Amadeus leaned back against the tree, deep in thought.
Database.
Suddenly, a translucent screen flickered into existence before him.
[ DATABASE ]
Function is currently locked for the duration of the tutorial.
"What?" Amadeus muttered, startled.
"Then why did Jax tell us to check the database? Was he lying?"
Before he could sink deeper into frustration, an unfamiliar voice echoed from above.
"He didn't lie. He merely withheld part of the truth. The database will only unlock after the tutorial is completed."
Amadeus jumped to his feet, scanning the area in alarm. He was certain no one had approached, and he hadn't sensed any presence nearby.
"What… Who's there?" he asked, on guard.
"You dare speak before me so casually, you unworthy creature?" the voice said, disdain dripping from every word.
Amadeus tilted his head back slowly, tracing the source of the voice—until his eyes landed on a floating crown hovering just above him. It was the same crown he had worn when becoming a Sovereign.
Didn't it disappear when I entered the tutorial?
The crown shimmered faintly with a red and black aura, its tone arrogant and commanding as it spoke again.
"I know I'm majestic, but you could at least stop staring, you unworthy thing."
Amadeus blinked, taken aback. "You can… talk? Interesting."
The crown seemed offended by his casual tone and practically exploded with anger.
"What do you mean you? Show some respect! Know your place, you unworthy creature!"
But Amadeus, now convinced the crown posed no real threat, he ignored its outburst.
He sat back under the tree, calm and indifferent.
With a cold tone, he asked, "Then what exactly are you?"
The crown radiated a deeper red, pride swelling in its voice. "I am the Crown created by the Great One—Oblivion!"
Amadeus remained unfazed. "So Oblivion created you… for what purpose?"
The crown scoffed. "How dare you speak the name of the Great One without reverence, you unworthy thing!"
Oblivion is a bastard, Amadeus thought coldly. The crown didn't react.
So it can't read my thoughts. Good.
"You still haven't answered my question, oh 'Great Crown.'"
"Isn't it obvious?" the crown replied. "I'm here to guide you on your journey to reach the top and serve the will of the Great One Oblivion."
"Guide me?" Amadeus asked. "How?"
"Throughout your journey, I'll serve as your adviser and provide valuable information."
Amadeus scoffed. "I don't need an adviser. As for information, I already have the system's database. So why do I need you?"
The crown growled. "Must I spell everything out for you? Tell me, unworthy creature, does your database currently work?".
Amadeus frowned.
He's right. The database can be locked at certain times. That makes it unreliable.
"Exactly. And you've never lived as a Sovereign, have you? You don't even know the duties of a Sovereign, how to rank up, or the systems that govern this world."
Amadeus remained silent.
"I'll take that as confirmation. Then it should be clear—you're blind, walking across a field of glass shards. One wrong step, and you'll be torn apart without even knowing why."
The truth of the crown's words stung.
"I am your greatest asset," the crown declared proudly. "Be thankful to the Great One Oblivion. Other Sovereigns don't have me."
"So, you're saying others don't have a talking crown?"
"Of course not! I was specially created by the Great One, filled with all the knowledge you'll ever need."
"Interesting," Amadeus said, now genuinely curious. "Then tell me about the Calibrators."
The crown's tone turned lecturing.
Calibrators — beings created by Axel to guide and monitor Sovereigns. They are few in number, immensely powerful, though they rarely engage in combat.
Their main role is event management, such as overseeing the current event—what you call a tutorial is actually named the First Tutorial Event.
First… does this mean there's more to come? No—focus on what matters now.
"So they're not fighters, but managers," Amadeus mused. "That attitude Jax had didn't seem very helpful, though."
"They are living beings, too," the crown replied. "They have personalities, preferences, and egos."
Amadeus sighed. "Let's move on to more important questions."
"Crown, explain the stat system."
Stats
Health (HP): Determines durability and resistance to damage.
Stamina (STM): Affects endurance and physical exertion limits.
Mana Capacity (MANA): Increases your mana pool.
Strength (STR): Increases physical power.
Agility (AGI): Enhances speed and flexibility.
Intelligence (INT): Boosts magical power and effectiveness.
Amadeus remembered his stat screen.
But why are all of mine at level 0?
"Crown, do you know why my stats are all zero?"
"They reflect the power you possessed before becoming a Sovereign. For example, if you had trained your strength beforehand, you would have started with a higher STR stat."
Now I understand. This body was newly created—like a newborn. That explains the zero in every stat.
He clenched his fists.
"I'm literally starting from the bottom."
Amadeus looked up, his gaze sharper, his mind clearer.
The most important thing now was to gather information.
"Crown, explain how points work."
Points are the most vital resource for any Sovereign. Accumulating enough of them allows a user to level up.
Points can be earned through various means:
Defeating enemies
Completing missions.
Killing other Sovereigns
The number of points awarded depends on the difficulty of the task, the rank of the enemy, and their overall threat level.
However, when a Sovereign is killed, their killer inherits all the points they had collected.
" crown, explain Levelling Up ".
Each time a Sovereign levels up, they are awarded 1 Stat Point. This point can be allocated to increase one of the six core stats.
Amadeus absorbed the information in silence.
That's enough. Now, I have a plan.
With resolve burning in his eyes.
"Then it's simple," he said. "Get points. Get stronger. Finish the tutorial."