Morning light filtered through the thatched roof of Leon's humble cottage, casting dappled patterns across his face. At twelve years old, with a mop of unruly brown hair and eyes that seemed to hold knowledge beyond his years, Leon Farrow was an unremarkable sight in the village of Greendale.
But Leon was far from ordinary.
Three months ago, he had awakened to memories of another life—a previous existence in a world of steel and technology, where magic was mere fantasy and monsters existed only in stories. Now, he found himself reborn in a realm where both were terrifying realities.
"Leon! Are you awake yet? The chickens need feeding!" His mother's voice called from outside.
"Coming, Mother!" Leon replied, his voice still carrying the high pitch of youth despite the ancient soul that resided within him.
As he dressed in his simple wool tunic and trousers, Leon's mind raced with thoughts of his mysterious "system." It had awakened alongside his memories, a strange power that only he could perceive—a translucent interface visible only to his eyes, showing statistics, an inventory space, and a shop that required "system points" he could earn through slaying monsters or performing good deeds.
Most importantly, it granted him a talent that multiplied his efforts hundredfold. Any skill he practiced, any knowledge he sought to learn—his progress would be magnified a hundred times. It was an incredible advantage, but one he'd kept completely secret.
Three years, he thought. I need to train for three years, then I can leave this village and see what this world truly has to offer.
Leon hurried through his morning chores, feeding the chickens and helping his mother with breakfast. His father had already left for the fields, where he worked as a tenant farmer for the local lord. It was a simple life—peaceful, but limiting.
"You seem distracted today," his mother noted as she placed a bowl of porridge before him. Mira Farrow was a kind woman with premature lines around her eyes from years of hard work. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine, Mother. Just thinking about what Master Rolfe said yesterday about the Northern Mountains."
Master Rolfe was the village's only formal educator, a retired soldier who taught the village children basic reading and writing, along with stories of the wider world. Yesterday, he had described the crystalline waterfalls of the Northern Mountains, said to glow with ethereal light during the full moon.
"Those mountains are dangerous, Leon. Full of monsters and worse things," his mother warned. "Put such thoughts from your head. Your future is here, learning your father's trade."
Leon nodded dutifully, but in his heart, he knew differently. The Northern Mountains would be just one of many wonders he would witness once he became an adventurer.
After breakfast, Leon slipped away to his secret place—a small clearing in the woods just outside the village. Here, away from prying eyes, he could access his system freely.
"Status," he whispered.
A translucent blue window materialized before him:
Name: Leon Farrow
Age: 12
Level: 1
System Points: 3
SKILLS:
Sword Proficiency [F-0/1000]
Archery [F-0/1000]
Herbalism [F-0/1000]
Physical Endurance [F-17/1000]
SPECIAL TALENTS:
Hundredfold Enhancement (Passive): All learning and practice efforts are multiplied by 100. Can enhance one item per day from a lower rank to a higher rank.
Three system points—earned from helping an elderly villager carry water yesterday. Not enough to purchase anything worthwhile from the system shop, where even the most basic items cost tens of points.
Leon picked up the crude wooden sword he had fashioned himself and hidden beneath a fallen log. It was barely more than a shaped stick, but it would serve for practice.
"Today, I begin in earnest," he said to himself, determination filling his young body.
He started with basic movements, mimicking what he had seen when the lord's guards occasionally trained in the village square. Thrust, parry, sidestep. His movements were awkward, his balance poor. But with each repetition, he could feel his body adapting, learning at an accelerated rate.
After an hour, sweat dripping from his brow, Leon checked his status again.
Sword Proficiency [F-125/1000]
His eyes widened. In just one hour of amateurish practice, he had gained 125 points in the skill. For a normal person, this would have represented 125 hours—or more than five solid days of practice.
"This is incredible," he whispered, a smile spreading across his face. At this rate, he could master basic swordplay in days rather than years.
Leon continued training until midday, alternating between sword practice and running laps around the clearing to build his stamina. By the time the sun reached its zenith, his skills had improved noticeably:
Sword Proficiency [F-305/1000] Physical Endurance [F-143/1000]
Exhausted but exhilarated, Leon flopped onto his back in the grass, staring up at the blue sky through the canopy of leaves.
"This is just the beginning," he promised himself. "In three years, I'll be ready."
As he rested, a rustling in the bushes caught his attention. Leon scrambled to his feet, wooden sword at the ready. From the underbrush emerged a small, rabbit-like creature—but with emerald fur and tiny antlers sprouting from its head.
"A forest hare," Leon breathed, recognizing the creature from Master Rolfe's descriptions. While not truly monsters, forest hares were magical beasts with minor enchantments. Their meat was prized for its subtle healing properties, and their antlers could be used in simple potions.
The hare froze, sensing his presence. Leon hesitated only for a moment before lunging forward with his wooden sword. The creature darted away, but Leon's newly improved reflexes allowed him to adjust his swing, catching the hare with a glancing blow that sent it tumbling.
Before it could recover, Leon pounced, pinning it to the ground. The struggle was brief—a quick twist, and the hare went limp in his hands.
A notification appeared before his eyes:
Forest Hare defeated! System Points: +2
Leon felt a mixture of triumph and remorse. This was his first kill in this world—a necessary step on his path to becoming an adventurer, but still the taking of a life. He silently thanked the creature for its sacrifice.
"I'll make use of everything," he promised, remembering lessons from his previous life about respecting hunted animals.
With clumsy but determined hands, Leon skinned and cleaned the hare using a small knife he carried. He would bring the meat home to his family—a welcome addition to their usually sparse meals—but first, he wanted to try something.
From his lessons with Master Rolfe, Leon knew that forest hare antlers were considered F-rank alchemical ingredients. With trembling fingers, he held the tiny, emerald-colored antlers and focused on his enhancement talent.
"Enhance," he whispered.
Warmth flowed from his core, through his arms, and into the antlers. They glowed softly for a moment, and Leon felt a subtle change in their texture and weight. When the light faded, the antlers had transformed—now slightly larger, with a pearlescent sheen rather than their previous dull emerald.
F-Rank Forest Hare Antlers have been enhanced to E-Rank Luminous Hare Antlers.
Leon stared in wonder at the transformed antlers. According to his system, he had just increased their value and potency significantly. An actual alchemist might pay good money for such an ingredient.
"One enhancement per day," he mused. "I need to be strategic about what I choose to enhance."
As the afternoon waned, Leon gathered his things and headed home, the enhanced antlers carefully tucked into his pocket and the forest hare meat wrapped in leaves. His muscles ached pleasantly from exertion, but his heart was light with purpose.
This was just day one of his three-year plan. By the time he was fifteen, Leon would transform himself from a village boy into someone capable of surviving—no, thriving—in this dangerous new world.
Little did he know that events would soon force his hand, accelerating his plans and thrusting him into adventure far sooner than he had anticipated.