Chapter 2: Adapting to New Life

The first few days after Ash's sudden transmigration felt like a chaotic blur. His new body—small, fragile, and completely alien—was a constant reminder that he was no longer the person he had been.

Gone was the confident, independent Ash Burn: the young adult working a part-time job, living a solitary life. Now, he was a five-year-old child—helpless, powerless, and utterly dependent on others in a world far too large for him to navigate.

Adjusting to life at the orphanage wasn't easy. The room where he woke up was filled with children, most around his age, though some were older or younger. They all slept in small, wooden beds, wrapped in thin blankets. The walls were painted in pastel colours, adorned with cheerful drawings, but to Ash, they felt suffocating. The caretakers treated him with a gentle, detached kindness, assuming he was just another orphan adjusting to his new life.

But Ash knew the truth. He wasn't like the other children. He wasn't the same Ash Burn who had grown up in an orphanage—he was someone else entirely, with the mind of an adult trapped inside a child's body. The memories of his previous life were still vivid, but they now blended with strange, unfamiliar memories of this boy's life, creating a confusing mix of identities.

Despite the disorientation, Ash quickly realized one crucial thing: he had to survive in this new world. The system he had unlocked—a mysterious, game-like feature—was a flicker of hope, but it was far from enough to grant him control or power. To survive and thrive, Ash needed knowledge.

And knowledge meant adapting quickly.

His first step was clear: gather information.

The orphanage, though comforting in some ways, wasn't going to be his home forever. Ash needed to understand the world beyond its walls—the society, the culture, and most importantly, the rules that governed everything. After observing the other children and the caretakers for a few days, Ash began to notice patterns. The orphanage was run by the city of Landros, One of the cities of the Human Kingdom.

And there was only one place where knowledge could be found: the Public Library.

The library was a massive, ancient building located in the heart of the city, known for housing a treasure trove of books, scrolls, and records. It was a place where citizens went to study and learn about history, magic, science, and the world beyond. If Ash could get inside, it could be his gateway to understanding this strange world.

But how could a mere five-year-old, with no resources and no allies, ever make it to the library?

He doesn't know if the god took pity on him or if he was just lucky, but...

The opportunity came unexpectedly.

One afternoon, as Ash sat in the orphanage's dining hall, he overheard one of the caretakers, a woman named Emma, talking about the library's "children's reading hour". The orphanage often took groups of young children there to introduce them to the world of books. Ash's heart raced with excitement—this was his chance.

The next morning, Ash made his move. He approached Emma nervously but with a determination that contradicted his tiny frame.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said,

Emma glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow and saw a five-year-old boy with a tiny frame, ink-black hair, and eyes blazing with determination, glowing like fire with a hint of gold. Despite his serious expression, he looked incredibly cute. Hiding her amusement, she asked, "What is it?"

Trying his best to sound polite, "I want to go to the library too."

She said, "Oh? You're a bit young, don't you think? Most of the children aren't ready for the library yet."

"I can behave," Ash insisted, looking up at her with wide, earnest eyes. "I want to learn. I want to read."

Emma studied him for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. Then, with a sigh, she relented. "Alright, I'll add you to the list. But you have to promise to stay close to me and not cause trouble."

"I promise," Ash said, nodding eagerly.

The journey to the library was a whirlwind of enchanting sights, sounds, and scents. Landros City thrummed with life, a seamless blend of ancient magic and cutting-edge technology. Towering stone buildings, their surfaces etched with glowing runes, cast long shadows over paving stone streets. Hovering carts, guided by subtle enchantments, carried piles of glistening fruits and freshly cooked meats, their aromas mingling in the air.

Street performers wove light and sound into mesmerizing illusions, captivating audiences in bustling squares. The hum of mana-powered machinery blended with the lively chatter of the crowd, creating a symphony unique to this vibrant city. Ash's wide eyes drank in every detail, the excitement of his first real adventure bubbling up inside him.

When they arrived at the Public Library, Ash's breath caught in his throat. The building was nothing like he'd imagined—three stories tall, with towering columns and large windows that let in the warm sunlight. It was a monument to knowledge, and Ash could feel its power as he stepped inside.

The library's interior was just as grand. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched up toward the ceiling, packed with ancient tomes, scrolls, and dusty books. The scent of old paper and leather hung in the air. Ash felt a sense of reverence here, as though the very walls of the library held the power to change lives.

Their guide, Emma, led the children to the children's section, where bright, Rich books lined the shelves. But Ash didn't linger long. His eyes were scanning the titles for something more—something that could give him the answers he needed.

He didn't know how but he knew how to read the language of this world.He thought it must be the effect of the Status window.

He pulled down a few books and flipped through them, but they didn't offer what he was searching for.

Then, in the corner of the room, something caught his eye: The Rise of the Human Kingdom and the Myth of the Heroic Classes. It wasn't a children's book, but Ash's instincts told him it was important. He quickly tucked it under his arm and wandered deeper into the library, slipping away from the group of children.

Finding a quiet corner, Ash sat down and opened the book. As he read, his pulse quickened. The words were strange, yet somehow familiar—talk of Classes, Dungeons, Guilds and Skills. The book described the rise of adventurers who could raise their ranks and gain powerful abilities. There were mentions of dungeons, guilds, and a mysterious force known as the System—the same system that had appeared when Ash transmigrated into this body.

Ash's heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't just a new world. It was the world of the Novel he had read before—'Heaven's favourite', a novel he'd been reading just before his death. But now, Ash was no longer just an observer.

This revelation was like a final push he needed to believe that he has transmigrated into the Novel—'Heaven's favourite' , with the Status Window of the Game—'World's Online'.

He was a part of the story. The Main protagonist in the Novel also has a powerful system that generates quest, has function of shop and etc. It was not like mine which does not have anything except the OP ability, "Skill creation".

The System, he learned, wasn't a random feature. It was integral to the world. But there was a catch—while the System showed a person's status, it didn't grant skills directly. Skills could only be obtained through combat, specifically by killing monsters in dungeons or in treasure chests. But even then, the drop rate for skills was dismally low—around 5%.

The world was filled with magic, adventure, and danger. People had Classes—warriors, mages, healers—but here's the catch the people can't increase their power like Ash and the main protagonist by simply killing monsters and doing quests , but their power depends on the limit of their core and Talent.

The higher the talent the higher they can Increase there ranks.

There are even those who awaken different abilities after awakening,Some may awaken the ability to move faster,some may awaken the ability to Fly.

There are even those who don't awaken any abilities but are still powerful.

Ash thought that he has no limit because he can just increase his limit of Rank by increasing his level just like The MC.

Everybody in this world gets their class while they undergo their first awakening.

Ash realized that he had been dropped into the middle of a hero's journey, in which the Main cast becomes powerful and defeats the demon king and its army alone with his party members then leaves the World of Akumia because many powerful entities focuses their attention onto the main protagonist because of his powerful runes and to uncover his secret's.

That's why he runs outside the world of Akumia to become powerful and not to involve innocent bystanders , after that he continues his journey in the vast universe and fights many races and peoples and while he was fighting with last Boss of the novel—I died.

But what did that mean for him? Was he meant to be the hero? Or was he just a bystander in someone else's story?

One thing was clear: this world was no longer just fiction to him. The rules, the mechanics, the systems—they were real. And Ash was going to learn how to navigate them. But to truly thrive, he needed more than just knowledge. He needed power. And for that, he had a plan.

As Ash pondered his next move, his thoughts turned to a powerful concept from the novel Heaven's Favourite—a concept that had intrigued him when he first read about it in the novel: Runes.

In this world, runes were legendary or you can say they were basically myth. Runes are a representation of the power of ancient laws or Concepts. They embody the rules and laws of the world. Essentially, they are powerful words that can be engraved into a person's soul, granting them the ability to tap into that power with up to no mana input. Once a rune is engraved onto a person, it cannot be removed by Anyone.

Well, Except Our Main Protagonist.

There is only one rune of each type in existence, and the world of Akumia is unique because 50% of runes are located on this planet. However, no one in the Universe is aware of the runes—only those from the Top of the food chains in other realms understand their significance.

The novel doesn't provide much detail about the runes, leaving much of their mystery unexplained. Some were said to summon elemental forces, others could heal wounds instantly, and the most coveted of all could even alter time itself.

But Ash's interest wasn't just in any rune—it was in all of them. According to the book, the protagonist of the story would eventually gather these runes, gaining unimaginable power. However, Ash wasn't interested in being the protagonist. He wasn't looking to become the hero. No, his goal was far simpler: collect the runes before the hero could.

In the story, as the protagonist grew stronger and gathered more runes, he would attract the attention of powerful factions, guilds, wizards, and even the old monsters from other planets. Everyone would want a piece of him. Ash didn't need to fight for justice—he just needed to get to the runes first , he just wants to become powerful enough to be at the top of the food chain.

But power alone wouldn't be enough. Ash needs Subordinates. An army of loyal subordinates who would follow his every command without question.

Ash began to formulate a plan inside his mind how to act in the future , and what hidden pieces should he take to become more powerful.

With this new plan in mind, Ash smiled to himself. His journey was just beginning, and the world was about to change.

***