The Hub(2)

' ' for thoughts or for other uses

" " to talk

[ ] and ▷ for the system

Also, it's not a sentient system of course. The system and the entity System are two different beings

Short chapter but we're getting into the first W after this.

◇◇◇

Adam's confusion was understandable. His [Craftsmanship] and [CQC] could be explained due to his father's teachings and knack for fighting. But then, shouldn't there be more skills?

"You're probably wondering why the number is so low right?" Nodding at this, he waited for the rest of System's explanation

"While my ability permits the rapid and somewhat unrestricted growth of someone, depending on them of course. A certain amount of effort— or talent needs to be reached in order to start with abilities rather than gaining them through the system..."

Adam nodded before letting his own theories flow. "So, the [Craftsmanship] probably comes from my experience as a carpenter, I started pretty young since it was my dad who taught me, the [CQC] one must be from talent, wich also means it'll rank up pretty quickly. But—"

"What about that last one right? Everyone has some kind of uniqueness offered by Lobby to them at the start of their journey, see it like some kind of newcomer gift. And you Adam? You've hit it pretty big if I must say."

That explained most of it. There were still some unanswered things like how did his level actually work in symbiosis with his skills or his race. But with each system being unique to that person. He couldn't expect to be spoon-fed information at every turn could he?

The things he inferred as of now were that— Passive skills can gain active effects at higher levels as seen with [Pandora's Gift] so that may be the same thing for active skills? For now not much could be inferred but he would see in the future.

Ranks may go up only to SSS, but there was a possibility for there to be a higher rank. But would items be categorised the same way? 'I don't have an inventory though... I see what Arthur meant now, it seems like an extremely fitting system for me, but it lacks some parts that I'd appreciate but wouldn't mind being non-existent

Levels and Race was the most cryptic as of now, he would understand both upon his first evolution so he didn't really have to think too much about them fortunately.

"So now that this is all taken care of. Hopefully your first world won't be too difficult~" Bringing back the attention to himself, Lobby, with a snap of his hand made a spinning wheel appear.

"See it as a baptism, while you will be able to choose what tasks you take and such later on, for now you need to... prove yourself? I don't know if that make sense but it is just for you to understand the reality of your situation, it doesn't have to be difficult"

Adam didn't know at the time. But he would later understand that he carried a certain arrogance until an eye-opening event happened. It wasn't necessarily malicious but it needed to be flushed out.

The spinning wheel was only to match the pretext of fairness, Lobby and System wouldn't leave such a talented individual to the hands of luck. They'd choose a world with appropriate difficulty and of course, appropriate rewards.

The Wheel wasn't that big, only thrice as tall as Adam. But it was more about how he could only see lines, as the numbers were written infinitesimal. As if it was the most normal thing in the world, the wheel started rotating slowly before it advanced into a mad spin

A minute or so later, it finally started slowing down. Adam's eyes widened at the name that was about to be picked. 'Warhammer! No that can't be—'

It of course, as planned didn't land on such a grim universe. With an artificial twist of fate, the wheel's cursor stopped at a familiar name.

The Ember Knight.

He had planned to read it, it being a sequel to 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' was the main reason, he had heard some good thing about it and how original it was but he frankly didn't think much of it.

'That author had the habit of making intetesting main characters so it was to be expected for him to finally gain some popularity. I still think The Epic of Gilgamesh was underrated of course.'

"So about the race, I can choose... anything?"

The both looked at each other, seemingly pondering on who would explain it, before System ultimately took the chance, it was ultimately him that would help create the new body, unbeknownst to Adam as Lobby didn't have strong powers related to creation.

"It just has to be some kind of entity in your first world. Might seem a bit unfair but you know this doesn't really happen often right?" Of course Adam's did, but now he had to really ponder on what to choose.

Smirking to himself, he pondered on all his possible options

◇◇◇

'I didn't think I could get so much out of this~' Adam hummed to himself as he walked on the path to the travel array.

It was a humgous place, draped in darkness with the only source of light being the path he walked on. A road formed of ethereal waves of solid, blue energy.

He acknowledged that even more now, Lobby really knew how to set up an ambiance. He was about to reach his destination so he did a final check-up of his status, to see if he could catch anything he may have missed.

//////////<Status Opened>//////////

▷True Name: [Adam ■ ■ ■ ■]

▷Player Name: Little_1mp

▷Titles: [Newcomer]

▷Race: [Half-Demon]

▷Job: Jobless

▷Level: 1

▷Active Skills: [Booster Horns: N/A]

▷Passive Skills: [Pandora's Gift: S], [Craftsmanship: E], [CQC: F], [Mana Disturbance: B]

[Half Demon: A being with unique abilities born from the Union of a manaless being and another full of mana

▷Obtain the Skill [Booster Horns]

▷Obtain the Skill [Mana Disturbance]

▷Physical Strength is enhanced]

[Booster Horns: N/A

▷E: ???

▷F: Manifest two horns]

[Mana Disturbance: E

▷E: The Mana in your body can only supply your skill [Booster Horns]

▷F: You are not loved by Mana]

///////////<Status Closed>///////////

It may seems like he didn't gain much, but Adam knew the effect of those horns, they would trendemously boost his physical attributes, and maybe allow him to shoot mana beams out of them if he ever learned how to.

The [Mana Disturbance] thing seemed to be a disability coming from the fact that he was only a Half-Demon but magic didn't really interest him. That was mostly because he considered himself a warrior rather than a mage. Weird rituals or complexes equations were not for him.

After all it may not seem like it, but Adam was a pretty silly guy. And since not a lot of people could use magic to begin with, that kept him from betting on it. The quests for his first world might have to do something with it too...

////////////<Mission Tab>////////////

▷Situation: You will be sent one year before the first Knights exam

▷Become the best Knight of your batch(0/1)

▷Stop the Death of the Main Character's Twin Brother(0/1)

▷Stop the Knights dissolution(0/1)

▷Learn 5 new Skills(0/5)

[Notice: Just two of the above quests have to be completed for a return in the Hub, success rate will be measured according to the completion rate of each missions]

//////////////////////////

A Knight. A prodigy among ten thousand geniuses. And they demanded of him to be the best of his batch at that. He didn't know if it was possible. But surely, that was the place where he'd probably find the main character. Whatever tragic backstory he had with his brother mattered not.

He would save him, without a doubt. 'But I'm worried for the other quests... except the skill related one' After all, Adam had no idea about the fate of this particular world.

He was happy to at least know it's past as that. Was a constant, the future is always so fickle hence it was better to not worry, but only look forward to it. 'Wise words from a wise man indeed...'

Adam stopped his already minimal attention span from dwindling further by focusing on the newly found teleportation array in front of him. Not that he ever saw another teleportation array.

"And what will the destination be young lad?" A voice full of wisdom brushed his ears, looking to his left an old man that seemed to have lived a fulfilling live made his presence known.

"Section five of the second quadrant of—"

"Ahh please! No need to tire my ears like that. I don't even know if my brittle bones could take it. If you'd allow me, I will peer into your mind the information put up by the Lobby"

Adam nodded like this, expecting to feel some kind of special sensation. Contrary to his expectation, he didn't have some kind or sixth sense that allowed him to feel when a person touched his mind... yet.

While his was naturally strong. An opponent forceful enough could penetrate it without setting up proper defenses. That is something he would learn in the future.

"Ohooh~? Is this your first mission friend? Then I'll tell you this. You will never get used to it!" Before Adam could ask what the man meant, the array activated as swirls of rainbow energy took hold of him

His soul was slowly encased in a protective barrier as, while it had been marked in the system, he still hadn't occupied his new body.

'From what he said... this won't be comfortable.' Bracing himself for the motion sickness or whatever may get to him on the way, Adam was pleasantly surprised to not feel any kind of discomfort

'Is that another benefit of being a Primed Soul?' Not at all, while Adam's situation might seem comfortable

This was of course, before he arrived.