Still looking at the floating screens in front of him, Kriantis decided to change his focus.
(So, how do I grow stronger? And how do I use magic? If Vireya was correct this world has magic…) He asked remembering the conversation with the Deity.
[Response: To grow stronger, training, combat, and meditation are the best methods. This relates to the second question, to use magic, one must first learn the most basic mana control, through the process known as mana linking, the first stage of mana manipulation.
[It only requires deep focus and mediation using the visualization of the idea of magic. Each person must start by focusing on their perspective on how magic works, according to the research of the Great Sage Gustav, as magic is primarily an imaginary art.] The system's voice reached his mind.
(That sounds like a lot, but I'll at least try before I come to such a conclusion…) Kriantis concluded as he prepared to start.
He was however interrupted.
"*Look at you, so adorable. You make me want to squeeze you until you blow up!*" His mother picked him up from the cradle to marvel at his adorable state, holding him tight, though not enough to harm him.
(Urgh… tight!..) His eyes looked at her pleading for mercy from this hug.
As he did, something he didn't expect happened the moment he focused on her.
[Target Analysis: Merlia Virelan]
[Species: Humanoid/Enhanced Human
Age: 38 years old
Level: 17
ER: H-
Position: Nurturer(Follower rank)
Condition: Healthy, Fatigued
Relationship: 65 (Great - Mother/Child Bond)]
A floating screen with a shortened info card of her, even if much less than his status window was still useful.
(Level 17… ER: H-… I guess that must be the rank after ER: I, so that's why she's an enhanced human? Already evolved… Interesting. Also 38?! She looks like 20… I wonder if it's just good genes or because she's an enhanced human… Maybe both?…
(Also, Nurturer? It says position so it's probably her role in the village… So like a housewife? Is that it? And it says follower rank… I guess that must be important, but I won't be able to know until I figure out how to speak.) Kriantis looked at the screen only he could see attentively.
"*It seems you took a liking to Mama's looks! Watch all you want! I forgot how cute they are in this phase.*" Merlia commented with a wide smile very proud to have such a strong pull on his attention.
At the same time, his purple-haired eldest sister came to the side watching him with a small smile.
"*His eyes stand out so much… they even look more golden than Dad's somehow.*" She said while observing him.
This caught his attention, and again.
[Target Analysis: Raia Virelan Oxalith]
[Species: Humanoid/Human
Age: 17 years old
Level: 9
ER: I+
Position: Hunter Trainee(Follower rank)
Condition: Healthy, Energetic
Relationship: 52 (Good - Sisterly Affection)]
(Level 9… Hunter trainee. Sounds. I guess levels don't go that high probably…) He nodded to himself internally.
Then curiosity took over, and he decided to check his other two sisters nearby.
First was the quiet middle sister found reading some parchment still, even as she half worked on getting things for dinner ready.
[Target Analysis: Amber Virelan Oxalith]
[Species: Humanoid/Human
Age: 10 years old
Level: 5
ER: I
Position: Gatherer Trainee(Follower rank)
Condition: Healthy, Calm
Relationship: 41(Good - Sisterly Affection)]
(A Gatherer… So foraging... Maybe scouting too… I guess I should have expected a system like this from what seems to be a tribal village.) Kriantis concluded nodding to himself.
Noticing the eyes on her, she gave a quick side glance and offered an ever-so-slight smile that quickly went away.
[Target Analysis: Pamela Virelan Oxalith]
[Species: Humanoid/Human
Age: 7 years old
Level: 3
ER: I-
Position: Undecided Trainee(Follower rank)
Condition: Healthy, Wary
Relationship: 38(Stable - Sister)]
Pamela felt shivers down her spine when he looked at her and made sure to keep her distance.
(Stable… fitting for the one who almost dropped me. Though it seems she doesn't even have a role yet… Do you get those at 10 or something? Or is she a special case?) The ideas flow in his mind after he lets go of his irritation towards her.
From there his mother breastfeeds him before putting him back in his cradle, and there his mind goes back to the initial goal.
(Ok, now I should focus on creating the mana link as the system called it, deep breaths, and focus your senses inward then outwards like in all those stories you read on earth.) Kriantis told himself as he fully focused on the task at hand.
His attention turned inwards again. That energy the system called Mana… he could feel it now, a faint warmth within his tiny body, a sluggish pool. And outside… faint currents in the air, stronger pulses within Merlia, Raia, Amber, Pamela. He focused, recalling the feeling from the Reincarnation trial, the raw will pushing through agony. He reached out with his mind, his nascent consciousness… and touched the internal pool.
It responded. Not with force, but with acknowledgment. A connection formed, flimsy but present.
[Mana Linking Achieved!]
[Stage 1 of Mana Manipulation attained.]
(Hours… it only took hours. Talent, Blessing, or both? Doesn't matter. This is the first step.) He smiled letting out involuntary baby noises, which brought his mother and eldest sister who were just done cooking dinner back to him.
The pampering was only just starting.
At the same time as that was going on, far from home, threading through bloody fields of grass and acid-leaking trees, a squad led by Karos roamed through the forest, ready to take on a monumental task.
Hunting Big Red.
It was a magical beast, an animal-looking creature with elemental powers, and this one was High+ rank, one rank above the lowest rank for monsters and magical beasts, the initial rank, and yet even though there were powerful individuals in the village stronger than such a creature it was still going.
"Did you find its track yet?" Karos asked his team's gatherer, a scout named Riomo.
"Close but not quite, the acid kind of blurs the line between its burn and fire bear burn. I should be able to soon though" He turned to his captain before replying, and once he was done his focus returned to the ground analyzing the burns in the grassy ground full of them.
"Captain… Not to sound defiant, but is it a good idea to go after this thing? I heard it's immortal… and like 3 meters all… capable of spitting fire and engulfing its body in it!!" Leyla, the squad combat nurturer was the one to reveal her concerns.
"Yeah… She makes a good point, captain…" Another member spoke up following her lead.
"Yup! Yup! I think we're better off not trying to die." A third member quickly joined in.
"If it's all that, it might just sneak attack us," Riomo comments under his breath.
Then finally the last one only looked at their caption and then at the other teammates unsure of what to say.
"… Fair enough, your worries are valid, but we have to do this, the Chief's band won't let us report directly to the Chief no matter what we say unless we have some proof or something of great value like Big Red's head," Karos responded with a serious expression.
The others all looked at each other in confusion.
"Why do you want to talk to the Chief that bad Captain? If you don't mind me asking." Leyla was the one to ask and the others nodded along to her question, even Riomo stopped scouting to listen.
"Ahhh, It's because I think Commander Popio is conspiring with the outsider who won't leave… That Aro guy." Karos expressed clenching his fists as he remembered the interaction with the commander.
There was general silence, and Riomo went back to scouting while the others were at a loss for words.
"… It's Arc, Caption… That's the outsider, and if you are so sure, then I will trust your judgment." Leyla nodded as she let a smile come to her face.
The others begrudgingly followed.
"I guess this squad is going out big."
"Tch, burned alive is anything but going out big."
"We have trusted you this far captain, whatever they say, I know they'll put in their all when push comes to shove."
These responses helped Karos smile, as he let go of the tension he was subconsciously holding, a sigh escaped his mouth and he said.
"I guess I do have a great squad… I am truly grateful to have you all by my side, I believe we can do it, but in case we don't I just want to say-"
"Found it!… Oh, maybe it's the other way around… Get out of the way everyone!" Riomo yelled then immediately jumped out of the way.
The others quickly followed his words without questioning them, something only possible for a team that understands that when the pressure is high, trust is key.
Proving Riomo's words to be life-saving, a sea of flame comes roaring through the forest, reducing everything in its path to a cinder.
Coming out of the path it burned through, there it was, standing at 3.5 meters tall the moment it got up before slapping a surviving tree's lower half out of the way as if it was an annoying fly, causing it to fly roots off the ground into the distance.
ROAR!
Making all their bodies tremble and even freeze for an instant, the roar echoed through and birds flew off, as all the creatures nearby knew not to be there and ran off.
"Can I not resign now?" Riomo asked looking at their captain with a weak smile, disbelieving this absurdity.
"In formation everyone! Leyla and Riomo to the back! The rest help me encircle this thing!" Karos commanded and his strong voice in the face of these low odds reached them.
Leyla and Riomo get behind him, while the rest to a flanking position as they keep their distance from the thing.
The Big Red, seeing this take back got down from its hind legs and moved closer, quickly getting engulfed in flames and taking up great speed to rush Karos.
Not having time to dodge, he plants his greatsword in its path, and once the fire bear makes contact it pushes him back dragging him passed all the others and breaking through several trees before it stops to try and claw at him.
Unfortunately for the beast, it was not simply facing Karos the man with its great strength, it was facing Karos the father.
He was carrying a bleeding back, with multiple cuts from getting pushed through various trees while the great heat of the heat the magical beast threatened to overwhelm his sword and then burn him to a crisp once it melted through his sword.
However, it was far from over, his team came in, and three of them speared the beast from flanking positions, Riomo accurately hit an arrow to the right eye, while Leyla threw a green goo at him, the equivalent of a low-grade healing position, and it was enough to make a difference.
"You won't me from protecting my son, won't stop us from protecting our village!" Karos yelled at the beast.
As the Big Red growled in pain from the attack its flames flaring before going down weaker, Karos pushed it back forcing the huge creature to to stand on its hind legs off balance, and then his sword cooled as water slowly covered his mana aura flaring up.
"Sword Technique: Water Flow Executioner!!!" He chanted with all his lungs and moved much faster than before, than ever before cutting the beast's clean off!
It was a straight horizontal slash guided and covered in water, causing the parts of the bear that were cut off each other to carbonate instead of letting out blood.
The head fell to the ground as Karos breathed heavily feeling like a great weight had just fallen off him, the wounds that just closed, almost opening right then.
Causing him to fall back to the ground.
Riomo and Leyla came up to him to check on him.
"It seems you were right, Captain we won, I guess it was a good idea to come here." Leyla was the first to comment with a wide smile.
"Kind of a good thing, I didn't get to resign, missing on this would have been a bummer, who thought we could do it, and it wasn't even the worst thing ever." Riomo chuckled as he spoke.
Just then, the flames reignited, and the Big Redʼs body was once again engulfed in flames as the head roared on the ground still severed, and the body leaped forward, after getting on all fours again.
Not having time to dodge or defend this time, both Leyla, and Riomo were completely taken by the flames, and slammed through various trees into ash.
Karos on the ground was just missed as the magical beast jumped over his lying body.
Immediately he forced himself up to look at the scene and it was already too late to do anything for them, they were gone.
"It's head… It's moving and even the body... It's immortal. Like Leyla said… BIG RED!" Karos yelled ready to rush the creature.
At that time, the rest of the team, the first ther three got him and started dragging him out of there, forcing a retreat.
Since the fire bear's head had only one eye and was separated from the body, it was way too disoriented to even try to follow them, had Leyla, and Riomo not been in front of it, they would have never been hit.
Had they, not checked on Karos, they would have been fine.
More people of the Blood Haven Village fell victim to the Big Red today.
From there, two months passed since the birth of Kriantis.
The remaining squad had survived the ordeal, and Karos had plunged himself into lone hunting.
"Never again! Next time, I will take it down! No matter what. I have to be stronger!" He told himself again and again as he would go hunting closer to the village in the outer zone of the blood forest.
While he was busy with that, his son was back at home, quickly figuring out his way through the world.
Absorbing everything around him, Kriantis rather fast had become familiar with this new world, words of a language that once alluded him, had lost all their mystique.
"My little cute baby! You're growing up so fast, slow down a bit for mom." She said to him in his cradle.
[The passive skill of Language Comprehension has been acquired.]
[Language Comprehension: A basic rank skill that helps the user quickly attune to languages 10 times faster than normal. It applies to writing, reading, and speaking.
Nonverbal cues like sign language and body language can also be better understood.
Currently known languages: Common language(Fluent), Common language-Safrion Dialect(Native)]
(Is this why it only took me two months to learn the language…. That's amazing! I have also been making progress with my mana link.) He commented happy to see such great progress already.
Not only that, he was already capable of sensing all the mana in himself and most of the mana around, but only to a limited range, which the system explained is connected to his sense stat, which had grown to 7.
Aside from that he had unlocked the energy stat which went to 7 as well from 0, it seems to be growing at a rapid pace for him.
Also, he had learned a lot. The village as he thought worked on a tribal three-role system with hunters, gatherers, and nurturers. Hunters hunt, protect, and explore; Gatherers scout, forage, and spy; Nurtorers heal, take care, and educate.
Then there were hunting squads which were groups formed by mostly hunters, a combat nurturer, and a combat gatherer.
As he suspected, they are instructed from 4 years old on everything, and the real combat training starts at 7, and by 10, you need to choose a role out of the three.
(It's very rough, and so much pressure on such young kids, but we do live in a forest where acid rains sometimes, I think that's warranted. Then there's the hierarchy…) Kriantis concluded.
The people of the Safrion tribe were ranked as followers of the common people doing the basic and normal for their rank. People in this rank are typically level 1 to 14.
Right above that was the captain, those who led the followers in their roles in squads or teams. People in this rank are typically level 15-44.
Going one step above are the Commanders of which there are only 3. One per role. People in this rank are typically level 45-64.
Right below the Chief is the Chief's band, the elite guard serving directly under them. People in this rank are typically level 65-75.
Then at the very top of everything is the Village Chief. The greatest authority in the Safrion tribe, and the most powerful one. Unfortunately, Kriantis had yet to see even a glimpse of him so far.
He implemented rules that stopped people from leaving, but it made sense as the only two ways out weren't great, you either go deeper into the blood forest into the Inner zone, and die to something dangerous there, or you go to the Ustia city's outskirts which are the immediate outside of the forest, and get captured by them, to be thrown into some lab so they can understand how Safrions work.
(People of the tribe who tried to work with outsiders got captured and ended up in bad situations… Oh well, later I'll find out for myself once I'm old enough.) Kriantis nodded to himself as he thought about it.
Time continued to be passed as Kriantis focused on growing as much as he could right now, one day, while Karos was still out in one of his training sprees, there was a knock on the door.
(Who could it bed? We don't get too many visitors.) Kriantis' attention was immediately caught.
Once his mother opened it, the door, was two men, the redhead scarred hunter commander, and another one, a new face.
Standing about a head shorter than his mom, there was a man with white hair at the door, his eyes sealed shut under a black headband with a golden and blue contour, wearing white robes with a black stripe in the middle having the same contour as the headband.
(He looks like some kind of priest…) Kriantia commented as he observed the man.
"Oh, Commander Rore. Karos is out hunting right now." Merlia greeted the commander her husband worked under.
"Hello, Merlia, we're not here for Karos, Eminence Arc here will make sure your newest born has the potential claimed by your husband." Commander Rore replied carrying himself with his hands behind his back.
"Is that ok?… Not to question your judgment, Commander, but he's an outsider…" Merlia frowned slightly at his words.
"It's ok, your child will be fine, you have my word. Eminence, this is Merlia, a woman with the capacity to be a captain who chooses to stay a follower and Merlia, this is Eminence Arc, a Cardinal of the church of 15 Gods." Commander Rero insists with a firm tone.
"… Understood, just please don't blame me if I overreact at any little thing, I'm very sensitive about my children after what happened to my first son" Merlia narrowed her eyes and nodded.
Before the commander could say anything, Arc himself spoke up.
"It's fine. Please react as you see fit, the value of your own children can not be measured after all." He nods and walks past her without waiting for a response.
This causes both Merlia and Rore to look at him, and even the girls who were busy doing their own thing, turn to look at him.
Finally, once he was in front of the cradle, Kriantis who had been observing so far could only widen his eyes at what he saw.
[Target Analysis: Arc]
[Species: Humanoid/Human(???)
Age: 20(??)
Level: 90(???)
ER: G++(???)
Position: Cardinal Of The Church Of 15 Gods(?)
Condition: Perfect, Curious(??)
Relationship: 0 (Neutral -Curious Figure)]
(What the hell is this guy?… I never saw question marks before even when I looked at the level 75 member of the Chief's Band, and she's the second strongest here… Does it mean the system isn't sure or is it due to interference?) Kriantis could only look at this guy letting out involuntary baby noises.
"That's quite the talented child, he has the markings of reincarnation, and that of potential… His future is limitless, but unfortunately, false eyes tend to bring misfortune." Arc commented as his face was turned to the baby, but it was hard to say he was looking when his eyes were fully covered.
(False? My eyes? What is he on about?) Kriantis narrowed his eyes.
Then, for Kriantis's perception alone, the headband seemed to shimmer. For a fraction of a second, he saw them – eyes as white as fresh snow, ancient and unnervingly perceptive. A direct mental touch, clear as a bell, followed. {I see you. This will be fun.}
The headband was firmly back in place. Arc stood, addressing Merlia and the Commander. "A potent child. Ensure his upbringing is… thorough. Power allowed to fester invites catastrophe." He offered no further explanation, gave a polite nod, and turned to leave, ignoring Commander Rero's sputtering attempts at further questions.
(He saw me? Not just the baby, but… me? And what was that about false eyes? Fun? This Arc… is dangerous. And intriguing.) Kriantis was both scared and excited about such a person.
After that, the first year bled into the second. Kriantis learned to crawl, then toddle, his golden eyes missing nothing. His vocabulary grew fast due to his language comprehension skill, first mimicking, then forming simple requests and statements in the tribal tongue, careful not to seem too advanced. He saw Karos leave and return, sometimes injured, always resolute. The name "Big Red" became associated with his father's serious face and long absences.
He achieved Stage 2: Mana Bonding, his internal control becoming finer. He could now consciously circulate his small mana pool, feeling its warmth ebb and flow. He tried mimicking the simple Light magic Merlia used to illuminate the hut or the Water magic used for cleaning – tiny, uncontrolled sparks or momentary condensation were the only results, the mana waste enormous according to his internal senses, but it was progress.
He walked, then ran, exploring the confines of the relatively safe village perimeter.
Then he watched Raia, now Lv 11, practice with her spear, Amber, now Lv 7, identifying plants, and Pamela, now Lv 5, reluctantly enduring basic drills from Karos, now Lv 29 after relentless training, who insisted she had Hunter talent despite her desire to be a Nurturer like Merlia.
Through his actions – diligent practice in walking, careful listening, and constant observation – the System awarded him basic Subclasses.
[Subclass Acquired: Walker! +3 Agility, +3 Vitality]
[Subclass Acquired: Listener! +3 Sense, +3 Endurance]
[Subclass Acquired: Breather! +5 Vitality, +3 Stamina]
(Small gains, but cumulative. Every bit helps.) He nodded to himself.
Time didn't stop there, however.
So one day much later.
Kriantis sat near the edge of the hut, watching Pamela practice basic knife handling under Karos's watchful eye. She fumbled, her expression mutinous. Karos sighed, correcting her stance patiently but firmly.
"Focus, Pamela! You have the eye for it, the instinct! Better than Raia at your age!" Karos encouraged.
"Don't wanna…" Pamela mumbled, tears welling.
Kriantis observed, his golden eyes analytical. (Talent vs Desire. Father pushes her potential, ignoring her wishes. Mother supports her choice. A common conflict, but amplified here. Pamela has Elemental affinity… Platinum hair. Father is right about her potential, but forcing it might break her. Must observe the outcome.)
He turned his attention inward, focusing his mana. A small pebble near his foot levitated, wobbling slightly, an inch off the ground. He held it there for a second, concentrating fiercely, before letting it drop. Stage 2 Mana Bonding was stable, control was increasing, but precision for anything complex was still far off.
Karos glanced over, noticing his son's intense focus, though likely missing the levitating pebble. He saw the unnerving stillness, the calculating gaze that seemed too old for a four-year-old. A shiver, not entirely unpleasant, ran down his spine. This son… blessed, powerful, different. He had to get stronger. For Kriantis. For the tribe. He looked towards the forest.
(Big Red… soon.)
Kriantis met his father's gaze briefly, then looked back at the pebble, already planning his next exercise, his next step on the long path of Omni-Ascension. Four years down. An eternity left to go.