The Path of the Genius Mage

Aster Lightfoot, 17, he's known as a genius, easily getting high marks in school without studying, but wasted his potential on playing video games, reading manga and light novels, and laying at home all day.

His parents died 5 years ago, when he was 12. His Father was a lawyer, and his Mother was a scientist who worked for the government, and when they died, they left him with a sizeable inheritance, so he could afford to stay inside, and while not a huge amount, he earned his own money by selling high level items in a few popular vr games he played.

He spent a few days trying to figure out how they died, he was told they were involved in a traffic accident and even with it being a rare occasion these days, it was plausible, but he didn't believe it, he didn't have any evidence or key reasons why it wasn't true, but he could tell, subconsciously, that they were lying to him.

Alas, no matter how hard he tried, where he looked, who he asked, there was nothing, he knew it was a fruitless endeavour in the first place, he lacked any connections high enough to get any good information on something like the government, but he still tried, all for nothing. Before this he wasn't a very social person but was still friendly with a few people, but after his parents died, he secluded himself, and stopped talking to others.

He didn't cry over their deaths or get angry, he knew that wouldn't do anything to fix it, but he still, deep inside, felt sad about their deaths.

Now, it was like any other day, he was laying in his chair at an awkward angle, half lying down, half sitting. The only sound in the room was his light breathing, with a mouse scrolling and occasionally clicking to the next chapter of a random nameless manga.

Looking at the bottom right of his screen, it read [14:24].

Sighing, he sat up in his chair, "why is everything so boring" he whispered, his pale face had bags under his eyes, probably from lack of sleep, and his black hair reached the bottom of his blue eyes that had no outward emotion in them.

Getting up he walked towards the fridge and pulled out 2 bottles of water, drinking one in one go and placing another on his desk, he sat back down, and just as he was reaching for the mouse, that's when it happened.

The headache he'd had for the past 2 days got worse, it went from a dull ache to a feeling as if his brain was being hit by a hammer, sighing again he muttered 'so this is how I die huh?'. The pain stayed for at least a minute which felt like hours, banging his head on his desk he almost yelled "can you go away?!" and a few seconds later, almost as if responding to him, it stopped abruptly.

'Huh?' He looked back at his computer screen which was now black, but that wasn't what caught his eye, it was the pale blue window in front of it.

[System Connected Successfully]

[System 11028454956672 has fully integrated with host]

Now, the average person might have brushed it off as a dream, thought themself going insane or just stood there shocked.

But Aster didn't even have a look of surprise, only excitement, 'there's the off chance that i'm going insane and this is just a figment of my imagination but, i'll take my chances, that pain was real, and this window looks real too, so i'm gonna go on a hunch and say this is real as well.'

Now, let's analyse my situation, It said System 11028454956672. That's a very high number which means it's either connected to every living thing on Earth including insects and maybe even plants, or it's a system that spans through multiple different galaxies, this system is far ahead of any human technology and it wouldn't have happened for no reason so i'm gonna take an educated guess and say the system is the result of alien interference, Next, what reason would something like a system appear, obviously, it's something huge, from all of the novels I've read this could mean we'll be dragged off the planet, we could be invaded by monsters, or the whole planet could even start going through an evolution, I need more information.

There's no way the system would just appear like this, I need to see what's outside. Sprinting upstairs, and looking out of one of the windows I checked the street below, no cars are moving which is a little unusual, there's nobody outside.. hmm usually there's a few people outside.. They must have have been given a system too, so I can confirm that the system has been given to multiple humans, this could be global or just limited to a certain area, I can't tell, I'm not sure if animals have also been given a system.

Suddenly something caught my eye, There were 3 green humanoid creatures, the height of a 12 year old child, but with developed muscles on their arms and legs. No doubt about it, they're goblins, I knew the system wouldn't have appeared without a good reason, and I am confident it's not just goblins that will be appearing.

I haven't really done any exercise in a few years so my strength is definitely lower than these goblins, that have muscles, and they also have 2 knives and a spear between them.. If I tried to fight them, even with an ambush, I will almost assuredly lose..

Lowering the curtains and moving away from the window I thought about what to do next, let's investigate the system shall we.

"Uhh.. System?"

Nothing happened. 'hmm'

"Status"

All of a sudden a translucent window appeared.

[Processing]

[The average adult male human, has a general number of 10 in each stat.]

Another window appeared right after showing me what I asked for, my status

[Name: Aster Lightfoot]

[Age: 17 Years, 4 Months, 24 Days]

[Species: Homo Sapien, Life Span: 100 years, Primitive, Level 3 civilisation]

[Level: 1, 0/100 exp]

[HP: 50/50]

[MP: 345/345]

[Strength: 6]

[Agility: 9]

[Dexterity: 13]

[Endurance: 5]

[Vitality: 5]

[Intelligence: 26]

[Wisdom: 17]

[Free Points: 5]

[Universal Credits: 0]

'Oh? It can even measure intelligence? That must mean it has scanned my brains motor and memory functions and compared it to every other human brain, or.. it has viewed my memories, also it seems intelligence gives 10MP and wisdom gives 5. Usually, wisdom increases regeneration speed and intelligence increases power.

I guess there's no way of knowing for the moment so let's think about that later.'

'Intelligence and Wisdom? Not to mention 'MP', This means there's got to be magic or mana.. well if this system works like some novels I've read before, then that must be the case, but I can't be completely sure at the moment'

So I've confirmed that this system bears at the very least a basic resemblance to a system written within a generic novel that I've read in the past. I also have 5 free points, I should find out how I get them.

Hmm... what about... "Options"

Nothing appeared... Damn.

"Menu?"

This time, another window appeared

[Status]

[Quests]

[Store]

[Skills]

Oh? There's a store, must require those Universal Credits, I'm guessing the easiest way to acquire those would be killing monsters.. like those goblins' I thought with a bitter face

I have no skills at the moment, and I've already seen my status, The store is locked right now, I'm guessing I need money to unlock it, Now, let's see, Quests.

Clicking on the [Quests] Icon, there were two sections, Active Quests and Completed Quests.

Active Quests was empty but I had one Completed Quest already.

[Survive the Integration of the System] Reward: 5 Free Status Points.

'Wait, survive?? That implies some people died when integrating, but it could also just be a basic reward for getting the system, I have no idea at the moment'

All of a sudden, another window popped up.

[Hello, Homo Sapiens! You are the first species to acquire the system on this planet, Congratulations! You may be wondering why this system is here and what it is here for, well, for the past few billion years your solar system has been sealed away from the mana of the universe, the reason for this was because it lacked the basic requirements of using mana, now that your species civilisation has reached level 3, your solar system has been deemed qualified to use mana, due to your Solar System being in the dark universe, the system was given to all self-aware species to assist in development, this was necessary as with mana comes mana portals, these portals are created spontaneously and are unable to be closed due to instability of the dark universe, your species was deemed unable to survive these portals without assistance, these portals will only continue to grow in time, allowing stronger species into your world until eventually your planet will be loose enough to be transported to the light universe.]

[This can take between 10 and 100 years and so you were given the system so that your species will develop a basic understanding of mana and adapt to your planets situation, before you are able to be transported to the Light Universe. The system was chosen to assist you as it has already become familiar to a percentage of 'Humans' and was the most optimal choice. With mana, you can increase your species life spans, strength and intellect, by how much is up to each individual, the higher your level becomes, the bigger of an increase in your development, mana is also genetic, if two humans with a sufficient amount of mana were to copulate and produce a child, this child would have a higher strength, intelligence and life span compared to the average stats of present humans.]

[Once your Solar System is within the Light Universe, the portals will close and your atmosphere will resume stability, the Light Universe has the ability to close most portals apart from Gold Level 10 and above portals with a diameter of 500 miles, they have enough spacial strength and stability to stay within the universe and resist being removed. That is all, humans. Good Luck!]

And with that, the windows disappeared, leaving only the 'menu' still open.

After reading this explanation, I was deep in thought. 'Obviously, I need to learn to fight against these 'monsters' as quickly as possible. My stats are obviously suited towards being a Mage or Wizard or Sorcerer or whatever they're called by the system, and while later on mages are very strong, at the moment, I've got nobody to teach me how to use mana, I have no idea how to use mana and even if I find out how to use it, it'll still be something brand new, which will probably make it hard to use, i'll need practice.

It said that the portals are only going to get bigger, therefore the monsters are only going to get stronger, so I don't have the time to wait. I'm not scared of dying, if I have to fight a risky battle, i'm not going to freeze in fear or anything, but my physical abilities are pitiful. First, I suppose I should test out how magic works, can I use it with just my mind or do I need a focus like a staff or wand?

Ok, let's see. Fire? No way, i'm not trying to burn my house down, water? Meh that wouldn't be strong enough early on to help me, earth? It's good for defence but I wouldn't have enough control to do anything meaningful, and i'm looking for an attack, not defence. So, let's try wind for now, though I want to study all schools of magic once I get the chance, but right now I must prioritise survival over fun. Ok, so wind is probably the simplest element in the beginning,

I just have to imagine condensing air into a ball or blade and push it outwards.

Okay, take a steady stance, feet spread apart, close your eyes, focus on forcing an energy outside of your body, form this energy into a condensed line of wind, sharpen it, use as much as you can, force all the energy into it and, SLICE! Abruptly opening my eyes as I shouted 'Slice' I checked if anything happened and to my surprise, there was a window in front of me that read

[New Skill Created: Wind Slash, Level: 1]

[A low powered slice made of wind, able to cut through some materials, Cost:50MP]

Looking up, sure enough, there was a gash right through my monitor allowing me to see the wall behind it.. wait, monitor?

'AHHHH No! No! No! That was my baby! 8k, 420 Hz, Allows the new holographic mode!..'

Sigh... electricity has stopped working and I doubt it will be back anytime soon anyway, I suppose I have to get used to having no internet.

Oh, whatever, "Status", I mumbled.

[Name: Aster Lightfoot]

[Age: 17 Years, 4 Months, 24 Days]

[Species: Homo Sapien, Life Span: 100 years, Primitive, Level 3 civilisation]

[Level: 1, 0/100 exp]

[HP: 50/50]

[MP: 295/345]

[Strength: 6]

[Agility: 9]

[Dexterity: 13]

[Endurance: 5]

[Vitality: 5]

[Intelligence: 26]

[Wisdom: 17]

[Free Points: 5]

[Universal Credits: 0]

'Hmm, sure enough, that slice cost me 50MP, it's powerful enough to go right through my monitor, the screen was supposed to be extra durable and able to withstand even punches to it, but that slash went straight through, it could definitely cut bone.

'This.. is getting fun' I couldn't keep the smile off of my face. Life's just been boring and repetitive so far, i'm expected to get a job, maybe have a family and some kids, grow older than 70 and it's considered a satisfying life, everything was just dull, but now.. fantasy just became reality! If I can survive long enough.. I could even grow strong enough to be considered a God..

I swear, that I will become the strongest mage on the planet, then, I will become the strongest in the universe, then, I'll go even higher! I'll definitely die with a smile on my face, happy that I lived a satisfying life.

Now.. what to do with these stat points..