The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the hill overlooking Mistvale.
Yevhen remained seated beneath the ancient oak, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious words displayed by the Primal Codex.
Requirement to Proceed: Discover the First Truth.
He had replayed those words countless times in his mind.
"...What are you?"
Almost unconsciously, his hand reached beneath his tunic.
His fingers wrapped around the familiar silver pendant.
The necklace.
It should have been impossible.
When he entered Divine Nexus, every belonging from the real world should have remained behind. The game only transferred consciousness—not physical objects.
Yet the pendant had followed him.
It felt just as real as it had in the hospital.
"...How?"
He tightened his grip.
"Were you brought here because of the Primal Codex..."
"...or was the Codex awakened because of you?"
The crystal answered with silence.
Yevhen sighed.
"I guess talking to a necklace won't—"
Thump.
The pendant pulsed.
A deep vibration spread through his hand.
"...!"
The runes engraved upon the silver surface ignited one after another, glowing with an ancient crimson light.
Before he could react, the necklace dissolved.
"No...!"
Its silver frame shattered into countless streams of light that flowed toward his chest.
Pain erupted.
Yevhen gasped as the light pierced through his skin without leaving a wound.
It reached his heart.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Each heartbeat echoed louder than the last.
Scarlet runes spread across his chest before sinking beneath his skin, disappearing as though they had always been part of him.
The pain vanished.
Only warmth remained.
A familiar parchment unfolded before his eyes.
Unlike the ordinary system windows of Divine Nexus, this one bore no decorative borders or polished interface. Its pages looked ancient, worn by countless ages.
The words slowly carved themselves into existence.
PRIMAL CODEX
Synchronization Complete.
The Heart has accepted the Legacy.
Beginning First Trial...
A new page turned by itself.
Dark ink spread across the parchment.
Chapter I — The First Truth
Objective:
Master 20 Uncommon-Rank Skills.
Progress: 0 / 20
Reward: Unknown
Unique Skill Acquired
Echo of Origin (Unique)
Description:
Observe a target and temporarily replicate one of their learned skills.
Duration and effectiveness depend upon the user's comprehension.
Copied skills disappear after a short period.
Restriction:
A copied skill cannot become permanent through repeated use.
Only by comprehending the Truth behind the skill may it be permanently recorded within the Primal Codex.
Yevhen stared blankly.
"...Copy... other people's skills?"
The page continued writing on its own.
The Codex does not steal power.
It records understanding.
Power without comprehension is fleeting.
Truth transforms imitation into mastery.
The final sentence etched itself onto the parchment before the book quietly closed.
Silence returned.
Yevhen remained frozen beneath the oak tree.
His heart was still beating faster than normal.
He slowly opened his status panel once more.
There, beneath his ordinary list of attributes, a new section had appeared.
Unique Skills
• Echo of Origin — Lv. 1
No other player should possess a Unique Skill at Level 1.
Yet there it was.
He looked toward the village training grounds in the distance, where novice adventurers practiced swordsmanship, magic, and archery under the guidance of instructors.
A thought crossed his mind.
"If I can observe their techniques..."
"...then I can borrow them."
His gaze sharpened.
"But borrowing isn't enough."
He remembered the Codex's words.
Power without comprehension is fleeting.
To keep a skill forever...
He would have to understand it.
Not simply how to perform it—
But 'why' it worked.
A smile slowly spread across Yevhen's face.
For someone born without talent...
This ability was perfect.
He didn't need to be gifted.
He only needed to learn better than anyone else.
The journey toward the First Truth had finally begun.