Chapter 1: A Light within the Darkness
The dim glow of the hospital room's fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting eerie shadows on the white walls. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound accompanying Aaron as he lay in bed, fingers tapping rhythmically on his gaming laptop. His once athletic body had withered over the years due to his illness, leaving him looking frail, but his mind was as sharp as ever.
Aaron was engrossed in "Eldoria Chronicles," an MMORPG that had taken the world by storm. He had played halfway through the game, mastering its mechanics, uncovering deep lore, and optimizing strategies.
"Damn, this boss is a pain in the ass," Aaron muttered, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
The enemy he was currently fighting was one of the most infamous mid-tier bosses—Victor Black, the Shadow Tyrant—a foe known for his unpredictable attack patterns and frustrating mechanics. Aaron had fought him dozens of times, but tonight was different. He was determined to achieve a flawless victory.
"Come on, just a little more…" Aaron grinned as Victor Black's health bar dropped to its final sliver.
Then, suddenly, everything went black. His vision blurred, his head felt like it was splitting apart, and an unbearable pain surged through his body.
"W-What the…?"
The last thing he saw was the image of his character collapsing before a GAME OVER screen flashed before his eyes.
When Aaron regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was the warmth of sunlight filtering through the wooden window. A cool breeze rustled the curtains, filling the air with the scent of fresh earth and morning dew.
'Wait… where the hell am I?'
He sat up abruptly, only for a sharp pain to pierce through his skull. Memories—foreign yet familiar—began flooding his mind. He clutched his head as waves of information assaulted him.
Aaron Phoenix.
An orphan. A nobody. A boy who had lost everything.
The memories blended together, showing him glimpses of his life in this world. His parents had disappeared when he was just twelve, leaving him and his younger sister, Emma, alone. At first, their neighbors had seemed kind, but that facade soon crumbled. Their so-called well-wishers took everything—their home, their money—forcing the siblings into the Ravensport Quarter.
Emma had fallen ill a year ago, and Aaron had been doing everything he could to earn money for her treatment.
'Emma… my sister…'
As the pain in his head finally subsided, something strange happened—he felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and love for her, stronger than anything he had ever experienced before.
'These aren't just memories… They're emotions, too.'
It wasn't just knowledge of the past; it was as if Aaron Phoenix's lingering thoughts and emotions had fused with his own, affecting the way he felt and thought about people.
He clenched his fists, his breathing heavy. He wasn't just some guy who had taken over a body—he was Aaron Phoenix now, in every way that mattered.
Looking around the modest room, he could still feel the struggles and desperation of his past self. The wooden walls, the creaky bed, the old desk with scattered papers—it all felt too real to be a dream.
Then, a single thought crossed his mind.
"System."
A soft chime echoed, and a translucent blue screen appeared before him.
[Status Window]
Name: Aaron Phoenix
Age: 16
Rank: Novice (Low)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: none
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F-
Mana: F
Mana Capacity: F+
Will: B
Charm: B+
Luck:???
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)], [Basic Mana Control (F)], [Dodge (F)], [??? (Sealed)]
Aaron stared at the screen in disbelief. This was just like a game.
Then, his gaze shifted to his physique and bloodline. Both were unawakened.
'Wait… what?!'
His eyes widened in shock. Having either a bloodline or a physique was already an extreme rarity, something only prodigies and legendary figures possessed. But having both? Even if they were unawakened, it was unheard of.
'Just who was this guy supposed to be?'
His mind raced, but there were no answers. If this was a game character, he should have at least been mentioned in the lore, right? And yet, he had never heard of Aaron Phoenix before.
He let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. His stats were abysmal, but at least his charm stat was oddly high.
But even more than that—he could still feel the emotions of the previous Alex, his love for Emma, his resentment toward those who wronged them, and his desperate determination to keep going.
This wasn't just about adapting to a new life. This was his life now.
"Guess I won't have trouble making friends," he muttered before chuckling to himself. "At least I've got a single good talent."
With a deep breath, Aaron clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes.
'No matter what, I'll survive.'
The morning sun filtered through the cracks in the curtains, bathing the small room in a soft, golden light.
Aaron sat by the window, staring out at the tranquil view. His thoughts were a whirlwind, swirling around the memories and emotions of the life he now inhabited.
This wasn't just a game anymore. This was real. He was Aaron Phoenix, the orphan, the boy who had lost everything.
But somehow, his heart was heavy with a sense of responsibility—a responsibility to someone dear.
His gaze shifted to the corner of the room where a small, wooden desk sat. A framed picture of a girl caught his attention—a young girl with bright eyes and a wide smile. Emma. His younger sister.
She had been sick for over a year now, bedridden and struggling to stay alive at Kingsbridge Central Hospital. Even the cost of her treatment was barely covered.
Aaron's heart ached every time he thought about her. His entire life had been about saving her, about doing whatever it took to pay for her treatment.
But now, with his world turned upside down, the future seemed uncertain.
Aaron leaned back, rubbing his temples. As his mind wandered, it inevitably returned to Eldoria Chronicles—the game.
He had spent countless hours playing it, immersed in its world of magic and battle. But there was one thing that always stood out.
The Chosen of Lady Grace.
Matthew Scott.
The name echoed in his mind, and for a moment, Aaron felt a sharp pang of frustration. Matthew Scott was the protagonist—the hero of Eldoria Chronicles.
Born into the prestigious House of Whitmore, a noble family with wealth and influence, he had been chosen by Lady Grace to become the savior of Eldoria.
The goddess had blessed him with unparalleled potential, a powerful divine physique, and a legendary bloodline.
Once he awakened, he would become an unstoppable force, growing stronger at an exponential rate. He had everything—talent, power, and a destiny written in the stars.
Meanwhile, Aaron was just… a nobody.
No powerful bloodline. No legendary physique. No divine blessing.
But something about this situation didn't add up. If he was just an insignificant background character, why did he have an unawakened bloodline and physique? Why was his talent labeled Dual-Soul Resonance?
For now, there were no answers. But Aaron knew one thing—he wouldn't just sit back and watch Matthew take center stage.
His thoughts shifted back to Emma.
She had been sick for a year now, growing weaker by the day.
Her medical bills had drained whatever little money they had left, forcing Aaron to take on all sorts of odd jobs to keep them afloat.
He had done everything—loading cargo at the docks, running errands for merchants, even taking part in underground gambling just to earn extra money.
But it was never enough. The treatment she needed was expensive, far beyond what a commoner like him could afford.
The previous Alex had nearly lost all hope.
But now, things were different.
He had the memories of a gamer. He knew things others didn't. If he played his cards right, maybe—just maybe—he could turn his fate around.
Taking a deep breath, Aaron focused on his Status Screen again. The glowing blue interface flickered into existence.
[Status Window]
Name: Aaron Phoenix
Age: 16
Rank: Novice (Low)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: None
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F-
Mana: F
Mana Capacity: F+
Will: B
Charm: B+
Luck: ???
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)], [Basic Mana Control (F)], [Dodge (F)], [??? (Sealed)]
Aaron narrowed his eyes as he examined the screen carefully.
Strength (F): Determines raw physical power. With an F rank, he was weaker than even an average trained person.
Agility (F+): Governs movement speed and reflexes. The (+) meant he was slightly faster than a regular F-ranked person, but not by much.
Endurance (F-): His stamina and resilience. With an F-, he'd get tired quickly and wouldn't last long in fights.
Mana (F) & Mana Capacity (F+): Determines his magical potential. His mana pool was small, and his control over it was weak.
Will (B): A surprising anomaly. Willpower determined mental resilience, resistance against mind-affecting spells, and overall determination. With B rank, Aaron realized he had strong willpower—likely why he was adapting so quickly to his new life.
Charm (B+): Another interesting stat. Charm wasn't just about looks—it influenced how others perceived him, how persuasive he could be, and even his luck in social situations. With a B+, he might be able to talk his way out of trouble.
Luck (???): The most mysterious stat of all. Was it insanely high or dangerously low? There was no way to tell.
Aaron sighed. 'At least my will and charm aren't garbage.'
Still, he needed to get stronger. If he wanted to protect Emma, he couldn't stay weak forever.
Knock! Knock!
A sudden knock at the door broke his train of thought.
'Who could that be?' Aaron muttered, standing up.
Opening the door, he found a postman holding an envelope. The man gave him a polite nod.
"Delivery for Aaron Phoenix."
Aaron took the envelope, his heart beating slightly faster.
The wax seal on the letter bore a distinct emblem—a golden tower with a crown above it.
His eyes widened.
Highcliffe Academy.
The most prestigious academy in the Dominion.
Why would they send a letter to someone like him?
His fingers trembled slightly as he broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
Dear Aaron Phoenix,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a candidate for enrollment at Highcliffe Academy. Due to unique circumstances, you have been granted a conditional scholarship and an opportunity to take the Entrance Examination.
You have four months to prepare before the examination. If you fail to appear within the given timeframe, your candidacy will be revoked.
May Lady Grace guide you.
Sincerely,
Andrew Foster
Aaron's breath hitched.
Four months.
A chance to enter Highcliffe Academy?
For commoners, this was an impossible dream. The academy only accepted nobles or those with high potential. So why him?
Then, his gaze fell on one specific line.
"Due to unique circumstances."
Something was off.
But this could be his chance.
If he got into Highcliffe Academy, he might gain access to resources—money, knowledge, and maybe even a way to save Emma.
Clutching the letter tightly, Aaron made up his mind.
He had four months to prepare.
And he was going to make them count.