Chapter 9: Warmage

Michael woke up in reality. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed through his body, and as he shifted slightly, a wave of nausea hit him like a crashing tide. His mouth tasted metallic—blood. He groaned and pressed a hand against his forehead.

"Hey, Voice, what happened?"

"You have been asleep for 27 hours. You were forcefully logged out of the game after we received notification from Genovia that your physical body was nearing critical condition."

Michael's brow furrowed. "Critical condition?"

"Your vitals showed extreme fluctuations due to neural overstimulation. Emergency intervention was initiated. Your current condition is stable. All vitals are within normal parameters."

Michael recalled the intense surge of energy right before he blacked out—the suffocating sensation, the overwhelming force coursing through his being. It felt like his body had been tearing apart at the seams, and then… nothingness. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

No point dwelling on it now.

He forced himself to sit up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. His muscles ached, but there was an unmistakable sense of strength beneath the fatigue. Instinctively, he moved into his routine—deep stretches, slow breathing, then into his body-strengthening exercises. By the time he finished, sweat clung to his skin, but he felt a growing sense of control over his body. He had managed to push through the sixth set today.

Progress.

After a quick shower and a hearty meal, Michael returned to his room, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

"Hey, Voice. How many days do I have left before I leave?"

"You have 26 days and 4 hours remaining."

Michael nodded. Time was ticking, and he needed to make the most of it.

He laid back on the bed and reached for the headgear. As he placed it over his head, the device hummed softly, conforming snugly. A familiar sense of anticipation swelled within him.

"Connect."

Darkness.

—

When Michael opened his eyes, he was lying on a wooden bed in an unfamiliar room.

"You're awake, traveler."

"Master?" Michael asked.

"I am not your master," the woman replied. "My name is Ryka, and I own this store. After the awakening, you lost consciousness. You have been asleep for more than a day. I apologize in advance, but the awakening failed. I cannot help you, traveler. My advice? Learn to control your gift. Having three elements is unheard of. Your secret is safe with me, but you must concentrate and learn to channel it on your own. Your abilities are beyond mine."

DING!

New Quest Received!

Objective: Learn about your hidden power

Rewards: Unknown

Michael stood from the bed. "Thank you for everything." He bowed and left the store.

Ryka watched his receding back, her expression anxious. He will either be a savior or a destroyer. May the Gods have mercy on this land.

—

Michael stood outside the store and opened his status. What he saw left him stunned:

Name: NANA (Level 0)

Profession: Warmage

Vocation: None

Health: 220/220 (100% Healthy)

Mana: 570/570

Stamina: 100

Strength: 22 (Attack 110 + 10 Weapon Damage)

Agility: 22 (1.2 Movement Speed / 0.5% Crit Rate)

Endurance: 22 (220 Health Points)

Magic: 57 (M. Atk 285 / Mana Regeneration: 5.7 per second in combat, 57 per second out of combat)

Charm: 10

Luck: 20

Skills:

Holy

Minor Blessing – Uses 30 Mana to boost all stats by 10 for 30 minutes. (Cooldown: 30 minutes)

Minor Heal – Uses 10 Mana to restore 20 Health. (Cooldown: 30 seconds)

Abyss

Minor Corruption – Uses 50 Mana to imbue your weapon, causing 10% additional Abyss damage per second for 10 seconds. Abyss damage cannot be blocked or dispelled and has a 100% success rate. (Duration: 5 minutes / Cooldown: 2 hours)

Space

Space Pocket (Passive) – Grants additional storage space measuring 10 cubic meters. Capacity increases per level. Items stored here will never drop upon death or be stolen.

EXP: 50/100

Available Stat Points: 0

Available Skill Points: 0

Currency: 110 Bronze Coins

"Wow!" Michael muttered. "That's a lot of skills!"

Not only could he see his health and mana, but he also had a passive storage space. This was far more convenient than he expected.

Curious, he tried casting Minor Blessing—

Error! Wand or Staff required to cast a spell.

Michael groaned. "Of course, there's a catch..."

—

Michael hurriedly made his way to the General Store, eager to see if wands or staves were available.

Inside, shelves and racks displayed an array of weapons and armor, each gleaming under the soft lantern light.

"Adventurer! What can I get for you?" called a woman from behind the counter.

Michael's heart skipped a beat. Aunt Mariel! The name nearly slipped from his lips, but he caught himself just in time. He took a deep breath, steadying his emotions.

"Apologies," he said, masking his familiarity. "May I take a look at your wands and staves?"

"Ahh, a Gifted one, are you?" Mariel chuckled, eyeing him with amusement. "Never would've guessed that, what with you carrying a sword and all. Well, have at it—take your pick."

Michael scanned the selection and settled on the cheapest staff available. It cost him 100 bronze coins—nearly all of his money. He hesitated for a moment before handing over the payment.

Equipping the staff, he tested its weight in his grip. Even though it was a basic weapon, it had one notable benefit:

Basic Staff

Magic Attack: 5-10

Passive: Mana Regeneration +10

Michael exhaled. This will have to do for now.

Satisfied, Michael walked towards the gate to start his hunt.