Chapter 2: Breaking the System

The candlelight flickered in the dimly lit chamber.

Kael sat cross-legged on the floor, his breathing steady, his eyes shut. The air around him was still—silent, yet charged with a growing intensity.

He needed to test something.

In his past life, his martial arts were honed through discipline and mastery, not a System-defined skill tree. If his abilities had converted into System-recognized skills, then—

A deep breath. Focus.

He shifted his stance, muscles tensing. Phantom Step.

The moment he moved—

Whoosh!

His body blurred, flashing across the room in an instant. A rush of wind trailed behind him as he reappeared at the other side.

Kael's lips curled.

It was even smoother than before. No clunky activation phrase, no mana cost. Just pure, natural movement.

But then—

[System Alert: Skill Activation Detected]

[Phantom Step: Mastery 9 → 10]

Kael's eyes flickered. Mastery increased?

Interesting. So if he used his abilities naturally, they still improved like his old training methods.

The System's rules were clear—most people had to level up to improve their skills. But his Grandmaster's Legacy System allowed him to bypass the usual limits entirely.

He exhaled, stepping back into stance.

Time to push it further.

A Test of Power

Kael moved through the motions of his martial arts, his body responding instinctively. Each strike, each movement felt sharper, cleaner, faster.

[Silent Blade Arts: Mastery 8 → 9]

[Falling Moon Palm: Mastery 10 → 11]

He smirked. The System recognized his growth but didn't limit him. He wasn't just following a fixed progression path like others.

He was breaking the system's rules.

But what about techniques that weren't part of his System's recognized skills?

Kael narrowed his eyes. In his previous life, he had developed his own secret martial art—Void Rend. A technique that defied normal energy flow, one that split through defenses at their weakest points.

He had never written it down. Never shared it.

There was no way the System knew about it.

He tensed his fingers, exhaling slowly. The energy in the air rippled as he shaped the technique.

And then—

Nothing.

Kael's brow furrowed. The energy vanished the moment he tried to form it.

The System had recognized his past-life techniques, but not the ones he invented.

Which meant—

A slow smirk spread across his lips.

He could create new skills outside of the System's limitations.

And if that was true, then this world was far more broken than it realized.

The Uninvited Guest

As Kael finished testing his abilities, a soft creak sounded from outside his door.

His eyes flickered. Someone was watching him.

Silently, he stepped into the shadows, his presence fading.

[Silent Step (Passive) Activated]

The door cracked open slightly.

A small figure peeked in—a girl with silver hair and wide, curious eyes.

Kael raised a brow. Who?

The girl stepped inside cautiously, her gaze sweeping over the room before whispering, "I know you're awake."

Kael watched her for a moment before emerging from the shadows. "And who might you be?"

The girl flinched but quickly regained composure. "You really don't remember anything, huh?"

His memory clicked.

Elara Drayven. His younger sister.

Unlike the rest of House Drayven, she was not openly hostile toward him. She rarely spoke, rarely interacted with others. She was… different.

Kael studied her carefully. "And what brings you here at this hour?"

Elara hesitated before stepping closer. "I heard noises. Thought you might be in trouble."

Kael smirked. "Worried about me?"

She frowned. "Not exactly. But… you've been acting strange."

Kael chuckled inwardly. Smart girl.

"I assure you, I'm perfectly fine." He turned slightly. "You should go back before someone finds you sneaking around."

Elara stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Just… don't do anything reckless."

Then, without another word, she slipped out of the room.

Kael leaned against the wall, exhaling.

She's sharp. Much sharper than he expected.

He'd have to keep an eye on her.

The Countdown Begins

Kael sat back down, his mind racing.

Three days until the Awakening Ceremony.

The ceremony determined a noble's worth—those who failed to awaken a Class were discarded, exiled, or worse.

The previous Kael had feared this moment.

But this Kael?

He couldn't care less.

He had already surpassed the system's limitations. The only question was—how much more could he break?

But the ceremony would be his first public appearance.

And he needed a plan.

A Plan in Motion

Kael left his room before dawn, moving through the estate's corridors with silent precision.

His destination?

The Drayven Training Grounds.

A place where noble warriors dueled for prestige.

And a place where he could test himself against real opponents.

As he neared the grounds, he noticed something unusual—two figures whispering in the shadows.

Kael slowed his steps, sharpening his hearing.

"Did you hear?" one voice muttered. "The useless heir is awake. They say he'll embarrass himself at the ceremony."

The second voice chuckled. "Serves him right. Maybe Seraphina will finally cut him down herself."

Kael's smirk widened. Interesting.

He had expected rumors. But hearing Seraphina's name involved? That was new.

He stepped forward, making his presence known. The two figures froze.

Kael's gaze was calm, but his smile was razor-sharp.

"Since you're so eager to discuss my future," he said smoothly, "why don't you spar with me?"

The two nobles exchanged uneasy glances. One of them scoffed. "Why would we waste our time—"

Boom.

Kael's foot slammed into the ground, cracking the stone beneath him.

The two noble boys stumbled back in shock.

Kael tilted his head. "I insist."

The air grew thick with tension.

Tomorrow was supposed to be his first real move.

But Kael had just decided to start early.