DING!
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[Mana Level: Unlimited]
[Recommendation: Suppressing Item Required]
Ethan's eyes narrowed as the word Unlimited glowed across the system screen. The message lingered, heavy with implication. Yes, it meant he could one day become an unstoppable force on the battlefield. But it also meant something else.
Something dangerous.
He bit his lip as scenarios ran wild in his mind, what if he lost control? What if others found out? What if it wasn't a gift at all, but a curse?
Koby worked quickly, testing item after item. A silver-threaded scarf fizzled and tore apart. A mana band made of enchanted bone shattered into dust. A bracer with crystal runes hummed briefly before cracking like glass.
"Damn," Koby muttered, stepping back, sweat forming on his brow. "This isn't mana... this is pressure from a living storm."
Zane stood still, his arms crossed, watching intently. He said nothing, but Ethan could feel his father's tension in the air.
Zane let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He gave a nod, but Ethan could still see the flicker of concern behind his eyes.
Koby chuckled weakly. "You've no idea how relieved I am. For a second there, I thought it'd either snap in half or drain you dry."
Ethan gave a small smile. "So did I."
The room fell quiet for a moment. The bracelet shimmered faintly in the light, silent but secure.
It wasn't perfect control. But it was a start.
With a resigned breath, Koby knelt behind the counter, rummaging through a hidden compartment. After a moment, he emerged holding a small, velvet-wrapped object sealed with a crinkled charm tag. The paper shimmered faintly with ancient magic.
"This is... not something I put on display," Koby said. "It's old. Very old. Got it from a mage who claimed it came from the remnants of the Hollow War. I've never even tested it."
He held it out carefully, a dark, rune-etched bracelet that pulsed with dormant power.
"Go on. Try it."
Ethan hesitated. Something about the bracelet felt... alive. But after a moment's pause, he slipped it onto his wrist.
The metal adjusted instantly, shrinking to fit his arm with a whisper of movement.
DING!
— SYSTEM ALERT —
[Mana Level has been Successfully Contained]
[Item Name: Binding Relic]
Ethan blinked, then exhaled slowly. The overwhelming pressure inside him had dulled, it did not vanished, but dimmed, like a fire placed behind thick glass.
"Is it alright?" Zane asked, his voice low, and cautious. "It's not... suppressing too much, is it?"
Ethan turned his wrist, examining the bracelet. It was cool to the touch, but calm. "No. It's fine," he said softly. "It fits."
*****
Zane paid Koby for the bracelet without a second thought, offering a respectful nod before leading Ethan out of the shop.
"Come back anytime!" Koby called after them, waving cheerfully despite the lingering tension of what had just transpired.
Father and son made their way through the lively streets of Almsworth, eventually arriving at a quaint herb vendor's stall, Freya's favorite. She was still there, surrounded by baskets of rare roots and magical herbs, chatting animatedly with the seller.
Normally, this kind of task was left to the maid. But Freya loved shopping for ingredients more than anything else, it was one of the few things that truly relaxed her.
After she finished, they all returned home as the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the village in soft amber light.
That evening, Ethan wasted no time. After changing out of his travel clothes, he slipped out to the courtyard and resumed his training.
Time passed quickly.
Weeks turned into months, and Ethan trained relentlessly. He poured himself into his swordsmanship, mastering every form, every movement his father taught him. His command over fire magic sharpened too, blazing spells that once flickered weakly now roared with control and power.
Under Freya's watchful eye, Ethan also began training in archery, a skill many thought impossible to pair with swordsmanship. Yet somehow, he excelled. Precision, posture, and perception, all of it came naturally.
It shouldn't have been possible. But Ethan's rare class allowed it.
Executioner.
A hybrid class hidden from the world. One that could wield both weapon and magic with terrifying efficiency.
In Eriya, there were ten standard classes:
- Swordsman – Balanced frontline warriors skilled in blade and melee combat.
- Mage – Long-range spellcasters who harness elemental or arcane magic for devastating attacks.
- Assassin – Silent killers with unmatched speed and critical damage potential, favoring daggers and short blades.
- Healer – Support specialists who restore health, remove curses, and channel holy magic.
- Archer – Agile, long-range attackers with deadly accuracy and high mobility.
- Knight – Tank-like defenders with massive endurance, armored in shields and plate.
- Summoner – Mages who call forth beasts or spirits to battle on their behalf.
- Berserker – Ferocious melee fighters fueled by rage, wielding powerful, reckless strikes.
- Necromancer – Wielders of dark magic, capable of raising the dead and cursing their enemies.
- Monk – Spiritual martial artists who channel inner energy through fists and focused will.
But Ethan was something else entirely.
An Executioner.
A class that shouldn't exist…
Yet, somehow, the system had granted it to him.
A title buried in secrecy, one even his parents knew nothing about. To them, Ethan was simply gifted. A prodigy, perhaps. Multitalented. But nothing more.
What they didn't know was that Ethan had already mastered three different class paths alongside the Executioner, something considered impossible by Eriya's standards.
Most individuals could only align with two classes in their lifetime. The System of Eriya itself limited such growth to maintain balance. But Ethan had broken that rule effortlessly.
He had inherited his father's fire magic and swordsmanship, learning to wield a blade with precision while calling forth flame with ease. From his mother, he learned the graceful yet deadly art of archery, mastering techniques that normally took years, even decades, for dedicated Archers to learn.
And yet… despite his wide skillset, his level remained low.
Versatility came at a cost.
His progression was slower than others. Each skill tree he touched required training, discipline, and time. So Ethan pushed himself harder, determined to bridge the gap.
By the age of twelve, he was finally allowed to train with the estate guards.
His very first spar with one of them became the talk of the household. The maids whispered in awe, guards muttered in disbelief. Ethan had held his own, barely, but without help.
To them, it was a miracle.
To Ethan, it was a small step forward.
He could summon his System Interface as easily as blinking now, the glowing screen responding to his call with perfect clarity.
DING!
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[Name: Ethan Cole]
[Age: 12]
[1st Class: Executioner]
[2nd Class: Mage]
[Weapon: Black Blade]
[Skills: Fire Magic]
[Level: 20]
[Orbs: 2]
The bracelet suppressing Ethan's mana still held strong. It had grown with him over the years, adapting as he matured, an artifact of rare craftsmanship and silent power. Without it, his mana would leak uncontrollably, like a dam broken by an endless tide.
Ethan had completed his daily system quests without fail, but one notification still haunted him.
[Kill a Demon: Unsuccessful]
No matter how much he trained, that single line remained untouched, a thorn in his pride.
Later that day, Ander Mike, Zane's longtime friend and comrade, arrived at the mansion with his family, his wife Sera and their daughter, Lisa.
Ethan's chest tightened the moment he saw her.
The same girl who had defeated him five years ago. The same girl who had humiliated him with words that still rang in his head like a curse.
'You're weak. So weak you'd die before a real battle even starts.'
Ethan's fists clenched at the memory. He hadn't forgotten. And he hadn't forgiven.
Now, seated in the courtyard, food laid before them, the families gathered in quiet conversation. The sun was dipping behind the trees, casting long shadows over the garden.
Ander suddenly stood, bowing his head low toward Zane. "I need your help, Zane. Please... help us with one request."
Zane's brows furrowed. He had never seen Ander look so shaken.
"What's the problem, my friend?" he asked.
Ander hesitated, eyes lowered. "The village of Beornleigh is under attack by demons as we speak. My men have fallen, and I cannot hold them back alone. My wife is not a fighter, and my daughter... she's still a child."
A heavy silence fell.
Then...
"Hah! Don't worry, buddy," Zane laughed, standing up and clapping Ander on the back. "You should've asked sooner. When do we leave?"
Ander lifted his head, eyes gleaming. "This noon, if possible. If we go now, we should return by morning."
Ethan overheard everything, and his heart nearly leapt.
This is it... His chance.
He had been planning to sneak into the forest for a real demon hunt. With his father gone… there'd be no one to stop him.
Zane left with ten of his finest soldiers, riding at Ander's side toward Beornleigh. Their wives stood at the gates, waving goodbye. Ethan and Lisa stood nearby, both silent, watching for different reasons.
As the dust of their horses disappeared into the distance, Ethan's mind was already made up.
Tonight. I go.
Night fell faster than expected. After dinner, both Freya and Sera retired to their chambers. The maids vanished to their quarters. The mansion quieted.
Ethan remained awake, fully dressed beneath his covers.
When the time felt right, he slipped out of bed and crept through the dark hallways, avoiding every creak and guard route. He made it to the back gate and disappeared into the night.
But he didn't know...
Lisa had seen him leave.