Start of Volume 2: Chronicles of Dirarnia

  With his preparation now done he then headed to the Hub, as it costs 100 LP to access a world directly from his apartment. Once there, he spoke to the System in his mind, “Records, I’d like a world similar to those academy-centered novels from Earth, with a power level system separated from F to SSS ranks.

  The world should have that as its foundation but without any creation myths involving gods or similar entities. I also need it to include people who can use both Aura and Mana—rarely, maybe, but it’s essential that such individuals exist. Finally, the academy should begin on July 5th, or close to that date, and the entry age should be 21, as people awaken their Aura or Mana at 21.”

  After he finished, the Records presented him with several worlds that more or less fit his specifications. One of them, however, immediately caught his attention.

  [Dirarnia World]

  World Type: Unique World

  World Power Levels: Peak Tier 2

  Description: Dirarnia is a blend of fantasy and modernity, where modern technology like the internet, smartphones, and cars exists alongside medieval-style buildings, giving the world a distinctly magical atmosphere. However, Dirarnia is not just a place of technology and magic; it’s a world where strength rules, though there are still some laws to protect the weak—even if the strong ultimately prevail.

  The power system in Dirarnia is divided into two main categories. The first, and most common, is the Warrior. Warriors use an energy called Aura to enhance themselves and their weapons and are generally close-range fighters. The second category is the Mage, whose members use Mana to manipulate reality and cast spells, such as fireballs. Mages are typically long-range fighters.

  Power levels in this world range from F to SSS. Each rank is subdivided into three categories: F-, F, and F+. In Dirarnia, people awaken their Mana or Aura core (or both, if they’re exceptionally lucky) at the age of 21. This is also the age at which they qualify to join an academy where they can learn to harness their energy and grow stronger.

  Optional Quests:

  [Student Life]

  Description: Become a student at the prestigious Central Academy.

  Rewards: 1K LP

  [Young Master Style]

  Description: Find yourselves a powerful backer, enabling you to act like a true young master (and also potentially meet a young master’s fate).

  Rewards: 10K LP

  [Famous]

  Description: Become famous—the greater your renown, the better your rewards.

  Rewards: Varies based on fame level achieved.

  [Powerhouse]

  Description: Reach S-rank in either Mana or Aura, and undergo your first life extension.

  Rewards: 20K LP

  [Graduation]

  Description: Complete the four years of study at an academy and pass the graduation exam.

  Rewards: 5K LP

  Mikael was intrigued by Dirarnia but wanted to confirm one detail. "Records, does Dirarnia have any god watching over it?"

  [No, Dirarnia is devoid of gods; only mortal beings inhabit it.]

  ‘Great, that confirms it—this world checks all my boxes. I’ll finally be able to access magic. The only downside is that some quests take too long, and while I plan to stay in this world for a while, I definitely won’t commit to the four years needed to complete the graduation quest. I think I’ll stay for about a month, give or take—I don’t know the exact duration yet, but it’ll be longer than the brief stays I’ve had in other worlds.’

  ‘Yes, a month should be enough to learn this power system, and if I need more time, I can extend my stay. But I need to be cautious not to linger too long, or my growth could stagnate, making it harder to progress.’

  ‘I mean, it’s only been a week—maybe two—since I joined the Records, and I’ve already traveled to several worlds and seen rapid growth. But staying in one place too long could limit my potential.’

  After reflecting on his plan, Mikael decided to enter this world and informed the Records, which unexpectedly responded.

  [Entry into the Dirarnia World has been temporarily halted due to possession of the Basic Background System. Would you like to create a background for yourself? Note: This will cost LP. Yes/No]

  Mikael accepted, and a new screen appeared before him:

  [Dirarnia World Background: None

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  Price: 0 LP]

  Mikael then asked the Records a few questions to better understand the world before starting on his background. He experimented with different backgrounds but quickly noticed that the more advantageous they were, the higher the price. After some trial and error, he finally created a background he was satisfied with.

  [Dirarnia World Background:

  You were born into a well-off family in the capital city, where your parents were both Mid-rank Rankers. Tragically, they both died last year while exploring a B-rank dungeon that unexpectedly ranked up to A-rank, leaving no survivors. Left alone in a large house, you inherited a considerable fortune from their ranker work.

  Determined to grow stronger after this loss, you used part of the money to buy a Mid-tier gravity training ring. Over the past year, you've trained hard, and now the entry test for the Central Academy is only a week away. Your 21st birthday is tomorrow, so you won’t have much time to adjust to your aura or mana, even though your body is already exceptionally strong.

  Price: 800 LP]

  By setting the Central Academy entry test just a week away and his 21st birthday (and thus his awakening) as the next day, the price was down to 800 from 2K if he wanted for example to have an entire year before the entrance exam.

  The most crucial detail was the purchase of the gravity ring, a device that increases gravity around the body, allowing for intense physical training. This device can even enable non-awakened individuals to attain a physique stronger than some rankers.

  Typically, when a person advances from F-rank to F+ in their Aura or Mana core, their body gains strength, but physical training is often more efficient for reinforcement. This device is extremely important because it will allow him to have a reason for his strong body.

  Mikael took one last look at his background before confirming the purchase. The Records began a ten-second countdown, and in a flash of blue light, he was teleported into the world of Dirarnia.

  Mikael appeared in a luxurious medieval bedroom. The floor was made of wood, and the walls were constructed from stone, paired with a stone hearth where a fire crackled, giving the room a cozy ambiance. High-quality furniture added a touch of luxury while maintaining a warm, inviting atmosphere.

  Just seconds after taking in his surroundings, Mikael received a notification:

  [Background detected. Do you want to see it? Yes/No]

  Curious, Mikael selected Yes. Instantly, images began to appear in his mind. It felt like watching a movie of his ‘life’ in this world, from his youth to recent events like his parents’ deaths. These images didn’t affect him emotionally; they simply provided a neutral overview of his ‘past.’

  He realized that the Background System had not only created memories for him but had also influenced this world so everyone here would believe he was a native, making his background completely real in their eyes. This gave him invaluable knowledge about the world’s culture, customs, and other small details that might prove useful later on.

  He learned many small details, but the most important thing is that he discovered how this world operates. The world is called Dirarnia, which he already knew, but he now understands that it is governed by the Mystoria Kingdom.

  This kingdom uses a medieval social hierarchy, with the king and his family/royalty at the top, nobles just below them, and commoners at the bottom. However, unlike a typical medieval society, Dirarnia blends elements of a modern world with fantasy, so people generally have a decent standard of living, and nobles do not hold absolute power over the lives of commoners.

  In this sense, life here is somewhat similar to Earth. There is internet, cars, and other modern conveniences. If a noble were to kill someone publicly, it would quickly spread on the internet, creating legal issues for them. Although they wouldn’t face the same penalties as a commoner might, they would still encounter consequences, with the severity depending on their family’s influence.

  The world is relatively safe, except when dungeons appear. When they do, a team of rankers must clear them; otherwise, the dungeon will overflow, allowing monsters to spill into the real world. Imagine the chaos if this happened in the middle of a city…

  As the ‘movie’ ended, Mikael felt a sudden headache. “Argh,” he muttered, clutching his head. 'Seems like watching an entire life’s worth of events in minutes can cause a headache. Who’d have thought?' he thought sarcastically.

  The headache eased slightly, though a dull ache persisted. Trying to ignore it, he thought, 'On the other hand, the Background System is seriously overpowered. It manipulated reality on a world scale. For 2.5K LP, that was well-invested.'

  Reflecting on his newfound “memories,” Mikael assessed his standing. 'Physically, with around 400 in my physical stats, my body strength matches that of an A-rank. In combat, I wouldn’t be on par with an A-rank without access to aura or mana, but my body alone would reach their level.'

  ‘If I used my full strength, though, I’d go beyond genius and into monster territory. I’ll limit myself to a 100 in each physical stat; that would place me between D and C rank, making me seem like a genius but still within reason.’

  Sigh

  'I hate having to limit myself, but I’m still too weak to be reckless. Hiding my strength could give me a huge advantage if I get ambushed; they’d be working with the wrong information.'

  With his decision made, Mikael considered his next steps. 'Hmm, I need to find someone to kill and acquire the Human Race from this world. Based on my ‘memories,’ I should be able to slip out of the city easily. In the nearby forest, I should be able to easily find someone hunting or gathering herbs.’

  After finalizing his plan, Mikael descended the circular wooden staircase, took his wallet with money and car key in it before stepping out of his medieval mansion. Thanks to the ‘movie’, he already knew the house layout and appearance before even seeing it.

  Outside, he saw a quiet city illuminated by street lamps in the dead of night. It resembled a suburb in many ways, but the houses, made primarily of wood and stone, were constructed in a medieval style, which added a certain charm.

  There were other notable differences from a modern city. For instance, cars here didn’t observe a 50 km/h speed limit in residential areas; some sped by at over 200 km/h. Enhanced senses among rankers made such low speed limits unnecessary.

  After admiring the city for a few moments, he approached his car parked on the street. Although it wasn’t from any Earth brand, it was still a sleek, black, four-seater that combined sporty performance with sophisticated style.

  Author Note:

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