After a few hours of adventuring Alex finds out something that seems off about the place he's at, considering where he is, a forest should never be this quiet even at night-time.

"Hey 'System', Why is this forest so quiet? Isn't there anything else, besides me, living in this forest? This place seems eerily quiet for a place I thought would be filled with noise."

[To answer your questions this part of the forest has been surrounded by a force field to stop any dangerous creatures from killing you before you can be reborn. This does not mean that there aren't any creatures here it's just that they won't come near this space, think of the force field as having the same effect as a strong animal marking their territory.]

"What do I have to do to leave this place and get reborn?"

[Check your quests]

"How do I do that?"

[Just say or think 'Review Quests', that should help you]

"Why can't you just show me now? Does it cause some kind of problem?"

[No. It doesn't cause any problems, but it's good to get you into the habit of saying or thinking it when you want to check for them.]

"Oh alright. Ahem, 'Review Quests'."

[Current Quest: Get reborn]

[Requirements: ??? Reward: Most of your memories of training in this place are sealed, any skill's, pieces of knowledge and abilities gained within this time period are turned into their equivalent Talents, Abilities and Gifts upon reincarnating]

As Alex was reviewing his new quest he got confused straight away, there were still many things he didn't understand..

"Huh??? 'System' what am I supposed to do to complete the quest? Why would my skills turning into talents be considered a reward? There isn't a problem with you is there?"

[No Alex, there aren't any problems with me or any problems with the quest that you have been given. The problem is you and your lack of knowledge, the book in your inventory should help both of us with the requirements need to complete the quest, as I wasn't activated while he gave you the quest so I wouldn't know the requirements need for the quest you were given. As for your skills turning into talents this is considered a reward as skills can still be forgotten no matter how masterful you get at them as a being many times stronger than you, with the correct knowledge, can erase these memories and experiences. Talents, however, are a part of you so it's close to impossible to erase them]

Alex mulled about the systems input and suggestions while also wincing about the burn that the system just gave him.

"Though I feel a bit insulted it wasn't without reason, I did ask the 'System' if there was anything wrong with it so the burn wasn't without reason *sigh* let's just read the damn book and fix my ignorance"

Time flew by while Alex was reading the history Book and it wasn't until the sky started to become dark that Alex finally finished the book.

"I finally finished that damn history book, though I do have to admit there were some parts that I enjoyed reading about. The creation and destruction of powerful kingdoms, the tales of famous heroes, the slaying of powerful demons, the spreading of incurable diseases and not to mention the Origin of all the different species of Isaria and Isaria itself. I should be able to remember most of these things, 'System' is there anything you think I may have forgotten. "

[First let me tell you of the updates to the quest]

[Updated Current Quest: Get reborn]

[Requirement(s): Get 5 Skills to Expert or higher Mastery, Achieve Ascendant Warrior Rank, Achieve Ascendant Wizard Rank, and Master 12 Languages.

Reward(s): Most of your memories of training in this place are sealed, anything gained within this time period is turned into their equivalent Talents, Abilities and Gifts, upon reincarnating]

[Now if there still anything that you don't quite understand here's a re-cap.]

Alex could practically hear the condescending tone in the systems tone of voice as it spoke to him.

[The different grades of mastery for skills are:

Beginner, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Specialist, Master, Grand Master, Scholar (S Rank),

Enlightened (SS Rank), Saint (SSS Rank), Ascendant, Immortal, Half-Divine and Divine.

The Different Grades Of Mastery Of Techniques are:

Initial Accomplishment, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, Peak accomplishment and Enlightened.

Their are an infinite number of elements in existence, once these elements are discovered they would be placed into different categories, the elements discovered are:

~ 1st Grade Elements ~

[Earth] [Wind] [Fire] [Water] [Metal] [Lightning] [Light] [Dark]

~ 2nd Grade Elements ~

[Ice] [Magma] [Storm] [Magma] [Magnetism] [Plasma] [Nature]

~ 3rd Grade Elements (aka. The Peculiar Elements) ~

[Blood] [Sound] [Luck] [Karma] [Luna] [Solar] [Abyss] [Madness] [Dream] [Aether] [Fate]

[Gravity] [Creation] [Destruction] [Harmony]

~ 4th Grade Elements ~

[Space] [Time] [Life] [Death]

~ 5th Grade Elements ~

[Yin] [Yang]

~ 6th Grade Elements ~

[Extreme Earth] [Extreme Wind] [Extreme Fire] [Extreme Water] [Extreme Metal] [Extreme Lightning] [Extreme Yin] [Extreme Yang]

~ 7th Grade Elements ~

[Chaos] [Void] [Order]

Most people have an affinity towards the 1st grade elements, with higher affinities towards the higher grade elements being rare the higher you go, few beings except the Gods have an affinity towards elements of the 3rd grade as this grade is filled with a multitude of obscure elements with strong connections to the universe, 3rd Grade elements are different from the other elements as it is possible to gain an affinity towards these obscure elements from understanding them, the more you understand and the deeper you go into understanding them the stronger the connection.

Finally, It's extremely rare to find someone with an affinity towards grade 6 & 7 elements, about 1 in every 1,000,000,000,000,000. Such as primordial fire, there are ways to gain an affinity towards these elements as the requirements are very difficult to achieve, one way is to be born with a divine heritage, such as being a son or further down the line descendant. Another example, although this is only for beasts, is to become a divine beast as they have when a beast gets to this stage they would have gradually evolved to become attuned to these elements.

There have only been 3 people in history shown as having an affinity towards them, although it must be said that of these 3 people 2 were blessed by Gods and only one was naturally born with an affinity towards them. In simple terms these elements are the same as the Daos or laws that are mentioned in some of the Eastern Fantasy books you used to read on Earth, they make up the foundation of everything that you will one day see and once you become strong and have begun to sense these 'laws' then you will be on your way to become a divine.

The way people in Isaria determine a persons strength is by determining their Power Rank and Power Grade, the power Grades are; U Grade = Rank 0-9, G Grade = Rank 10-19, F Grade = Rank 20-29, E Grade = Rank 30-39, D Grade = Rank 40-49, C Grade Rank 50-59, B Grade = Rank 60-69,

A Grade = Rank 70-79, S Grade = Rank 80-89, SS Grade = Rank 90-99, and SSS Grade = Rank

100-199 with the higher Grades being different depending on what path you take in life.

There are varying levels in each Grade, almost everything is born at Grade U. Power grade U goes from, power grade U power rank 0, all the way to grade U Power Rank 9, then they could breakthrough to power grade G , although they go up one power grade their power rank would continue on to rank 10 and so on. Even if a Person chooses to walk the path of a warrior and a mage their Power ranks won't add together, e.g. a Grade F Rank 25 Warrior and a Grade F Rank 22 Mage won't add to together to make a Grade D Rank 47 person, they are their own path and are judges as such.]

[All the Level/Power Ranks are:

Normal Ranks & Grades - U Grade = Rank 0-9, G Grade = Rank 10-19, F Grade = Rank 20-29, E Grade = Rank 30-39, D Grade = Rank 40-49, C Grade Rank 50-59, B Grade = Rank 60-69,

A Grade = Rank 70-79, S Grade = Rank 80-89, SS Grade = Rank 90-99,

and SSS Grade = Rank 100-199.

Warriors would be given titles depending on their Ranks & Grades - power grade U = Initiate, power grade F = Novice, power grade E = Apprentice, power grade D = Warrior, power grade C = Master, power grade B = Grand Master, power grade A = Champion, power grade S = Grand Champion, power grade SS = King/Queen, and power grade SSS = Emperor/Empress.

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

To reach further heights of strength the person would need to gain an understanding towards the laws of existence. e.g. Earth, Water, Fire, Light etc...

Warrior Ascendant ranks are: Power grade HA = Rank 200-299, power grade AW = Rank 300-399,

power grade WK/WQ = Rank 400-499, power grade IM = Rank 500-599,

power grade MD= Rank 600-699, power grade MG = Rank 700-799,

power grade EG = Rank 800-899, power grade HG = Rank 900-999,

??? Grade = Rank 1000-4999, ??? Grade = Rank 5000-9999 and ??? Grade = Over 9999

Each acronyms meaning: Half Ascendant, Ascendant Warrior, Warrior King/Queen, Immortal Warrior, Minor Divine, Major God, Elder God, High-God, ???, ??? and ???

Wizard Ranks - power grade U = Initiate, power grade F = Novice Mage,

power grade E = Apprentice Mage, power grade = D Warlock, power grade = C Wizard,

power grade = B Master Wizard, power grade = A Arch-Mage, power grade = S Sage,

power grade = SS Magus, and power grade = SSS Supreme Magus. To reach further heights of strength the person would need to gain an understanding towards the laws of existence. e.g. Earth, Water, Fire, Light etc...

In the beginning stages od a mana cores development their mana will have a different colouring depending on how far the core has been developed. Initiate stage = Clear Mana Core,

Novice Mage = Pink Mana Core, Apprentice Mage = Red Mana Core, Warlock = Orange Mana Core, Wizard = Yellow Mana Core, Master Wizard = Green Mana Core, Arch Mage = Blue Mana Core,

Sage = Indigo Mana Core, Magus = Violet Mana Core and Supreme Magus = White Mana Core

These stage will also have minor stages that the core will go through that can help indicate how far the mana core has developed. Sub colours - Light, Medium, Dark, and Mixed.

These only apply to Novice Mage and Over as Initiate mages will have a clear core that will slowly turn pink , this will be the only stage at which in core develop stages in which the core doesn't follow the common minor stages of Light, Medium, Dark, and Mixed.

The Wizarding Ascendant ranks are: Power grade HA = ???,

Power grade AW Ascendant Wizard = ???, Power grade WK Wizard King/Witch Queen = ???,

Power grade IM Immortal Mage = ???, Power grade MD Minor Divine = ???,

Power grade MG Major God = ???, Power grade EG Elder God = ???,

Power grade HG High God = ???, ??? = ???, ??? = ???, ??? = ??? and ??? = ???.

Each acronyms meaning: Half Ascendant, Ascendant Wizard, Wizard King/Witch Queen, Immortal Mage, Minor Divine, Major God, Elder God, High God, ???, ??? and ???]

"Alright, now that you've finished that summary and I've finished reading that book let's try and get into finishing the quest that Taran gave me . . . It's getting dark let's try and make some shelter and start the quest tomorrow."

Alex starts to wander the forest to find some decent shelter. A few minutes pass and he finds some shelter in the form of an old abandoned beast nest inside of a cave near a lake.

"Ahh! finally some shelter, I guess there really isn't any other living thing in this part of the forest I'm in, no magical animal would abandon this place near a clear water source and territory to potentially to expand into."

Alex decides to enter the cave to get some shelter, Alex looks around the cave and he notices some odd plants, minerals and crystals spread around the cave. The crystals around the cave glowed in a multitude of colours; Red crystals, Blue crystals, Yellow crystals, and Green crystal, with each type of crystal having its own unique property.

Alex decides to get some sleep and stay near the red crystals as they seem to give off some warmth, after admiring the beauty of the different colours the crystals glow. Alex decided to fall asleep in the most comfortable place he can sleep on near the red crystals.

The next day Alex wakes, but decides to stay still for a while so his mind can wake up.

"So I did die, *sigh* and here I thought It was just a dream." After Alex wakes up he decides to ask the 'System' on how he can complete the quest so he can get reborn.

"Ok. How would go around using my mana and/or chi when I haven't experienced having these things before?"

[Through meditation. Find a suitable place you can sit on without any interruptions and start to clear your mind of any thought and synchronise your breath with the life around you]

"Alright, let's try it." Alex sits down and tries to clear his mind of any thought, but with what has happened lately, it makes clearing the mind very difficult.

" 'System', with what has happened to me lately I just can't clear my mind. What do you recommend I should do to solve that problem?"

[Your problem is your lack of focus, you should try to gain a skill that needs you to focus to become successful at it. Try to gain the woodworking or masonry skill as these are skills that require a lot of focus to hone and improve, it should also be able to help you in clearing your mind]

"Alright 'System' I will try gaining the woodworking skill, I am after all in a forest, I'm practically living in the perfect training area to train my woodworking." Alex decides to grab a sharp stone from inside of the cave and go around the forest fetching for wood. After Alex has collected enough piles of wood he heads back to the cave to starts his way to getting the carving skill.

"Alright, lets try and carve something easy to start off with. Ahh! how about a wooden dagger that should do."

After half and hour of agonising work Alex has finally finished carving a wooden dagger, though it can be considered a failure as the blade can barely cut a leaf along with the blade being pretty thin and the wood chosen not being the best material for this type of thing.

"All that time and focus and all I got was this shitty dagger *sigh* what should I have expected, this is my first-time carving with such a crude tool, *sigh* let's get started on the next one."

Hours passed by and slowly Alex is started to be surrounded with scraps of wood shavings and failed wooden daggers losing himself in his work, not knowing he has started to unconsciously take in the energies around him, although a minute amount of it. Alex wakes up from his trance and notices all of the failures surround him, he's upset about all of the mess but he could tell that the quality of the daggers are getting better and better each time. After picking up a new piece of wood Alex starts making a new dagger.

A few hours later Alex has finally finished a dagger that can be considered a success, with a sharp edge that can even cut a person and a carved outline on the handle in the image of an eagle.

"I would be surprised if I haven't got the woodworking skill yet after all of these failures surrounding me, so 'System' have I finally got the carpentry skill yet."

[You got the carpentry skill quite a while ago, I didn't tell you so you could keep on focusing on your task, If you want to look at your skills just say or think 'Skills List' and a screen should appear in front of you]

"WHAT! I already have a skill *sigh* next time just tell me when I have unlocked a skill, alright."

[Ok]

"Skills List"

After Alex said this a screen appeared in front of his face with all the skills that he's got.

[Lucid Dreaming(Active): ]

[Woodworking(Active): ]

"I spent hours just trying to make one dagger I progressed so little *sigh*. My skills seem a bit lacking, I guess I should have expected to see something like this. oh well I'm sure I'll gain more in the future."

[Would you like to see your stats as well?]

"Eh! How the fuck could I forget about checking my stats!? I guess I just say 'Check Stats'." As Alex said that a screen appeared in front of him.

<>

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[Name: Alex Cardinal] [Race: Human] [Age: 26(Years) 0(Months)]

[Titles: (None)]

[Chi: 5/5] <>

[Mana: 5/5] <>

[Nature Energy: 0/0]

[Soul Power: 2/2]

[Vitality: 10] [Vitality Rating: U]

[Warrior Power Grade: U] - [Power: Rank 0]

[Mage Power Grade: U] - [Power: Rank 0]

[Charm: 15] [Charm Rating: Super Ugly]

[Luck: 54] [Luck Rating: Strong Luck]

<>

[Lucid Dreaming(Active): ]

[Woodworking(Active): ]

<>

[Perfect Affinity] [Language Comprehension]

<>

[None]

<>

~ 1st Grade Elements ~

[Earth: ] [Wind: ] [Fire: ] [Water: ] [Metal: ]

[Lightning: ] [Light: ] [Dark: ]

~ 2nd Grade Elements ~

[Ice: ] [Magma: ] [Storm: ] [Magma: ] [Magnetism: ] [Plasma: ] [Nature: ]

~ 3rd Grade Elements(aka. The Obscure Elements) ~ (Locked)

[Blood: ] [Sound: ] [Luck: ] [karma: ] [Abyss: ] [Madness: ] [Dream: ] [Psionic: ] [Aether: ] [Fate: ] [Gravity: ] [Creation: ] [Destruction: ] [Harmony: ]

[Luna: ] [Solar: ] [Yin-Yang: ]

~ 4th Grade Elements ~

[Space: ] [Time: ] [Life: ] [Death: ]

~ 5th Grade Elements ~

[Yin: ] [Yang: ]

~ 6th Grade Elements ~

[Primordial Earth: ] [Primordial Wind: ] [Primordial Fire: ]

[Primordial Water: ] [Primordial Metal: ] [Primordial Lightning: ]

[Primordial Yin: ] [Primordial Yang: ]

~ 7th Grade Elements ~

[Primordial Chaos: ] [Void: ] [Order: ]

Alex quickly skips over most of his stat screen before heading back towards his personal stats to see how strong he is, reading over it with a slightly saddened face before asking the system a few question.

"System, why am I considered Super Ugly? what are the average stats and power ranking for an adult in Isaria? what is up with the 6th Grade elements? and I know what mana and Chi is but what is nature energy and soul energy? I only ask about soul energy for clarification. "

[The stats of the average human would be between 30-35 Luck and between 30-35 charm, this is the reason you're considered super ugly as I'm judging you by Isarias standards, with the average adult being between power grade G - F. These are not consistent however, as Luck is randomised and Charm is dependent on genetics. Although your charm may change depending on if magic is used, if you have eaten a magic herb, drank a special potion or by other various means.

As for the 6th Grade Elements these are the strongest forms of the 1st grade elements, and therefore the 2nd grade element as the second grade elements are simply derivatives of the 1st Grade elements elements that the universe Isaria is in had developed as a way to weed out the talented from the mundane. Yes, even a Universe can grow and develop. As every being inside of the universe in some way will help in the universes development the universe will naturally help develop the life inside of it, this creates a loop of the universe developing the beings inside of it and vise versa.

As for information about nature all that needs to be said is that it is the energy produced by the world which can help develop life on it, as for soul energy it's pretty self explanatory as it is simply the energy that the soul produces. For most this is considered a foreign concept and is pretty much forever locked for them but you will still get those people with naturally awakened soul energy, you are considered a naturally awakened person but with the little amount of soul energy you have it will prove difficult to even sense it let alone use it. This energy has an infinite amount of uses that have yet to be fully discovered.]

"*sigh* what should I have expected considering that world has Magic and many other mystery's surrounding it. Hey 'System' do you think I could start to sense Mana and Chi now that I have some in my body?"

[Why don't you try it for yourself instead of just asking me, there is no point in asking me something you can easily solve yourself]