AWAKENED IN ANOTHER WORLD AS AN HIGH ELF

CHAPTER 6: The First Quest

Ethan’s eyes remained fixed on the system interface, his attention solely focused on LOGAN VARELLO’s INFO.

If he could unlock Logan’s information, perhaps he would gain access to the man’s history, his identity, his relationships, and maybe even his memories.

That last possibility made Ethan pause.

If he could access Logan’s memories, he might finally understand what had happened to him. He might discover how Logan died, why Ethan had taken his place, and what kind of world he had been thrown into.

But the System required him to complete a quest first.

He remembered seeing one quest available in the home screen. He would check it soon. But first, he wanted to understand the System itself.

Ethan moved his finger toward the third option.

[ SYSTEM INFO ]

The screen responded immediately.

The previous list faded away, and a larger panel unfolded before him.

[ SYSTEM INFORMATION ]

[System Designation: SOVEREIGN CLASS ]

[System Status: ACTIVE ]

[ System Origin: CELESTIAL ENGINEER ]

[ System Creation: CLASSIFIED ]

[Primary Purpose: To provide a compatible host with the information, resources and adaptive capabilities required for survival, progression and objective completion.]

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

A celestial engineer?

He read the words again, wondering what kind of being could create something like this.

The System continued displaying information.

[ SYSTEM PRIMARY CAPABILITIES ]

[ 1. INFORMATION ACQUISITION ]

[ The System can identify, organize, and display specific information requested by the host, provided the information is accessible within the System’s current authority. ]

[ 2. TARGET ANALYSIS ]

[ The System can identify living beings, races, physical conditions, abilities, combat potential, relationships, and other relevant characteristics. ]

[ 3. HOST DEVELOPMENT ]

[ The System can assist the host in developing physical abilities, combat skills, magical compatibility, and other capabilities through training, quests, and system functions. ]

[ 4. QUEST GENERATION ]

[ The System can generate objectives based on the host’s circumstances, available opportunities, and required progression. ]

[ 5. WORLD DATABASE ]

[ The System contains information regarding the current world, including races, kingdoms, magical systems, historical events, and major threats. Access to certain information may require progression or authorization. ]

[ 6. SYSTEM STORAGE ]

[ The System provides access to a private storage space for items, equipment, and other objects compatible with system storage requirements. ]

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.

Storage.

That was useful.

He had seen enough fantasy movies to know that an inventory system could be incredibly valuable, especially if he was going to be involved in dangerous heists.

The System continued.

[ SYSTEM SECONDARY CAPABILITIES ]

[ 1. BODY ACCESS ]

[ The System grants the host access to the physical body of Logan Varello. ]

[ 2. SKILL ACCESS ]

[ The System grants the host access to Logan Varello’s skills and learned abilities. ]

[ 3. KNOWLEDGE ACCESS ]

[ The System grants the host access to Logan Varello’s learned knowledge, including languages, general education, and practical skills. ]

[ 4. POWER ACCESS ]

[ The System grants the host access to Logan Varello’s natural abilities, magical potential, and other powers compatible with the host’s current condition. ]

[ 5. MEMORY ACCESS ]

[ STATUS: UNAVAILABLE ]

[ The host does not possess access to Logan Varello’s memories. ]

[ Reason: Personal memories are deeply integrated with the original consciousness and cannot be transferred without destabilizing the Host's current soul structure. ]

Ethan stared at the words, and his heart sank the moment he finished reading them.

He had hoped the System would grant him access to Logan’s memories, but apparently, that was not part of the deal.

He could use Logan’s body. He could use Logan’s skills. He could access Logan’s knowledge and powers. But he could not access Logan’s memories.

That meant he still had no idea what had happened to the original owner of this body. He still had no idea how Logan had died. And he still had no idea why Ethan had awakened in his place.

He slowly exhaled and continued reading.

[ ADDITIONAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ]

[ 1. SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS ]

[ The System can provide alerts regarding important events, detected threats, available quests, and other information relevant to the host. ]

[ 2. HOST COMPATIBILITY ]

[ The System continuously monitors the host’s compatibility with the current body and available abilities. ]

[ 3. AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS ]

[ The System can analyze unfamiliar objects, environments, magical phenomena, and other detectable targets. ]

[ 4. THREAT ASSESSMENT ]

[ The System can identify and assess potential threats based on available information. ]

[ 5. QUEST REWARDS ]

[ Successful completion of quests may grant experience, abilities, items, access privileges, or other rewards determined by the System. ]

[ 6. RESTRICTED INFORMATION ]

[ Certain information may remain inaccessible until the host satisfies the required conditions. ]

Ethan read through the information carefully.

This was not simply a panel that gave him random abilities.

It was a complete system designed to help him understand the world, develop his capabilities, and survive.

At least, that was what it claimed.

He continued scrolling through the panel, and a final section appeared beneath the list.

[ SYSTEM OPERATIONAL NOTES ]

[ 1. HOST CAN COMMUNICATE WITH SYSTEM WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD. ]

[ 2. HOST CAN OPERATE THE SYSTEM WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE INTERFACE. ]

[ 3. HOST ONLY NEEDS TO THINK WHENEVER HE WISHES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SYSTEM. ]

[ 4. SYSTEM RESPONSES ARE DISPLAYED DIRECTLY WITHIN THE HOST’S FIELD OF VISION. ]

[ 5. SYSTEM INTERFACE IS VISIBLE ONLY TO THE HOST UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ]

[ 6. SYSTEM WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY CONTROL THE HOST’S BODY WITHOUT PERMISSION. ]

[ 7. SYSTEM WILL NOT ALTER THE HOST’S MEMORIES, PERSONALITY, OR FREE WILL. ]

[ 8. SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION BASED ON AVAILABLE DATA AND CURRENT AUTHORITY. ]

[ 9. SYSTEM INFORMATION MAY BE INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE WHEN DATA IS RESTRICTED, CORRUPTED, OR UNAVAILABLE. ]

[ 10. SYSTEM ACCESS MAY EXPAND AS THE HOST PROGRESSES. ]

Ethan stared at the final line for several seconds.

Then he slowly looked away from the panel.

He had no idea what a celestial engineer was, or why such a being had created this system, or why he had been selected as the host.

But at least he now understood the basic rules.

The System could help him.

It could give him access to Logan’s abilities and knowledge. It could provide information about the world. It could generate quests. And it could apparently guide him through whatever had happened to him.

Ethan rubbed his face and let out a slow breath.

“This is insane,” he muttered.

Then he remembered something.

The System had said he could operate it without touching the interface. He had been using his finger to press the buttons, but apparently, he did not need to.

Ethan returned his gaze to the screen.

“Return to the home screen,” he said in his mind, slightly doubting it would work.

Before he could blink, the interface changed.

The information panel folded inward, and the home screen appeared again.

Ethan stared at it, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Oh,” he murmured. “That’s actually convenient.”

He glanced at the options.

[ HOME SCREEN ]

[▸INFO ] [▸STATS ] [▸SHOP ] [▸ARMORY ] [▸MAP] [▸LOG] [▸ACHIEVEMENTS] [▸QUESTS] [▸SETTINGS]

[ • QUESTS: 1 AVAILABLE ]

[ • SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS: 3 ]

[ WORLD DATABASE: PARTIALLY LOCKED ]

[ HOST ASSISTANCE: ACTIVE ]

His eyes moved toward the quest option.

“Open quests,” he thought, his eyes lingering on the option.

The System responded instantly.

The home screen faded, and the quest interface opened before him.

Ethan’s smile widened.

This was getting much easier to use.

[ QUESTS ]

[ AVAILABLE QUESTS: 1 ]

[ MAIN QUEST ]

[ TITLE: SUCCEED IN CARRYING OUT TEAM PLAN TODAY ]

[ STATUS: AVAILABLE ]

[ OBJECTIVE: SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT THE TEAM’S PLANNED OPERATION AT THE KING’S CEREMONY. ]

[ TIME LIMIT: TODAY ]

[ REWARD: LOGAN VARELLO INFORMATION ACCESS ]

[ ADDITIONAL REWARDS: UNKNOWN ]

[ FAILURE PENALTY: UNKNOWN ]

Ethan stared at the quest.

The King’s ceremony.

That was the reason everyone had been rushing him. That was the reason Adrian had mentioned their three-year plan. That was the reason Lyra had insisted they had only fifteen minutes left.

The ceremony was not simply some royal celebration. It was part of a plan, and Ethan knew absolutely nothing about it.

He stared at the quest for a while, then thought about the information he had seen earlier.

The System had mentioned a prophecy.

The Seven Rulers of Darkness.

The name had stood out to him the moment he saw it.

He wondered whether the team’s plan had anything to do with that.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the quest panel flickered.

A new notification appeared.

[ QUEST OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS AVAILABLE. ]

Ethan blinked.

He had not touched anything.

The System was responding to his thoughts.

[ WOULD HOST LIKE TO VIEW COMPLETE TEAM OBJECTIVE? ]

[ YES] [ NO ]

Ethan’s eyes widened.

“Yes,” he replied immediately.

The quest panel dissolved into a larger window, and a detailed report began loading in front of him.

For the first time since waking up in Logan’s body, Ethan felt as though he was finally about to understand the situation he had been thrown into.

[ TEAM OPERATION: THE SEVEN RULERS OF DARKNESS ]

[ OPERATION STATUS: ACTIVE ]

[ OPERATION ORIGIN ]

[ Logan Varello and his companions are recognized as a legendary group of professional thieves, adventurers, and combat specialists. ]

[ TEAM MEMBERS: 5 ]

[ TEAM HISTORY: EXTENSIVE ]

[ OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE: HIGH ]

[ For several years, the team carried out dangerous heists, infiltrated heavily guarded locations, and completed missions considered impossible by ordinary criminals and adventurers. Their reputation spread across kingdoms, criminal organizations, royal courts, and magical societies. ]

Ethan read the information with growing interest.

So Logan and his friends had been legendary thieves.

That explained the heist partner status.

That explained Mira’s ability to infiltrate royal and military organizations.

That explained Adrian’s irritation about their three-year plan.

But why would a group of professional thieves suddenly decide to save the world?

The next section appeared almost immediately.

[ CHANGE OF OBJECTIVE ]

[ One year ago, the team abandoned its previous lifestyle of theft, adventure, and personal gain. ]

[ REASON: LOSS OF INTEREST IN PREVIOUS OBJECTIVES. ]

[ NEW PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: PREVENT THE PROPHECY OF THE SEVEN RULERS OF DARKNESS FROM COMING TO PASS. ]

[ TEAM DECISION: ELIMINATE THE SEVEN RULERS OF DARKNESS BEFORE THE PROPHECY IS FULFILLED. ]

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

They had gotten bored of being thieves and decided to save the world?

He read the line again.

It sounded ridiculous.

Yet the System displayed it without hesitation.

[ PROPHECY INFORMATION ]

[ The world contains seven powerful rulers of darkness. ]

[ Their identities, origins, and complete abilities remain restricted. ]

[ The prophecy predicts that the seven rulers will eventually bring about a catastrophic event that will affect the entire world. ]

[ COMPLETE PROPHECY DETAILS: AVAILABLE THROUGH WORLD INFO. ]

Ethan stared at the final line.

Seven rulers.

Seven powerful beings.

And apparently, Logan and his friends had decided to kill all of them before the prophecy could come true.

He slowly shook his head.

“What kind of world is this?” he muttered.

The System continued loading.

[ CURRENT OPERATION ]

[ PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: ELIMINATE THE FIRST RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

[ TARGET LOCATION: KINGDOM OF ASTERIA. ]

[ TARGET IDENTITY: UNKNOWN TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. ]

[ TARGET STATUS: RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

[ TEAM INTELLIGENCE: THE KING OF ASTERIA IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE FIRST RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

[ TARGET BACKGROUND ]

[ The King of Asteria is publicly recognized as the ruler of the kingdom and the father of the royal family. His public reputation is that of a powerful monarch who maintains order and protects his people. ]

[ HOWEVER, TEAM INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED A PATTERN OF SUSPICIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM. ]

[ REPORTED EVENTS INCLUDE: ]

[ 1. BANDIT ATTACKS ON TRAVELERS AND MERCHANTS. ]

[ 2. DISAPPEARANCES OF ORDINARY CITIZENS. ]

[ 3. KIDNAPPINGS OF SUPERNATURAL CREATURES. ]

[ 4. ATTACKS ON REMOTE VILLAGES. ]

[ 5. DISAPPEARANCES OF PEOPLE WHO ATTEMPTED TO INVESTIGATE THE EVENTS. ]

[ 6. MOVEMENT OF UNKNOWN GROUPS INTO AND OUT OF RESTRICTED ROYAL TERRITORIES. ]

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he read through the list.

Bandit attacks.

Kidnappings.

Missing people.

It sounded like the kingdom had been suffering from random crimes for years.

But according to the System, the team believed there was a connection.

[ TEAM ANALYSIS ]

[ The team believes the reported incidents are not random. ]

[ Evidence suggests that the King of Asteria may be coordinating or permitting the events for an unknown purpose. ]

[ TARGET MOTIVE: UNKNOWN. ]

[ TARGET FINAL OBJECTIVE: UNKNOWN. ]

[ THREAT ASSESSMENT: EXTREME. ]

[ OPERATIONAL CONCLUSION: THE KING OF ASTERIA IS A POTENTIAL RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

Ethan stared at the screen.

The king had been kidnapping people, which meant that meant the king was involved in something far more serious than ordinary criminal activity.

But what?

Why would a king kidnap his own people?

What could he possibly want from them?

The System did not provide an answer.

Instead, the next section appeared.

[ CURRENT OPPORTUNITY ]

[ EVENT: ROYAL CEREMONY ]

[ HOST: KING OF ASTERIA ]

[ OCCASION: CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF THE KING’S NEW SON. ]

[ PUBLIC INVITATION: ALL CITIZENS AND VISITORS ARE PERMITTED TO ATTEND. ]

Ethan read the information, his expression becoming more thoughtful.

The ceremony was being held to celebrate the birth of the king’s son.

Everyone had been invited.

That sounded like a normal royal celebration.

But the team did not believe it was normal.

[ TEAM SUSPICION ]

[ The team suspects the ceremony may serve a secondary purpose beyond the public celebration. ]

[ REASON: THE KINGDOM HAS NEVER PREVIOUSLY GRANTED ORDINARY CITIZENS UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE ROYAL CASTLE. ]

[ ADDITIONAL CONCERN: THE CEREMONY PROVIDES AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEAM TO ENTER THE CASTLE WITHOUT IMMEDIATE SUSPICION. ]

Ethan’s eyes widened.

The castle. That was their real target.

The ceremony was simply a way to get inside.

The next section confirmed it.

[ TARGET LOCATION ]

[ ROYAL CASTLE OF ASTERIA ]

[ LOCATION: CAPITAL CITY OF ASTERIA ]

[ SECURITY LEVEL: EXTREME ]

[ NORMAL ACCESS: RESTRICTED ]

[ MAGICAL BARRIERS: ACTIVE ]

[ ROYAL GUARDS: HIGHLY TRAINED ]

[ SUPERNATURAL SECURITY: PRESENT ]

[ INFILTRATION DIFFICULTY: NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. ]

Ethan stared at the words.

Even for a group of legendary thieves, breaking into the royal castle was almost impossible.

The place was heavily guarded by powerful creatures and magical barriers.

Ordinary citizens were never allowed anywhere near the castle gates, let alone inside the royal residence.

Yet today, everyone was being invited.

The System continued.

[ OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGE ]

[ The royal ceremony creates a temporary access opportunity. ]

[ All invited individuals may enter designated castle grounds. ]

[ The team intends to use the ceremony as cover for infiltration. ]

[ PRIMARY INFILTRATION OBJECTIVE: ENTER THE ROYAL CASTLE. ]

[ SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: IDENTIFY THE KING OF ASTERIA AS THE FIRST RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

[ TERTIARY OBJECTIVE: DISCOVER THE PURPOSE OF THE KIDNAPPINGS AND BANDIT OPERATIONS. ]

[ FINAL OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE ]

• Successfully Infiltrate The Royal Castle.

• Investigate The King’s Activities.

• Confirm His Identity As One Of The Rulers Of Darkness.

• Eliminate The Target If Confirmed.

[ ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ]

[ 1. THE TEAM MUST MAINTAIN ITS COVER UNTIL THE OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES ARE ACHIEVED. ]

[ 2. THE TEAM MUST AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE BEFORE ENTERING THE CASTLE. ]

[ 3. THE TEAM MUST IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL THREATS WITHIN THE CASTLE. ]

[ 4. THE TEAM MUST OBTAIN EVIDENCE REGARDING THE KING’S ACTIVITIES. ]

[ 5. THE TEAM MUST DETERMINE WHETHER THE CEREMONY IS CONNECTED TO THE KING’S DARK OBJECTIVE. ]

[ 6. THE TEAM MUST COMPLETE THE OPERATION BEFORE THE CEREMONY ENDS. ]

Ethan’s eyes moved down the panel.

The final line appeared.

[ QUEST COMPLETION REQUIREMENT ]

[ SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT THE TEAM PLAN TODAY. ]

[ QUEST SUCCESS CONDITIONS: ]

[ 1. REACH THE ROYAL CASTLE WITH THE TEAM. ]

[ 2. MAINTAIN TEAM COVER DURING ENTRY. ]

[ 3. PARTICIPATE IN THE INFILTRATION OPERATION. ]

[ 4. ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING THE FIRST RULER OF DARKNESS. ]

[ 5. CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE TEAM’S OBJECTIVE. ]

[ QUEST REWARD: LOGAN VARELLO INFORMATION ACCESS. ]

[ ADDITIONAL REWARDS: DEPENDENT ON PERFORMANCE. ]

[ QUEST FAILURE: UNKNOWN. ]

Ethan stood silently before the floating screen.

He had expected a simple quest.

Something like getting dressed, reaching the castle, or helping his friends with a small task.

Instead, the System had handed him a mission to infiltrate a royal castle, investigate a king suspected of being a ruler of darkness, and possibly help kill him.

Ethan slowly clenched his fists, his mind racing with several thoughts.

If he wanted answers about Logan, he had to complete the quest.

If he wanted to understand this world, he had to survive.

And if he wanted to find out how he had ended up inside another man’s body, he had no choice but to follow the team into the castle.

Ethan took a deep breath.

“Alright,” he murmured, his expression hardening as he looked at the glowing System. “Let’s see what kind of world I’ve been thrown into.”