Laying on a hard but smooth wooden floor, Damien slowly began to stir. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing a wooden roof above him. Blinking a few times to clear the blur in his vision, he sat up slowly, groaning at the stiffness in his muscles. Pain still pulsed throughout his body, but it was dulled—muted like a lingering echo of the battle he somehow survived.
He stood on unsteady legs and took in his surroundings. He was inside a rectangular log cabin, massive by most standards—roughly 600 feet in length, 700 feet in width, and nearly 200 feet high. It reminded him of a fully furnished two-story wilderness lodge with an ancient charm. There were two square windows flanking a sturdy door crafted from thick stone and held in place by heavy iron hinges.
The cabin exuded rustic elegance, yet it was surprisingly modern inside. Upstairs, a cozy bedroom with a large bed, a dresser, and a giant mirror adorned the wall. A small bathroom held a standing shower and a ceramic toilet. Downstairs had a dining area with a sturdy oak table, a stove with cabinets, and a wall locker containing clothes—T-shirts, jeans, jackets, shorts, socks, boots, and even flip-flops.
Damien sighed, the memory of the brutal fight still vivid in his mind—the creature's snarl, the swing of its claws, the crunch of his ribs breaking. He had come terrifyingly close to death.
'Host was unconscious from mana fatigue and blood loss,' the System chimed calmly in his mind. 'Though the Host is an Elemental Archmage, your current physical tier is still comparable to that of an average Earthling. It is recommended you avoid direct melee combat when possible.'
'You survived because the beast underestimated you. Your lack of chanting and the speed of your spell casting caught it off guard. This advantage, combined with your divine boons, was enough to turn the tide. Well done, Host.'
<"Well done my foot," Damien grumbled under his breath.
'To clarify, the Host's spellcasting is now advanced beyond standard methods. You do not need to chant or use hand signs. Simply envision the spell mentally, and the system will execute the desired effect. Spells can also be discovered through ancient ruins, mage libraries, or personal innovation. Spellcasting is only limited by your imagination, willpower, and mana pool control.'
'Note: Without proper mana regulation, your power may unintentionally cause massive destruction. You may attempt to raise a hill and instead level a forest. Mana control is a critical skill and can be purchased through the Divine Shop or developed through training.'
"So I nearly died, and now I find out I have a spell system that could literally wipe out everything around me if I'm not careful. Wonderful."
'The Host did not ask,' the System replied.
Damien blinked. "...Unbelievable."
'On a positive note, your recent feat has earned you 2,000 Divine Points for killing a high-level mythical beast.'
The status window reappeared in his vision.
-STATUS-
Host: Damien Sorlen
Hero Rank: 1
Level: Master Archmage (Tier 1) Rank 3
Divine Points per Day: 0
Total Divine Points: 2,500
*System Skills:*
Divine Touch (Tier 7) Rank 1
*Magic Skills:* Earth Magic (Tier 3), Rank 1
Air Magic (Tier 3) Rank 2
*Passive:*
Absorption (Max), Minor Regeneration
*Titles:*
Archmage: -50% to all elemental damage, +5% to spell damage
*Boons:*
Touched by the Arcane Divine: +10% magical potency, +50% learning speed, enhanced cognitive processing
Wondrous Elemental Archmage: +20% elemental spell strength
++Kingdom Building++ Divine Shop ++ Inventory ++ Sentient and Creature Creation ++
Damien's attention was drawn to a new skill, Divine Touch.
"Divine Touch? That sounds serious..."
Divine Touch:Heals stamina, regenerates limbs, removes curses, cures illnesses and poisons. Massive mana cost depending on the severity of the healing. Exclusive to divine entities—only you have access to this ability.
Sub-Skill - Minor Regeneration: Naturally regenerate minor injuries 25% faster.
"So I have the power to patch myself up like a cheat code. If fact this whole system was a cheat code. If Damien wasn't stuck in this impossible situation, he'd be having a blast. Who wouldnt want to use world changing skills after all. Well that's reassuring. Being a Harbinger definitely has it's perks after all."
The System continued.
'Earth Magic Tier 3 now allows the Host to craft weapons and armor from minerals, apply buffs, and combine Earth magic with other elements. Air Magic Tier 3 enables stronger wind manipulation and synergistic effects with other elements.'
'Absorption allows near-limitless intake of knowledge or materials—at your own risk. Your body and mind need to be able to handle the absorbed information or energy. Divine Touch was granted by the Creator after your brush with death. You are His Harbinger, after all.'
'Tier levels range from 1–10. Tier 10+ denotes legendary Divine abilities. As of system creation 4 million Earth years ago, only a handful of beings have achieved Tier 7 magic.'
Damien scoffed. "Absorption sounds as overpowered as it is ominous. But I won't waste any Divine Points until I better understand this world. Right now, I need to learn to control my power."
Now freshly bathed and dressed in a clean, dark blue T-shirt, black jeans, and combat boots, Damien stood at the cabin's door. Before stepping outside, he tested the inventory feature. Touching the wall locker, he mentally commanded "Inventory"—and watched it vanish in a shimmer of light. "Incredible," he whispered.
With a deep breath, Damien opened the cabin door. A warm breeze brushed across his face as sunlight spilled through the thick canopy of trees. The wilderness awaited, vast and wild. His heart pounded in anticipation and fear.
"Let's see what kind of world this really is," he muttered—and stepped once more into the unknown.