Aurendral.

James stood in his study, the faint flicker of a single light orb casting shadows across the room.

His eyes were glued to the corkboard on the wall, where five names were scribbled in bold letters on a sheet of parchment.

Each name represented a potential "hidden boss," someone lurking behind the scenes, pulling the strings in this unfamiliar world. But as James stared at those names, a sense of frustration simmered inside him.

The truth was, he barely knew anything important about them. Four of the names had minimal details attached—vague hints and loose threads that didn't lead anywhere.

And the fifth name, Shadow? That one was nothing but a mystery.

"Ugh, this is useless," James muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "I need information. I can't do anything until I know more about these people."

He took a step back, his gaze lingering on the board. The names felt like locked doors, each one guarding a treasure trove of secrets.

"Alright," he said, his voice steady now. "The next step is obvious. I need to find out everything I can about these five while working toward another clue from the system."

With a determined nod, James turned away from the board and walked to his desk. Sitting on top of the clutter was a massive book bound in thick, dark leather.

Its spine was wide, and the golden symbol of interwoven stars gleamed on the cover. The book had caught his attention the moment he saw it three days ago, but he hadn't had the time to dive into it until now.

For the last few days, he'd been busy learning the basics of this world—how to talk like a local, use the currency, and avoid standing out as some kind of weirdo.

It had been exhausting but necessary. Now, finally, he had time to crack open this book and learn more about where he was.

James settled into a cushioned chair by the window, the book resting heavily in his lap. He flipped it open, the pages crisp and faintly scented with ink and parchment.

The first page had a single word written in bold: Aurendral.

For the next five hours, James read.

The book described a world so vast and complex that James could hardly wrap his mind around it.

Aurendral wasn't just another fantasy setting; it was a living, breathing world filled with danger, wonder, and history.

First, there was the land itself. Humans, it turned out, only occupied 20% of Aurendral.

The remaining 80% was unexplored, humanity knew absolutely nothing about what was out there.

And that 20%? It was still massive—larger than the entire landmass of Earth.

This explored region was called the Star Continent, a giant, star-shaped landmass surrounded by an endless ocean known as the Abyssal Veil.

The Abyssal Veil wasn't just any ocean. It was vast, mysterious, and terrifying. No one who ventured beyond its waters ever returned.

Skyships disappeared without a trace, and strange, monstrous creatures were said to dwell in its depths.

Because of this, no one knew what lay beyond the ocean. For all anyone knew, the Star Continent could be the only landmass in existence—or just one piece of something much larger.

The Star Continent itself was divided into five domains: the Northern, Western, Southern, Eastern, and Central Domains.

Each of the outer domains was split into two zones, while the Central Domain had three zones.

These zones weren't just arbitrary divisions; they were founded by the Eleven Heralds of Humanity, legendary figures who had led humanity's conquest of Aurendral during the Great War Era.

Each zone contained an Origin Tower, massive structures brimming with power and mystery. These towers were the heart of each zone, a symbol of humanity's triumph and survival.

But the Star Continent wasn't just populated by humans. Three major powers ruled this world: Humans, Spirits, and Primordials.

The Spirits were especially fascinating. They were divided into Elemental Spirits and Beast Spirits.

Elemental Spirits controlled the forces of nature, like fire, water, and wind, while Beast Spirits embodied the power of wild animals. Together, they had ruled the Star Continent long before humans arrived.

Then came the Great War Era. Armed with a new kind of power called Soul Weapons, humans rose up and waged war against the Spirits.

The conflict was brutal and unrelenting, but in the end, humanity triumphed, driving the Spirits into hiding and seizing control of the continent.

As for the Primordials, they were an entirely different kind of threat.

These ancient, otherworldly beings came from beyond the Abyssal Veil, emerging from the ocean to wreak havoc on the Star Continent.

They were massive, terrifying creatures that defied explanation. Their appearances were rare but devastating, leaving entire regions in ruins.

To combat them, humanity had formed the Vanguard Force, an elite military organization dedicated to protecting the continent from Primordial invasions.

The Vanguard was considered the pinnacle of strength and bravery, a symbol of humanity's resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

James's head spun as he absorbed all this information. The book described a world filled with danger, ambition, and power struggles.

Despite the cultural differences between the five domains, there were a few things that united humanity: the Forges, where legendary weapons were crafted; the Hunter Associations, which trained and deployed adventurers across the continent; and the Vanguard Force, humanity's shield against the Primordials.

But there was so much more to this world. James read about ancient ruins filled with traps and treasure, forbidden magic that could bend the laws of reality, and secret organizations pulling strings behind the scenes. It was overwhelming, yet utterly captivating.

When James finally closed the book, his gaze was burning.

He leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to process everything he'd learned.

Aurendral wasn't just big; it was massive. The Star Continent alone was enough to keep him busy for a lifetime, but the idea of the unexplored regions beyond it filled him with equal parts excitement and dread.

What could be out there, hidden in the shadows of this vast, untamed world?

And then there were the beings that roamed Aurendral—the humans, Spirits, and Primordials.

The sheer power some of them wielded was enough to make James feel like an ant standing in the shadow of a giant. But at the same time, it thrilled him.

"This world…" James muttered to himself, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "It's insane. And dangerous. And perfect."

The thought of carving out a place for himself in such a world was exhilarating. Sure, the risks were high, but so were the rewards. How fun would it be to play the villain here?

To manipulate the factions, steal their treasures, and build a legacy that would echo through history?

His grin widened. He didn't know all the rules yet, but that didn't matter. He'd figure it out as he went along.

"This is going to be fun," James said, his voice filled with quiet determination.

_____

A bit of infodump is necessary too...

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Power stone Goal!

50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter

100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter

200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.

Castle - 10 Bonus Chapters!