Chapter 2

The murmur of the spectators intensified in the garden of swords, where the vibrating ground seemed almost alive, reacting to the tension that filled the air. Chiron Runcandel, imposing and stoic, stood straight before them, like a divine judge. His sharp eyes seemed to probe the souls of his two sons, analyzing each of their gestures, each of their movements. Nothing escaped this piercing gaze, and Paul - or at least the one he was now - felt his body shiver under this almost tangible pressure.

Before them, a sea of ​​swords stretched as far as the eye could see, each one unique, each one radiant. These blades vibrated softly, as if calling them. They were alive, their pure energy resonating in the air like a silent song.

Paul, or at least the one who had become this newborn, observed this spectacle in silence. Torn between wonder and anxiety, his mind could not help but wander. He knew this scene. He had read it over and over again. In Swordmaster's Youngest Son, that key moment when Jin chose the legendary sword Barisada was etched in his memory. But he never imagined he would actually experience it.

"How… How is this possible?" he thought, his heart pounding. Every detail seemed to match. Chiron, the garden, the legendary swords. Everything. Yet there was a dissonance, something strange. In the original work, Jin was alone facing these swords. Today, there were two of them. Him and Jin.

As he timidly advanced on all fours, imitating his twin brother, a burst of voices in the assembly caught his attention.

"Look at them, Jin and Rin. These two, twins, born on the same day, already share an exceptional destiny."

Paul stopped short. Rin? His mind wavered for a moment. Was it… him? A wave of confusion washed over him.

"Hm, Jin has always had this cold, determined aura. But Rin, he… he seems calmer, more introspective. An interesting complement."

The voices of the elders seemed indifferent, as if they were speaking of a future tool and not a human being. But to Paul, these words echoed like thunder.

I am Rin Runcandel. The truth burst into his mind.

He looked away from the ground, taking a deep breath to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside him. In his old life, he had been just an ordinary, self-effacing man, living vicariously through fictional stories. But here, in this world, he bore a name charged with power and responsibility. Rin Runcandel. It was not just a name, it was a destiny.

He glanced at Jin, who already seemed to be focused on the swords in front of them, unperturbed. Rin felt a mixture of admiration and envy rise within him. Jin was moving forward as if he knew exactly where he was going. He, on the other hand, felt like an imposter.

Jin had stopped in front of a particular sword. Barisada. Even in this child's body, his brother seemed irresistibly drawn to it. Rin couldn't help but feel a shiver. This mythical blade, intended for Jin, represented much more than a weapon. It embodied the power and authority of the Runcandel family.

Rin looked at the elders present, who exchanged approving glances and were a little surprised by the choice of one of the last.

"It couldn't be otherwise. Jin chose Barisada, as he should." Rin thought.

Rin looked away. And me? He scanned the swords, desperately searching for the one that would call him. He knew he couldn't choose Barisada. It would have been an affront, an act of absurd defiance. But he had to find his own blade.

Rin continued to advance, slowly, scrutinizing the swords one by one. Then, his gaze fell on one of the swords.

"It's Bradamente! It's perfect for me, Jin chose Barisada and I Bradamente." Rin thought happily

Bradamente. An elegant blade, subtly different from the others. Its brilliance was less imposing than Barisada's, but there was a depth in its blue light, like a calm and unwavering river.

He felt his heart quicken. This sword, it seemed to be waiting for him. It didn't call for him with force, but with a serenity that contrasted with the chaos within him. He crawled towards it, holding out a trembling hand. As soon as he touched the hilt, an icy and soothing sensation invaded his body.

"Bradamente. The family head's secondary sword…"

"It's no coincidence. Jin and Rin, together, chose the two greatest blades of House Runcandel. What does that mean for our future?"

Chiron Runcandel, standing on the dais, observed his two sons. An imperceptible smile stretched his lips.

"So be it," he declared. "The younger ones, both chose Bradamente and Barisada. I will finish the selection ceremony. The younger ones at the Storm Castle." Chiron said.

As the last whispers dispersed into the air, and the spectators slowly drifted away, Rin felt a strange weight weigh on his consciousness. Everything is so unreal. First, this world. Then, this body. And now, this sword he has chosen. But as he tried to digest all this, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Heaven-Defying Comprehension System activated.]

Time seemed to stop for Rin. His eyes widened in shock, and he felt an icy chill run down his spine.

"What…? A system?" he thought, dumbfounded.

This made no sense. Not only had he been reincarnated into a fantasy world he knew by heart, but now a system was awakening within him, like one of those classic tropes from webnovels or manhwas he had devoured in his previous life.

[Host analysis complete.]

[ Welcome, Rin Runcandel, new wielder of the Heaven-Defying Comprehension. You are destined to transcend this world and become its pillar. Prepare yourself for a wondrous journey.]

Rin felt his mind waver. Wonderful? The idea enchanted him. He had spent his entire previous life in seclusion, avoiding conflict and danger. And yet, he couldn't deny a certain excitement rising within him.

"What is your goal?" Rin said in his mind.

[Main Goal: Make the host the strongest in this world]

"Make the host the strongest?" he thought silently, unable to contain a wry smile. "Well, it's a good thing you're here, because right now, I'm just a four-legged baby."

As he looked at the sword he had chosen earlier, another thought suddenly invaded him, crushing him like a wave of anxiety.

"How am I going to make it in this world?" He glanced over at Jin, who already seemed to be attracting all eyes with his perfect choice of Barisada. Unlike him, Jin was the future prodigy, the shining star of the Runcandel family. And, most importantly, Jin was the contractor of a god, Solderet.

"I have none of that." This truth hit him hard. "No exceptional talent. No divine power. No predestined history like Jin. Just an ordinary former adult trapped in a child's body."

But before he could sink further into his thoughts, the mechanical voice echoed in his mind again, relentless and cold:

[Correction.]

[The host now has a unique advantage. As long as the host tries to understand a concept, a technique, a skill, or even if the host resonates with a weapon or an item, then the system will activate and give the host a heaven-defying reward accordingly]

"Everything I want to understand? Does that even count for the memories I have?" Rin asked.

[Indeed. Host even the host's memories if they are detailed enough can be understood]

This revelation amazed Rin. His mind, until then mired in doubts and fears, was overwhelmed by a wave of excitement. To understand anything… Does that even include my memories? he thought with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

He looked at Bradamente again, feeling the gentle vibration of the blade in his hand. He had already resonated with a legendary sword, activating this system, but this potential went far beyond what he had dared to imagine.

"If I can understand the concepts I have in my memory… then my limits are no longer those of a mere Runcandel. They are no longer those of this world."

He thought of all the stories that had rocked his previous life, those fantastical tales that had been his only escape from his dull existence. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and so many others… These worlds were full of incredible techniques, extraordinary powers.

"Naruto's Rasengan, Luffy's mastery of Haki, Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō…" The very idea of ​​being able to understand these concepts and, perhaps, reproduce them in this world was a dream come true.

His heart was pounding. The possibilities seemed endless. Every technique he had admired, every power that had fascinated him, every fighting philosophy he had studied… all of it could now become his, thanks to this system.

"And it's not just limited to techniques. If I can understand the very nature of the spiritual energies, physical abilities, and martial arts that these heroes used, then I can adapt them to this world."

Rin still remembered those long nights spent analyzing the details of the universes he loved. Every fighting pattern, every fundamental principle he had read in guides or fan discussions, all of it was now an inestimable source of power.

"But how will the system translate them into this world?" he suddenly wondered. He thought back to magic and swordplay, fundamental elements of this universe. "Could I fuse these foreign concepts with the Runcandel's principles of magic or aura? An aura-infused Rasengan perhaps? Haki to enhance my reflexes?"

His breathing quickened. "I can become someone this world has never seen."

But he knew that this wouldn't happen instantly. It would take time, effort, and careful understanding.

[Concepts from other worlds must be adapted to the fundamental laws of this world. They cannot be replicated exactly, but their adaptation can give rise to unique and powerful techniques.]

Rin smiled. "That's perfect." Nothing had ever been easy in his previous life, and this new challenge only piqued his interest even more.

Looking at Jin, who was still absorbed in Barisada, Rin felt a surge of determination. "Even if I am not a contractor for a god, even if I do not have a glorious destiny laid out for me like you, Jin, I will create my own path."

He squeezed Bradamente's hand, vowing to seize every opportunity. This world, this system, and these memories he carried within him… all of it was within his reach. And he was willing to do anything to become someone remarkable.

"One day, this world will know the name Rin Runcandel."