Chapter 1: Rego von Kartal
"Damn it... damn it! I shouldn't have left the window open. The rain was light when I left it, now it's heavy rain with wind, and water entered my computer after I left for a short time."
Why does fate love to toy with me? I must clean the water from the computer parts and dry them before they burn. First, disconnect the electricity. Yes, slowly. Piece by piece. This is my only computer. Damn it, how I hate the crowded motherboard, especially when removing the RAM. I must pull it gently... BOOM! Lightning shook the place and everything darkened.
Didn't I disconnect the electricity? I've always been cautious even about the simplest electric currents because of my constantly sweaty hands. Was it the electric charge and the open window that attracted the lightning? And the most important question: Am I alive, dead, or just unconscious?
I feel as if I'm submerged in stagnant water. There's a long tunnel with a bright point at its end. The more I focus, the bigger that point becomes. Blink. Blink.
What is this place? It's not my room, and certainly not a hospital. Is this my grave? Wait, I can move my hand. Where's my neat beard? Why is my hair long? AAARGH!
This terrible headache, first time I feel it, and these memories. Wait. Really. Did I cross over? Yes, no explanation for these foreign memories and this different body that belonged to its previous owner. But looking at these memories, it's like the standard setup for a story's hero.
A conspiracy to kill him. Humiliation from his family. All privileges revoked. Expelled from his home. Forced to change his name. What a shocking thing. But what about this strange talent?
Fate's Enmity. Looking at it, they were right. This talent will bring destruction to him and those around him. It's the talent of a demon lord or main villain in those fantasy novels.
Ah, speaking of fantasy novels, this world is truly strange.
Fortunately, this person loved reading and had extensive knowledge about this world. And the pain I suffered accepting these memories was also exaggerated. I want a painkiller pill now. Ugh.
Unfortunately, this world isn't one I've read about, and certainly not One Piece. Nami-swaaan. Haha. Ugh. Ugh.
My head still hurts. Oh god, this is way worse than a migraine. Damn you, Oda, now I'll never know what One Piece is.
I think I need to organize all these memories first. Now the saying "Who am I and where are we?" applies to me. After some time passes.
If I think about it, this world resembles one I've read about but is also different. First, this world is huge, at least three or four times the size of my previous world. And there are hundreds of worlds that have been recorded but not fully explored.
Humans in this world are currently in a balance of power with beasts of human-like intelligence and among themselves. Every city has tall, thick walls to repel stray beasts and "Beast Tides"¹.
Secondly, this world recognizes only strength and status. It's not friendly to ordinary people. You're threatened to become a slave, servant, or even "Cannon Fodder"² at any moment. Hmm. So to live in this world, you must not think about leaving the walls or approaching beasts, or the lords who show no mercy, or nobles who might enslave you just because they don't like your appearance.
Either stay low your whole life and flee from everything, or fight and endure hardships to carve your own place.
Unfortunately, I have no choice. Given the background of this body's owner, I'll die in all scenarios, whether through conflict with outlaws, or the Kartal family who won't let me live, or even because of my mysterious talent.
Thus, fighting is my only path, and I certainly won't kill myself. Ah yes, self-development lessons. I can do it. I am strong. I am handsome. Haha.
Speaking of handsomeness, at least this person's body isn't bad. I remember he has a mirror behind the door. Every part of my body hurts. This boy literally tortured himself to strengthen his body. Where's the lamp? Yes, the lighting is weak here, but I can see anyway.
"What do we have? A body with pale white skin... Gray eyes... Dark gray hair... Sharp features but broken by grief. A villain's smile for sure. An athletic body but with very weak muscle mass. A thin but firm body. Abs. Beautiful—I haven't had these since my teenage days. Height 176 cm. For a 17-year-old male in this world, this body is very weak."
This world somewhat resembles RPG games. The bracelet on the wrist called "GAIA Bracer"³ is used for almost everything: ID card, payment method, city exit/entry permit, Contribution Points exchange, communication device with other bracelet holders. And its most important feature: [Manifest State]. These are its functions within Gaia's world.
But when you cross to another world, all its features are disabled except [Manifest State]. Okay, thinking about "Manifest State". Hmm, strange.
According to memory, saying "Manifest State" should show a blue window with stats and information about the person. But two windows appeared for me? One identical to the memory in blue, and another golden. This is strange?
Yes. Yes, when I was examining the memories, information about the "Primal Screen"⁴ appeared at the end. I thought it was an advanced version of Manifest State, but no. Wait. Ah. Could it be my private system that appeared due to my fusion with Rego.
Great, it seems I finally have a glimmer of hope. Where are my tears of joy? Come out, I'm happy. Good, I can control the screen and hide what I don't need. Okay, now let's see the "GAIA Screen"⁵ and the original one.
[Personal Data]
Name: Senaro Shenal (Rego von Kartal)
Talent: Fate's Enmity - Mystic rank (Trash)
Level: Awakened ★☆☆☆☆ | 24 SP
Points: 180
[Stat Board]
STR: 5
VIT: 5
AGI: 8
SPI: 5
[Skills]
Passive: None.
Active: None.
Damn it. Damn it. These stats are too weak, even though he awakened. His total "SP" points, meaning System Points, are only 24. Even ordinary Unawakened people have 40 to 60 points. No wonder they consider him trash. But this is definitely because of the conspiracy he suffered.
He's attached to his former name, it still appears in the status window, which somewhat interacts with the user's soul. But what's the story with this strange talent? Strong name but completely negative effect. I think it needs activation or a specific ritual or event? As if I was at rest and something else was added. Damn you, Rego.
Strange. I felt something indescribable when I mentioned Rego's name? Could his soul still be here? This is really bad news. Anyway, things will become clear later. After thinking about the Primal Screen, it appeared for real.
[Personal Data]
Name: Undefined
Talent: Fate's Enmity - Mystic (Sealed) | Unawakened - Undefined
[Fate's Enmity: Requires striking a Child of Destiny to activate]
[Unawakened: Requires consuming an Awakening Stone to activate]
Level: Awakened ★☆☆☆☆ | 24 SP
[Vein Surge][Yin Venom Seal]
Affinity: Darkness (High - Sealed) | Space (Low)
Points: 180
World: Gaia - Northern Continent
[Stat Board]
STR: 5
VIT: 5
AGI: 8
SPI: 5
(Hidden Stats)
MAG: - (Talent penalty)
LUK: - (Talent penalty)
[Skills]
Passive: None.
Active: None.
[Quests]
Main: 0/0
Side: 2/2
1/ Meet and interact with a Child of Destiny at the market xx/xx/xx (Free Quest)
2/ Activate the talent within 3 days (Reward: 10 Free Points | Penalty: Random -10 stat deduction)
Yohohoho. Finally something to rejoice about. I think the Primal Screen is an enhanced version of the GAIA Screen, showing more details and unconnected to GAIA's system. Good, at least some privacy.
About the name. Wait. I can't remember my previous name or even the people I knew for some reason. Those memories seem foggy, not even an idea? Strange. Why do I remember some details about my life, especially novels and anime? Could it be an obsession? I'll choose the name Leo Frex.
I've always liked the name Leo. As for the surname Frex, it's the title of the Hunter x Hunter anime protagonist. Don't ask me about its meaning, it just sounds good. Things get better now. I know how to activate Fate's Enmity. Plus, there's another talent needing an Awakening Stone, a precious and expensive thing. But why does it show I have an Awakening Stone. Moment of thought. Right. It seems to be the only thing he managed to bring from his family.
Let me see. It seems hidden in the corner of the broken cabinet. Hmm. Yes, it's here. My hands are itching to try it, but I must do something first. Where's the bathroom. Now I can think clearly. Although the Primal Screen is definitely my golden finger, Fate's Enmity. I seem to understand what it means. I'm not the hero, I'm the villain. Zehahaha.
It no longer matters. But what about Vein Surge and Yin Venom Seal? They must be why my body is weak and why my little brother didn't react. I might forgive everything except losing my little brother. No no no, damn the Kartal bastards. Oh god, it's like riding a rollercoaster: disaster, joy, disaster, joy, then another disaster. Haha. Since my system and this world push me to be a villain, I'll be one. Zehahaha.
Footnotes:
Beast Tide: A high-rank beast leads beasts to attack human cities.
Cannon Fodder: Soldiers and people sacrificed in every battle.
GAIA Bracer: Device merging black tech and biochemistry with multiple functions.
Primal Screen: Exclusive system for the story's protagonist, an enhanced version of the display screen provided by GAIA AI.
GAIA Screen: Common alternative name for the display screen.
SP Points: Total points of STR + VIT + AGI + SPI = Total points. Abbreviation for System Point.