A deep void of pure darkness stretched endlessly. It was a void so complete that even time itself seemed unwilling to exist within it. There was only darkness, accompanied by an eerie silence.
Within that nothingness, an astral body of consciousness horizontally floated still. It was neither alive nor dead, it was in-between. Awareness lingered... fragile, it was like a flame refusing to go out within that body of consciousness.
'Where... am I?'
The question echoed within him, unanswered.
'Is this hell? Or heaven?'
'No it's probably Hell, Heaven can't be this dark,'
Before another thought could form, a translucent screen appeared before him, with text on it.
『BASE ACTIVATION SEQUENCE - INITIATED』
The screen did not merely appear in the darkness. It overwrote it.
The void trembled, as though it had been forced to accept something foreign, something absolute.
『Synchronization in progress...』
『Synchronization... 0.1%』
『Synchronization... 0.5%』
『Synchronization... 1%』
The numbers advanced steadily, neither rushed nor delayed. It was a smooth process of ascension.
『Synchronization... 10%』
『Synchronization... 50%』
『Synchronization... 80%』
'What is this...? What does this 'synchronization' mean?'
No answer came from within his thoughts.
『Synchronization... 100%』
『BASE SYSTEM - SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE』
『BASE SYSTEM - ONLINE』
The void trembled again but this time around him, the astral body of consciousness, it was as if the very foundation of existence had acknowledged the completion of a process it could not refuse.
『BASE SYSTEM ACTIVATION REWARDS』
『Base Classification - Mystic Master Base Acquired
Base Potency - Absolute (100%) Acquired』
『BASE SYSTEM AWAKENING REWARDS』
『PASSIVE SKILL: Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding Acquired
ACTIVE SKILL: Identification Acquired』
『REINCARNATION RECORD - REGISTERED
Rewards Confirmed
Combat Proficiency - Integrated
Blade Compatibility & Utility - Absolute
Assassination Aptitude - Acknowledged』
The messages ended there.
'So... this is a system? What does this "base" mean?'
Before he could process what was happening, he felt something unfamiliar, a strange sensation that could not be described with words. Then another notification appeared.
『MASTER ASTRAL BODY OF CONSCIOUSNESS HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED WITH MASTER NEW BODY』
_________________________
A sharp, burning sensation tore through him as air forced its way into lungs that had never breathed before. His chest convulsed slightly and a piercing cry escaped his mouth.
WAAAHHH!
The sound echoed loudly as blinding light flooded his vision. Shapes hovered above him, huge figures blurred by tears as his eyes struggled to adapt to the light.
Slowly, his vision sharpened. He was finally able to see them: a man and a woman.
The man came into focus first. He looked to be in his early thirties, he was handsome, with a strong and well-built frame. Golden, lush hair reached his neck, and his deep sapphire-blue eyes trembled as he looked down, filled with pride, joy, and pure happiness.
Beside him was a woman in her mid-to-late twenties, breathtakingly beautiful with an hourglass figure and slender waist. Black-brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a flawless face, while her crimson-red eyes shimmered softly as she looked toward the cradle.
They stood together in the room, facing the cradle bed. The man's hands rested on the shoulders of the woman beside him, his touch calm and steady.
'...People?' he thought.
Then another cry sounded beside him. He turned his head weakly and slowly. To his shock, another infant lay beside him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of the small body. The baby had golden-lush hair and sapphire-blue eyes, clearly resembling the man.
'A... baby?'
Understanding struck him like lightning. His gaze dropped to his own tiny, fragile hands.
'I... became a baby?'
A heavy realization settled in.
'I've been... reincarnated.'
A faint, disbelieving thought followed.
'I always thought reincarnation was just a joke, something only found in movies and novels.' His eyes moved again.
A cute little girl, no more than three years old, stood near the bed, clutching the edge nervously. Her wide eyes were filled with curiosity, and a bright smile adorned her face. She had golden-black hair and crimson-red eyes. It was obvious she was their daughter.
'So... these are my new parents, and this little girl is now my older sister.'
"Mom, they both look alike and are so tiny. Why's that?" the little girl asked.
"Hahaha, Yumi," the mother replied warmly. "They are identical twins and still babies."
"So what are their names?" Yumi asked.
"Ater and Arian," the father answered proudly. He and his wife had already decided that he would name the boys, while she named the girls.
"So which is Ater and which is Arian?" the mother asked.
"The eldest twin is Ater," he said, pointing to the other baby.
"And the youngest is Arian," he added, pointing at him.
*ding!~*
『MASTER HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME CHECK STATUS TO VIEW INFORMATION』
'Status?'
『BASE SYSTEM』
『STATUS
NAME: Arian
RACE: Human
SKILLS:
ACTIVE SKILL: [Identify]
PASSIVE SKILL: [Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding]』
『IDENTIFY: A skill granted by the Base System upon awakening. Allows the host to identify individuals and creatures. Effectiveness may vary depending on power differences, race, or special abilities. Can be activated seven times per day.』
『INSTANT LEARNING, COMPREHENSION, AND UNDERSTANDING: A skill rewarded by the base system upon awakening. It is a passive skill that grants accelerated learning and comprehension. Age is not a limitation.』
『PHYSICAL STATS』
『STRENGTH - 1
AGILITY - 1
STAMINA - 0
VITALITY - 1
HEALTH - 10
FREE STATS POINTS - 0』
『BASE CLASS - Mythic Master Base
BASE POTENTIAL - 100%
BASE REGISTER - 100%』
『CURRENT BASE INFO
BASE CLASS - Unaligned State
BASE STATE - Dormant
FLOW SKILLS - 0/10
EVO POINTS - 0/50』
'What does all this base stuff even mean...?'
Questions flooded his mind, but none were answered.
_________________________
Five years passed in a blink of an eye.
Under the reflection of sunlight, a boy no less than five years old stood near a lake he was around three feet nine inches tall. He had golden-lush hair and deep sapphire-blue eyes with a very cute and adorable face.
This was Arian.
Arian wore a black hooded cloak covering himself. There was a little split at the bottom back of the black hooded cloak, which was obviously meant for easier mobility, when he walked or ran. The were also belts strapped around his waist, holding in place two scabbards; both on each sdes for his daggers.
A large mutated grasshopper lay motionless before him. It was three feet five inches tall, huge compared to the size of a regular grasshopper, with his dagger embedded in its body.
『Master has killed a Tier 1 Forest Mutant Grasshopper』
『Corrupted Base Core Located - Upper Back Region』
The notification sounded in his head. he dug into the creature and retrieved a red, irregularly shaped crystal. He hesitated for some seconds, then swallowed it.
『Tier 1 Mutant Forest Grasshopper Corrupted Base Core Consumed - Purification Successful』
『Master has acquired 1 Evo Point』
"It's seems Tier 1 mutants and hybrids around here are getting scarce," he muttered while scanning the area. Seeing none, he decided to check his progress, sheathing his daggers into their scabbards.
"Status."
*ding!~*
『BASE SYSTEM』
『STATUS
NAME: Arian
RACE: Human
SKILLS:
ACTIVE SKILL: [Identify]
PASSIVE SKILL: [Instant Learning, Comprehension, and Understanding]』
『PHYSICAL STATS』
『STRENGTH - 8
AGILITY - 8
STAMINA - 10
VITALITY - 10
HEALTH - 30
FREE STATS POINTS - 0』
『BASE CLASS - Mythic Master Base
BASE POTENTIAL - 100%
BASE REGISTER - 100%』
『CURRENT BASE INFO
BASE CLASS - Unaligned State
BASE STATE - Active
FLOW SKILLS - 0/10
EVO POINTS - 37/50』
He ignored the other stats and his eyes went straight to one line.
『EVO POINTS 37/50』
"Only thirteen more," he said, shivering with excitement. "Then I'll finally reach Grade One."
CROAK!!
His suddenly body froze.
He quickly hid behind a nearby bush, because the aura he felt wasn't the one from a Tier one creature.
BOOM!
They ground shook from the sudden quake. From a little gap in the bushes were Arian hid himself, he was able to see a giant toad. It was about four feet five inches tall and it looked nasty, it's skin looked slippery.
"Identify." he then activated his active skill identify this creature.
『Active Skill Identify Activated
Scanning target...
Identification Complete
INFO:
Tier 2 Mutant Bull Toad
Lives near lakes and ponds
Can last underwater for at least one hour
Poisonous skin and saliva
Mid poison resistance
Good vitality
Sensitive to sound vibrations
Afraid of higher-grade creatures
Not afraid of same or lower tier』
It was a tier two mutant creature, Arian was glad he made the right move by hiding himself from the creature, unless he would have probably been this mutant bull toad's snack.
There were some Tier 1 creatures he couldn't fight or defend himself against, let alone a Tier 2 creature like this.
"But why is a Tier 2 mutant here? It should be impossible." he was confused but couldn't deny the evidence the system gave him.
Arian understood one thing clearly from a glance at this Tier 2 mutant information, Fighting it here in an open area would be suicide.
He turned slowly and began to retreat as quietly as possible, careful not to make a sound. For a brief moment, it seemed like he might escape.
CROAK!
His heart sank.
Arian turned his head slowly, his gaze met with the Tier 2 Mutant Bull Toad own, then suddenly it's massive body tensed, in the next moment, it leapt into the air with terrifying force.
Without thinking, Arian ran as far as his legs could carry him, his instincts screaming at him to survive. He ran towards the forest, hoping the dense trees would help him lose the creature's trail and escape.
But how could he outrun a Tier 2 creature.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently as the Bull Toad
landed behind him. The impact sent Arian tumbling forward, his small body crashing onto the ground.
He rolled over instinctively, just in time to see the creature looming above him. Its massive mouth opened wide, layers of flesh stretching apart as a long, sticky tongue twitched within.
It was ready to swallow him whole.