In a dark corner of his apartment that reeked of cold pizza and empty coffee cups, "Lord of the Kingdoms" was staring at the glowing computer screen. His real name wasn't "Lord of the Kingdoms," of course—it was just a pseudonym he had chosen for himself in the virtual gaming world. For years, his life had revolved around multiple screens, keyboards worn out from overuse, and the constant search for the next challenge. He was an expert in RPGs, those vast worlds that required strategic planning, exploiting loopholes, and the ability to build an overpowered character from scratch.
He was addicted—not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual attachment to every pixel and character. He had ignored real life, social commitments, and even sleep at times, immersing himself in worlds of swords, magic, and epic battles. In the midst of one of those decisive battles, where his team was on the verge of a historic victory against a colossal world boss, "Lord of the Kingdoms" felt a sharp sting in his chest. At first, he paid it no mind—such pains were common companions during his long nights. But the sting soon turned into a horrific pain, as if his heart were turning into a block of burning ice. The screen before him began to fade, and the voices in his headset turned into a distant hum. The last thing he remembered was a feeling of regret—unprecedented regret—for everything he had wasted in his real life.
Flicker—flicker.
The moment Aeryon opened his eyes, he felt a strange sensation coursing through his body. Screaming! Every bone, every muscle was screaming in protest.
Aeryon—that was his name. He opened his eyes with difficulty, seeing intertwined tree leaves above his head. The smell of damp soil and wild grass filled his lungs. He tried to move his arm, and a sharp pain spread through his shoulder and chest, as if every rib in his ribcage had been shattered.
"Ah!" he groaned weakly, his voice barely audible. He felt a sticky liquid on his face and lifted his trembling hand to find it smeared with blood.
And suddenly, as if a dam had burst in his mind, memories that were not his own came flooding in—yet now they were a part of him. Fragmented images, painful scenes: Aeryon, a servant in the city lord's palace, being brutally beaten. The sound of screams, mocking laughter. "What kind of scum dares to anger Prince Malakai?" Harsh words, relentless blows, then darkness.
"Malakai?" Aeryon muttered hoarsely, his eyes burning with unprecedented fury. "I'll crush that spoiled little prince Malakai! That bastard!" He weakly punched the ground beside him, as if making a vow of revenge. "What luck! A body beaten to a pulp, and memories of someone who was whipped because of... a spoiled, petty prince! And... a pig!"
Aeryon still felt uneasy, but the invading memories had given him a complete picture of the body he now possessed. The original Aeryon had been the sole provider for his younger sister Lyra and his little brother Kalin. That was why he had endured all that pain from Prince Malakai—to protect his only family. "Hmm, so this is my family now?" Aeryon thought. He didn't feel a strong bond, but he understood the responsibility.
He let out a bitter laugh, not without a hint of sarcasm. "And this is what they call a 'fresh start' in this world? What a sick joke!"
Ding~
A translucent blue window appeared before him, its faint glow dancing among the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
[Congratulations, Transmigrator! You have successfully merged with a body in the world of "Eldora"!]
[Note: The merge was not perfect due to the harsh conditions the host body endured before death. Please choose your skills carefully.]
[Your current stats:]
Name: Aeryon
Age: 17 springs
Race: Human
Level: 1 (Beginner)
Health Points (HP): 50 / 100 (-50 due to severe injuries)
Strength: 3 (-2 due to severe injuries)
Intelligence: 8
Mana: 50 / 50
Innate Talents: None (Your ability to manifest an innate talent is currently impaired due to
spiritual and physical damage.)
Class: None (Undefined)
Skills: None (You may now choose two basic skills.)
"Hah." Aeryon moved his finger with difficulty toward the sky and pressed for more.
Switch~
The window flickered again, presenting him with skill options.
[Basic Skill Selection: (Choose only two skills)]
[Category 1: Supreme Skills (Choose one from Rank S to A)]
[S-Rank: Foresight]
Description: Grants you the ability to glimpse the near future and determine potential paths.
Mana Cost: 50
Cooldown: 12 hours
[A-Rank: Embrace of Healing]
Description: Accelerates recovery from injuries and minor illnesses.
Mana Cost: 20
Cooldown: 1 hour
[A-Rank: Primitive Weapon Mastery]
Description: Grants innate proficiency in wielding any weapon you hold for the first time.
Mana Cost: None
Cooldown: None
[Category 2: Intermediate Skills (Choose one from Rank B to D)]
[B-Rank: Insightful Gaze]
Description: Allows you to see the status window, skills, and titles of others, as well as their weaknesses.
Mana Cost: None
Cooldown: None
[C-Rank: Minor Poison Resistance]
Description: Increases resistance to minor poisons and diseases.
Mana Cost: 5
Cooldown: 30 minutes
[D-Rank: Sudden Rush]
Description: Grants a brief burst of speed.
Mana Cost: 10
Cooldown: 1 minute
[Category 3: Basic Skills (Choose one from Rank E to F)]
[E-Rank: Simple Herb Gathering]
Description: Increases chances of finding useful herbs and plants.
Mana Cost: None
Cooldown: None
[F-Rank: Skill Forger]
Description: Grants the ability to create new skills. Created skills cannot exceed Rank F in quality.
Mana Cost: Varies depending on the skill created
Cooldown: 3 hours
[F-Rank: Novice Physical Efficiency]
Description: Slightly increases stamina during physical activities.
Mana Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Aeryon stared at the options, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "Skill Forger," he muttered deviously. "Haha, since I'm an expert in character-building and skill customization games, this is my ticket to the top. I won't rely on luck or pre-made skills. I'll forge my own path and make sure this body's pain is paid for in full!"
Skill Forger was his first choice, without hesitation. Aeryon's eyes gleamed with a wicked glint. "This is my ticket. I won't be a puppet in the hands of any filthy system, hehehe."
Ding~
[Skill selected: Skill Forger]
"And now..." he muttered, scrolling through the remaining options. "I need something to give me an edge. Something to see the cards of this damned world." His eyes settled on one choice.
Switch~
[Skill selected: Insightful Gaze]
Ding~
[Congratulations on your choices, Transmigrator!]
[Note: Choosing "Skill Forger" is a rare and risky decision. Be warned: failure in skill creation may lead to severe consequences.]
"Severe consequences?" Aeryon laughed mockingly, his voice edged with bitterness. "And is this broken body and memories of pain not enough as consequences, you damn system, you son of a bitch?" He didn't wait for a reply—it was just mockery. "Insightful Gaze... this will be my third eye in this new world. Knowing the enemy is half the battle, right? And this stupid system thinks it can hide everything."