System(2)

A drop of ambrosia fell on his eyebrows. His body jerked and he opened his eyelids to reveal the dark-red eyes slightly shining.

Alex pushed himself with his hands and sat up. His head was refreshed and he was no longer in pain. Instead, he felt better than ever; only physically of course.

He checked out his body. His hair was white with the red ends brighter than ever. His eyes were dark red and red veins extended on the skin. The inside of his body felt hot and cold at the same time. It was a strange feeling. His prominent muscles now held incredible strength in them. And he was also a little taller than before. Previously he had been 175 centimeters and now he was 5 centimeters taller.

After checking his condition, he organized everything in his head. Now that his brain was no longer restricted by the previous limits, he didn't have any more doubts regarding his situation.

He had made two wishes to Chaos when he was entering reincarnation. Those two wishes were now fulfilled. Although the way pissed him off, Alex knew he couldn't do anything about it. The 'fragment of Chaos', or the 'System' was now completely activated. He already knew everything about its features and functions.

As for this world…

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest…

That was the name of the story he had read in his previous life.

It was the story of a class of high-school students being summoned to another world to fight against the race of demons. There was also the race of demi-humans said to be cursed by God. They had no mana and were usually treated harshly.

The story follows Hajime Nagumo, the boy with the transmute ability, as he falls into a similar situation to his. He continues to grow stronger only with the will to survive and go back home. He completes all the seven labyrinths in this world, Tortus. In the end, the God Ehit gets in his way only to be defeated.

Alex had to say that such a will was admirable. Now that this was a reality, his reality, he couldn't take this lightly; not that he ever did.

"Haah! If I wasn't here, then it would be Hajime down here. Let's think about that later. For now…"

Rubbing his head, he called the system in his mind.

<Ding>

<Name: Alex

Race: Chaos Human

Innate Ability: Unawakened

Talents: Omni-Mind, Mana Manipulation, Language Comprehension, Gale Claw

Inventory: 1x Legendary Chest, 1x Unique Chest, Choose {1x magic talent}]

---Quests---

[Main quest: Kill/Seal Ehitruje – Reward: ???]

[Chain quest (1): Rescue Aletia Galdea Vesperitio Avatarl – Reward: Awaken Innate Talent, 3x Rare Chest]

[Quest: Complete Floor 20 of the Great Orcus Labyrinth – Reward: 2x Mystery Chest]>

He had to say his race was really good. His body was compatible with most forms of energy. Be it magic, spiritual energy, life energy, or even divine power; something like that. His body was able to absorb and use all of them, provided that he was able to handle it.

Talents were a different name for skills. He could get talents through the system, eating monsters, or even making one himself. But to upgrade or merge them, he would have to have a full understanding of the talent and imagination to think of new ideas.

The inventory only stored objects rewarded by the system. Other items and raw materials by the system that are processed couldn't be stored. The items of the system were divided into ranks- F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, EX, DG, and G.

Innate Ability is the talent that is born in the depth of one's soul. The chances of it activating are pretty much none and only a few in history had managed to awaken them.

The Chests were divided by grades- Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, Transcendent, and Mythical. The chests could contain something from the higher-ranked chests up to the legendary level but not lower than their grade. For example, the rare chest could contain something from the legendary chest but not vice versa. The transcendent and mythical chests were special and only contain items of EX, DG, and G rank. There was also the Mystery Chest that could contain anything from the rare to mythical chests.

He had got a gift that was basically his reward for changing his race. He checked his inventory. Right now, he just wanted to get out of this hellhole so he had to stronger as fast as he could. He knew that there wasn't a way to go back and he could only advance through the labyrinth.

'1x Magic Talent'

<Ding>

<Choose 1 out of the 7 Magic Talents – Transmute / Gravity / Barrier / Heal / Spiritual / Tame / Buff>

"Hmm… I can't choose heal for now. Gravity can make me started on the path of magic. Transmute is a really good choice. As for barrier… Wait! Aren't they all inferior versions of the ancient magic?"

The seven great labyrinths spread out in the world offer the seven ancient magic to those who clear them. And the choices were all toned-down versions or one of the sub-uses of those.

After thinking for a while, he decided to open the chests first and then decide which talent to choose.

'Open the Unique Chest'

<You have received Soul Strengthening Potion(A)>

He took the potion out of the inventory. It was in a thin and long rectangular glass tube. The potion looked like a gas trapped in a bottle. If he didn't focus, he couldn't even see it. He swirled the tube around and confirmed that it actually was a liquid.

He kept it aside for now and opened the legendary chest.

<You have received Meteoric Iron(SS)>

<Meteoric Iron(SS) - One of the many types of meteoric Iron. Good magic conductivity>

With that, Alex no longer hesitated and chose the transmute ability.

***

One day later.

Alex sat on the ground working on a black stone the height of his chest. It was taur stone. He had gathered all the bits and pieces found in the cave and transmuted them together to make this long, wide, and thin stone. He paid complete concentration, imagining what he wanted it to look like and making changes during the work. He transmuted it to make the handle the length of around 130cm. The stone on the sides also slowly came into shape. After an hour of intense work, it was complete.

It was an Axe-Hammer. It was based on the Stormbreaker used by Thor in the comics and movies. It was made of taur stone as previously mentioned. Taur stone was a hard rock that was able to handle heat and impacts well. Although it got brittle in the cold, he couldn't worry about that now.

Practicing the transmute ability continuously; he had got the Ore Appraisal, Precise Transmutation, Ore Perception, Ore Synthesis, and Ore Desynthesis. They weren't displayed in the system but they were present in the status card of this world.

Unlike Hajime in the anime, he did not create a gun for now. Neither did he create a sword for now. It was because although the stone was good for heavy and blunt weapons like the axe-hammer, he can't say the same for swords that rely on sharpness.

And he already had the meteoric iron that he would use to make a sword later on. Or maybe a gun like the Schlagen that Hajime made. Currently, his skills weren't enough to masterfully handle it.

He would figure it out as he advanced through the dungeon.

For now...

He looked at the bag he made with metallic threads and put the divinity stone in it with the small vials containing ambrosia. He put two of the vials in his pockets.

After completing the preparations, he took out the soul-strengthening potion from the inventory. He gulped it down without hesitation.

It was cool and smooth to his throat and spread a numb feeling throughout his body. His eyes glazed over and he stared at the wall dumbly. After a while, the numbing receded and he came back to his senses.

He looked down at his hand and felt something was different. He could not pinpoint what it was but it felt very good.

He shrugged his shoulders and picked up his bag along with the axe and exited the cave he spent the last two weeks in. Outside, he looked at the entrance he was smashed through and sighed in his mind. He steeled his resolve and left without hesitation.

***

A figure sped through the labyrinth corridors so fast that it appeared to be a blur. The figure jumped to avoid a few rocks, then jumped again in the air accelerating even further.

That figure was, of course, Alex. Having killed the rabbit and wolf monsters on this floor, he had gained the skills of both of those monsters. The rabbit gave the ability to jump and maneuver through air while the twin-tailed wolf gave him the skill lightning field that allowed him to generate red sparks of electricity around his body and the objects he touch.

He had been wandering around the floor for two days and he had scoured every corner of the floor. He did not gain any more stats from killing the monsters and now only the bear monster was left to kill. He had saved the best for the last.

After a while of wandering around, Alex came across the prey he was looking for. The Claw Bear.

It was currently in the middle of eating the remains of a twin-tailed wolf.

Alex stepped down a little farther and waited for it to finish its meal.

This monster that reigns on this floor and looks down on every other monster; there was only one on the entire floor. Every creature it ever met had trembled in fear and despair. Just the thought of this claw bear dying by his hands in front of his feet made a ferocious grin appear on his face.

The claw bear suddenly roared and looked in his direction.

Alex walked out of his hiding spot.

"Oops! Looks like I was too excited. I wanted to let you finish your last meal, but it seems like that isn't happening."

The claw bear narrowed its angry eyes at the creature filled with confidence in front of it. This had never happened before. All it met would shiver in fear with eyes in the depths of despair. But this person was different. Why?

Alex did not care for its thoughts as he bent down to pick up a rock. He imbued it with red lightning and threw it as hard as he could.

The bear immediately bent down to avoid the stone but another one came out of nowhere and hit it right in its left eye. The eye was destroyed and red blood splurted out, dyeing its white fur red. The monster roared in pain and sped towards Alex.

He unstrapped the axe on his back and held it with both of his hands. It barreled itself into the range of Alex and swept at him with its claws. He immediately stepped back and swung the axe in the air in front of its claws.

The surface of the axe sparked as it collided with the gale claw sent by the bear.

Alex did not give the bear time to do another attack and kicked it in the gut. It flew back in the air and the ground shook as the heavy body fell. The bear immediately roared and got up.

Just as it steadied itself, the hammerhead of the axe hammer impacted on the side of its head. The bear was stunned and its head started spinning. Alex immediately used lightning field to paralyze the bear, sending electricity coursing through its blood. The axe blade hit the bear's face and split it into two, blood gushing out like a fountain.

The dead body of the claw bear slid down and collapsed on the ground.

Alex coldly looked at the monster that once treated him like a fly, dead on the ground. He did not feel any satisfaction, happiness, anger, or frustration. Though he did feel a little disappointed that such a monster had put him in a near-death state before.

Nevertheless, he will continue and survive. It won't matter who his enemy is. Whoever gets in his way will die.

He kicked its stomach in dissatisfaction and started skinning it, preparing for the last meal on this floor.

***

Turning the clock a few days back;

Shizuku gazed sorrowfully at her best friend Kaori, sleeping on the bed. She had been unconscious for the past 5 days and had shown no signs of waking up. They were currently back in the castle as the students were in no condition to continue after witnessing death. After all, everyone was a high-school student who lived in a civilized society previously.

Everyone in the palace informed of Alex's death was relieved that the one who died was not useful to the cause.

Many had even cursed him upfront saying he was equivalent to the demi-humans who were said to have not received the grace of God. They said that on the basis that even after working so hard, he had not leveled up at all and his abilities were useless.

Shizuku was furious and regarding this but she was also helpless to do anything. One part of her hoped that Kaori woke up fast so she knew she was alright; while another part of her hoped that she would keep sleeping.

She gripped Kaori's hand and hoped that no further harm found its way to her fragile heart. Suddenly, Kaori's hand tightened around her own as her eyes twitched. Shizuku's eyes widened as she hurriedly called out to her friend with tears.

Finally, Kaori opened her eyes and looked at Shizuku drowsily.

"Shizuku-chan"

***

Standing in front of the stairs to the next floor, Alex readjusted his bag on the back.

He was wearing a crudely woven t-shirt from metal threads along with the original pants. The big bag on his back containing a few monster bodies and the divinity stone.

The axe created by him was floating by his side. He was doing that to train his psychic power. He currently had mental strength reminiscent of a lake but he could only control a small stream of it. Any more than that and his head starts hurting. Skillful control over it would only come with time.

On both sides of his waist hung two revolvers, many bullets hanging on his belt. All the equipment was made of taur stone as he did not have any alternative for now.

He looked at the dark passage and took the next step into the depths of hell.