The golden light of the registration scroll slowly faded.
A gentle chime echoed throughout Mistvale.
Name Successfully Registered.
Welcome to Divine Nexus, Aster.
Yevhen quietly repeated the name to himself.
"...Aster."
A simple name.
Nothing grand.
Nothing intimidating.
Just like the person who chose it.
He remembered reading that an Aster was a small star—a star that did not outshine the heavens, yet still shone with its own light.
It suited him.
He wasn't born to stand above everyone else.
If he ever reached that height...
It would be because he climbed there himself.
The Primal Codex remained silent, offering neither praise nor judgment.
Aster smiled faintly.
"Let's begin."
The village streets had grown livelier as more newcomers arrived.
Blue windows floated before countless players as they admired their equipment, accepted quests, or excitedly formed parties.
Some proudly displayed flashy usernames.
Others argued over which class would dominate the future.
Aster simply observed them.
Eventually, a three-story stone building came into view.
A bronze plaque hung above its entrance.
Mistvale Adventurer's Association
Unlike the cheerful atmosphere outside, the interior buzzed with disciplined order.
Rows of reception counters welcomed newly arrived adventurers while armored veterans quietly exchanged reports with guild officials.
Quest boards covered one wall, packed with notices ranging from herb gathering to monster extermination.
Aster approached the nearest counter.
Behind it sat a young receptionist with chestnut hair tied neatly behind her shoulders.
She greeted him with a practiced smile.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Association."
"Is this your first registration?"
"Yes."
She slid a crystal tablet toward him.
"Please place your hand here."
The crystal emitted a soft glow.
Moments later, several lines of text appeared.
The receptionist glanced at the results before nodding.
"Registration complete."
She handed him a small iron badge engraved with the letter F.
"Congratulations."
"As of this moment, you are officially a Class F Adventurer."
She continued her explanation.
"All new adventurers begin at Class F."
"Complete requests, improve your abilities, and pass advancement trials to rise through the ranks."
"Your actions will determine how far you climb."
Aster accepted the badge.
It was surprisingly light.
"So..."
"Everyone starts from the bottom."
"I suppose that's only fair."
The receptionist smiled.
"I wish you success, Mr. Aster."
Leaving the Association, Aster wandered toward the village's training grounds.
Unlike the noisy streets, this area echoed with disciplined shouts.
Dozens of beginners practiced beneath the guidance of experienced instructors.
Wooden swords clashed.
Arrows struck distant targets.
Simple spells illuminated the air.
Since Mistvale's Combat Mode remained disabled, injuries were impossible within the training grounds. Even failed techniques simply dispersed into harmless light.
It was the perfect place to learn.
Aster stood quietly at the edge of the field.
He wasn't interested in flashy sword techniques.
Nor destructive magic.
His thoughts drifted back to the Primal Codex.
Master twenty Uncommon-Rank skills.
The quest didn't specify combat skills.
It simply required skills.
"If understanding is what matters..."
"...then I should begin with the foundation."
His gaze settled on an elderly instructor standing apart from the others.
Unlike the sword masters, the old man wasn't teaching attacks.
Instead, he corrected the breathing, posture, and stance of young adventurers.
"Relax your shoulders."
"Breathe through your abdomen."
"Strength without a proper body will collapse."
Every movement the old instructor demonstrated appeared effortless.
Yet every student who copied him immediately found their footing steadier.
Aster watched in silence.
Something stirred within him.
The icon of Echo of Origin shimmered.
Without thinking, he focused on the instructor.
Unique Skill Activated
Echo of Origin
Observing Target...
Skill Detected
Iron Body Foundation
Rank: Uncommon
Compatibility: High
Copy Skill?
YES / NO
Aster's heartbeat quickened.
"So this is how it works..."
He selected YES.
The world slowed.
The instructor's movements became astonishingly clear.
Every breath.
Every shift of weight.
Every tightening and relaxation of muscle.
It was as though invisible lines traced the flow of force throughout the old man's body.
Knowledge poured into Aster's mind.
Not enough to master it...
But enough to imitate it.
A new notification appeared.
Temporary Skill Acquired
Iron Body Foundation (Uncommon)
A breathing technique that tempers the body from within.
Slightly improves physical constitution, endurance, and recovery while active.
Duration Remaining: 30 Minutes
Permanent Record: Not Achieved
Requirement: Comprehend the Truth of the Skill.
A warm sensation spread through Aster's limbs.
His breathing instinctively changed.
His posture straightened.
The fatigue from hours of walking quietly faded.
"...Amazing."
It wasn't dramatic.
His muscles hadn't suddenly bulged.
His attributes hadn't skyrocketed.
Instead, his body simply felt... balanced.
As though every movement required less effort than before.
The old instructor suddenly glanced toward him.
Their eyes met.
Aster immediately looked away.
"...Did he notice?"
The instructor narrowed his eyes for only a moment before returning to his lesson.
Aster quietly exhaled.
The Primal Codex spoke once more.
First Observation Complete.
Copied Skill: Iron Body Foundation
Comprehension: 0%
Only through understanding can imitation become truth.
Aster stared at the words.
"So using it isn't enough."
"I have to understand why it strengthens the body."
He looked back toward the elderly instructor, who patiently corrected each student's posture instead of demonstrating powerful techniques.
For the first time, Aster realized that true strength wasn't hidden in spectacular attacks.
It began with the body itself.
And perhaps...
The First Truth of the Primal Codex would begin there as well.