The Forsaken World: Infinite Skill Evolution

Leeion Volder opened his eyes. A white ceiling greeted him. For several seconds, he remained motionless, staring at the unfamiliar surroundings. A steady beeping sound came from somewhere beside his bed, while the smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils. He frowned. "Where am I?" His voice sounded strange. He slowly turned his head and noticed a medical monitor, an intravenous tube connected to his arm, and a large window overlooking an unfamiliar city. Before he could investigate, a sharp pain exploded inside his skull. "Agh!" Memories flooded his mind. Different parents. Different childhood. Different schools. Different experiences. A young man named Leeion Volder. Eighteen years old. A resident of New Eden City. And a world where humanity had discovered another dimension. The Forsaken World. Leeion grabbed his head as the memories continued pouring into his consciousness. Several minutes passed before the pain subsided. He slowly lowered his hands. Then he laughed. "You're kidding me..." He had been an ordinary man on Earth. He remembered his previous life, his apartment, and the computer he had been using before falling asleep. Now he was occupying another person's body. He had transmigrated. Leeion examined his hands. They were slightly different from the ones he remembered, but otherwise healthy. "Well, at least I'm alive." He leaned against the pillow. If he had received a second life, he intended to make something of it. But first, he needed to understand this world. A World Changed Forever Thirty years ago, humanity discovered the Forsaken World. Initially, the discovery had been mistaken for an astronomical phenomenon. Mysterious dimensional distortions appeared across the planet. Strange portals opened, connecting Earth to an unknown realm. The first explorers entered. Only a handful returned. Their reports described an enormous world filled with floating mountains, ancient forests, mysterious ruins, and terrifying creatures. They also discovered supernatural resources. Minerals capable of strengthening the human body. Plants with extraordinary medicinal properties. Weapons containing mysterious energy. And creatures possessing abilities beyond human understanding. Humanity quickly realized that the Forsaken World represented an opportunity unlike anything in history. Then came the awakening phenomenon. Every person who reached eighteen years of age could awaken a Forsaken Mark. The mark established a connection to the mysterious dimension and allowed its owner to enter designated territories. People with powerful marks gained access to greater opportunities. Those with weaker marks generally struggled to survive. The Forsaken World became the foundation of a new civilization. Explorers became celebrities. Powerful organizations controlled valuable territories. Governments invested enormous resources into expeditions. And ordinary people dreamed of becoming powerful awakened individuals. Leeion absorbed the information. "So this world has supernatural abilities, monsters, and dimensional exploration." He smiled. "Interesting." The Volder Family The memories of his predecessor revealed that he wasn't entirely alone. His parents, Marcus and Evelyn Volder, had been professional explorers. His father was a skilled combat specialist, while his mother had specialized in medicinal plants and biological research. Six years earlier, both had disappeared during an expedition. Their exploration team had entered an unexplored territory. Their communication signals disappeared shortly afterward. A recovery team found no survivors. Their disappearance had devastated the original Leeion. He had grown up without his parents, living independently and dreaming of following their footsteps. Leeion closed his eyes. "I'll find out what happened to you." He didn't know whether the original owner of the body could hear him. But he intended to honor the life he had inherited. Three Days Until Awakening After being discharged from the hospital, Leeion returned to his apartment. He immediately began researching the Forsaken World. The first thing he discovered was that the dimension was divided into numerous territories. Beginner territories contained relatively weak creatures and basic resources. Intermediate regions contained stronger monsters, abandoned settlements, and dangerous dungeons. Advanced territories were home to powerful creatures and ancient civilizations. There were also forbidden regions where even legendary explorers feared to venture. He studied the different creature classifications. Classification Danger Ordinary Low Mutated Moderate Elite High Boss Very high Lord Extreme Legendary Catastrophic Mythical Unknown He also learned about the different grades of Forsaken Marks. Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, and Primordial. The higher the grade, the greater the potential. However, even a Common-grade explorer could become powerful through training and experience. Leeion liked that. He didn't want his future determined entirely by luck. He wanted control over his own development. He spent the next two days studying combat techniques, survival guides, beginner territories, and exploration equipment. His eighteenth birthday arrived before he knew it. The Awakening Ceremony New Eden City's central stadium was packed. Thousands of young people gathered to participate in the awakening ceremony. At the center of the arena stood a massive black monument. The Awakening Monument. A government official addressed the crowd. "Today, you will take your first step toward becoming explorers. Remember that your Forsaken Mark represents potential, not destiny." One by one, participants approached the monument. A young man placed his hand against its surface. Green light appeared. "Uncommon-grade Forsaken Mark!" The audience applauded. Another participant awakened a Rare-grade mark. Then an Epic-grade mark appeared, causing the entire stadium to erupt with excitement. Leeion watched quietly. He wasn't particularly nervous. He had no idea what grade he would receive, but he had already decided that he wouldn't allow disappointment to control his future. Eventually, his name was announced. "Leeion Volder!" He walked toward the monument. The stone was cold beneath his palm. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then a faint grey light emerged. A symbol resembling a broken circle appeared on his wrist. The examiner examined the readings. "Common-grade Forsaken Mark." A few people glanced at him before losing interest. Leeion withdrew his hand. A Common mark. Not impressive, but not unexpected. He turned to leave. Suddenly, something strange happened. Infinite Skill Panel A mechanical voice echoed inside his consciousness. [Unknown authority detected.] Leeion stopped. Nobody else reacted. [Analyzing host...] [Origin compatibility confirmed.] [Initiating system activation.] A brilliant blue interface materialized before his eyes. Leeion's pupils contracted. INFINITE SKILL PANEL Successfully Activated Host: Leeion Volder Level: 1 Skill Points: 0 Forsaken Mark: Common (Unidentified) System Authority: Origin Available Functions Skill Acquisition Skill Upgrade Skill Analysis Skill Storage Locked Functions Skill Evolution Skill Fusion Skill Extraction Skill Creation Leeion stared at the interface. A system! He actually possessed a system! He quickly moved away from the awakening monument and found a quiet corner. "System, explain your functions." [The Infinite Skill Panel allows the host to acquire, store, analyze, and upgrade skills.] "How do I acquire skills?" [Through observation, practice, instruction, manuals, and special acquisition conditions.] Leeion's eyes brightened. "Can I learn skills from monsters?" [Affirmative. Certain creature abilities can be acquired after satisfying their corresponding conditions.] "Can I learn magic, swordsmanship, crafting, and alchemy?" [Affirmative.] His excitement increased. He wouldn't be restricted to a single profession. He could learn multiple disciplines and develop them simultaneously. "How do I upgrade skills?" [Skill Points are required.] "Where do I get those?" [Skill Points are awarded for killing creatures within the Forsaken World. Rewards depend on creature strength, rarity, and other qualifying factors.] Leeion nodded. That explained the system's purpose. He would hunt creatures, collect points, and improve his abilities. A new notification appeared. [First Mission Generated.] New Mission FIRST BLOOD Objective: Enter the Forsaken World and kill your first creature. Reward: 10 Skill Points. Beginner Skill Acquisition Tutorial. Status: Available Leeion smiled. "Accepted." [Mission accepted.] He examined the interface again. There were still several locked functions, but he wasn't worried. He would unlock them eventually. A New Beginning The ceremony continued while Leeion studied his system. Several exploration organizations approached newly awakened individuals, offering training programs and recruitment opportunities. One representative wearing a blue uniform approached him. "Young man, are you interested in joining Silver Horizon Exploration Group?" Leeion listened as the representative explained the organization's beginner training program. It offered combat instruction, equipment rentals, survival courses, and supervised expeditions. The offer sounded useful. However, Leeion wasn't interested in signing an agreement immediately. "I'll consider it." The representative handed him a communication card before departing. Leeion placed it inside his pocket. He still needed equipment and information. Possessing a system didn't mean he could ignore preparation. After the ceremony ended, he walked outside the stadium. In the distance, he could see the enormous dimensional facility connecting humanity to the Forsaken World. Beyond those gates lay an entire dimension waiting to be explored. Leeion looked at his wrist. His Common-grade mark glowed faintly. Then he focused on his system. [Host Status.] Leeion Volder Level: 1 Skill Points: 0 Available Skills: None Combat Experience: 0 System Authority: Origin Evolution potential: Unrestricted Leeion clenched his fist. He had arrived in this world with nothing. No powerful family. No extraordinary reputation. No legendary awakening. But he possessed something far more interesting. The ability to learn and evolve. He would turn ordinary skills into extraordinary techniques. He would hunt monsters, explore ancient ruins, and uncover forgotten abilities. He would become powerful enough to investigate his parents' disappearance. And eventually, he would discover the truth behind the Forsaken World itself. Leeion looked toward the dimensional gate. "Just wait." A faint blue glow flickered across his palm. Far beyond the known territories, beneath the ruins of an ancient civilization, an enormous creature slowly opened its eyes. It had slept for thousands of years. Yet something familiar had awakened. A voice older than humanity echoed through the darkness. "Origin..." The creature's eyes narrowed. "So it has returned." [Origin Authority synchronization: 0.01%.] [Warning: Unknown entities capable of detecting Origin Authority have been identified.] Leeion couldn't see that notification. He was already walking home, preparing for his first expedition. His second life had officially begun. And the Forsaken World was about to gain a new predator.