Monsters were classified into six levels: Ordinary, Unordinary, Malevolent, Vengeful, Cursed, and Eldritch.
The first level, Ordinary, posed a threat that even regular people could handle if they had sufficient numbers.
The second level, Unordinary, was significantly more dangerous—too much for an average person. Only high-rank Awakeners or a well-coordinated party of lower-rank Awakeners could deal with them.
Malevolent-class monsters were far more powerful. Typically, they required either a single S-rank Awakener or a party of A-ranks to defeat. However, there was once an A-rank who managed to take one down alone…
The sensation caused by that feat was immense—it became a hot topic for years, and even now, people still spoke about it.
"Sigh… A Vengeful-class demon is even worse. It takes an entire party of S-rank or even SSS-rank Awakeners to bring it down."
Eryke let out a breath before turning on his computer and then opened the headline news and scanned the latest report—the number of SSS-rank Awakeners worldwide.
There were only 30.
"It would take several of them just to defeat a single one… And for a Cursed-class monster…" He trailed off, his expression darkening. "Even with all the SSS-rank Awakeners combined, victory might still be impossible."
Eryke let out a deep sigh. "Humanity is doomed."
As for Eldritch-class monsters… humanity had never encountered one. But if they ever did, it would likely mark the end.
He exhaled slowly, then willed it.
A translucent blue panel materialized before him.
***
[Status Panel]
Name: Eryke
Title: "World Traveler", "Fast Finisher", <
Talent (SSS-class): Clone [Level 3]
Description: Allows the user to create clones of themselves. Grants the unique skill [Hive Mind] (Uses: 3)
Skills: Body Strengthening, Regeneration, Star Strike, Acceleration
[Destiny Points: 290,000]
[Shop]
***
Eryke had gained a total of three titles so far. The first two had been granted at the start, while the last one appeared when his clone accumulated mana.
He narrowed his eyes and focused.
***
>Allows the Awakener to teleport freely between worlds, provided they have enough Karma.
>Grants the Awakener a perfect physique through hard work, regardless of diet.
>Doubles training speed.
>Increases affinity with Mana by one.
***
"Eh…"
Eryke stared at "Fast Finisher" with a stunned expression. He had always thought of it as a joke, but its effect was astonishing.
"Wait… does this make me more handsome?"
Eryke glanced at his reflection in the mirror, noticing subtle yet undeniable changes. His skin appeared smoother and glossier, while his facial features had become sharper and more defined.
Satisfied, he turned back to the shop menu, scrolling through the options casually—until his eyes suddenly halted on a particular skill.
Allows the user to share mana. The greater the compatibility, the higher the benefits.
His heart pounded with excitement as he clenched his fist.
It was only 10,000 Destiny Points.
His clone possessed the Dragon's bloodline, making it incredibly easy to sense mana molecules. Meanwhile, his title granted him an affinity, but the process still required effort.
Now, with this skill… he wouldn't even need to gather mana himself.
He could steal it directly from his clone.
Excited by the prospect, Eryke immediately relayed the command to his clone. Without hesitation, Drayken began channeling mana through Mana Share.
Oh, as for the name? Well, he was fully aware of his terrible naming sense—so Drayken was undeniably better than whatever he would have come up with.
Eryke sat cross-legged, his breath steady. In an instant, mana molecules began materializing within his body.
What could be more compatible with him than his own clone?
He didn't even need to upgrade the skill—its conversion rate was already a perfect 100%, even across two worlds.
This skill… was a miracle.
And the best part? He didn't have to do anything. Drayken handled everything, molding the mana and forging a core directly in his liver.
An hour passed.
Eryke had successfully formed his mana core—again.
[System Notification]
[Congratulations! You have established a core.]
[You have gained the skill
[You have accomplished the impossible! You have established a Mana Core twice. You have gained the title <
[Congratulations! Your two titles have merged into a unique title: <
"Damn."
Eryke had expected more. After all, forming a mana core twice was supposed to be an impossible feat.
A mana core functioned like a black hole, instinctively pulling in every trace of mana within the body. The very idea of creating two in a single lifetime should have been unthinkable.
And now… he had done it.
Eryke hadn't expected his talent to be this broken—so much so that even the system rewarded him for something his clone had done.
"I wonder just how many skills and rewards I can rack up in the future."
With that thought lingering in his mind, he closed his eyes, focusing inward.
For the first time, he could truly sense it—the mana in the air. It had always been there, surrounding him, unseen and unnoticed. Even in his world, mana existed. It was simply that no one had ever appreciated it before the Awakening.
Eryke opened his eyes and stepped outside.
"The mana here is too thin."
His gaze swept across the landscape, searching… until it finally landed on a faint silhouette in the distance—a mountain, shrouded in shadow.
"Let's drive there."
Eryke retrieved his rusty fifth-gen Chevrolet Camaro, the old engine rumbling to life as he pulled onto the road.
The journey was smooth and uneventful, and before long, he arrived at the mountain.
Finding a casual tree stump, he sat down, taking in the quiet contrast to the tension of the city.
There were barely any effective laws to protect these poor trees after the Awakening, and while the media was flooded with environmental concerns, reality told a different story—blatant lies.
"Sigh."
Shaking his head, he pushed aside those thoughts and refocused.
He began absorbing mana from the surrounding air.
It was fast—far faster than before.
Bit by bit, he found a natural rhythm, a state where his mind and body synchronized completely with the mana flow.
The absorption rate was growing at an increasing pace and his core was quickly being filled.
Just like this, time passed in the blink of an eye.