Five years, that how long it been.
The System has been relentless, assigning me tasks that require me to venture far beyond the mansion walls. Luckily I managed to find an alternative to each task. Security remains as tight as ever. While escaping the nursery is child's play for me now, navigating the layers of guards surrounding the mansion is a completely different matter.
Still, things have been relatively quiet. Nothing of the same caliber as the "Training Calamity" has occurred in the half-decade since I arrived.
Then there's my sister.
I've been learning her Moon Blade technique. Well, it's not as if I really had a choice. As soon as I was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Claudia made it her life's mission to see me master her style. For the past year, she has been my shadow and my tutor.
The Moon Blade focuses on precise, high-speed strikes. It combines fluid swordsmanship with elemental magic—a feat that might sound simple to the uninitiated, but usually requires a lifetime of dedication to achieve.
Claudia's style consists of five forms, but she's insisted I focus solely on the first:
Moon's Whisper – Ice Wind Slash.
I have to admit, the technique is brilliant. It is the most fundamental of her forms, yet it remains bafflingly complex for most to grasp.
However, before I was a god, I was known as the Sword Master of Destruction. When she showed me the form just once, I got the gist of it.
The technique uses wind generated by ice magic to create a freezing, razor-sharp force beneath the feet. With a single thrust, the user launches forward. To an observer, the user seems to vanish into a cloud of mist— due to the ice-chilled air and the friction of the blade.
Under a second. That is all it takes to travel from point A to the opponent.
Once in range, the user delivers three near-instantaneous strikes:
* A defensive parry to neutralize any counterattacks.
* A disarming blow to knock the enemy's weapon aside.
* A final, lethal slash through the torso.
It is too fast for the human eye to track. The only evidence left behind is the lingering traces of frost and mist in the air.
Of course, understanding a technique and performing it are two different things—especially when you're trying to be worthless. When Claudia saw my intentionally disarranged footwork and my "struggle" to channel magic to my feet, she turned and ran back into the manor.
At first, I thought she had finally given up. Good news for me, I thought.
I was wrong.
The next morning at dawn, she dragged me to the training hall. She had prepared a full presentation on the mechanics of the Ice Wind Slash, meticulously detailing every step from the initial mana-channeling to the final follow-through. Her persistence was admirable, even if her efforts were technically in vain since I continued to "fail."
To make things clear, it's not like I can't do it. The truth is, I've already perfected it. I only decided not to show it to her.
On the nights I sneak out to the courtyard, I've even added my own improvements. I call the variation Mist Direction. Instead of letting the mist dissipate, I expand it to blanket the entire area, completely blinding the opponent. I sheath my blade with the B-class spell Ventus, sending a burst of mist in one direction as a decoy while I reposition. By the time the enemy realizes the "mist" they're attacking is empty air, I've already appeared behind them to end the fight.
If I ever showed this to Claudia, she'd likely shout it from the rooftops.
Before I knew it, I'd be the center of attention in the whole MorningStar.
I need to remain in the shadows. My plan is to play the role of the "useless son." Let the maids and butlers whisper that I'm "talentless." Let the cooks joke that they have better sword arms than the young master. It's a small price to pay for the freedom to train for my true purpose: killing the gods.
The only time I'd show my hand just a little is during the entrance exam for the Selene Academy of Mages and Knights.
Selene is the apex of education—a neutral ground where humans, elves, spirits, and dwarves gather. Naturally, the entrance exam is legendary for its difficulty. Claudia, of course, passed with flying colors. The judges had been scouting her for years, desperate for a student who could weave magic and master the sword so effortlessly.
She leaves for the Academy in two years when she turns twelve. I still have seven years of "uselessness" to enjoy before my time comes.
Aside from the Moon Blade, I've been developing a style of my own—a martial art derived from wind magic that works with a sword or fist. I plan to test it against a Dark Golem eventually.
That reminds me of the System's long-term tasks. To complete them, I needed a way to hunt monsters legally.
In this estate, there's an adventurers' guild. The Adventurer's Guild has a unique quirk: there is no age restriction. Our father, the head of the Morningstar house, believes potential isn't dictated by age, and he instructed the guild to allow anyone to register as long as they pay the fee. Most kids wouldn't dream of it, but Claudia is a local legend.
She registered a year ago and has already made a name for herself by hunting Goblins and even an Ogre. Fighting an Ogre usually requires a B-rank adventurer; their skin is as tough as reinforced steel. Yet, Claudia killed one without even using magic—dodging a spiked mallet, severing its arm, and baiting it into falling onto her upturned blade.
Earlier this morning, during our usual "disappointing" training session, I put on my best performance.
"No, no, no! You mixed up the steps again!" she sighed, exasperated.
"I'm sorry, it's too hard," I whimpered, selling the "talentless waste" act perfectly.
I expected her to dismiss me for the day. Instead, she got a wicked glint in her eyes.
"You know, maybe training here isn't going to cut it," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "Maybe you need some actual experience.
Okay, it's decided!"
"What's decided?" I asked, feeling a cold sweat break out.
"I'm taking you to register at the Adventurer's Guild!"
"No! Please! I'll die! Am I not too young?"
"Nope," she chirped, grabbing me by the collar. "Father says potential has no age. Let's go, Abel.
Well, it didn't matter. I had planned on going monster hunting anyway, but I hadn't planned on joining a guild so soon. Still, this was my chance to escape the confines of the mansion. How I was going to hide my strength while hunting was a mystery, but I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.
At first, I thought we'd head straight to the Guild, but my sister had to get permission from our father first. My father is pretty easygoing, so he agreed without a fuss. Then came the real obstacle: Mom.
If I'm being honest, I don't know much about her. For the past five years, she has been nothing but a loving mother, but who she was before that remains a mystery. The same goes for my father.
Huh. I really don't know anything about them, do I?
Anyway, Mom is… protective. Extremely so. Since I appeared to have no talent, she made it her personal mission to keep me out of danger. When Claudia proposed the Guild registration, Mom shot it down instantly.
But Claudia didn't back down.
"How is Abel supposed to learn without any real danger?" my sister argued. "If he can't fight when there's no risk, how is he supposed to fight when his life is on the line?"
"You are denying him his destiny as a swordsman!" Claudia shouted.
"Well, not everyone is destined to be a brute like you!" Mom countered.
"I'm no brute!"
"Oh really? Your answer to everything is to fight!"
"No, it isn't!"
"Yes, it is!"
"Well, at least I'm doing something for the world instead of staying in a room all day signing papers!"
"I dare you to do what I do for a day!"
"You wouldn't last an hour in my shoes!"
"You would last a minute in mine!"
Well, that turned personal quickly.
It was like watching a duel, but with words instead of blades. They argued until afternoon. Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—Mom won.
When the dust finally settled, I knew this was my one chance to pivot.
"Mother," I said softly. She turned her attention to me, her expression softening. "I don't want to join the Adventurers' Guild."
She shot a smug smirk at my sister. "You see? He doesn't even want to join."
Claudia crossed her arms, looking indifferent, but I wasn't finished.
"But... I do want to be able to go out. Staying in the mansion all day isn't exactly fun."
Now it was Claudia's turn to smirk. It wasn't exactly her plan, but it served her purpose. Mom looked at me with a stern gaze, her dark blue eyes searching mine as if weighing the gravity of my request.
My path is to defeat the gods. No matter how comfortable this life is, if I don't get stronger, I will never achieve that goal.
Finally, she gave in. "Alright. You win."
She walked to her desk, opened a drawer, and handed me a peculiar card. "If you present this to the guards, they'll allow you to leave—provided you take a maid with you. And no matter what, do not go to the Adventurers' Guild. Can I trust you, Abel?"
"Of course," I lied.
She smiled and hugged me with enough force to nearly strangle me. As Claudia and I left the room, I felt a twinge of guilt. I had just promised my mother I wouldn't go to the Guild, knowing full well that was exactly where I was headed.
——
When night fell, the initial excitement of my freedom was dampened by one condition: the maid. I could go out during the day, sure, but I needed to go out now.
The System rarely updates the long-term tasks, but when it does, you usually have a five-year window. Tonight was the final night of that fifth year. Who knows what penalty would befall me if I failed to complete it by dawn?
There was also that Arcium thing but a few years after I was born, that task disappeared.
I had to sneak out.
Escaping wasn't the issue; the issue was being recognized. If I walked into the Guild as Abel Morningstar, word would reach my mother before sunrise. I sat in silence for a while until an idea struck.
I had been experimenting with mana in ways that bypassed traditional spells. I could manifest weapons—swords, daggers, even a rudimentary firearm. The System blocked these for daily tasks, but for personal use, they were fair game.
If I can manifest a blade, why not clothing?
I needed something to blend into the night. Something simple, efficient, and durable. Gear that doubled as a disguise.
I sat on my bed, closed my eyes, and channeled the energy I used for weapons, but I shifted the intent toward texture and form. A massive wave of magical energy engulfed my body. At first, it was smooth—the mana began to weave itself into fabric, replacing my pajamas.
Then, the backlash hit.
My legs buckled. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. I collapsed, coughing up thick, bloody. My vision blurred as tears of crimson blood ran down my face.
This was the price of a human body attempting to go beyond what it could do. It felt like drowning in a sea of agony. But I didn't scream. I bit my lip until it bled, forcing the mana to stabilize. If the journey ahead was as difficult as I expected, this pain was merely an ant's bite compared to what was coming.
The darkness swallowed me. When I finally came to, the pain was gone. The blood had vanished as if it had never been there.
"I might actually need to put some points into my Luck stat," I muttered, standing up.
I checked myself in the mirror. I was wearing a sleek, charcoal-black bodysuit with sharp, purple energy linings pulsing like veins. Over it sat a heavy, dark hooded cloak. It was perfect.
I opened the nursery window and looked down. I hadn't used a mana shield or wind magic to soften the fall—I just jumped. I wanted to test the "durability" of this mana-woven gear.
I hit the ground with a dull thud. To my surprise, I was unscathed.
Durability: Check.
I sprinted toward the gate. For once, the guards were actually awake. Using my [Ghost] skill, I slipped through the iron bars and stepped out of the Morningstar estate for the first time since my rebirth.
The world outside was breathtaking. Even at night, the city was alive. I saw carriages moving without horses and streets lined with glowing glass lanterns. I found a map posted on a building and navigated toward the Guild. On the way, I saw a massive metal carriage moving along iron pipes in the ground.
Science has certainly kept busy while I was dead.
I finally reached the Guild—a tavern adorned with golden trim and the Morningstar family crest. I stepped inside.
Back to the present.
The receptionist was a woman with hair as dark as midnight and eyes like pools of blood. I could sense an immense well of magic power hidden behind her professional demeanor. She stared at me as if I were a ghost.
"Look, kid," she said, her voice laced with worry. "I know you've heard about the young mistress Claudia, but not everyone has that talent. You'll get yourself killed. Where are your parents?"
I looked her in the eye and lied. "They're dead. They died fighting a Dark Golem."
Her expression shifted from concern to shock. "I... I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"It's okay," I replied, feeling like a total bastard.
"If there's anything you need, let me know. I'm Luna Dragonheart. And you are?"
Introduction time. I couldn't use "Abel." I needed something else.
"Noir. Noir Drake."
She tilted her head. "How do you know your last name if your parents are gone?"
Damn it. "I said they died. I didn't say they died the second I was born."
Luna's face turned as red as her eyes. She ducked under the desk in embarrassment before popping back up. "I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have assumed. Noir Drake, right? I'll register you."
I pay the fee with some money I had "borrowed" from Claudia (I'll pay her back later).
"Welcome to the Guild, Mr. Drake. Would you like to come back tomorrow to start your first quest?"
"No," I said. "I'm starting tonight."
She smiled. "Oh? What makes tonight so special?"
"Nothing," I said, matching her smile. "Nothing in particular."
As I leave the tavern, I head straight for the forest. The Guild accepts loot as proof of a kill even without a formal quest. If I bring back the core of a Dark Golem, the rewards would be massive.
Dark Golems thrive near high concentrations of mana, usually by water. There was a lake deep in the woods surrounded by mana crystals—a perfect hunting ground.
As I walked, I looked at my new adventurer's card. Noir Drake.
I chose that name for a reason. Noir was the God of Shadows. Among all the gods, he was like a brother to me. We looked out for one another. His power was as vast as his heart.
So why? Why did you of all people betray me?
I dropped to my knees, the weight of the betrayal hitting me all over again. I wept like the child I appeared to be. As a god, I had stripped myself of emotion to maintain order. Rebirth had forced those feelings back into the light.
I wiped my face and stood up. I sensed movement.
One... four... twelve... twenty.
I was surrounded by a pack of Goblins. They were green, scaly, and snarling, their red eyes glinting with hunger.
"Well," I whispered. "This should be fun."
The goblins lunged each of them holding a knife and a club. As they got closer I erected a barrier of mana around my body. The goblins started hitting and smashing the barrier. No Luck so far. It would take them years before they could even scratch it. Ever since birth if made sure to increase my mana capacity as much as I could. I can't rely on the system to make me stronger the whole time. The goblins continued smashing, expecting a different result. Well, I guess I can't stay on the defensive forever.
As I extended my hand, an idea came to me. Fighting the dark golem is going to be difficult so it means I'm gonna have to use everything at my disposal. So instead of using just mana I might as well use Qi too.
Qi is some sort of new energy humans have discovered. Apparently, it's filled in the air around us, and in lots of objects, making it more natural energy than magic energy. Martial artists use Qi to power up their technique. I haven't been able to do much research on Qi but I do know that Qi can be gathered into different forms and with my mana to help shape it, I might be able to turn this into a weapon capable of more than mana weapons could do.
Feeling Qi and gathering is child's play but to shape it would be a little more difficult. First, manifest the Qi into the palms of my hands. Simple enough. Manifest metal Qi for the blade itself, water and wind Qi for elasticity, lightning Qi for striking, and earth Qi for power.
The Qi was manifested in my hands, glowing like different colored diamonds. I flared my mana, causing it to combine with the Qi and I visualized the sword I wanted. My mana and Qi started to take shape.
It was a beautiful, blade—a hybrid of silver steel and glowing purple energy. The hilt was dark and segmented, leading into an aggressive guard that pulsed with a dark light. The blade itself was jagged, with the upper half looking like frozen purple lightning and the bottom half tapering into a razor-sharp metallic edge.
Exactly what I imagined.
The moment I lowered the shield, the goblins lunged towards me, I jumped to a tree on my left but the moment I landed, 2 goblins jumped as well, trying to hit me with their knife,I swung my sword, blocking the attack, but the impact caused the branch to crack
The two goblins continue to attack, and the others seem to have noticed the crack and have all gathered around me.
They probably think I won't have enough time to brace myself for the fall. And I probably won't have enough time to react to their attacks if I do fall. Probably think I'm an amateur. Guess I can't blame them, I mean even I think I look weak.
One of the goblins jumps, attempting to stab my head. I manage to use my sword to not only block it, but Ialso manage to throw the knife away with one strike. The other goblin tries to protect the defenseless one but the branch cracks, and the goblins start to fall right into their little pit.
Perfect, now I can kill ''em all at once.
I hold both of the goblins hand and throw them directly onto the ground. They're both injured but they aren't dead.
Let's change that.
My mana starts to engulf the sword. The sword glowed with a hue of purple. The magic power I put into the sword wasn't much but it was all I needed.
The amount of mana one has is important, but how one uses it is much more important. I compress my mana onto the blade.
The air begins to shake and the goblins who were looking at me like their prey begin to run, but unfortunately for them it's too late. As I approach the ground, I stab my blade directly into the ground.
The ground began to shake and spikes made of mana started to appear. Impaling all of the goblins in their heart one by one. As I looked up, all I could see were glowing spikes and the corpses of dead goblins around.
Whoa, I barely put any mana into that, and they're all dead. I expected maybe a couple of them would make it out alive but guess not.
The system notifies me.
Long term
⁃ "unlock your Arcium"
✓ "Kill 15 goblins"
⁃ "obtain the core of a dark golem"
Oh right, killing goblins was one of the quests I had to do.
Another notification comes up.
Would you look at that, if leveled up. Must have gained some experience points from those goblins.
Level:5
My level might be low but my stats are much much higher.
A bright glow catches my attention. I walk towards that light. When I arrived at the source of the light, I was stunned by what I saw. There was a portal in the middle of a lake. Its magic power is probably what attracted all these monsters.
It's slim but I can feel the presence of a dark golem. Their mana is unique so there's a high chance. Besides making portals like these isn't exactly unusual for them.
Well, I've got no other lead.
As I walk toward the portal, it started to close, getting smaller and smaller with each step I took.
Seeing this, I dashed towards the portal and jumped, barely making it through.
All this to defeat a dark golem. I better be right about this.