Life had taken its toll. Hours passed in the park, and Alexander was still lying on the ground.
"I'm doomed…" Alexander feebly spoke
It had been the umpteenth time that he had mumbled this.
But what else can he do?
His life was essentially over.
"Status…" Alexander voiced with a tone filled with hopelessness
Nothing
That sky-blue transparent panel that displayed before him only several hours prior was now gone, replaced with a red screen that barraged him with a constant spamming of messages
"God damn it I know I don't have the system already so stop sending these messages" he spoke with a meek voice.
He was alone
Hell, he has always been alone.
Just a day ago he was living his normal mundane life,
But he would have much preferred that rather than being in this hellscape of a world.
"Atheria, that's what that man told me.."
"Hahahahahaha" Alexander retorted in a protest of laughter.
"There's no way I refuse to believe I transmigrated in that novel"
"Fucking old crook, he must've lied"
He knew the truth, he knew he transmigrated, and out of all the world it had to be this one.
"I read slice-of-life novels too, why couldn't I go there" Alexander groaned.
"I saw my talent when I glimpsed at the system messages, it was merely a Path Maker"
If any of Atheria's inhabitants had heard what Alexander just said, most would have envied him.
The path maker the 8th threshold that beings have to surpass to obtain ultimate power, and as such only one of nine hundred million were blessed with such talent
One must remember that trillions of people and beings inhabit the great plains that span this vast world.
The rank of Path Maker speaks for itself.
It is when an enlightened individual forges their own path by using their past seven thresholds as a layout to create a true path.
"Pathmaker huh?" Alexander mused as gazed toward the clouded sky
It was like a canvas of blue, with the occasional cloud passing by, staining the blue tapestry.
Alexander's pale skin seemed brighter as the sun's rays shone down.
"Isn't this exactly the thing I've been looking for…" Alexander mused to himself
"To feel and experience something other than that bland mundane cycle."
The sky seemed brighter and the world now seemed boundless for the youth.
The pressure of fear no longer bore its fangs towards Alexander.
Obviously all of this was mentioned in a metaphorical sense.
"System or not, there's no need.."
"I can somewhat remember that broken plot," Alexander said as he rose with great struggle to his feet.
"God damn"
"Why is this bloody damn body so damn weak!"
Standing to his full Alexander's back naturally assumed a slouch due to his sluggish nature.
"First order of business…
In a swift motion, Alexander raised his index finger before the tip of his nose and started to recite his crude makeshift plane.
"Find out where I'm located, or more specifically which empire or territory. Most desirably the Polemian Empire since that's where the original MC's located but the Sunstone Empire would also be fine…"
"Second find out the origins of this body, I have a few recollections from the past owner but none of his memories seem to give me any insight whatsoever, I know his name from the slight glimpse I got when I was gaping a the status screen before its disappearance," Alexander said with a begrudged sigh.
"Now that I think about it before it disappeared it mentioned something about an unaccounted error,"
"Never mind meaningless grandeur, knowing why I don't have a system won't benefit me in any shape or form other than satiating my curiosity.
"Alex Hawthorn, I don't recall any such person with such a surname from my Bastian memories of the novel so they must've been irrelevant to the plot or they were an extra.."
"Or I'm just dumb and I skimmed over their name," Alexander spoke with a shrug.
"Third," Alex continued narrowing his eyes as his face face donned a solemn expression.
"I have to get stronger,"
"Usually I wouldn't have any incentive to do such a thing, But the monsters hiding within the shadows of this world force me otherwise," saying this Alexander stared at the sky for a moment longer, then toward the impeccably kept vegetation, and finally towards the ground.
"Each of these seemingly simple tasks were obviously going to take a considerable amount of time."
"going and getting accepted into The Institute of the Stars is essential, it should be possible with my body's talent so that's a win but,"
"I'm going to have to do something about this body,"
Alexander spoke as he patted his body over feeling his lack of exterior mussel.
"This is going to suck,"