My name is Evander Langley, born from the finest bloodlines of House Langley. Wealth, power, influence—they were never things I had to fight for.
They were simply... there. From the moment I was born, the world knew who I was. I didn't have to earn respect; it was given to me, and I made sure to carry it like a crown.
I was raised in the lap of luxury, surrounded by everything that the Langley name promised. The best schools, the finest tutors, the most exclusive events… I had everything.
Until one day…
"Sorry, Evan… but I already have someone I'm seeing."
I remember the way she said it—soft, almost apologetic, as if she actually expected me to accept it. As if she truly believed that I would be the one left behind.
For the first time in my life, something was being denied to me.
I laughed. Not out loud, of course. On the surface, I smiled, nodded, played the part of the gracious, understanding heir. But inside, something… twisted.
I had never lost before. Never been second to anyone. And yet, she looked at me—me—and dismissed me like I was just another man.
That was the moment I realized something important: I didn't have everything.
And if I didn't have everything, then I needed to learn how to take it.
That night, I sat alone in my family's estate, staring out at the city below. I wasn't angry. No, anger was for lesser men—men who lashed out because they had no other means of control. I was better than that.
I did something much more productive. I found out who he was.
The man she had chosen over me.
She had chosen someone else, but choice was an illusion. People thought they made decisions, but in reality, they were guided—nudged in the direction someone else wanted.
He was nothing. Lesser. He had nothing I didn't already have—except her. And that made him an obstacle, a challenge.
So I removed him.
Not with violence. That would've been too easy. Too crude. I didn't need to dirty my hands to destroy someone.
A whisper here, a rumor there. A carefully placed suggestion to the right people. A casual conversation with someone who could make life difficult for him.
I watched from a distance as his life crumbled. His reputation tarnished, his future ruined. And she? She left him, just like I knew she would.
Having everything at birth... lesser people think it means happiness, that we live without struggles. But they're wrong.
Having everything can also mean having nothing.
No challenges. No aspirations. No meaning.
I felt it—empty.
Until…
When I saw her again, months later, she looked at me differently. Like she should have from the start.
I didn't take her back. I didn't need to. The lesson was already learned.
Power isn't about what you have—it's about what you can take.
And for the first time, I finally felt something real.
Not love. Not happiness.
Something better.
Control.
Yet…
The cityscape outside my window shuddered, like ripples distorting a reflection in water. My breath caught—just for a moment. And then—
...
[Welcome to the Continental Strife.]
[Each of you chosen to participate will not only represent your homeland but, perhaps….]
...
It shattered everything.
One moment, I was standing, in full command, in the midst of my life—my world—and the next, I was nothing.
No, not nothing. I was… impounded. Torn from my existence, dragged without consent into a place so foreign it couldn't possibly be real.
I stood in the midst of jagged rocks, sharp like broken glass, scattered wildly across a desolate landscape.
Trees—no, shrubs—choked the horizon, twisted and gnarled, clawing at the sky like they were trying to escape whatever cursed place this was. There were no roads. No civilization. Just raw, unyielding land.
A world left untouched, untamed, and utterly beneath me.
Where was I? What had happened?
For a moment, I froze, my mind spinning as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing. The stark emptiness around me mocked my arrogance. There were no people, no comforts—just wilderness.
Had I fallen asleep? Was this some dream, a cruel joke my mind had decided to play on me? But no... the cold air, the rough ground beneath my boots—it all felt too real. The city I had known, the life I had controlled, was gone.
I blinked, disbelief creeping into my chest. This couldn't be happening.
And then—
A shadow passed over me, a massive shape blotting out the already dim sky. I looked up instinctively, my body tensing before my mind could process what was happening.
It appeared.
A Dragon.
Its wings stretched across the sky, blocking out the light as it soared above the treetops. Its sheer presence, the deliberate power in its flight, sent a shiver down my spine, freezing me in place.
And in that instant, I felt something I hadn't experienced in years.
Fear.
It made me—ME!—feel fear?
I had never feared anything. Not in this life, not in this world. And yet, before this beast, before that monstrous, barbaric creature soaring above me, I… froze.
A cold shiver ran down my spine, and for a moment, I wasn't the man who controlled every room, every conversation. I was nothing.
For the first time in my life, something had me questioning my every move. My heart raced—not out of excitement—but out of pure, primal fear.
This… this was real.
For a moment, I felt small.
In the lap of luxury, in the halls of power, I had never faced anything that could challenge me like this. This was beyond influence. Beyond status.
And I, Evander Langley, was no longer in control.
However…
...
[The "First Step" have been listed]
...
But I couldn't stay frozen. I wasn't weak. Not yet. I would find a way to rise.
A path opened before me. A way to regain control. A way to grow stronger than anyone could imagine.
Where after the one "responsible"—or so I assumed—spoke, something within me my sight, "First Step" or something appeared, urging me to rise… my level?
Then, it appeared—my level, displayed through something called Status.
And in that instant, its meaning became crystal clear. This was my way to power. My way to regain control.
No... it was more than that. This was my way to gain absolute control.
Through this system, I would reshape everything.
Driven by the need to regain my strength, I moved through the dense forest, my eyes constantly scanning. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and beneath the surface, I could hear the faintest sounds of movement.
There. A Forest Deer.
It was grazing, unaware of my presence. A simple creature, driven by instincts rather than intelligence. I could feel the hunger stirring in my gut, but I wasn't about to let base instincts dictate my actions.
I wasn't a savage. I wouldn't hunt by brute force alone.
Instead, I observed—its movements, its rhythm. I noticed a dense patch of undergrowth just ahead, with thick vines that would tangle easily around anything that stumbled through.
I used that knowledge, carefully positioning myself to stay out of sight and calculating the deer's next steps.
Then, I moved.
With precise timing, I triggered a series of vine traps I'd set up earlier, each one snapping into place as the deer unwittingly walked right into them. The vines wrapped around its legs, pulling it down gently without inflicting harm, just enough to immobilize it.
It struggled briefly, but I moved quickly, securing it without violence, with control. There would be no need for injury.
The deer was captured. And I had what I needed: food.
But more importantly, I had proved something to myself. Power wasn't just in strength or aggression. It was in control.
As I knelt to secure my catch, something unfamiliar stirred within me. A sensation—not just the satisfaction of a successful hunt—but a surge, a pulse deep within my chest. I felt lighter, rejuvenated… and empowered.
As a flood of notification flooded my vision.
...
[You have successfully defeated the Forest Dear (Lv.4)]
[Your race level rises by 1]
[Racial Level Up Bonus: +1 Spirit, +1 Constitution]
[Level Up Bonus: 2+ Undistributed Stats Obtained]
[You have reached Level 1 and your Innate Ability [Son of the Luminous Day] (1st) Stage has been unlocked]
[Innate Skill Effects: 1+ Spirit, 1+ Agility]
[Commission "First Step" Objective has been completed!]
...
The words appeared before my eyes, glowing with an undeniable light. I stared at the screen, my breath catching.
My body thrummed with newfound energy, an undeniable force building beneath my skin. My thoughts were clearer, sharper, as though my mind itself had expanded.
I looked down at the deer, the reality of what had just happened slowly sinking in.
I opened my 'status' to check what changes appeared.
My stats increase and just that, I unlocked my innate ability and skill.
...
Innate Ability: [ Son of the Luminous Day ] (1st Stage) — You possess a natural ability to command attention and inspire. Your connection to light enhances your charisma and influence, making it easier to lead and captivate others. However, your reliance on brilliance leaves you vulnerable when the light fades. Any action involving leadership or persuasion gains an enhanced bonus.
...
Innate Skill: ( Under the Sun of the Day ) SKILL RANK [A++] – You are born under the sunlight, drawing strength and vitality from its rays. Your body and mind thrive in the presence of the sun, enhancing your endurance and resilience. You remain immune to fatigue and can push beyond your limits, growing stronger with each moment under its light.
Passive Effect [1] — Bonus: With each level-up, your agility and spirit will gain bonus stats.
Passive Effect [2] — Sun Vitality: While under the sunlight, your connection to the sun enhances your mana, stamina, and health regeneration, allowing you to recover faster. You also gain a 5% boost to your agility and spirit, making you quicker, more resilient, and mentally sharper when exposed to light.
...
It was more than I had hoped for. Not only did I gain power, but I was gifted with something that would allow me to bend others to my will. Charisma, influence… It was as if the system had seen me for who I truly was, and it was already paving the way for me to seize everything I had ever wanted.
I felt the sun on my face, its rays warming my skin. My body surged with vitality, and I could feel the light feeding me, making me stronger. The sensation was intoxicating.
Power. Influence. Control.
This was no accident. This was my destiny.
I looked at the deer again, the hunt having already faded from my mind. The kill was nothing now. The real prize was in my grasp.
This system would give me everything I needed. I would rise higher than anyone ever thought possible.
No one would stand in my way.
...….
UPCOMING NEXT - CHAPTER 7 - No Rest for the Weary
...….
GLOSSARY -:-