{Legacy Points and Aris's Demands}
Jin-Seok stared at the number floating in his vision—500 Legacy Points. Whatever those were, they sounded important. More importantly, they sounded valuable.
"Legacy Points?" he asked, hoping for clarification.
Aris waved a skeletal hand dismissively. "The currency of true power, boy. With enough Legacy Points, you could reshape reality itself. With those measly 500, you might manage to improve your pitiful existence by a microscopic degree."
The floating necromancer drifted closer, his blue flames boring into Jin-Seok with uncomfortable intensity.
"Speaking of improvements—you need to increase my synchronization rate immediately. I demand at least fifty percent synchronization, anything other than that is an insult to my magnificence before we proceed any further."
"Fifty percent?" Jin-Seok took a step back. "I don't even know what synchronization means, and you're already making demands?"
"Demands?" Aris's voice rose to a pitch that should have been impossible for someone without vocal cords. "I am making requests. Very reasonable, very generous requests. The fact that you would even consider refusing shows exactly how unworthy you are of my guidance."
"Unworthy?" Now it was Jin-Seok's turn to feel his temper flare. "You show up uninvited, insult me repeatedly, and then order me around like I'm your servant. For all I know, you're some kind of parasitic entity trying to possess me!"
Aris recoiled as if he'd been slapped. "Parasitic? PARASITIC? I am a legendary figure of such renown that—"
"That you're trapped in some kind of system," Jin-Seok interrupted. "Which makes you the one who needs something from me, not the other way around."
The blue flames flickered uncertainly. For the first time since his dramatic entrance, Aris seemed at a loss for words.
"I... that is to say... the circumstances of my current existence are... complicated."
"Complicated how?"
"That's not important right now!" Aris snapped, clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning. "What's important is that you have access to a power beyond your comprehension, and I'm offering to guide you in its use. But I need proper synchronization to be of any real assistance."
{Negotiating Synchronization}
Jin-Seok considered this. The spirit—ghost? Echo? He still wasn't sure what Aris actually was—clearly knew more about the Legacy System than he did. And despite his abrasive personality, he radiated genuine power. The kind of power that could mean the difference between success and failure in the Tower.
"Fine," he said finally. "But not fifty percent. I'll try one percent. If you prove trustworthy, we can discuss increasing it further."
Aris sputtered with indignation. "One percent? ONE PERCENT? That's barely enough to—"
"Take it or leave it."
The necromancer glared at him for a long moment, blue flames crackling with frustrated energy. Finally, he deflated slightly.
"Very well. One percent. But when you see the magnificent results, you'll beg to increase my synchronization rate."
Jin-Seok turned his attention back to the system interface. "How do I increase synchronization?"
[Synchronization Enhancement Available.]
[Cost: 500 Legacy Points for 1% increase.]
[Current LP Balance: 500]
[Proceed? Yes/No]
"Five hundred points?" Jin-Seok stared at the numbers in disbelief. "For one percent? That's everything I have!"
Aris coughed—a sound like wind through dry bones. "Ah, well, quality enhancement has always been expensive. But think of it as an investment in your future!"
"An investment that leaves me with nothing!"
"Nothing except the incomparable benefit of my improved guidance!"
Jin-Seok wanted to argue further, but the crowd around them was getting restless. Soon, the Newbie Trials would begin, and he needed every advantage he could get. With a muttered curse, he selected "Yes."
{Synchronization Complete and System Mockery}
[Synchronization Enhancement Complete.]
[Aris Telvhan Sync Rate: 0% → 1%]
[Remaining Legacy Points: 0]
[Thank you for your purchase! ★(￣▽￣)/$:*]
Jin-Seok stared at the cheerful emoticon with mounting horror. "Did... did the system just mock me?"
"It appears so," Aris admitted, looking equally stunned. "I've never seen a system interface with such... personality."
"You used all my points!" Jin-Seok jabbed an accusing finger at the floating necromancer. "All 500 points for a single percent increase!"
"I didn't know it would cost that much!" Aris protested, raising both skeletal arms in defense. "How was I supposed to know it had developed a gambling addiction?"
"You bone-ash con artist! You told me to increase it!"
"I told you to increase it! I didn't tell the system to rob you blind!"
[System Message: Please collect more Legacy Points to continue syncing with Aris Telvhan. Current balance: 0 POINTS ☆(ゝω・)vキャピ]
The cheerful emoji felt like salt in an open wound.
"It's definitely mocking me now," Jin-Seok said through gritted teeth.
"The audacity!" Aris spun in an indignant circle.
Despite his frustration, Jin-Seok felt a laugh building in his chest. The absurdity of the situation—arguing with a dead necromancer while a sarcastic system interface made fun of him—was so far beyond his expectations that he couldn't help but find it darkly amusing.
"At least I got something out of it," he said, noting a new notification.
{New Passive Skill Acquired}
[Passive Skill Acquired: Soul-Hardened Mind (Rare)]
[Description : Your soul is fortified with remnants of the afterlife.
– Mind-affecting abilities (Charm, Seduce, Illusion, Fear) reduced by 30%
– Immune to low-tier mind control effects]
> "Your will is iron, forged in the afterworld's silence."
"Oh, you unlocked a passive skill!" Aris perked up, his earlier indignation forgotten. "Even though it's rather mediocre, it should be useful for someone of your... limited capabilities."
The sympathetic tone was somehow more insulting than his previous mockery.
"You—" Jin-Seok started, but Aris had already moved on.
"Anyway, activate your system profile panel! Let's see what we're working with."
"This system has a profile panel too? Like the Tower System?"
"There are many things in this world you don't understand, child. And it's not yet time for you to learn the true nature of this system. I'll tell you when the moment is right."
Jin-Seok wanted to argue, but he was curious about the profile panel. "System, open profile... or whatever you call it."
{Legacy System Profile}
[Legacy System – Host Profile]
Name: Ryu Jin-Seok
Race: Human, ???
Level: 1
Class: None (Legacy-Class Pending)
Bloodlines: ???, ???
Sync Slot 1: Aris Telvhan [Eternal Necromancer] – 1%
Legacy Points (LP): 0
Health : 100
Stats:
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Stamina: 10
Endurance: 10
Mana: 10
Intelligence: 10
Legacy Sync Character: None Active
Titles: None
System Features: Shop & Spin (Unlocked), Inventory (Locked), System Space (Locked)
Character Draws: 0 Remaining
"Is this my system profile?" Jin-Seok asked, scanning the information.
"Not bad, kid," Aris admitted grudgingly. "Those stats show you've actually put in some work. That endurance score especially."
"My grandfather taught me everything I know," Jin-Seok said, a note of pride creeping into his voice. "Meditation, combat theory, survival techniques, politics—"
"Must have been a great man," Aris said, then couldn't resist adding, "Shame he had to raise someone like you."
"Very funny." Jin-Seok's attention had moved on to other concerns. "The system shows my race as 'Human, ???' and mentions bloodlines I've never heard of. Aren't I just human?"
Aris's flames flickered with interest. "Curious. Does your grandfather come from some royal family from tower? Any unique bloodlines in your ancestry?"
"No, we're from Blue Star—just a normal world. No special bloodlines that I know of."
"What about your parents?"
The question hit like a physical blow. Jin-Seok's expression hardened behind his mask.
"I don't know about them. My grandfather raised me alone. Whenever I asked about my parents, he'd go silent and change the subject. Eventually, I stopped asking."
Aris started to say something—perhaps offer comfort or ask another probing question—but Jin-Seok cut him off.
"Forget about them. We should focus on what's in front of us now." He managed a weak laugh. "At least I'm not hallucinating about this system."
[System Message: Please refrain from emotional outbursts. Embarrassment levels detected. (・∀・)]
{Public Reaction}
That's when Jin-Seok noticed the silence.
The conversations that had filled the plaza moments before had died away, replaced by an uncomfortable quiet. He slowly turned, dreading what he might find.
Dozens of other examinees stood frozen, staring directly at him. Some wide-eyed with shock, others whispering behind their hands, a few openly laughing at his apparent madness.
"Is that guy arguing with the air?" someone asked loudly enough for half the plaza to hear.
"He's been talking to himself for like ten minutes straight!"
"Maybe the Tower's already breaking people, and we haven't even started the trials yet!"
"Look at him—fancy suit, mysterious mask, and he's completely insane!"
The laughter rippled through the crowd like a wave, dozens of voices joining in cruel amusement. Jin-Seok felt heat crawl up his neck, mortification burning through him like acid.
He turned away from the crowd and whispered through clenched teeth, "This is your fault."
Aris shrugged with exaggerated innocence. "I'm just a spirit, boy. What do I care about your social standing?"
"My social standing was fine until you showed up!"
"If you're worried about what these insects think, you're not ready for the Tower anyway—"
{Dimensional Rift Arrival}
Before Jin-Seok could respond, the temperature of the entire plaza plummeted. The change was so sudden and severe that his breath misted in the air, and frost began forming on the marble pillars.
BOOM.
Reality tore apart at the chamber's center with a sound like thunder and breaking glass. A figure stepped through the dimensional rift—clearly not human, clearly not bound by the same rules that governed mortal existence.
_________________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}