3 Chapter 3: A World Unveiled

Chapter 3: A World Unveiled

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As Ace strolled through the library, thoughts of his family crept in. Leaving them behind in his old world weighed on him, and even though he'd accepted his mortality on his travels, a lingering sadness remained.

He sighed softly, musing, "I can't help but wonder if they still worry about me, like I do about them. The goodbye was abrupt, no time for proper farewells. Now, I'm in a whole different world."

Ace's gaze remained fixed on the flickering flames in the shelves as he continued, "I just hope they're doing alright, and move on rather than feeling sad about me . Maybe, someday, I'll find a way to visit them, to let them know I'm safe and I still care."

With a sigh, he mused, "It's time to focus on my path now."

After sorting through his feelings, Ace decided to take a closer look at his surroundings. He found himself surrounded by towering shelves, each one holding endless possibilities. He felt a sense of anticipation, trying to decide which world to explore next. However, he knew he had to be cautious and not recklessly dive into a high-tier realm without adequate strength and support.

As he couldn't simply snatch items or powers from these 2D worlds to become overpowered. He had to align with each world's unique theme to earn the Library's recognition and the coveted [Essence], a valuable resource for enhancing his status, skills, and abilities.

Choosing his next destination required careful consideration, especially to address his somewhat lacking combat skills. He needed a low-tier world that appeared ideal for improvement.

As he pondered his choices, Ace stumbled upon a peculiar shelf with an eerie, almost demonic aura. It displayed a symbol of two swords clashing—one with a fiery sun emblem and the other with a silvery moon symbol. In the center was an ancient book, split into two themes: a setting sun and a river of blood with blue lilies, symbolizing a battle between good and evil.

Wondering by the contrasting themes, Ace discovered a small bookmark on the book's cover that read "Demon Slayer."

""Ah, it's the Demon Slayer world," Ace thought. While he wasn't a huge fan of the series, it seemed like a solid choice for his first dive. Plus, it would help him improve his physical combat and weapon handling skills..

With the most powerful beings in this world only at the Town level, it should be relatively safe if he doesn't do anything foolish, like wandering through the woods at night and running into a demon while still weak.

Recalling the process of Dimension Diving from his infused knowledge, Ace touched the bookmark to check the world's status:

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- World: Demon Slayer

- Tier: ★

- Essence: 50 (Max)

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"Hmm, Demon Slayer is a one-star world, and the max essence I can get from it is 50," Ace noted.

After some thought, he decided to venture into the Demon Slayer world. But before he left, he noticed something unusual in the item section.

"Equipment/item: 1... What's that?" Ace wondered.

He opened the item section to find a note that read, "Congratulations on choosing your First World - Inheritor. As a gift for your first journey, you are given a basic combat gift pack. Use it wisely."

Ace was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected gift, eager to see what was inside. He focused on the Gift Pack and commanded it to open:

- [Ding! You have acquired the ability "Combat Intuition."]

- [Ding! You have acquired the weapon "Luminary Eclipse Glaive."]

- [Ding! You have acquired the manual "Lunar Illuminations: A Guide to Celestial Balance."]

A rush of information flooded his mind, leaving him in awe of the complexity and power of the Lunar Illuminations manual. It felt like he'd just been tickled while experiencing a massive brain freeze.

"That was...something else," Ace muttered. He moved on to check his status page one last time::

- Name: Ace Walker

- Age: 16 (Human years)

- State: Material Being

Attributes:

- Body: Null

- Soul: 5 (Mortal)

- Mind: 5 (Mortal)

Abilities:

- Soul: Ethereal Insight (Legendary)

- Mind/Body: Combat Intuition (Rare)

Combat Intuition is the rapid and accurate assessment of combat situations, enabling quick decision-making and anticipation of opponents' actions through a combination of training, experience, and instinct.

Skills:

- Martial: Lunar Illuminations: A Guide to Celestial Balance {0.1%}

A comprehensive martial manual delving into the profound fusion of the sun and the moon in combat. Users can find a celestial balance as the radiant energy of the sun and the serene influence of the moon converge to empower combat techniques.

Equipment/Items:

- Weapon: Luminary Eclipse Glaive (Epic)

This weapon embodies the dual nature of celestial forces. A symbol of balance and duality, capable of annihilating creatures of Darkness and Divine when its full potential can be used.

(Currently unable to use its mystical nature due to not meeting the requirements).

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With his preparations complete, Ace was ready to go. He reached for the Demon Slayer book, touched it, and recited the word"[Ethereal Convergence]."

Suddenly a surge of energy washed over him, and the library dissolved. In an instant, he found himself in a new reality.

He stood on the edge of a dense forest, the moonlight casting sinister shadows. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something more ominous. A narrow path led deeper into the woods, and Ace heard the faint rustling of leaves and an eerie hum in the distance.

Ace took his first step into the Demon Slayer world, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in the fictional world.

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