Here's the chapter fully translated and **formatted for immediate WebNovel posting**, maintaining your gritty fantasy tone, system elements, and family dynamics:
Caesar Varenth, seventh son of House Varenth, served loyally under Count Rosethorn of the Drownlands. His family's creed echoed their fate: "We offer only blood, toil, sorrow, and fealty." Destined for knighthood like his six brothers, Caesar was the youngest—coddled by his mother but targeted by his brothers' envy. Still, blood bound them: they fought as kin.
Today, his seventh birthday, would begin his knightly training. By their father's order, he'd master ancestral swordsmanship and squire for Caius, the firstborn.
Upon waking, Caesar faced a floating hologram:
[Happy Birthday, Caesar!]
[Gift from Azael, God of Death and Annihilation: Access to the Celestial System.]
[TAP HERE]
— A divine blessing? - I thought, stunned. In Nexum, gods shaped nations. But the Drownlands served Uranus, Titan of Seas—Azael's mortal enemy. To be blessed by a rival god meant heresy… and death.
Trembling hands tapped the hologram.
[Access System? Y/N]
— By Uranus, can anyone see this? - I barred the door. Five minutes until morning muster.
I pressed "Y." The hologram reshaped into a stat sheet:
| Name: Caesar Varenth (???)
| Race: ???
| Level: 1 (0/100)
| Class: Lesser Noble
| ATTRIBUTES |
| Strength: 4 (Physical load)
| Power: 2 (Impact/resistance)
| Dexterity: 4 (Weapon handling)
| Agility: 8 (Reflexes, evasion)
| Constitution: 8 (Resilience)
| Intelligence: 4 (Knowledge)
| Cunning: 6 (Quick decisions)
| Wisdom: 8 (Mental fortitude)
| Charisma: 4 (Social skills)
| INNATE TALENTS |
| Night Vision
| Void Detection (spatial awareness)
| Poison/Acid Immunity
| Shadow Camouflage
| Acid Touch (corrosion)
| Void Protection (concealment)
| VULNERABILITIES |
| Light Sensitivity (-50% daytime perception)
| Ravenous Hunger (2x consumption, malnutrition risk)
| SKILLS |
| Basic Math I, Drowntongue (native), Spear/Sword/Shield/Armor/Bow Basic I, Athletics
| ABILITIES |
| Burst (2x speed)
| BLESSINGS |
| ???
| ???
| False Death I (Resurrection via souls | Slots: 0/10)
| Codex of the Dead I (Knowledge via souls | 0/100)
I closed the window, overwhelmed. — *Souls? Sun weakness? Demonic hunger?* — Azael had cursed me with cruel jokes. Where would I find extra food without suspicion?
Knocks rattled the door: — "Caesar, breakfast!" — Mother's voice.
— Time to face the family. Maybe the right questions would bring answers...
***
In the hall reeking of stale ale and leather, Caius drummed the table with his knuckles:
— "Wake up late, brother! Has you reached the age to lay the night with your lady hand?"
Coarse laughter erupted from the seven brothers—stable-talk was House Varenth's norm.
Nero raised his tin cup, the fifth son shaking straw-blond hair:
— "The whelp's come of age! Time flies like a poisoned arrow!"
Adrian, the third, mimicked a noble's lilt:
— "Says one who barely passed it! Remember sweet Victoria and you with your pants—"
— The joke died as a fist slammed the oak table.
Father stood. Eyes cold as Siberian ice swept the room:
— "SILENCE!"
He sipped mead slowly before spearing me with his gaze:
— "Caesar. Besides the sword, what arms do you choose?"
The question burned. Before this morning—before the System—I'd have said "spear and shield" without hesitation. The honor of riding under Varenth's banner.
[DING!]
[PERIPHERAL VISION]
AGILITY: 8 → "Light weapons: +20% stealth bonus"
STRENGTH: 4 → "Heavy weapons: -40% penalty"
{CRUCIAL CHOICE}
Explorer (Recommended)
Mounted Knight (High Risk)
My hands trembled as I gripped my chair.
I stood abruptly. Silence hung thick until I realized: - No one else sees the screen.
Tension coiled as I checked the hologram again.
— The numbers don't lie. - I thought, fingers shaking under the table. My life had been about evasion: dodging Caius' traps, Nero's trips, suffocating expectations. Agility wasn't virtue—it was survival. Living in a den of wolves demanded fox's cunning.
— "Bow and dagger," — my voice rang firmer than expected.
Silence. Only the phantom chime echoed:
{DING!}
Profession: EXPLORER unlocked!
Reward: 20 EXP | +10 EXP Bow/Dagger
Father leaned forward. His cup cracked with a dry snap:
— "Are. You. Certain?"
Caius rose like a provoked bear. His stool scraped stone:
— "COWARD!" He roared, face crimson. "By Uranus! What'll the knights say? That Varenth's heir trains a runaway as squire?"
— A sopping dishcloth slapped my face with a wet smack.
— "I challenge you, whelp! Win, and I allow your choice. Lose..." - His ceremonial dagger flashed. "...you'll learn spear and shield like a TRUE VARENTH!"
Bloody letters hung in the air:
{ALERT: HONOR DUEL!}
Caius Varenth: Lv 15
Risk: 85% severe injury
Reward: 30 EXP
Ale dripped down my neck as the hologram flashed:
{OPTIONS:}
1. Refuse (-50 Reputation)
2. Accept (Reward: 30 EXP)
CRACK!
The table shuddered under Augustus' fist.
— "Enough savagery!" he bellowed, shoulders taut as bowstrings.
— "We are warriors, not starving dogs licking whelp's blood!"
Caius stepped back, fingers flexing.
— Then I name a champion... Julius.
Julius looked up slowly from his plate. An oat grain clung to his fingers before he flicked it onto the cloth.
— "I'll fight... first blood. But I demand compensation." — His knife scraped porcelain, slicing the silence.
Augustus nodded, facial scars tightening.
— "Honorable terms."
{DING!}
{Honor Duel}
Julius Varenth: Lv 4
Risk: 20% severe injury, 60% minor injury
Reward: 20 EXP
My nails bit my palms.
— "If I win, I don't squire for Caius. You'll find me an explorer master."
Augustus' eyes narrowed, calculating invisible ledgers.
— "The cost comes from your stipend, Caius."
Julius smiled as he drained his cup—a fox eyeing mice in a barn.
---
Arena sand clung to boots, reeking of rust and dried sweat. My hands slipped on the dagger's grip as Julius adjusted his shield with crisp efficiency.
He's heavier, longer reach, brute force advantage.
Noon sun stabbed my retinas.
[DING!]
[Perception reduced by 50%]
— Shit, it's worse than I thought. - I cursed
Julius spun his sword in flashy flourishes.
He is trying to intimidate me—control my agility. - I thought.
— "Begin!" roared Augustus.
The scent of oxidized metal flooded my nostrils as blades crossed. Julius charged shield-first like a battering ram.
I twisted my blade. Sunlight glared off steel into his eyes. He raised his shield on instinct.
I struck low, swinging upward—
CLANG!
My sword slammed his tilted shield. He feinted right, stabbing toward my ribs. I parried with the dagger, kicked his shield, and scrambled back. On contact, I tried a trick...
[DING!]
[Acid Touch activated - Proficiency 1/100]
I caught my breath, watching Julius.
Faint smoke curled from the wood, blending with kicked-up sand. Julius retreated two steps, nostrils flared.
It's working! - I surged with adrenaline. Keep pressing—that shield will break.
I planted my sword tip in sand.
Flung gritty handfuls. He blocked again. I shoulder-charged his shield.
[DING]
[Proficiency 2/100]
Each touch ate at the wood's core.
I hammered rhythmically: center-left-right. The shield groaned like rotten timber.
[3/100]... [6/100]... [10/100]
Black cracks spiderwebbed the rim. Julius relied more on his sword, defensive angles shrinking.
He pressed with counters, shoves, feints.
I hurled my dagger high. He raised the crumbling shield—
[15/100]
I Attacked in sequence raising my sword as high as I could, and falling it like a thunder in a tree.
I roared like uttering a curse:
— "BREAK!"
The shield exploded in a dry crack. Splinters flew. In that defensive void, my fist crashed into his nose.
CRUNCH!
Julius' fingers splayed. His sword thudded on sand. I stomped his foot, pinning him. Three pommel strikes hammered his temples.
THUD-THUD-THUD
He collapsed. Scarlet blood fanned across rust-stained sand.
Augustus stood frozen, cup slipping from his hand. Caius bit his lip till it bled.
My hands tingled—Acid Touch pulsed like ants beneath my skin.
[DING]
[Victory! 20 EXP + 10 EXP]