Chapter 2: Vol.01: Ch.01: The Space Ability: A Gift or a Curse?
Darell, burst through the heavy wooden door of his father's office, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Dad! Dad! Dad!", he exclaimed, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.
Ralph Rogers, a lowly Baron presiding over the Barony of Xena, was buried in a mountain of paperwork, scowling at his son as he interrupted him.
"What? Why are you yelling so much? Can't you see I have to finish all this paperwork by tomorrow?", he scolded, clearly annoyed.
Darell's heart sank for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Dad! Hahahaha! I did it," he excalimed, his voice brimming with joy.
Ralph looked up at his son, perplexed.
"What? What did you do?", he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Darell took a deep breath and grinned from ear to ear.
"I got invited to enter the Varona Royal Academy. They will hold a special test for me," he exclaimed.
Ralph's jaw dropped open, and he felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
"W-WH-WHAT?? H-HOW?? B-BUT THEY DON'T HOLD A SPECIAL TEST FOR A LOWLY BARON'S SON. BOY! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO TELL ME SUCH A LIE?", he stammered, grabbing Darell's shoulders tightly and staring at him intensely.
Darell maintained his cool demeanor and smirked at his father.
"Dad! You know I have exceeded your expectations from birth. Of course, I have an invitation," he said confidently, taking out an envelope from his pocket.
Ralph snatched the envelope from his son and read its contents, his eyes widening with disbelief.
Ralph settled himself into his comfortable leather chair and took a long, cool sip of his coffee. He tried his best to maintain his composure despite the surprise news his son had just delivered to him.
"So, what is your innate ability?" he asked, his gaze penetrating as he searched for any hint of deception in Darell's face.
Darell, with a sly smile and a flip of his hair, replied confidently, "Space!"
Ralph's reaction didn't match Darell's expectations. The Baron's eyes widened, and he choked on his coffee, coughing loudly as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Cough...cough...cough...boy! Show me or else!" he managed to say between coughs, his face turning red with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
With a mischievous smirk still playing on his lips, Darell reached over to his father's desk and picked up a pen. He held it in the palm of his hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were completely black, and small white orbs of light twinkled like stars in the darkness.
Ralph felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched in disbelief as the pen vanished from Darell's palm, only to reappear a moment later in the same spot.
He couldn't even bring himself to blink as he continued to watch in amazement, his gaze fixed on the pen that had just materialized out of thin air.
Darell closed his eyes again, and when he reopened them, they were back to their normal azure hue, and the pen had once again disappeared.
Ralph was speechless, his mind racing as he struggled to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
Ralph couldn't contain his joy and excitement at his son's incredible ability. He burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, slapping his hands down hard on the desk in front of him.
"To think my son possesses the space ability that has been lost for ten thousand years!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with pride and satisfaction. "I am truly blessed."
A sense of vindication washed over Ralph as he thought about all the snobbish nobles who had looked down on him and his family, boasting about their own children's achievements. He relished the idea of seeing the shock and envy on their faces when they heard the news.
As he sat there, lost in thought, Ralph's mind began to race with possibilities. He envisioned a future filled with proposals and alliances from the Viscounts, Counts, and Dukes who had once looked down on him. He sneered inwardly, already plotting his next move to ensure that he would obtain the maximum benefit from his newfound status.
Darell couldn't help but roll his eyes at his father's scheming. With a proud sigh, he rose from his chair and made his way to the door, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of his father's office.
Just as he was about to step out, he heard his father call out to him.
"Darell! Wait!"
Darell turned back to face his father, his expression guarded.
"Tomorrow is your eighteenth birthday, is it not?" Ralph asked, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "We will hold a grand banquet in your honor and invite officials and dignitaries from all the surrounding territories. It will be the perfect opportunity to announce your remarkable innate ability to the world."
"Okay, Dad," he replied.
Darell made his way towards his room. As he reached for the doorknob, he hesitated, a sudden feeling of unease washing over him.
Instinctively, he placed his ear against the wooden surface, listening intently for any sounds of movement from within. His suspicions were confirmed when he heard the telltale rustling of fabric, and he knew that his unique ability had already drawn unwanted attention.
With a steady hand, Darell withdrew a small dagger from his boot, silently steeling himself for what he knew he must do. Taking a deep breath, he kicked the door open and lunged at the figure within, his blade glinting dangerously in the dim light.
But before he could attack, he heard a familiar voice scream, "Kyaaa---- Stop, Big Brother! It's me!" Darell recognized the voice as that of his younger sister, Lilith. He spun around and saw her cowering in the corner of his room. His stern expression immediately softened as he realized that it was a false alarm.
"What are you doing here, Lilith? If you need something from me, just ask," Darell said as he wiped the tears from his sister's eyes. He gently pulled her up from the floor and gave her a reassuring hug.
"Um... I was just looking for something, but I couldn't find it," Lilith said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Well, next time, just ask me. I'll help you find whatever you need," Darell replied with a smile. "Now, are you going to tell me what you were looking for?"
Lilith turned her face away from her brother's gaze, her nervousness palpable in the air. "Brother, may I borrow the crystal ball you used to play with when we were younger?" she asked hesitantly.
Darell nodded in understanding and retrieved the crystal ball from under his bed. "Of course, but may I ask why you need it?"
Taking a deep breath, Lilith's expression turned serious as she spoke, "I believe I possess a special ability, but I am unsure whether it's ice or wind-based. I need the crystal ball to help me discern which ability I have."
Darell looked at Lilith with surprise. He didn't know that she had an innate ability. He took a step forward and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Lilith, why didn't you tell me earlier? You know that I would have helped you."
Lilith looked down and whispered," I didn't want to bother you."
Darell smiled reassuringly at her, "Don't worry about me. I will help you in any way I can. Let's find out what your ability is. Okay?"
Lilith's eyes widened in disbelief as she placed her hands on the crystal ball. The room grew colder, and a soft breeze began to blow. Darell's suspicions were confirmed as he watched the ball glowing with white light. As Lilith removed her hands, the temperature in the room returned to normal. Darell's face lit up with a smile as he hugged his little sister tightly and stroked her hair. He patted her head and said, "Lilith, you have the Mist ability."
Lilith was stunned. "Brother, the Mist ability is only acquired, it cannot be innate," she said in disbelief. "Does this mean I am exceptional?" Her expression turned grave, as she realized the gravity of her newfound power.
Darell observed Lilith's anxious expression and decided to calm her
down.
"Don't worry, Lilith. You're exceptional, but that doesn't mean you're in danger. We'll stick together and face whatever comes our way. As for the Varona Royal Academy, we'll attend it together, and you'll get all the training you need to hone your abilities."
Lilith hugged Darell, her face brimming with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Brother. I feel much better now."
Darell smiled, happy to see his sister relieved.
Darell stopped Lilith as she was about to leave his room and requested her help.
"Lilith, can you please do me a favor? Tell Mom and Dad that I won't be joining them for dinner tonight. I am exhausted and in dire need of rest."
Lilith's face displayed concern and confusion. "But Brother, it's only mid-day. What happened that drained you so much?"
Darell let out a deep sigh, "It's been a lot to handle today. I just need to sleep. Can you please close the door when you leave?"
Lilith nodded reluctantly, "Okay, Brother. Get some rest."
Darell's mind was exhausted, and he longed for the peace that slumber could bring. With a heavy sigh, he laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. The gentle rise and fall of his chest signaled the onset of sleep, and soon his breathing grew steady and even. It was as if he had been transported to another world, far from the tumultuous events of the day. Finally, he found the solace he had been seeking, and drifted off into a deep and restful sleep.
The clock struck midnight, and a sudden sound broke the silence of the room.
[DING]
A strange voice echoed in the air, startling Darell from his slumber.
[Welcome to the Cursed Immortality System], the voice said.
Darell rubbed his eyes and sat up, trying to comprehend what was happening. The voice seemed to come from nowhere, and the message was bizarre.
"What is this?" he muttered to himself. "A system? Immortality? Cursed?"
He had a feeling that his life was about to change in ways he could never imagine.
Darell slowly opened his eyes, groaning as he felt a pounding headache. As he saw the message, his heart skipped a beat. He looked around the room, but there was nobody there to explain what was happening. Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, he tried to make sense of the situation.
"System, can you show me my stats?", he asked skeptically.
Darell's voice echoed in his room as he waited for a response from the mysterious system. After a few moments, a holographic interface appeared before him, displaying various numbers and icons.
As he examined the interface, his headache gradually subsided. Darell was no stranger to strange occurrences, but this was the first time he had encountered a system like this. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
[Ding]
[Status]
[Name - Darell Rogers]
[Race - ***]
[Level - 01]
[XP - 00/20]
[HP - 100/100]
[MP - 50/50]
[Strength - 10]
[Agility - 10]
[Stamina - 10]
[Vitality - 10]
[Defense - 10]
[Intellect - 10]
[Ability - Space]
[Skills - Space Arsenal]
[Special Skills - None]
Darell's mind raced with excitement at the prospect of leveling up and unlocking new abilities. He couldn't believe that he had stumbled upon a system similar to those in his favorite novels at the library.
A spark of hope flickered in Darell's heart as he realized that possessing a super rare innate ability might have unlocked the Cursed Immortality System. He felt a surge of determination to rise to the top and use this system to transform his and his family's fortunes. As the son of a Baron, Darell had always yearned for greatness and the chance to prove himself as a legend among the greats. Now, with the system at his disposal, he had the power to change his destiny and forge a path to glory.
However, his excitement was short-lived when he realized that he couldn't see his race. He was supposed to be human, but why couldn't he see it on his stats? He turned to the system for answers.
"System, why can't I see my race?"
The system responded, [If you want to see your race, you need to be level 50.]
Darell let out a frustrated sigh. "Ughh..o-okay. Looks like I have to level up to see my race."
Curiosity getting the best of him, Darell asked, "System, what do I benefit from leveling up?"
The system replied, [Your HP and MP will increase as well as your basic stats. Also, you can unlock special skills when you are at a certain level.]
Darell's eyes lit up. "OHH... looks like I can obtain some skills other than my innate abilities." He couldn't wait to start leveling up and unlocking new skills.
"Well then my dearest system, show me the way to greatness.", he said.
[Quest 01 - Kill a rank 01 beast ]
[NOTE - WITHOUT ANY WEAPONS]
[Reward - 10 XP]
Darell stared at the screen, his heart pounding with excitement and trepidation. This was it, the first quest on his journey to greatness. But as he read the details, his excitement started to fade. Kill a rank 01 beast? Without any weapons? Wasn't the system crazy? He couldn't possibly take on a creature of that caliber with just his bare hands. It seemed like an impossible task, especially for someone who had just started his journey to greatness.
But then he remembered the promise of the reward: 10 XP. It wasn't much, but it was a start. With a deep breath, Darell accepted the quest, determined to do whatever it took to succeed.
Darell glanced at the clock and realized it was still midnight. Despite the late hour, excitement coursed through him at the prospect of tomorrow. He couldn't wait to begin his journey to greatness with the cursed immortality system. With a smile on his face, he settled back into bed, determined to get some rest before the big day ahead.
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