Martin, born in 1980, endured a childhood marked by tragedy. The loss of his family in a bizarre forest accident left him deeply disturbed.
After years in an orphanage, he was thrust into adulthood, yet the shadows of his past clung to his soul.
One fateful day, a street fight led to his first kill.
Unlike others who might be horrified, Martin felt nothing. Murder held no sway over him; it was simply an act he performed.
He lived a solitary existence, scraping by with odd jobs in his neighborhood, constantly evading the police.
The need for more money to escape their relentless pursuit eventually drove him to abandon his mundane life.
He sought out the local street gangs, taking on their illicit tasks.
Martin proved a quick study, rapidly ascending the ranks.
Within a decade, he had carved out a fearsome reputation in the criminal underworld, a well-known serial killer and hitman operating within the dark circles of gangsters and mafia.
His latest assignment was to eliminate a scientist.
Martin meticulously planned his approach, then swiftly infiltrated the scientist's home.
The kill was effortless; an ordinary scientist was no match for him.
However, Martin was dangerously uninformed about his target.
Unbeknownst to him, the reclusive scientist had a device implanted in his heart.
Upon cardiac arrest, this device would trigger a series of bombs rigged throughout the house, ensuring the destruction of both his killer and his life's work.
Even in death, the scientist was determined to prevent his research from falling into government hands.
Unaware of the impending explosion, Martin couldn't escape the house in time.
He died amidst the fiery destruction, believing his life, a journey from human to monster, had finally ended. But this was not his last thought.
When Martin's eyes fluttered open, he found himself in a simple wooden hut, calmly seated on a bed.
In a situation that would drive most people mad,
Martin remained impassive, his gaze devoid of emotion. Strange, new information was flooding his mind.
After about an hour, a flicker of something, a spark of revival, appeared in his eyes.
A voice, emanating from within his head, began to explain what had transpired and what he needed to do next.
"I died in the explosion," the voice resonated in his thoughts.
"But a being from another universe trapped and saved my soul. My soul has been protected by a system called Paradigna, and now I've been reborn into a new body in this fantastic world."
Martin silently processed the voice's revelation.
He absorbed a wealth of information about this new world and his own altered existence.
The system, calling itself Paradigna, also promised its assistance on his journey.
Rising from the wooden bed, Martin approached a small mirror in the room.
His reflection revealed a young man, perhaps twenty years old, with a sparse beard and a subtly childish face.
He was still undeniably handsome, and from his new perspective, Martin noted his average height of 175 cm.
After these initial checks, Martin returned to the bed, lost in thought. Information from the Paradigna System continued to flow:
"I'm in a village called Fire Bear. My parents died young in a wild animal attack, so I live alone. I make a living as a woodworker, cutting and selling wood in the village."
Martin began to re-evaluate the knowledge granted by Paradigna.
He realized he was inhabiting the body of a young man who had lived in this world before him.
He glanced out the window, observing the daylight.
At that moment, the Paradigna System shifted its focus, providing details about the "world" and its "shape-shifters."
It explained that certain individuals in this world are born with a creature or being intertwined with their soul.
These "shape-shifters" can transform into their creatures at will, utilizing them for combat or defense.
The power of these transformations, the system elaborated, was close to their own inherent strength, measured simply in numerical levels.
Martin contemplated this new reality.
A sudden urge to draw, rather than just think, overtook him.
Old habits from his previous life resurfaced.
He reached into a drawer, pulling out a notebook and a pencil. Systematically, he began to record his thoughts:
"Shapeshifting Creature"
"The First Level Of The Creature At First"
"By that time, it is going to improve."
Martin confirmed this with a nod. It was a straightforward system, yet it explained so much.
After a creature transformed within their soul, its user could hunt other monsters or shape-shifters to grow stronger. It was as if these empowered creatures evolved.
Martin continued to write:
"Power System"
-
"Student Level" "-"
"Expert Level" "-"
"Lord Rank" "-"
"Lord Intermediate"
"Lord Advanced"
"Lord Peak" "-"
"King (Level)" "-"
-
These were the initial levels Paradigna had provided. The system had made it clear: more information would need to be sought out or gained through personal growth. For now, Martin set aside the complex details.
The system then revealed a crucial command: by simply thinking "Status" or "Paradigna Status," a panel would appear, displaying his current state and information related to the shapeshifting system.
"Paradigna Status"
"Paradigna Active"
"Status" "Martin Bloodfire" (a self-chosen surname for this new existence)
"Soul Power = 1.0"
"HP = 100%"
"Shapeshifting = None"
"Paradigna Points = 0
"Paradigna Shapeshifting Market" (online)
As Martin activated his status panel, the strange, divine voice echoed in his mind once more, providing another flood of information. Martin listened intently, his focus absolute.
Twenty-five minutes later, the divine voice receded. At that moment, a wide smile spread across Martin's face.
This was an exceptionally rare sight. Martin typically only smiled when he had taken a life.
Yet, here he was, smiling for the first time without having killed anyone.
Paradigna had just unveiled a myriad of new possibilities: he would earn Paradigna Points for every creature and person he killed through the system.
These points would grant him access to the Paradigna Market, where he could purchase and transform into countless creatures or beings.
The number of transformations available was directly proportional to his spiritual power.
Realizing the immense potential, Martin's smile grew wider.