---
Chapter Three: The First Thread of Fate
Arthur sat on a decayed tree trunk, the faint morning light shyly slipping through the thick branches above him.
He was calm… a calmness unfit for someone who, just minutes ago, had survived chaos that nearly ended his life.
As if he had grown so used to destruction that it no longer stirred anything inside him.
Arthur suddenly said, looking around,
"Why are we in the forest? Wouldn't it be better to start changing my miserable life first? I know everything about this place… if I make a few simple investments, I'll earn a lot of money."
The system replied:
[Yes, that's true… but if you did that now, we'd lose a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change someone's fate.]
Arthur sighed.
"Fine. Tell me what I need to know before you throw me into anything."
The system shifted its tone to a celebratory one that completely clashed with the forest's quiet:
[At your service, Lord Arthur! You asked for information… and I'm ready to amaze you!]
Arthur replied coldly:
"If you're going to speak, then speak quickly. Your noise annoys me."
[Alright, alright… you're truly hard to please.]
Then the system continued with a more serious tone:
[First, you are now in the Eastern Forest of the Loraice Continent. The point I placed you at is called the Forest of Stillness. A quiet place… but not entirely safe.]
Arthur raised a brow.
"I knew it. This area is where weak monsters spawn at the beginning of the game."
[Excellent! At least your memory works.] the system replied with exaggerated admiration.
Arthur ignored it, then asked,
"And what about my current state? The body I'm in?"
A sound like flipping pages echoed:
"Displaying… done!"
And a transparent window appeared before him:
---
[Name]: Arthur Gray [Mike]
[Age]: 13 years
[Rank]: Commoner – Unclassified
[Race]: Human???? [Undefined Error]
[Origin]: Unknown?
[Physical Condition]: Weak – Slight malnutrition
[Cursed 5]: Five unknown curses
[Compatibility]: Body integration rate: 48.8%
[Advice]: Increase integration to avoid future power issues.
[Distinct Traits]:
• Emotional coldness
• High intelligence
• Combat analysis ability
• Extremely high mental resistance
[Attributes]:
• Strength: 3.67%
• Endurance: 7.00%
• Intelligence: 50.89%
• Mana: 0.98% (Very weak)
• Charisma: 73.98%
[Skills]:
None.
---
Arthur scowled.
"Weak… annoying."
The system laughed:
[That's how heroes always start! Poor, orphaned, weak… then they become legends. But at least you're handsome, which is a power of its own.]
Arthur looked up at the sky and said without emotion:
"You're truly an idiot. And I wonder… how did this person survive throughout the game's story?"
The system cackled:
[Because he becomes the legendary king of flirting.]
Then it continued more seriously:
[Anyway, you have something no one else in this world has.]
Arthur turned.
"What do you mean?"
[A unique skill… a gift for those who come from outside this world.]
Another window appeared:
---
[Unique Skill: Insight Eye] – Level 1
Ability: Analyze abilities, weaknesses, and potential event paths.
Additional Features:
• Probability vision
• Detect corruption and dark energy
• Predict direct death danger (unlocks at level 5)
Note: The skill evolves and unlocks additional functions later.
---
Arthur read in silence before saying:
"Not bad."
The system replied proudly:
[I know. You can thank me later… with a nice gift.]
"I'll think about that when I actually have money."
[I hope I live to see that day!] the system laughed.
Arthur stood up, brushed the dirt from his tattered clothes, and spoke in a cold voice carrying a hidden strength:
"If I'm at the beginning of the game… that means nothing has happened yet."
[Exactly.] the system replied.
"And the original protagonists haven't appeared yet."
[Not yet. They're all still at their beginnings.]
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with a sharp, resolute gaze:
"Then… it's time to change the story."
The system's voice shook with excitement:
[That's what I like to hear! Where are we going first?]
Arthur answered with calm, lethal determination:
"To the academy… where everything begins."
Then he added:
"And since the academy opens at sixteen… I have three years to become stronger."
And thus… the first thread of his new fate began to move.