Jericho found himself in the familiar surroundings of his childhood room, a space he hadn't occupied since the age of fifteen. A palpable tremor ran through him as he surveyed the scene.
The room remained precisely as he recalled it from his adolescence:
The walls were adorned with posters of renowned contractors, featuring S-Rank heroes in dynamic poses with flaming swords, guild emblems crackling with lightning, and the iconic image of the inaugural S-Rank raid team.
A dusty shelf held an assortment of expired snacks.
The doorknob was notably incomplete.
A miniature model of a dungeon gateway, a creation from his eighth-grade year, stood prominently.
"I... am back," he uttered softly, his voice barely a whisper, still processing the profound reality of his situation. He extended his trembling hands.
They were youthful, unblemished by the sickly pallor or scars he had grown accustomed to. He approached the full-length mirror.
He touched his cheek, confirming his return to the age of fifteen. The weight of years had lifted, replaced by a youthful radiance.
His hair, a luxurious black, was styled in a contemporary cut. His brown eyes, with their distinctive green undertones, now shimmered with a newfound clarity. His skin was as healthy as one would expect of a fifteen-year-old, free from scars or the marks of privation.
The experience retained a surreal quality, akin to a dream, until...
"Jericho! Dinner's almost ready! Come help set the table, please!"
A voice he missed so much, his mom. His real, alive, mom.
His dad left him and his mom for another woman and her 9-year-old daughter. That was 5 years ago.
His mom, Liliana Rivera, worked three jobs just to keep them afloat. She could've joined the hunters or the branches, but she didn't.
Jericho choked back a sob and pushed open his door. The little hallway smelled like his childhood — laundry soap, old wood, and cheap spices.
In the kitchen was Liliana Rivera, her apron all crooked, her hair loosely pinned, humming as she stirred the pot.
"Mom…"
The word came out, shaky and weak.
Liliana turned with a big smile — then immediately looked worried.
"Jericho? Your eyes… honey, why are you crying?"
She rushed over, wiping his tears with her thumbs.
He just broke down.
He hugged her tight, shaking like he'd fall apart if he didn't.
"M-Mom…"
Liliana was surprised, her son had been in that "too cool for hugs" phase, where they were rare and just barely tolerated.
"Honey, seriously," she laughed softly, patting his back, "you see me every day."
Dinner proceeded with Jericho sharing his memories in a rather earnest manner, recounting everything he could recall: dungeons, sponsorships, the calamity, death, and rebirth. Liliana responded with a gentle laugh and a shake of her head, listening as if he were sharing one of his vivid daydreams.
She did not fully believe him, yet she listened attentively. For Jericho, this was sufficient.
When else might she have the opportunity to spend time with her only child?
Several hours later, he was seated cross-legged on his bed, gazing at the ceiling where glow-in-the-dark star stickers remained.
He was anticipating the system's arrival. She had mentioned it would appear shortly after his return, had she not? This thought occurred to him just before he heard a soft ring, followed by:
[The Embrace System Activated]
[Establishing a connection.]
[Connection Established.]
[The Embrace System has been installed.]
His breathing became labored as a synthetic voice resonated within his mind, followed by the appearance of a crimson display.
———————————
[EMBRACE SYSTEM — Ver. 1.0]
Name: Jericho Rivera
Title: Witness of the End
Sponsor: The Last Embrace (Classified)
Rank: S+
Level: 1
EXP: 0 / 100
Mana: 700 / 700
[CORE DIRECTIVES]
1. Prevent the world's end.
2. Survive at all costs.
3. Alter the fate paths of key variables.
4. Protect Key Anchors. (0 / ???)
[ATTRIBUTES]
STR: 7
VIT: 10
DEX: 9
INT: 12
WIS: 14
LUK: 6
———————————
He immediately noticed the imbalance. His wisdom and intelligence were abnormally high for a fifteen-year-old. Exactly how someone of rebirth would have, enough intelligence and wisdom to know things.
He continued to observe, and then his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
———————————
[SKILLS]
{Inherited Skill — Remnants Sight [EX] [Hidden]}
The ability to perceive the aftershocks of existence.
Effects:
• Past Echoes – View afterimages of events ranging from seconds to centuries old.
• Soul Threads – See invisible connections between people, objects, curses, blessings, or fate.
• Lingering Will – Sense emotional imprints or dying thoughts left behind.
• Falsehood Breaker – Illusions, glamours, and disguises unravel under your gaze.
• Remnant Overload (Risk) – Viewing too many echoes at once may overload the mind.
{Signature Skill — Fate Severance [S]}
To see fate is one thing.
To cut it is another.
Effects:
• Sever the target's "destined outcome," erasing luck, blessings, or divine protection.
• Inflicts extreme damage on prophecy-bound or curse-bound beings.
• Ends ongoing supernatural effects by slicing their origin connection.
• Once per day: Cut your own fate thread to avoid an impending death.
{Personal Skills}
• Quiet Tenacity [B+]
Born from decades of struggling silently.
- Minor stamina regen when refusing to quit.
- Resist exhaustion slightly.
- Skills gain a small boost when HP is low.
• Gentle Spark [B+]
A warmth used to soothe others in the shelters.
- Calms frightened people and animals.
- Self-calming to avoid panic or shock.
- Slight morale boost for allies within reach.
• Shadowed Instinct [B+]
The instinct of a man who survived too many ambushes to count.
- A brief "danger flinch" precognition.
- Sharper reflexes when startled.
- A chilling warning sensation when someone malicious is behind you.
----———————————
Jericho was absolutely shocked. He shot up, his mind circling though emotions. Just the inherited skill alone is enough to gain immediate recognition, althoug hidden. Not only that, his previous personal skills went from D to B.
But.
He sat down as he realized, even with such an amazing inherited skill, it could bring bad news. That would be tied to the infamous criminal organization, Anarchy. Even if they went and helped as they could during the calamity.
He calmed himself down, taking a deep breath. He shouldn't be cowering. Not now. Not ever.
He layed down on the bed, looking at the ceiling.
He definitely has a long way to go. A 10 year safe line, a breathing room for preparations. Yet.
His currently fifteen. His mother barely making ends met. He has no form of power.
"Ah..."
He remembered.
*The grand academy of hunters and contractors, Luminous.*
He grabbed the phone on the bedside table, Orbico, an old phone brand he'd stay close with as this was a gift from his mother.
Though, he did use Nexonix, a high end brand given by the dungeon association for all employees.
he began a small research project, just checking current news and reports. It has been 40 years since the past, and right now, it's been 5 years since the 20th outbreaks.
"Ugh..."
He dropped his head into his pillow. Nothing much, just the same old stuff: popular guilds and raid teams entering dungeons, some small activities covered up, etc.
He thought for a moment before searching for properties near the academy. He no longer needed to pay 10,000 for awakening.
He can spend time and actually learn though the academy, learning by self and by peers was difficult.
Blood drained from his face. An apartment costs over a million, and houses costs over 10-15 million. The nearer the place, the more expensive.
"Would be nice to gain that amount..."
He muttered.
[The Last Embrace has donated 200 Million dollars.]
Jericho flinched at the sound, turning to read the notification. "WHAT?!"
[The Last Embrace chuckles.]
[The Last Embrace states: "Just ask. I've mentioned before, Im quite wealthy."]
[The Last Embrace states: "Oh right, all the donations go directly into your bank account as an actual transaction."]
Jericho was in utter disbelief, Liliana rushed in.
"Hunny?! Did something happen?! Are you hurt?!"