Chapter 7 - Light

After his consciousness vanished, Ethan was quickly transported to the world where his adventure would begin.

This process lasted a few moments before the consciousness of the latter, first so clouded and obscured by a mist that made him unable to wake up, vanished in one breath, leading him to open his eyes quickly.

Now awake, Ethan could already feel the differences from when he was just a soul. This is because even if from his memories, he had only remained a few seconds inside the void where he spoke with the system, his soul had not forgotten the feelings that were felt in that space...

But Ethan decided not to give too much weight to this strange feeling and instead, it was more useful to look around his immediate location and try to get to grasps with where he was currently situated. Looking around, all he could see was an enclave of trees surrounding him with no traces of any footpaths, which led him to realize that he was probably located somewhere deep within a forest. It was only then that he begun to recollect his past memories and he remembered that the system had said that he would explain his current situation once he had woken up.

["...I'm awake..can you explain now?"]

[... Welcome back to the world of the living, Host..first, I specify the origin of my existence. I'm going to be a tool to provide communications between you and the Universe that chose to give you a second chance...]

When Ethan heard these words, he couldn't help but gulp as, he had many thoughts in his mind, but as it already happened when he was in the void, this voice didn't give him a chance to think too much about it as, a panel in the shape of a rectangle appeared in front of him.

[This System doesn't have a name. You can name it as you please.]

This new information brought a level of surprise, which could be seen quite easily, given the way his eyes were wide open. Although this wasn't so strange, Ethan was pretty sure that the latter didn't want a name, since as he had guessed from the beginning, it seemed closer to a machine, than to a sentient being but, he decided not to argue about this..

["So..can I simply call you Light?"]

Ethan, he had never been good at naming things, or people, but at this moment he knew that the name he gave to this system, certainly wasn't wrong.

In fact, to quickly think of a name, Ethan could only think of anything he knew about the latter, and coming to the conclusion he had no information to give a name based on what he knew, Ethan decided to follow his emotions, and recalling the immense joy - even if the way it behaved with him wasn't the best - its words brought him, brought him to give the system a name that could represent the hope she had given him, and this line of thought led him to choose Light, which literally, could remind Ethan of how Light had been able to light a light in the dark that was quickly wrapping him....

[Understood.]

That was all it said about its name, before it could continue with its explanation while Ethan, who put all that emotion into giving it a name, could only sigh...

[I have 4 simple functions for now, the others are sealed. You need specific quests to obtain them but worry not, as I will help you...]

With these words, the system made appear in front of him, four panels, not far from each other, with in the center the name [Light], as if it was trying to draw a tree where the system itself was in the center, main component, while functions, like small twigs that depended on the central body...

[The 4 Functions are: Inventory, Shop, Status Board and Quest Menu]

By looking at each of the functions, Ethan could already guess the usefulness that each of them would have, before he could see all the functions being setted aside, while the [Status Board] was brought to the center as the system added..

[For now, I believe it's better for host to check his own Status Board]

Light's words led Ethan to stop again and, knowing stopping for too long to check in a place where he was so easily at risk wasn't good, he immediately set out to find a place to stop as, after a short time, he could notice something strange and, approaching the source of his doubts, Ethan removed small plants that covered his sight before noticing that a cave had been hidden behind them.

Surprised, Ethan tried to approach slowly to verify that no animal was hidden in that cave because, if this turned out to be true, entering the cave would have been equivalent to death.

But, the fact he couldn't hear any kind of noise, led him to breathe a sigh of relief before entering without hesitation.

This, of course, was a very wrong thing to do as some types of animals are specialized in attracting enemies into traps by hiding their tracks, But this was something that a young boy who until recently was living on a completely peaceful planet, could only ignore, even though he was aware of the kind of world he was in...

After going a bit deeper into the cave, Ethan decided to do as the system had recommended and, as a test, tried to say aloud

["Status Board"]

As if his words were some sort of unlocking code, the panel got bigger and, the first thing Ethan could see, was a status, just like all the people with a Falna had.

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Name: Ethan

Age: 15

Race: Human

Lv 1

End: 3I

Dex: 2I

Agi: 4I

Mag: 0I

Skill: [Qienta's Blessing:SSS](new)

Magic: -

Development Ability: -

[Qienta's Blessing]

Rank: SSS

Passive: Creates an aura around the User, protects the soul from view of other Gods with a Divinity related to Souls.

Active: Creates an aura around the User with the particular effect of greatly intimidate those weaker than the user. Chance of stunning enemies stronger than the User.

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Although he had many things to dwell on, Ethan had noticed that his age had changed.

["Why is it marked that I am 15 years old? I should be 18.."]

[Because you are in a new body that is the 'copy' of your former self. You have chronologically 18 years but you look like a 15-year-old boy.]

["I see.."]

He didn't think about it until it said so. Indeed, his body was no longer his original, but a copy of what it once was, and although his body would be less developed than normal, for him it was a metter of no importance.

[If you want, I can make the [Status Board] show the difference between chronological and body's age.]

["No, It's okay, show me I am 15 years old."]

By exploring his [Status Board], he saw the SSS-Rank skill.

He knew having an SSS-Rank ability from the start wasn't something anyone in this world should have, even if it was just a blessing, and this small realization, led him to join his hands as a sign of prayer to thank the Goddess, who not only had reincarnated him, but had also given him her blessing.

After he finished doing so, he focused himself on the cave he decided to use for the moment. It was all imbued in darkness, but strangely, seems an unspoken ability of the blessing itself, he was capable of seeing in the darkness without a problem.

He noticed that the cave was a suitable place for him to stay, so that he would have time to train a little, before visiting the city, visible already from the remote distance. Obviously Ethan knew that city was Orario..

But these thoughts were interrupted by Light, who added

[I recommend for Host to see the other functions of the System, as I have to explain other things to facilitate your survival...]

Hearing this, Ethan felt something was odd. He knew Light wasn't a real person, but he could feel even in this instant, that it was gaining more clarity as it spoke further, and the fact he wasn't saying anything about this detail, made him furrow his brows while Light, as if unaware of what Ethan was thinking, quietly continued its explanation.

[So, the Inventory, allows you to store things as you please, but remember that I need to grow with you upon the time, so I will expand your inventory the more you grow stronger]

[The last is the Quest function which is, as the name says, a function that permits myself to understand the World's and yours intention's to achieve something in rewarding of something else. The reward need to be restricted based on the difficulty of the quest, and if you try to 'create' repeatable quests, the reward would still be the same.]

Hearing all the detailed explanations about each and every function, Ethan tried to keep track of each of them and their uses while in his mind, he was silently suppressing his thoughts. In fact, from the first moment he woke up, he felt everything around him was just a dream from which he would soon wake up, but as time passed, his sense of reality was already recovering, and what looked like a daydream now seemed more and more real.

Even though Ethan felt this, he didn't know that he was actually recovering his senses at that very moment, since his body, in fact, hides far more mysteries than he himself could even think of..

But for now, Ethan had more pressing things to think about.

["..I want to know how can I obtain System points, and I also have another doubt. What point in the story are we in?...I need to know....."]

Since it didn't give him time to think or rather respond its question before being dragged there, he ended up with next to no information…and hoped that at least an explanation would be due to him.

[System points can be obtained by Killing monsters, Adventurers (Only if judged by the world: Evil) and by doing things like create a new weapon and others you will find out on your own. As for the period in which we are, I can only give an indicative value. We are precisely 398 days before Bell comes to Orario...]

[Light's Warning: Upon consideration for the Host's survival, the System gifts a weapon to Host, please check your inventory, Host]

He wasn't expecting this sudden gift and this because, from what he remembered, he was told that he would not receive at all, so he was also happy with this, but he decided to ask anyway

["Oh, you gifted something to me? I thought Systems in general aren't that kind with gifts"]

The sarcastic way with which he pronounced the end of his words, led Light to respond immediately, and rather accurately.

[It wasn't a gift from me, the World had gifted the item for you, it is only a beginner's Sword, but it's better than nothing]

When Ethan found the item in his inventory, he wasn't that surprised that the quality wasn't exactly good, but, as Light said, it was better than having nothing to face monsters with.

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[Assurance]

Rank: F

Abilities: Physical Amplification(G)

This Blade was made by a famous Blacksmith in a foreign record for repaying his own debt. He was hoping that having a blade more large and its appearance enhanced, it would have sold better.

The blade has a wide, twisted cross-guard, which makes sure the blade is both balanced and capable of protecting the owner's hands against any sliding sword.

It is a large, broad, jagged blade made of steel held by a grip wrapped in common, deep orange wolf leather.

The sharp, dual-edged blade makes this the ideal weapon if you're looking to slice, dice, stab and jab your enemies.

-------------------------------------------

Even if it was F-Rank, the Weapon was extremely beautiful in its leather ornaments, but the thing he liked the most, was the blade itself as it amplified a great deal his psychical abilities, so, with his new sword, Ethan exited the cave and wonderend around to find some monsters to slain.

After 2 minutes, Ethan found himself locking eyes with a Goblin, and all the confidence he had a second ago, was already faltering in front of the monster that on the contrary, seemed particularly pleased to have found a rather appetizing prey.

As his breath became more agitated with anxiety, and his legs, were now nailed to the ground, as were his hands, first firmly on the sword, now trembling. But even though Ethan was having a panic attack, the Goblin didn't wait for him to take control of himself as although not very intelligent, it could still recognize a prey frightened by a great warrior, and this led him almost to smile as his legs made him snap immediately against the prey.

Ethan, was a little shocked by the speed of the goblin but, remembering that his own parameters are all I, he knew he could blame nobody but himself for his lack of parameters, but even so, he mercilessly tried to swing his sword against its head, causing the momentum of the goblin to be quickly put to an end as, it thought he was completely froze in place...

When he was stopping for evade the weapon however, there was a little gap in his defences, something that Ethan couldn't easily use as he wasn't nearly skilled enough, so the goblin had the time for adjusting his posture and, after retreating, it attacked again, this time expecting some form of reaction from him.

Seeing the goblin approaching him again, Ethan realized he was far too presumptuous to hope that a sword would be enough to take out a monster. He was aware of how difficult it was, and he was aware that the monsters outside were different from those found in the Dungeon.. but now it was too late to think about it. In fact, Ethan was just able to grit his teeth again, while he was trying to swing the sword here and there, without even the slightest use of any technique, even though he already felt tired in doing so.

The goblin seemed aware of this however, as it used its leg to attack a gap in Ethan defences, causing it to lose balance before falling on the ground because of its own momentum.

Now on the ground, Ethan swallowed a moment while the goblin was already ready to eat him, but he, didn't want to die so stupidly, and he would never let everything Qienta had done for him be lost.

Releasing the aura of the [Qienta's Blessing], he put an enormous pressure on the goblin, and at this, the goblin tried to escape, since by instinct, if a goblin knows the enemy is more powerful than itself, it would surely flee because on the ground, unlike the Dungeon, monsters aren't forced to fight..

Its escape attempt, however, was ruined when Ethan, seeing he was trying to escape, slowly rose from the floor, before using his sword to stab him. And the pressure of the skill, plus the fact it was stabbed, led the goblin to spit blood, before it died instantly, with Ethan slowly pulling the sword out of his body, before falling irretrievably onto the ground, with his mouth wide open, And his eyes, which were stirred up upward, to behold the sky as, he finally managed to kill his first goblin.

Realizing he had been able to solve the mistake he had made, led Ethan to laugh in frustration while the blood of the goblin was already creating a stain around itself...

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(A/N: BTW, I'm changing his age to 15 and this is the explanation I came up with. Because for the ones that know his past from the later chapters, Probably understand it's a pain to change his past.)

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can choose one of Ethan's future powers from the pool I created, but that's not all! On the server, you can see the reference on some things that will be present in the story! Right now you can freely see some things but I advise you to read the story further before seeing them otherwise you'll get spoilers!)

(Alternate Titles: "That SSS-Rank Blessing that everyone think is useless...", "Correcting my past-self errors..", "Ethan vs Goblin..and the winner is...?", "Oh yes, 2858 words....")