System

In this world, humans came across deserted settlements with odd-shaped structures and the remains of various civilizations.

From these oddly shaped structures, humans found supernatural artifacts and knowledge about magic, which far exceeded everyone's imagination.

And they knew that there was more than this in this world.

So, they set their sight on exploring the entire world.

It wasn't easy to explore Xavier, however, and only magicians could venture into the dangerous wilderness of this world, searching and acquiring knowledge and never seen before artifacts.

"My back hurts. Ugh, I think I am probably bleeding, but it's not too painful. Hopefully, it's only a skin wound and not something serious."

Elliot's head lowered in disappointment as he increased his pace to reach home faster.

He didn't expect to get injured just before the entrance examination of the magician academy.

The injury happened at the worst possible time.

Maybe he should have kept his mouth close and endure their taunts for one more day.

Nay, he did what a man should do.

No backing down in the face of danger!

Several minutes later, he reached his home and entered the room that was allocated to him by the association after his parents died under the claws of beasts while on a mission, or so that's what the agent of the magician association has told him.

The apartment provided to him by the magician association was neither too big nor too small, just enough for a bed, few sofas, bookshelf, drawers, and studying desk to fit. Because his parents died in a mission issued by the association and he had no relatives to speak of and to add the fact that he was a magician, the association graced him with this place.

A few moments later, once he took off his jacket and white shirt to check the severity of the wound on his back, his eyes widened as he saw fresh blood on the back of both of them, and he moved to the mirror placed in the bathroom to see his bloodied back.

Alexander's vicious attack has torn the skin on his back, making him think that it's probably because of adrenaline that kept the full assault of pain from knocking him out.

He gritted his teeth, thinking that Alexander assaulted him with his ability to cripple him.

Thankfully, Silas interfered or he would have ended up in the hospital.

"That damn vicious jerk. I hope he's having a good time in the pothole." Elliot cursed with a clenched fist.

He was angry but couldn't do anything about it as he was too weak to win a fight against an awakened magician.

Elliot shook his head, throwing thoughts related to the menace to the back of his head, and pulled open his drawers, searching for something like an ointment to apply and another thing that won't let his blood go to waste.

"Found it. The artifact of the mysterious civilization."

Inside the drawer, there was an egg-shaped rock with a red surface and black dots, looking at which his eyes couldn't help but brighten up in glee and the light of hope.

There was a high chance that this stone could pull him out of the ridiculous life of dejection and pull him towards a life of glory as it was something his parents got from the ruins of a deserted base of the mysterious civilization and gave it to him, thinking it's a useless stone before their death.

"Everyone is fighting for such things. Who could have ever thought that one such artifact is in my hand? And, today I am going to find out what it does."

This stone, when he found it, was black, and it was only after a tiny accident that he found out that this was something extraordinary.

"I, the trial challenger, Elliot Vincent, am here to conquer the first trial of the Northern Duke of Dark Starlight!"

Ding!

A transparent screen with the information about the trial appeared before Elliot. What he must do to complete the trial was stated inside the screen.

<Ongoing Quest>

<Determination of the Weak>

<First Trial: Prove yourself worthy by feeding 100 units of your blood to the stone of worth>

<Time limit: 6 months>

<Completed: 98/100>

Elliot put the stone on his clothes and then his back, and as it happened, it released a strong suction force to suck the dried blood off his clothes and the drops of blood seeping out of his injured skin.

<99/100>

"Eat it!" He pressed the rock on his back to let blood flow out of his wound, wincing in pain as his injury worsened.

<100/100>

In front of his eyes, a black screen with words emitting golden radiance appeared out of nowhere, bringing with it good news that he has been hoping for months.

<Congratulations! You, the weakest, have proved your determination to become strong! You managed to complete the trial bleeding day by day and feeding the Stone of Worth 100 units of blood within the given time. The Stone of Worth has judged you as someone qualified to become a champion as it is impressed by the conviction to become strong you've shown over the past several weeks. Do you accept to become the Champion of the "Northern Duke of Dark Starlight"?>

As soon as he finished reading the message, a smile stretched across Elliot's face.

He has been mistreated, ridiculed, and beaten for being worthless, and he no longer wanted to remain the weakest.

He didn't know what becoming the champion will do, but knowing that this was the only opportunity to change his destiny from being the weakest to someone powerful, he didn't hesitate to express his agreement with becoming one.

"Yes!"

As soon as he said those words, the stone dissolved into tiny particles of black and golden radiance, flowing across the air and seeping into his body through the pores. At the same time, a huge amount of pain assaulted his senses as if someone was pouring hot molten lava and a chilling drink into his body at the same time.

The pain wasn't something he could bear on his own, and he collapsed to the ground, vision fading to black as his eyes shut down.

A moment before he lost his consciousness, a voice rang in his mind.

<Congratulations you have become the Champion of the Northern Duke of Dark Starlight>