SWNOVELXO Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Calm Before the Storm
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The moment passed.
The soft hum of medical machines and the muted footsteps of nurses returned to the room. The commotion over the newborn's fall faded quickly, soothed by reassurances that there was no visible injury. But for Asher Raven, things would never be the same.
Within his infant body, a mind far older stirred.
His thoughts were fragmented, not fully formed, but laced with clarity beyond his physical age. Somewhere inside, he understood: the fall had triggered something. Something powerful. Something unnatural.
> [Sign-In System Activated] Host recognised. Daily Sign-In Unlocked. First Sign-In Reward: $1,000,000 (Deposited in secure, untraceable trust account) System Points Gained: +10 Lucky Draw Feature Unlocked Note: Combat-related abilities are currently locked.
That glowing blue interface had vanished quickly, leaving Asher to stare blankly at the ceiling. But he knew it wasn't a dream. It had felt real. Tangible.
He spent the rest of that second day quiet, unmoving, pretending to be like any other newborn. Yet inside, his mind was turning over the possibilities.
A sign-in system. A million dollars. Ten points. A Lucky Draw feature.
It was too much to grasp fully in such a tiny body — and yet, his thoughts had never been sharper. Like a man trapped behind glass, he observed everything. The way his new parents — young, wealthy, polite — smiled down at him. The nurse's kindness. The quiet buzz of hospital machines.
His name was Asher Raven now. A name both noble and ominous. He didn't yet know what kind of family he'd been born into, but the sterile white room and high-end monitors told him one thing: money wasn't an issue.
That night, under the glow of a soft nightlight, he mentally called out to the system.
Nothing.
He tried again.
> [Would you like to Sign-In for Today?]
Yes.
> Daily Sign-In Complete. Reward: $100,000 added to trust. System Points Gained: +2
So it was real. It worked. And it was daily.
A slow grin — invisible to the outside world — formed in his mind. He couldn't move much. Couldn't speak. Couldn't ask questions. But he could think. And with time…
He would act.
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The first week of his new life passed in slow, silent observation.
Asher's body was helpless — weak and small — but his mind adapted quickly. He began cataloguing faces, names, voices. He noted how often his parents visited, the brands of the clothes they wore, the tone of their voices.
They were gentle but busy. His father was a tall man with sharp features and commanding eyes. His mother had soft hands and a melodic voice, always whispering to him even if he couldn't reply.
The hospital staff treated the family with deference. VIPs.
Every day, the system offered something new:
> Day 3: $200,000. +3 Points. Day 4: Advanced Memory Retention Method (Stored in Knowledge Archive). +4 Points. Day 5: Financial Management Course (Master-Level). +4 Points. Day 6: $500,000. +5 Points. Day 7: Lucky Draw Ticket Acquired.
On the seventh day, the interface flickered awake in his vision.
> Use Lucky Draw Ticket?
Yes.
> Spinning...
> Reward Acquired: Encyclopedic Knowledge of Modern Technology (Stored in Knowledge Archive)
His breath hitched. Or at least, it would've if he were older.
Knowledge. Not power.
The system was slowly building a foundation for him — not to fight, not to run — but to understand. And that made sense.
After all, he was reborn not into a fantasy land with swords and dragons, but a modern world. Almost identical to the one he left behind.
At least… on the surface.
He hadn't yet seen the cracks that lay beneath the concrete. The shadows that whispered of awakened beings, of battles unseen. To him, it was simply a second chance — a gift to reshape his future, brick by calculated brick.
For now, he didn't think about enemies or betrayal.
Only about patience.
Because now, Asher Raven had something even more valuable than wealth or talent:
Time.
And with time… came power.
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