Chapter 4: Novice Gift
[Ding! The Host has received "Identify" skill.]
[Name: Identify.
Rank: High-Tier Uncommon-Grade (Growth-Type).
Description: This skill allows the user to see the status of individuals. It only applies to those whose cultivation is five stages higher than the Host.
If an individual exceeds this threshold, the skill will not work. As the Host's strength increases, further upgrades will be possible.
By fulfilling specific conditions, Extra Skills are unlocked, enabling the Host to fully harness the skill's full potential and uncover more hidden information about his enemies.
Extra Skills: (??), (???)]
...
Reon stared at the system panel, frozen in disbelief. His mind struggled to comprehend the words staring back at him.
"What... How is this even possible?"
He blinked, unsure if he was seeing things, or if this was another cruel twist of fate.
He stared at the display again, as if it might change.
But it didn't.
It remained stubbornly the same, as if mocking his confusion.
Was any of this ever real to begin with?
Just like that, he had come to this world—and now he was getting Novice gift like it was some kind of game.
The thought wouldn't leave him alone.
Doubt clung to his mind like a shadow.
In a moment of panic, he pinched himself—hard—hoping, just hoping, that he'd wake up in his cramped old apartment, and this strange, unreal dream would be over.
Ouch!
But Nothing Changed.
No abrupt jolt back to reality.
No harsh snap to the world he had once known.
Instead, pain blossomed where his fingers had pressed.
This was no Dream.
The pain, the exhaustion, the fear—it felt all too tangible, too raw.
It was as if this body had transformed into his true self.
A world so familiar, yet so foreign.
A world that seemed to follow the same rules as the novel he had once read, as if the events of the book were now unfolding in Real Life.
Was this some Cosmic joke?
Was he trapped in a narrative meant for someone else?
It felt as though some Celestial Being were meticulously crafting people's futures, perhaps to stave off their own boredom.
Yet, he knew this was an impossibility; there were far darker secrets hidden beneath the surface.
The questions gnawed at him.
How had he ended up here?
How could a novel manifest into reality?
Why was he inhabiting someone else's body?
And more pressing: What had become of his body in the real world?
His apartment—was it empty? Would anyone find him there? Would his remains rot alone until the rent collector arrived to claim what little was left?
What if—
He shoved the thoughts aside, clenching his fists.
The unanswered questions didn't matter right now.
What mattered was that he was here.
He was alive.
"System,"
He growled, frustration rising in his chest.
"If you're going to be of any use, now's the time to start explaining."
[..]
He could almost feel the system's silence mocking him.
"So you're just going to play dumb, huh?"
[..]
He slammed his fist against the bed, cursing.
"Say something, you bastard!"
The bitterness in his words was palpable.
He had spent his previous life as a failure, drifting through existence without purpose.
At least that life hadn't been a Constant battle for Survival, where he never knew how—or when—he might die… whether by the protagonist's hand or another main character's.
Yet, a small corner of his heart urged him to embrace life in this world, where the powerful could wield their will unopposed while the weak were crushed like mere ants.
The greater the peril one faced, the stronger one became.
That corner of his heart urged him to embrace the danger and cultivate strength.
He thought back to his vow—the promise he had made to himself.
[Ding! The Host must seek the Truth himself. Heaven favors those who choose their own Destiny.]
[This system will merely guide you in selecting that Destiny.]
Reon was silent for a long moment, the words lingering in his mind.
His gaze hardened as he looked back at the system.
He had a choice now—a chance to carve out his own future.
He wasn't going to let anyone or anything dictate the course of his life.
For everything he had lost, for everything he had yet to achieve, he would forge his own path.
This time, no one—be they Gods or King Yama—could usurp his freedom or the well-being of his loved ones.
"To do all that, I need strength," he whispered, his voice filled with conviction.
...
Reon's fingers paused over the system panel, still grasping the enormity of the gift he had received.
The "Identify" skill—it wasn't just any ordinary skill.
No, this was something far more precious, something that could shape his entire journey.
This was the very same skill the protagonist of Rising of the Supreme Sword Immortal had acquired from his system after completing a major quest in the later stages of the novel.
Reon vividly remembered that moment from the novel: the protagonist, battered and almost broken, finally unlocking the Identify skill.
It was a turning point—a pivotal moment in the story.
Yet, it wasn't praised as a Growth-type skill, but rather as an Epic-Grade skill.
In this world, Growth-Type skills and weapons are the most coveted assets.
They possess the unique ability to enhance in potency as the user's strength increases.
Moreover, by fulfilling certain conditions, one can also unlock additional abilities associated with a growth-type skill.
That was why he felt so astonished.
Even the protagonist of this world, a Child of Heaven, had failed to acquire the Growth-Type 'Identify' skill after completing a Main Scenario Quest.
But here Reon was, a nobody with the worst of luck, having received it as a mere novice gift.
Was this luck? Or was it something more?
He couldn't help but wonder if fate had finally smiled upon him, or if he had simply exhausted a lifetime's worth of fortune in one stroke.
Regardless, it was fortunate that he had acquired something immensely valuable.
With the assistance of 'Identify' he could discern whom he should engage in conflict with.
Even if he couldn't perceive the status of higher-realm cultivators, the error margin of 'Identify' would still indicate that they were individuals not to be trifled with.
It was truly a win-win scenario, and he remained unaware of the full capabilities of the Extra Skills tied to "Identify."
Moreover, as he enhanced his strength, he could potentially elevate "Identify" to a Mythical or even Saint-Grade skill.
With future upgrades, he would also gain the ability to assess his opponents' secrets and skills.
A surge of excitement coursed through him.
For the first time in years, he felt something else stirred within him—a Spark of Hope.
He pondered whether he could genuinely find happiness in this world.
Closing his system panel, he dressed methodically, rising slowly from the bed and making his way toward the exit door.
Just as he was about to turn the knob, he heard footsteps approaching his door.