The Legendary Programming Mage

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[The Arcain Record has detected changes in host's body]

[Host has forcibly awakened]

[Searching for reasons...]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Host has been awarded the title: The Legendary Programming Mage]

...loading interface.

╔═════════════════════════════╗

║ ⚙ STATUS WINDOW ⚙ ║

╚═════════════════════════════╝

┌───" Character Info "───┐

│ ◈ Name: Allen Vanderbilt

│ ◈ Title: The Legendary Programming Mage

│ ◈ Age: 17

│ ◈ Gender: Male

│ ◈ Race: Human (Pinnacle)

│ ◈ Class: Mage

│ ◈ Affiliation: None

└───────────────────────────┘

┌───" Energy "───┐

│ ◈ Energy Perception: 『 Mana 』

│ ◈ Energy Rank Mastery: 『 1 out of 4 』

└──────────────────────┘

┌───" Rank "──────┐

│ ◈ Prospect Rank: 『 ??? 』

│ ◈ Rank: F-rank

│ ◈ Mage Rank: 1st Circle

└────────────────────────────┘

┌───" Affinities "───┐

│ ◈ Red Flash

└──────────────────────┘

┌───" Spells "───────────┐

│ ◈ Tier 9: Displacement — 0 out of 3

│ ◈ Tier 9: Red Chains — 0 out of 5

└────────────────────────────┘

┌───" Traits "──────────────┐

│ • 『 Pinnacle of Humanity 』

│ • 『 Primordial Corrosion 』

└────────────────────────────┘

┌───" Base Stats "──────────┐

│ • Strength — F

│ • Agility — F+

│ • Endurance — F

│ • Stamina — F+

│ • Dexterity — F+

│ • Intelligence — A+

│ • Charm — ???

│ • Luck — ???

│ • Mana Pool —

│ ▸ Active Flow — 100/500

│ ▸ Ascension Reservoir — 100/1000

└────────────────────────────┘

I stared at the black and gold status screen in front of me.

As someone who had worked with UI often, I couldn't help but admire the design of the system window.

However, I needed to focus.

My eyes moved down the interface, scanning each word carefully.

The first thing that caught my attention was my title:

The Legendary Programming Mage.

It didn't come as a surprise that I had the title.

In fact, if I didn't get it, then who else would?

What did shock me was the fact that there were even titles in the first place.

Maybe I had been too absent-minded, but I never remembered there being titles in this world.

I shook off the thought and focused on the next intriguing part:

Human (Pinnacle).

In this world, everyone had stats, and the author of the novel usually showed other characters' stats, but no one ever had Pinnacle listed as their race.

Was it because of my looks?

No. It was because of my looks.

Now, I could actually fall for myself. Maybe I already had.

I looked so good that I'd need to write "I'm a boy, not a girl" in my bio just to make sure no guys hit me up.

I grinned and kept scrolling down.

Mage was something I expected, and I already knew Affiliation would be blank.

As my eyes landed on Energy, my brows furrowed.

"What was energy mastery again?"

I immediately sat on the bed, gripping my head while trying to remember.

Ah!

The memory clicked.

"One of the methods of advancement."

In the novel, there were ranks and prospect ranks.

Rank was your current strength, while prospect rank was how far you could potentially go.

That meant if your prospect rank allowed it, then you could keep climbing higher.

And to do that, two conditions had to be met:

Filling the ascension reservoir and mastering your rank's spells and mana control.

It seemed because of my earlier use of mana, my control was now 1 out of 4.

When it reached 4, I would complete mastery for F-rank — also known as First Circle for mages.

I shifted to Affinities.

"Red Flash."

It was most likely the bright crimson light that appeared during the reformation.

I skipped commenting on it or the spells.

It wasn't like I knew anything about sorcery to begin with.

"Still… Displacement and Red Chains."

My pulse quickened just imagining using them.

Below was a section completely foreign to me.

Traits.

I quickly clicked on them, and they expanded.

┌───" Traits "──────────────┐

│ • 『 Pinnacle of Humanity 』

│ ▸ Your looks and talent are at the peak of humanity.

│

│ • 『 Primordial Corrosion 』

│ ▸ Your body has been invaded by a primordial virus.

│ ▸ As long as you live, your lifespan will continue to shorten.

└────────────────────────────┘

The first trait I understood, but the second?

My fingers instantly selected "Primordial Corrosion."

— Primordial Corrosion:

Description: An ancient energy not of this world has been forced into you.

This energy was created to kill someone far above your strength. However...

After another soul entered this body, the corrosion was put on hold, giving the user a chance to find a solution.

Because of this miraculous event, your death hasn't been written in stone.

Ding!

[New trait added: Lifespan]

Description: Until the corrosive energy in the user's core has been completely dissipated, the user can steal part of the life force from anyone they kill.

Life force can also be gained by uncovering secrets of this world — including, but not limited to, mana and magic.

. . .

A long sigh escaped me as I dragged a hand through my hair. "Just great, the system had to ruin my mood."

They couldn't have just given me an OP ability after all my hard work without nerfing me at the same time.

Although, the disease wasn't entirely terrible.

If it were left to me, I'd just learn magic, head into dungeons alone, climb the ranks slowly, and eventually become the best.

But this now meant I had to actively interact with the plot—and with people.

"Yay for the system."

I glanced down at the last section of the stats.

Strength and Endurance were the only normal ones.

Usually, Hunters' stats started from normal, and as they grew, they advanced to the plus versions.

But I had just awakened.

Which meant either my awakening was the reason, or my talent was simply that insane.

Agility, Stamina, and Dexterity were already close to E-rank, while Intelligence was at A+.

Seeing Charm and Luck, I couldn't help but smile.

My face was flawless, so who cared about a little illness?

My active mana was the designated amount I could use in a rank.

It usually varied from person to person.

'If I remember correctly, most F-ranks had around 100 or so.'

That meant my capacity was higher than the average.

Lastly was the reservoir, which was required to advance to the next rank.

If I decided to grind, it wouldn't be impossible to fill it by next week.

I immediately stood up from the bed and headed to the shower.

It was time to face-slap... and train.