## Chapter 346 – The First Dream (1)
<Aaron's Parallel Story Episode 17>
***
Aaron closed the book. The story of a nameless man had come to an end when he gained one.
“Hehe, what do you think, Aaron? It wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“That’s right.”
“Although he seems cold on the outside, Lidygion has a warm heart. You’ll understand when you get to know him better.”
Aaron offered a bitter smile. The man was noble and had the talent and strength to maintain his nobility until the end.
“He’s strong. Both in body and mind.”
“Is it just me, or are you saying that you’re not, Aaron?”
“I don’t know. I also… don’t understand myself.”
Aaron knew. He knew the nature of the feelings that were boiling inside him. A mix of admiration and jealousy, a dark and unpleasant feeling. It was probably what they called an inferiority complex. He thought he had overcome those feelings by mastering the power of Karma. But that wasn’t the case.
Aaron smiled and said, “It’s incredible. It’s not just that he’s talented. If the story in this book is true, that means he massacred dozens of White Demons without any training.”
“Yes. He’s not just a genius. Did you know that at the time Lidygion was summoned, the system rated him as a two-star hero?”
“Two stars? Really?”
Aaron couldn’t hide his surprise. Pick Me Up’s dominion over them had ended long ago, but its vestiges still remained.
‘Two stars…’
One star is for those who know nothing, while two stars barely surpass those who have learned a little martial arts.
“Is that possible?”
“Jejeje. According to my analysis, Lidygion’s two-star rating is due to a system error. It could be called a kind of bug.”
Yurnet continued to explain, “Of course, there’s a basis for the two-star rating. His physical ability. At the time of his summoning, he wasn’t much different from an ordinary person. And since he hadn’t learned swordsmanship, he wasn’t given a high skill in martial arts.”
“Isn’t that strange? Without exceptional physical ability and without high skills in martial arts, how could he defeat the White Demons?”
Yurnet continued with his explanation. Lidygion had a special, intangible organ inside his body. Yurnet had named it the ‘martial intuition organ’, which allowed him to perceive the concept of martial arts in a sensory way. He had used the power of that organ to demonstrate his strength in combat.
However, a skill called ‘martial intuition organ’ didn’t exist in Pick Me Up’s database. There wasn’t even a similar skill. Therefore, the system had judged his common physical abilities and his low martial skills, rating him as two stars.
“Isn’t it amazing? Pick Me Up’s database contains all kinds of skills. There are many unique skills that only certain individuals possess. There are thousands and thousands of them. But even among all those, Lidygion’s talent was different.”
“I see…”
“Do you understand? I, Siris, Nihaku, and all the heroes of Niflheim became strong thanks to the power of the system.”
That was true. Pick Me Up’s system made the summoned heroes strong. It used tools like fusion, ratings, levels, and skills to turn heroes into transcendental beings.
“For example, Siris and Nihaku. Their extraordinary strength is due to the Master using the system’s capabilities to the fullest and putting all his effort into them. They are like ceramics made by a master craftsman.”
Siris was like that. When she was summoned, she was just a four-star hero with nothing special. Although she had four stars, her basic skills were below average for a high-level hero. The situation changed when the player known as Loki got involved.
He knew more about the Pick Me Up system and how it worked than anyone else on Earth. He removed unnecessary skills and added the necessary ones, constantly repeating the elimination, fusion, and succession of skills. Then, he added special effects called ‘Engravings’ to highlight the color, and gave her a special concept that maximized her strength and uniqueness. Finally, he performed several hero fusions, the finishing touch.
Thus, the masterpiece called ‘Siris Agentheim’ was created. The three concepts that defined her were: combustion, explosion, and regeneration. Siris’ core didn’t change even when the system collapsed and she gained divinity, becoming a transcendental being. Her essence as a hero remained intact. Her personal effort also contributed. Her exceptional talent also influenced it. But the main cause was Loki, the Master. Without Loki, Siris wouldn’t have become so strong.
The same happened with Nihaku. And other powerful heroes of Niflheim were also similar. With Loki’s help, their strength flourished.
“But Lidygion is different,” Yurnet asserted.
Even without Loki, if Lidygion had had the will to become strong, he wouldn’t have been much different from what he is now.
“On Earth, people like him are called ‘innate strength’. It’s an internet term that means the person is strong by nature,” Yurnet said with a smile.
“Is that so?”
“He also had many opportunities to become stronger. But he gave them up to us. Even so, he wasn’t lacking anything.”
No doubt. Aaron understood why the warriors of Valhalla admired Lidygion. He became strong on his own. Without relying on anyone else’s strength. He would have been strong even without the system. That primal strength was something that any human would desire.
The Pick Me Up system made the heroes strong. But in Lidygion’s case, it was the other way around. The system didn’t make Lidygion strong. The system followed Lidygion’s strength.
“According to my independent judgment, Lidygion’s proper rating should be… five stars.”
“Five stars, you say?”
“Of course. After all, he killed dozens of White Demons on his own, then infiltrated the castle, annihilated the guards, and killed the king. A single White Demon warrior is stronger than you think, Aaron.”
“I see…”
“But that doesn’t mean Lidygion was easy to handle.”
A two-star hero named Lidygion was unimaginably strong. Loki didn’t know that back then. That kind of strength wasn’t reflected in the stats. He treated him like any other two-star hero. Even after several battles, it would have been difficult for him to realize. He might have fooled his Master, staging fierce battles in the arena. If Loki hadn’t properly managed the Lobby, that man’s strength would have remained hidden and never been revealed. He would have chosen death rather than surviving miserably when he realized that the Lobby Master was incompetent. As he did in his past life. But if he judged that the Master had the quality of being a king… then he would have drawn the hidden sword in his heart. The sword he drew once in his past life before he died, he would have finally wielded it.
“Isn’t it interesting?” Yurnet laughed.
“Just as Masters test heroes, sometimes heroes also test Masters. To see if they are worthy of handling them.”
This didn’t just happen in Niflheim. Similar things happened in many other accounts. And the Masters who failed the test never saw the hero’s true power and potential, and cursed their bad luck. Without knowing what they had failed at.
Of course, Loki passed the test successfully. Lidygion swore loyalty to him and became the sword that protected the king.
‘I see,’ Aaron thought. In the world, there are those who choose and those who are chosen. Lidygion was one of those who chose. Just like his brother, Han Israt, whom he followed and called older brother.
But Aaron wasn’t like that. He was one of those who were chosen.
He sighed. “Wow…”
Yurnet, noticing Aaron’s sadness, covered his mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m so insensitive.”
“No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said something that could hurt you, Aaron.”
“It’s okay.” Aaron smiled. “I’ve accepted reality. And I’ve made a resolution within that reality. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here. Don’t worry about it.”
“I see…”
“At this point, I’m more curious. How can someone without talent like me be treated the same as them? I find it hard to accept.”
He was sincere. He had a strength that only he possessed. It was the skill called Karma. Aaron could use that strength whenever he wanted, and he freely controlled its loading and release. It could be said that he had mastered that strength. The heroes of Valhalla feared and respected Aaron’s strength. But Aaron didn’t feel that way.
He wasn’t sure if that strength was really the result of his resolution. Or if he was just clumsily imitating it. He felt like he was cheating. He couldn’t feel secure. Although others recognized him, he couldn’t recognize himself. That’s why he kept a certain distance from his companions. He thought he wasn’t worthy of being with them.
“What’s holding me back?” Aaron asked Yurnet. “I’ve always put this off. How I got the strength of Karma. How I made it my own. What pain and resolution there was in that process. I’ve covered it with the excuse that my memories are fuzzy… and that’s preventing me from moving forward.”
Aaron’s heart was still the same. In the past, when he was in the Taonier Lobby, not in Niflheim. Trying hard, but unable to overcome the difference in talent. So he gave up his place to a man named Belkist.
The fear of then. The despair of then. The frustration and tears of then kept him still.
Afterwards, Aaron had half-forced his brother to take him to Niflheim, where he got an opportunity. He had no memories of what happened afterwards. Sure, it was such a long time ago that it was hard to remember. For eons, Aaron had wielded his spear again and again. Although the memories were distant, that fact remained. Only that fact. The pains and tears of then had faded over time.
‘Why?’
When he came to, he had “graduated”. He could use the power of Karma. No one could mock him for being weak. He had ascended to the ranks of the strongest in Niflheim, those who choose, not those who are chosen. Although using the power of Karma required a lot of effort and the process was incredibly difficult, he had the “resolution” to keep going.
“I’m a fool.”
Aaron mocked himself. Even now, in Valhalla, those memories were still fuzzy. No matter how hard he tried to remember them, he couldn’t. Or rather, he didn’t want to remember them. So he couldn’t accept himself. His strength was fake. It was all a cheap copy. Strength without cost. Resolution without process. All of this was crumbling him. He needed to know. His hidden past. The true Karma.
“I should have asked you first.”
Aaron’s eyes changed. Yurnet looked at him and said, “That feeling, it won’t change, will it?”
“Of course.”
“Very well. I’ve also been preparing for a long time.”
Yurnet smiled softly. “Everything is ready. The memories you need to reclaim your true self. Are you ready to accept them?”
“Resolution… you say?”
Aaron hardened his heart. If they were trivial memories, they wouldn’t be so firmly blocked. A cruel truth must be hidden there.
‘Alright.’ If he let this opportunity pass, he would have to live forever with a fake version of himself. He had to accept it. Any truth.
“I’ll accept it,” Aaron said.
And with that, a light gathered on the table, forming a book. Yurnet gestured, and the book of light opened.
“Put your hand on the page. The memories hidden deep within your heart will be inscribed in the book.”
Aaron’s expression hardened. Yurnet smiled as he watched him.
“Jeje, don’t worry. I’ve taken several precautions. Although it’s your story, it will feel like you’re watching someone else’s story. It will be much more bearable.”
“Thank you.”
“So, shall we begin?”
Aaron nodded. There was no hesitation. He placed his hand on the page of the book.
Wooooong!
The light began to shine on the blank page. Fantastic, magical letters were inscribed on it. The letters turned into memories, and those memories turned into sensations that invaded Aaron’s mind.
Distant and forgotten memories. Before Valhalla appeared. When the game system dominated Mobius’ multiverse. When Aaron was nothing more than an insignificant hero within the game. Those memories began to play.