As the essence of the demon and Silus surged toward me, I felt the raw influx of power weave into my being, solidifying my presence in this world. The sheer magnitude of it took me by surprise; I had expected them to be far weaker. I exhaled slowly, hoping some answers might be unveiled in my Status. The summoning chamber's acrid scent clung to the back of my throat, but I pushed it aside, focusing inward. With a thought, the familiar presence of a status menu materialized before my eyes. The glowing text was crisp, clean, and disturbingly familiar.

  Status

  Name: Koa Destus

  Age: 19

  Race: Human

  Level: 24

  Physical Attributes:

  Strength - 23

  Endurance - 24

  Vitality - 21

  Agility - 41

  Dexterity - 40

  Intelligence - ???

  Wisdom - ???

  Essence Points Acquired: 46

  Passive Skills:

  Weapon Mastery - Master

  Sword Mastery - Master

  Dual Sword Mastery - Master

  Mana Manipulation - Prime

  Spell Mastery - Prime

  Space Element Mastery - Prime

  Swordmaster's Dominion - Master

  Absolute Spatial Dominion - Prime

  Utility Skills:

  Identify V - Master

  Mana Sense - Prime

  Mana Body - Prime

  Quick Step VI - Master

  Mana Channeling IX - Prime

  Warp IX - Prime

  Active Skills:

  Rend - Master

  Fracture - Master

  Mana Blade - Master

  Rift IX - Prime

  Distort IX - Prime

  Compress IX - Prime

  I scanned through the information with a practiced eye. Strength, Endurance, Vitality, Agility, Dexterity, Intelligence and Wisdom, each attribute was present exactly as I remembered from my past world. Even my previous skill proficiencies were listed in the same meticulous order, reinforcing an eerie familiarity of this world. But as I continued further, a deep frown settled on my face. My level was wrong. It didn't align with what I knew to be true, a glaring discrepancy that set my mind racing. Had the system miscalculated? Or was something else at play? Was there an error in its assessment of my essence? My status wasn’t what it should be.

  Could the system be wrong? The thought took root in my mind, a strange mix of skepticism and amusement threading through it. My gaze lingered on the number beside my level. If this system truly mirrored the one from my past world, then my level should have remained the same. Back then, I stood at level 112, a Grandmaster Swordsman at the height of mortal strength. Yet, here I was, significantly lower. My grip tightened. Something had changed.

  Another thought brought up the notifications I had ignored. The text unfolded in a structured cascade, detailing the influx of essence I had absorbed.

  You have gained a massive amount of essence from defeating:

  [Void Demon, Tempest - Level 86], High Expert

  [Human - Level 82], Expert

  Congratulations you have Leveled- Up! You are now Level 2.

  Congratulations you have Leveled- Up! You are now Level 3.

  Congratulations you have Leveled- Up! You are now Level 4.

  Congratulations you have Leveled- Up! You are now Level 5.

  The notifications continued in rapid succession, each alert cementing the reality of escalating power.

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 6.

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 7

  ....

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 10.

  The messages kept coming in an unrelenting surge. In my previous world, such rapid growth only occurred when absorbing the essence of beings vastly superior in strength. Technically, this aligned with my current circumstances, given the stark contrast between the demon and Silus’s levels and what my Status showed me.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 13.

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 14.

  Congratulations you have Leveled-Up! You are now Level 15.

  I rolled my shoulders, feeling the tension ease from my muscles as the sheer magnitude of power coursed through. The final notification scrolled into view, bringing everything to a definitive conclusion.

  Congratulations you have Leveled- Up! You are now Level 24.

  Silence followed. The system had finished its assessment, leaving me with a newfound understanding of what I had become in this world.

  The system had recalibrated my level, determining it based on how much of this world's essence I now contained. I knew levels to be more than arbitrary numbers. They were a direct reflection of the world's essence an individual had accumulated and the purity of that essence within them. The stronger the opponent, the more refined and potent the essence absorbed, which made defeating them far more rewarding than crushing those weaker. It was impossible to claim the entirety of your opponent's essence; the world itself acted as a siphon, reclaiming the majority and dispersing it back into the natural order, as if maintaining a delicate balance that no individual could disrupt. However, what remained, the purest fragments of their strength, would surge into the victor, making the infusion of power clear and undeniable. If that rule still applied here, then the system had quantified my new level based on the world essence I had just absorbed. The rules had shifted, but they were still familiar.

  For all human races, the accumulation of essence upon leveling was refined by the system into 2 essence points, which could then be freely allocated to enhance attributes as desired. I now had 46 essence points at my disposal based on what I gained. I studied the numbers listed next to my attributes, my brow furrowing. I clenched my fist, rolling my fingers experimentally. Each motion was precise, carrying an undeniable strength that the level in my status menu failed to quantify. The discrepancy again solidified my earlier suspicion. The strength I held was now acknowledged as my natural state and the foundation of my existence here.

  I glanced back at my status. Human. Not that I had suspected otherwise but the implications were clear. I could refine my body, heighten my reflexes, or amplify my speed to unprecedented heights seen in human races. I lingered on Intelligence and Wisdom, both marked by an enigmatic "???" instead of numerical values. If the system mirrored my past world's mechanics, these attributes should have been quantifiable. I knew the relationship I had with Mana had changed. The system itself struggled to categorize what that had become.

  I delved deeper into the listings. The skills I had mastered before were still there. [Sword Mastery], [Mana Manipulation], [Weapons Mastery] and [Sword Master Dominion], the four passive skills gave credence to my Grandmaster title. [Quick Step], [Fracture] and my other martial skills represented the core of my fighting style. But now, there were new additions. Abilities had manifested during my prolonged existence within mana itself. One in particular caught my eye: [Absolute Spatial Dominion]. I tapped the Passive skill, and a description unfolded:

  You have transcended the conventional limits of space magic. Distance, mass, and reality itself are yours to manipulate at will. There is no delay, no resistance. Only your command.

  I narrowed my eyes at the designation beside my mastery, "Prime". It wasn't just space magic; my proficiency in Mana Manipulation carried the same distinction. Another skill, [Spell Mastery], bore the "Prime" tier as well.

  Lowering my hand, I took stock of my body. My form remained unchanged but the difference was in the feel. Every movement was sharper, my reflexes like a taut wire ready to snap into action. My muscles held no unnecessary tension, and I could sense the raw energy coursing through them, waiting to be unleashed.

  To test my control, I stepped forward and twisted my wrist. Space bent, a ripple of distorted air bending around my fingertips before dispersing as quickly as it came. The action required no incantation, no conscious exertion but merely intent.

  I chuckled, the thought forming in my mind before I could stop it. The possibilities...

  My gaze flicked back to my status menu, locking onto my level. The number was no longer surprising but it reminded me that others in this world would follow the same power scaling. Hierarchies must exist. The thought settled in my mind, solidifying a crucial truth. I needed to assess the world’s governing forces, its strongest warriors, and its limitations. Just how strong were the inhabitants of this world? How powerful could its greatest warriors become? The system had recalibrated me, but that only raised more questions. Where did I stand among the strongest? I was willing to bet at the very top.

  I turned my attention outward once more. The chamber was still deathly silent, the only remnants of the summoning ritual being the fading glyphs and the dissipating scent of burnt incense. My mind traced back to the sensation I had felt earlier when mana had pulsed through me unchallenged. This world’s mana was not foreign to me. If anything, it obeyed me with even greater deference than before.

  I raised a hand and pulled at the surrounding energy. The response was immediate. Tendrils of mana swirled toward my palm, as if eager to serve.

  Greater mastery, and with no restrictions.

  I could already predict the outcome of any conflict. Training had been my existence. My discipline was the foundation of my mastery. Even now, standing at the peak or perhaps beyond it, I remained relentless in my pursuit. Strength alone was not enough; understanding was just as crucial. This world had its own structure, its own rulers of power, and I needed to see where I stood among them.

  A smirk tugged at my lips. This was going to be interesting.

  With my power assessed and my understanding of the system clear, I turned my attention to something far more immediate, clothing. The remnants of the summoners lay scattered around me, their robes largely intact despite the dried husks they now contained. I stepped over them, sifting through the remains until I found something serviceable. This amounted to a dark green tunic, black pants, a belt, a black jacket, and a pair of boots. Surprisingly, the fit was decent enough. It would do. Better than wandering into the unknown naked. As I rummaged further, I took note of their belongings, pulling out a pouch of unfamiliar coins, though I had yet to determine their worth, a handful of rations, and a folded parchment. Unrolling it, my eyes traced the rough etchings of landmarks confirming this as a map. Exactly what I needed. Among the items, my gaze landed on a worn tome titled Rituals of Eldon's Finest. The name gave me pause. Could Eldon be the name of this world? It was a reasonable guess, but not one I would need to confirm. Regardless, I felt no desire to take the book. It was better to avoid any association with these summoners and their practices.

  I exhaled through my nose, tucking my findings away and then paused. Why not?...

  If I could bend space to my will, then storing a few items should be trivial? With my mastery over mana, there had to be a way. I focused inward, envisioning a pocket of space separate from this world yet tethered to my will. The concept itself was familiar; I had existed in mana after all. But this was different. It required structure and stability.

  Closing my eyes, I reached out with my mana, weaving it into the fabric of space itself. I shaped it, molded it, commanding it to form a stable pocket within the void. The space bent to my will with an almost eager compliance. And then, something clicked. A distinct shift in energy, a subtle pull as the pocket solidified in my mind’s grasp.

  I opened my eyes and a notification flickered into existence before me.

  New Utility Skill Acquired: [Pocket Space], Skill Tier: Prime

  I chuckled, shaking my head. Of course. The pocket existed now and I could sense it. With a tentative motion, I willed the pouch of coins to vanish from my palm. It blinked out of existence. A second later, I reached for it, focusing on retrieval, and the pouch reappeared in my grasp as effortlessly as if I had never removed it. I then willed it away once more, the motion seamless. I repeated the process, pulling each item into the space one by one. The rations, the map, even the clothes of the previous summoners, ones I had yet to wear, were now neatly stored away. Each vanished into the pocket realm, weightless and unobtrusive. This would do nicely.

  With one final glance at the ruined chamber, I straightened and strode toward the exit. Stepping beyond the chamber, I found myself emerging from a cave, its entrance hidden beneath the dense canopy of a sprawling forest. The cool air carried the scent of damp earth and foliage, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the summoning chamber. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patterns across the forest floor. I took a steady breath, adjusting to my surroundings before pulling the map out of my pocket space and unfolding the parchment.

  My eyes traced the crude markings, seeking familiarity amidst the unknown terrain. One name stood out to me. Tolany. My first destination. The first true step into Eldon awaited, and with it, an adventure unlike any before.