Damian's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a soft, warm light. A slight headache lingered, but it was overshadowed by the unfamiliar comfort beneath him. He sat up, taking in his surroundings.
He was on a bed—a real bed, with a plush mattress and soft, white sheets. The frame was crafted from polished wood, adorned with intricate carvings. Damian's eyes widened as he absorbed the luxury. Back home, he was used to sleeping on a thin mat on the floor.
The room was equally impressive. Soft, golden light spilled from elegant lamps, casting a warm glow. The walls were painted a soothing cream color, complemented by rich, dark wood furniture. A beautifully crafted dresser and nightstand stood against one wall, while a comfortable-looking armchair sat beside a large window.
Damian's gaze drifted back to the bed, confusion etched on his face. How did he end up here? Memories of the previous day flooded his mind—the brutal attack by his fellow students, the theft of the Luminous Lyre, and the terrifying encounter with the monster. The guardian... Elijah... saving him.
"Where am I?" Damian whispered, his voice barely audible. He scanned the room again, his mind still reeling with questions. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, preparing to climb down.
Instinctively, his hand reached for the metal cross around his neck—a comforting habit whenever confusion or uncertainty gripped him. But his fingers closed around nothing. He froze, shock coursing through his veins.
Just as panic began to set in, a soft notification sound pierced the silence. Perplexed, Damian looked around, wondering if someone had left their phone or laptop behind. That's when the impossible happened.
A brilliant blue interface materialized before him, hovering in mid-air. Damian jolted backward, his heart racing. "What the...?" he trailed off, stunned. Was he hallucinating? Had the events of the past day driven him to madness? This didn't happen in real life. People didn't just see floating screens out of nowhere.
Damian's eyes darted around the room, searching for an explanation, but the interface remained, pulsing with a soft, blue light. It displayed a message:
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[CONGRATULATIONS: SYSTEM INITIATED]
WELCOME, DAMIAN. YOUR PATH IN BECOMING AN ANGEL STARTS NOW!
Damian's eyes widened in shock.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[LOADING...]
[==================== 0% ====================]
[⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌⇌]
[==================== 23% ====================]
BOOTING...
REINITIALIZING USER PROFILE...
SYNCING DIVINE PROTOCOLS...
The loading bar incremented rapidly, the blue progress indicator zipping across the screen. Damian's mind reeled. Becoming an Angel? What did it mean? Was this some kind of crazy dream? He stared at the interface, unsure what to expect next.
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[SYSTEM INITIATED]
BOOTING COMPLETE
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Damian Keslore
Race: Nephilim (Hybrid: Human/Angelic)
Level: 1
Level Progress: 0/100 XP
Next Rank: Level 2 (Nephilim Ascendant)
Attributes:
* Strength: 10/10
* Agility: 10/10
* Intelligence: 10/10
* Holy Energy: 10/10
God's Gift:
* Element: Light
* Element Tier: Legendary (Tier 1)
Abilities:
* Nephilim's Grace: Passive ability, granting increased strength and agility, allowing you to perform physical tasks with ease and precision. This ability increases your physical damage output by 10% and reduces physical damage taken by 5%.
* Angelic Sense: Passive ability, granting enhanced senses and intuition, allowing you to perceive your surroundings more clearly and make more informed decisions. This ability increases your critical hit chance by 5% and reduces the chance of critical hits against you by 5%.
Daily Tasks:
* Meditation: Meditate for 10 minutes to increase Holy Energy (+1 point)
* Physical Training: Perform 10 push-ups to increase Strength (+1 point)
* Knowledge Acquisition: Read a book on angelic history to increase Intelligence (+10 points)
* Prayer: Spend 10 minutes in prayer to increase XP (+5 points)
[The status screen displays your current progress and abilities. To rank up from Level 1 to Level 2, you need to accumulate 100 XP points. Completing daily tasks and growing stronger will help you achieve this goal.]
Damian's eyes widened as he stared at the status screen, awe washing over him. "I know this thing..." he thought, his mind racing with excitement. He had spent countless hours devouring web novels on his old phone, escaping the hardships of his life through tales of fantasy and adventure. Stories of protagonists with systems, guiding them to greatness, had always captivated him.
He recalled the late nights, huddled in his small, dimly lit room, imagining what it would be like to have such a system. "How cool would it be to own a system that guides you to greatness?" he had thought. Never did he imagine his wish would become reality.
Damian's gaze drifted back to the status screen, his heart pounding with anticipation. "This can't be real... But what if it is?" He took a deep breath, his thoughts swirling with questions and possibilities. "What kind of system is this? How does it work? What does it mean to be a Nephilim?" The system's silence seemed to prompt him to ask his questions aloud.
Damian's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "What... what does it mean to be a Nephilim?"
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
[Your transformation into a Nephilim occurred on the night of your mortal demise. The metal cross pendant, passed down from your parents, proved to be more than a simple heirloom. Its inherent properties allowed it to tap into the world's energy, known as Qi, and channel it to sustain your soul.]
[The pendant's energy infusion prevented your soul from departing, instead initiating a profound metamorphosis. Your human body, unable to withstand the intense Qi, underwent a radical transformation, merging your mortal essence with angelic energies.]
[This fusion has given rise to your new existence as a Nephilim—a hybrid of human and angelic heritage. Your unique physiology now harnesses the strengths of both realms, granting you access to extraordinary abilities and potential.]
[Your evolution is a testament to the pendant's power and the resilience of your spirit. This transformation marks the beginning of your journey, Damian.]
Damian's eyes widened, his mind reeling with the implications. "What about my parents? Did they know about this pendant?"
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
[Your parents were aware of the pendant's significance. They were guardians of ancient knowledge, passed down through their lineage. The pendant was entrusted to them, and subsequently to you, to safeguard its power and potential.]
Damian's curiosity turned to the system once more. "System, how did you come into existence?"
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
[Information invalid]
Damian's eyes narrowed, preparing to ask more questions. "That's not fair. I want to know—"
"Hey, Bumphead!"
He heard an interruption from the outside world. Well, more like from the door in the room. Damian jolted back to reality as he turned to face the source.
A stunning blonde girl stood in the doorway, her annoyance palpable. Her piercing blue eyes flashed with irritation, and her full lips pursed into a petulant pout. Her golden hair cascaded down her back like a river of sunset hues, framing her heart-shaped face. Her voluptuous figure was accentuated by her fitted outfit—a sleek white dress with intricate lace trim, clinging to her curves in all the right places. The dress hugged her ample bust, drawing attention to her impressive cleavage, and its long sleeves and high neckline hinted at a modest upbringing, but her confident demeanor and sultry curves belied a sharp tongue. Her slender waist and flared hips completed the captivating picture, making her a breathtaking vision of youthful beauty.
Her arms crossed, and one foot tapped impatiently, conveying her displeasure.
Damian's gaze lingered, mesmerized by her beauty. He forgot to respond, lost in the depths of her eyes.
The blonde girl's irritation boiled over, and she clapped her hands together sharply. "Snap out of it!" A wind blade materialized, hurtling toward Damian. He sensed the attack and, to his own surprise, dodged effortlessly. The wind dissipated harmlessly, revealing the attack was merely a wake-up call.
Damian's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I dodged it!" he thought, thrilled. "Me, Damian, who's never even held a magic wand!" Then, his gaze locked onto the blonde girl. "You... you're a mage!" he stammered, his voice trembling with awe.
In his mind, Damian replayed the incredible battle he witnessed yesterday between Elijah, a Guardian of Faith, and Prince Khronos, a demon prince. He couldn't believe he was now face-to-face with a real mage. Damian had always dreamed of attending a prestigious magic academy, undergoing the rigorous Awakening ceremony, and unlocking his elemental affinity. After graduating from high school, he planned to enroll in the academy, just like the legendary Guardians of Faith who protected the world from darkness. Becoming a Guardian had been his ultimate goal since childhood, inspired by stories of their bravery.
"What magic academy do you attend?" Damian asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
But the blonde girl cut him off, her expression darkening. "My father wants to see you in the living room," she said curtly, her voice dripping with disdain. With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Damian stood frozen at the door's sudden closure. "Wait, where am I? This house...?" Memories began to resurface, but the blonde girl's abrupt departure left him confused.
"Couldn't she have at least led me to the living room?" Damian sulked, making his way downstairs.