The Otaku's Odyssey: Reincarnated with a Grand System

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In a large open field, two figures danced with wooden swords in their grasp. The movements were fluid, almost poetic. Their mock battle resembled a deadly waltz, blades swinging with grace and precision. Each clash of wood against wood rang out across the breeze-swept clearing.

One of them was a girl with long white hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked to be about fifteen, average in height but strong in presence. Her opponent was a boy no older than ten, with striking blue hair and eyes as bright as the morning sky.

The girl dashed forward, her sword arcing toward his left. With lightning reflexes, the boy lifted his wooden blade to block—just in time. Their swords met with a dull crack, but the force sent him tumbling backward.

"ARGH! Damn it, every time!" the boy growled, using his sword as leverage to push himself off the ground.

The girl chuckled, resting her blade over her shoulder. "Oh, come on, Astrid. Don't be so hard on yourself. You're just ten, yet you can already keep up with me."

"If I could actually keep up with you, I'd have won by now!" Astrid snapped, frustration etched on his young face. "You've beaten me ninety-nine times, Aria. Ninety. Nine."

He kicked a clump of dirt, pouting.

"It's like I said," Aria replied patiently. "You're ten. You still have time to grow. When I was your age—"

"—I couldn't do half of what you can now. Yeah, yeah. I've heard all your excuses already." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

She burst out laughing, ignoring the jab. Everyone in the Ethera estate was already used to his foul mouth. Honestly, it was a miracle the first word he ever spoke as a baby was "fuck." The family had been both horrified and oddly proud.

"The worst part is, this was our last duel before you head off to the Academy." He huffed again, clicking his tongue like an old man.

Aria softened as she looked at his annoyed little face. She walked over and crouched down, bringing herself to eye level.

"Hey. Didn't I promise? Our 100th duel will be at the Academy. And next time… we'll use real swords."

Astrid narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Bitch, please. You've been saying that since our 75th duel. 'Next time, real swords!' Every damn time. And yet? Still wood."

Before she could respond, a servant approached briskly, his footsteps crunching through the field.

"Young Mistress," the man said with a bow. "It is nearly time for your departure. The Master requests to see you before you leave."

Aria nodded, then glanced back at Astrid. The boy was glaring at the servant, eyes sharp enough to send a chill down the man's spine.

Despite his age, Astrid's presence had always been unnerving. It wasn't the kind of bratty nobility that most young heirs had. No—his gaze felt ancient, calculated. And far too intelligent.

The servant gulped. He was a high-class mage, capable of leveling a hill with a wave of his staff, yet something about the boy's eyes made him uneasy.

"We'll talk later, Astrid!" Aria called out as she turned and walked toward the grand Ethera mansion in the distance. The servant followed quickly behind.

Astrid let himself collapse onto the grass with a deep exhale.

"Haah... Status."

A blue screen blinked to life in front of him.

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'It's been ten years since I got reincarnated into the world of Swords and Sorcery. Ten years since I became Astrid Ethera—born into one of the Three Great Clans that support the King himself.'

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The world was made up of five continents:

Arkadia, cold and ruthless in the north. Most rare artifacts and resources where found in its cold depth's.

Tharros, a blazing desert continent in the south. Most rare elements where found in this continents. It was basically home to blacksmiths. Most technologies used it the five continents where all built in Tharros.

Eridoria and Calyndor, on the east and west.

And finally, Vargaea, the heart of the world—the largest and richest continent of them all.

The Ethera Clan ruled over the city of Solhaven, located in Calyndor. Their wealth, influence, and power rivaled any clan across the continents.

'My father, Orion Ethera, is the current Clan Head. A man with long white hair and a face that still looks like he's in his late twenties. He's an Archon, one of the strongest beings on the continent. A master of all elemental affinities and swordplay. The only person who's ever defeated him… was the King. And that was while Dad was holding back.'

'My mother, Lia Ethera... a literal goddess in mortal form. Blue hair, absurdly busty, and once a battle-hardened mage from the Omnion Clan of Arkadia. She met Dad as an enemy on the battlefield… and somehow, they fell in love. That union brought peace between the clans, although a few people still throw shade.'

'She's also one of the world's top three mages. She's in the Diviner Stage, and based on what I saw in the anime, even my dad struggled against her. Makes me wonder how he survived that first date.'

'From birth, she sensed the raw magic energy inside me. She believed I was born to be a top-tier mage. But then the system dropped in and blessed me with Neo Blade's talent...'

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"Talent."

The screen shifted to a gold hue, revealing a different interface:

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Astrid groaned. "Haah… fuck. It's barely gone up in ten years."

He got up, brushing grass off his tunic, and began walking toward the mansion.

'Things aren't moving fast enough. The Academy's not far off. And once I'm there… things get real. After all, that's where the MC shows up.'

'I need to be way stronger before I meet him. I'm not about to be anyone's side character.'

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