Could his parents be complicit in this elaborate prank? The thought seemed too far-fetched even for his racing mind.

But amid his contemplation, Amir encountered a revelation so startling it sent shivers down his spine. The voices around him, presumably those of the sophomores, spoke in a language utterly foreign, yet his mind deciphered their words with unsettling clarity. This anomaly sent his thoughts into a frantic search for a rational explanation. A lucid dream, maybe?

"Don't resist, 'hero'! You're our slave now," taunted one of the voices in the strange tongue.

"I," Amir began, mustering what little courage he had, "refuse to participate! To hell with this initiation, and to hell with you! Release me now, or I'll—Argh!" His defiant proclamation was interrupted by a rough jerk on the chain around his neck that choked his words into silence, his wrists the only thing preventing a complete collapse.

Then, a distinct click sounded, followed by the rattling of his chains, as if they were being manipulated by unseen hands. Footsteps approached, and without warning, he was violently yanked upright. A hand, gripping his short hair, forced his head to turn.

"Don't speak and don't resist!" The voice, growling menacingly behind what Amir hoped was a convincingly demonic mask, seemed to dare him to defy.

Amir fought against the rising tide of fear and the instinct to scream, unwilling to give his tormentor the satisfaction. However, the grotesque smile that spread across the face of his captor shattered his resolve.

"Ahh!" Amir's scream tore through the air, a primal sound of sheer terror. The mask was too lifelike; the 'teeth' within that gaping maw were far too realistic and menacing to be a mere prop. His heart pounded frantically, terror overtaking him as he screamed louder, the 'monster' evidently reveling in his fright. Then, without warning, a punishing blow struck him.

Reality blurred as dizziness fought with the searing pain. Blood filled his mouth, hinting at possibly dislodged teeth. Even as consciousness waned and terror gripped him, a chilling clarity dawned upon Amir. This was no dream, no student prank. It was a nightmare, visceral and vivid, unfolding in merciless wakefulness. And then, darkness claimed him.

"Oops! I forgot how fragile they can be," remarked a voice, tinged with callous indifference, as it echoed in the encroaching void.

Sometime later, Amir awoke, his consciousness resurfacing to the throbbing pain of a splitting headache and an agonizingly sore jaw. He found himself still restrained, but now confined within a primitive, earthen cell. Lying on the cold, hard dirt, his back partially propped against the wall, the nature of his enclosure was unmistakably that of a prison. The rusty metal bars sealing his earthen confines only confirmed his guesses. Despite the rising panic within, Amir chose to internalize his fear, opting instead to survey his surroundings with a forced calm.

The cell stretched upwards to nearly three meters, devoid of any furnishings or structures beyond its barren walls. Beyond the bars, a dimly lit corridor stretched out, illuminated by what seemed to be flickering flames from an unseen source. The quality and dance of the light suggested firelight. The absence of windows and the still, stagnant air heightened the unnerving possibility of smoke suffocation. Struggling against his bindings, Amir inched towards the bars, the effort sending jolts of pain through his aching body. Yet, the chains restricted his movement, halting him halfway.

Though he couldn’t discern the source of the fire or any neighboring cells across the corridor, the lengthy passage hinted at the existence of other prisoners. For now, the absence of his captors or any guards was a small mercy. His mind, however, quickly shifted focus from the immediate danger to more primal concerns: thirst and hunger gnawed at him, his parched throat and empty stomach suggesting it had been at least a day since his ordeal began. The realization that no rescue had come in this time sent a wave of despair crashing over him.

Fighting to maintain composure, Amir focused on regulating his breathing, consciously slowing his racing heart. Panic would serve no purpose; his surging adrenaline would be better reserved for a potential escape attempt. As he gradually calmed, Amir became acutely aware of a peculiar sensation at the periphery of his consciousness, a subtle, persistent tugging that demanded his attention amidst the chaos enveloping him.

Intrigued, he reached towards this newfound sensation. To his astonishment, a translucent, blue panel materialized before his eyes, simultaneously visible yet ethereal, akin to holding a finger close to one eye. Blinking brought no relief; closing his eyes only rendered the panel more vivid against the darkness.

Resigning himself to the surreal turn of events, Amir turned his focus to the panel. If this was yet another layer of his bizarre predicament, he was determined to understand it.

Welcome to the Guide Panel!

Anomaly Detected: User has been forcibly summoned from an alternate dimension!

Unique Opportunity: User qualifies for Legendary tier Paths.

Alert: Path selection time limit surpassed. The highest compatibility Path will be auto-assigned.

Path 'Bane of Mysteries' activated!

-EXP -EXP +EXP -EXP +EXP +EXP

Amir's mind raced as he processed the information. "Well, that's... enlightening," he murmured, allowing the bizarre reality to sink in. His background in dimensional theory and a penchant for speculative 'what if' scenarios had prepared him somewhat for the concept of alternate dimensions. As a self-proclaimed science enthusiast, particularly with broad nerdy education, the idea of being summoned into a fantasy realm wasn't entirely alien to him. In fact, it was a scenario he'd daydreamed about, though the current predicament was far from the heroic adventures he had imagined. The notion of a prank had long since been dismissed, and while the possibility of a dream lingered, he decided that embracing this surreal experience was the most pragmatic approach.

His current state, however, was a stark deviation from his fantasies. Imprisoned and labeled a slave by his captors, Amir clung to the hope that his 'Legendary tier Path' might provide a means to improve his dire circumstances.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Amir finally understood how to interact with the Guide screen. It remained unresponsive to commands like 'Status', 'System', or 'Stats'. The correct verbal or mental commands were 'Guide Panel', followed by 'Path', 'Log', or 'Skills'. Other keywords remained elusive for the moment.

Guide Panel

Name: Amir Mishra

Rank: Initiate

Level:1

Path: Bane of Mysteries

Tier: Legendary

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Health(%): 46

H. regen(%): 6/h (1/h)

Hurt (Mild), Hungry (Moderate), Thirsty (Serious)

Essence(%): 100

E. regen(%): 10/h (8/h)

Stressed (Moderate)

Vitality: 7

Endurance: 6

Strength: 6

Dexterity: 7

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 9

Willpower: 7

Perception: 8

Skill: Language

Tier: Epic

Level: 1

Skill Options: Locked

Bane of Mysteries

Driven by an insatiable curiosity and desire to unravel all mysteries. Progress is achieved through discovery, analysis, or experimental learning

+EXP for accurate deductions.

Bonus

Skill: Language (Epic)

+1 WIS +1 INT +1 WIL every ten levels   

Ability to learn unlimited skills.

Restrictions

No access to Guide Skills and Skill points.

Penalties

-EXP for incorrect deductions.

The cascade of information presented by the Guide Panel was overwhelming, but it offered Amir a semblance of control. Clinging to this lifeline, he began to dissect the data before him. His Health, hovering below fifty percent, was a stark indicator of his physical state. Without a baseline of full health for comparison, the specifics of this metric remained nebulous; nevertheless, he instinctively understood that approaching zero would spell disaster. His current afflictions (thirst, hunger, and injury) were meticulously itemized, hinting at a potential decline in Health should his condition worsen.

The Essence attribute remained enigmatic. Amir speculated that it might be akin to a mana reserve, a concept reinforced by the presence of a systematic skill framework which suggested the possibility of magic. The disparity between his mental and physical attributes was telling; it hinted at a predisposition towards roles that relied more on mental abilities, perhaps as a magic caster, should such pathways exist in this world.

His sole skill, Language, appeared to be a boon from his chosen Path. It seemed to grant him the remarkable ability to comprehend and speak any language, provided he had prior exposure to it. While this skill might not hold the allure of more fantastical abilities, its practicality in unfamiliar lands was undeniable. Ironically, it rendered his previous efforts to learn additional languages on Earth somewhat redundant. Nonetheless, it was a valuable asset, one that might prove crucial should he ever return to his home world.

The classification of Language as an 'Epic tier' skill suggested a high level of proficiency, offering instantaneous translation. However, without knowledge of the lower tiers, the true extent of its capability remained uncertain. A more disheartening revelation was the apparent difficulty he would face in acquiring new skills. His Path's unique nature implied an unconventional approach to skill acquisition, diverging from what might be the norm. While he hypothesized that more conventional Paths might accumulate Skill Points with each level gained, he was cautious not to assume too much. His designation as 'Legendary' implied significant potential, suggesting that the advantages of his Path might be substantial.

Amir contemplated the implications of his Path, deducing that the benefit of gaining extra attributes every ten levels, coupled with the ability to learn unlimited Skills, indicated that lower-tier Paths might have a restricted skill capacity or gain points at a slower rate. The crux of his challenge lay in understanding how swiftly he could acquire new Skills, especially in the absence of any direct guidance or instruction.

A longing to access a comprehensive list of Skills gnawed at him. Simply knowing their names would be a significant leap towards learning them. The concept of EXP, seemingly pivotal for advancement in levels and rank, intrigued him. It was unconventional, perhaps even revolutionary, that his progression relied on 'discovering' new knowledge. This system resonated deeply with his scientific curiosity, transforming the concepts of magic, skills, ranks, tiers, levels, and paths into fascinating subjects of study. Unlike traditional leveling through combat or spiritual cultivation, his journey would be one of exploration and understanding of this novel dimension. The core principle was clear: gain EXP for correct deductions and lose it for erroneous ones, a hypothesis corroborated by his Log screen.

+EXP –EXP +EXP

"Damn!" Amir couldn't help but marvel at the concept. This system was akin to a scientist's utopia, where hypotheses and experiments received validation from some omniscient mechanism. This approach might not appeal to those seeking rapid progression unless other Paths also contend with frequent EXP deductions. As someone with a foundational understanding of scientific principles, Amir knew better than to expect flawless accuracy in his conclusions. Yet, by adhering to rigorous scientific methods in his observations, deductions, and experiments, he could minimize incorrect inferences.

After reviewing the panels repeatedly, Amir acknowledged the potential utility of the Logs in unraveling the Guide's mysteries. To enhance his chances of escape and overall survival, however, he recognized the need to temper his innate curiosity. Rash, unfounded speculations and poorly executed experiments would inevitably result in EXP penalties. As such, careful, well-thought-out approaches were essential in navigating this enigmatic new world.

Amir meticulously analyzed his experiences with the Guide Panel, piecing together crucial insights:

1. For a hypothesis to yield +EXP, it required a well-founded, clear conjecture, grounded in empirical observations or experiments, rather than mere speculation.

2. Both +EXP and -EXP were linked with distinct sensations; positive feedback coincided with positive feelings and vice versa. With practice, he could potentially discern the validity of his conjectures without constantly referring to the Logs.

3. The magnitude of +EXP and -EXP seemed proportional to the significance of the discovery, though the criteria determining this 'importance value' remained unknown.

4. Hypotheses necessitating experimental verification couldn't be confirmed through deduction alone. For instance, his theory that attributes like Vitality and Endurance influenced Health, drawn from his knowledge of novels and games, yielded neither +EXP nor -EXP. However, when he hypothesized that empirical testing was required to validate such claims, he received +EXP as confirmation.

5. The status conditions of Hurt (Mild), Hungry (Moderate), and Thirsty (Serious) negatively affected his Health regeneration rate, while Stressed (Moderate) did the same to Essence regeneration. If these conditions worsened enough to turn the regeneration rates negative, both Health and Essence would start to deplete.

6. Conditions could improve over time, as evidenced when his Stress level decreased from Moderate to Mild.

7. Accumulated EXP led to level advancement, as proven when he progressed to Levels 2 and 3 following a series of +EXP gains. Conversely, -EXP could deplete his accumulated experience but wouldn't cause a regression in levels, thankfully.

These revelations brought Amir a degree of comfort. As much as he valued learning from both mistakes and successes, he preferred to focus on accumulating +EXP. His recent discovery about leveling up presented a strategic advantage: he could reserve riskier hypothesis testing for just after a level increase to minimize potential EXP losses.

However, his initial level-up didn't yield any immediate tangible benefits. Although he understood that significant bonuses would only manifest at Level 10, he had harbored a faint hope for some interim perks. Aware of these mechanics, Amir felt confident about reaching Level 10, even within the confines of his cell, given the plethora of potential experiments and observations in this new world. Nonetheless, he couldn't lose sight of his most pressing objective: escape. Time was a luxury he might not have if he were to level up solely through observation and experimentation.

He mulled over his limited options, fixating on the idea of acquiring a new, useful Skill. Even if he reached Level 10 and gained enhancements in Wisdom, Intelligence, and Willpower, it wouldn't directly aid his escape. While the possibility of receiving free attribute points also existed, these alone wouldn't suffice without applicable Skills. Perhaps increasing his Strength might offer some physical means of escape, but such a hope seemed more like wishful thinking.

His focus shifted to leveraging one of his unique bonuses, the ability to acquire unlimited Skills. His current Skill, Language, was impressive but not immediately beneficial for escape. It did, however, reveal the extraordinary and logic-defying nature of Skills. Amir hypothesized that at lower tiers, the Language Skill would merely facilitate the learning of new languages, a theory promptly validated with a +EXP gain. The Bane of Mysteries Path was already proving its worth.

In his mind, he cataloged potential Skills that could aid in his escape. Magic and thief-related abilities stood out as top contenders. He narrowed the list further to Skills that would be effective even at lower tiers and levels, acknowledging the uncertainty of having sufficient time to develop them. He ruled out overly complex Skills like Teleportation and Metal Manipulation, focusing instead on more feasible options.

He outlined three primary objectives: freeing himself from his bindings, breaking out of the cell, and escaping undetected. The chains on his wrists, while loose, were not wide enough to slip his hands through. The first, albeit painful, option was to force the manacle off, risking severe injury to his hand. The locks securing the chains to the wall were out of reach. Skills like flexible hands or an elastic body came to mind. If such abilities existed and were learnable, they could prove invaluable, not only in freeing himself from the chains but also in slipping through the bars. However, the concept of learning to make his body elastic was baffling, leaving him unsure of where to even begin.

Amir, decided to tackle the lock dilemma first, attempted to initiate a meditative state despite his fatigue and discomfort. Half-kneeling, he concentrated on his breathing, gradually shifting his awareness to various parts of his body. He sought the source of his 'essence', hypothesizing the existence of a specific organ or metaphysical counterpart within this fantasy dimension, akin to those described in novels where mana or magic was generated, stored, or refined. His search focused on key areas: near the heart, the brain, and the stomach, looking for any unusual sensations like warmth or tingling, amidst the pain throbbing from his bruised wrists and possibly dislocated jaw.

He was no stranger to adversity. His early immigration to France with his parents hadn’t shielded him from the hardships and prejudices faced by foreigners. His parents had always maintained a stoic perspective, grateful for a life they deemed far better than their past. However, Amir couldn't fully embrace their outlook. Rationality clashed with a deeper, more visceral sense of resentment towards the unfair treatment they endured, his parents' struggle to assimilate, and his own feelings of inferiority. Intellectually, he understood these feelings were unfounded, but emotions often defied logic.

Even so, he refused to succumb to victimhood. He recognized that life was a journey with challenges, and he was determined to work hard and change his circumstances. When academic pursuits proved difficult, he focused on earning and saving to realize his aspirations. It was a long journey, but he had finally reached a point where happiness seemed attainable. Then came the abrupt, disorienting summoning and enslavement, a stroke of sheer misfortune he hoped would be temporary.

After a period of focused introspection, Amir finally detected something. It was a sensation in his head, specifically in the frontal lobe, nestled between his eyes but deeper inward. Contrary to his expectations, it wasn't warmth he felt, but a cool, refreshing sensation. It was subtle, and he only confirmed its significance upon receiving a +EXP notification. This discovery was accompanied by a peculiar pressure, a mental tug that piqued his curiosity, something he decided to explore later.

The discovery of the Essence organ was a significant breakthrough, propelling Amir swiftly to Level 4. His subsequent realization that Essence flowed through his body via 'essence veins' elevated him to Level 5. The wealth of knowledge gleaned from novels and movies proved invaluable; by experimenting with the movement of Essence along these pathways, he discerned that it was more malleable within his hands. This insight not only advanced him to Level 6 but also triggered a newfound sensitivity to Essence and a distinct, more potent mental pull. A quick check of the Logs confirmed his progress:

PER +1!

You have acquired the Essence Sense Skill!

Language

Tier: Epic

Level: 1

Essence Sense

Tier: Ordinary

Level: 1

Skill Options: Locked