Aiden sat quietly on the edge of the wooden bench, staring at the glowing blue screen hovering before his eyes.
It was surreal—familiar, yet impossibly real.
[Status Window]
Name: Aiden Cross
Class: None
Level: 1
Health (HP): 100/100
Mana (MP): 50/50
Strength: 8
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 9
Vitality: 7
Dexterity: 11
Luck: 5
Aiden let out a soft exhale. "So it is the same interface from Elarion Online… but this isn't a game anymore."
As if on cue, another memory from Aiden's borrowed body slipped into his mind—his new life's dream of becoming an adventurer. The old Aiden had never left town… guess I'll have to do what he couldn't.
Inside the Guild Hall
The Adventurers Guild was bustling with energy—new recruits filling the air with chatter, armor clanking, and the faint scent of oil and parchment.
Behind the wooden counter, a cheerful woman with fox-brown hair tied in a bun waved him over. Her name tag read: "Elra — Guild Receptionist."
"Next! Oh, you must be one of the new registrants for the Beginner's Tutorial, right?" she asked with a warm smile.
Aiden nodded. "Yes, Aiden Cross."
Elra's fingers danced across a crystalline tablet. "Perfect! You'll be assigned to Instructor Garran's group. Head through that door to the left; he'll explain the basics."
The Beginner's Field
The moment Aiden stepped through the door, the air changed.
The training field stretched wide—wooden dummies, weapon racks, and groups of fresh-faced adventurers scattered across the area.
A burly man with a scar across his chin stood at the center, arms crossed. His booming voice carried across the yard.
"Welcome, recruits! I'm Garran, a retired Gold-rank adventurer. You're here to show me if you've got what it takes to survive outside these walls."
He jabbed a thumb toward a line of wooden racks filled with weapons. "First, choose your weapon. Every adventurer must decide their path—blade, bow, staff, or gauntlet."
Aiden's eyes gleamed. So the weapon system is the same too…
In Elarion Online, each weapon determined your skill tree.
Swords balanced offense and defense.
Bows relied on agility and critical hits.
Staves drew power from mana and intellect.
Gauntlets enhanced physical combos and internal energy.
And then there were rare hybrid paths—combinations that could bend the system's rules.
Aiden picked up a sword—its weight familiar in his hand.
Next to him, a cheerful boy with messy orange hair grabbed a staff. "Hey! I'm Renn. First time here too?"
Aiden smiled faintly. "Yeah, something like that."
Another recruit, a short girl with twin braids and a bow almost taller than her, laughed nervously. "Let's just hope we don't embarrass ourselves."
Instructor Garran grunted. "You'll each demonstrate your basic combat ability. I'll rank you accordingly—Brass, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Mythril. Don't expect miracles; most of you will be Brass by the end of the day."
Skill System Demonstration
Garran snapped his fingers, and a glowing rune flared in the air. "To use a skill, channel your focus through your weapon. The system will respond to your will and training. Try this command: 'Skill—Basic Slash!'"
The boy named Renn tried first, slamming his staff into the ground. A faint spark flickered, releasing a weak shockwave that startled even him.
"I—I did it!" he said, eyes wide.
Garran chuckled. "Barely. But that's the first step."
Next, the girl with the bow drew her string—her arrow glowing briefly before fading mid-air.
"Good control, poor mana flow. Bronze rank," Garran said curtly.
Aiden stepped forward last. He inhaled, feeling the weight of the sword and the flow of energy beneath his skin. It was faint—like heat shimmering in the air—but it answered him.
"Skill—Basic Slash!"
His blade shimmered faintly blue as he cut through the air with clean precision, leaving a faint trail of light.
The other recruits stared, surprised.
Garran stroked his beard. "Huh. You've got form. Technique and control, both. Not bad for a first-timer."
He grinned. "Silver rank potential. Let's see if you can live up to it in the field."
As they rested, Renn nudged him. "You looked like you've done this before."
Aiden smirked slightly. "Maybe in another life."
If only you knew… he thought. I used to grind this exact tutorial for hours back on Earth.
He looked around the training field once more—the glint of armor, the distant hum of mana, and the faint scent of dust and sweat.
For the first time since waking up here, Aiden felt something spark inside him.
Not fear. Not confusion.
Excitement.
"If this really is Elarion," he murmured to himself, "then maybe… I can go further than any player ever did.