After a long time, the merging of memories ended, and the darkness surrounding me faded as I regained consciousness.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling for a long time in confusion and hesitation, trying to organize my thoughts.
Jin and Raven.
I feel like I am Jin, but at the same time, I am Raven.
The memories showed me everything—every moment and every feeling.
It felt like a fusion, like a possession of a body, just like those concepts often seen in novels.
In my current life, I am Raven.
I lost my mother at an early age, then I was rescued and placed in an orphanage, where I lived until I ran away two years later.
I worked many jobs, gathered small amounts of money, and managed to take care of myself.
Most of my time was spent in training halls, waiting for the moment my abilities would awaken.
I fell into hatred and began to deeply despise monsters after everything that happened.
Another miserable life… without friends or family.
I stared at the ceiling in confusion, my silver eyes unfocused.
After a long time, I tried to get up.
I lifted my active body and stood in front of the mirror once again.
It was still the same.
Charcoal colored hair, long and reaching my shoulders and eyes like moon.
Pale skin with sharp features, yet still carrying a hint of youth.
After looking at my slightly youthful face, I remembered that I was fifteen years old.
The age at which abilities awaken in the continent of Erthina.
After a few seconds of silence and without saying a word, I washed my face, stepped away from the mirror, and left the bathroom.
I sat in front of the computer in my room and began searching.
There were many things I needed to confirm—or rather, things I wanted to verify after calming down.
I quickly typed into the search bar: "Erthina Academy."
The results appeared exactly as I expected—images of a massive academy and articles describing it as the best academy in the continent of Erthina.
Alright, to clarify the first thing I discovered from my memories: I died in my previous life.
How? I don't really know, but I assume it was due to my illness.
Second: my fusion with Raven.
And third: I am inside a novel.
A side character in an unfinished story.
I grabbed my head and started cursing loudly.
Erthina Academy? The "World Record" novel? Unfinished? Monsters everywhere?
Sorry, I don't want this mess. I just want to live in peace.
I cursed again while pulling my hair.
Then I sighed and tried to calm myself, resisting the urge to curse again.
Alright… I can't break down here.
First, I am inside an unknown novel where countless people die in every major event, and in the end, half of the continent of Erthina is destroyed.
And second… I don't want this, but I also don't want to stop.
I thought while a wave of anger and hatred rose inside my heart.
Hatred—the same force that once drove Raven forward.
Even though I am slightly different now, that hatred still remains.
In the end, Raven and I are one.
But how did this happen?
I thought I would die peacefully one day… not like this, suddenly, without resistance, dying in my bed.
And how did I end up in this cursed novel?
Was it a god who pitied me?
Or did the author throw me into his failed story?
I grabbed my head again, feeling like I was about to get a headache.
I sighed and pushed those unanswered questions away.
In truth, I should be happy. My life has not ended.
My eyes slowly regained clarity.
I will not ignore my hatred.
I will kill as many monsters as I can.
But I will also make gaining power my second goal in this world.
I will interfere with the storyline I already know.
I will use villains and side characters as stepping stones to become stronger.
And in the end, knowing that the leaders of those monsters sit on their thrones every day…
I will confront them.
I swear in the name of my mother, Celisia…
I will kill them all.
As I thought this, my mind turned cold, and the rage inside me began to boil.
The air around me started to distort, and the atmosphere began to smell like blood.
After a few seconds, I regained my senses and suppressed my killing intent.
I had forgotten that the mana inside me reacts to my emotions.
Mana—the energy used in this world.
Every person possesses mana, no matter how small it is.
And in this body… Raven's body…
I was talented and had a large amount of mana.
Even though the way I obtained it was harmful.
I calmed myself and looked at the computer screen.
"Status panel ."
I spoke those words, something I often did after training.
A blue panel appeared in front of me.
[Name: Raven Klainte]
[Health Status: Damaged – Life Energy Consumption]
[Vitality: -E → E]
[Endurance: +E]
[Strength: -E]
[Speed: +E]
[Mana: -D]
[Ability (1): Locked]
[Ability (2): Locked]
[Element: Locked]
[Traits: Combat (2), Calm Mind (1), Mana Control (3), Swordsmanship (3), Firearms (2)]
[Rank: +E]
"Very strong." This was what I thought while looking at my stats.
Even though I already knew this from my memories, it still felt surprising to see such strong stats.
And the traits? Five of them. That shows the talent I possess.
As for abilities and elements, they are currently locked. The first ability will unlock upon reaching D- rank, and the second at -C rank.
As for the element, it sometimes appears with the ability—one or two elements depending on the awakening.
I clicked on the traits to see their details.
[Combat (2): Combat skills, reflexes, and experience are what will save you in this broken world.]
[Calm Mind (1): Your mind is calm, allowing better focus and emotional control. Note: emotional drift can sometimes be dangerous.]
[Mana Control (3): Control over the mysterious energy within your body, allowing you to enhance your body or weapons or even release ranged attacks.]
[Swordsmanship (3): Sword techniques and experience gained through training and combat.]
[Firearms (2): Shooting speed and basic firearm techniques.]
Traits are similar to talent. For example, no matter how much you train in swordsmanship for years—even decades—without talent, you will remain at level 0 and cannot break through the limit easily.
As I observed the details, I realized how useful these traits were.
Swordsmanship and firearms would greatly help me in fighting monsters and achieving my goals.
And level 3 swordsmanship? That is considered highly talented, especially at my age.
Mana control is one of the most important traits, allowing control over internal energy to enhance the body, weapons, or even launch attacks.
In total, there are ten levels for each trait.
Levels 1 to 3 are beginner.
Levels 4 to 6 are intermediate.
Levels 7 and 8 are expert.
Levels 9 and 10 are extremely rare among humans.
No one has ever reached level 10.
And I know that many monsters possess such high-level traits.
I sighed while rubbing my forehead in frustration, thinking about how strong my enemies are.
At least… I am talented now. With these stats alone, I can enter the top 20 in the academy next year when I enroll in Erthina Academy.
We are now in October, year 113 After the Cataclysm.
Year 114 is the year when the main characters enter the academy.
The academy opens registration from January until the end of the month every year.
I thought while calculating how much time I had left.
"About two and a half months."
I have a lot to do in these two and a half months.
And maybe I can even face the protagonist if my plans succeed.
I thought while a slight smile appeared on my face and a burning look formed in my eyes.
Why do I want to face the protagonist? In the end, I am on a path to gain strength and face enemies.
And I know problems will always follow me if I join the same year as the protagonist.
So why avoid him? He is extremely talented and always becomes stronger. Having such a rival is exciting.
"Why do I feel like a battle maniac?" I thought while placing my hand on my face, noticing my wide smile.
"I don't know if this is Raven's trait or Jin's… or maybe both of us are insane?"
It doesn't matter.
I picked up a notebook from the nearby shelf and started writing everything I remembered from the original story.
The dominant language in this world is a foreign language.
Why? Because it is widely used and easy.
Many languages such as Chinese and Arabic have disappeared into history.
Anyway, I'm glad I learned Arabic before coming here.
I began recording everything I remembered: characters, locations, dimensional gates, artifacts, and useful skills.
After hours of writing, I finally finished.
I stored everything in Arabic because it is a difficult language to decipher.
"I was pretty good at it at least," I thought with a small smile.
I looked at the clock again.
10:37 PM.
That meant I spent the entire day at home.
My stomach growled in protest, reminding me of hunger.
I left the desk and went to the kitchen to eat.
I finished cooking in about half an hour, and I was glad that I was actually a good cook.
Jin or Raven—I had lived alone and learned to cook for myself.
"Why is there no Cooking skill in the status window?" I thought while eating my "holy meal" proudly.
I quickly finished my food and then took a shower. /
After that, I put on a long black coat with a hood, black pants, and fingerless gloves.
I went to my bed, flipped it, and took out a katana hidden underneath.
I also grabbed a pistol from beside it and placed it in my pocket.
After preparing my equipment and setting my destination… well, two elements now, not one…
I opened the door and was about to leave, but stopped.
I quickly returned to the desk, opened a drawer, and took out a silver necklace.
Inside it was a picture.
A picture of me and my mother.
I stared at it for a few seconds, and sadness and hatred filled my eyes.
I closed it quickly and placed it inside my coat.
Then I walked out with steady steps this time.
To make my first move.