In this world where magic reigns supreme, talent is absolute. No matter what you do, your talent rank cannot be increased. Only the ability rank could be increased using mana stones or by killing monsters. Abilities are divided into two main categories: Active and Passive. Those abilities that need a certain condition to activate, like Mark's healing or damage instance condition, are described as active abilities. Passive abilities, like Ellena's Continuous Healing, do not require any activation condition. Arnold's two talent-based abilities are also passive. But there's a catch: only 3 in 10 people have passive abilities. Due to his mother's low-rank ability, she hasn't been targeted so far.
Also, in the magic mechanism, there are about 12 different circles that determine the power of the spell. Their usability is determined by the talent's rank. A person with an A-rank talent can conjure up to 6th circle magic; for S-rankers, they can conjure up to 8th circle magic. For SS-rankers, up to 10th circle, and SSS-rankers, up to 12th circle magic. But SSS-rank talent was only one person's forte—the founder's; that's why today, everyone can only dream of using 10th circle magic.
Arnold thought it was like cheating for him; he has the ability to learn every type of magic, has an unlimited mana supply, and can use up to 12th circle magic. But a realization dawned on him that if he wants to master multiple types of 12th circle, he must work and train harder than anyone else.
He had clicked [Task 1: Reconnect with Family. Spend one day in peace with Mark and Ellena Sterling.] and saw it was 48% completed. Then he started completing the task.
After completing the task, he received 100 Mana Stones and a gacha pull. After getting the Mana Stones, he didn't hesitate to upgrade the system. After upgrading the system, a new notification suddenly arrived: [Task 3: Upgrade the system] is completed. He was stunned for a second and thought that without knowing about the task, they could be completed too.
He again received 100 Mana Stones and a gacha pull. Now he has 2 gacha pulls and used the system to open the details about the Concealment skill. [Concealment: B-rank. You can hide the B-rank abilities of up to 2 people for 30 minutes.]
He saw that to upgrade an ability from D to C, it required 1 mana stone. To upgrade an ability from C to B, it required 10 mana stones. To upgrade an ability from B to A, it required 100 mana stones. This meant every upgrade required 10 times the mana stones of the previous one, and only D-rank and above abilities were upgradable. Mana stones were rare and expensive, and only nobles could afford them.
With the 100 new mana stones he got for unexpectedly completing Task 3, he immediately upgraded his Concealment skill. [Concealment skill upgraded to A-rank. You can now hide A-rank abilities of up to 3 people for 48 minutes.] This was exactly what he needed for the next part of his plan.
Now, what about the gacha pulls? He pondered and finally decided to use them as well and opened the gacha screen.
A new prompt appeared: [You can acquire any skill/abilities in this world. It's a randomizer. There's a chance to get weapons and mana stones too.][Also, after 100 pulls, your gacha system will be upgraded to level 2, where you can share your duplicate or lower-ranked abilities of your current one.] Seeing this prompt, he rejoiced and thought that he could now strengthen his parents, too, with the most versatile abilities for each of them without making them a target. He knew he at least needed to gain 100 Gacha pulls to make that happen.
Then he saw another prompt: [As it is your first time in Gacha, you are now guaranteed to get an ability of A-rank or Higher.] With hope, he started his first pull. A golden glow appeared before him. [Congratulations, Host: You got an ability Appraiser(S-rank).] Upon clicking on the skill name, the details appeared. [Appraiser: S-rank. This ability allows the host to see the talents and awakened abilities of the target.]
He sighed in disbelief. He had hoped for a combat ability. Although, after careful consideration, he thought he needed allies to venture on his path, and this ability could now help him find his perfect allies. He tried to use this ability on himself, but nothing appeared. He thought this ability could not be used on the host. Then he used the second gacha. From now on, it would give a random reward. A white glow appeared before him. [Congratulations, Host: You got a Magic Staff(D-rank).] He sighed in disbelief and thought all his luck had run out. He shut the screen down and thought he would experiment with the newfound skill tomorrow, and went to sleep.
The sun rose, casting a golden hue over the sleeping town. For Arnold, it wasn't just another morning; it was the day that would change everything. He woke up with a quiet resolve, the weight of his past life's knowledge heavy on his shoulders. He glanced at his System screen, which displayed a single, glowing task: [Task 2: (Protect Family) Tomorrow is Awakening Day. Do not let your parents become a target.]
A small, genuine smile touched his lips. It was a simple task, but the most important one. He had five years to prepare, and the System was right—the first step wasn't about power or revenge, but about cherishing what he had.
He quietly made his way to the window, the cold, crisp morning air a stark contrast to his tumultuous thoughts. He wanted to test his new Appraiser ability. He focused his mind, a new, subtle energy flowing from his Boundless Core. He directed the ability at a blade of grass swaying gently in the breeze. A small, translucent screen appeared.
[Object: Grass]
[Rank: F-Talent]
[Ability: Photosynthesis (Passive)]
Arnold felt a thrill of discovery. It worked. He tried it on a nearby tree.
[Object: Oak Tree]
[Rank: E-Talent]
[Ability: Water Absorption (Passive)]
He then made his way to his parents' room. They were still asleep, a peaceful, loving sight. He focused his Appraiser ability on his mother first.
[Name: Ellena Sterling]
[Talent: Continuous Healing (S-rank)]
[Ability: Rapid Regeneration (A-rank, Passive)]
Arnold's breath hitched. His mother's Ability had evolved beyond his last life's knowledge. He then checked his father.
[Name: Mark Sterling]
[Talent: Healing-Damage Critical Hit (S-rank)]
[Ability: Critical Strike Mastery (A-rank, Active)]
This was it. The reason his parents were targeted in his last life wasn't just because of their B-rank abilities, but because they had evolved to A-rank. He had been so focused on his own path of vengeance that he had missed this crucial detail. He now had the information he needed to protect them.
He quietly left their room, his mind racing with this new information. He needed a moment to process everything. He returned to his own room and sat by the window, watching the town slowly wake up. The sun was now fully risen, and the smell of fresh bread from the bakery down the street filled the air. It was a normal morning, but Arnold knew it was anything but. The realization of his parents' evolved abilities, combined with his S-rank Appraiser skill and his A-rank Concealment skill, gave him a new sense of purpose and a path forward. He finally felt equipped to handle the dangers of his past.
After a few moments of quiet reflection, he went to the kitchen. His parents were already there, his father, Mark, sipping coffee and reading a newspaper, and his mother, Ellena, humming a tune as she prepared breakfast.
The sight filled him with an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. He walked over to his mother and hugged her tightly from behind. "Good morning, Mom," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Ellena's humming paused, and she turned to him, her eyes soft with affection. "Good morning, my big boy," she said, her voice a gentle melody. "What's gotten into you? You're usually half-asleep on Awakening Day."
Mark lowered his newspaper, a mischievous grin on his face. "Must be that dream you had yesterday. Don't worry, son, it's just nerves."
Arnold released his mother and smiled at his father. "It's nothing, Dad. Just feeling grateful."
The family ate breakfast together, sharing stories and laughs. It was a simple, beautiful moment that he hadn't experienced in seven years. He treasured every second, committing their faces and voices to memory, promising himself he would never lose this again.
After breakfast, they made their way to the town square for the Awakening Ceremony. The atmosphere was festive, with families gathered, all hoping for a strong ability for their children. The ceremony was a time of great excitement, but Arnold felt a sense of dread. This was where it had all gone wrong last time.
The town square was abuzz with energy. At the center of it all stood a massive, crystalline sphere, glowing with a soft, ethereal light. One by one, the town's adolescents stepped forward. An official called their name, and they would place their hand on the crystal. The crystal would flash with a brilliant light, and their awakened talent and ability would be displayed on a large screen for all to see. Cheers erupted for those with high-rank talents, while quiet sighs of disappointment could be heard for those with low-rank ones.
He kept a close eye on his parents, remembering his plan. The moment they stepped up to the crystal ball for the appraisal, he would be ready. As he stood in line, a familiar, arrogant voice rang out.
"Look at that, it's the Sterling family. I wonder what C-rank ability their little boy will awaken. Probably something useless, like a farmer's talent."
Arnold turned to see a pompous-looking noble boy, flanked by his parents. It was Alistair Thorne, the very noble who had set their tragedy in motion. He was just as he remembered him—a spoiled, mediocre brat with an inflated sense of self-worth. Alistair's face twisted into a sneer as he saw Arnold.
He discreetly used his new ability.
[Name: Alistair Thorne]
[Talent: Swordsman's Heart (S-rank)]
[Ability: Enhanced Speed (D-rank, Active)]
Arnold's eyes widened imperceptibly. An S-rank talent? This changed everything. He remembered that Alistair's older brother, a backwater noble, had awakened an A-rank ability and his family had lavished all their resources on him, leaving Alistair to his own devices. Alistair's D-rank ability was mocked and forgotten, leading to his arrogant and cruel personality. He was not a true villain, just a boy with a massive chip on his shoulder and a potential that had been completely ignored.
Alistair sidled up to Arnold, his voice a low, venomous whisper meant only for him. "Your pathetic parents are here to watch you fail again, aren't they? I heard they're still stuck with their pitiful C-rank abilities. What a disgrace."
Arnold's eyes met Alistair's, and he gave a slow, chilling smile. He leaned in closer, his own voice a soft, dangerous whisper. "I know something about you, too. What good is a D-rank ability when you have an S-rank talent? I hope that 'Enhanced Speed' helps you run away when a real threat comes calling. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a ceremony to attend."
Alistair froze, his face paling, the taunts dying in his throat. No one should have known his talent. No one. Arnold just smiled, taking his parents' hands and leading them away, leaving Alistair fuming, but also stunned into silence.
Ellena gently squeezed his hand, her eyes full of concern. "Oh, my son, what was that about?" she whispered.
"I just wanted to make sure they weren't the ones to get the first word in," Arnold said with a mischievous wink. "They won't be a problem now, I promise."
The plan was working. He had successfully prevented the initial confrontation. Now, all he had to do was get through the appraisals without revealing the truth. As they got closer to the front of the line, Arnold realized what he had to do. He couldn't reveal his true talent, but he also couldn't risk a C-rank awakening that would be mocked and ignored. He had to show he was a genius, but a manageable one. He decided to use his Concealment skill on himself, just as he had on his parents, to mask his SSS-rank talent and awaken a powerful, but believable, S-rank one instead.
Their family name was called. Arnold, holding his parents' hands, walked with them to the front. Mark stepped up first, placing his hand on the crystalline sphere. A brilliant white light erupted, and on the screen above, his talent and ability were displayed: [Talent: Healing-Damage Critical Hit (S-rank)], [Ability: Critical Strike Mastery (A-rank, Active)]. A collective gasp swept through the crowd. An S-rank talent from a commoner family was unheard of.
Next was Ellena. She nervously placed her hand on the sphere, which glowed a soothing green. The screen displayed: [Talent: Continuous Healing (S-rank)], [Ability: Rapid Regeneration (A-rank, Passive)]. A wave of shock and disbelief rippled through the crowd. Two S-rank talents in one family? Whispers and murmurs filled the air as people began to stare.
Seeing this, Arnold knew he had to act fast. He discreetly activated his Concealment skill, focusing it on his parents. A subtle, almost invisible shimmer surrounded them. On the screen, the display flickered, and then changed. Mark's talent now read as [Talent: Healing-Damage Crit (B-rank)] and Ellena's as [Talent: Healing (B-rank)]. The crowd, seeing the lower rank, sighed in disappointment, their initial excitement fading into a dull murmur. The threat was neutralized.
Now, it was Arnold's turn. He stepped up to the crystal sphere, his heart pounding, and placed his hand on the smooth surface. He focused his will, not on his true talent, but on a more controlled, powerful version. The crystal sphere pulsed with a fierce golden light, brighter and more intense than any before it. The crowd held its breath as the screen above blazed to life.
[Talent: Boundless Arcana (S-rank)][Ability: Arcane Weaving (A-rank, Passive)]
A shocked silence fell over the square, followed by a roar of applause. An S-rank talent! Arnold, a commoner, had a talent on par with the most powerful nobles. He had done it. He had successfully awakened a powerful talent without revealing his true, world-shaking potential. He still had his SSS-rank talent, but no one knew. He had a path to grow stronger, to protect his family, and to prepare for the future, all without becoming a target overnight. The crowd's cheers washed over him, a sound he had only dreamed of hearing, and he finally felt a sense of hope for the future he had been given.