Kaida lay on his side, staring at the dim blue glow of the floating screen.
It hadn’t disappeared.
Even hours later, it hung there beside his bed like a quiet observer.
He’d tried closing his eyes, but sleep refused to come. Every time his eyelids slipped, he’d hear the echo of collapsing stone. He’d see Mishell’s bloodied face. Tsubaki’s last push. Kumuna’s arm shielding someone else, not himself.
He couldn’t shut it out.
So, instead… he sat up.
“…Fine. Let’s see what you are.”
He reached toward the glowing panel again.
DING.
The screen expanded with a shimmer, revealing a tab labeled [ Menu ] with options:
- Inventory255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDINKp8teP
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDGYGO8pG5 - Stats255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHT36cNRuC
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrR3hj6zpS - Class Tree255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiMmLCCWqk
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1sCvv2jtD - Skill Tree (Locked)255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwYNbgmlOB
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIUMsBOSwx - Journal (Empty)255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMihwsCk2m
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6tay3izUb
He tapped Inventory first.
A soft ripple crossed the screen. An empty grid of squares popped into view, with one slot already filled.
Item: Traveler’s Garments (Worn)
Item: Basic Health Potion x2
Kaida blinked. “Inventory storage… like a bag I can’t lose.”
He tapped again. A glowing hand icon appeared, and with a flick of thought, he watched his school shoes pop into existence, floating in the space before him.
“…No way.” He reached forward, touched them, and they vanished—back into the grid.
“Okay. That’s… kinda cool.”
He slid over to the next tab.
[ Skill Tree ]
Locked – Prerequisite not met: Basic Mana Control Required
Kaida groaned. “Of course.”
A glowing description hovered underneath:
To access your first skill node, you must undergo elemental alignment and manifest control over your internal mana flow.
“Sounds like anime meditation nonsense…”
He backed out and tapped the next option:
[ Class Tree ]
A long list appeared. Traditional RPG archetypes filled the screen:
- Warrior255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZVnwCIgXY
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RyAk0FH3c - Mage255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEctX3zRNZE
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj87wwNYklp - Brawler255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfN0mtjP9M
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgz4WlWlHr - Archer255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEr9fX4gKf
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ4DcTrmSv - Assassin255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQljzeE1GM
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzViRhnTNu - Cleric255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw4G4nT8yd
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Pe6Wr1kG - Monk255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOuA532MEh
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqDQCGodqN - Summoner255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuhSgOmv1G
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONzCVfsrTm - Paladin255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3MwwelUlE
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6sNriH69Y - Samurai255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyvgA8UaRV
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCA0pt5mcT - Beastcaller255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEELkEiEEN8
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9y6KzzqOd - Gunslinger255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsZOW9OD3l
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojrfvex7Of - Hexblade255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuDWYWq3zu
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanT43uCXB7 - Bard255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqk2bGMXnf
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOftI3EWGIi - Dancer255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtneRvXTnRR
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4mzQei77b - ??? (Locked)255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPcG1UNbgE
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90rIaSgZwt
Below them was a glowing option:
[ Random Class Assignment – Spin the Wheel? ]
Kaida hovered over it.
“…Screw it. Let fate choose.”
He tapped the icon.
WHOOSH.
A glowing wheel of icons appeared, spinning wildly—colors blurring together.
It slowed… clicking like a fortune wheel…
Click. Click. Click.
Click.
It landed on a symbol: a stylized sword with a curved edge, draped in wind.
Class Assigned: Samurai
You are a warrior of discipline, balance, and controlled fury. You move like the wind and strike with decisive power. You excel in precision, agility, and counter-based combat.
Kaida raised an eyebrow. “Samurai?”
Then the screen changed again, a soft hum of light unfolding into a new tab titled:
[ Stat Sheet – Kaida Tatsuya ]
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He read each line aloud under his breath as if saying them might make it all feel more real.
Name: Kaida Tatsuya
Class: Samurai
Element: Wind
Level: 1
Race: Human
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Strength – 3 (+1) = 4
Physical power and force. Increases with lifting, striking, and physical stress.
Dexterity – 4 (+1) = 5
Speed, reflexes, and precision. Grows through balance, dodging, and rapid movement.
Constitution – 2 (+1) = 3
Endurance and toughness. Rises through pain resistance and physical pressure.
Intelligence – 2 (+0) = 2
Learning, memory, magical theory. Increases through study and application.
Wisdom – 3 (+1) = 4
Instinct, emotional clarity, and insight. Grows through meditation, empathy, and decision-making.
Charisma – 1 (+0) = 1
Social impact and presence. Strengthens through interaction, leadership, and persuasion.
Mana Pool – 2 (+0) = 2
Your internal energy reserve. Expands through mana exposure, meditation, and soul focus.
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A line flickered gently beneath the sheet.
“Stat bonuses are granted based on Class Affinity.”
“Class: Samurai – +1 to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom.”
Kaida stared at the numbers, mouth half-open.
“…Charisma one, huh?” he muttered.
He poked at it.
It didn’t change.
“Even fantasy worlds won’t lie to make me feel better.”
Still, seeing it all typed out like that—his body and mind reduced to quantifiable stats—it grounded something in him. At least this part made sense.
“Grow stronger by living stronger,” he whispered.
Right.
This wasn’t a dream anymore.
This was real.
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Suddenly—
KNOCK.
Kaida jolted upright.
Another knock. Louder.
He walked slowly to the door. His heart raced for reasons he didn’t understand. He reached out—
THWACK!
The door swung open hard, nearly hitting him in the face.
“GAH—!”
Kaida leapt back, instinctively raising his arms.
A tall figure stepped through.
She had dark brown skin, short black hair cropped tight to the scalp, and piercing yellow eyes that slanted like a feline’s. On top of her head, sleek black cat ears flicked with the air. A long tail swayed behind her, and her black-and-gold outfit shimmered faintly in the candlelight.
She was at least six feet tall.
A scar ran across her cheekbone like a lightning bolt etched in flesh.
And her gaze?
Predatory.
Kaida backed up a step, jaw twitching. There was something about her face. Something…
Familiar.
Her eyes scanned the room.
Then locked on him.
“So,” she said, voice low and gravelly, like it had been forged in battle smoke. “You’re the chosen one?”
Kaida flinched. Her tone was drenched in irritation.
“A runt?” she added. “The gods really do love making my life difficult.”
Kaida stared at her, blinking.
Her voice—it was deeper, raspier, but there was a… cadence to it.
A familiarity he couldn’t place.
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you looking at?”
Her teeth bared—sharp. Predatory.
Kaida jumped back again. “N-Nothing! Sorry!”
She gave a sneering grin. “You look like you’d shatter if someone breathed on you wrong.”
She stepped into the center of the room, arms crossed.
“I’m Temu Zennen,” she said sharply. “Remember it well.”
Kaida straightened a bit, eyes still wide.
“Because from this day forward,” she continued, “I’m your teacher.”
He repeated it dumbly. “My… teacher?”
Her eyes flared. “I didn’t stutter!”
“R-Right!”
She paced once, eyes running over him again.
“I’ll be the one turning this—” she gestured at his entire body, “shameless display of softness—into something useful.”
He gulped.
Temu tilted her head. “Don’t bother telling me your name. I don’t care enough to remember it.”
Kaida deflated slightly.
She turned to leave. “Rest up. I’ll be waking you up at the crack of dawn.”
But just before she exited—
Kaida muttered, “My name… is Kaida.”
She stopped in the doorway.
Without turning, she spoke softly. “…Is that so?”
Her tone was unreadable.
She didn’t look back. Just walked out, tail flicking once behind her.
“Sleep tight, Kaida. Tomorrow, I’m putting you through hell.”
SLAM.
The door shut behind her.
Kaida stood frozen for a long moment.
He slowly turned and walked back to the bed, sinking onto its edge.
“…Why me?”
His head hung low. Hands clasped in front of him like a broken prayer.
“Why’d it have to be me?”
He waited for the void to answer. It didn’t.
“…If it was someone else,” he muttered, “they’d probably be thinking the same thing.”
He stood, snuffed out the glowing candle-glass beside his bed, and lay down.
The ceiling above was unfamiliar. Ornate. Beautiful.
But he didn’t see it.
All he could see was that woman’s eyes. That voice.
“…Temu Zennen,” he whispered.
Something about her…
It felt like something long buried.
Something he should remember.
But that was a question for tomorrow.
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