Chapter 4: Awakening
[Ding...]
[The system has delivered your gift rewards for selecting your role.]
Finally, it's here.
[Would you like to open your rewards now?]
"Yeah, go ahead. Open it."
[Congratulations! Your mana core has been awakened, you've unlocked the Identifying Eye (Allows you to see the roles of characters) and Shapeshift skill.]
"I awakened my mana core at just one-month-old? That's unheard of!" Levi thought, eyes wide with surprise. "Most people can only awaken theirs between the ages of 5 and 7, even in the strongest of the four great clans."
"But this is good," Levi muttered, "This is exactly what I wanted. With this, I can survive in this world." I can survive in this world."
"System, open my status."
[Ding...]
[Of course, Host.]
[Status]
Name: Levi D. Tempest
Age: 1 month
Title: [None]
Physique: Chaos Destroyer (Dormant)
Mana Core: Viroth - Intial
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[Stats]
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Stamina: 10
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 15
Luck: 5
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Skills:
Identifying Eye: (Level Max) - Allows you to see the roles of characters
Shapeshift: (Level Max) - You have the ability to alter the appearance of your mana core, allowing it to appear as a lower rank than its true strength or alter your appearance altering your appearance requires a lot of magic but once you alter it you can change into that appearance freely.
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Levi furrowed his brow, glancing over his status screen. I think the reason my stats increased is due to the mana awakening, he mused. But there's something that bothers me—this physique.
"System, what is this 'Chaos Destroyer' physique?"
[Ding...]
[The Chaos Destroyer physique is a unique power granted by the creator. It allows you to gain strength rapidly. Currently, it is in a dormant state. To unlock its full potential, you must reach the Zarith-Lorath stage.]
"Can you give me the description of this physique?"
[Sure.]
[Chaos Destroyer:]
The Chaos Destroyer physique is a unique and powerful form granted by the creator, designed to amplify your capabilities. It includes the following features:
Accelerated Power Growth: You will experience a rapid increase in both physical strength and mana capacity, allowing you to surpass typical limits.
Enhanced Resilience: This physique grants you superior durability, making you more resistant to damage from both physical and magical attacks.
[Other abilities locked unlocked when conditions are met.]
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Levi felt a surge of excitement as he absorbed the descriptions of his newfound abilities.
"So, the Chaos Destroyer physique gives me incredible potential, and ShapeShift allows me to play my cards and avoid being found out," he thought, a smirk forming on his lips. "I can use this to my advantage in this world."
With a newfound sense of purpose, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. "First, I need to understand how to control my mana properly and train my body to maximize these powers. If I can reach the Zarith-Lorath stage, the true potential of the Chaos Destroyer will be unleashed."
Determined, Levi decided to begin his training immediately. He envisioned a series of rigorous exercises that would push his limits while also honing his mana control. "I'll need to develop both my physical and magical capabilities if I want to survive," he muttered to himself.
Levi sat cross-legged on the bed, the soft moonlight filtering through the window, casting a gentle glow in the dim room. His mother slept peacefully beside him, her rhythmic breathing providing a soothing backdrop to the stillness of the night.
He closed his eyes, tuning out the world around him as he delved into the depths of his mind. Focus, he told himself. With each breath, he centered his thoughts, letting them drift away like leaves on a tranquil stream. He had heard stories of mana cores from his mother.
After what felt like an eternity of searching through the labyrinth of his own being, a faint warmth began to pulsate within him. He honed in on that sensation, pushing aside distractions until he finally stumbled upon it: his mana core. It appeared before him like a tiny, radiant purple ball, vibrant and alive, pulsing with energy.
This is my mana core, with a distinct purple hue. In this world, people have different colors of mana cores, and even if they inherit their family's legacy, their core colors can sometimes differ. As we increase the rank the mana core will increase in size. Right now, mine is only the size of a marble, but as it ranks up, it will expand.
You might wonder if the core's size would eventually outgrow the space in my body. That's a common misconception. The core appears to grow minimally, but that's only what we see on the surface. With proper focus, one can perceive the true scale of the core. It's as if its full size is suppressed, compacted to fit, though its true form extends far beyond what is visible.
"Now, let's activate the ShapeShift skill and conceal my awakened mana core," Levi said, experimenting with masking his mana core. He visualized the core transforming into a dark black orb. After a few minutes of concentration, the vibrant purple of his mana core faded, becoming a black orb.
Usually, when a person dies, their awakened mana core perishes, leaving behind nothing but silence. In contrast, an unawakened core appears as a black orb in the center of the heart, a symbol of an unawakened mana core. I learned this crucial piece of information one quiet night when the house was wrapped in a blanket of stillness. My mother had fallen asleep, and the dim glow of the moonlight spilled through the window, casting shadows on the walls.
Driven by curiosity, I crawled over to the shelf where she kept her books. I spotted a book about magic and gently pulled it down, opening it carefully to avoid waking her. The pages were filled with intricate illustrations and text that discussed mana cores, awakening, and the delicate balance of power in our world. I absorbed every detail, eager to use the knowledge to my advantage.
As he successfully masked the strength of his mana core, Levi felt a thrill of satisfaction. "This will make it easier to avoid unwanted attention. When I reach the minimum age for awakening, I can release the concealment and then recast it with a Viroth-Oroth rank to avoid suspicion. Now, let's start the game of becoming a villain."
As I said, I silently fell back and slept happily.