Shadow felt as if a massive burden had finally been lifted off his shoulders. Completing the system's requirement had been anything but easy—it had demanded both time and relentless effort.
Now that it was done, a quiet sense of satisfaction settled within him.
Taking a slow breath, he muttered,
"System… show me my status."
"Let's see how broken I've become."
---
[[ SYSTEM STATUS ]]
Name: Shadow
Age: 16
Level: 1 (0/10 EXP)
Rank: Unawakened (Magic Required)
Mana: ∞ (Unregulated)
Class: None
---
Skills:
- Ultimate Rune Master
Spells:
- None
Affinity:
- None
---
---
Shadow stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"System, explain the stats."
[Level: The host must complete quests assigned by the system. These quests will appear based on what best suits the host's current situation.]
'I see…' Shadow thought, his gaze steady. 'Since the system is essentially an extension of me, it's just guiding me toward the most efficient path to grow stronger.'
[Rank: Once the host begins learning magic, the rank will start at F-rank and increase progressively as the host grows stronger.]
'So rank determines overall magical strength and potential,' he concluded silently.
[Mana: The amount of magical energy residing within the body. The host's mana is directly connected to the external flow of mana, resulting in an infinite supply.]
For a brief moment, silence filled the space.
Then Shadow let out a quiet chuckle.
"If anyone else could see this… they'd probably go insane."
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"…though considering I carved my own body apart before, maybe I'm already past that point."
Infinite mana.
The concept itself was absurd—something no one in this world had ever even imagined, let alone possessed. It meant he would never run out of energy in battle… at least in theory.
But Shadow wasn't foolish enough to be blinded by that alone.
Having infinite mana didn't mean he was invincible.
To actually use it, he needed spells. He needed skills. And more importantly… he needed control. Each one of them has a limited damage based on the user's mastery and understanding.
Right now, all he had was an endless ocean trapped behind a fragile barrier.
'If I lose control… it won't be power I release,' he thought calmly. 'It'll be destruction.'
The system continued.
[Skills: Techniques learned by the host, such as weapon mastery or physical movements.]
[Spells: Magical techniques that rely heavily on mana to produce specific effects.]
[Affinity: A measurement of the host's compatibility with magical elements. This determines the type of spells or skills the host can use.]
[Class: A defined path that shapes the host's combat style and growth. Classes determine the type of abilities, skills, and spells the host can develop more efficiently. Most individuals are limited to a single class upon awakening, which restricts their progression to that path.]
There was a brief pause before the final line appeared.
[The host currently has no class. No restrictions detected. The host may learn and utilize any class without limitation.]
Boom.
"…This is just cheating."
Shadow's mind reeled.
"At this point, even I feel bad for everyone else. I almost want to apologize… almost."
Normally, a person would be born with a single affinity. In rare cases, someone might possess two.
But this?
No limitations at all?
That wasn't talent.
That wasn't luck.
That was something entirely beyond logic.
Something that broke the rules of the world itself.
Shadow exhaled slowly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"I guess all that wasted time… is about to be repaid tenfold and with interest"
A small smile formed on his face.
"System, is there anything else I should know?"
[Certain functions are currently locked. The host's body is not yet capable of handling them.]
"Such as?" Shadow asked, his interest piqued.
[Example: System Store. A feature that allows the host to purchase spells, skills, weapons, potions, and other items that aid progression.]
[The feature is currently locked due to the host's insufficient level. It will unlock at Level 10.]
[Upon completing quests, the host will receive special points to exchange for items within the store. These points are limited and are designed to ensure the host's body adapts properly to acquired tools.]
Shadow blinked.
"…So even my own brain is optimizing everything for me? I'm starting to understand why normal people stay normal."
He let out a soft breath, shaking his head in disbelief.
'Is this what happens when my mind is pushed to its absolute limit… and fueled by magic?' he wondered.
But then, another thought surfaced.
A more practical one.
"Wait… doesn't that make me powerless right now?" he frowned. "How am I supposed to level up if I can't even use magic yet?"
The system responded immediately.
[The host can learn skills and spells at a significantly accelerated rate compared to other beings.]
Shadow's eyes sharpened.
"…Meaning?"
[The host can replicate spells and skills by observing others.]
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"Wait… so I can just watch someone and learn their magic?"
[Correct. However, the speed of acquisition depends on the complexity and level of the skill or spell.]
Shadow let out a low breath.
"…That's insane."
There was no other word for it.
Infinite mana. Unlimited affinities. And now the ability to learn just by observing.
At this point, even he was starting to question whether this was real.
"If this is a dream, I better not wake up… or I'll kill something out of disappointment. This is… a bit too much," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I might actually become something beyond this world."
"Actually, scratch that—I crossed that line a while ago."
He then murmured. "Power doesn't need permission… it only needs a user."
Then suddenly—
A thought struck him.
"…Wait."
His eyes lit up slightly.
"Can I copy abilities from magical beasts?"
[Negative. Magical beasts differ fundamentally from sentient beings. Their abilities cannot be replicated by the host.]
Shadow clicked his tongue lightly.
"Well… it was worth asking. Can't blame me for trying to speedrun reality."
Letting out a quiet sigh, he shifted his gaze forward, his expression gradually turning serious.
The air around him felt different now.
Lighter.
Free.
"Since I've finished the tutorial…"
His voice dropped, calm yet filled with intent.
"…it's finally time to leave this place. Preferably before I start talking to myself any more than I already am."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"And start collecting what I need."
He took a step forward.
"…Spells, skills"
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"…power."
"And maybe a little chaos while I'm at it."
And without another word, Shadow began moving—stepping into a world that had no idea what was about to come.