-'The World of Chaos is home to many races, and yet, among them, humanity has always stood at the top. A fact that even humans have yet to fully understand.

Humans were, by all accounts, weak. They had inferior physical bodies compared to orcs, pathetic mana and elemental affinity when stacked against elves, and intelligence that was often mocked as animalistic by dwarfs and other intelligent species. Even the trait of high reproduction, which should have been humanity's biggest advantage, was overshadowed by species that outnumbered them.

Yet, despite all these shortcomings, humans held their ground. They adapted, and their will to survive—to do anything for survival, even sacrificing their own kin—was unmatched. That relentless adaptability enabled them to stand toe-to-toe with races like the orcs, elves, and dwarves.

Humans were often compared to goblins, a race now extinct due to their weak and feeble nature. But unlike goblins, humanity thrived through sheer stubbornness. They adapted to mana, forcefully changing magic to fit them, forged stronger bodies, and advanced in magic and technology, creating breakthroughs that outpaced even ancient, magical civilizations.

The secret to their survival, however, lay in their anomalies: for every ten thousand humans, a genius was born—someone capable of competing with the elite of other races. Among every ten million, a prodigy emerged who could rival the best of the best. And once in a billion, a human was born whose brilliance could surpass the entire race, a true anomaly.

These rare individuals became the pillars that helped humanity survive the Great War of Destruction and the subsequent Age of Chaos, outlasting many ancient races. Humans, against all odds, earned their place at the top.

Yet, just when humanity should have risen to even greater heights of prosperity, they faltered. Divided by greed and ambition, they fractured into 26 Kingdoms, fighting among themselves and losing vast territories and countless lives to external threats.

But thankfully 'Hope' finally returned with the sudden emergence and rise of the Four Heavenly Kings. These four individuals were hailed as the greatest geniuses in all of human history, each ruling a different kingdom. Together, they united humanity under a single banner, building the Empire that stands today. These four beings were

Scarlett Seraphine Chase

-The Queen of Conquest

-The Ruler of the Battlefield

Lucas Cassian Reinhardt

-The King of Heroes

-The Ruler of the Skies

Rex Alaric Everlast

-The King of Monarchs

-The Ruler of Creation

Ethan Aurelian Bright

-The King of Pioneers

-The Ruler of Stars

Together, they forged the Everlasting Empire, uniting humanity into one singular force. Before dividing the land into four subordinate Kingdoms: The Magic Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom, the Knight Kingdom, and the Alchemy Kingdom. After their monumental feat, the Four Rulers stepped down from their titles as the Heavenly Kings, vowing that the greatest individuals from each Kingdom could earn that title.

Then each of them formed their own representative forces within the Empire:

• The 13 Stars of the Zodiacs who served Ethan and represented the best talents in specialized fields selected and nurtured by the Bright household.

• The 10 Seats of Power the most gifted and influential figures across the entire Empire chosen by the Emperor Rex.

• The 7 Magic towers who are protected and guided by Scarlett.

• The 6 Heroes chosen by Lucas to protect the people.

Afterwards the Four Rulers then went on to build eight great cities—four within the Empire, named after the cardinal directions, and one in each of the Four Kingdoms. Each of these cities were blessed by the gods, ensuring that within their walls, recovery was accelerated, and violence was forbidden unless authorized by the mayor. These blessings not only healed injuries, curses, and diseases but also made the cities indestructible.

With their legacies secured, the Four Rulers each took on a different roles within the Empire:

• Lucas became the Judge, overseeing the skies and protecting the citizens from threats such as the invaders.

• Scarlett took the mantle of Warden, guarding the seas and isolating it to seal away the Abyss continent.

• Rex became the Keeper, reigning over the heart of the Everlasting Empire.

• Ethan became the Guardian, maintaining the borders of the Empire and keeping the monsters at bay.

Thus, they were renamed The Supreme Human Emperor and The Three Archdukes, with each Archduke wielding their respective titles...'

"Okay, but why exactly am I sitting through a history lesson right now?" Mary asked, rolling her eyes

-'Because you're about to go to the World of Chaos'

"Sure, but that still doesn't explain why I need to learn all of this. Can't you just transfer the memories to me?"

-'Would you rather be accused of being a spy because you don't know basic history, or just listen to the class?'

"Oh come on! Can't you just tell me the answers if someone asks?"

-'It's coming'

"Huh!? The wha—!" Mary didn't get to finish as she found herself upside down falling from the sky

***********************

It was a peaceful day in the city of North. Despite the underlying excitement and minor disturbances here and there, no one could deny that today was a good day for everyone

Standing before his window, the city's mayor gazed out over the bustling streets. His mind wandered, pondering the day's upcoming events. The Knights of Radiance and the Imperial Knights were expected to arrive, and with them, none other than Ethan Aurelian Bright, the Archduke of Dreams and the Head of the House of Bright was coming

Rumors had spread quickly through the city about the Archduke's unexpected and sudden visit, stirring concern among the citizens. Why was he arriving with the Knights? Was there an imminent threat?

Fortunately, Ethan himself had addressed the rumors, assuring the public that there was no danger. His purpose, he had said, was to quell the chaos that would inevitably unfold later today. He hadn't elaborated on the specifics but mentioned that visitors from another world would appear in large numbers, causing confusion

Given Ethan's renowned gift of foresight, the mayor and the citizens accepted his words without question. With their safety guaranteed by the Archduke himself, the people entered a festive mood, celebrating not just the arrival of the visitors but also the rare public appearance of the Archduke

The mayor finally allowed himself a moment to relax treating it as a rare holiday to rest, intending to retire to his chambers to enjoy some quality time with his family and mistress. But as he turned to leave, he froze in his tracks, his body stiffening like a statue. A strange, unshakable dread settled over him. Slowly, his gaze drifted upward towards the sky

Staring towards the sky his face quickly turned ashen, as cold sweat broke out across his skin. He wasn't the only one to feel it. Across the city, everyone sensed it—a tremendous force moving through the fabric of space itself, tearing through the dimensional barrier

An enormous disturbance in the air caused the sky above to tremble. Mana surged violently, gathering above the sky, and then with a crack that echoed through the city, the sky shattered. The people below could only watch in horror as the sky appeared to fold in on itself, with fragments of it falling down like shards of glass

The shattered pieces began to form a colossal gate, a portal through which the visitors from another world would Descend into the World of Chaos. But that wasn't the most pressing issue at the moment. Since the real catastrophe was the collapse of the atmosphere and the cracks in the dimensional barrier, the very sky itself was falling toward the ground like a crushing wave while the miasma from the Abyss made it's way inside through the big cracks

The mayor's heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced as he weighed his options. He could activate the city's defenses and if it's dangerous the Guardians Sword imbedded at the city center will activate on it's own and protect the city but he was the one responsible for this city—the one who has sworn to protect it and its people. He couldn't just place his hopes on a mere barrier and a statue holding a sword while hoping for a miracle when facing against the Abyss

Without hesitation, the mayor took to the sky, channeling every ounce of mana he possessed into his body. He flew into the air, arms outstretched while emitting a massive surge of mana to surround the collapsing sky while trying his best to contain the miasma that was seeping in through the cracks in the dimensional barrier as it was visibly being eroded by the thick miasma creating a gaping hole in the sky

For a moment, there was a stalemate—he held the weight of the sky, but it would only last for so long as the Abyss kept eating away at his mana. Realizing the seriousness of the situation he quickly lifted the sky with all his might and tried to put it back into the massive gaping hole in the sky. But his mana reserves were rapidly being depleted because of the Abyss. He could flee and save himself, but what of the people below? His family, his city?

Cursing under his breath, the mayor knew that he had underestimated the severity of the Archduke's warning. He had been too complacent. How could someone like him hope to handle a crisis of this magnitude, something that even the Archduke had foreseen? He had been blinded by the comfort of his position, forsaking his training in favor of indulgence

He should've been prepared for a crisis the moment he recieved the news of the Archduke's arrival

Upon realizing his own foolishness, regret seemed to consume him as moments of wasted opportunities and past mistakes kept playing in his mind like a cruel reminder of how much more he could've accomplished. He had once been resolute, vowing to protect the city that he had been assigned to protect. But he had grown soft, weak in a world where weakness was a sin

The only thing he could do now was watch helplessly while his mana was slowly depleted and eaten away by the miasma, he could see the monsters of the Abyss trying to squeeze through the giant hole in the sky. Seeing those abomination approach closer and closer despair seemed to gnaw at him as he realized how powerless he was to protect those who depended on him

As despair gripped his heart, he suddenly had a thought. He couldn't stop the Abyss no matter how hard he tried but he could delay them as long as he could push back the sky into the dimensional barrier, but to overpower the Abyss and push it back with his current mana reserves he would definitely have to use his own life force as a replacement. Yet even then he wasn't sure if he could succeed after all his opponent was the Abyss and his final struggle could just turn out to be a pointless struggle but even then he had already made his choice

Taking a deep breath he steadied himself and was about to fly in when suddenly he felt a chill down his spine—an overwhelming presence far beyond his comprehension was approaching him at an alarming speed. His instincts screamed at him to flee or confront the approaching figure, but a part of him knew that whoever it was had no hostile intentions towards him

Moreover feeling his body shudder at the mere presence of this figure, the mayor was confident. This being could surely help him. Although he wasn't sure if the figure would be willing to lend a helping hand he was confident that as long as the city was safe it didn't matter if he had to beg for it. Now all he had to do was turn around and ask for help

Still, his pride as a warrior gnawed at him. Could he really turn his back and beg for help from a stranger? Was he willing to abandon his honor?

In the end, his answer came swiftly. Yes. The true cowardice would be in abandoning his promise to the people he has sworn to protect

As he made up his mind to act, a figure clad in a white robe appeared right beside him as if summoned by his very thoughts. The figure radiated a serene aura, exuding a sense of worship and reverence. Behind him, a squad of knights hovered in a formation, quickly slaughtering the monsters that have squeezed through the cracks as they reassured the citizens and helped calm down the commotion. Yet none of the onlookers coul pay the knights any attention—all eyes were locked on to the white-robed figure

The visitors from the other world couldn't perceive his form, but to the residents of the World of Chaos, the figure was unmistakable. His presence was restrained yet his body was brimming with vast amounts of mana and a frightening cold that couldn't be concealed but that brought with it a sense of hope and reassurance

The white figure raised his hand toward the sky, his voice soft but commanding as he chanted a simple spell: *//Silver Aurora Series: The Frozen World//*

Looking blankly at the figure before him the mayor was suddenly forced to snap out of his stupor as a chill ran down his spine once again causing his body to shiver in fright instinctively. He didn't know when but the world around him had cooled down having lost all it's color and warmth. The only thing he could see now was—the silver light that was gathering in the figure's raised hand. A terrible frost, potent enough to freeze the entire world, coiled within the light. It felt like the cold itself could bury the land in an eternal winter

Yet before he could fully realize the full extent of its power, the falling sky which he still held and the surrounding miasma froze in place, transformed into a massive glacier suspended in midair

But it seems the figure wasn't finished. With a simple clench of his fist, the frozen sky shrank, compacting itself into a smooth, round orb which the white-robed figure caught effortlessly before tucking the frozen sphere into the shadow dimension as if it was nothing more than a trinket for him

Turning his attention back to the sky, the figure directed his mana upward, driving away the Abyss and filling the cracks in the dimensional barrier with his own mana. The atmosphere stabilized, reinforced and restored stronger than before

Finally turning towards the mayor who was still reeling from the display of power, the figure lowered his hood to face the mayor revealing a warm and friendly smile on his handsome face

"You've held on well, Mayor" The figure praised him while his silver hair shimmered like the moonlight and his golden eyes gleamed like distant twin stars

Seeing his appearance the mayor quickly snapped out of his stupor and paid his respects to one of the Four Rulers of the Everlasting Empire

"As the mayor in charge of the North city. I greet the Brightest Star of the Empire on behalf of it's citizens"

There was no mistaking him. This was Ethan Aurelian Bright, the Archduke of Dreams and the current head of the House of Bright

Despite the boy's friendly appearance the mayor couldn't relax as he felt a mix of fear, gratitude, and disbelief. How could Ethan—a 19-year-old—possess such power? Even among the peak Transcendents, none could compare to the power Ethan had just demonstrated

In that moment, the mayor realized: he was standing in the presence of a monster beyond his comprehension

**********************

'So, that's Ethan?'

-'Yes. That's Ethan'

'Can a human even look like that? I think i might be falling in love already'

-'That's only natural. Every Mary is destined to fall for Ethan eventually'

'Wait, since when have you been this chatty? You used to be so stiff—like you were speaking to yourself, expecting me to just get it through osmosis or something'

-'It's because we're now in the World of Chaos. The mana density here is far beyond that of Earth, which only recently awakened to mana—'

'Alright, alright. Spare me the details. Can you just tell me the answer'

-'We can stay awake for over eight hours daily without interfering and wasting energy. Also, for your information, we had to rush through a lot of things before, hence the "stiff" tone. As for your other observation, yes, we do essentially talk to ourselves—plus, you've always been this talkative; you just didn't realize it'

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

'Pfft, I'm not that talkative. And what do you mean I didn't notice it? Also, just because you had to rush doesn't explain why you sounded so robotic before, so drop the excuses'

-'We know you better than you know yourself. You are us'

'Hah! Please, I'll be better than you. I'll learn from your mistakes'

-'Enough with the chit-chat. He's coming down'

As the internal dialogue quieted, both the mayor and the white-robed figure descended gracefully onto the podium at the city's central square

The mayor cleared his throat, using mana to amplify his voice. "Attention, citizens! Gather at the city square!"

But before he could continue, Ethan gently tapped him on his shoulder before handing him what appeared to be a simple earring while giving clear insructions on what to do. The mayor blinked in surprise and confusion but understanding quickly dawned on him as he accepted it with respect before putting it on as he cleared his throat

"Attention, foreigners" the mayor's voice now resonated in perfect sync with the earring's translation magic. "You have arrived at the Great World of Chaos. As for your previous world, it has been embraced by mana, which was likely the cause of many of your deaths. When mana flooded your bodies, your body was unable to fully accept and adapt to mana turning you into what you call a zombie. Fortunately for you, the Archduke of Dreams has personally come to save all of you fallen humans"

Listening to him the foreigners froze in stunned silence, their minds reeling not only from the fact that they could suddenly understand this alien language but also from the bombshell that they had… died?

Ethan took a few moments to gauge their reactions, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he assessed the situation. His gaze was sharp and cold yet it became warm and compassionate as he smiled brightly—a smile he had perfected when greeting others. Stepping forward, he spoke in their native language flawlessly, surprising the fallen humans once more

"Welcome, foreigners from a distant land. You have been brought here to be given a second chance at life and to help save this world from it's impending crisis. I understand some of you may have doubts but i assure you that..."

-'That bastard, what is he even thinking using the Veil of Dreams here' Someone clicked their tongue and muttered inside Mary's head only to be ignored as she focused solely on Ethan

His words were smooth, reassuring, and warm, making it easier for them to grasp this sudden, overwhelming reality. But Mary wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying since now that she was looking at him up close she couldn't help but feel a little dazed. She knew he would be handsome but not this much. A human shouldn't be this beautiful

'Weird. I feel like... I'm forgetting something really important' Mary thought blissfully unaware of her surroundings, oblivious to the commotion inside her head

But as time passed the ringing in her head got worse and worse until eventually -'WAKE UP!!!' The loud noise in her head finally reached her

Suddenly being forced to snap out of it Mary stood still with a blank expression still in a daze while her body instinctively shuddered at the illusionary veil enveloping everyone

But before she could realize what had happened to her Ethan clapped his hands dispelling the Veil of Dreams and drawing everyone's attention towards himself as he concluded his long speech

"Now then i'm sure everyone is eager to start their own journey. So to avoid wasting any more time, I will now grant you all the Akasha system—a privilege of being the first visitors. Any future arrivals will only receive the Soul system. You may choose to reject the Akasha system and receive the Soul system instead, along with some compensation. However, be warned that there will be no refunds once you've made your choice"

The foreigners were still processing his words somewhat in a daze when a brave voice called out from among the crowd. "What's the difference between the Akasha system and the Soul system?"

At the brave voice of the foreigner, the mayor frowned at the impolite attitude but Ethan raised his hand, silencing him with a cold, distant look that needed no further explanation

"The Akasha system has more practical functions than the Soul system" Ethan answered smoothly. "These include warning notice when danger is imminent, information on enemy levels, along with the ability to identify different monsters and beasts. Most importantly, the Akasha system grants more experience and has no level limits"

'Why's he talking as if this is some kind of game?'

-'He's making it easier for them to accept their new reality—and the fact that they've died'

'But why bother? What's the point in helping them?'

-'They have no value to him now, but they will in the future. The Akasha system is far more powerful than the Soul system, and with the Soul system's limits, their growth will be slower. But with the Akasha system, their potential will be limitless'

'Still, why explain it all like this?'

-'It's a psychological trick. The first group of fallen to arrive is always treated with kindness and favor. Naturally, they'll trust him more than others. As they grow stronger and see the benefits, loyalty will form. Then, when Ethan gives them a home and makes sacrifices for their sake… well, their allegiance will be sealed'

'So... in short, he's making super soldiers for the future?'

-'Precisely'

'Got it. I think'

-'You think?'

After a brief silence, the voice added, -'Raise your hand and ask him if you can have both systems'

'Why?'

-'Just do it'

Mary raised her hand, cutting through the silence that had fallen over the crowd. "Can I ask a question?"

"You can" Ethan responded, ignoring the disgruntled murmurs of the knights

"Is it possible to have more than one system at the same time?"

Ethan's golden eyes sparkled slightly with interest. "Yes, but it's not recommended. The systems can interfere with one another, reducing your rewards and slowing down your growth"

"And... how many systems are there?" Mary continued, undeterred

"There are four in total. Do you happen to like straightforward answers?" Ethan asked

"Blame someone I know. They never shut up unless I ask them bluntly"

-'...'

"Any other questions?" Ethan asked the crowd

Silence fell. The foreigners, now thoroughly cowed by the harsh gazes of the knights and the mayor, didn't dare speak further

"Then, I will now grant you the Akasha system" Ethan declared, closing his eyes

Then a blue holographic interface appeared before everyone's eyes

'Akasha system'

*//Notice rebooting//*

-Greetings host. I'm Akasha. The system that comes when people call it's name. But none of that matters

-Now we will start the tutorial

-'Akasha cancel tutorial'

-Canceling... Tutorial canceled

-'We should leave. Now' They urged her

'Why? We haven't done anything'

-'Just trust me. There's no time'

Following the urgent advice(??), Mary quickly slipped away from the town, ignoring the citizens staring daggers at her from every direction. Finally when she was far enough from the city, she finally asked the question that has been bugging her for a while now

'I've been meaning to ask but seriously—where are we even going?'

-'...'

And thus, Mary spent the rest of her day heading towards the forests, retracing her steps with little guidance

*********************

'Akasha, show me the status of this forest'

*//The Forest//*

-Recommended level 0-25

-It is the home of many wild life and animals with a complete eco system

-'We came here to hunt and get stronger to prepare for training, understood?'

'Understood'

-'Are you sure you understood?'

'I believe so?'

-'... Lets just hunt'

'Uhh so about that how do i find them?'

-'Use the Akasha system. It will guide you to the nearest monster'

'Uhh...'

-'Akasha show me the location of the nearest horn rabbits and wild boars'

'A horn rabbit detected 18 meters away from the host'

-'DUCK!'

Before Mary could fully react, her body moved on its own, jerking down just as something sharp flew past her, barely missing her. She felt the air shift as a projectile sliced through the space where her head had been before

When she looked up, she saw a white rabbit standing in the distance. The small creature had fired its horn like a dart, leaving its head bare, the horn already retracting with a faint shimmer of mana. It looked harmless—innocent even, with its soft white fur and wide eyes

-'What are you doing? Kill it!'

'How do you expect me to kill something so cute and harmless?'

-'Harmless? That 'harmless' thing would have drilled a hole through your skull if we hadn't intervened!'

'Then... how do i kill it?' she asked quickly changing her mind

-'What do you mean 'How do you kill it?!' Just kill it!'

'I don't have a weapon'

-'Use the Akasha system'

'How?'

-'Akasha, open the system, receive the beginner package, and take out the crude hunting knife'

When they finally finished speaking the air shimmered, and a crude knife materialized in front of her, clattering to the ground at her feet

-'Why didn't you grab it?!'

"I thought it will appear in my hands" Mary mumbled, her eyes darting between the innocent-looking rabbit and the knife

Meanwhile, the horn rabbit's horn had fully regenerated, glowing faintly as it gave a low whistle. In response, more rabbits appeared from the underbrush, creeping closer. In no time, Mary was surrounded by fifteen of them, each keeping their distance—about 1.5 meters—circling her like a pack of wolves. They shifted slowly, looking for an opening, their horns pulsing with a dull light, ready to fire at any given moment

-'ENOUGH!' Their voice resounde inside her head. 'Akasha retrieve the crude hunting knife. Turn on inventory assistance, and take out the crude hunting knife again'

This time, the knife appeared directly in her hand, but her fingers fumbled, and it slipped through her grasp, dropping into the mud

-'MOVE!'

The horn rabbits, sensing her weakness, launched their attack. In perfect coordination, their horns shot out from all directions, aiming for Mary's vital spots

-'Akasha, retrieve the crude knife. Mary you're so damn lucky to not have encountered a white wolf so make sure to remember this sensation'

Following their words suddenly, her body wasn't hers anymore. Something else had taken over. She felt her limbs move without her command, as though she were nothing but a puppet on strings. Her mind buzzed with confusion, but her body... it was calm. Too calm

The rabbits froze, their instincts screaming danger. They hesitated for just a moment—but it was a moment too long

Silver streaks spread rapidly through Mary's hair, turning it into a brilliant silver from root to tip as it visibly grew longer. Her golden eyes blazed for a moment before shifting to a deep, dark unnatural crimson, glowing like blood rubies. The mana around her thickened, a palpable aura of murderous intent washing over the clearing. The once prey now exuded the air of a predator

The moment they took control a knife materialized in her hand, and her body surged forward with a burst of mana, too quick for the rabbits to follow. The crude outburst of power was wild, raw—her body wasn't used to channeling aura let alone mana, yet they used mana even if it was ineffecient. She appeared in front of the nearest rabbit in the blink of an eye, her hand already swinging the crude blade

Three rabbits fell in quick succession, their small bodies crumpling into the dirt, lifeless. The others fired their horns in a panic, but she was gone—leaving behind only an afterimage in her place. Her real body had already moved, slipping between them with ease

The moment she reappeared, the crude knife was driven into another rabbit's neck. Then without pausing, she yanked the blade free, while dodging to the side as another horn sailed toward her. Her hand reached out, grabbing a rabbit mid-leap. Using its small body as a shield, she swung it around, intercepting the incoming projectile meant for her. The rabbit went limp in her hands, horns embedded in its body

With a grunt, she tossed the dead rabbit aside and hurled her knife toward another. The blade spun through the air, striking true, sinking deep into the rabbit's chest with a wet thud. She didn't need to check—she knew it was dead

Her body moved faster now as her body adapted and mana channels were formed. As she exerted herself she became more and more unrelenting, weaving between the remaining rabbits like a specter. She ripped the horn from one rabbit and drove it into another, using their own weapon against them. With every movement, blood sprayed across the ground, mixing with the rain that had started to fall

The rabbits, once hunters, now stood no chance. She used their bodies as shields, deflecting attacks, until there were only a few left

By the time it was over, Mary stood alone, the rain pouring down around her, soaked in blood. Her silver hair glistened under the wet sheen, her bloody red eyes glowing like embers in the darkening storm. She held the last rabbit in her hand, its horns ripped off, leaving it helpless and trembling

It stared up at her with wide, terrified eyes, its small body quivering in her grasp. Without its horns, it looked pitiful—fragile. The storm's downpour washed away the blood, turning the ground beneath her feet into a sea of mud and gore

Only the sound of rain filled the surrounding silence as the rabbits' bodies disappeared, their corpses retrieved by the Akasha system

The last hornless rabbit was still in her hands, its eyes silently pleading for mercy

But there would be none

-'You'll have to finish the job, we need to rest for a moment. Akasha make sure to retrieve the corpses'

With that, the silver-haired figure fell silent. While Mary stood there, her body hers again, but her mind was still hazy from the experience of being controlled. The strange sensation of someone else moving her limbs lingered like an unsettling memory. The cold disregard for her own body—how they'd pushed her beyond her limits—left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth

It wasn't until her hair returned to its normal color and length did her eyes change back to gold snapping her out of it. In her hands, the last hornless rabbit stared at her, its fluffy white fur soaked from the rain. Without its horn, it looked like any other innocent animal—small, soft, and seemingly harmless

Its wide, pleading eyes tugged at her heart, and for a moment, she hesitated. Could she really kill something so helpless?

But the memories and the future she had glimpsed at before replayed in her mind—dark, violent scenes where even a moment of hesitation could cost you your life. She knew that if she hesitated now, she would falter later when it truly mattered

'Mercy towards your enemy is a cruelty to yourself' she reminded herself

As the thought echoed in her mind, twisted yet undeniably true. She took a deep breath, and prepared herself, knowing that this was just the beginning. So with a swift motion, she ended the rabbit's life

As the rain poured down, the corpse of the horn rabbit disappeared, leaving only dark bloodstains behind. But even those were slowly being washed away, like a bad dream fading with the dawn

Finally, Mary collapsed onto the ground while vomiting, her breaths ragged, her limbs shaking from exertion. Now that the adrenaline had faded, the pain hit her like a truck. Every muscle in her body screamed, her arms and legs trembling uncontrollably from the strain

They had pushed her body far beyond its limits, ignoring her well-being as they pumped mana into her limbs without restraint until it adapted and created a mana channel. Though her muscles were torn and every fiber of her body hurt, she had learned—her body had learned mana vein. How to fight, how to operate mana. The experience was burned into her bones

That wasn't the only thing she gained. Maybe it's due to the pain in her body but her brain's been stimulated and her mind felt clearer

Now she just had to survive long enough to make use of it

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She wasn't sure if it was the right command but she had to try someday. She needs to start thinking for herself afterall

"Akasha show me my status screen"

Following her command a familiar interface appeared in her mind

'Akasha system'

*//Status window//*

-Name:Mary

-Rank:First Order -Level:8(98.1%)

-Class:None -Sub-Class:None

-Title:None -Race:Human

-Attribute:None

-Strenght:5 -Agility:7

-Vitality:3 -Intelligence:49

-Wisdom:86 -Sense:31

-Health:8/21 -Mana:675/688

-Available stat point:32

-Passive skills:None

-Active skills:Partial body enhancement LV1

-Status:Exhausted

-Class skills:None

-Weapon Art:None

'Class path available. Proceed?'

Mary paused, clearly hesitating. She knew she should consult the other Mary first on things like this since it might be important. But she was asleep right now, and there was no telling when she'd wake up

'Should i wait?'

Her hesitation was cut-short as the system prompted her again

'You have chosen the Mage path. Proceed?'

Looking at the system prompt she stopped to ponder. Mage... recalling her memories and remembering how it was potrayed on the internet it was bound to be strong which means she doesn't have to worry about being hurt. But more importantly mages just had to cast magic from afar while being protected since they were extremely valuable

Realizing this Mary no longer hesitated

'Yes, Proceed'

'You have chosen the Mage path.'

Reading the system prompt. A smile spread across her face as dopamine surged through her brain. Despite this she cheered silently while trying not to disturb the other Mary

After a small celebration she quickly opened her status window eager to see the new changes in herself

But as she scanned her stats, her eyes froze on one stat in particular. Her smile faded as confusion washed over her

Her gaze wasn't drawn to the soaring wisdom or intelligence values, nor was it the massive mana pool that seemed almost unreal. Instead, what captured her attention was her pathetically low vitality of 3

"... Why is it that low?" she muttered, a mix of disbelief and indignation rising in her chest. "I'm a healthy young lady in my prime! This is just slander!"

Immediately she poured all available 32 points directly into vitality. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing she had already made her decision

If she guessed right, increasing her vitality should increase her health. She wasn't sure if it would help restore her body but she had no choice anyway. Just overexerting her body reduced her health by more than half. If the other Mary decides to do it again she would surely die. But she didn't want to die yet

Thinking that and justifying her impulsive decisions she waited a few minutes before sighing in relief feeling the transformation ripple through her. It didn't immediately restore her body like she had hoped but it was helping. Glancing back at her status window, she confirmed her thoughts seeing the immediate effect

-Vitality:35

-Health:21/280

Her health had skyrocketed, though the fatigue still clung to her body, and her wounds weren't fully healed yet. She was still soaked from the relentless downpour, the cold seeping into her bones, but the rain was at least washing away the blood that covered her

She couldn't stay out here much longer. Between the cold, the exhaustion, and the threat of more monsters, she needed to find shelter

Squinting through the rain, her senses—perhaps bolstered by her higher Sense stat—picked up something in the distance. A shadowy outline against the hillside

It was a cave

"Thank god" she muttered to herself, her body shivering from the cold. Gathering what little strength she had left, she set off towards it. And as she walked the rain beat down harder, but she refused to stop, driven by the need to get out of the storm

Every step felt heavy, her muscles still burning with the aftershocks of overexertion. But she pushed through, each step bringing her closer to the faint promise of warmth and safety

As she approached, she prayed for the cave to be empty despite not believing in god. Since she really didn't have the energy to handle another fight right now

********************

The cave was damp, thick with the scent of wet stone and earth. Water dripped from the ceiling, creating small puddles near the entrance, but it didn't matter to her. For now, this place was her sanctuary. The relentless rain outside had turned into a downpour, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed faintly within the cave, like a heartbeat in the dark

The rocky floor was cold and unforgiving, each ridge and uneven surface pressing into her tired body. But she was no stranger to discomfort. After everything she'd been through on earth, sleeping on the hard ground felt like a small inconvenience. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to conserve as much warmth as she could, her drenched clothes clinging to her skin like a second, colder layer

Despite that her eyelids grew heavier, and ignoring the discomfort, sleep began to pull her under. The sound of rain tapping on stone became a lullaby, and even the flashes of lightning, which briefly illuminated the cave's entrance, failed to rouse her fully

As her consciousness faded, she remained oblivious to the shifting shadows deeper in the cave

Something stirred in the darkness, silent and unseen, blending with the natural gloom. There was movement, faint and deliberate, as if the shadows themselves were alive. The presence lingered at the edge of her awareness, just beyond where her senses could detect, watching as she drifted into sleep, unprotected and unaware

The coldness of the cave wasn't natural; it carried a faint sense of malice, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something. The wind outside howled, masking the subtle shift of shadows inching closer

But Mary was just too exhausted to notice anything unusual at this point

Wrapped in her fragile cocoon of temporary safety, she fell into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the potential danger lurking just beyond the dim glow of the cave's entrance