Noah's eyebrows furrowed as he processed the information. 'Higher growth potential?' It sounded impressive, but nothing was truly that good in the world. Being Classless set him apart, but it also meant he was forging a path no one else had.

  "Bounded by nothing but supported by no one," he murmured. "I'm on my own with this. As for this Special Note, hmm, since I'm classless, my stats are the weakest possible. I would need to find a way to increase them."

  He swiped back to the main menu, his finger hovering over the other options.

  "I should explore the functions, huh," he murmured.

  The system acknowledged his command with a subtle shimmer.

  [Menu Options Expanded]

  Status

  Detailed breakdown of current physical, spiritual, and energy attributes.

  Skills

  Acquired abilities and skill trees.

  Authority

  Unique privileges granted to the Sovereign. [Locked: Progression required.]

  Inventory

  Spatial storage for items and resources. [Active.]

  Points

  Currency for system upgrades and abilities. Current balance: 4 Points.

  Noah's gaze lingered on the glowing interface, curiosity brewing as he looked at the options.

  The expanded screen seemed to be filled with endless possibilities as he first focused on [Skills], eager to uncover what the system had granted him.

  "Open Skills," he softly said.

  The interface shimmered, text scrolling into place.

  [Skills – Active and Passive Abilities]

  Active Skills:

  Essence Strike (E Rank, Uncommon Grade):

  Description: Concentrates Soul Energy into a weapon or barehanded strike, dealing amplified damage. Effectiveness scales with the host's Soul Energy reserve.

  Passive Skills:

  Sovereign's Adaptation (Unique):

  Description: Enhances learning speed and efficiency for techniques, weapons, and skills. Host can adapt quickly to new environments and combat scenarios.

  Soul Resilience (E Rank, Rare Grade):

  Description: Mitigates the effects of the injured soul, improving energy recovery and resistance to soul-based attacks.

  Noah's eyes lit up as he read the descriptions, especially the details about Essence Strike and Sovereign's Adaptation. These were powerful tools for someone starting out, especially in an unfamiliar and dangerous world.

  "Essence Strike, huh?" Noah mused, his curiosity piqued. "Let's see how it feels in action."

  He unsheathed the sword resting at his side, its blade catching the faint glow of the multiple moons in the sky.

  Gripping the hilt tightly, Noah focused his mind, channeling the energy flowing within him. A faint hum began to resonate through the weapon as the skill activated.

  The blade gleamed faintly, surrounded by a thin veil of translucent energy.

  Noah took a deep breath and swung the sword in a wide arc. The moment the strike completed, a ripple of energy surged outward, carving a shallow groove into the ground ahead.

  "So that's Essence Strike." His voice carried a mix of surprise and satisfaction. The energy amplification was quite strong, the strike leaving his arms tingling with residual power.

  Noah turned toward the forest edge, where faint rustles hinted at wildlife or perhaps something more dangerous.

  Testing the skill gave him a sense of its power, but he knew practice and mastery would be essential in wielding it effectively.

  As the skill's effect faded, Noah turned back to the interface. He selected [Inventory] next, curious about the spatial storage function.

  [Inventory – Accessible Storage]

  Slot 1: Rockhide Bear Scales (x12)

  Slot 2: Rockhide Bear Talons (x4)

  Slot 3: Rockhide Bear Blood (1 Flask)

  Slot 4: Rockhide Bear Meat (x5 Portions)

  The neatly organized grid confirmed that the system had already stored his resources.

  He exhaled a helpless sigh, "I lost all the other loot due to that fucking bear."

  But thinking about the convenience of not carrying everything physically was a relief, especially with the weight of the bear's remains.

  "Good," Noah muttered. "This'll make things easier."

  As Noah selected [Points], the interface flashed before displaying a detailed breakdown of the system's point mechanics.

  [Points – System Currency]

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Points:

  Total: 4

  Description: Used to unlock and upgrade abilities and skills.

  Sovereign Points:

  Current Balance: 0

  Description: Exclusively earned through exceptional feats or completing Sovereign Quests. Grants access to unique system functions and upgrades beyond conventional limitations.

  Noah's gaze lingered on the section for Sovereign Points. The description was vague yet exciting. He couldn't shake the feeling that these points would be pivotal to his survival in ways he hadn't yet imagined.

  "Exceptional feats, huh?" Noah murmured. His grip tightened on the longsword at his waist. "Looks like the system won't make it easy for me to survive in this world."

  He closed the menu and stood still for a moment, letting the cool night air calm his racing thoughts. The system's potential was enormous, but so were the challenges ahead.

  Just as he was about to begin his practice, a soft chime echoed in his mind, followed by the familiar cold, mechanical voice of the system.

  [New Sovereign Quest Available!]

  Noah's eyes widened as the interface displayed the quest details.

  [Sovereign Quest: Sovereign's Domination]

  Description:

  Demonstrate your potential as a Sovereign by achieving a significant feat that sets you apart from the rest.

  Objective 1: Eliminate a higher-ranked creature (D Rank or above).

  Objective 2: Protect your teammates while completing the task.

  Rewards:

  Sovereign Points: 2

  Bonus Reward: Passive Skill – King's Body (Grants stats equal to an Epic Class).

  Time Limit: None.

  Noah's lips twitched as he read the quest. The prospect of fighting a creature above his current rank was daunting, but the rewards were too enticing to ignore.

  "Finally, a way to increase my stats. But this higher-ranked creature…" he muttered, his mind already working through the possibilities.

  The Rockhide Bear had been a challenge at E Rank, and now he'd need to face something even stronger.

  "No point thinking about that right now. I need to first practice what I already have." Noah exhaled deeply, closing the system interface with a flicker of determination in his eyes.

  He tightened his grip on the longsword at his side, ready to begin practicing. The blade had served him well against the Rockhide Bear, but he knew his technique needed refinement to ensure survival in future battles.

  As he raised the sword to take his stance, his gaze drifted along its blade. In the faint moonlight, he noticed the nicks and scratches filling its surface.

  The once-polished blade was now dulled, with jagged edges where it had clashed against the beast's rocky scales.

  His heart sank as he spotted a faint crack running from the base toward the middle of the blade.

  He ran his thumb over the crack, frowning. "It's on its last legs," he muttered to himself. "One more fight like that, and it'll shatter."

  For a moment, he considered putting it aside fearing it might break during mid-training. But as his fingers tightened around the hilt, his expression slowly hardened with resolve. "Tomorrow," he whispered. "I'll find better equipment for everyone tomorrow. For now, this will have to do."

  Even with a damaged weapon, practice was necessary. He couldn't afford to stop practicing and improving, not now, or else he would never be able to find answers to a lot of his questions.

  Noah calmed his breathing, allowing the cool night air to fill his lungs as he adjusted his stance.

  His feet dug slightly into the soft soil, grounding him. With his legs slightly bent and his weight evenly distributed, he focused on finding the perfect balance.

  "Start from the basics," he muttered, straightening his back and gripping the longsword firmly with both hands.

  He began with slow movements, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. With each step, he changed his stance slightly to better balance his entire body.

  Noah focused on maintaining his balance, ensuring his posture remained straight despite the added strain from his aching body and the weapon's growing instability.

  The faint rustle of leaves and distant chirps of creatures faded into the background as Noah immersed himself in his training.

  Once his stance felt natural, he transitioned into basic slashes and thrusts. The blade shook softly as it cut through the air, its jagged edges catching faint glimmers of moonlight.

  Though the weapon's condition made it unwieldy at times, Noah compensated, adjusting his grip to steady its path.

  "Left slash, reset. Thrust, reset. Overhead slash, reset," he murmured, repeating the sequence over and over until the motions flowed seamlessly.

  Despite the crack threatening the blade's integrity, Noah treated the longsword as though it were whole, visualizing each strike connecting with an unseen target.

  Satisfied with his form, Noah decided to push himself further. He tightened his grip, shifting his focus to the energy coursing through his body. His breathing slowed as he concentrated, feeling the faint hum of Essence stirring within him.

  "Time to test it again," he muttered, activating Essence Strike.

  A subtle warmth built in his chest before flowing through his arms, spreading into the longsword. The blade began to emit a faint, translucent glow, the Essence wrapping around its surface like an ethereal shroud.

  Noah swung the weapon horizontally, aiming at an invisible target in front of him. The strike carried a surge of energy that rippled outward, carving a shallow groove into the ground where the blade passed.

  The force of the swing sent a slight shockwave up his arms, but Noah steadied himself. He exhaled, the lingering hum of Essence fading as the energy dissipated.

  "Good," he muttered, examining the groove in the soil. "The strike is clean, but the control needs work."

  He reset his stance and prepared to channel Essence again. This time, he focused on reducing the delay between activating the skill and executing the strike.

  The glow returned, and he swung downward with more force. The blade left another groove, this one deeper and more precise.

  "Better," Noah said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Again."

  For the next hour, Noah alternated between practicing his stance and executing Essence Strike. Each attempt brought subtle improvements and exhaustion, from smoother transitions to greater control over the energy.

  The longsword, despite its fragility, held together under the strain, allowing him to push himself further.

  By the time he finally lowered the weapon, his arms burned with fatigue, and his breathing came in short, sharp bursts. Sweat dripped from his brow, but satisfaction filled his chest.

  He gazed at the cracked blade. "About time you rest, buddy," he whispered, his voice soft. "You held out well enough."

  Noah sheathed the longsword gently, its faintly cracked blade sliding into the worn scabbard. He stood still for a moment, letting the cool night air soothe his aching muscles.

  Noah took one last glance at the grooves he had carved into the ground, silently marveling at his new powers.

  "At least here, I can fulfill my dream of slashing a mountain with a single sword swing." He chuckled faintly.

  "Tomorrow will be a long day," he said, looking at the dark sky before turning back toward the village.

  The walk back to the infirmary was slow, his body heavy with exhaustion.

  Each step felt more difficult than the last, but the sight of the village's faint lights spurred him onward.

  The quiet noises of the village were comforting, a stark contrast to the chaotic battles he had faced today.

  When Noah pushed open the infirmary door, the warm, herbal scent greeted him.

  The dimly lit room was peaceful, his teammates resting soundly on their cots. Daniel was slumped in a chair near the far corner, his head tilted awkwardly as he dozed off. The faint rise and fall of Leah's, Emma's, and Victor's chests were a reassuring sight.

  Noah walked softly to an empty cot near the others, careful not to disturb them. He eased himself down, barely feeling the rough fabric of the cot as his exhaustion began to take over.

  He glanced at his teammates, a faint smile forming on his face. "We made it through today," he murmured to himself. 'They might really become my good friends.'

  Leaning his longsword against the wall beside him, Noah stretched out on the cot and closed his eyes.