Pain.
Not sharp or overwhelming—but dull, pulsing through every bone and muscle. Reynar groaned and shifted, the gritty touch of dirt beneath his fingers telling him one thing clearly:
He was alive.
And this wasn't Earth.
Above him stretched a blue sky, more vivid than anything he remembered. Twin suns cast golden rays across a vast, green forest. The scent of pine, earth, and something floral drifted on the breeze.
He sat up slowly. His body felt different—leaner, tougher, more responsive. Still clothed in simple brown linen and boots, but his skin was cleaner, unblemished by bruises or scars. He touched his face, expecting pain where bullies had struck—but there was nothing.
Not even the mark he'd had on his jaw since childhood.
"New body... huh."
His voice was deeper now. Calm, but colder. Sharper.
[Initializing: Infinite Sovereign System]
[Welcome, Reynar Valen — Sovereign Candidate 001-A]
[System Core Integration: 42%... 78%... 100%]
[System Activation Complete.]
The voice echoed in his mind—not robotic, but crystalline, smooth, and feminine. Clearer than any AI he'd ever heard.
[Congratulations, Sovereign Candidate. Your journey begins.]
Suddenly, glowing blue symbols burst into his vision—floating as if part of a holographic display, except this was no screen. It was... part of his mind.
⟡ STATUS WINDOW ⟡
Name: Reynar Valen
Age: 16
Race: Human (Altered Soul)
Class: [Unassigned]
Title(s): Reincarnated Soul, Sovereign Candidate
Level: 1
HP: 100 / 100
MP: 50 / 50
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Endurance: 6
Magic: 5
Intelligence: 10
Luck: ???
🜂 Sovereign Core Sync: 100%🜂
Sovereign Skill Tree: Locked🜂
System Authority: Tier-0
"What the hell is all this?" he muttered. His eyes scanned over the floating panels, and then—
[The Infinite Sovereign System is a living construct designed to facilitate your evolution beyond mortal limits.]
[You will grow by fighting, learning, overcoming challenges, and defeating enemies. Your potential is limitless.]
[Beginner Quest: First Step into the Unknown]
Objective: Reach a nearby settlement or safe zone.
Reward: +1 Stat Point, 100 EXP, Unlock Sovereign Skill Tree (Tier-0 Access)
He stood, brushing off dirt. Trees towered above, the canopy stretching wide. Distant birdsong echoed, but there was no sign of civilization. Still… this was real.
He flexed his fingers.
This is my second life. My new beginning.
No more fists. No more humiliation.
Just growth—and power.
A branch snapped behind him.
Reynar spun on instinct—and froze.
A creature, roughly the size of a wolf, stepped into view. Its hide was a blend of bark and fur, with glowing green eyes and jagged wooden fangs.
[Forest Howler – Level 3]
Aggression Level: HIGH
"Seriously?" Reynar whispered. "You're not even going to give me a warm-up?"
The wolf-beast growled low in its throat, crouching.
Reynar didn't have a weapon.
But his instincts screamed.
The beast lunged.
He rolled aside—barely dodging the snapping jaws. Adrenaline surged. He grabbed a broken branch and swung with every ounce of strength.
THWACK.
The wood cracked across the beast's face. It staggered, then roared.
[Adrenaline Surge: +2 AGI for 30 seconds]
The System was helping him—reactively, like it knew his limits.
The Howler charged again.
Reynar dropped low and jammed the stick into its mouth as it lunged. It bit down—and that was the moment he drove his knee into its jaw.
The stick splintered.
The beast howled.
Reynar didn't wait. He grabbed a jagged stone from the ground—and with a yell, slammed it into the creature's eye.
Once.
Twice.
Crack.
Blood splattered. The creature slumped.
[Forest Howler defeated.]
[+120 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2.]
Breathing hard, Reynar sat back.
His first kill.
No training. No weapon. Just instinct and desperation.
And he'd survived.
[You have gained 5 Stat Points.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Sovereign Skill Tree – Tier 0]
[You have earned the Title: "First Kill – The Initiate"]
He grinned despite the blood on his hands.
"I was trash back home. But here…"
He looked down at his hands—shaking, bruised, but victorious.
"…I can become anything I want."
The forest stirred around him—but now, it didn't seem so terrifying.
[Beginner Quest Complete!]
[Rewards Granted. Unlocking Sovereign Skill Tree... Tier-0 Access Enabled.]
⟡ SOVEREIGN SKILL TREE – Tier 0 ⟡
(You may choose one of the following Sovereign Skills:)
Limit Breaker (Passive) – Temporarily exceed your current stat cap for 30 seconds (cooldown: 10 min).
Predator's Insight (Active) – Highlight enemy weak points in combat.
Soul Forge (Passive) – Gain +1 stat point for every enemy defeated.
Shadow Blink (Active) – Dash up to 10 meters in any direction (cooldown: 20 sec).
"Four options, huh…"
He scanned them, then tapped his choice without hesitation.
Soul Forge.
If he wanted to grow endlessly, what better path than one that rewarded every victory?
[Sovereign Skill Acquired: Soul Forge]
Reynar stood, gripping the jagged rock like a weapon. He looked into the trees, then down at the fading corpse of the beast.
The System was real.
The pain was real.
The growth was real.
And for the first time in his life—so was his resolve.
"Let's see how far I can go."