Under the clear afternoon sky, Riyan sat with a book in hand, daydreaming about his future. When he graduated, he would get into the best university in the country, start his own company, and become the boss.
"Ahh… just thinking about having my own company and employees gets me so excited," he murmured with a grin.
His fantasy was cut short by his friend, Enda."That's impossible, Yan. Your dreams are way too big."
"Big dreams are more exciting, you know. Come on, let's head home—it's getting late."
"Alright," Enda replied.
The two walked home together, talking and laughing—until Riyan, distracted, failed to notice a car swerving toward them. There was a loud screech, a blinding impact, and then—darkness.
When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in a luxurious bed beneath a grand, unfamiliar ceiling.
"Where… am I?"
His mind spun. Just moments ago, he'd been heading home from school. How had he ended up here? And why was he dressed in ornate, expensive clothing? His confusion was interrupted by a sudden shout.
"Brother! You're awake! How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?"
A boy of about fourteen stood at his bedside, eyes wide in shock.
"Uh… yeah, I'm awake… ahhh!" Riyan's words turned into a scream as a sharp, searing pain shot through his head.
"Brother? Brother! Are you okay? Wait here, I'll call Mom and Dad!" The boy dashed out of the room.
Riyan barely noticed—because in that moment, a cold, mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
System: System online.System: Host may now access data. System will integrate host with the body and memories of the predecessor.
A… system? Like in a game? And… predecessor? Realization struck him. I've been transported into someone else's body?
Information flooded his mind: his new name was Brian Scott, eldest son of the Scoot family, a Marquis household in the Alge Kingdom. The boy from earlier was his younger brother, Adre Scott.
This world valued strength above all else. Power was ranked as Basic, Spirit, Master, Grandmaster, King, Emperor, Half-Saint, Saint, Demigod, and God. It was a vast realm filled with countless kingdoms, empires, and sects.
"Alright, let's try opening this system. Display on!"
Nothing happened.
"Uh… system?"
A translucent screen suddenly appeared before him:
Name: Brian Scoot (Scoot Family Genius)Level: 7 (Base 7)EXP: 20/50Position: Firstborn of the Scoot familyAge: 18Race: HumanMartial Arts: Golden ThunderEquipment: Silk Robe (ordinary)
Title – Scoot Family Genius: Considered an exceptional cultivator within the Scoot family; increases experience gain by 30%.
"Whoa… so I really am a genius here!" Riyan—no, Brian—grinned.
"Alright then, Brian who died to a ferocious monster… rest in peace. From now on, I'll take over this life—and I'll build my own kingdom! Hahaha!"
He had a reason beyond ambition: his Marquis family had long been treated like outsiders by the King of Alge, ever since they refused to support him in the struggle for the throne.
"Brian? Why are you laughing? Are you alright?"
A middle-aged man and woman approached with worried expressions, Adre trailing behind them.
"I'm fine, Father, Mother, Brother," Brian replied quickly—then froze. Wait… did they hear me?
*"You should still be examined," his mother said, turning to the elderly woman beside her. "Doctor An, please."
"Yes, ma'am." The old doctor stepped forward, her hands gentle but practiced as she checked him over."Young Master is fine—healthy, in fact. He should be fully recovered within two to five days."
Two to five days? Brian smirked inwardly. I'll be fine by tomorrow.
"Don't worry so much, Mom, Dad. Actually… I'm starving."
Right on cue, his stomach growled, and his face flushed.
His mother chuckled. "Nia, please bring something for the young master." She turned back to him with a warm smile. "Don't be embarrassed—you've been unconscious for four days."
"Yes, Mother."
"By the way, Brian," his father, Caspian, began, "how did you get hurt so badly? When we found you, you were unconscious and covered in injuries. What kind of monster attacked you? It's strange—there shouldn't be any spirit-level beasts, let alone stronger ones, in the forest near the castle."
Brian hesitated for a moment before replying. "I… saw something like a giant cow, Father. They looked panicked, like they were running from something, and I got caught in their stampede."
It wasn't entirely a lie—but it wasn't the whole truth either.
The previous Brian had heard rumors about a strange, tiger-like creature lurking in the area. Curious, he'd gone to investigate and discovered a tiger cub with eyes far too intelligent for a beast—its instincts almost human.
Thinking it might make a good pet and companion, he'd tried to approach it. But the creature attacked without warning and then vanished into the forest.
Now, Riyan—inhabiting Brian's body—remembered that look in the tiger's eyes. A look of disdain, as if mocking him. That was why he kept the real story to himself. Even so, he shared the same thought as the former Brian: one day, he would tame it.
Caspian nodded thoughtfully. "Two days ago, there really was something—strange beasts that looked like a mix between cattle and goats. They rammed into the castle wall like they'd gone mad, as if something was chasing them. Even though they're herbivores and rarely attack humans… hmm. Rest for now, Brian. I'll investigate this further." With that, Caspian turned and left the room.
"Get plenty of rest, Brian. Come on, dear, let's give your brother some peace," Brian's mother, Tessa, said gently as she ushered Adre out of the room.
With everyone gone, Brian was finally alone. As he ate, his mind began to race with possibilities.
"To make my plans easier, I'll need my own subordinates. Hmm… should I form the King's Eleven Guardians? That sounds good," he mused, already dreaming far ahead.
"But before that… I should study the system first. This will be my greatest cheat. System!"
The familiar interface appeared, and this time, Brian noticed a small envelope icon in the top right corner—just like in a video game.
"What's this? Should I check it? Maybe it's a reward…"
Curiosity got the better of him. He opened it—and immediately burst into laughter. His guess had been right.
System: Congratulations, you have received: Basic Forging Technique, Basic Alchemy, Basic Rune Crafting, Body Pill, Blueprint for Seven Guardian Beast Armors, and 5,000 System Coins.
"Oh! Forging, alchemy, and rune crafting skills? Nice. And what's this—Body Pill, Guardian Beast Armor blueprint… and System Coins?"
A series of descriptions appeared:
Body Pill: A tier-five pill that cleanses impurities and strengthens the body.
Guardian Beast Armor Blueprint: Designs for armor inspired by seven guardian beasts—lion, leopard, elephant, eagle, scorpion, whale, and snail. When worn, the armor grants the user the beast's abilities. (Requires an Advanced Forger to craft.)
System Coins: Currency used to purchase resources in the System Shop.
"This is perfect! With Guardian Beast Armor, I could have incredibly strong protectors. Too bad I can't make it yet… I'll need to level up first."
Having made up his mind, Brian headed straight for the library, determined to deepen his understanding of this new world.