It was nothing like what Lloyd had imagined. Normally, systems tended to have a more technological design.
Instead, what stood before him was far more ostentatious—an oval mirror, framed with intricate golden patterns.
Lloyd saw his reflection on a surface that looked like polished steel. Yet, that reflection soon blurred and shifted, revealing a series of floating words.
Name: Lloyd Kaitos Age: 8
Skills:
[Mirror of Vainglory]
[Chaos Record]
The boy was astonished, though he couldn't help but feel a hint of disappointment; there was barely any information about him.
Still, he didn't lose hope. With some effort, he raised his finger to touch the mirror—it was cold to the touch.
Lloyd was surprised to see that he could actually touch it, but what caught his attention even more was that his intuition had been right: he could expand the information about his skills.
[Mirror of Vainglory]
Rank: Omega
"Displays the majestic reflection of its bearer, revealing information about them. The amount and quality of information shown is intrinsically tied to its rank."
The boy nodded; now he understood why the information shown was so limited.
[Chaos Record]
Rank: ***
"The crystallization of desire; it forces its bearer to embody the archetype of the 'Demon King.' It allows the user to access a method of 'transcendent ascension' through the most familiar and comfortable path possible."
"Chaos Record allows access to a series of benefits by exchanging 'V.P'—Villain Points. A unit corresponding to the evil one demonstrates and the chaos one causes."
"The system grants rewards for actions aligned with the designated archetype; however, it also punishes actions that stray from that path."
[Demonic Transcendence Paths]
"They are wells of power that allow the bearer to increase their V.P reserve."
First Path of Demonic Transcendence:
Well of Greed: Your greed becomes your source of power. This path grants the user the ability to earn V.P through missions offered by Chaos Record. It is the default path of Chaos Breaker and the initial way to acquire V.P. This well of power can grant either generous rewards or deadly punishments.
Second Path of Demonic Transcendence: {Locked • 0/1500 V.P}
[Demonic Authorities:]
"These are the great powers that Chaos Record allows access to."
Mirror of Vainglory: Rank Omega {0/1200 V.P} Gluttonous Stomach: {Locked • 0/350 V.P} Eye of Envy: {Locked • 0/650 V.P} Constellation of Sloth: {Locked • 2,500 V.P}
V.P: 350
Lloyd spent quite some time reading and digesting everything. While the Mirror of Vainglory's information was minimal, the Chaos Record was far more detailed. Then again, the boy understood that the ability itself probably had far more depth.
His review was long—after all, he needed to fully comprehend what was in front of him. Lloyd came to several conclusions, but what troubled him most was the potential punishment.
Apparently, the ability punished or penalized him if he strayed from that "archetype." Still, he wasn't entirely sure what that meant. Would simply doing something good trigger a penalty, or was it something more specific?
At first, he wouldn't have cared much, but the very first mission had already threatened him with death. If the penalties were equally severe, Lloyd was in serious trouble.
"No, the mission had a purpose. Besides, the system seems to want me alive. Maybe the reason the punishment was death is because I was expected to succeed."
It was a faint hope, but one Lloyd chose to believe in—the idea of dying for helping an old lady carry her groceries or giving candy to a child sounded far too absurd.
"Alright, but first I need to fix this body of mine. I'm screwed—this body's a disaster."
It was a hard truth to accept. He, someone who had worked tirelessly to sculpt an athletic physique, was now trapped in the frail, sickly body of a child—practically one foot in the grave.
Though it was unpleasant being in such a body, Lloyd couldn't help but feel sympathy for its original owner.
The memories were blurry, but they carried the essentials: his mother's death at birth, his father's lifelong absence. Lloyd had grown up surrounded only by the mansion's staff—professionals who, due to their duty, had to keep their distance.
But the worst of it all was the illness. Lloyd didn't fully understand it, but from what he'd heard from doctors, the boy's body couldn't generate magic power, leaving him weak and vulnerable to countless ailments.
His life had been a torment. He had never left the mansion's walls, and the older he grew, the worse his condition became—to the point he could no longer even leave his bed.
"Wait… something doesn't add up. If Lloyd was that sick, how did I end up in the river?"
Questions piled up, yet answers remained elusive. And then, as he was lost in thought, something broke the silence.
A figure entered the room. Judging by her silhouette, it was a woman. She didn't seem to notice him at first—she simply walked to the window and pulled open the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room, making Lloyd squint until his eyes finally adjusted.
Then, the young woman turned around. She looked to be in her twenties, dressed in a traditional maid's outfit, her hair tied neatly in a bun.
He didn't get to observe her for long—the moment she realized Lloyd was awake, she hurried straight toward him.
"Thank Mara, young master, you're awake!" The maid leaned forward, her tone bright yet still professional.
The boy found her voice familiar. Not just from his inherited memories—it was the same voice he'd heard while freezing to death. He was certain of it.
"Thank you," the boy murmured. After all, she was his "savior." Even so, he was startled at how weak his voice sounded. It was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.
"You needn't thank me, young master. I'm the one who's relieved to see you in one piece," the maid replied with a bow. "Oh, by Mara, you must be starving! I'll bring you something to eat right away."
With that, the woman quickly left the room. Lloyd could tell she was full of energy—something he deeply envied at that moment, completely drained as he was.
Still, that brief interaction confirmed something: he was no longer himself. He was Lloyd Kaitos now.
Dwelling on how insane that was wouldn't help, so he decided to accept it—at least for now.
He had plenty of curiosity and even more questions, but he was too weak to move yet. First, he'd have to rebuild this body.
If he truly wanted to survive from now on, he needed to start with the basics—and that meant proper nutrition.
Cough, cough.
Suddenly, a violent fit of coughing shook him. It wasn't just a passing tickle; his throat burned, and his diaphragm ached with every breath.