Kaine Smith, now Spark Nighthawk, observed his Blessings. His Cheat Codes.
The first was "Mental Power Boost".
This, in a way, increased some parts of his intelligence. It didn't make him think in a different way. It didn't make him super genius in everything. Or that he can do anything. No. Instead, it gave him… clarity.
He could see connections, patterns, possibilities. Things that were previously elusive to him. He could understand concepts with an ease. Even things that bordered on the supernatural.
This was more than just a boost. It was a fundamental shift. He could feel the change. Better yet, his mind processed information with lightning speed.
He knew, instinctively, that his comprehension talent had been elevated beyond measure. His was no longer merely above average comprehension. He now had an [Erudite Mind]. The ability to learn, adapt, and understand at an unprecedented pace.
The second blessing was "Physical Power Boost".
He flexed his fingers. He felt… different. It was still weak. As he was in recovery stage. But he felt that his foundation was... stronger. Much stronger.
The boost was not just in his muscles. But in every part of his body. His normal body had been transformed. Bones. Internal organs. Blood vessels. Flesh. Skin. Even hair.
His body was no longer average. He possessed a [Tough Physique]. He felt the resilience in his bones. The potential power in his muscles. He knew, without a doubt, that he could withstand punishments that would break others.
He was still very weak now. But he felt it. He could recover faster. He could get stronger faster. He just needed to train his body. Into whatever type of physique he wanted to have.
Third on his list... "Soul Power Boost".
This was the most subtle. Yet, perhaps also the most profound. He could sense it deep within him. A wellspring of untapped potential.
His soul, his very essence, had been fortified. It was no longer vulnerable and fragile. It was a [Fortified Soul].
With that, he was resistant to soul manipulation. He was resilient against psychic attacks. He could somehow feel grounded, centered, protected.
For the next one... "Dormant Mysterious Talent". It was a cheat code which hadn't been activated yet. He knew it was there. Lurking just beneath the surface.
But he couldn't access it. Not yet. It was like a locked door. Waiting for the right key. He could feel the potential bubbling within him. It was something unknown that both excited and frightened him.
And finally, the last one was... "Rune Encyclopedia Archive". It was a vast mental library. Imprinted on his mind. An endless repository of knowledge about runes, their meanings, their powers, their applications.
Runes as forgotten languages, mystical symbols, source of magic – all laid bare before him. He could barely scratch the surface. But even the little he could access was staggering.
With his knowledge of the common sense in this new world, he knew. He had possessed keys to extraordinary wealth. And power.
He lay back against the pillow. Overwhelmed. But also decisive.
Kaine Smith, the unlucky guy betrayed by the ones he trusted, was gone. He was now Spark Nighthawk, the survivor of the great storm incident.
He was Spark Nighthawk. A boy with a past life. Burdened with new memories. And blessed with extraordinary power.
He didn't know why this had happened. He didn't know what it meant. But he knew one thing for sure. His life would never be the same. He had been given a second chance. A new life. And he wouldn't waste it.
He would unravel the mystery of the reincarnation blessings. He would learn to control his newfound powers. He would discover the dormant talent that lay hidden within him. He would navigate this strange, new world.
He would survive.
...
-- Gutlark Town, Olwinter 27, 1557 NC. --
A few days later, Spark Nighthawk was back to his hometown, Gutlark Town.
He stood in the silent, echoing halls of his now empty little mansion. Sunlight slanted through the tall, arched windows. Illuminating dust motes dancing in the stillness.
It was a small, luxurious house. Yet, it was disproportionately large for a single twelve-year-old.
The house was nestled within a sprawling orchard. In the elite district of Gutlark Town. The air was heavy with the faint scent of garden's flower and fresh fruit. It was a stark contrast to the sterile smell of the hospital he'd just left.
His parents, his older siblings, the butler, the maids... all gone. All victims of the sky ship disaster that had inexplicably spared him. A happy, if somewhat typical, noble family, was now reduced to a single, chubby twelve-year-old boy.
He moved through the rooms. Familiar, yet so different. The luxurious dining hall was usually bustling with laughter and the clatter of silverware. It was now eerily quiet.
The ornate furniture was once vibrant with life. It now seemed heavy with the weight of loss. He ran a hand over a polished mahogany table. It felt cool in his hands.
A sudden burst of raw grief hit him. Tears were brimming in his eyes. But he held it back. He was not just the weak juvenile, Spark Nighthawk. He was also the bitter adult, Kaine Smith.
Spark kept exploring. His gaze finally settled on the library. A smaller room tucked away at the end of a long corridor. It was a haven of quiet chaos. Books stacked haphazardly upon shelves that threatened to buckle under the weight.
First edition books. Ancient tomes bound in leather. Scrolls rolled tight and tied with faded ribbons. A bibliophile's dream. A treasure trove of knowledge.
He ran his fingers along the spines of the books. Feeling the texture of aged paper. And the faint scent of parchment and ink.
This was where Spark's eldest brother had spent most of his time. He could still remember him clearly. His brother. Blaze Nighthawk. The fat, jolly scholar. A prodigious talent who enjoyed both jokes and stories.
Now, it was a legacy he inherited.
Suddenly, he felt something... different. An almost imperceptible hum that resonated with the rune knowledge now embedded in his mind. It was a book in the shelf. He pulled it out and observed it.
It was a very old book, with the title: Versatile Foundation. Its cover was embossed with intricately carved drawing of the silhouette of a man.
It spoke of training practice for gaining overall improvement in body, mind, and soul. He made a quick comparison to the practice taught by the school: The Universal Sky Cultivation. If his memory was not wrong, this one seemed to be much more advanced.
But, he felt that... even this Versatile Foundation had not reached the ideal result. He might be able to revise it by applying some Optimization runes.
A surge of determination replaced the grief. He wouldn't just survive. He would thrive. He would honor his elder brother's legacy. And his other family members.
His father, Viscount Sol Nighthawk. He was a humble nobleman whose sharp mind had built the family's great business empire. Spark knew his father's study was a sanctuary of meticulously organized files, ledgers, and correspondence.
He found it easily enough. A room adjacent to the library. Remarkably less cluttered, but no less imposing. The air smelled faintly of leather and pipe tobacco. A ghostly reminder of his father's presence.
Spark ran his fingers across the smooth surface of a mahogany desk. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of documents. Each was a testament to his father's tireless work.
He noticed a hidden compartment in the desk. Triggered by a cleverly concealed lever. Inside, there were carefully preserved letters and photographs. Nestled amongst them was a thick, leather-bound journal. Its pages were filled with his father's elegant scripts.
They detailed his observation and analysis of important characters within their Avianest Kingdom. He mentioned their political stance, their personality traits, and many more information. He even mentioned how he used the information to gain significant success.
Spark shook his head in amazement. His father didn't act like a businessman at all. He was more like a spy. But, this was a map to his father's success. A legacy he could study and perhaps even expand upon.
He wouldn't be able to handle so many businesses like his father. He needed to study. To learn. To become stronger. He, unfortunately, needed to sell many of them.
Well, the investment systems in this world seemed to be quite mature. He could hold or purchase some shares for promising businesses. Being a minor shareholder of many companies seemed... possible.
Anyway...
Her mother's laboratory was next on Spark's list. It was a space he had only ever glimpsed. His mother, Doctor Sera Nighthawk was a renowned physicians. Her intellect was known to be as sharp as her compassion.
Her small lab was a marvel of scientific precision. Filled with gleaming equipment and meticulously organized samples. The faint scent of antiseptic could be felt in the air. It was a bittersweet reminder of her healing touch.
Spark carefully examined her notes. They were filled with complex formulas and detailed observations. Other than her notes, he found plenty annotated medical texts and sketches of innovative surgical techniques.
He held the notes fondly. He never planned to be a doctor like her. Working on hospital to help patients. But he would make sure he learned her notes well. It was the least he could do.
Finally...
He came to his sister's laboratory. His sister, Ember Nighthawk, was a brilliant monster researcher. But she didn't have the image of seriousness or madness a scientist should have.
Similar to the other members of his family, she was a jolly, joke-loving person. However, her passion for studying ugly monstrous creatures was pretty worrying sometimes.
Her workshop was located in the furthest wing of the manor. It was a spacious room brimming with strange machines, preserved specimens, and esoteric texts. There was an unusual scent in this place. A mixture of formaldehyde and something… else.
Spark cautiously examined her notes. They were filled with detailed observations of monstrous anatomy, behavior, and physiology. They also contained massive information about Framepath Fusions, one of the three main ways to gain superpower in this world.
Spark read the notes seriously. These notes were extremely valuable. He would use them well. Not just to respect her, but also to gain power to protect himself.
...
Later, standing before the bathroom mirror, the harsh reality of his new life struck him. He wasn't the tall, athletic Kaine Smith. He was a twelve-year-old boy, rather chubby, with unremarkable features.
Black hair, unremarkable brown eyes, a slightly crooked nose. The reflection staring back was a stranger in a familiar face.
The weight of his new situation settled on him. He was still in compulsory school. He was a noble, yes. But a child nonetheless. Under the suffocating protection of the government for another six years.
He wasn't simply a survivor. He was a ward of the state. This was important. Extremely important. There was a ridiculous law of inheritance designed to protect underage noble inheritors. It was now his greatest asset.
If he died, all his assets would be sold off by the government. The wealth would be frozen for a hundred years by the Universal Bank. Afterward, they would be donated to the state and charity.
This meant that nobody at present could benefit from his death. This meant he had six years — six precious years — of safety.
The law would be voided once he reached eighteen and became an awakened adult. He would lose that protection privilege then.
He would have to protect himself against the vultures trying to seize his family's tremendous fortune.
Six years to adapt. To train. To become strong enough to survive. Six years to master the cheats he'd inexplicably gained. He ran a hand through his brown hair, the weight of his reality pressing down on him.
But the sheer audacity of his situation gave him a strange sense of exhilaration. He had died once. Now, he had a purpose. And he wouldn't die again that easily. The next six years would not just be about survival. But they would also be about rebirth.