CH. 6

At 11 AM, Ain finally woke up, groggy and disoriented. The previous night had been a marathon of nerdiness. After getting home from school, he had plunged headfirst into a deep dive on his computer, determined to bulk up his weapon arsenal. For four hours straight, Ain browsed the internet like a man possessed, buying up every weapon blueprint, model, and doohickey he could find. By the time he was done, his savings were on life support. He had just enough cash left to eat for a month—if he stuck to instant noodles. But that didn't bother him; he had bigger plans.

Now all he needed was for his automated farm to churn out the ammo—bullets, explosive rounds, and all the other fun stuff. As he sat in front of his computer, staring blankly at the screen, his mind wandered to something from his past. Ain had always been a voracious reader of light novels, inhaling countless stories over the years. One particular novel popped into his head—a tale about a protagonist with a cheat ability that let her create any kind of potion vial.

At first, it didn't seem like much of a cheat, but the protagonist's cleverness quickly showed otherwise. If it had the concept of a potion vial, she could make it. Need a potion bottle that can survive a dip in magma? Done. How about a sword-shaped vial sharp enough to make a chef cry? Easy. The key was in understanding and bending the concept to her will.

So why was Ain suddenly obsessing over this? Because he had a sneaking suspicion that his own skill, [Construct Arsenal], might work in a similar way. The word "Arsenal" seemed a lot more loaded than he'd initially thought, so he did what any self-respecting nerd would do—he Googled it.

It turned out that "arsenal" wasn't just about stockpiling weapons. It referred to a whole collection of military goodies, from guns and ammo to tanks and missiles. It could also mean a place where these things were made, maintained, and stored. And in a more metaphorical sense, it could describe a stash of resources, skills, or tools—like an "arsenal of useless trivia" (something Ain was intimately familiar with).

Ain realized that no wonder he could create something like "automatic farm" turns out this is the reason!

With this shiny new nugget of knowledge, Ain's excitement hit overdrive. He dove back into his studies, burning the midnight oil like a true geek on a mission. Before long, he realized his skill was even cooler than he'd hoped. He could now whip up all kinds of stuff—a bicycle, a tent, heck, even a car. The possibilities seemed endless, but there was a hitch—his own strength was the bottleneck.

Sure, constructing things didn't eat up his energy like in a typical RPG, but that didn't mean he could go all out. He could crank out a mass-produced car, but a military jeep was a no-go. It was like having 500 MP, where the car required 450 MP to make, but the jeep needed 650 MP.

Ain sighed, realizing he had some grinding to do if he wanted to fully exploit his [Construct Arsenal] skill. His current limitations were just the tip of the iceberg. With enough training and growth, he'd eventually be able to create even crazier stuff. But for now, he was stuck building bicycles and fantasizing about the day he could whip up his own private tank. Because who wouldn't want that?

This lovely morning wouldn't be complete without starting with a sign-in! System, sign me in for today!"

[Congratulations on your successful sign-in! You have received the title "Player - Fourth Natural Disaster." Host can equip this title from the status bar.]

[Name: Ain Richter

Title: [Player - Fourth Natural Disaster (Unequipped)]

Awakened Attribute: Not yet awakened

Skills: [Extreme Computing Power—Lösen Algorithm] [Skill: Construct Arsenal]

Combat Strength: Mortal]

(Note: Ain's combat strength is still at the Mortal (normal human) level because his arsenal counts as external help, not Ain's personal strength.)

"Huh?"

Confused, Ain clicked on the title for more information.

"[Player Title: Player, also known as the Fourth Natural Disaster, is a being unbound by fate or destiny. They determine the fate of worlds, slay the unslayable, earn the unattainable, and harvest the unharvestable. They are the decision-makers of the world. (Note: By equipping this title, the host will gain the characteristics of a Game Character, including a Character Body, Leveling Panel, Drop Module, and Harvest Module.)]"

"What the… This is incredible!"

Ain's eyes widened in disbelief. This title was all pros with virtually no cons.

Take the Game Character's body, for example. With it, he wouldn't fear pain, and fatal damage like a shot to the heart or head wouldn't kill him—it would just chip away at his HP! His excitement skyrocketed as he hurriedly equipped the title.

[Name: Ain Richter

HP: 100% - MP: 100%

Level: 1 (0/10)

Title: [Player - Fourth Natural Disaster (Equipped)]

Awakened Attribute: Not yet awakened

Skills: [Extreme Computing Power—Lösen Algorithm] [Skill: Construct Arsenal]

Combat Strength: Mortal]

Looking at his new status panel, Ain nodded in satisfaction.

"By the way, System, can you list the tier strength levels according to my panel?"

[As you wish, Host. Generating tier list...]

[Level 1 - 30 = Regular Human Level

Level 30 - 50 = Superhuman Level

Level 50 - 80 = Urban Level

Level 80 - 100 = Nuclear Level

Level 100 - 125 = Tectonic Level

Level 125 - 150 = Continent Level

Level 150 - 250 = Star and Planetary Level

Level 250 - 500 = Stellar Level

Level 500 - 1000 = Cosmic Level]

"..."

Ain was at a loss for words. In this world, the highest combat power barely scratched the surface of the Continent Level, yet his panel hinted at levels far beyond that. And considering it's a game panel, there might even be updates down the line, so level 1000 probably isn't the ceiling!

Feeling like he'd hit the jackpot, Ain jumped out of bed, got dressed, and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day. His destination? The Federation Tower, where he'd register for his adventurer card.

But what Ain didn't realize was that by equipping the Player title, he had severed his ties to this world's fate and destiny. The Ain who now stood in front of the mirror wasn't the same as before—he had effectively become a game character with 100% of the original Ain's appearance, but in essence, he was someone entirely different.

If Ain had paid closer attention, he might have noticed this, freeing himself from the guilt of occupying someone else's body and living their life. But for now, he was blissfully unaware, thinking he had just scored a great new ability.

Meanwhile, in the Beastman Federation, a blue-haired fox girl was in a panic. The crystal in her hands, known as the Fate Entanglement Crystal, had cracked and dimmed—a clear sign that something terrible had happened. The crystal was linked to the holder and someone's fate, and if it dimmed slightly, it meant that person was in trouble. But if it cracked… it meant that person's fate with the holder come to an end.

In other words, one of them dead.

However, what kind of link did the girl have with this fated person? Brother and sister? Mother and son? No one knew for sure.

But back to Ain.

After getting dressed, Ain began his walk to the Federation Tower, which was conveniently close to his home. The morning air was crisp, and the city was already buzzing with activity, but Ain's thoughts were elsewhere. With every step, he couldn't help but glance at his status panel, feeling a mix of excitement and disbelief at the turn of events.

After a half-hour of walking, he finally arrived at the Federation Tower. The building was an imposing structure, its sleek, modern design a stark contrast to the older, more traditional architecture of the surrounding area. As expected, the tower was bustling with activity. The lines stretched out of the entrance, a sea of young people who, like Ain, had just awakened their abilities yesterday. The air was thick with anticipation, chatter, and the occasional nervous laugh.

Ain joined the line, patiently waiting his turn. Despite the excitement buzzing in the air, Ain remained calm, his mind still processing everything that had happened that morning. He couldn't help but notice how different he felt—more detached, perhaps, but also more focused.

As the line inched forward, Ain observed the people around him. Some were giddy with excitement, others visibly anxious. A few were already showing off their newfound abilities, much to the annoyance of the Federation staff who were trying to maintain order.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ain reached the front of the line. The teller was a middle-aged man with tired eyes but a polite smile. He gestured for Ain to step forward.

"Name?" the teller asked, his fingers hovering over a holographic keyboard.

"Ain Richter," he replied.

The teller typed in his name and brought up Ain's information on the screen. After a brief glance, the teller nodded. "You're here to register for your adventurer card, correct?"

Ain nodded.

"Very well, we'll start with the basic details. Please verify your personal information," the teller said, turning the screen towards Ain.

Ain quickly scanned the details. Everything was correct. Once he confirmed, the teller moved on to the next step.

"Now, I'll need you to place your hand on this scanner. It'll record your biometrics and link your Card to the Federation's database," the teller explained.

Ain did as instructed, placing his hand on the cool surface of the scanner. A soft hum filled the air as the machine did its work, and after a few seconds, the teller nodded in approval.

"Registration is almost complete," the teller said as he handed Ain a sleek, metallic card. "This is your temporary adventurer card. It's valid for three days, after which you'll receive your permanent card, assuming you pass the combat and survival tests."

Ain took the card and inspected it. His name, a serial number, and a basic status summary were etched into the surface. It was a simple design, but it carried the weight of a new chapter in his life.

"You'll need to wait in the testing area for your combat and survival assessments," the teller continued. "Just follow the signs. Good luck."

"Thanks," Ain replied, pocketing the card and moving towards the testing area. As he walked, he noticed more and more people gathering, some already talking about the upcoming tests. The tension in the air was palpable.

The testing area was a large, open space divided into different sections. There were combat arenas, obstacle courses, and various survival simulators. Federation staff moved efficiently between stations, organizing the participants and ensuring everything was in place.

Ain found a spot to sit while he waited for his turn. Around him, other hopeful adventurers were either practicing their abilities, stretching, or nervously chatting with each other. Ain, however, remained quiet, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. His thoughts drifted back to his new status as a "Player" and the strange feeling that had been lingering since he equipped the title. He couldn't quite shake the sensation that something fundamental had changed within him, something he didn't yet fully understand.

After a while, a voice echoed through the area, calling for the next group of participants to step forward for the combat test. Ain stood up, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity. This would be the first real test of his new abilities, and he was eager to see how far he could push the limits of his newly acquired powers.

(End of Chapter)