Chapter 1: A new beginning

A cool breeze brushed against Jin's skin as he stirred awake, his body resting against the soft embrace of grass. The scent of earth, wood, and something unfamiliar filled his nostrils. A gentle rustling of leaves played in the background, accompanied by distant chirps of birds he did not recognize.

His eyes fluttered open, greeted by a vast canopy of emerald leaves. Sunlight filtered through, casting patches of gold across his vision. For a moment, he simply lay there, his mind sluggish from the transition.

Then, it hit him.

He wasn't in his bed. Nor was he in the hospital where he last remembered taking his final breath. Instead, he was in the middle of a forest, surrounded by towering trees unlike any he had ever seen before.

Jin sat up with a start, his hands pressing against the ground. The sensation was real—too real to be a dream. He flexed his fingers, examined his arms, then ran a hand over his face.

Smooth.

His once wrinkled, calloused skin was now firm and youthful. He glanced down, only to realize his entire body had changed. His muscles were toned, his limbs carried no signs of age, and his joints moved effortlessly. A strange mix of nostalgia and excitement washed over him.

"I'm... young again?" he muttered.

The realization sent a chill down his spine. Slowly, he got to his feet and took a deep breath, surveying his surroundings. The forest was vast, almost mystical. The trees stretched high into the sky, their bark a mixture of silver and brown, and their leaves glowed faintly in the sunlight.

"Where is this place...?"

The moment the thought crossed his mind, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes.

[Ancient Oak Tree]

A centuries-old tree that absorbs mana from the earth. Highly durable and resistant to fire.

Jin's eyes widened in shock. "What the—?"

He blinked, and the floating text disappeared. Swallowing hard, he turned his gaze to a small, rabbit-like creature nearby. As soon as he thought about it, another screen popped up.

[Azure Hare]

A gentle herbivore found in dense forests. Known for its speed and acute hearing.

"No way... Is this Appraisal?" he muttered, realization dawning upon him. His heart pounded with excitement.

Eager to test more, he focused on a random patch of flowers. Once again, the details appeared before him.

[Moonshade Blossom]

A rare flower that glows under moonlight. Used in alchemy and potion-making.

A slow grin formed on Jin's lips. "This is amazing... I actually have an appraisal skill!"

The thrill of discovery surged through him. If he had an ability like this, then maybe—just maybe—he had other skills too.

Determined, he took a step forward and raised a hand. "Fireball!" he declared.

Nothing happened.

Jin frowned. "Wind Slash! Lightning Bolt! Ice Spear!"

Still, nothing.

Scratching his head, he pondered for a moment. Then, a thought slipped out of his mouth, unintentional yet natural.

"Did I do something wrong? or I don't have affinity with magic? Wait, is there any way I can check what I have? something.... something like...Status."

The air shimmered before him, and a detailed screen materialized, displaying various stats like a game interface.

StatusName

Kazama Jin

Gender

Male

Age

17

Race

High Human

Title

God Appostle

????

Status

Healthy

HP

500/500 (+15000)

MP

800/800 (+10000)

Strength

25 (+200)

Agility

20 (+200)

Dexterity

20 (+200)

Endurance

23 (+200)

Vitality

26 (+200)

Magic Power

30 (+200)

Perception

18 (+200)

Skills

None

Unique skills

Appraisal (EX)

Martial Art (SSS)

Weapon Mastery (EX)

Magic (EX)

Jin's breath caught in his throat.

"This... this is real."

His hands trembled slightly as he reached out toward the screen, though it was intangible. The numbers and words stared back at him, confirming what he had suspected all along.

"High Human...? God Apostle...? And what's this hidden title?"

He couldn't help but be intrigued. The term 'High Human' struck a chord—he had read about it in fantasy novels before. Supposedly, it was a race surpassing ordinary humans. Did that mean he was special in some way?

His eyes scanned the numbers carefully. Strength, dexterity, endurance… Were these considered high? Low? He had no way of knowing. Still, the values didn't seem arbitrary.

And his mana… did this mean he was capable of using magic? If so, why hadn't his spells worked earlier?

Yet, despite the overwhelming excitement, one thing lingered in his mind: The second title, hidden away as "????". It was locked for now, but he had a strange feeling it would reveal itself when the time was right.

The thought left him in awe, his feet frozen in place. Minutes passed, then more.

For over thirty minutes, Jin stood there, simply absorbing the reality of his new existence.

Then, reality hit him.

This was an unknown world. He had unknown abilities. The possibilities were limitless, but so were the dangers. He had no idea what kind of threats lurked in the shadows, nor did he have a safety net to fall back on. Back on Earth, he had structure—laws, society, and a predictable world. Here, all of that was gone. He had no allies, no map, and no understanding of the world's dangers. It was an unsettling contrast, yet strangely exhilarating. He had always prided himself on his ability to adapt, and this was no different. Was he strong or weak? Could he trust his instincts, or would they betray him in this foreign land? Reckless exploration might lead him to an early grave, and that wasn't an option.

No, he wasn't the kind of person to leave things to fate. That wasn't how he lived his life. He had always thought things through, adapted, and survived. If anything, this was just another challenge, albeit on a far grander scale. One thing was clear—he had to prepare.

"Think and act," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing through the implications of his situation. "A home," he thought suddenly.

Shelter was the first step in survival, and it would also serve as his training ground. If he was going to thrive here, he needed to master his abilities. He recalled scenes from novels and anime—mages shaping the world with clear intent, their magic responding to their will. If magic was about visualization, then he needed to picture it vividly. For the first time, he could design his living space exactly the way he wanted. The thought filled him with anticipation. With determination settling in his chest, he reached out to the earth beneath him, willing it to obey his command.

Skill Acquired: Basic Earth (Magic)

Effect: Create blocks or wall of earth.

"If I'm going to live here for now, I might as well start building something."

With a deep breath, he reached into the earth beneath him.

And thus, his journey began.