Gani sat in silence, staring at his reflection. The weight of reality was finally sinking in. He was stuck here.
In the world of webnovels, protagonists rarely found a way back home.
Either they embraced the new world, or the 'Author' simply left the story unfinished.
Gani wasn't a man who left things to chance. If he was to survive, he had to do it on his own terms.
The Geography of Safety
Kirish was currently in a city within the Inner Circle, but it wasn't a sanctuary just yet.
In Blue Orbit, safety was a luxury graded from 'E' to 'S'.
This city was a Grade-C safety zone on the Outer Perimeter's edge. However, the city itself held a 'Four-Star' rating—a tier above the common settlements.
It was a hub of education, hosting colleges ranging from One-Star to Four-Star. The original Kirish had chosen this location with surgical precision. It was the best place to lay a foundation for someone with no background.
But as Gani dug deeper into Kirish's memories, his optimism hit a brick wall.
He pulled up the digital medical report on the transparent slab.
The Curse of Potential
The report was blunt.
Kirish's physical body was robust, but his 'Qi' capacity—the lifeblood of a Magician—was abysmal.
According to the data, even if he successfully formed a 'Qi Orbit' (the internal core required to harness energy), he would likely peak as a C-Rank Magician.
On the other hand, if he chose the path of a Magic Warrior, his physical constitution could push him to B-Grade.
A C-Rank Magician wasn't 'weak' by common standards, but it was a death sentence for his ambitions. A Four-Star college would never accept someone with such low magical potential.
The original Kirish had gone to sleep that night torn between his dream of magic and the cold reality of becoming a warrior. But now, the choice rested in the hands of a new master.
"Let's see what I can actually do," Gani whispered to the empty room.
The original Kirish wanted to be a Magician, but his grade was too low.
Gani felt a strange resonance with the boy's spirit. Kirish wouldn't have compromised on his dream.
And neither would Gani.
The Economics of Magic
The problem wasn't just what to become—it was the 'How'.
In Blue Orbit, the scholarship system followed a twisted logic:
The Merit Rule: If you are talented, Three-Star colleges offer you a free ride or heavy discounts.
The Elite Rule: But if you aim for a Four-Star institution, the fees skyrocket. You don't just pay for education; you pay for the 'Elite' status.
A Four-Star college demanded a staggering 20 Lakh credits.
A Three-Star college, with Kirish's current scholarship, would only cost 5 Lakh credits.
Gani checked his balance: 10 Lakh credits.
It was a small fortune gathered from the orphanage's savings and rewards from village elders.
Gani made a calculated move. He wasn't going to gamble his entire capital on a Four-Star dream that might reject him. He narrowed his choices down to three local
institutions:
Black Light College
Alex College
White Feather College
After a few minutes of intense analysis, he tapped on White Feather College.
The reasoning was purely economic. The annual fee was only 4 Lakh credits.
He could cover two years easily, leaving him enough breathing room for living expenses and part-time work.
With a steady hand, he filled out the form and hit 'Send.'
The Cost of Power: Star Crystals
Now came the most crucial part:
Understanding the mechanics of Magic.
Magic in this world functioned on Qi. To use it, a human had to forge a 'Qi Orbit' inside their body—a central vortex that absorbs and regulates external energy. Without an Orbit, you were just a 'Normal.'
To forge an Orbit, one needed Star Crystals.
The logic was simple: Quality of Crystal = Power of the Orbit.
Kirish had the talent to manipulate energy, but his body couldn't absorb it naturally. He needed high-grade crystals to bridge the gap.
But quality came with a price tag:
Basic Crystal: 10,000 credits (Result: Small, weak Orbit).
Mid-Level Crystal: 30,000 to 40,000 credits per piece.
Gani needed at least ten crystals to even begin the process.
"I'll pay the first year's fees and then hoard as many crystals as I can," Gani planned. "If my results are good, maybe I can attract a sponsor or a donation."
The Awakening
Gani had been in this world for barely an hour, but his gamer instincts were already deconstructing every rule he encountered.
Suddenly, the air in front of him shimmered.
His vision blurred for a split second before a pale blue, semi-transparent window flickered into existence.
Golden letters began to etch themselves across the screen, glowing with an otherworldly light.
[WELCOME, NEW OWNER!]
Gani froze. His heart hammered against his ribs.
The strategic mind of a 25-year-old met the legendary 'System' of a webnovel protagonist.
What is the secret behind Gani's 'Lucky System'? Will his 'C-Rank' potential finally meet its match?
To be continued