Status and Themes Screen

After Kyle returned to the inn where he was staying, he took a different route to avoid being followed or letting anyone notice the path he used.

Kyle was extremely cautious—almost paranoid—because he had to consider every possibility.

When he reached the inn, he entered his room and locked the door tightly. He let his eyes roam around the room and noticed that everything was in its place. He exhaled in relief, but his vigilance did not drop—in fact, he was more alert than before.

Quickly, Kyle sat on the chair in front of the table, where he had arranged all the items he found in the market.

In front of him were a simple flower vase that gave off a faint scent, a wooden hair comb with a faded old smell, an old pendant, and a plain-looking mask.

If anyone else saw these items, they would think they were worthless trinkets and might accuse Kyle of madness for staring at them with burning eyes that gleamed with excitement.

But Kyle's eyes did not just see the surface; they saw deeper… they saw the history of these objects.

And here came the bigger question: how did Kyle get this information?

Kyle muttered to himself in a low voice as he ran his fingers along the edge of the vase:

"There's nothing in Kyle's memories that says he had this ability..."

He tried to understand what was happening, but his mind found no answer. While he was thinking, a red flash of inspiration glimmered in his eyes.

He whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on the reflection of the pendant on the table:

"Could it be that this ability doesn't belong to the old Kyle... but to me?"

The more Kyle sank into thought, the clearer his realization became.

A strange feeling crept into his chest—a feeling of truth. He exhaled lightly and muttered in a low voice as he ran his hand over his forehead:

"Honestly... I'm still shocked about being transported to this world. I always thought reincarnation or transmigration was just fiction—only in stories… yet it actually happened. So this must be a cheat ability that's mine alone."

After convincing himself that this was somewhat logical, a new question rose in his mind: how did this "cheat" work?

He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, inhaling the faint dust in the room, then began to think of a way to understand his cheat.

He muttered in a voice barely audible:

"I remember in novels... when the hero is sent to another world and gets a cheat, there's always a status screen that explains everything... so, could I have a screen too?"

When this thought struck him, he felt it was a bit unreasonable, and his lips curled into a faint, sarcastic smile.

"Does everything have to go just like the novels?" he whispered to himself.

But what was logic anyway? He had been reincarnated into this world without ever believing in it, yet here he was with this ability. And this last idea might come true too... a status screen?

Suddenly, Kyle's eyes snapped wide open. He straightened up and spoke in a low but sharp voice:

"Status screen!"

He stared ahead, waiting for something to appear... but unfortunately, nothing did.

Kyle blinked several times, and his ears turned warm with embarrassment. He placed his hand behind his neck and muttered in frustration:

"This is embarrassing... lucky for me, I'm alone."

He let out a heavy sigh, trying to calm his mind and suppress his embarrassment, but just as his heart began to settle... something happened.

A faint light glowed in front of him... and a transparent screen shimmered in the middle of the room!

Kyle felt his heart pound so hard it might leap out of his chest. He blinked several times as if to make sure what he was seeing wasn't an illusion.

He muttered through his lips, staring at the screen in mild shock:

"Man... just a moment ago, I was embarrassed... and now the status screen appears right in front of me!"

He quickly leaned forward, closer to the transparent glow tinged with faint blue and green hues, and began to watch the information scrolling before his eyes:

[Name: Kyle Liothan

Age: 15

Class: Knight

Attribute: Fire / ???

Rank: Low Bronze Knight

Techniques: Flame Lion Meditation Technique

(Click to go to second screen)]

It was a simple screen, but it showed everything he already knew. Kyle furrowed his brows and shook his head lightly, saying in a low voice as he tapped the air as if trying to touch the words:

"But what's the point? I already know all this… wait, why are there question marks in the attribute?"

He tried to figure it out, but the system in front of him seemed mindless—offering no explanation. A slight bitterness filled his chest, and he exhaled slowly through his nose as he ran his hand over his tense arm.

Then his eyes caught a small line at the bottom of the screen that made him stare at it suspiciously:

"Click to go to the second screen."

Kyle read it, and a crooked, half-sarcastic smile formed on his lips. He muttered in annoyance:

"Why do I have to click? I'd rather have remote control than this… stupid screen."

Despite his grumbling, he slowly raised his hand, hovered his finger in the air, and tapped the word as if pressing on glass. Instantly, the screen before him changed, and new rows of information flowed before his eyes.

**[Traits:

1: Cold Heart and Mind

Never loses his composure no matter the danger, pain, or pressure. Gives him an edge in battle, planning, and decision-making.

2: Adaptation

Able to quickly adjust to any environment or situation, whether a barren desert, a dark prison, or the middle of a fiery battle.

3: Resistance to Poisons and Curses

Can develop resistance to any poison, curse, heat, cold, or mind control.

4: Golden Touch

A fantastical ability to turn anything old or discarded into treasure by granting it magical properties or high market value.

5: Investment Eye

Sees things or people capable of bringing him profit (money, allies, powerful tools), with accurate assessments of their potential.

6: Appraisal

Able to evaluate everything.

7: Against Fate

He walks against fate—no one can see or manipulate his destiny. Sorcerers or seers can't read or target him easily. Even Fate Lords can't control or change his path, though they may sense him if he enters their domain, yet they still can't alter his destiny.

8: Strategic Intelligence

A brilliant mind for planning, analyzing battles, managing resources, and understanding opponents' intentions.

9: Unique Talent

Holds a "once-in-history" talent that lets him surpass anyone his age in any skill he learns.

10: Emotional Insight

Can see others' true feelings toward him as auras: love, hatred, fear, betrayal, loyalty, greed…

11: Danger Sense

A heightened sense that warns him of any danger, with an estimate of the threat level (from minor injury to certain death).

12: Natural Body

Astonishing healing speed, rapid mana recovery, golden skin, silver bones, incredible endurance, and terrifying physical strength.]**

Kyle read the lines slowly, feeling chills crawl down his back. At first, he was confused, then doubtful, then an obscure understanding flowed into his chest, followed by a strange mix of joy, disappointment, and astonishment.

His face shifted repeatedly—wide eyes, a tense smile, trembling lips. In the end, his expression gradually calmed, but his eyes remained fixed on the screen with a puzzled gaze and swirling emotions.

He let out a deep sigh, a heavy breath escaping his chest in a faint voice:

"I never expected this..."

He felt something warm and heavy rising in his chest—distant memories bursting before his eyes like foggy reels. They weren't Kyle's memories… but Jack's.

He whispered to himself weakly, as his fingertips trembled lightly on the chair's armrest:

"I never expected that what I once wrote… would become my cheat here. Heh..."

A laugh slipped from his lips, but it wasn't a laugh of joy—it was heavy with sorrow and pain. He felt a bitterness flow from his chest to his throat, then lifted his head and rested the back of his neck on the chair, turning his face to the dim ceiling.

He stared at the ceiling as if reading all he had missed upon it. Fragmented memories, faded but unsettling scenes.

These traits before him now… were not just words on a screen. They were the screen he had once crafted himself long ago, when he was a cheerful young man in high school. Back then, he searched for a strange way to make money and wanted to try his hand at writing stories.

He started then with his first and only novel—one that no one ever saw, except for those who mocked him and forced him to abandon his dream. The hero of that story had a simple status screen and a set of traits that would help him carve a path of power through hardship and struggle. Back then, Jack was a dreamer, with a wild imagination and an untamed ambition.

Kyle smiled faintly in bitter irony, tears shimmering in his eyes without falling. He whispered inside himself, his chest rising and falling slowly:

"Honestly... I still don't understand why I'm here... or why the cheat I wrote with my own hands appeared here..."

He slowly clenched his fist, pressing it against his chest as if gripping his own heart. Then he whispered silently, his eyes staring into the void:

"Whoever brought me here… whatever their goal is… or whether I escaped here… or got caught in a reincarnation loop… there's only one thing I'll do: I'll reach the top… and write my own fate with my own hands… no matter the circumstances."