Chapter 1: Transmigrated with the Max-Level Account!
"I... transmigrated?"
Atlas looked down at the simple grey robes covering his body and the cold, stone architecture of the room. A trace of shock flickered across his face.
This scene was hauntingly familiar. This was a novice's quarters in the Ninth Sanctuary, the training ground for those hoping to join the ranks of the mages.
'Could this really be the world of Elysium?' Atlas wondered.
In his past life, he had spent years within the Elysium world, grinding his account to the absolute limit. He had surpassed the legendary 12th Rank—the realm of a Magic Sovereign—which was the highest level of power known to this plane.
But his account hadn't stopped there. He had ascended further, reaching a cosmic tier that stood at the apex of the entire universe, earning the unique title of #$@&%*.
But at the moment he went offline, a massive electrical surge had hit his rig. Darkness claimed him, and when he opened his eyes again, he was in this room.
Atlas calmed down quickly. As an orphan, he had always been adaptable; it didn't matter much to him which world he was in.
'Wait, this isn't my original body.'
Atlas moved toward a polished bronze mirror nearby. He saw a young man with sharp, sword-like eyebrows and eyes that seemed to hold the light of distant stars. The face was resolute, but the skin was unnaturally cold.
He touched his chin, feeling the realistic texture of his skin. This wasn't a "soul possession" where two minds inhabited one body; he had taken over a shell. The previous owner of this vessel had clearly reached his limit and passed away, leaving the body for Atlas to inhabit.
Suddenly, a pleasant, familiar voice whispered directly into his mind.
[ System Activation: Legacy Account Detected... ]
[ Synchronization: 1%... ]
[ Synchronization: 30%... ]
[ Synchronization: 70%... ]
[ Synchronization: 100%. ]
[ Congratulations, Host. The Legacy Account has been successfully integrated. ]
A soft hum resonated in the air as a translucent attribute panel manifested before his eyes.
[[ ATTRIBUTE PANEL ]]
[[ Name: Atlas ]]
[[ Race: Human ]]
[[ Title: #$@&%* ]]
[[ Identity: Novice (Ninth Sanctuary) ]]
[[ Mana Level: 1st Circle (Third Tier) ]]
[[ Physique: Mortal Body ]]
[[ Technique: The Aetheric Pulse Technique (Basic) / Aether Pulse Technique ($%$% version)) ]]
[[ Artifacts: None ]]
[[ Spells: None ]]
Atlas scanned the lines, a wave of nostalgia hitting him.
"System, this is exactly like my attribute bar from the game!"
Atlas's gaze locked onto the gibberish in the title bar. He knew exactly what it was. It was a rank that shouldn't even exist in a mortal world like this.
But as he tried to speak the name—or even form the thought of his old rank—a sudden, violent throb of pain lanced through his skull.
His vision blurred and his stomach lurched. It felt as if his brain was being crushed by the weight of a dying star.
[ Warning: Current reality cannot sustain the concept of the Host's true Title. ]
[ Warning: Attempting to perceive the #$@&%* will result in immediate mental collapse. ]
"I get it," Atlas gasped, leaning against the cold stone wall as the nausea slowly receded. "The world isn't ready for that kind of scale yet."
[ You're catching on quickly, Host, ] the System replied. The voice wasn't like a machine's; it was warm, with a hint of playful familiarity, like an old friend who had been waiting for him to wake up.
[ In this world, derived from the source code of Elysium, you are the only 'Player' left. ]
Atlas steadied his breathing, his mind already racing. 'If the things in my account still exist... then I can dominate this world.'
"Then... what about the items?" Atlas asked urgently. "Does my inventory—everything I gathered—still exist?"
[ They all exist, ] the System replied.
A look of pure joy appeared in Atlas's eyes. If those items were here, the Monster Hordes outside wouldn't stand a chance.
"Can they be accessed?"
[ Yes, ] the System said.
[ But there's a safety protocol. This isn't a simulation anymore. Every time your Mana Circle increases by one rank, random skills, grimoires, and elixirs from your account will be unlocked for your use. ]
Even if it was random, it was an absurd advantage. Atlas remembered the game world perfectly.
He knew the locations of hidden Aether Nodes and legendary ruins. He could prepare for the calamities that would eventually strike the Ninth Sanctuary.
The world was an endless expanse. The Ten Sanctuaries—humanity's only safe havens—were tiny specks in a universe of chaos. The world was so vast that even a 10th Rank Saint, the bridge to the higher realms, would take millions of years to cross the known map.
In the First Age, humans were prey, at the bottom of the food chain. It wasn't until the Second Age, when the first Sovereigns emerged to touch the limits of the plane, that humanity forcibly carved out the Ten Sanctuaries.
Over centuries, they developed until they could finally contend with the Demon and Beast races.
"System," Atlas said, focused. "Is there a Newbie Gift Pack?"
[ It's been waiting for you, ] the System replied.
An exquisite treasure chest materialized in the air. Crafted from heavy metal and engraved with shifting runes, it hummed with energy.
"Open it."
The chest burst open with a screen of five-colored rosy light, momentarily dazzling.
[ Notification: You have obtained a 9th Grade Elixir — The Dragon Heart! ]
[ Notification: You have obtained a 9th Grade Technique — The Dragon Battle Body Technique! ]
'Two 9th Grade items?' Atlas's heart raced.
Everything in this world—elixirs, spells, techniques—was graded from First to Ninth. A Ninth Grade item was a world-ending treasure on this plane.
Atlas focused, and the Dragon Heart materialized in his palm. It was the size of a small fist, crafted as if from molten gold. It beat steadily, surrounded by dancing arcane inscriptions. Nine apertures on its surface released bursts of pure aether energy.
Just by inhaling, Atlas felt his 1st Circle aether surge. He was already on the verge of breaking through to the Fourth Tier.
Normally, such a powerful artifact would need to be surgically integrated, a high-risk procedure. But with the System...
[ Do you wish to integrate the Dragon Heart? ]
"Yes."
The Dragon Heart vanished from his palm and reappeared within his chest, merging with his own heart.
A cool, refreshing sensation flooded his entire body. His mouth filled with sweet spiritual fluid, which he swallowed greedily.
Then came the pain. A sharp, stinging heat surged through his limbs like molten lead, searing every nerve ending. His muscles spasmed involuntarily as a foul, black sludge began to ooze from his pores—the accumulated impurities of a mortal life being violently purged by the dragon's blood.