Three days after my Awakening, I found myself in the family's private training ground at dawn, far from any prying eyes. The morning mist clung to the manicured grass as I stood before a practice dummy, trying to make sense of my new reality.
Level 1. In a world where power was everything, I was essentially a newborn. But unlike other newborns, I carried the knowledge and memories of two lifetimes, plus the most potentially game-breaking ability in existence.
"System, show status," I whispered, and my personal interface materialized.
Name: Aldric Veridian
Age: 17
Level: 1 (EXP: 0/100)
Class: NULL
Title: Architect of Reality
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
STR: 8
AGI: 9
INT: 12
WIS: 10
VIT: 10
LUCK: 15
Special Ability: Infinite Creation (Available at Level 5)
The numbers were pathetic by Hunter standards. An average adult civilian had stats around 5-7 in each category. Father, as an S-Rank Hunter, had stats in the hundreds. Even Aria, still a student, probably had stats in the thirties or forties.
But I wasn't worried about the numbers. I was worried about the implications.
If my ability truly had no limitations, then I could create skills that fundamentally broke the established rules. Instant teleportation. Reality manipulation. Time control. The possibilities were endless, but so were the dangers.
"Young Master?" Elena's voice interrupted my thoughts. She approached carrying a tray with breakfast and what looked like several official documents. "These arrived from the Hunter Association this morning."
I accepted the papers, scanning them quickly. Academy enrollment forms, preliminary Hunter registration, basic ability assessment scheduling—all the bureaucratic requirements for a newly awakened individual.
"They want to test my abilities next week," I said, noting the appointment date. "Standard procedure for all new Awakeners."
Elena nodded. "Your parents thought you might want to get some practice in first. Master Kaelen has cleared his schedule this afternoon for training, and Miss Aria insisted on helping with magical theory."
I smiled, genuinely touched by my family's support. But it also presented a problem. How could I train when my real ability wouldn't be available for four more levels? And once it was available, how could I use it without revealing its true nature?
"Elena," I said carefully, "what do you know about Titles? Specifically, rare ones that appear at Awakening?"
The High Elf's expression grew thoughtful. "Very little, I'm afraid. In my homeland, before the Convergence, we had legends of individuals blessed by the World Tree with unique gifts. But here in Terra Nexus, Titles are usually earned through great deeds or discoveries."
She paused, studying my face. "Why do you ask, Young Master?"
"Just curious about my own situation," I replied. "It's not exactly common, is it?"
"No," Elena agreed. "Which makes it all the more special. The System doesn't make mistakes, Young Master. If you received that Title, it's because you're meant for something extraordinary."
After Elena left, I spent the morning experimenting with basic techniques every awakened individual learned. Mana manipulation, physical enhancement, basic combat forms. My progress was steady but unremarkable—exactly what you'd expect from someone with decent stats but no special abilities.
The real challenge would be reaching Level 5 without arousing suspicion about my true potential.
Around noon, Aria burst into the training ground with her characteristic enthusiasm, her Academy uniform slightly disheveled from what was probably an experimental spell gone wrong.
"Aldric! Ready for some magical theory?" She grinned, producing a stack of textbooks from her spatial storage ring. "I brought everything from Basic Mana Theory to Advanced Spell Construction. We're going to turn you into a magical genius!"
I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. "Don't you have classes today?"
"Skipped them," she said without a hint of shame. "My little brother's magical education is way more important than Professor Kellor's lecture on 'Proper Wand Etiquette for the Modern Mage.'"
We spent the next few hours going over fundamental magical principles. Aria was an excellent teacher, breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces. More importantly, she helped me understand how magic worked in this world from a systematic perspective.
Magic wasn't just energy—it was information. Spells were essentially programs written in magical syntax, with mana serving as both the processing power and the data. The more complex the spell, the more mana and processing capability required.
My programmer's mind latched onto these concepts immediately. If magic was just another programming language, then my Infinite Creation ability was like having root access to the magical operating system of reality itself.
"You're getting this really quickly," Aria observed as I successfully cast my first basic spell—a simple light orb. "Most people take weeks to understand mana flow patterns."
"Good teachers," I replied, but privately I wondered if my unique situation was accelerating my learning. Marcus's analytical mind combined with Aldric's natural magical affinity seemed to create a synergistic effect.
"Aria," I said, dispelling the light orb, "what do you know about custom skill creation?"
She blinked in surprise. "Custom skills? That's incredibly advanced stuff. Only Master-level Hunters and Mages can create new techniques, and even then they're usually just variations on existing skills."
"But theoretically, someone could create entirely new types of abilities?"
"Theoretically, yes, but..." She studied my face intently. "Aldric, why are you asking about this? Your Title doesn't give you skill creation abilities, does it?"
I hesitated. Lying to my sister felt wrong, but telling her the truth could put her in danger. If word got out about my real abilities, every faction in Terra Nexus would either try to recruit me or eliminate me as a threat.
"Maybe," I said finally. "I'm still figuring out exactly what 'Architect of Reality' means."
Aria's eyes lit up with excitement rather than concern. "That's amazing! If you can create custom skills, you could revolutionize how Hunters operate! Imagine abilities specifically designed for new types of monsters, or skills that combine magic and technology in ways no one's thought of!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself getting caught up in the possibilities. With her help, I could probably design abilities that were not only powerful but also subtle enough to avoid unwanted attention.
"Want to help me figure it out?" I asked.
"Are you kidding? Of course!" She grabbed my hands, practically bouncing with excitement. "This is going to be the best research project ever!"
As we dove back into magical theory, this time focusing on the fundamental principles behind skill creation, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I didn't have to face this alone. With Aria's knowledge of magic and my understanding of systems architecture, we could create something incredible.
I just had to make sure we didn't accidentally break reality in the process.
The sun was setting by the time Father arrived for our scheduled training session. Kaelen Veridian in full training gear was an intimidating sight—six and a half feet of muscle and scars, with eyes that had seen battles most people couldn't imagine.
"Ready to see what you can do, son?" he asked, drawing a practice sword from the weapon rack.
I nodded, picking up my own training blade. It felt natural in my hands, muscle memory from Aldric's years of lessons guiding my grip and stance.
What followed was less a sparring match and more a master class in humility. Father didn't use any of his advanced abilities, but his pure technique and experience were overwhelming. Within seconds, I was disarmed and flat on my back.
"Again," he said simply.
We repeated the exercise dozens of times. Each round lasted a little longer, my movements becoming more fluid as Aldric's training memories integrated with Marcus's analytical approach to learning patterns.
"Better," Father acknowledged after the final round. "You're thinking too much, but your instincts are good. Combat experience will fix the overthinking."
He sat down on a nearby bench, gesturing for me to join him. "Aldric, I want you to understand something. Power isn't just about raw strength or flashy abilities. It's about knowing when to fight, when to retreat, and when to hide what you're truly capable of."
His words carried a weight that suggested personal experience. "Are you saying I should hide my abilities?"
"I'm saying you should be careful who you show them to," he replied. "The Hunter Association, the government, the various Guilds—they all have their own agendas. A unique ability like yours will attract attention, not all of it friendly."
Father stood, sheathing his practice sword. "Take time to understand your power before you reveal its full extent. Build allies you can trust. And remember—the strongest Hunters aren't always the ones with the most impressive abilities. They're the ones who know how to use what they have most effectively."
As I watched him walk back toward the manor, I realized he'd given me exactly the advice I needed. I had four levels to figure out my first creation, and now I had a better idea of how to approach it.
Infinite Creation was a god-tier ability, but I was still just Level 1. If I wanted to survive long enough to explore its potential, I needed to be smart about how I used it.
The game was just beginning, and I was finally starting to understand the rules.