Below the gods, the scene shifted.

  Akira Nanase dropped out of the sky.

  Again.

  “WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?!”

  Branches snapped as he crashed through the canopy, leaves and splinters flying in every direction before he slammed into the forest floor.

  “…Ow.”

  He groaned, rolling onto his back and staring up at the unfamiliar trees towering overhead.

  “…Okay,” he muttered. “I’m alive. That’s a plus.”

  The air was thick—almost heavy—with something that made his skin tingle.

  ‘This place feels… wrong.’

  ‘No… different.’

  Every breath sent a faint warmth through his chest.

  ‘Magic…’

  A sharp pain flared behind his right eye.

  “…Gah—what the hell?!”

  For a brief second, faint translucent outlines appeared over everything he saw. Shapes, angles, and measurements overlapped the forest like a blueprint pressed onto reality.

  Then it vanished.

  Akira squeezed his eye shut. “…Nope. Definitely not ready for that.”

  ‘Where am I?’

  He wandered blindly for about an hour, trying to get his bearings, when suddenly—

  BOOM!

  The ground shook, and a puff of smoke shot up from a nearby clearing.

  “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!”

  Branches rained down around him, and the smell of scorched earth filled the air. He froze as a low, guttural growl reached his ears. His stomach dropped.

  The Crimson Bear. Twice the size of a normal bear, fur like molten blood, eyes glowing like embers. Its massive claws dug into the dirt, sending rocks skittering everywhere.

  ‘Oh no… no no no…’

  Akira scrambled backward, but the bear lunged. He barely rolled out of the way in time, slamming into a tree. Pain shot up his side.

  ‘This… this is it… I’m dead.’

  He swung his fists desperately. Sparks of raw magic flickered from his palms, wild and uncontrolled, grazing the bear’s flank. The monster roared, swiping its claws at him, each strike shaving inches from his life.

  He stumbled, tripping over a root, and slammed into the ground, chest heaving. The bear loomed over him, claws raised.

  ‘This is the end…’

  Then, like a flash of sunlight through smoke, she appeared.

  Lumi hovered just above him, radiant and grinning, magic coiling around her fingers.

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  “Hold still!” she shouted.

  With a flick, a shimmering barrier snapped into place around him. The bear skidded to a halt, teeth snapping uselessly at the magical wall. Lumi hovered over him, hands glowing.

  “Okay! Status screen!” she said, sharp but cheerful. “I’m not opening it for you—you have to do it yourself. Focus on yourself, think about what’s inside you, and call it out!”

  Akira blinked, still panting. “…Call it out? Like… say the words?”

  “Yes! Status. Screen. Open!” Lumi emphasized each word, pointing at him like a video game tutorial. “You do it, I’m just guiding you! Focus!”

  He swallowed, gripping his fists, and whispered, ‘Status. Screen. Open…’

  A faint shimmer appeared around him. His chest tightened, and then—

  The barrier pulsed as his first status screen flickered to life. Numbers, bars, and symbols floated in the air, alien and confusing. He staggered back, eyes wide.

  ‘…I—I can see it…’

  The Crimson Bear growled from behind the barrier, but for the first time, Akira felt a spark of control—a tiny foothold in the chaos surrounding him.

  Lumi clapped her hands. “Yes! That’s it! Keep it open and feel it. Everything you can do… it’s all there. Just… don’t get cocky!”

  Akira gulped, still breathing hard. ‘…I… I can’t mess this up…’

  He stared at the floating display: sections labeled Skills, Attributes, Inventory… and more.

  ‘Okay… okay… focus.’ He flexed his fingers like the screen had told him to.

  He flicked his hand, scrolling through Skills. Fire magic… water magic… healing… Craftsmanship… Modeling…

  ‘Wait. Fire magic?’

  Curiosity won over fear. His heart pounded as he clenched his fist and focused on the icon. No incantation, no gesture—just will.

  A small flicker of light appeared in his palm. He jumped back instinctively.

  “…Huh?”

  The flicker wobbled for half a second, forming a tiny, weak fireball no bigger than a match’s flame. It fizzled out before reaching the ground.

  ‘…That’s it?’ he thought, staring at his hand in disbelief.

  Behind him, the Crimson Bear snarled, claws scraping against the dirt. Akira’s stomach dropped.

  Lumi floated beside him, glowing faintly, arms crossed. “Yep,” she said, amusement and seriousness mixed in her tone.

  Akira swallowed. “…It’s… tiny. That’s all?”

  “Yes,” Lumi said. “Your body is still human. You can project god-level magic, but your mortal body can only handle so much at once. That’s why it’s small. It’s not weak—it’s safe. That’s the important part.”

  Akira nodded slowly, keeping one eye on the bear. ‘Safe… yeah, I’d better be.’

  The bear pawed at the magical barrier, growling, but it couldn’t break through. Akira’s chest heaved as he realized that, for the first time, he wasn’t completely helpless—but he was far from ready.

  His eyes flicked down to the Skills section. He scrolled past the elemental magics, landing on Modeling.

  A description blinked in front of him:

  “Shape any material you can touch into whatever you can imagine. Maxed: no mana cost. Only one person at a time can possess this skill.”

  He blinked, stomach tightening. ‘…Wait. Did that just say I can shape anything?’

  Scrolling further, Craftsmanship appeared:

  “Guarantees successful creation of anything you can imagine when used with Modeling. Maxed: no mana cost. Only one person per race can possess this skill. Rarely ever possessed by someone with the Modeling skill.”

  Akira’s breath caught. The Crimson Bear still paced, growling in frustration behind the barrier.

  ‘…I can make anything? Like… anything?’

  His eyes landed on a sturdy branch and a boulder nearby. Inspiration struck. He carefully snapped the branch from a tree, feeling its weight in his hand, then rested his other hand on the boulder.

  He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining the branch and boulder merging into something functional, something sharp, balanced, and perfectly crafted.

  A soft hum filled the air. The branch and boulder shimmered, then twisted and melded together, reshaping as if obeying an invisible artisan’s hand.

  When he opened his eyes, a perfect sword hovered in his hands. Solid, gleaming, balanced, finely detailed—the hilt looked masterfully crafted. It radiated a subtle aura of craftsmanship itself.

  Akira flexed his fingers around the hilt, marveling. “…Whoa. I… actually made this?”

  Lumi floated beside him, proud. “Yep! That’s exactly how it works. Modeling shapes the material, Craftsmanship makes it perfect. You didn’t need me to do a thing.”

  The Crimson Bear growled, reminding him he wasn’t out of danger yet. Akira stepped back, sword in hand, feeling slightly more confident. Even a mortal could hold his ground with these new abilities—if careful.

  Lumi’s voice floated to him, calm but excited: “That’s the first creation. You’re going to be fine… as long as you don’t get too carried away.”

  Akira glanced at the sword, then at the bear. ‘…Okay,’ he thought, gripping it tightly. ‘Let’s see what this thing can do.’