The world twisted, folding in on itself like a burning parchment, before consciousness slowly, painfully, began to reassert itself. I opened my eyes to a searing golden light that lanced through my vision, accompanied by a deep, throbbing ache in my skull. As I struggled to piece together my thoughts, I felt something alien within my mind—a vast void of uncertainty juxtaposed with crystalline knowledge of things that felt utterly surreal. Fragmented memories surfaced: an encounter with some being before this moment, a bargain struck.
"Did I get isekai'd?" I wondered, the term feeling both ridiculous and disturbingly appropriate as more details of that interaction coalesced. I had given up my memories for power. Given them up willingly through a...
System.
The thought acted as a catalyst. A translucent red holographic screen materialized before my eyes, covered in angular runic script that—impossibly—I could understand perfectly.
[Name: Leonidas
Race: Human/Elf (Hybrid)
Age: 7
Lifespan: 140 years
Level: 1 (0/100)
Bloodline(s): Human (50%), Elf (50%)
Title(s): Reincarnator, System Bearer, One Who Traded Memory for Power
Trait(s): Six Eyes (Legendary), Hard-Working (Uncommon), Adaptive (Rare), Super Growth (Epic)
Affinity(ies): Wind (Basic), Sound (Basic), Water (Basic)
Core Stage: Black
Mana: 700/700
Health: 1000/1000
Status
Strength: 10
Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 30
Perception: 500
Luck: 10
Status Points: 0
Skill(s)
Mana Perception (Saint / Lv 1)
Mana Manipulation (Saint / Lv 1)
Inventory: [Basic Clothes, Loaf of Bread x 999, Knife, Basic Sword, Starter Pack]
Shop (5000 SP)
Quest(s) (3)]
As I finished reading, knowledge flooded directly into my consciousness, bypassing thought entirely.
[Ranks for skills, affinities, within progression:
Basic, Adept, Advanced, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Saint, Heroic, Transcendent, Divine (After 10 levels advances a rank)]
[Ranks for items, bloodlines, and traits:
Common, Uncommon, Rare, Elite, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, Transcendent, Divine]
I blinked, my seven-year-old body feeling strange and unfamiliar. Blonde hair streaked with silver fell into my field of vision, and I knew without a mirror that my eyes were now crystalline blue, like a sea frozen in time. The name felt right, at least—Leonidas. A strong name for a new beginning.
First things first. I mentally focused on the Starter Pack in my inventory.
[Do you wish to open your starter pack? Y/N]
I confirmed without hesitation. Light erupted from the screen as notifications cascaded down.
[You have received:]
[Skill Voucher (Expert Rank)]
[Trait Voucher (Elite Rank)]
[Item Voucher (Elite Rank)]
[System Points: +2000 (Total: 7000 SP)]
I stared at the vouchers, considering my options carefully. The skill and trait vouchers were particularly valuable. For the skill, swordsmanship seemed practical—versatile, deadly, and always useful. I navigated to the shop, browsing through the categories until I found the skill section, then filtered by rank.
[Swordsmanship (Expert Rank)]
[Effect: Grants expert-level proficiency in all sword techniques, including footwork, blade control, and combat intuition.]
[Regular Price: 15,000 SP | Voucher Applied: 0 SP]
Fifteen thousand system points! Even Expert rank commands a premium, I noted, grateful for the voucher. The Trait voucher required more thought. Elite rank offered solid abilities without the overwhelming attention that Legendary or Mythic traits might attract. After browsing, I selected something practical but valuable.
[Combat Prodigy (Elite Rank)]
[Effect: Accelerated learning curve for all combat-related skills. Enhanced battle instincts and reflexes. Passive combat analysis.]
[Regular Price: 12,000 SP | Voucher Applied: 0 SP]
For the item voucher, I needed something subtle but effective. A ring caught my attention in the accessories category.
[Ring of Concealment (Elite Rank)]
[Effect: Hides mana core level and internal mana signature from all forms of detection up to the Silver Core stage. Cannot be pierced by standard appraisal skills.]
[Regular Price: 8,500 SP | Voucher Applied: 0 SP]
Perfect. With this, I could appear as a normal child rather than whatever my Saint-rank perception and manipulation skills might suggest. I equipped the ring immediately, feeling a subtle shift as my mana signature seemed to vanish.
After claiming my rewards, I opened the shop properly, eager to understand what resources I had available. The interface was intuitive, organized into categories: Skills, Traits, Items, Consumables, Materials, and Special. I had 7000 SP remaining after the vouchers, which seemed substantial until I saw the prices. Basic skills cost 500-1000 SP, Adept ran 2000-4000, and Advanced pushed 6000-10000. I'd need to be careful.
For now, I purchased a few essentials:
[Mana Light (Common)]
[Effect: Creates a floating orb of light that follows the user. Duration: 6 hours. 10 charges.]
[Price: 50 SP]
[Basic Healing Potion (Common) x5]
[Effect: Heals minor wounds and stabilizes moderate injuries.]
[Price: 100 SP each (500 SP total)]
[Trail Rations (Common) x10]
[Effect: Nutrient-dense food, one week's sustenance per packet.]
[Price: 20 SP each (200 SP total)]
[Beginner's Mana Theory (Common)]
[Effect: One-time use skill book. Grants basic understanding of mana core cultivation and elemental theory.]
[Price: 300 SP]
[Map of Dicathen - Regional (Uncommon)]
[Effect: Mental map integration of the continent, with major cities and geographical features.]
[Price: 800 SP]
I hesitated at the map, but knowledge was power. After purchasing, I felt geographical data flow into my mind—the sprawling Sapin continent, the Elven Kingdom of Elenoir with its great forests, the Dwarven kingdom of Darv, the Beast Glades, and more. The total came to 1850 SP, leaving me with 5150. I'd save the rest for emergencies.
Finally, I opened the quest log, curious about my objectives.
[Quest(s) (3)]
[Main Quest: A New Beginning]
[Objective: Reach the nearest settlement (Luluh Town - 5.2 km southwest)]
[Reward: 500 SP, 1000 XP, Unlock [Adventurer] Title]
[Side Quest: First Steps]
[Objective: Walk 10 kilometers total distance]
[Progress: 0/10 km]
[Reward: 200 SP, Basic Stamina Skill Book]
[Achievement Quest: Magic Initiate]
[Objective: Successfully cast any spell of each basic affinity (Wind, Sound, Water)]
[Progress: 0/3]
[Reward: 400 SP, Affinity Boost Scroll (Basic → Adept for one element)]
Practical objectives. I could work with these.
I stood slowly, testing my new body. Seven years old, but the muscles felt toned, conditioned—whoever this body belonged to before me had been active. My clothes were simple but sturdy: a brown tunic over linen pants, leather boots that fit surprisingly well. The forest around me was dense but not oppressive, sunlight filtering through a canopy of unfamiliar trees with silver-veined leaves.
Magic Initiate first. I closed my eyes, reaching inward as naturally as breathing. Mana Manipulation at Saint rank meant this should be intuitive, and it was. I felt the ambient energy immediately—thousands of tiny particles dancing through the air, through my body, through everything. My Six Eyes trait activated without conscious effort, and suddenly the world transformed.
I could see everything.
The mana particles weren't just felt; they were visible, each one distinct, their flows and currents as clear as rivers in sunlight. I saw the wind affinity particles—pale green and swift—streaming past in invisible currents. Water affinity—deep blue and languid—clung to moisture in the air and earth. Sound affinity—rippling translucent waves—vibrated with every rustle of leaves and distant bird call. But beyond the affinities, I saw deeper. I saw the mana channels in my own body, the black core at my center pulsing like a dark star, the veins of energy spreading through my limbs. I saw the life force of nearby plants, the sleeping mana cores of insects, the geological layering of the earth beneath my feet.
It was overwhelming.
For a moment, I staggered, the sheer volume of information threatening to drown me. My Perception stat of 500 meant I could process it, but processing didn't mean comfortable. I understood now why Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen always kept his eyes covered . The Six Eyes granted extraordinary perception—the ability to see cursed energy, to analyze techniques, to process reality at an atomic level . Here, that translated to seeing mana in all its forms, understanding its flows and concentrations instinctively. But the constant input was exhausting.
I focused, forcing the perception to narrow, to filter. After several minutes of mental adjustment, I found a balance—the Six Eyes remained active, but I could direct their attention rather than receiving everything simultaneously. The ability to perceive mana with saint-rank precision while my Six Eyes analyzed it at a fundamental level... the combination was ridiculous.
Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand and willed wind affinity mana to gather. It responded instantly, almost eagerly. A small cyclone formed in my palm, perfectly controlled, spinning at speeds that would have required years of practice for a normal mage.
[Wind Affinity: Basic Spell Cast - Success]
[Progress: 1/3]
I smiled, then shifted to sound affinity. This was trickier—sound mana felt different, more like vibrations than flow. I concentrated, creating a high-pitched hum that emanated from my fingertips, invisible but palpable.
[Sound Affinity: Basic Spell Cast - Success]
[Progress: 2/3]
Water came naturally. Moisture condensed from the air, forming a perfect sphere of water that hovered above my palm, rotating slowly as I manipulated it with casual ease.
[Water Affinity: Basic Spell Cast - Success]
[Quest Complete: Magic Initiate]
[Reward: 400 SP, Affinity Boost Scroll (Basic → Adept for one element)]
I saved the scroll for later—Adept rank in one element was valuable, but I wanted to understand my affinities better before choosing.
With the magic quest complete, I oriented myself using the mental map and started walking southwest. The forest floor was soft with moss and fallen leaves, the air fresh with scents I couldn't identify. As I walked, I thought about those fragmented memories, the being I'd traded with. Why had I given up my memories? What was so important that I'd sacrifice my past?
And then a fragment surfaced—a name. King Grey. A man who had died and been reincarnated as Arthur Leywin. A story I'd read or watched or... lived? The fragments were confusing, but the name triggered more. The Beginning After The End. A webnovel about a king reborn in a world of magic, who would grow to become something greater than anyone imagined .
I stopped walking.
If I was in that world... if I was seven years old now... then Arthur Leywin was also seven. He would have already met Sylvia the dragon, already received her beast will, already spent three years in Elenoir learning from Virion . By age seven, he'd fully assimilated his dragon will and Sylvie would hatch soon, if she hadn't already .
The timeline crystallized in my mind. Arthur was currently either in Elenoir or just returning to his family in Xyrus City. The war with Alacrya was years away. The Vritra were still unknown to the continent. I had time—precious years—to prepare.
But time for what? I wasn't Arthur. I wasn't the protagonist with plot armor and destiny on my side. I was an unknown variable, a hybrid child with a system and powers that would make me a target if discovered. The Asuras would notice an anomaly eventually. The Vritra would sense potential threats. I needed to grow strong, yes, but I also needed to grow smart.
I resumed walking, my young legs carrying me steadily through the forest. The First Steps quest ticked up slowly—0.3 km, 0.7 km, 1.2 km. After about an hour, the trees began to thin, and I caught glimpses of cultivated fields in the distance. Luluh Town materialized as I approached: a small settlement of maybe two hundred buildings, mostly wooden structures with thatched roofs, a dirt main street, and the ever-present smell of livestock and woodsmoke.
I entered cautiously, drawing curious glances from the few townsfolk about their morning business. A seven-year-old alone in the forest was unusual, but not unprecedented—children from outlying farms often walked into town for errands. I kept my head down, my ring ensuring my mana core registered as nothing special, and found the town's small square.
[Main Quest Complete: A New Beginning]
[Reward: 500 SP, 1000 XP, Unlock [Adventurer] Title]
[Level Up!]
[Level: 1 → 2]
[+25 Status Points Available]
[System Points: +500 (Total: 6550 SP)]
The level-up notification surprised me. Twenty-five points per level was generous—I could shape my growth significantly. For now, I saved them, unwilling to commit without understanding my build better.
I spent an hour in Luluh Town, observing. The people were simple folk, farmers and craftsmen, unaware of the larger world beyond their borders. A posted notice on the general store mentioned an Adventurer Guild in the nearest city, Ashber, two days' travel east. I filed that information away. Two years until I turned nine—Arthur's age when he officially became an adventurer . I had two years to prepare, to train, to grow strong enough to walk that path alongside him or carve my own.
But first, I needed a base. The forest where I'd awakened felt right—close enough to civilization for supplies, remote enough for privacy. I purchased a few additional supplies in town with coins the system had provided (a nice touch), then headed back the way I came.
The return journey was faster now that I knew the terrain. My First Steps quest ticked past 5 km, then 7, then 9. As I re-entered the deeper forest, the light began to fade, evening approaching. I needed shelter before nightfall.
That's when I noticed it—a shadow beneath a massive oak, partially hidden by hanging moss. A cleft in the earth, narrow but promising. I approached carefully, using my enhanced perception to probe ahead. The opening was just wide enough for my child's body to squeeze through, leading into darkness.
I activated one of my Mana Light orbs, the floating sphere igniting with soft golden illumination. The light pushed back the darkness, revealing a narrow tunnel that sloped gently downward for about twenty meters before opening into something extraordinary.
A cave. But not just any cave—this was vast and spacious, easily fifty meters across and twenty high at the center. The walls were striated rock, some kind of granite veined with minerals that glittered in my light. Most importantly, cracks in the ceiling and upper walls allowed fresh air to circulate, visible as faint currents in my mana perception. A natural ventilation system.
"This could work," I whispered, my voice echoing slightly.
The floor was uneven but mostly dry, with a small depression at one end that might once have held water. No signs of recent animal habitation—no droppings, no bones, no scent of predator. I walked the perimeter, my Six Eyes analyzing the rock structure, confirming stability. The cave was solid, secure, defensible.
I spent the next hour cleaning. My mana manipulation made it easy—wind to sweep dust and debris into piles, water to dampen the floor and wash away centuries of grime. I created a small living area near the ventilation cracks, arranging flat stones into a rudimentary hearth (though I wasn't sure about fire with the airflow), and marked a sleeping spot with soft moss I gathered from outside.
By the time I finished, the cave felt almost like home. I sat against the wall, watching my Mana Light drift slowly overhead, and considered my situation. I was seven years old in a world of magic and monsters, with knowledge of a future war that would devastate this continent. I had a system that rewarded growth, powers that exceeded anything a child should possess, and two years to prepare before I could safely interact with the world.
Tomorrow, I would train. I would push my magic to its limits, explore my Six Eyes capabilities, and maybe hunt in the forest for实战 experience. But tonight—
A growl interrupted my thoughts.
I was on my feet instantly, mana gathering at my fingertips. My perception expanded, and I sensed it immediately—a mana beast, approaching the cave entrance. Small but aggressive, canine-shaped, with a core of yellow mana burning at its center.
The wolf entered the tunnel, and I had seconds to prepare. I moved to the cave mouth, positioning myself where the tunnel opened into the main chamber. The Mana Light I dimmed to near-invisibility, plunging the cave into darkness that my Six Eyes pierced effortlessly.
The wolf emerged—a meter at the shoulder, grey fur bristling, yellow eyes glowing with bestial hunger. It spotted me immediately and tensed to spring.
I didn't give it the chance.
Wind mana gathered in my palm, compressed, shaped. The blade that formed was invisible but deadly, a crescent of razor-sharp air that I launched with a thought. The wolf never saw it coming. The wind blade caught it mid-leap, slicing cleanly through fur, flesh, and bone. The creature's body hit the ground in two pieces, twitching once before going still.
[Combat: Mana Beast Defeated - Forest Wolf (D-Class)]
[XP Gained: 150]
[Level: 2 → 3]
[+25 Status Points Available (Total: 50)]
[System Points: +150 (Total: 6700 SP)]
I stared at the corpse, breathing hard. Not from exertion—the spell had been trivial—but from adrenaline. My first real combat in this world, and it had been over in an instant. Saint-rank manipulation meant even basic spells were devastating.
I approached the body, curious. The beast core would be valuable—I knew from my fragmented memories that mana beasts formed cores that mages could use for various purposes . A quick incision with my basic knife revealed it: a small yellow orb, pulsing with residual mana. I stored it in my inventory.
[Forest Wolf Beast Core (D-Class) acquired]
[Value: 200 SP or can be used for crafting/enchanting]
The encounter reinforced my determination. The forest had dangers, but I could handle them. And the rewards—XP, SP, materials—would accelerate my growth. I dragged the carcass outside (no need for the cave to smell like death) and returned to my new home, exhausted but satisfied.
As I settled onto my moss bed, the Mana Light brightened slightly at my mental command, and I pulled up my status screen one last time.
[Name: Leonidas]
[Level: 3]
[Status Points: 50]
[System Points: 6700]
[Core: Black (Dark Stage)]
Two years until I turn nine. Two years until Arthur begins his adventurer career. Two years to become strong enough to matter in the coming storm.
I closed my eyes, feeling the gentle airflow from the cracks above, listening to the distant sounds of the forest night. Somewhere out there, Arthur Leywin was living his life, unaware of the future I knew. And somewhere deeper, in the void where my memories should be, fragments of my past life whispered secrets I couldn't quite grasp.
Tomorrow, I would train. Tomorrow, I would grow stronger. Tomorrow, I would begin the long path toward becoming someone who could make a difference.
But tonight, I was just a seven-year-old boy in a cave, far from home and any concept of home I'd ever known. Tonight, I allowed myself to feel the weight of that solitude, the strangeness of this new existence.
The Six Eyes saw everything around me—the mana flows, the sleeping beasts, the geological stability of my shelter. But they couldn't see the future, couldn't tell me if my choices would lead to triumph or disaster. That uncertainty, at least, was perfectly human.
I smiled in the darkness, a small expression lost in the cave's vastness. Whatever came next, I would face it. I had given up my memories for this chance. I wouldn't waste it.
Whatever the future held was to be explored in its fullest