Back to the Familiar!

A wave of darkness enveloped Harry, a sensation that felt almost like drifting through a long, dreamless sleep. In the depths of another world, he had met his end, and now he was forced to relive that moment. It was a disorienting experience, far from pleasant.

As he lay in the stillness of the room, a sound broke the silence, his own breathing, which grew frantic and uneven. Suddenly, he blinked awake, confusion swirling in his mind.

"Still alive," he murmured, pushing himself upright. His gaze swept across the room, a space that felt both familiar and strange. The walls, the furniture, even the air seemed tinged with nostalgia, yet they had shifted just enough to feel alien after his long absence.

It struck him then, the weight of time he had lived in another realm. Decades had passed, and now, the sight before him seemed like a fading memory.

"I'm back," he thought, a surge of realization coursing through him.

In his mind, the lavender Simulation Coin flickered, radiating a soft purple glow. It pulsed gently, as if it were alive, and Harry sensed a mark being deposited within it, a mark laden with power.

His expression shifted to curiosity as he focused on that mark, feeling an oddly familiar essence emanating from it. This aura belonged to his clone, the identity he had taken on in that other world. Now, all that remained of that life condensed into this single mark.

"It seems special… but how do I use it?" Harry pondered, intrigue mixing with uncertainty.

As if responding to his thoughts, the Simulation Coin brightened, illuminating the room with flickering rays of light. Within those beams, Harry caught glimpses of his form from the other world, understanding beginning to dawn.

The boundary-crossing stone offered him a choice: he could either inherit something from the mark or transform it into usable power, enhancing his current abilities. Inheriting would allow him to retain some of the skills and strengths he had gained, while transformation would convert everything within the mark into new power to fortify his own essence. However, both options demanded a toll in world energy.

Though it sounded complicated, Harry grasped the essence of it. Now, he faced a critical decision.

"What should I choose?" he wondered, contemplating the glowing mark.

As he focused, the faint golden emblem began to pulse, drawing closer to him. It merged with his being, triggering an immediate response. If anyone had been watching, they would have been astonished to see him enveloped in a shimmering light.

An inexplicable force wrapped around him, flooding his senses with strength. The sensation was intoxicating, far more potent than he had felt before. A smile crept across his face as he embraced the familiar power surging within him.

He chose inheritance. The mark contained something vital; strength.

In his previous life, Harry had trained rigorously to become a top knight apprentice. If he could reclaim even a fraction of that power, he wouldn't let the opportunity slip away. It would be a shame to leave it behind, and now, with the ability to inherit it, he knew he had to grasp it.

As the familiar warmth of power flowed through him, Harry felt revitalized, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Harry gazed down at the scene before him, his expression shifting from concentration to disbelief. "No way…" he muttered under his breath, feeling a twitch of frustration on his lips.

As the transformation of power coursed through him, he watched his realm energy plummet alarmingly. 'Simulation energy: 43.'

He had painstakingly accumulated 300 units of world energy in his previous life, and now more than half had vanished into thin air. While he had anticipated some losses during the inheritance process, this depletion felt excessive. The thought of losing so much of what he had worked so hard to gather left him feeling heartbroken.

Yet, as he flexed his muscles, feeling the unprecedented fullness and strength in his body, a flicker of solace emerged. Harry's current form, unlike his previous clone, was less naturally gifted in the ways of knighthood. Acquiring the power of a top knight apprentice through this process was undoubtedly a significant achievement.

Given the condition of his body, it would have taken years of training; perhaps a lifetime, to reach this level. Considering that, he couldn't deny the value of this transformation.

After taking a moment to steady himself, he straightened up in bed, allowing the excitement to build. Glancing out the window, he noticed the soft sound of footsteps outside.

"Time to explore," he thought with a faint smile. With his newfound strength, it was only logical to venture outside. It would be a shame to waste this opportunity. Moreover, he had several ideas for acquiring more world energy that he was eager to test.

News of Harry's awakening spread quickly throughout Baron Ethan's manor. However, aside from a select few, most people paid little mind. In this estate, Baron Ethan ruled with an iron fist, and his status overshadowed Harry's presence. The baron had numerous children, at least a dozen, most of whom were vying for attention and favor.

Harry had once been one of those overlooked children. Though he received some privileges due to his lineage, he was largely dismissed because of his perceived lack of talent. Whether he was gravely ill or now awake, it made little difference in the grand scheme of things. Only his few close friends seemed to care about his condition.

Days passed swiftly, and before he knew it, half a month had gone by.

"The security is tighter than I expected," Harry thought as he strolled across the training ground, observing the guards stationed around him.

In the past month, he had maintained the pretense of the manor's routine but had taken the opportunity to explore its corners. He had discovered many differences in the manor's layout; what was nominally a peaceful estate had transformed into a veritable fortress. Watchtowers and archers were strategically positioned to ensure no blind spots remained in the compound.

This heightened security was a direct response to the war raging beyond the manor's walls. Humans and demihuman clashed fiercely around the Black Forest region. What had begun as a skirmish between a prominent figure and a large orc tribe had escalated into a full-blown conflict, drawing in countless soldiers on both sides.

Baron Ethan had led his forces into battle a few months ago, and now the war had reached a stalemate, with no clear victor in sight. The tension was palpable, and it naturally resulted in stricter security measures.

Just as Harry was lost in thought, a sudden scream pierced the air, jolting him from his reverie. Instinctively, he lifted his head to assess the source of the commotion, his heart racing in anticipation.