Leo walked quickly down the silent corridor. The castle was a confusing maze of stone and heavy curtains. He needed a place to hide and talk to the blue screen.
He found a small, dusty library room off a main hall and slipped inside. The moment the door clicked shut, he faced the glowing screen.
"Alright, System," Leo muttered, rubbing his bruised side. "You said my strength is 2 out of 10. And I'm about to fight three people who, based on those memories, are used to winning. What am I missing? Give me the manual."
The blue light pulsed, and the information changed instantly.
Status Report: World Structure
This world runs on Power. There are three main paths:
Knights: They train their body and spirit to gather Aura, a raw physical force.
Mages: They learn to control the Flow of magic in the air.
Monsters: They are wild beasts powered by raw instinct and dark energy.
Power Levels (Overall):
Level 10-20: Trainee/Guard. (This is the basic physical standard.)
Level 30-50: Basic Knight/Soldier. (A basic trained knight starts here.)
Level 60-80: Elite Knight/Small Captain.
Level 90-97: Master Knight/Commander.
Level 98-99: GRANDMASTER.
Host Assessment (Theron Valerius):
Current STR: 2/10 (Critical) / Overall Level: 2
Varrus's Estimated STR: 6/10 / Overall Level: 5
Companions' Estimated STR: 4/10 and 5/10 / Overall Levels: 3 and 4
System Note on Power Scaling
: STR (Strength) is a physical measurement from 1 to 10 that reflects the body's raw power. Overall Level (1-99) is the total amount of power gathered from training and experience. To reach higher Levels (like 60+), a Knight needs a high STR score to channel their Aura. Varrus is extremely gifted physically (STR 6) but has very little actual training (Level 5).
Leo stared at the screen. Varrus had four times his natural strength (STR 6 vs 2), even if his overall experience was low. It was still a fight Theron would never have won.
"So, I'm the weakest person in this whole giant rock pile. Perfect," Leo said, a dangerous light in his eyes. "But the mission promises +5 STR. If I get that, I'd be 7. That's enough to fight a 6, especially with an ambush."
Wait. The System had mentioned his status: Fallen Prince (Pre-Ascension).
"System, what's 'Pre-Ascension'?"
The screen replied with a single, crucial line:
War Aspect Rule: The Host's innate Battle Lust can be converted into temporary power. As a Battle Junkie, you are not weak, only currently unloaded.
Temporary Skill Unlocked:Combat Focus
Combat Focus (Temporary – Rank F): When facing an enemy with a STR difference of 3 or more (like 2 vs 6), the host can temporarily push the body past its limits. For the next five minutes, gain:
STR +6 (Total STR will be 8/10).
Dodge Rate +20%.
Cost: Massive fatigue and muscle failure after use.
Note: This skill is fueled by the combined rage of the Host (Leo) and the original Prince (Theron).
Leo laughed, a sound that was pure excitement. Total STR of 8. That put him above Varrus's STR 6, at least for a few minutes. It meant a chance.
He felt the energy surge through his weak body just thinking about the fight. He had gone from a beaten prince to a secret weapon in moments.
He looked up at a grand map hanging on the wall. He recognized the shape of the castle, and he found the Southern Practice Yard. It was a short walk through the lower corridors.
Leo took a deep breath, inhaling the dust and the old stone smell. The weakness was still there, but now he had a plan, a time limit, and a crushing need to inflict pain.
"Let's go, Varrus," Leo whispered, adjusting the plain leather tunic. "It's midday. Time for a training session you won't forget."
He left the quiet library and headed for the sounds of metal clanging against metal, the sounds of the practice yard.