The moment Arin touched the glowing cube, the entire ruin exploded with blinding light.
A powerful force surged through his body.
Arin staggered backward as blue energy wrapped around him like lightning.
The system window began flashing rapidly.
[Ancient System Core Detected]
[Compatibility Check… 92%]
[System Evolution Initiating…]
Arin clenched his teeth.
Pain spread through every nerve in his body.
It felt like his very existence was being rewritten.
"What… is happening…?"
The cube floated into the air.
Ancient symbols lit up across the ruin walls.
Then the mechanical voice spoke again.
[Warning: System evolution may alter host's abilities permanently.]
Arin laughed weakly.
"Alter them all you want…"
His eyes hardened.
"Just make me stronger."
The light intensified.
For several seconds the entire ruin was swallowed by energy.
Then suddenly—
Everything went silent.
The system interface changed.
New sections appeared.
[System Evolution Complete]
[New Functions Unlocked]
[Skill Fusion]
[Dimensional Storage]
[Combat Prediction]
Arin blinked.
"That's… a lot."
Another message appeared.
[Host Body Enhanced.]
[Stat Growth Multiplied.]
Arin slowly stood up.
He felt different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Even the air around him felt clearer.
He looked down at his hands.
"This power…"
For the first time since his rebirth—
Arin truly felt like he belonged in this world.
But suddenly—
The system displayed another message.
[Ancient Signal Detected.]
[Multiple powerful entities are searching for the System Core.]
Arin frowned.
"Searching?"
The system answered coldly.
[The Infinite System is considered forbidden technology.]
[Gods, empires, and ancient creatures will attempt to obtain it.]
Arin looked at the cube fragment still floating in the air.
"So basically…"
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I just became the most wanted person in this world."