3rd POV
On a particular mountain
---
???: Activating necessary system operations.
---
???: Success. The soul of the body has almost fully deteriorated due to extending the life force beyond normal limitations. The soul is beyond repair.
---
???: Calculating possible solutions.
---
???: Answer: The soul can be merged with another to be fully restored. However, the original soul will be devoured. Take this action?
---
???: Confirmed. Finding a suitable soul to inherit the body.
---
???: Suitable soul found. Beginning the transfer of the new soul to the body.
---
???: Success. Transferring soul into a new host body. Merging souls. Complete.
---
???: Notice: Due to an error in the system, the memories of both souls were lost. Updating system to adjust to the new host.
---
???: System update complete. Notice: Due to the soul merge, the original body has lost a significant amount of power and skills.
---
???: Acquiring skills: Grand Oracle (D), Hyper Fixation (X), Pain Nullification (T), Delinquent (D), Avarice (X) from the new soul.
---
???: The new host can receive titles: Primordial, Wish Granter, Deal Maker, Eternal Sleeper, Energy Cultivator, Ageless, and Progenitor.
---
???: The new host has received benefits from the titles. Magic and HP have increased, and the host's body no longer ages. The following skills have been acquired: Legarthy (X), Generosity (X), Life Force (R), Trade (H), Wish Granter (I).
---
???: The Primordial title has evolved into the title Primordial Star. The following skills have been acquired: Primordial (D), Genesis (T), Soul Reaper (X), Kin Control (T).
---
???: The following affinities have been adapted: Fire (Lv1), Ice (Lv1), Plant (Lv1), Earth (Lv1), Lightning (Lv1), Water (Lv1), Air (Lv1), Null (Lv1), Dark (Lv1), Light (Lv1).
---
???: Process complete. A name has already been given to the new host. Welcome, Primordial Star: Astra Eclipsa Helios Selene Thea Celeste Nova.
---
Astra POV
Ugh, my head… What happened to me? All I remember is a lot of pain, my thoughts racing, and then complete darkness. Where am I?
???: Answer: You are currently on the very top of Starfall Peak—a mountain known for its large amount of cosmic energy. Strange things are said to happen on this mountain, such as portals to other worlds appearing spontaneously. The mountain has never been explored because of a mysterious force surrounding it.
Wait? Who are you, and what's going on here?!
Grand Oracle:
Answer: I am your skilled Grand Oracle (D). I am a collection of data and can analyze and process anything you need. Due to the original soul of this body nearing its end, a suitable soul was found to keep it alive by merging the two souls to create an entirely new being.
So it's kind of like I reincarnated. Wait—if that's true, then I'm neither the original soul nor the other? I'm like a newborn with an old soul.
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. The other soul of the host came from a world far beyond this one.
Okay, so I reincarnated in another world. There's a part of me that is happy, but if I had family or friends in my past life, I can't remember them—so I'm not that depressed about it. But if I'm in a new… old… body, why can't I see or feel anything?
Grand Oracle:
Answer: The body of a star does not contain any organs, including limbs or eyes. It is simply a mass of energy that surrounds the core of the star with no defined form. However, if the host desires, you can gain the skills Energy Sense (H) and Vision (H) to view the world.
Huh… if skills exist in this world, then there should be magic too, right?
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. However, skills and magic are different. Most skills are easy to use from a young age, but magic takes years to learn. Another difference is that magic originates from the world around the user, whereas skills draw power from the user.
Okay, that's easy enough to understand. By the way, is it possible for you to show me my stats, if I have any?
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. I will prepare a full view of your status right away, master.
Okay, never call me "master." Just call me… Huh, I don't even know my own name.
Grand Oracle:
Answer: The name given to you is Astra Eclipsa Helios Selene Thea Celeste Nova. Would you prefer to use this name?
What? That is way too long. I'd prefer it if you just call me Astra.
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative.
As the feminine voice of my skill fades, a screen pops up in my mind.
________________________________________
Basic Information
Name: Astra Eclipsa Helios Selene Thea Celeste Nova
Age: Ageless
Species: Star
Sub-Species: Primordial Star
Tier: Infant
Authority: Admin (Temporary Restrictions)
---
Stats
HP: 574
ATK: 110
DEF: 60
M. DEF: 60
ERG: 409
---
Affinities
Fire (Lv1)
Water (Lv1)
Ice (Lv1)
Earth (Lv1)
Nature (Lv1)
Lightning (Lv1)
Air (Lv1)
Null (Lv1)
Dark (Lv1)
Light (Lv1)
Energy (Lv1)
---
Skills
Grand Oracle (D)
Hyper Fixation (X)
Pain Nullification (T)
Delinquent (D)
Avarice (X)
Legarthy (X)
Generosity (X)
Life Force (R)
Primordial (D)
Genesis (T)
Soul Reaper (X)
Kin Control (T)
Cold Resistance (H)
Air Resistance (H)
Lightning Resistance (H)
Energy Absorption (R)
Trade (H)
Wish Granter (I)
---
Titles
Primordial Star
Wish Granter
Deal Maker
Eternal Sleeper
High Magic Cultivator
Ageless
Progenitor
________________________________________
My stats seem kind of high for someone who was just technically born—is this normal?
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. As a primordial, your stats are higher than average, and because of your Primordial (D) skill, your growth rate increases by 10.
Wow, so I grow 10 times faster than normal! Kinda sounds like I'm some overpowered anime character—wait, why do I still remember that? Actually, I remember a lot of anime, manga, and even novels I enjoyed in my past life. And also, Grand Oracle (D) just sounds like a Great Sage reskin.
Grand Oracle:
Forming a suitable response...
...
...
...
Rude.
Oh, please—you know it's true. Now just answer my question: Why do I still remember all that?
Grand Oracle:
Answer: The skill Hyper Fixation (E) has allowed the obsessions of the soul to persist within you.
Actually, another thing I remember is that I was a girl. Wait—am I still a girl now?
Grand Oracle:
Negative. In this body, you are neither male nor female.
Well, I'll take that over a gender swap any day. Okay, I've seen enough for now. Back to my current situation—how do I learn those two skills you mentioned earlier?
Grand Oracle: To learn Energy Sense, you must feel the energy flowing around you. For Vision, it should be simple, since you inherited the feeling of sight—just regain that sensation, and these two skills will work in tandem to give you actual eyesight. I would also suggest acquiring the skill Sound Waves to restore your hearing.
Okay, then let's see if I can do this. I first focus on sensing the energy around me. It isn't that hard, and soon I start to notice everything—the cold air, the falling snow, and the ground beneath me. It's as if I can see them, though they appear as blurry masses. Next, I concentrate on my vision and hearing, focusing on the sensation of opening my eyes and listening to the wind. Finally, it comes to me: the world becomes clearer as my vision returns. I can now see that I truly am on a mountain; there are clouds directly above me, and my hearing also returns, filling my ears with the fierce rush of wind. No wonder the Ice, Wind, and Lightning affinities are all above level 1—I was probably struck by lightning multiple times, and it's so cold up here with such high winds.
Grand Oracle:
Skills Energy Sense (H), Vision (H), and Sound Waves (H) have been acquired. New affinities—Sonar (Lv1) and Vision (Lv1)—have also been adapted.
Wow, I even obtained some new affinities! Now I'm in a new predicament: How do I get down the mountain?
Grand Oracle:
I suggest you roll down, as there is no other way off Starfall Peak.
Seriously?!! Okay, fine—I'll just roll down an entire mountain. But hey, what do I know? You're the smart one here.
Grand Oracle:
...
...
...
Your sarcasm needs work.
Oh, shut up, would you? Without any second thoughts, I roll my body down the mountain. As I pick up speed, the snow around me starts circling my form. After a while, I become nothing more than a big ball of snow tumbling down the mountain. Nothing happens for a few minutes until I crash.
I open my "eyes" and find a new scene around me. There is snow on the ground, and it looks as if I crashed into a tree at the base of the mountain. I am now in a forest—a very large forest. So, what now?
Grand Oracle:
Answer: You could start by increasing your power, as you have decreased from your original state.
Eh, it's not like I have anything better to do with my time, so I'll do that.
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. There are various ways to increase one's power.
Huh, really? Can you tell me what they are?
Grand Oracle:
Affirmative. For each individual species, there are different methods to gain power aside from defeating enemies—such as aging and training.
Okay, I'll set that as a goal then. I'm going to adventure around the world and create my own story—maybe make some allies and enemies along the way. The future holds so much potential; who knows what's in store. Today, on this very spot, begins my new legacy.
---
3rd POV
In an unknown location
Someone sat on a throne, surrounded by a menacing aura and a bored expression on her face. She held a glass when, suddenly, it shattered.
"My lady, are you all right?" a man who looked like a butler asked.
"I'm quite all right; it's just glass," she replied coolly.
"But whatever could have happened to make it break so suddenly?" the man pondered aloud. "I don't exactly know the answer myself, but I can sense a wave of change coming—whether it is good or bad, I do not know. However, it should be extremely entertaining to watch, don't you think?" she said with a psychotic smile.
"Indeed it should, my lady. Indeed it should." The man offered a warm, comforting smile that belied his dark nature.
---
3rd POV
In an unknown location
A man stood on a balcony, his aura exuding light. Yet, he seemed deep in thought, his face filled with worry. A woman, dressed in a maid's outfit, sat at a table beside him and interrupted his reverie.
"My lord, what troubles you so?" she asked.
The man sighed and spoke, "That's what I have been trying to figure out myself. There seems to be something—or someone—that is going to change many things in this world, but I don't know what their intentions are. This being could be connected to her, for all I know." He frowned as he continued.
"Hmm, it seems unreasonable to pay so much attention to it at this point. All we can do is observe and wait. Now, come—your tea is getting cold," she said, waving for him to sit down in the chair opposite her.
"It seems you're right, as always," the man conceded, taking his seat. "And you are as stubborn as always." He laughed, while the woman maintained an emotionless expression.
---