Silas felt himself sinking—not through the floor, nor through space, but through something deeper. Reality peeled away, unraveling like worn parchment, and suddenly, he was weightless, drifting through an endless void.

No sound. No sensation. No air. Just the vast unknown.

Yet, ahead of him, something stirred.

At first, it was subtle—a shimmer, a disturbance in the void’s fabric. Then, like distant stars igniting in an eternal night, seven spheres of light emerged. Each one pulsed with an unseen rhythm, their glow neither warm nor cold, neither inviting nor repelling. They simply… were.

Silas narrowed his eyes. These weren’t just lights. They were choices.

Instinct guided him forward. He reached out, hesitantly, his fingers grazing the nearest sphere.

The moment he touched it, a voice unlike any he had ever heard resonated through his mind—not spoken, not heard, but understood.

It was ancient, its depth stretching beyond time, beyond existence itself.

"Runescribe—Master of Arcane Inscriptions."

"In script, I preserve; in runes, I empower.

The silent etchings shall speak, and the lost words shall awaken.

To inscribe, to channel, to shape—I walk the path of the eternal scribe."

Silas pulled his hand back, a shiver running down his spine. That was… unexpected.

He turned to the next sphere, brushing against its surface. Again, the voice emerged.

"Mnemonic Adept—Master of Memory & Knowledge Retention."

"In thought, I wield; in memory, I endure.

The past shall never be lost, and the forgotten shall be reclaimed.

To recall, to refine, to transcend—I walk the path of the boundless mind."

A Chronicle focused on knowledge retention… intriguing. Silas moved to the next.

"Relicbinder—Master of Arcane Relics & Stored Power."

"In the old, I find power; in the lost, I find purpose.

Artifacts shall whisper, and ancient energies shall rise again.

To bind, to restore, to wield—I walk the path of the relic keeper."

Another promising choice. He continued.

"Echo Savant—Master of Replication & Perfect Imitation."

"In reflection, I grow; in repetition, I master.

The echo shall become truth, and the imitation shall surpass the original.

To observe, to refine, to perfect—I walk the path of the mirrored blade."

Silas exhaled slowly. This one reminded him of Mimicry Echo. A Chronicle focused on replication could be… useful.

"Hexforger—Master of Cursed Runes & Maledictions."

"In curses, I create; in hexes, I reign.

The wicked shall be marked, and fate shall bow to my craft.

To inscribe, to afflict, to command—I walk the path of the branded fate."

His brows furrowed. Cursed runes? Maledictions? A dangerous path.

"Occult Engineer—Master of Mystic Machinery & Arcane Mechanisms."

"In craft, I fuse; in invention, I thrive.

The arcane and the machine shall be one, and the gears of sorcery shall turn at my will.

To build, to refine, to innovate—I walk the path of the arcane artificer."

A fusion of technology and sorcery. Something rarely heard of in Evergarde.

Then, he reached the final sphere.

"Arcane Codex—Master of Runic Engraving & Memory Weaving."

"In knowledge, I engrave; in echoes, I inscribe.

The fleeting shall be eternal, and the ephemeral shall be carved into existence.

To store, to merge, to redefine—I walk the path of the living archive."

Silas stilled.

The word knowledge lingered in his thoughts.

He took a slow breath.

The System was the reason he had advanced so efficiently in the Occultist Chronicle. If there was a way to maximize his advantage, it would be through something that complemented the System’s capabilities.

Silas stood in the void, surrounded by the seven glowing spheres of light, each pulsing with a silent invitation. He had examined them all, listened to the ancient whispers that spoke their names and oaths into his mind. Yet, two choices lingered in his thoughts, refusing to be dismissed.

Mnemonic Adept—the master of memory and knowledge retention.

"In thought, I wield; in memory, I endure.

The past shall never be lost, and the forgotten shall be reclaimed.

To recall, to refine, to transcend—I walk the path of the boundless mind."

And Arcane Codex—the master of runic engraving and memory weaving.

"In knowledge, I engrave; in echoes, I inscribe.

The fleeting shall be eternal, and the ephemeral shall be carved into existence.

To store, to merge, to redefine—I walk the path of the living archive."

Both paths revolved around preserving knowledge, but the way they wielded it differed.

Silas clenched his jaw, weighing the implications.

Mnemonic Adept would allow him to retain everything he learned with perfect clarity, making even the most complex knowledge instantly accessible. His understanding of wielding techniques, astral lore, and mystical principles would deepen beyond normal human limits.

But Arcane Codex…

Silas' eyes narrowed. This Chronicle wasn’t just about remembering knowledge—it was about engraving it into reality. With it, he could store abilities, inscribe them into objects, create lasting artifacts of power.

His fingers twitched. If I combine this with the System…

He exhaled sharply and activated the System's analytical function, seeking confirmation of what he already suspected.

[Analysis Complete: Comparison Between "Mnemonic Adept" & "Arcane Codex"]

Mnemonic Adept: Grants absolute memory retention, enhancing mental clarity, comprehension, and recall. Increases the efficiency of all knowledge-based abilities.

Arcane Codex: Allows knowledge and abilities to be stored externally and recalled at will. Engraves abilities into objects, scrolls, or even the wielder’s body, making skills permanently accessible.

Conclusion: Arcane Codex has a higher synergy with System functionalities.

Silas' breath steadied.

The System was the reason he advanced so fast as an Occultist—it let him comprehend, analyze, and refine knowledge in ways normal Wielders couldn’t. If he wanted to make full use of it, then Arcane Codex was the superior choice.

This Chronicle wasn’t just about knowledge—it was about engraving, storing, and preserving abilities.

Silas had already experimented with Mimicry Echo, but its limitations were clear. If he could permanently store what he mimicked, instead of temporarily borrowing it…

His entire approach to combat and survival would change.

His fingers tightened. He confirmed his choice.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"[You have chosen: Arcane Codex. Chronicle Evolution will now commence.]"

At once, the void trembled.

A force rushed into him, like ink spilling into parchment, like knowledge burning itself into his mind. He gritted his teeth as mystical energies flooded his body, his soul, his very existence.

He saw symbols inscribed on ancient monoliths, words whispered into the void, knowledge preserved beyond time.

And then—his own Chronicle shifted.

Occultist → Arcane Codex

[Second Order Chronicle Achieved.]

His sublimated abilities began to shift as well, altering their form as they were reforged in the light of his new Chronicle.

Evolved Insight Tap → Eternal Grimoire

Grants the ability to store an unlimited number of copied abilities, spells, or techniques in engraved mediums (books, scrolls, weapons, or even the body) after studying and comprehension. These stored powers can be accessed or transferred at will.

Silas' breath hitched. Unlimited storage of abilities? That meant he could collect, refine, and combine abilities over time.

Evolved Mimicry Echo → Engraved Echo

Instead of temporarily mimicking a skill, the copied ability is etched into an object, turning it into a lasting artifact or tool. If inscribed on oneself (in the Eternal Grimoire), the ability can be activated any number of times as it is permanently stored.

No time limits. No fading effects.

Silas grinned, the weight of his new power sinking in.

This… this was perfect.

The void shattered.

A rush of air slammed into him as he found himself back in his dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight barely illuminating his surroundings.

His hands trembled, his pulse still hammering from the experience. The transition had been instantaneous—but the change was absolute.

He took a breath, steadying himself.

It was over.

He was no longer a 1st Order Wielder.

He had stepped into the Second Order.

Silas then focused inward, sinking into the depths of his conscious space.

The armored construct made using his soul power and his own soul had both expanded—not just in size, but in essence. They were denser, more refined, pulsing with a newfound strength and depth that resonated through his very being. The transformation of his Chronicle was complete.

The Arcane Codex had fully merged into his very being, its essence woven into the core of his existence.

A slow breath left his lips as he withdrew from the depths of his consciousness. He opened his eyes, the dim light of his room grounding him back in reality.

But he wasn’t done.

Let’s test it.

He activated Eternal Grimoire.

A pulse of invisible power rippled through him, and before his eyes, something manifested from nothingness.

A thick black grimoire appeared—floating weightlessly in the air. Its cover was dark and smooth, yet shifting with phantom-like translucence, as though it were a thing between reality and illusion.

Intricate blue inscriptions glowed faintly across its surface, pulsing in quiet acknowledgment of its master.

Silas stared at it.

It had no real physical form—no weight, no mass—yet he could feel it, control it, as if it were an extension of himself.

He willed it to move.

The grimoire hovered at his silent command, gliding effortlessly in the air. He sent it forward, then backward, watching as it obeyed without resistance.

A thought—closer.

The phantom grimoire drifted toward him.

Another thought—open.

The cover flipped back, and its pages began to turn, revealing the inscribed essence of his abilities.

His eyes moved over the pages, each one engraved with runic script and inscriptions, detailing the very foundation of the techniques he had comprehended and mastered over time.

Gravemark Resilience—etched in dense, sturdy runes.

Ironthread Vitality—interwoven with fluid, winding inscriptions.

Silent Steps—depicted in faint, whispering sigils.

Blur Trace—its markings shrouded in false trails and layered patterns, symbolizing deception.

Edge Flicker—sharp, jagged engravings that seemed to cut across the page itself.

Gale Rush— white marking and inscriptions, as if depicting the wind.

Each ability was not just stored—but perfectly documented, preserved, and accessible.

He could recall any ability from its respective page, reviewing every layer of insight he had gained upon its comprehension.

This was no mere archive—it was a living, evolving record, bound to him, shaped by him.

And it existed within his very soul.

A slow grin tugged at his lips.

This… is beyond what I expected.

He also realized that Eternal Grimoire, having evolved from Insight Tap, retained its core ability—allowing him to see and analyze mystical structures. However, its capabilities had expanded, granting him even deeper insight, unraveling complexities that had once remained hidden.

Satisfied, he willed the phantom grimoire to vanish.

The moment he dismissed it, the book faded into nothingness, its presence retreating into the depths of his soul.

Yet, he could still feel it there, waiting—an ever-present part of him.

This was the true power of the Arcane Codex.

Silas exhaled slowly, his fingers trembling slightly as he brought up his System Status. The wooden desk beside him was cluttered with scattered notes, half-formed rune sketches, and remnants of past experiments. Outside, the muffled chatter of Evergarde’s Outer city streets faded into the background as his focus honed in on the floating text before him.

[Status Report]

* Name: Silas Crowell

* Age: 16

* Chronicle: Arcane Code (2nd Order) – Level 1/20

* Abilities:

* * Eternal Grimoire

* * Engraved Echo

* Attributes:

* * Body: 19 / 30

* * Spirit: 23.5 / 30

* Eternal Grimoire

* * 1st Order : Gravemark Resilience, Ironthread Vitality, Silent Steps, Blur Trace, Edge Flicker, Gale Rush

* Causal Points: 9090 p

His heartbeat drummed steadily, an undercurrent of excitement threading through his veins. His attribute cap had increased to 30. A quiet realization settled in—if the limit for an average man was 10, then with his raw physicality alone, he could likely overpower a dozen men at once, even without activating any abilities.

His fists clenched and unclenched, testing the newfound strength coursing through his body. His muscles felt denser, his movements more precise, his very breath steadier than before. A smirk tugged at his lips. He was growing stronger.

Then, a sudden shift. The system’s presence pulsed, a subtle ripple in the back of his mind, as new text unfurled before him.

System Enhancement Detected.

Analyzing new capabilities…

System Expansion: Now able to extract and interpret data from the 2nd Layer of the Astral Realm, following intricate cause-and-effect threads.

Warning: The deeper the layers, the greater the risks. Caution is advised.

Silas’ breath hitched. The Second Layer.

The very mention of it sent a chill crawling up his spine. The Astral Realm was already a place where logic and madness blurred, where wielders vanished without a trace, and now his system could pry into an even deeper layer of that terrifying world? The possibilities were endless, but so were the dangers.

A sharp exhale left his lips. He wasn’t ready for that yet. Not until he understood more.

His gaze shifted to the next piece of information—the true reward of reaching 2nd Order.

Chronicle Sublimations Unlocked

Sublimations will occur at Level 5 and Level 15.

New Abilities Upon Sublimation:

* Level 5 – Codex Weaving

The Arcane Codex can merge stored runes, inscriptions, and abilities into hybrid techniques. This fusion enables the creation of entirely new spells or combat styles, seamlessly blending knowledge from different sources.

* Level 15 – Archive Phantasm

Through deep attunement with recorded knowledge, the user can manifest spectral echoes of past wielders, scholars, or entities inscribed within the Eternal Grimoire. These phantasmal projections are not true spirits but imprints of knowledge, allowing the user to consult, observe, or even momentarily borrow their expertise.

His fingers hovered over the words as he reread them, his mind spinning with possibilities.

Codex Weaving. The ability to combine inscriptions and abilities into something entirely new. He could forge techniques that had never existed before, wield knowledge in ways no one else could.

Archive Phantasm. The thought of summoning the echoes of past scholars and wielders sent a shiver down his spine. If he could access the wisdom of those who came before, he wouldn’t just be growing stronger—he would be learning from the very foundations of power itself.

But then, the system’s final warning appeared.

Caution: The path beyond 1st Order is perilous.

Sublimations at 2nd Order carry significantly greater risks.

Many strive to ascend, but few survive the trials ahead.

Silas exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders as tension coiled in his muscles. So, that was how it was.

Most wielders could obtain a 1st Order Chronicle, but as they climbed higher, fewer and fewer succeeded. Advancement wasn’t just a matter of power—it was a test of will, intelligence, and survival.

The air in his room felt heavier. The weight of his path ahead was clearer than ever.

Still, a slow grin spread across his lips. He had come this far.

And he wasn’t about to stop now.