Chapter 4: The New World

As the blinding light began to fade, I found myself standing on solid ground again. My head felt a little foggy, like I'd just woken up from a deep sleep, but the sharpness of reality was settling back in. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

Wherever I was, it definitely wasn't home.

The air felt lighter, almost cleaner than what I was used to. The sky above me was a deep shade of blue, the kind you only see in paintings or dreams, dotted with a few lazy clouds drifting by. Around me stretched a sprawling field of vibrant green grass, stretching out far into the distance, interrupted only by rolling hills and the occasional tree.

I glanced down at myself and paused. The reflection of my appearance caught me off-guard. Gone was my old look, the one I'd seen in the mirror my entire life. Now, staring back at me was someone different—someone who looked an awful lot like... well, Ed Rosstaylor. Blonde hair, a sharper, colder expression, a form that felt both familiar and foreign all at once.

I frowned a little. COB really went all out.

"I look like a damn anime character," I muttered to myself. Not that I was complaining—it was a good look. Still, it was a lot to take in. I adjusted the collar of my new coat, the fabric soft and well-fitted, like it was made for me.

"So, this is it," I said quietly, scanning the horizon. "This is the new world."

In the distance, I could make out what seemed to be a small village. Houses made of stone and wood dotted the landscape, with a few larger structures that might've been important. It was a start. And judging by the general vibe of the place, I could guess that magic was woven into everyday life here, just like COB had hinted.

Speaking of magic...

I felt something shift inside me. There was a strange weight at my side, and when I looked down, I noticed the grimoire. Its dark cover bore the familiar four-leaf clover emblem, just like in Black Clover, but there was no title. A blank slate, much like me. I reached for it slowly, my fingers brushing the surface, and a surge of energy coursed through my body.

It felt like raw power. The kind of power you can't just learn or train for—it was something different, something limitless.

Imagination Magic.

I had no idea how strong I was right now, but I could feel the potential bubbling beneath the surface, like a dam waiting to burst. But for now, it seemed wise to start small. No need to blow up the village on day one.

"Alright... let's see what I can do," I murmured to myself.

With a deep breath, I focused on a simple idea—something easy. A weapon. In my mind, I pictured a sword, nothing too fancy, just a basic blade to test out my abilities. I raised my hand, touching the grimoire as I whispered the words softly, "Imagination Magic: Sword Creation."

There was a brief shimmer in the air, and then, as if out of thin air, a sword materialized in my hand. The weight of it felt solid, real. I turned it over, examining the craftsmanship—it was as if I had taken something from a dream and made it reality.

"Not bad," I muttered, giving the sword a few experimental swings. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough for a first try. I let the sword fade back into nothingness with a flick of my wrist.

So that's how it works, I thought. The concept was simple enough. I imagined something, called out the spell, and it became reality. But the real question was: how far could I push this?

I was about to try something else when I heard movement in the distance. My eyes darted to the source—a group of creatures cresting over one of the nearby hills. They were large, bigger than any animal I'd seen back home, with sharp claws and glowing red eyes. Something about them screamed danger.

I narrowed my eyes. "Great, just what I needed—monsters."

There were three of them, and they moved with purpose, heading straight toward me. I could tell from the way they moved that they weren't friendly. Their growls echoed across the plains, low and guttural, making my skin crawl.

I had two choices: I could run, or I could fight. But looking at them, I knew running wouldn't get me far.

Time to test my magic in a real fight.

I spread my arms wide and muttered under my breath, "Imagination Magic: Bow Creation." The shimmering light appeared again, and within moments, a bow materialized in my hand, along with a quiver of arrows at my side.

I didn't wait. I nocked an arrow, pulled back the string, and aimed at the nearest monster. The arrow flew straight, faster than I expected, and hit the creature square in the chest. It let out a roar of pain, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.

"Tough bastard," I grunted.

The monsters were closing in fast. There was no time to hesitate. I dropped the bow and called out again, louder this time, "Imagination Magic: Shield Creation."

A large, circular shield appeared just in time. The first monster crashed into it with a heavy thud, snarling as it tried to claw its way through. I braced myself, pushing back against the force. It was stronger than I'd anticipated, but I held firm.

With a grunt, I shoved the shield forward, knocking the creature back. I didn't give it time to recover. "Imagination Magic: Spear Creation."

The spear appeared in my hand, and with one swift motion, I drove it through the monster's chest. It let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground, dead.

One down.

But the other two were already on me.

I dodged to the side as one of them lunged at me, its claws slicing through the air where I'd just been standing. My mind was racing. I needed to finish this fast, but I couldn't afford to get reckless.

Stay calm. Think.

I reached into the grimoire again, feeling the surge of power. I whispered softly, "Imagination Magic: Trap Creation."

The ground beneath the remaining monsters shimmered, and suddenly, thick vines shot up, wrapping around their legs and holding them in place. They struggled, growling and thrashing, but the more they fought, the tighter the vines held them.

Taking a step back, I surveyed my handiwork. They were immobilized for now, but they wouldn't be for long.

"Let's finish this."

With a wave of my hand, I summoned two spears—one for each remaining monster. I threw them both with pinpoint precision, hitting their marks. The creatures fell, their bodies collapsing into the grass.

Silence fell over the field once more.

I stood there for a moment, catching my breath. The rush of battle was still pumping through my veins, but I had to admit—it felt good. Not just the thrill of the fight, but the control. The power of creation, all at my fingertips.

"Not bad for a first day," I muttered.

As I glanced down at my grimoire, a smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. I hadn't even scratched the surface of what this magic could do.

But I wasn't going to rush it. I didn't care about being a hero or a Wizard King. I just wanted to live my life, use this power to carve out my own path.

Can you imagine... I thought with a cold, determined smile. There was so much more to explore, so much more to create.

And this was only the beginning.

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Question: Should he keep on exploring or Find Civilization