The battered trial helmets rested on their desks, humming faintly, as though they carried the heartbeat of another world. Andrew sat back on his dorm bed, staring at the device like it was both relic and promise.
Elias fiddled with his own, his grin irrepressible. "Man… I still can't believe we actually got them. Trial units or not, this is it. We're going to cross over."
Andrew lowered his visor as he lay down on his bed, his hands steady despite the storm in his chest. Anticipation surged like fire in his veins. This time… everything begins differently.
Warmth spread across his temples as the helmet clicked into place.
His vision blurred and turned to pitch black. He could feel as if the world around him was dissolving and his body scattering into sparks, racing through a tunnel of mana until he emerged into a vast white void.
The void shimmered like the surface of water. Circles of glowing runes floated in the air, each radiating with purpose.
[Neurolink System: Connection established]
[Welcome, Pilot. Please designate a name for your Avatar]
"Andre"
[Neurolink System: Naming successful. Do you wish to adjust your appearance? Adjustment rate limited to 10% of your original appearance.]
A mirror unfolded before him, showing his young reflection—untouched, unscarred. Slowly, he began to adjust: sharpening his jawline, darkening his eyes, altering just enough that the Pavilion Master Andrew Yuan would not be recognized.
Better to move in shadows until it's time to burn bright.
[Neurolink System: Please choose the Class and Sub Class for your Avatar that suit your fighting style the most.]
Circles of light flared, each forming into the silhouette of a warrior, a mage, or a hunter. Elias's projection appeared beside him, wide-eyed, turning in slow wonder.
"Twelve choices," Elias whispered. "Which one's right for me?"
Andrew took a long breath. "Each one has its strength… and its cost."
He gestured toward the first circle, where a towering figure raised its blade.
"Fighters. They're the vanguard—the ones who meet the enemy head-on. A Warrior crushes defenses with raw power, but they're slower than most. A Guardian Knight shields allies, unyielding walls of steel, though they lack killing edge. Bladers move like the wind, striking fast and clean, but they're fragile—one mistake, and they fall. And then there are Brawlers—half mana, half muscle, they endure, they heal, they strike back harder the longer they fight. Dangerous, but only if you know restraint."
Elias nodded slowly, then turned as another set of lights formed—robed figures, their hands dripping with mana.
"Mages," Andrew continued. "They command the battlefield from a distance. An Elementalist can level armies with storms of fire and ice, but their mana burns out fast. Summoners bring allies to the field—beasts, constructs, spirits—versatile but fragile when left alone. Clerics keep comrades alive, mending wounds, purging corruption, but their offense is weak. And Cursemancers…" His voice darkened. "They rot you from within. Weaken your strength, cloud your mind, drain you until death feels like mercy. But their damage is slower, never sharp like the others."
Elias gave a low whistle. "All power… but with prices."
The third set of lights shimmered to life—hunters on cliffs, weapons gleaming.
"And then there are Hunters," Andrew said. "The tacticians. Archers strike from afar, raining death with precision, though they're helpless if cornered. Assassins slip from the shadows, their blades fatal but their bodies fragile. Snipers—a single shot can kill a king, but they're slow to reload, and once you close the gap, they're done. Rangers… reckless but fierce. Twin pistols, fast as lightning. Sometimes their bullets ignore all defenses, cutting straight to the core. But their range is short—they're always dancing with danger."
Elias turned in a slow circle, surrounded by ghosts of possibility. "It's like staring at a dozen paths to glory… or ruin."
Andrew's eyes fell on the Summoner's silhouette. He remembered how Elias had always fought—with strategy, with trust, never brute strength. "Summoner suits you," Andrew said quietly. "You'll command the field. Not with one body, but many. Just… remember. When your summons fall, you're the first target."
Elias's grin was faint but certain. "Yeah. That feels right. I'll take it."
As for Andrew, there was never a question. He stepped into the crimson circle, where the phantom fighter clenched its glowing fists. His heart thundered with recognition.
"Brawler," he declared. "The class I mastered once before. And will again."
[Neurolink System: Classes confirmed.]
[For the final confirmation of creating your Avatar, please select a birthplace.]
The void stretched, becoming a map of emerald seas and sprawling islands. The archipelago of Nusantara gleamed beneath rivers of glowing ley lines.
Andrew's eyes sought one point—the north of Sulawesi. "Tomohon City, Kingdom of North Sulawesi."
When Andrew and Elias finished selecting Tomohon City as their birthplace, the Neurolink system didn't drop them directly into the bustling High Human city.
Instead—
The system pulsed.
[Neurolink System: City confirmed. Avatar core assigned to Tondano Town located in Great Forest of Minahasa. Avatar's body will be constructed in 5 minutes. Please stand by.]
Elias frowned. "Wait… didn't we pick Tomohon city? Why are we landing in Tondano town?"
Andrew had expected this. In his past life, he had seen the same rule applied countless times. "Because new Avatars are never sent straight to a city," he explained. "The mana there is too dense, and the monsters too strong in the surrounding zones. If you start there, you'd collapse before you even learn how to breathe in this world."
Elias tilted his head, unconvinced. "So, we get dumped in the countryside instead?"
Andrew smirked faintly. "Not dumped. Trained. In Nusantara, town is what they call a buffer area near every city. Every kingdom and empire has them. They're safer, surrounded by moderate mana density, with instructors and guild branches built to handle greenhorns like us. From here, we can grow—earn coin, gain essence, and survive long enough to set foot in the city we chose. Think of it as the proving ground before we step into the real fight."
Elias let out a slow breath, his grin returning. "So we're basically in the tutorial zone."
Andrew's eyes hardened with memory. "Call it that if you want. But here, even a tutorial can kill you."
When the five minutes is over, the void cracked with a blinding light, and the world of Nusantara rushed in.
--------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom of North Sulawesi, Tondano Town
The light faded.
Andrew felt weight return to his body, though it was not his body—not truly. His vision cleared, revealing a cobbled street under a soft golden haze. The air was clean, almost sweet, carrying the scent of wet earth and distant smoke from hearth fires. Birdsong mingled with the chatter of merchants, and beyond the rooftops of wood and stone, green mountains rose like guardians around the valley.
This was Tondano town.
Beside him, Elias gasped and turned in circles, his robe flowing awkwardly as he tested his new limbs. "Andrew! This—this is insane. I can smell the soil. I can feel the air." He clutched his chest. "This isn't some simulation. It's… real."
Andrew only smiled faintly. He remembered this sensation well. The crispness of Nusantara's mana-rich air. The vibrancy of its skies. The subtle hum in the bones of every Avatar. He had walked this world before—bled for it, died for it. And now, he was here again.
A soft chime echoed in their ears, followed by a calm, mechanical voice.
[Neurolink System: Initial synchronization complete.]
[Displaying Avatar Attributes and Status.]
Panels of light unfolded before them, filled with glowing runes and numbers.
Andrew's Avatar
Name: Andre
Class/Sub Class: Fighter / Brawler
Race: Human
Title: None
Level: 0
Attributes
Strength (STR): 4
Intelligence (INT): 2
Agility (AGI): 3
Dexterity (DEX): 2
Endurance (END): 3
Vitality (VIT): 4
Resistance (RES): 2
Status
Physical Attack Power: 16.00
Magical Attack Power: 10.00
Attack Speed: 1.15
Movement Speed: 1.30
Attack Weight: 1.20
Attack Rate: 10.20%
Critical Rate: 12.50%
Critical Damage: 200.00%
Defensive Rate: 5.10%
Physical Defense: 9.00
Magical Defense: 6.00
Evasion: 3.03%
Max HP: 145.00
HP Regen: 2.00 / 10s
Max MP: 70.00
MP Regen: 1.20 / 10s
Mana Cost Reduction: 0.10%
Cast Time Reduction: 0.00%
Debuff Reduction: 0.06%
Elias's Avatar
Name: Elias
Class/Sub Class: Mage / Summoner
Race: Human
Title: None
Level: 0
Attributes
Strength (STR): 1
Intelligence (INT): 8
Agility (AGI): 2
Dexterity (DEX): 2
Endurance (END): 2
Vitality (VIT): 2
Resistance (RES): 3
Status
Physical Attack Power: 4.00
Magical Attack Power: 40.00
Attack Speed: 1.10
Movement Speed: 1.20
Attack Weight: 0.30
Attack Rate: 10.20%
Critical Rate: 10.00%
Critical Damage: 200.00%
Defensive Rate: 5.10%
Physical Defense: 6.00
Magical Defense: 9.00
Evasion: 3.02%
Max HP: 130.00
HP Regen: 1.00 / 10s
Max MP: 80.00
MP Regen: 0.60 / 10s
Mana Cost Reduction: 0.40%
Cast Time Reduction: 0.00%
Debuff Reduction: 0.09%
Elias stared at his glowing panel with wide eyes. "Forty magic attack? At level zero?!" He jabbed a finger at the numbers as if afraid they'd vanish. "I'm a monster already!"
Andrew chuckled softly, though he masked it with a shake of his head. "It only looks that way. Summoners are fragile. Low defenses, lower health. You'll need protection until you grow stronger."
Elias scowled but didn't argue. His grin betrayed his excitement.
Another chime sounded.
[Neurolink System: To begin your journey, report to the Adventurer Association in your assigned town. There you will receive initial guidance, training equipment, and access to quests.]
Andrew's lips curved into a small smile. Just like I remember.
The town spread before them in slow, living detail. The streets were alive with carts creaking under sacks of rice, with smiths hammering sparks in open forges, with children chasing each other under banners strung between stone arches. Farmers bartered vegetables near a fountain carved from volcanic rock, while faintly glowing crystals set into lamp posts hummed with mana, keeping the square well-lit even in shadow.
Above it all, the breeze carried the scent of wet earth and something savory—fish roasting on skewers. Andrew inhaled deeply, grounding himself.
"Come on," he said at last, his tone steady but commanding. "The Association is waiting."
He didn't need to ask directions; his memory carried him. But he let Elias tug at a passing fruit-seller for guidance, playing the role of newcomer.
"Straight ahead, past the fountain!" the woman called with a smile.
Together, they walked toward the largest building in town—a sturdy hall of stone and timber, its doors wide, its crest marked with sword, staff, and bow.
The Adventurer Association.
Inside, the air smelled of parchment, oil, and faint mana residue. Desks lined the hall, where clerks sorted requests into tall stacks. Along the walls, a massive board displayed quests scrawled on parchment slips, some marked with seals of urgency. A counter stood at the center, where a clerk in green robes greeted them with a practiced smile.
"Welcome, new adventurers," she said warmly. "First time, yes? Please register here, and we'll provide your beginner equipment and instructions on how to take quests."
Andrew inclined his head politely. "Yes. We're new in this town."
He stepped forward to sign, his hands steady though the memories of this same hall—twenty years later, under fire and ruin—flickered in his mind. He glanced at Elias, who leaned on the counter, grinning like a boy about to dive into adventure.
The clerk retrieved two simple weapons from beneath the counter: a pair of Training Knuckle for Andrew, and a Training Magic Tome for Elias.
Training Knuckle (Trash Grade – 1H)
Physical A.P: +20.00
Magical A.P: +15.00
Attack Speed: +0.05
Attack Rate: +1.00%
Durability: 20
Training Magic Tome (Trash Grade – 2H)
Magical A.P: +60.00
Attack Speed: +0.08
Attack Rate: +1.00%
Max MP: +30
Durability: 15
"Training grade," the clerk explained. "Durability's low, and their stats won't carry you far. But they'll serve until you earn enough coin to upgrade."
Andrew accepted his training weapon, its dull metallic surface heavy in his palm, faint runes etched along the grip. Familiar. Comforting. Elias held his tome like a prize, running fingers over the embossed cover as mana pulsed faintly from within.
The clerk leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly. "One more thing. Before you take any quests, I suggest you visit the Association's training grounds. Each class has instructors—swordmasters, spell tutors, summoning mentors. Learn your basic skills and spells first. Adventurers who skip training usually regret it."
Elias gave a mock salute. "Study before glory. Got it."
Andrew nodded once. "We'll make sure to do that."
As they stepped back into the streets of Tondano, the sound of the market filled their ears—traders shouting prices, blacksmiths hammering iron, the distant call of gulls from the lake. The town was alive, and dangerous, and waiting.
"Training first," Andrew said, tightening the straps on his knuckles. "Then we'll talk about our next move."
Elias grinned. "Fine by me. Let's see what these bodies can really do."
And together, they walked toward the Association's training grounds, the first steps of a much longer path echoing under their feet.