Ding!
"What?!"
[YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY DISCREDITED...]
[EXTRACTING SAINTâ]
[CONGRATULATIONS đ]
[YOU HAVE EARNED 10 STAT POINTSâ]
[THE CONDITION: YOU HAVE A SHADOW TOOâ HAS BEEN FULFILLED]
[SHADOW HAS BEEN EXTRACTED]
"My shadow?⊠extracted?" I muttered, perplexed by the situation, but the system had not finished.
[THE AUTHOR HAS ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE... HE IS NOW KAISER VANGUARD, THE PROTAGONIST]
[THE OUTER WORLD BEARS WITNESS TO YOUR BIRTH]
[USER HAS CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF ELYSIUM]
[YOUR STATS HAVE BEEN MAXED OUT]
[INITIATING CALL]
As the information streamed into my mind, I felt the world fracture.
My heart felt as though it were being pierced by invisible daggers.
I could sense everything, perceive all things, as if I were a god observing the academy from above.
Clutching my chest tightly, I collapsed to the ground, spasms of pain erupting through me as my life force ebbed away.
The tears that once streamed down my cheeks had turned into crimson; even the grasses bore witness.
I could feel it... I was on the verge of deathâsaliva dripped from my mouth like that of a dying beast, and my eyes bled.
I was in hell; flames surrounded my soul as my mind screamed for mercy.
But throughout this ordeal, not even a squeak left my lips.
It was torment beyond comprehensionâbut then I felt it.
The same sensation that surged through me the first time I slammed my head upon transmigrating from Earth.
The mana within my veins surged like a torrent as I shut my eyelids tightly, the blood relentless, and the churning of my stomach accompanied by ceaseless headaches offered no relief.
But as I gradually opened my eyes, I realized I was no longer in NoctisâI was somewhere else, somewhere unfamiliar.
Hours passed... Or maybe days, yet I could not awaken. Memories from both lives replayed endlessly within my spiralling mind.
"How long has it been?" I asked myself as I endlessly drifted in the endless void.
As I floated through the empty space filled with glimmering stars. I saw visions of a beautiful world. A happy world. A sad world, but it was also a perfect world; it felt warm, comforting. Like paradise, a utopia crafted just for me, but as time passed though, the illusion cracked.
I wasn't just a figure shaped by other's ideals anymoreâI was Kaiser Vanguard but something else.
I had both good memories and bad ones from both my lives, friends, family and companions.
Yes I was Jin-Sung... Cha Jin-sung
As if answering my silent call, the world responded, not to a prodigy or hero who wandered with cheatsâbut to me, Cha Jin-sung⊠No, Kaiser Vanguard.
[YOUR CALL HAS ENDED]
[YOU HAVE EARNED A CELESTIAL CODE: WEAVER OF LIFE]
"Gasp!"
For a brief moment, it felt as though what I had witnessed had been nothing but a dream.
Yet even with the pain gone, I knewâI had seen something I should not have.
"System."
Ding!
[ARCHAIC SYSTEM]
Name: Kaiser Vanguard
Class: Wave Controller
Affiliation: Weaver's Coven
---
Rank: D-Rank
Core: Red
Title: Hunter
---
Archetype: Manipulator
Affinity (Singular Affinity): Shadows
Mana Pool: 45/50
---
[Techniques]
Weaving [Unknown]
Mastery: 0/???
---
[CORE CAPACITY]
Strength (STR): 20
Speed (SPE): 33
Agility (AGI): 47
Dexterity (DEX): 45
Intelligence (INT): 30
Charm (CHA): 18
Endurance (END): 21
Stamina (STA): 20
Luck (LUK): 66
D-Rank Stat Capacity: 300/300
Available Stat Points: 0
---
[Talents]
Shadow of Dominion: Enables the user to extract and command Saints formed from a target's essence.
Description: Two types existâShadow Saints, fragments of a target's true form created when conditions are met (not the main body); and Mage Saints, actual individuals who willingly pledge loyalty. Unlike Shadow Saints, Mage Saints retain human form and free will.
Saints preserve their abilities, exist as immortal shadows tethered to the user, and perish only if the user does. They grow alongside the user and may be summoned within the Dominion Radius or via mana imprints.
Condition: The user must either overpower the target, disgrace them (directly or indirectly), compel their loyalty, force submission, or instil self-doubt.
To command and possess one's shadow, one must either fracture its belief or convert that belief into loyalty.
New!!
Infinite Adaptability: Unknown
Description: Unknown
Condition: None
---
[CURRENT MAGE SAINTS: 1...]
[CURRENT SHADOW SAINTS: 2...]
---
[Sub-talents]
Alabaster Ice [Gobo]: A talent acquired from a Sequence Nine drifterâGoblin. Allows the user to lower ambient thermal energy by 50% in moderate-to-low-temperature settings, and by 200% of excess heat in high-temperature zones. The "ambient temperature" is measured immediately before activation.
Clairvoyance [Shiki]: A talent acquired from a Sequence Eight drifterâRaging Bear. Enables enhanced visual range and sensory perception.
With heightened senses and a sixth sense, the user perceives events or information beyond typical awarenessâprecognition reveals potential futures.
Fifth-Time [Gumiho]: A time-based talent obtained from Zack. Grants the ability to halt time for 5 seconds per rank (currently 13 seconds at D-Rank).
The saint Gumiho shares this power and can activate it independently. Activation consumes significant mana and stamina. Due to the saint's upgrade, you can move while it is active.
---
[VESTIGES]
Hunting Dagger [Weapon]:
Description â Spirit: A simple dagger.
Regulator [Utility]:
Description â Ancient: Grants the user control over the surrounding temperature.
Nightwing [Utility]:
Description â Ancient: Obtained from a high-level drifter, allows the user to glide over short distances.
Star Of Ruin [Weapon]:
Description â Transcendent: You have ascended and your saint persists as a weapon of dreadâyour versatility is unmatchedâany weapon is formidable in the hands of a true warrior.
-----
"Everything changed."
I didn't know what was happening, but I had to gather my thoughts.
Brushing myself off quickly, I hurried toward my dormitory.
Throughout the walk, I could sense it.
My body felt lighter, my skin more refreshed, even the stares from both male and female students were different.
I could hear and perceive everything around me simultaneously, and the air itself felt strangely cold.
The hazy visions visible through clairvoyance persisted, though subtly.
'Is this what it feels like to be overpowered?' I wondered, a grin tugging at my lips.
I didn't know what triggered it. Or why it happened. But I would use it to grow stronger. I would never allow myself to be humiliated again.
'Just wait, princessâno, Frieren Hohenzollern. I don't easily forget things.'
For now, organizing my thoughts was the priority.
Stopping abruptly, my gaze flicked to the training facility before shifting direction.
My body tingled, my arms trembled, and the grin on my face refused to fade.
I needed to test itâwhat I had become.
-----
The door to the training room I once used with Neko-sensei creaked open as I quickly secured it behind me.
First, I had to activate the gravity function.
Then review my stats.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to spar with the system."