"Kael!"
A thunderous roar exploded beside his ears like a lightning strike.
Kael jolted awake from his desk, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Terror still lingered in his eyes. But as he glanced around and took in the familiar stone-walled classroom, the apprentices sitting beside him, and the stern-faced magic instructor in gray robes at the podium, his fear slowly turned into confusion.
"The Royal Capital's Sacred Selection is less than three months away!"
Instructor Irina's voice was like a blade of ice, her gaze as sharp as a sword. "I've tolerated your laziness until now, but in my classroom, anyone who dares to fall asleep—I will personally expel from Saint Sophia Academy of War and Magic!"
But Kael barely registered her words. His mind was in complete chaos, his thoughts a tangled mess.
A moment later, the truth struck him like a hammer.
"I… was reborn?"
Astonishment washed over him.
This wasn't the world he had known. No, it was a mirrored version of it—eerily similar, yet fundamentally altered. He was still in Saint Sophia Academy, surrounded by the same classmates, the same instructors from his past life. But the laws of this world… had changed beyond recognition.
Three centuries ago, a great cataclysm befell the continent. From the Abyss Gates, endless beasts surged forth. The alchemy and mechanical civilization humanity once prided itself on was quickly reduced to ash. Thermal weapons proved almost entirely useless against the monsters.
In the face of annihilation, some humans awakened to hidden talents—an affinity with the natural elements. Channeling these forces, they forged a new path of strength: by cultivating Battle Aura and Mana, a new age dawned.
Thus began the Era of the Elemental Warrior.
In this era, anyone who could step into the realm of an "Elemental Warrior" earned the respect and privileges of a noble. And if one rose into the higher tiers, they could even gain dominion over territories, command armies, and alter the very fate of kingdoms.
Warriors were ranked from One-Star to Nine-Star, each level a monumental breakthrough—each star a leap in power, status, and influence.
But to become a warrior, one first needed to possess elemental sensitivity—and survive the grueling trials of the Tempering Phase.
Kael, in his past life, had barely shown a flicker of affinity. His fire element response value was only 0.9—a hair below the required 1.0 threshold. It was enough to cut off his path to cultivation entirely.
A mere fraction short—yet an entire lifetime lost.
Just then, a calm yet unfamiliar mechanical voice echoed in Kael's mind:
[Soul fluctuation detected. Initiating Infinite Evolution System...]
[System binding complete. Status panel generated.]
Kael froze for a moment—then his expression shifted to one of wild excitement.
Almost instinctively, he called up the system panel. A translucent blue screen appeared in his mind's eye:
[Name]: Kael Yadryn
[Fire Elemental Affinity]: 0.9
[Combat Power Rating]: 5 (Average human: 3)
Immediately, another prompt surfaced:
[Host lacks the qualifications for cultivation. Awarding Beginner's Blessing Pack. Claim now?]
"Are you kidding? Of course I'll claim it!"
Kael responded reflexively.
[Congratulations. You have received: Fire Elemental Affinity Enhancement Elixir ×1]
A vial of crimson, flame-like liquid materialized within his system inventory. With a single thought, the elixir appeared in his palm, blazing with elemental energy. He didn't hesitate—he downed it in one gulp.
The potion melted on his tongue and surged into his body like molten fire. A searing warmth swept through his veins. He could feel it—every fiber of his being resonating, the connection between him and the flame growing clearer than ever before!
[Fire Elemental Affinity increased to 9.0]
[Elemental Talent Rank: SSS (Divine)]
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had just leapt from total failure to peerless genius in a single step!
In the capital's official grading system, elemental talent was ranked from F to SSS, across nine levels. Most commoner apprentices never rose above C-rank their entire lives. And SSS? That was a divine-tier talent—so rare that even across centuries of imperial history, only a handful had ever emerged.
Hurriedly, he activated a familiar technique from his previous life—"Flame Perception Art"—and immediately noticed a shocking change. His sensing speed was blazingly fast, far beyond what it had ever been.
But before he could fully revel in his breakthrough, the system's voice echoed again:
[Congratulations. You have acquired a Talent Skill: Devour]
[Bonus item granted: Wind Elemental Affinity Enhancement Elixir ×1]
"There's more?!"
Kael was stunned with joy, then quickly furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Talent skills… aren't they supposed to awaken only after one becomes a One-Star Warrior?"
Traditionally, across the continent, only those who completed the Body Tempering Phase and officially stepped into the warrior realm would achieve soul resonance—only then could they awaken their personal innate skill.
But he hadn't even crossed the threshold of cultivation—
So why was the system already granting him power ahead of time?
He opened the panel once more:
[Talent Skill]: Devour
(Can absorb energy-based materials such as monster cores, elemental fragments, etc., and convert them into cultivation progress or combat strength.)
Kael's eyes sharpened with a glint of shock.
Monster cores—precious treasures used in forging magical equipment—were strictly forbidden for direct consumption. It was well known that ingesting them would lead to corruption by dark energy, resulting in death or even soul annihilation. But now… he possessed the power to directly devour such energy?
"I have to find a core and test this, no matter what."
Without hesitation, he consumed the Wind Elemental Affinity Enhancement Elixir.
Once again, a warm current surged through his body—this time like a gentle spring breeze caressing his skin.
[Wind Elemental Affinity increased to 7.0]
[Wind Elemental Talent Rank: S]
Kael felt a twinge of disappointment, but the system promptly offered clarification:
[Host's base wind affinity was 0.7. This enhancement has reached its limit. Further growth is possible through battle, quests, or special refinement methods.]
"So that's how it works." He nodded to himself. Even S-rank was enough to stand head and shoulders above his peers.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped behind the academy's spires, Kael slung his worn leather pack over his shoulder and stepped briskly out of the training tower.
"Kael!"
A familiar voice called out from behind.
He turned to see Wes—his close friend—hurrying up with a grin and throwing an arm around his shoulder.
"Heard a new place opened in the south end of the city—serving storm lizard tail with firefish stew. Supposed to be incredible. You coming? My treat!"
Kael shook his head.
"Not tonight. I've got things to take care of."
In his past life, Kael often drowned his sorrows with Wes—a pampered noble who had given up cultivation, and a poor apprentice who had accepted his fate in silence.
But that was the old Kael.
He was no longer a helpless mortal scraping by in despair.
Now, he had a system.
Now, he had hope.
And he would seize every moment—
To become stronger.