Asher didn't make it home before the system spoke again.
He was halfway down the street, replaying the word F-rank in his head like it might magically change meaning, when pressure settled behind his eyes.
Not pain.
Attention.
A translucent blue screen unfolded in front of him.
[System Interface – Initialized]
User: Asher Black
Core: Heaven's Heart (Anomalous)
Status: Below Standard Threshold
"…That's rude," Asher muttered.
[Correction]
That is accurate.
He stopped walking.
"Okay," he said quietly. "You're real. That's established. Now explain why I'm still breathing when the crystal basically told me I'm useless."
The system paused.
Then answered.
[Explanation]
Heaven's Heart is not a class.
It is a core.
Asher frowned. "What's the difference?"
[Clarification]
A class defines what you are.
A core defines how you grow.
That… actually made sense.
Before he could ask more, new lines appeared.
[Personal Dungeons – Unlocked]
Purpose: Accelerated Combat Growth
Restriction: Solo Entry Only
Failure Condition: Death
Asher stared.
"…You really don't ease people into things."
[Efficiency is prioritized over comfort.]
"Of course it is."
More text followed.
[Growth Rules – Summary]
• Power increases through combat
• Risk directly influences growth speed
• Repetition is encouraged
• Survival is mandatory
Asher exhaled slowly.
"So I fight," he said. "I survive. I get stronger."
[Correct.]
"And the Vault?" he asked.
The system responded immediately.
[God's Vault – Status]
Access: Pending
Condition: Initial Stabilization
Asher raised an eyebrow. "Stabilization of what?"
[You.]
"…That's ominous."
The system didn't argue.
One final notification appeared.
[Notice]
Angelic Coins detected: 0
Currency is earned through dungeon performance.
Asher snorted. "Of course there's currency."
[Acknowledged.]
The screens faded.
The street sounds returned.
Cars passed. People walked by. The world kept pretending nothing had changed.
Asher looked down at his hands again.
They still felt normal.
But now he knew something important.
He wasn't strong.
Yet.
But the system hadn't given up on him.
Which meant it expected him to fight.
Asher smiled faintly.
"…Guess I should start."