I wake up early in the morning, despite feeling mentally exhausted from everything that happened yesterday.
But excitement still fuels me—after all, it's not every day you scream at the sky, get struck by lightning, meet a god-like entity who grants your wishes, teleport to an anime world, gain ridiculous powers, and fight goblins with your life on the line.
"Good morning, J."
"Good morning, sir."
I get up, wash up using the river water, then sit in front of the cave, eating some fruit and drinking water as I watch the sun rise.
With a deep breath, I open my Status, checking for any changes.
[Status]
Name: Sora
Race: Human (Mortal)
Bloodline: None
Level: 3
EXP: 15/100
HP: 240/240
MP: 100/100
STR: 90
DEX: 90
VIT: 90
AGI: 95
INT: 90
WIS: ∞
Skills (Passive)
Instant Mastery (???? Realm) Lv. Max: Instantly acquire and master any skill or ability.
Fit Body (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: +10 STR, +10 VIT, +5 AGI
Martial Arts (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: +15% damage, +15% reaction speed, +10 DEX
Agile (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: +10 AGI
Wooden Skin (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: +15% defense
Herbalist (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Basic knowledge of herbs and their uses
Battle Instinct (Peak Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Sense incoming attacks and enemies within a 4-meter radius
Hunter (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Conceal presence and increase damage by 10% while in stealth (Does not work on intelligent lifeforms)
Abilities (Active)
Hardened Fist (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Punch deals +30% extra damage (Cooldown: 3 sec)
Rabbit Agility (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Increase speed by 7% for 120 sec (Cooldown: 20 sec)
Shadow Strike (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Can be activated while in stealth for +50% damage (Cooldown: 2 sec)
"It seems I gained one skill and one ability… but where did {Battle Instinct} come from? And why is it Peak Mortal Realm?"
"During your sneaking attempt against the drinking goblin, you acquired {Hunter}. When you attacked the sword-wielding goblin from the treetops, you unlocked {Shadow Strike}. As for {Battle Instinct}, it evolved from {Heightened Senses} after it triggered during combat."
"So my skills can evolve without upgrade cards?"
"Yes, sir. Normally, evolving skills requires upgrade cards, which cost WP. However, since you possess Instant Mastery, all skills you learn are immediately maxed out, reaching their peak potential and awaiting evolution triggers. Additionally, skills can be fused to create stronger versions."
My eyes widen. Unbelievable. I don't even need to spend World Points on skills—I can save them for bloodlines, world travel, and abilities I can't naturally acquire in this world.
"But J, I'm still in the Mortal Realm—how do I have a Peak Mortal skill? Can I use it, or is it locked?"
"Nothing is locked, sir. There's missing information regarding your status, so I'll explain in full now."
"First—your realm does not limit your abilities; rather, it is an indicator of your strength. Realm progression does not depend on level, but on skill and ability advancement. To ascend to Hero Realm, you need at least four Hero-level skills or abilities. This pattern continues for higher realms, though advanced ones may have additional requirements. Level, on the other hand, measures battle experience, potential, and physical conditioning."
My mind races. Wow… This is completely different from what I expected—but in a good way.
"If I fuse abilities, do I lose them permanently?"
"Yes and no, sir. It depends on the fusion process. If fused properly, the new skill will incorporate the effects of the originals, becoming a superior version. However, if unrelated skills are fused, some effects may be lost."
I nod, formulating my future plans.
"Alright, J—fuse {Fit Body}, {Martial Arts}, {Wooden Skin}, {Agile}. Let's see what I get."
[Fusion Process Initiated][Fusing skills: {Fit Body}, {Martial Arts}, {Wooden Skin}, {Agile}]
10%... 100%... Fusion Complete!
A notification appears.
[New Skill Acquired: {Trained Body} (Peak Mortal) Lv. Max]
"Show me the details!"
[Skill Acquired]
Trained Body (Peak Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: Your body has undergone intense training, refining itself into that of a warrior. Effect: +50 to all stats, except INT and WIS
I blink in astonishment.
"This… is insane. Even though I should've expected a great result from combining four skills, the difference in effects between different realms is staggering. Just reaching Peak Mortal gave me an additional +40 to my stats—and that's for a mortal-tier ability. This tells me I need to get much stronger and never underestimate higher-realm enemies."
"J, show me my updated status."
[Updated Status]
Name: Sora
Race: Human (Mortal)
Bloodline: None
Level: 3
EXP: 15/100
HP: 450/450
MP: 100/100
STR: 130
DEX: 130
VIT: 130
AGI: 130
INT: 90
WIS: ∞
Skills (Passive)
Instant Mastery (???? Realm) Lv. Max
Trained Body (Peak Mortal Realm) Lv. Max: +50 to all stats except INT and WIS
Battle Instinct (Peak Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Herbalist (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Hunter (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Abilities (Active)
Hardened Fist (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Rabbit Agility (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Shadow Strike (Mortal Realm) Lv. Max
Resources
WP: 100
Money: 0
"Okay, now let's set some goals—but first, J, how much time until the main story begins? Has Bell Cranel arrived in the city yet?"
"No, sir. Bell Cranel will arrive in three months."
"Perfect. Here's the plan—first, I'll spend the next month and a half here training. Then…"