Excerpt 2

  (Page 33, Section 1)

  Humanoid creatures are remarkably adept at acquiring language, especially when young and small. Goblins raised from infancy, for instance, can form rudimentary sentences within just two months. In contrast, giants, ogres, trolls, and other large-bodied species—despite their humanoid forms—may take years, even decades, to develop basic language skills. Their slower maturation and uniquely structured brains, which prioritize physical strength over cognition, contribute to this delay. Meanwhile, many non-humanoid creatures may never develop the ability to speak at all.

  Source: Deep Language Studies – Linguist Rawp

  Excerpt 2 End

  Hassan awakened to the sound of what seemed to be an argument—though the language was completely unfamiliar. Slowly opening his eyes, he turned toward a humanoid figure resembling a bull standing nearby.

  Beside it stood another figure—larger, more imposing, and emanating an unmistakable sense of power.

  Its piercing blue eyes glowed faintly, and a pair of massive horns curled upward and forward. Muscles rippled beneath its thick black fur, its physique nearly double that of the smaller one. It wore reinforced leather armor and carried what appeared to be a spear, wrapped and secured to its back.

  A chill passed through Hassan. This was no dream.

  A deep unease settled in his chest as the realization solidified: he had truly been reborn. The distant hope of waking up in his bed on Earth evaporated.

  He couldn’t help but question the logic of it all. Why this form? Why this place? He had lived a conscientious life—avoiding harm, offering help freely, and giving regularly to charitable causes. Rebirth as a bull-headed creature felt disconnected from any moral logic he understood.

  Lost in reflection, Hassan didn’t immediately notice the two giants had turned their attention to him. They had gone quiet. The larger one spoke briefly, then departed, each step resonating heavily against the ground.

  The smaller one remained.

  Before Hassan could collect himself, the being approached and gently lifted him—not with force, but with deliberate care.

  At first, it seemed like an embrace, until Hassan became acutely aware of the uncomfortable sensation that confirmed he’d lost control of his body in his sleep.

  There was no dramatic breakdown—just a quiet, internal acknowledgment of the situation and a growing awareness of the vulnerabilities that came with his current form.

  Without a word, the being retrieved a rag, dipped it in water, and methodically cleaned him. It then returned to preparing a familiar herbal paste.

  Hassan, now calmer, took the opportunity to examine the creature’s face more closely. Its mannerisms suggested familiarity and responsibility. It wasn’t unreasonable to assume this individual was either his parent or assigned caregiver in this new life.

  For clarity and emotional distance, he decided to refer to the being as the caregiver. The titles of mother or father remained tied, in his mind, to his parents on Earth.

  The caregiver soon returned, feeding him once more before retrieving what appeared to be a book from a nearby table. Every so often, they glanced over to check on him.

  Now alone with his thoughts, Hassan began analyzing his situation.

  Why had he been reincarnated in this form? His mind drifted to the stories, manga, and games he’d encountered over the years—many of which featured reincarnated protagonists, often gifted with abilities or system-like powers.

  If this world followed similar logic, there might be a structure in place—perhaps even a system awaiting his input.

  It was worth testing.

  Closing his eyes, Hassan reached inward, trying to sense anything instinctively. He found nothing at first.

  Unshaken, he tried the most straightforward approach.

  System, he whispered in his mind.

  Instantly, something responded—etched not into the air, but directly into his consciousness, vivid and undeniable.

  #####

  Name: None

  Race: Zamongarai

  Age: 14 days

  Tier: 0

  Attributes:

  Physique: 0.10

  Mind: 10.45

  Soul: 9.13

  Talents:

  Human intelligence (Rank 3: 13%) – You possess exceptional learning abilities, quick comprehension, and an extraordinary capacity for memory, creativity, and problem-solving. This talent grows stronger through focused training and enhancement of mind attributes.

  Human Soul (Rank 2: 73%) - Your willpower, wisdom, and spiritual resilience are remarkable. You demonstrate advanced control over energies, emotions, and thoughts. This talent improves with dedicated training and strengthening of soul attributes.

  Zamongarai’s Physique (Rank 0: 10%) – Your vitality, physical strength, defense, and healing capabilities are immense. Additionally, toxins, poisons, and venoms have minimal or no effect on you. This talent can be enhanced through targeted training and improvements in physique attributes.

  Zamongarai’s Sense (Rank 1: 83%) – Your sensory abilities vastly surpass ordinary limits, greatly amplifying your vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and other sensory perceptions. Improvement occurs through continued training and development of both physique and soul attributes.

  Zamongarai’s Soul (Rank 0: 1%) – Your soul is exceptionally robust, unwavering, and potent, granting you heightened awareness and sensitivity to nonphysical phenomena, such as energies, spirits, and danger. This talent increases with consistent training, as well as enhancements to physique and soul attributes.

  Vessel control (Rank Unknown) – You’re fully immune to any external attempt at controlling, corrupting, manipulating, or reading your body, mind, or soul unless you explicitly permit it. You instantly recognize any such attempts, granting you the immediate choice to allow, deny, or manipulate the incoming action. When targeted, time will pause, and if no choice is made within 30 seconds, denial occurs automatically. This talent cannot be upgraded.

  Skills: None

  System Training Space – Time remaining until reset 13 hours, 7 minutes, 43 seconds – Current Mode: Tutorial

  Note: You possess three gifted training manuals: Basic Physique, Mind, and Soul Manuals. You may access the knowledge contained within these manuals at any time.

  #####

  Was this some kind of twisted joke?

  How could any of this possibly be real?

  If he had simply been reincarnated as a monster—no, correction, a Zamongarai—perhaps he could have accepted it in time. But reincarnation combined with an actual system?

  Impossible.

  Hassan was convinced he was being manipulated by something—or someone. Had an advanced artificial intelligence taken over the world, dragging his consciousness into this bizarre scenario?

  He tried questioning the system mentally, but no response came. It appeared capable only of displaying information.

  Frustrated, he issued mental commands—exit, log out, and even an explicit refusal of consent to remain—but nothing happened.

  After a moment’s reflection, Hassan came to a sobering conclusion: if the system had malicious intent, there was little he could do to resist it. Instead of spiraling, he shifted focus toward what he could control—the information available to him.

  Still, one part stuck with him.

  No name?

  Did his past life's name not transfer? And if he had no name now, did that mean he hadn't been named yet?

  He reviewed what he’d learned so far.

  First: he was a Zamongarai, only fourteen days old, and tier zero—whatever that meant.

  Second: his physique attribute was exceptionally low, but his mind and soul attributes appeared well-developed, likely remnants of his past life.

  Third: his talents were unusual. Possessing both human intelligence and a human soul, alongside a Zamongarai soul, was a perplexing concept.

  Did this mean the soul's existence was scientifically validated in this world?

  And if so... did it even make sense to have more than one?

  He didn’t fully understand the nature of a soul, let alone how to interpret the presence of two. Still, the Zamongarai soul registered as far weaker than his human one.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Could the retention of his human soul or intelligence explain why he maintained cognitive function and self-awareness, despite his body being merely two weeks old?

  And why wasn’t there a corresponding talent for Zamongarai intelligence?

  The deeper he delved into these thoughts, the more questions surfaced.

  Though the Zamongarai physique was said to embody great strength, it had yet to demonstrate such qualities. He remained unable to stand or walk properly, though likely because it had not even reached rank one. For now, its potential and true capabilities remained unknown.

  But one thing was immediately clear—his senses were enhanced. With Zamongarai sense, his vision was sharper, more vibrant, and far beyond anything he remembered from Earth. Even at rank one, the baseline enhancements of a Zamongarai exceeded human norms.

  As for his other senses, he hadn’t had the time to test them thoroughly. However, hearing, taste, and touch felt noticeably enhanced. Smell, on the other hand, remained uncertain.

  Among his talents, one stood out: Vessel Control.

  The very existence of such a talent defied logic.

  Wasn’t this talent proof that he was in some kind of simulation—or worse, a controlled environment?

  Time manipulation? The ability to pause time was far beyond anything remotely natural. The only explanations were advanced technology—or magic.

  Refocusing, Hassan noted that he had no starting skills.

  His cybersecurity knowledge hadn’t transferred as a skill.

  Was there a specific condition required to unlock skills?

  The system training space intrigued him. Should he use it immediately, or wait until he grew stronger? Would it require food or water inside? The uncertainty was frustrating.

  And the gifted manuals—how would they manifest? Would they appear physically, through the system panel, or in some other form?

  As his thoughts spiraled, Hassan made a decision.

  He planned to retrieve the training manuals as soon as the caregiver left—just in case they materialized in physical form. If they did, he could hide them somewhere in the tent. Even if they were discovered, it would be difficult to trace them back to him.

  With that plan in mind, he waited.

  Time passed as he paced and explored the tent, increasingly annoyed by his inability to even glimpse outside. The caregiver rarely took their eyes off him, and every object within reach felt impossibly sturdy—or he was simply too weak to affect anything.

  Worse, he soon realized he lacked control over basic bodily functions. Another accident confirmed it.

  But then, something unexpected happened.

  The dirt beneath him shimmered, vibrating faintly before absorbing the mess entirely, while a soft light pulsed from the heart of the tent. Startled, Hassan turned his gaze to the glowing plant at its center.

  Magic.

  He froze.

  It had to be magic.

  Driven by curiosity, he waddled toward the plant, eager to inspect it.

  Nothing happened.

  Disappointed, he struck the earth beneath it—only to recoil as pain shot up his arm. The caregiver swiftly intervened, lifting him gently and placing him a safe distance from the plant.

  I’ll examine it again—when I’m taller.

  Sometime later, a soft bell rang.

  The caregiver placed him on a makeshift bed, performed a final check, and approached the tent’s exit.

  Hassan watched closely.

  The caregiver whispered something—an incantation, perhaps. In response, the glowing plant pulsed, and the dirt near the entrance shifted, sealing the exit.

  Hassan tensed.

  Then, something unexpected: excitement.

  That was magic. It had to be.

  But another thought followed—more analytical.

  Was this really how the caregiver ensured his safety? Sealing the exit and assuming nothing would go wrong?

  It felt... careless.

  Hassan rose, resolute in his decision to test whether that was truly the case.

  He took a single step toward the entrance.

  Instantly, the earth responded. Tendrils of soil rose, wrapped around him like a cocoon, and gently returned him to bed.

  Strange... but efficient.

  Of course, he reasoned, no rational adult would leave a child unsupervised—even a Zamongarai.

  Still, one inconsistency bothered him.

  Why had I been able to move freely the first time I woke up? Why didn’t the plant react then? Was it because the caregiver was nearby? Or had something changed since?

  The logic didn’t add up.

  Minutes trickled by. The caregiver hadn’t returned.

  His gaze shifted again to the plant.

  Is it sentient? Or just following commands?

  The uncertainty grew tiring. If he spent all his time worrying about being watched or monitored, he’d never take action.

  Hassan needed to learn. He needed to train. The manuals and system training space were the best path forward.

  He didn’t intend to remain in this world longer than necessary—though the thought of learning magic did make him hesitate.

  Still... my family is probably waiting for me back home. If the knowledge from the manuals or learning magic could help me return to them, I wouldn’t hesitate to pursue it.

  Of the manuals, the Mind and Soul Manual for magic tempted him most.

  But based on every book, story, and game he’d ever encountered, Hassan knew that magic rarely came easily—unless there were shortcuts like cheat skills or point systems, and he had seen no signs of those in the system panel. This didn’t feel like one of those scenarios.

  Still, there was a chance he was missing something—or perhaps he had no significant advantages, and only sheer determination would lead to progress. After all, the manuals, judging by their titles, didn’t seem to promise any straightforward or effortless rewards.

  Furthermore, he knew he needed to strengthen his physique. The simple fact was: he could barely walk properly.

  It was better to start with something familiar.

  With that, he made his choice.

  Taking a slow, steady breath, Hassan mentally requested:

  System, give me the Basic Physique Manual.

  #####

  Initiating transfer of the Basic Physique Manual

  #####

  Even with all he’d witnessed, Hassan was unprepared for the sudden shift in sensation—the system’s strange otherworldliness still catching him off guard.

  Before he could orient himself, darkness consumed everything—then, a metallic, ancient-looking book emerged from the void.

  Its text was foreign, yet the meaning flowed effortlessly into his mind, as if the system whispered the translation directly into his understanding.

  A brief glance around the void revealed no discernible floor or surroundings, leaving Hassan with little to explore. Accepting the strange environment, he focused his attention on the manual and carefully opened it.

  The book began by detailing the physiology of the Zamongarai—a powerful subspecies of minotaurs. It outlined their strengths and vulnerabilities, along with foundational exercises designed to cultivate balanced growth.

  Unlike conventional bodybuilding guides, this manual prioritized agility—an essential combination of balance, stability, and flexibility that is often overlooked. It stressed that developing these foundational qualities should precede more advanced training.

  To support this approach, the manual introduced specific methods aimed at enhancing agility, positioning them as the groundwork for long-term physical development. While it also covered strategies for building muscle, strength, and endurance, these were presented as goals that could only be effectively pursued after achieving a solid base of physical control and coordination.

  Additionally, the manual highlighted the benefits of starting training at a young age, noting that early development significantly improves agility, dexterity, and flexibility—attributes that become increasingly difficult to cultivate with age.

  The manual explained that a Zamongarai's peak physical development occurred before the age of 30, after which growth slowed significantly. Because of this, it stressed the importance of training during those formative years, as the progress made early on would lay the groundwork for future advancement.

  Building on this foundation, the book then introduced vireth energy—a life force that flowed through the body, passively sustaining it and actively enhancing strength and vitality through dedicated training.

  Interestingly, the book revealed that vireth energy capacity was directly tied to the physique attribute—though reaching its full potential was anything but easy.

  According to the text, the body’s ability to gather and generate vireth energy depended not only on intense physical training, but also on the development of both the soul and physique attributes.

  That revelation caught Hassan’s attention.

  Until now, he hadn’t understood the purpose of the soul stat—but now, at least, he had one clear function tied to it.

  Another concept introduced in the book that puzzled him deeply was the so-called base physique attribute. According to the manual, the body would naturally develop its foundational attributes over time—provided it remained free of excessive vireth energy.

  Too much vireth energy led to energy overload—a state in which energy spilled out of its designated pathways and leaked into surrounding cells, permanently enhancing their strength and function overtime.

  The manual explained that these pathways typically included veins, arteries, and other structures responsible for transporting blood and channeling vireth energy. However, once energy overload began, the body’s natural growth—often referred to as the base physique attribute—slowed dramatically.

  At that point, the body shifted its focus to rapid enhancement fueled by excess vireth energy, boosting attributes at a much faster rate but at the cost of limiting further development in raw size and structural integrity. This trade-off was considered a fundamental flaw in the body’s design.

  The base physique attribute acted as a vital multiplier: the stronger it was, the more efficiently the body could contain and circulate vireth energy. This not only increased the available overflow but also amplified the body’s enhancements and expanded its overall physical potential.

  A larger overflow meant greater increases in attributes, making a strong base physique essential for long-term growth.

  It was a paradox: gaining power too quickly could ultimately limit one’s potential. In this world, patience wasn’t just a virtue—it was the foundation of lasting strength.

  Hassan recalled a basic math principle: even if someone started with a higher number, a smaller multiplier would eventually fall behind a larger one. If two people began with different base stats and one surged ahead early, they might seem superior at first. But with a stronger multiplier, the other would inevitably catch up—and surpass them—so long as the initial gap and difference in potential were great enough.

  That, he realized, was why the manual stressed early development. Delaying training came with consequences, the most critical being the inability to close a widening gap in growth.

  In this world, a solid start wasn’t just helpful—it was everything.

  The manual didn’t stop at exercises. It included a comprehensive dietary guide, adorned with illustrations of herbs, fruits, vegetables, and meats—though most were inaccessible in Hassan's current situation.

  He learned that the Zamongarai were omnivorous beings with robust digestive systems, even capable of breaking down grass—though the thought of resorting to that was far from appealing.

  The manual also warned of the dangers posed by potions, pills, and artificial enhancements, which could compromise the so-called vireth energy purity, ultimately stunting long-term progress.

  Impure energy disrupted the body’s natural energy overload state, sometimes causing cells to rupture from a rapid, uncontrolled surge of energy—or, conversely, triggering uneven or incomplete growth.

  He looked for more detail on purity—what might compromise it, and how to avoid it.

  But the explanation was vague: as long as no unnatural methods were used, purity would remain intact.

  Hassan took that to mean he should avoid anything resembling steroids—or magical shortcuts—that artificially accelerated physical growth.

  The manual also revealed that a Zamongarai’s size was directly proportional to their base physique attribute.

  Male Zamongarai typically stood an impressive 3.5 meters tall, while the elite among them could reach staggering heights of 4 meters—and battlelords or chieftains even taller, up to 4.5 meters.

  This sheer scale emphasized their overwhelming presence and raw, physical power.

  Abruptly, the text came to an end, revealing the average lifespan of a Zamongarai to be around five hundred years.

  At the bottom of the page, a single title stood out—Basic Physique Manual: Zamongarai Edition.

  No author was credited, which struck Hassan as odd.

  What stood out even more was his perfect recall of the entire book—from beginning to end, every word etched clearly into his mind.

  But that didn’t mean he had mastered its contents. It was memory without practice—knowledge without experience, like owning a map but never having walked the path.

  Unfortunately, the manual offered no method for training vireth energy—likely something covered in higher-level manuals, since this one was only basic.

  Still, even if it had, Hassan now understood the importance of building a solid foundation first.

  Rushing into energy overflow as a baby and stunting his growth would’ve been... well, incredibly dumb.

  That said, having the method in advance would’ve at least prepared him for when the time came.

  Now, he had no idea how to obtain the next level of the manual—or when he’d even get the chance.

  #####

  Transfer of Basic Physique Manual complete.

  #####

  The oppressive darkness around him suddenly twisted and shifted, and in an instant, Hassan found himself back inside the tent.

  A wave of exhaustion hit him like a crashing tide, as though he’d been awake for days on end.

  Unable to fight it, he succumbed to sleep without resistance.