The Awakening Chamber in the Veridian estate was a masterpiece of both technology and magic. Crystalline formations from the Mystic Realm formed geometric patterns along the walls, while runic arrays carved from materials found in dungeon depths pulsed with soft blue light. At the center stood an obsidian altar inscribed with symbols that seemed to shift and change when viewed directly.
My family stood watching as I approached the altar, their faces a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation. Mother, elegant in her tailored business suit that somehow managed to look both professional and regal, gave me an encouraging nod. Her violet eyes—a trait of those with high magical affinity—sparkled with pride.
Father stood beside her, his massive frame still intimidating even in formal wear rather than his usual Hunter gear. The legendary sword Dawnbreaker rested across his back out of habit, its presence making the very air seem to hum with barely contained power.
"Remember, son," he said, his deep voice carrying the authority of someone who'd faced down mythical beasts, "the System responds to your true nature. Don't try to force anything. Let it see who you really are."
Aria bounced on her toes nearby, her excitement infectious. At nineteen, she'd already awakened as a Spell Sword, an A-Rank Class that let her weave magic and martial arts into devastating combinations. Her auburn hair, the same shade as mine, was tied back in a practical ponytail, and I could see the faint glow of mana enhancement around her eyes—a sign she was analyzing the magical flows in the chamber.
"This is so exciting!" she whispered, though her voice carried clearly in the silent chamber. "I can't wait to see what Class you get. Maybe we'll be able to team up on missions once you graduate from the Academy!"
Elena stood near the door with the rest of the household staff, all of whom had become like extended family over the years. Even they seemed invested in this moment.
I stepped up to the altar, placing my hands on the cool obsidian surface as instructed. The moment my skin made contact, the runic arrays blazed to life, filling the chamber with brilliant white light. I felt a strange tingling sensation, as if electricity was flowing through my veins, but also something deeper—like the very fabric of reality was examining me, cataloging every aspect of my being.
The light intensified, and suddenly I wasn't standing in the chamber anymore.
I found myself in a vast, empty space filled with floating screens and data streams that looked remarkably similar to the programming environments I'd worked in as Marcus. But these weren't made of light and pixels—they were constructed from pure information, raw potential waiting to be shaped.
Welcome, Aldric Veridian, a voice spoke directly into my mind, neither male nor female but somehow conveying infinite age and wisdom. You are... unusual.
"Unusual how?" I asked, my voice echoing strangely in the infinite space.
Two souls, perfectly merged. Two sets of experiences, two lifetimes of knowledge. The System has never encountered such a phenomenon. The voice paused. Processing... processing... unable to assign standard Class designation.
My heart sank. Did that mean I wouldn't awaken at all? Would I be one of the unlucky few who remained powerless in a world where strength was everything?
However, the voice continued, your unique nature qualifies you for something far more rare. You shall receive no Class, but instead a Title that reflects your true essence.
The floating screens around me shifted, code-like symbols rearranging themselves into new patterns. I watched, fascinated despite my confusion, as the data streams began forming a structure I recognized—a development environment, a place where new programs could be created from scratch.
Behold your Title: Architect of Reality.
The words appeared before me in blazing letters, and suddenly I understood. In my previous life, I had built systems, created programs, architected solutions. Now, in a world where the System governed everything, I would have the power to architect the System itself.
Your ability: Infinite Creation. Every five levels, you may create one custom skill, ability, trait, or item without limitation. The only cost is that your level will reset to 1, though all previously created abilities will remain.
I stared at the words, my programmer's mind immediately grasping the implications. Level resets were typically catastrophic—losing stats, abilities, access to advanced content. But if I retained everything I created, then each reset would be like upgrading to a new version of myself while keeping all the features from previous builds.
Use this power wisely, Architect. The fate of Terra Nexus may depend on what you choose to build.
The infinite space began to fade, the screens dissolving back into light. I felt myself being pulled back to the Awakening Chamber, back to reality.
The brilliant light faded, leaving me standing at the altar with my family watching anxiously. The System screen materialized before me, visible only to my eyes:
Name: Aldric Veridian
Age: 17
Level: 1
Class: NULL
Title: Architect of Reality
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
STR: 8
AGI: 9
INT: 12
WIS: 10
VIT: 10
LUCK: 15
Special Ability: Infinite Creation (Available at Level 5)
"Well?" Mother asked, stepping forward. "What Class did you receive?"
I hesitated, knowing this moment would define how my family saw me going forward. In this world, Class determined everything—your career prospects, your social standing, your very identity. Saying I had no Class would be devastating news.
But I also knew I couldn't explain the truth. How could I tell them that I had the power to literally rewrite the rules of reality? That I was essentially a developer with admin access to the world's operating system?
"I..." I began, then stopped, focusing on the System screen only I could see. Maybe there was another way to explain this.
"I received a Title instead of a Class," I said finally. "Architect of Reality."
The chamber fell silent. Titles were incredibly rare—usually granted for exceptional achievements rather than at Awakening. To receive one instead of a Class was almost unheard of.
Father's eyes widened. "A Title? What does it do?"
"It gives me the ability to create," I said, choosing my words carefully. "To build new skills and abilities as I grow stronger. It's... unique."
Aria squealed with excitement. "That's amazing! I've never heard of anything like that! You're going to be so powerful!"
Mother stepped forward, her business instincts clearly analyzing the implications. "Creating new abilities? The potential applications for Nexus Corporation alone..." She caught herself, then smiled warmly. "But more importantly, you've awakened something extraordinary, my son. I'm so proud of you."
Father clapped me on the shoulder, his massive hand nearly knocking me off balance. "Different doesn't mean lesser, Aldric. Some of the greatest Hunters in history had unique abilities that didn't fit standard classifications. You'll forge your own path."
As my family surrounded me with congratulations and questions, I smiled and played the part of the excited newly-awakened teenager. But inside, my programmer's mind was already working, planning, designing the abilities I would create.
I had been given the ultimate development environment. Now I just had to decide what to build first.
The game had officially begun.