Reunion and Discoveries
Suddenly, he appeared in a crowded plaza. His eyes darted around, searching desperately for familiar faces.
— Mother!? — Danilo spun his head frantically, his heart pounding against his chest. The fear gnawed at him — had they been chosen or not? If they had, they must be terrified. If they hadn't… then how could he ever protect them from here?
— Danilo! — his mother's voice broke through, trembling with despair.
She ran toward him with his four sisters clinging to her arms. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her body trembling as if it might collapse at any moment.
— Son… what is this? What's happening? — she sobbed, clutching him as though she might lose him again.
His sisters cried loudly. Maria screamed:
— What is this place?! I want to go home!
Viviane and the others clung to their mother and brother, shaking uncontrollably.
All around them, dozens of families were in chaos. Older men shouted, demanding explanations. Women sobbed while hugging their children. One boy shouted that "this was the government's doing," while another fell to his knees, praying out loud.
— This isn't normal! — an older man yelled. — We're dead, we must be!
On the other side, however, laughter rang out. A young man cried out in ecstasy:
— Class S! A Class S talent, hahahahaha!
He raised his arms and was immediately flattered by those around him:
— A Class S talent!
— So jealous!
— This brother will save us!
— We're safe!
Danilo clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. He looked at his mother and sisters, who were on the verge of total despair, and spoke in a low but firm voice:
— Listen… breathe deeply. I know this feels impossible, but… this isn't the end. Remember those books I always read? The ones you, Fátima, used to call "the virgin books?" This is just like them. This place… it's one of those worlds.
Slowly, Danilo calmed his mother and sisters. He explained what he believed this new world to be, and they embraced, speaking softly about the strange reality they now faced. After a while, they each revealed their status screens.
Danilo Chicana Afonso (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 150
Mana: 90
Strength: 15
Physique: 12
Intelligence: 9
Agility: 11
Talent: Heart of the Sword (Passive)
Reduces cooldowns and mana cost of all sword-related skills by 10%.
Increases damage of all sword-related skills by 10%.
Esperança Chicana (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 60
Mana: 140
Strength: 6
Physique: 7
Intelligence: 14
Agility: 7
Talent: Chaotic Heart: Growth (F) (Passive)
The heart is the flame that never fades.
Though fragile and insignificant to the world's eyes, this heart beats beyond all boundaries.
It grows in silence, blooms in adversity, and carries the promise of a future no destiny can contain.
Effect: Eternal growth. Inherited through the bloodline, granting descendants a unique manifestation of the "Heart."
⚠ Warning: Incomplete evaluation. Rank F does not reflect true potential.
Sacred Heart (F) (Passive)
Reduces mana cost and cooldown of all Holy skills by 10%.
Increases damage of all Holy skills by 10%.
Maria Chicana Afonso (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 60
Mana: 120
Strength: 6
Physique: 8
Intelligence: 12
Agility: 9
Talent: Heart of the Chef (F) (Passive)
Reduces mana cost and cooldown of all Cooking-related skills by 10%.
Reduces failure chance by 10%.
Fátima Chicana Afonso (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 80
Mana: 130
Strength: 8
Physique: 9
Intelligence: 13
Agility: 6
Talent: Heart of the Alchemist (F) (Passive)
Reduces mana cost and cooldown of all Alchemy-related skills by 10%.
Reduces failure chance by 10%.
Viviane Chicana Afonso (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 90
Mana: 120
Strength: 9
Physique: 6
Intelligence: 12
Agility: 7
Talent: Heart of Fire (F) (Passive)
Reduces mana cost and cooldown of all Fire-related skills by 10%.
Increases damage of all Fire-related skills by 10%.
Augusta Chicana Afonso (Common)
Level: 1 [0 → 1000]
Power: 60
Mana: 120
Strength: 6
Physique: 7
Intelligence: 12
Agility: 6
Talent: Heart of the Tamer (F) (Passive)
Friend of beasts.
Increases favorability with all beasts by 10%.
Shares one talent with the contracted beast.
The first shock was harsh: all of them had received Class F talents. The air grew heavy with discouragement, as though a cruel fate had already been sealed.
Danilo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His mother looked calmer than the rest, though her hands trembled as she clutched her daughters'.
— Mother… — he broke the silence. — What do you think of the talent you received?
She lowered her head slowly, almost ashamed. — Chaotic Heart… Class F, — she whispered, as if it were a curse.
His sisters also lowered their heads.
— I got Heart of Fire, also F…
— Mine's Heart of the Alchemist, F too… — another added, frustrated.
Silence weighed on them for a few seconds. Around them, other newcomers were also comparing talents. Some cried at receiving "useless" ones, while others celebrated in pride, boasting Class A, S, or even SS. A boy who had received Class S was already surrounded by sycophants.
Danilo smirked faintly, and his sisters noticed.
— What are you laughing at, idiot? — Maria, the oldest, snapped. — We're screwed!
He raised his finger, like a teacher about to explain a lesson.
— We're not. You don't get it because you never read, but I've seen this before — hundreds of times in novels. Mother's talent is Growth. That means it can evolve infinitely.
The five of them stared at him, bewildered.
— And more, — he continued, excitement rising. — All her descendants inherit a version of the Heart. If hers grows, ours will too. This "Class F" isn't the end. It's only the beginning.
His mother blinked, surprised. — You… you think there's still hope?
But as Danilo analyzed carefully — his mind honed by countless webnovels — he realized something. Chaotic Heart wasn't an ordinary talent. It was one of infinite growth. If he could uncover the method to evolve it, the entire family could ascend together.
He believed firmly that they could one day surpass even those flaunting high-ranked talents.
— It's just like the books I used to read… — Danilo murmured, staring into the horizon of the village. — In this world, the strongest will become the new kings.
Meanwhile, the central plaza of the village buzzed with voices. People were divided between joy and despair, forming groups. The initial shock was fading, slowly replaced by acceptance. After panic and tears, people began checking their talents, then searching desperately for family.
To the left, a skinny, humble-looking boy cried in rage:
— Class D… damn it! — he muttered, fists clenched. — That's just a death sentence in this world.
Beside him, a girl tried to console him:
— At least it's not F… look around, there are worse cases.
Not far away, two men argued loudly:
— You don't understand! I got a Class B talent! B! — one shouted, his chest swelling with pride. — I'm destined for greatness here.
— Greatness? — the other scoffed bitterly. — Look over there… — he pointed. — That guy got Class S. Do you really think a B will compete with that?
And indeed, at the center of the crowd, a young man with arrogant posture flaunted his Class S talent like a rare jewel. A circle of admirers surrounded him endlessly:
— Amazing! You'll be a king in this world!
— Ah, if only I could follow you…
On the other side of the plaza, an elderly woman sobbed beside her daughter, clutching their evaluation crystals:
— Class F… — the old woman repeated, as though the words themselves were a death sentence. — We don't stand a chance.
The place they stood resembled a colossal Novice Village, named Village Number 36 of Earth. There were countless others, each representing a country. The streets were wide, built of pale stone, lined with countless simple houses as if erected in a rush to shelter tens of thousands. A massive settlement, filled with newcomers, each struggling to comprehend their fate.
With his experience in webnovels, Danilo decided to test the reactions of what he suspected were NPCs. He approached a towering man standing at the edge of the plaza.
— Hey, friend… can you tell me where we are exactly?
The man didn't even look at him. He walked straight ahead, as if Danilo were invisible. One of his sisters fumed:
— Hey! Can't you see he's talking to you? — Augusta snapped, on the verge of hurling an insult.
But Danilo quickly covered her mouth and pulled her back.
— Quiet, sis. That guy's not a normal human.
Their mother stepped forward instead, her voice soft and almost pleading:
— Forgive the trouble. We're new here. We just wanted to understand better where we are.
This time, the giant stopped. Slowly, he turned his head to face her. His eyes were deep, glowing a crystalline light-blue, like precious gems.
— Hmph… — he muttered at last. — Humans… Village Number 36 of Earth. You are novices. Just survive.
And then he went silent again, offering no further explanation.
They all stood frozen, stunned.
Danilo exhaled deeply… and smiled once more.