Months passed. A strange urgency lingered inside me. Quiet, constant, impossible to ignore. I needed to understand this world.
How things worked here.. –or whether it was truly different from the one I came from. But my current body was a problem.
I was still a baby. Weak. Small. Helpless in every physical sense. I couldn't stand yet. Couldn't walk. At best, I could crawl.. slowly and awkwardly.. like some half-formed creature dragging itself across the floor.
And yet…
I learned. I watched everything. Every sound. Every movement. Every pattern. That day, something changed. My father left early for labor as usual, the wooden door creaking softly behind him. But in his rush, a book slipped from his hands and fell onto the floor with a dull thud.
No one came back for it.
Except me. I waited a moment. Then slowly dragged myself across the floor, inch by inch, until my small hands reached it. It was heavier than expected. With effort, I pulled it closer and opened it.
I stared at the cover. Strange symbols.
Letters I had never seen before. I tried to understand it... –but nothing made sense. Not even a hint of meaning. I frowned slightly.
"…Man, I can't read this." Still, I opened it anyway and suddenly–
NOTICE
[Skill: Universal Understanding activated]
"…Huh?"
A strange sensation spread through my mind. Not painful. Not invasive. More like something inside me quietly clicking into place. The symbols didn't change. But I could understand them now. Even the title that was meaningless before now formed clearly in my mind.
"Arcane Units: Intermediate Guide" Now I'm a bit curious "…So that's what it says." I blinked once. "So it works like that." I flipped the page. And began reading. Arcane Units
*Flip*
(AU) – Overview.
Arcane Units were the standardized measurement of mana present within all living beings and the environment.
Magic in this world wasn't abstract or mystical. It was quantified. Measured. Systemized. Like a resource. Like data.
Mana Quantity → Arcane Units (AU)
AU represented raw magical energy.
500 – 1,000 AU → basic spell casting
1,000 – 3,000 AU → advanced spells
3,000 – 5,000+ AU → elite-level spells
though not everyone with high AU can actually use them, it takes time, practice, and patience.
"Simple, clean, and practical huh?.." Like HP or MP in a game–but more precise. I-exhaled softly. "So magic is measurable…" My lips curled slightly."…Interesting." The book continued.– "Raw mana alone meant nothing. True strength came from how it was processed. Multiple variables determined the final output of any spell." My eyes stopped at a structured equation.
"P = AU x PI x FC x EDR x B"
Below it were explanations–
Precision Index (PI)
How accurately mana is controlled.
Low PI → unstable, wasteful casting
High PI → efficient, precise, lethal casting
Formula Capacity (FC)
How basic and complex a spell the mind can construct and maintain at a time.
FC 1 → basic spells (fireball, water whip)
FC 5 → advanced structures (homing, splitting, layered magic)
FC 10 → logic-based or reality-interacting magic systems (Few S ranks were able to cast 3-10 spells at once, it is very few that they sound more like legends from a fairytale book)
"So even this world has it's own absurdities huh?" —i smirked as I can't believe it on my own..
*Flip*
Energy Discharge Rate (EDR)
How fast mana is released and stabilized.
Low EDR → slow casting
Medium EDR →bit faster casting
High EDR → instant spells
Body Factor (B)
Physical condition affecting mana flow.
0.5 → weak body (unstable casting, backlash risk)
1.0 → normal human baseline
10-30→ trained fighter
30-50+ → elite physique
I leaned back slightly. "…So everything matters." Not just mana. Not just talent. But body, control, structure, and execution speed. I looked back at the equation. "P = A" Then I chuckled softly.
"So magic is real in this world…" My eyes narrowed slightly. "Seems like I'm inside a literal MMORPG." But unlike games… this system wasn't made for entertainment.
It was real. And real systems always had structure, Patterns, Limits.
My gaze shifted further down the page.
A classification system followed. Magic Rank System (Guild Standard) Mana capacity measured in Arcane Units using mana crystal directly determined a mage's rank.
E Rank: Typical beginners. Basic spell casting. Low-level survival magic. Can survive weak dungeon environments. E-rank individuals are suitable for entry-level dungeon exploration under supervision.
I tilted my head slightly. "So this was really like on those video games huh?" Chuckles softly.
D Rank: Stable basic combat magic. Can handle weak monsters alone. Early adventurer level.
C Rank: Mid-tier spell usage. Element shaping and combination spells. Can clear small dungeon floors.
B Rank: Advanced combat mages. Area control magic, Dangerous battlefield presence.
A Rank: High-level casters
Large-scale destruction capability. National-level threats or assets.
S Rank: Monster-class individuals. Disaster-level output. Battlefield-changing power, Rare even among nobles.
I stared at the chart for a moment. Everything was so clean. So organized. So logical.
Then my gaze shifted on the lower part..–
It says "Combat Class System"
The next section detailed combat roles.
Not rigid classes–but functional archetypes based on combat specialization.
Support Class:
Focused on sustaining and enhancing allies.
• Healer
Specialize in recovery magic. Restore health, remove injuries, stabilize allies with limited offensive capability.
• Saints
Specialize in buffs and debuffs. Enhance allies or weaken enemies. High utility in large-scale battles.
• Healer Saints (Rare)
Can use both healing and buff/debuff magic
Extremely valuable in any party.
Damage Dealers:
Focused on offense and elimination.
• Assassins
Use daggers or twin daggers, High speed, high burst damage. Specialize in stealth and critical strikes.
• Swordsmen
Use single or dual swords (dual wielders are rare), Balanced offense and defense. Highly adaptable fighters.
• Axemen
Use heavy axes (short or long), High raw damage. Slower but devastating strikes.
• Lancers
Use spears, tridents, and long weapons
Superior reach and piercing attacks. Effective in both offense and control.
• Archers
Use bows or crossbows, Long-range specialists. High accuracy and sustained damage from a distance. Can enhance arrows with magic (explosive, piercing, elemental shots.
Paladin:
Holy warriors who combine combat ability with divine magic. Can belong to combat-type roles (swordsman, lancer, tank, etc.) Use holy magic amplification similar to Saints. Enhance physical attacks with divine energy. Highly effective against dark or corrupted entities. Paladins benefit greatly from Saints (buffs).
Defender Class:
• Tank
Frontline defenders. Use shields with swords, maces, or axes. Focuses on durability and protection. Drawing enemy attention and absorbing damage.
Nuker:
• Mage
Specialists in pure magic manipulation.
Primarily use elemental magic. Rely heavily on Formula Capacity (FC) and Precision Index (PI) Typically fight at mid to long range
Most mages are only capable of using one
elemental attribute, commonly Fire, Water, Earth, Wind. Some rare individuals can wield two elements. And only a very small number of exceptional mages can control three elements simultaneously. Only three individuals in recordde history are capable of wielding all four, they're called "the quad wielders."
*Flip*
"Important Note:
All classes utilize magic in combat. Weapons are not separate from magic they are enhanced, reinforced, and controlled through
mana usage as if they're an extension of your own body. And if someone is deemed classless, they have option to become either a palace/city guard or just live as a civilian or continue being a noble for those of high status cases. Adventuring is dangerous. Sending a classless person out could get them killed or others killed."
*Flip*
"There are five categories a person who wishes to become an adventurer may fall under, in which their class will be confirmed."
I looked below and there's a pentagon, in each point it has, strength, speed, precision, intelligence, and endurance. And class list follows.
Speed: Assassin, Lancer, Paladin.
Strength: swordsman, Axeman, Paladin
Intelligence: Mage, Paladin.
Endurance: Tank, Healer, Saint.
Precision: Archer, Paladin.
"Failure to attain any of the said attributes, will cause the guild or any organization to reject your application as an adventurer."
I lowered the book slightly.
"…So even combat type adventurers use magic." That meant one thing. There were no "non-magic" users in this world. Only different ways of using it.
Curiosity followed "I wonder what class I will get after a few years?" little did I know that I will never have one...
My gaze drifted back to the system in my mind.
"P x AU x PI x FC x EDR x B"
"…Yeah." A faint smile formed. "This is definitely a system." And systems…
could be understood. Almost like it wasn't magic at all…but a system.I lowered my gaze to my tiny hands. "…Numbers really do control everything here."
And yet…I already knew something no one else in this world could possibly realize yet. Systems like this…had structure. And structures…had flaws…could be exploited. Even in this helpless body…Even without strength…Even without freedom…I already had something far more dangerous than power. Understanding. And this world…was starting to feel less like a mystery and more like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
But for now… I was powerless. A baby.
So I did the only thing I could. I thought. I focused. I meditated. If I couldn't strengthen my body… then I would sharpen my mind.
End of Chapter