NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: Chapter 5: System
[System Activated]
A nonchalant voice sounded, making him turn his gaze around the room to look for the source.
[System integration successful]
[Hello host, I'm the Eros Mana System]
"System? What kind of ghost are you, mister?" Vladimir said, looking around in an attempt to identify the source of the voice but finding no one.
He was not afraid of ghosts. What he feared most were beasts. After all, he had never heard of ghosts killing people, but beasts were a real and constant danger.
[Don't worry, Host. I am not a ghost. I am your guide on the path to becoming strong.]
"Becoming strong? What happens if I become strong? Can I help my mother make money with that?" he asked, narrowing his gaze.
Since he had already planned to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lumberjack, he was afraid of his mother finding out.
When he asked his mother for permission to work, she cried and wept, telling him to enjoy life while she was still with him.
At that time, he had no choice but to accept her wishes, as he was only nine years old. However, now that he was fourteen, he felt it was time to bring up the subject again.
The system paused for a moment after hearing his inquiries.
[My host is still too young, but 14 years old is not really young right?]
[Maybe I am years early to be activated. Is this even appropriate for a teen? Well, I'll just give him some basic missions until he reaches his adulthood] - the system thought to itself.
[Little Vladimir, to explain it simply. You're my host; you can refer to me as your teacher or your guide to help you become strong.]
[The only thing you need to do is complete some missions I will give you, then you can earn some rewards.]
The system explained, and although Vladimir only understood a little, what truly caught his attention were the rewards for completing missions.
"Can I get money and food by completing missions?" he asked excitedly, his eyes fixed on the floating panel before him.
[Uhh, yes. There are even better rewards than food. But we will have to talk about that later. Before we start, please choose your path, little Vladimir.]
[Cultivator] Or [Mage]
[Please choose wisely, young Vladimir.]
The system stated. Vladimir nodded his head seriously as he looked at the two options. He knew these two options well since they were often the talk of the town.
The Cultivators are the longstanding rivals of the mages, residing on a distant continent with their own unique practices and traditions.
Unlike the mages, who dominate this land and draw their strength from harnessing the flow of mana and casting spells, the cultivators focus on refining their bodies, spirits, and energy cores through a path of self-discipline and growth.
Vladimir currently lived on the Elvoria Continent, a region known for its flourishing magical academies, towering arcane towers, and powerful enchantments.
Although the two continents were geographically separated, their rivalry was deeply rooted in history, fueled by starkly different philosophies regarding power and its use.
This division created a world where the two factions rarely interacted directly, yet their influence over global events and disputes remained significant.
It was not truly a battle where they had to kill each other, but rather a competition to prove which practice was superior, magic or cultivation.
Vladimir's eyes sparkled with excitement as his hand hovered over the holographic screen. The path to his dreams lay before him.
For as long as he could remember, he had always wanted to become a mage, to wield magic like the heroes in the village stories. Now, the chance was finally here.
With a deep breath, he tapped the screen, his heart pounding with childlike anticipation.
[The host has chosen the path of 'Mage'. Reconstructing the body, initiating...]
A soft hum resonated around him, and the world seemed to pause for a moment.
He felt an odd sensation, like a ripple passing through his body, as though something deep inside was beginning to shift.
His small body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the strange new power that was starting to course through him.
Vladimir had never known what it felt like to sense mana or to be attuned to magic, but now, that was about to change.
The system's energy began its work. His muscles, still small and underdeveloped for his age, felt as if they were being stretched and refined.
It wasn't painful, more like a gentle, guiding force reshaping him from the inside. His bones, still growing, shifted as well, becoming denser yet more flexible, able to handle the magical energies he would soon harness.
The transformation spread to his mind next. His thoughts, once scattered and easily distracted, began to clear.
A sharp focus emerged in his eyes as his brain adapted to the process, becoming more attuned to the world around him.
He could feel his senses heighten, he could hear the faint rustling of leaves outside, and he could feel the warmth of the air against his skin in a way he hadn't before.
Then came the most dramatic change. Vladimir gasped as he felt something stir deep within him.
His heart began to race, but it wasn't fear, it was wonder. He could feel something strange; the faintest pull, the hint of cool energy, was now visible.
Mana. It had always been invisible to him, a foreign concept, but now it was alive in the air around him, tingling at his fingertips, ready to be drawn into his body.
[Body reconstruction complete.]
[Host now possesses the foundational qualities of a mage. Mana sensitivity, mental clarity, and magical affinity have been established.]
The system's voice echoed in his mind, signaling the end of the transformation. Vladimir opened his eyes, and for the first time, he saw the world differently.
He raised a trembling hand, watching in awe as he felt the blue strings swirling just outside his grasp. He could feel its pull now, like a faint current under the surface of everything.
"Wow..." Vladimir whispered, his voice barely audible.
He then smiled, his childish excitement turning into awe. "Is this what they are calling mana, the string of energy which Mage uses to become strong?" he muttered, observing the strings, not only in his hand but also around the room floating.
[Now that your transformation is done, little Vladimir. Here is your current stats]
[Name: Vladimir Valenor
Level: 1 (0/100)
Path: Mage
Race: Human
Title: None
Money: 0
Ero Points: 0
Free points: 0
Attributes: Magic Power [10] | Mana [100] | Strength [11] | Defense [9] | Constitution [8] | Intelligence [12] | Agility [7] | Luck [4]
Affinity: None
Skills: None
Passive Skills: None]
Vladimir looked at the screen; he felt like his eyes blurred from the text in front of him, the system seeing this sigh.
[Why did I activate too early? ]
The system exclaimed, feeling aggreived, as he bit the curb, but he had to explain it so the young Vladimir could understand.
[What's in front of you, little Vladimir, is the screen that shows your abilities, your strengths, and what you can become. Let me explain it to you so it's easy to understand.]
The glowing text shimmered slightly, and the system continued.
[Magic Power is how strong your magic spells can become. Think of it like how strong your punches would be, but with magic instead.]
[Mana is the energy you need to cast magic. It's like how you need food to run around and play, this is what fuels your spells.]
[Strength is how strong your body is. If you need to lift something heavy, this helps you.]
[Defense is how tough you are. It's like how thick a wall is to stop someone from breaking through.]
[Constitution is your health and endurance. It helps you stay strong and not get tired easily.]
[Intelligence is how clever you are when it comes to learning and understanding magic. The smarter you are, the more powerful spells you can master.]
[Speed is how fast you can move in a straight line, and your ability to dodge or move gracefully. If you ever play tag, this will help you not get caught, like running or have a race with your friends!]
[Luck is… well, it's how often good things happen to you. Sometimes it's just being at the right place at the right time.]
[Affinity is what kind of magic you are naturally good at like fire, water, or even wind. You don't have one yet, but that's okay. You'll discover it later.]
The system paused, letting Vladimir absorb the information. Which Vladimir felt like a buzz in his head.
[And there's also Skills, and Passive Skills, which are like tools, moves, and abilities you'll learn as you grow stronger.]
The text blinks once, signaling the end of the explanation.
[Do you understand now, little Vladimir? If not, don't worry. I'll guide you step by step! Since your still young, you still have time to know about it.]
Vladimir tilted his head slightly, then nodded. "I think I get it. So… I just have to work hard to make these numbers better, right?"
[Exactly!The system exclaimed, its tone brightening.
[We'll get there together, one step at a time.]
[Now for the next part, is your first mission]
[Mission...]