The First Theft

As Eryon stepped out of the school infirmary, he couldn't help but frown, wondering why the school was so eerily quiet. There wasn't a single soul in sight—not even the staff. However, his mind was also occupied with something else.

He was now in England Empire, a world eerily similar to Earth from his previous life yet brimming with enigmas. Despite the millennia that had passed, much of its territories remained uncharted.

The root of this mystery lay in a phenomenon known as the dimensional rift, which first appeared thousands of years ago. During its initial emergence, chaos engulfed the world. Monsters and beasts from other dimensions poured in, decimating civilization and depopulating entire regions, leaving vast stretches of land barren and uninhabited.

While humanity managed to reclaim portions of the world, thousands of years was insufficient to explore every corner. To this day, vast swathes of land remain untouched, shrouded in untold dangers.

A deep sense of unease enveloped Eryon as he reflected on the brutal truth of this world. A world governed by one unyielding rule: only the strong survive. Strength was everything, and the weak were destined to become prey.

To survive, one had to grow stronger. And in this world, one of the primary paths to power was awakening a class and becoming an awakener.

But awakening wasn't the sole route to strength. There was another method known as cultivation, a practice originating in the East, particularly in China and Murim. It involved harnessing the foreign energy called mana to enhance the body, mind, and soul.

Cultivation was divided into seven realms. The names varied by region, but in almost part of the world, these realms were referred to as Human Realm, Spirit Realm, Origin Realm, Sage Realm, King Realm, Emperor Realm, and Divine Realm. Each realm had five stages one had to master before advancing to the next.

The concept of power was so vital that every academy across the world prioritized strengthening their students' cultivation base, as it served as a powerful complement to their class.

Even if someone doesn't awaken a class but possesses high cultivation talent, they can become an exceptionally powerful fighter, even surpassing awakeners, earning a special title as a Magus.

Eryon wasn't overly concerned about awakening a class. Thanks to his system, he had been granted mid-level cultivation talent. Even so, he held out hope for awakening a rare and special class, something that would set him apart and open the path to unparalleled power.

---

As Eryon walked through the grand gates of the school, he found himself squinting at the darkening sky above.

Rumble!

A distant clap of thunder echoed ominously, a warning of the approaching storm.

"Looks like it's going to pour soon. I'd better hurry home," he muttered, steeling himself for a sprint.

But just as he was about to take off, a commanding voice called out, "Wait!"

Eryon turned to see a woman striding toward him. Her striking appearance made him raise an eyebrow. She was clad in armor—a clear sign that she was an awakener. But it wasn't just her armor that drew attention; her beauty was captivating, especially her blonde hair that shimmered even in the dim light.

"Hey, aren't you a student at Adenville High School?" the woman demanded, hands on her hips. "You should've gone home earlier. Don't you know about the alert?"

"What alert?" Eryon repeated, confusion written all over his face. He had spent the entire day in the infirmary and was oblivious to what had been happening outside.

"You seriously don't know? There's a dimensional rift in the area, and Adenville High is within the danger zone. You need to evacuate immediately," the woman explained, her tone urgent.

"Raid?" Eryon's eyebrows arched with curiosity. Raids typically involved powerful monsters. "Is the monster strong?" he asked, intrigued.

"Can't say for sure. But chances are it's powerful enough to require intervention from several A-rank awakeners, maybe even S-rank," she replied.

"Really?" Eryon's interest visibly piqued. S-rank awakeners were legendary, renowned for their unmatched strength.

If this situation warranted the involvement of S-rank awakeners, the monster must be incredibly formidable.

As he stroked his chin, a sly grin tugged at the corner of his lips. His mind raced with the possibilities of obtaining unique power by killing one of these beasts or even a strong awakener.

"Freya, is there a problem?" A deep male voice broke the tense silence, calling out from a distance.

Eryon turned to see a man clad in armor approaching them. It was clear he was also an awakener.

"Why is someone still here? This area should've been cleared by now," the man said, his brows furrowing deeply.

"Alex, I think your power are needed here. Let him use your mount," Freya suggested.

Alex glanced at Eryon, still dressed in his school uniform. "Ah, a classic case of a student oversleeping in class, huh? No problem," Alex said with a chuckle.

With a snap of his fingers, a surge of blue energy materialized several feet away, forming into the shape of a majestic horse.

Eryon was stunned. Energy manipulation was an exceptionally rare ability—perhaps Alex's class was a rare one.

His gaze instinctively shifted back to Alex. A dark thought flickered through his mind: if he killed Alex, could he steal his power?

But he quickly shook his head to dismiss the notion. A direct confrontation with Alex in his current state would only result in a swift death.

"Don't just stand there. Get on," Alex commanded, arms crossed.

"Oh, I'm allowed?" Eryon asked, still in disbelief.

"Of course," Alex nodded.

"Okay then," Eryon said, stepping closer to the energy horse. Its size dwarfed that of an ordinary horse, but his prior riding experience allowed him to mount it effortlessly.

"So, what now?" Eryon asked, looking for direction.

Alex smirked mischievously.

"You just need to… this!"

Slap!

Alex slapped the horse's flank, sending it galloping at full speed.

A loud laugh erupted from Alex as he watched Eryon disappear into the distance on the horse's back.

He then turned his attention back to Freya, gently brushing her hair and cupping her cheek.

"Now that he's gone, we can enjoy some time alone," Alex said with a charming smile.

Freya placed her hand over Alex's, but her face remained serious.

"Alex, you need to take this more seriously. Your status as an A-rank awakener doesn't mean you can underestimate the monster," Freya admonished sincerely.

"Why not? I can easily crush it with my power. And don't call me an A-rank awakener. Soon, I'll ascend to S-rank," Alex declared confidently.

Freya sighed at Alex's unwavering self-assurance, a part of her fearing that his relentless pursuit of power and reputation might blind him to potential threats.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the sound of thunder drew Freya's attention.

"Alex, I think it's time we regrouped. The Raid seems to have started," Freya urged, her voice laced with urgency.

"Well, fine then. Let's go take down some monsters," Alex replied with a grin.

...

Meanwhile, Eryon clung tightly to the horse's neck as it surged forward with incredible speed.

He had no idea where he was headed, but he knew he needed to stop the horse.

With one hand gripping the horse, Eryon reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen. With a swift motion, he transformed it into the Gungnir spear.

Carefully, he aimed and struck the horse's neck with the spear. The horse let out a pained cry, and Eryon marveled at how lifelike Alex's energy creation seemed.

Gradually, the horse began to slow.

A strange energy emanated from the tip of the spear, as if it was absorbing the horse's power.

In a bold move, Eryon lifted the spear and plunged it into the horse's head.

Stab!

With a sharp cry, the horse lost its balance, collapsing to the ground and sending Eryon tumbling into a nearby tree.

"Ugh, this thing is too fast," Eryon muttered, brushing himself off as he stood. His eyes locked onto the energy horse, which seemed to fade into a mirage before his eyes.

[Energy detected. You can steal it]

"I can… steal it?" Eryon repeated, disbelief evident in his voice.

[This horse is a manifestation of Alex's power. Therefore, you can claim it]

"What do I have to do?" Eryon asked eagerly.

[Just touch it and concentrate]

"Alright, just touch and focus, right?" Eryon confirmed, anticipation lacing his tone.

[Correct]

Nodding resolutely, Eryon stepped forward and placed his hand on the horse's head. Closing his eyes, he channeled all his focus into his palm.

Slowly, the horse began to dissolve, fading into an ethereal blue mist before disappearing entirely.

When Eryon opened his eyes, a new horse stood before him, its form glowing with a soothing blue hue.

[Congratulations, you've acquired a new mount: Energy Horse]

Eryon's excitement surged as he realized he had successfully stolen someone else's power for the first time. The sensation was intoxicating, far exceeding his expectations.

He stood, marveling at his achievement, newfound confidence blossoming within him.

Eryon approached the horse, gently running his hand along its luminous form. Its obedient response impressed him, prompting him to test its loyalty further.

"Sit," he commanded with authority.

Without hesitation, the horse complied, lowering itself to the ground.

A sly grin spread across Eryon's face. "Good. You and I, we're going to make a great team."