The mechanical chime still echoed faintly in my mind, vibrating deep in my chest like a second heartbeat.
[System Integration: 83% Complete…]
Glowing blue screens flickered into existence before me, floating midair like shimmering pieces of glass.
My small body tensed instinctively, but my mind—the mind of a twenty-three-year-old otaku—forced itself to stay calm.
This was it.
My cheat.
The thing that would help me survive this insane, pirate-infested world.
I just had to understand it first.
Symbols and numbers poured across the screens too fast for my young eyes to keep up. My head throbbed slightly as the system tried to push the information into my brain.
I gritted my teeth.
Focus, Chris—no, Ravro. You can't afford to mess this up.
Finally, the flood of light slowed, and a cleaner, simpler screen appeared.
Welcome, User: Ravro D. Flare
World: Grand Line (Exact Location: Unknown Island)
Status: Reincarnated
System Functions:
Status Panel
Skill Acquisition
Quest Log
Bloodline Awakening (Locked)
World Travel (Locked)
At the bottom of the screen, a small golden arrow blinked eagerly.
[Please Say "Open Status" To Proceed.]
I took a breath and spoke: "Open Status."
Immediately, another panel floated into view:
[Status]
Name: Ravro D. Flare
Age: 3
Race: Mythborn (Sealed)
Affiliation: None
Title: None
Strength: E-
Endurance: E-
Speed: E-
Intelligence: C
Willpower: A-
Unique Traits:
Mythborn Spirit (Dormant)
Echo of the Forgotten King (Sealed)
I stared, heart pounding.
Mythborn?!
I wasn't just some regular kid — I had a mythical bloodline hidden inside me!
Before I could dive deeper, another chime echoed:
System Notice:
As a result of the User's rare soul alignment and mythical heritage, the following bonuses have been granted:
Accelerated Talent Growth
Natural Resistance to World Influence
Hidden Bloodline Quest Unlocked
Another message blinked:
[Would you like to view the Hidden Bloodline Quest?] [Yes/No]
I didn't hesitate. "Yes!"
[Hidden Quest: Awakening of the Forgotten Bloodline]
Quest Type: Legacy
Objective:
Survive until the age of 10
Unlock your First Awakening
Reward:
Bloodline Awakening
Title: Heir to the Abyss
??? (Hidden Reward)
Note: No penalty for failure.
I let out a slow breath.
No penalty.
Just another chance to grow stronger if I stumbled.
Still…
A small thought nagged at the back of my mind.
Every good isekai story I'd read had something crucial—a starter bonus.
I squinted at the floating screen and said carefully, "Um… System, is there a newbie gift package?"
There was a short pause.
Then—
[Newbie Gift Package Detected.]
[Would you like to claim your Newbie Gift?] [Yes/No]
I grinned, feeling excitement buzz under my skin.
This world was dangerous, sure.
But now, I had something on my side.
Something that could even the odds.
I opened my mouth—
—and then hesitated.
Maybe I should wait.
Opening it out here, exposed on an unknown island full of wild beasts, didn't feel smart.
I needed shelter. Safety.
At least some kind of basic camp before focusing on rewards.
I clenched my small fists, making a decision.
"Later," I whispered.
The golden chest icon floated patiently beside me, waiting.
And so, under the dim glow of twin suns setting over the ocean, I began planning my survival.
Tomorrow, I would open the gift.
Tomorrow, my real journey would begin.