Early the next morning, Luo He rose before the sun had fully climbed the horizon. A quiet stillness hung in the air as his family gathered to see him off, his father, his mother, and his only sister.
Though none of them said it aloud, the weight of parting lingered heavily between them.
Knowing the journey ahead would be long and unforgiving, his father stepped forward and presented him with a special armour. It had been discovered buried deep within a farmland years ago an artefact of the ancient civilization.
Whispered about as a masterpiece of ancient engineering. It was classified as a 5ᵗʰ-level ancient relic, the highest grade known.
The armour bore a simple yet imposing design black and red plates layered seamlessly together. Its surface was smooth, almost unnaturally refined. The helmet, however, had no eye holes, making it both mysterious and unsettling its only apparent flaw.
"Take it," his father said firmly. Luo He bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Father." He wore the armour, feeling its cold surface settle against his body, and carefully packed the helmet into his luggage.
Next, his mother stepped forward. She handed him the reins of a magnificent horse strong, elegant, and full of spirit. Along with it, she presented a finely crafted sword forged from black steel.
This steel was no ordinary metal it was produced only in the Flame Capital, using a secret formula rediscovered from the ancient civilization. "Use it well," she said softly. Luo He accepted it with both hands, feeling its balance and quiet power.
His sister, Luo Ming, approached last. She had already prepared everything he might need clothes, dried food, and supplies neatly packed for the first few days of his journey. "Don't forget to eat properly," she said, trying to sound firm, though her voice wavered slightly. Luo He smiled faintly.
With that, he received his parents' blessings. He leaned down and gently kissed his sister goodbye before mounting his horse.
Without looking back again, he set off his armour packed, his sword at his side, and the unknown path ahead calling him forward.
Luo He travelled nearly a 100 miles along the main road before the sun began to dip below the horizon. The sky burned in shades of orange and red as fatigue slowly crept into his body.
Finding a large tree by the roadside, he decided to rest for the night. He tied his horse securely nearby and gathered some dry wood, soon lighting a small fire. The flames flickered softly, casting dancing shadows around him.
He opened his pack and took out the rations his sister had prepared. After a single bite, he frowned slightly.
Compared to the rich, delicate meals of the palace, this tasted like mud. Still, with a quiet sigh and sheer willpower, he forced himself to eat. "This is what the common people eat…" he muttered under his breath.
Once finished, his gaze shifted toward the helmet. Curiosity stirred within him.
He picked it up and slowly placed it over his head. It fits him perfectly but as expected he could see nothing.
Complete darkness swallowed his vision. He frowned and reached to remove it but suddenly the helmet tightened. A crushing pressure clamped around his head. "What?!"
At the same time, the armour across his entire body began to constrict violently. Tightening as if alive. The plates shifted, grinding against one another, merging together. What had once been thirteen separate pieces began fusing into a single unified structure.
The pressure became unbearable. Pain exploded through his skull and then everything went black. When Luo He awoke, the fire had long burned low. He lay still for a moment, his body feeling different, Stronger, Denser.
He slowly sat up. The armour was still on him but now, it felt completely fused to his body, as if it were a part of him. He raised his hand to his head, wincing slightly from the lingering pain.
The helmet was still there but he could see perfectly. Clearer than before. Every detail of his surroundings the faint glow of embers, the texture of the ground, the movement of leaves in the night breeze was vividly sharp.
A smile slowly formed on his lips. "No wonder this is considered a treasure," he murmured. "With this I have no weak points. It covers every inch of me."
He stood up and stretched. Surprisingly, the armour felt light. Almost weightless.
{Ordinary plate armour would weigh between 30 to 50 kilograms.} Yet this felt no heavier than 4 or 5 kilograms. His excitement grew. Then suddenly.
A voice echoed inside his ear. A mechanical, emotionless female voice.
"Human bloodline detected. Genetic match confirmed. Activating primary systems."
Luo He froze. "What?" He looked around startled, but saw no one. Then a translucent screen appeared before his eyes. It hovered effortlessly within his vision.
User – Adult Male
Height – 187 cm
Weight – 82 kg
Intelligence – 163 IQ
Luo He stared at it in disbelief.
"So it really is the armour," he muttered. "It's… alive!" The voice spoke again. "Move your eyes to navigate." Curious, Luo He shifted his gaze to the right.
The screen responded instantly. A Skills Tab opened. His eyes lit up slightly.
There was nothing listed.
Then the voice continued.
"To acquire skills, practice them. You have been granted 100 transfer points. Earn skill points through practice."
"Skill points increase specific skills. Transfer points could be used to increase any skill." Luo He thought for a moment.
Then, casually, he picked up his sword and swung it in a clean arc.
Immediately, "Swordsmanship increased to Level 2." His eyes widened slightly.
"Earn two more skill points to increase by one more level."
A faint grin appeared on his face. Without hesitation, he began practicing. Again and again, he swung his sword under the dim firelight. His movements grew sharper, more precise. Each strike cut through the air with increasing control.
Time passed unnoticed. Eventually he performed a technique he had long practiced. "Slice." The blade moved in a clean, decisive motion.
"Swordsmanship Level 15 tequenick detected. If the user possesses prior techniques, demonstration is recommended." The voice remained calm, almost indifferent.
Luo He's excitement grew. Through the night, he continued practicing relentlessly. His breathing grew heavier, his body slick with sweat, yet his movements became smoother almost instinctive.
At last; He stopped. "Swordsmanship Level 30 achieved. 49 skill points acquired. You may now advance to Level 31. Earn 12 more points to reach Level 32."
Luo He exhaled slowly. A strange sensation filled him. He had improved significantly. "Two new sword techniques unlocked at Levels 12 and 30." "Unknown skill recorded 'Slice.' will now being added to the system database."
Luo He blinked in surprise. "It even knows the name I gave it. Can it read my mind?" "I indeed have access to your neural network so you can communicate over your thoughts," the system answered.
For the rest of the night, he explored the system scrolling through options, testing its limits, and slowly understanding its functions. Eventually, he discovered how to control the armour.
It could remain visible or be hidden.
When hidden, it merged into his body completely, leaving no trace behind.
{Even when deactivated it reaches between his Dermis and Epidermis through pores in his skin and prevent him from being harmed deep enough to draw blood.}
Yet the system remained accessible at any time, responding to his thoughts alone. "This truly deserves its title…" he murmured. "A 5ᵗʰ-level relic."
Exhaustion finally caught up with him.
He collapsed beside the fading fire and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke again, the sun was already high around mid-morning. "10 a.m." He quickly drank some water and resumed his journey. Following the road, he eventually reached a transit point. Taking out his map, he studied it carefully. The system responded instantly.
"New skills detected: Map Reading (Level 1), Horseback Riding (Level 3)."
Luo He raised an eyebrow. "Only Level 1..."
Despite his education, he found navigating far more difficult than expected. The terrain was unfamiliar, and the paths were not as clear as they had seemed on paper.
After some thought, he chose the middle path and continued forward for several hours before stopping again to rest.
Following this phase, Luo He travelled for several days.
At last he reached the border of the neighbouring country. The Yue Nation.
But the moment he tried to cross into their territory "Stop!"
A group of border guards surrounded him, their weapons drawn. Their expressions were sharp and suspicious.
"State your identity!" Luo He frowned slightly. "I am the son of the emperor of the Flame Kingdom," he said firmly.
For a moment Silence.
Then the guards burst into laughter.
"Listen to this fool !" "He is trying to scare us?" They stepped forward, ready to apprehend him.
Luo He sighed quietly. Without royal decrees… without escorts… without proof even his father would not be recognized let alone him. And now for the first time he truly stood alone.