BleakBunni

Riven was a young man with dreams as vast as the horizon, but life demanded sacrifice. To support his struggling family, he gave up his education and ambitions, shouldering endless work to keep them afloat. Yet, his loyalty was met with the ultimate betrayal by his own father.

As his life slipped away, Riven awoke in an unfamiliar world brimming with magic, reincarnated by a mysterious system. Gifted with a peculiar mana heart that pulses with untold power, Riven is thrust into a realm of mages, monsters, and ancient secrets.

Determined to rise above his tragic past, Riven vows to become the strongest mage in this new world, uncovering the mysteries of his strange mana heart and the enigmatic system that guides him.

The Glitched Mage

Riven's gaze lingered on the Record of Power, the shifting names glowing faintly against the black monolith. His own name, etched at the very bottom—Riven Drakar, Rank 238—felt almost insulting.

He exhaled slowly, suppressing the grin threatening to spread across his face. The system here was simple, brutal, and exactly to his liking.

And that meant there was only one thing to do—start climbing.

"Well," Ember said cheerfully, watching him closely. "Are you going to make your first move?"

Riven let his fingers trace over his talisman, the polished crystal humming faintly. "Not yet." His voice was calm, thoughtful. "I need to understand my competition first."

Ember arched an eyebrow. "Cautious, huh? I thought you'd want to crush someone immediately."

Riven chuckled. "I will. But I prefer not to waste my time on nobodies."

The First Challenge