My Muscle System in the Mage World

A thought gradually formed in Aur's mind, making his heart tremble as his pupils widened.

"Could it be…!?"

"Greetings, Aur," the man seated on the throne said, a smile on his face.

"Greetings as well." Aur bowed politely in response.

"Oh, you don't seem like someone who would be disrespectful to anyone."

The man's piercing crimson pupils shifted toward the eyepatched individual, his brows gradually knitting together.

"I…" The Tier Seven wizard gulped hard. "He really was disrespectful before."

"I hope you're telling the truth."

The man narrowed his eyes before turning back to Aur, his expression softening into a strangely warm smile.

"Umm…"

Aur looked at the man's narrowed eyes, confusion evident on his face. "Do you know me?"

"Of course, I know you. You're the monster who killed a Tier Seven wizard while still bound to your body—something unheard of except in the tales of the Human Emperor. Who knows if the tales are true or just mere fabrications?"

"That was a mere chance," Aur said casually with a shrug.

"You're not fooling anyone with that," the man chuckled.

Aur's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me, old man?"

The man before him was a Tier Six wizard. However, even a Tier Seven wizard—whose power difference compared to a Tier Six was like that between a molecule and a human—still showed respect toward him.

"There's something… something I can't quite put my finger on that makes this man different…"

In Aur's heart, the sense of familiarity with this man had grown significantly. He was certain there was something they shared in common.

"Haha, are you confused?"

The man stood up with a laugh, his long white hair fluttering in the wind.

"Do you want to know why our appearances are almost the same?"

"Yes." Aur nodded honestly.

"I, Moonlight, have come to this realm from another world. We are both unknown creatures."

He spread his arms wide and let out a roar that echoed through the surroundings. Though all the wizards heard it, their reactions were muted, almost nonexistent.

"Aur, you aren't the only special one. There are others like you."

Aur's body froze. His expression remained blank, his thoughts veiled in an inconceivable stillness.

"You don't seem to have much of a reaction," Moonlight said, tilting his head with a puzzled expression.

"I see." Aur nodded again. "Are there others like us?"

"Not that I know of, but according to that guy, there should be around five of us. Though… you shouldn't be here."

"What do you mean?" Aur frowned.

"I don't know either," Moonlight replied, shaking his head.

He extended his hand, and a small stick materialized in his grasp. From one end, a sharp sword began to form, growing vibrant and large.

"..." Aur stared at it, his expression stunned.

"In my world, this was quite a common device," Moonlight said with a sigh. "But crafting it here, using spells, took me quite some time."

He paused, his gaze distant as he continued. "I was a lone researcher on the star of Altair, marveling at the vastness of the universe and enjoying a life of peace and exploration—until…"

Moonlight trailed off. Then, his eyes returned to Aur.

"So, how did you get here?"

"I got here after dying on my planet," Aur replied lightly, though his mind churned with irritation:

'What the fuck is Altair!?'

"Haha, follow me. Meet that guy. I have a feeling we're going to be friends in the future, aren't we?"

Without waiting for a response, Moonlight turned around. Space tore open before him, and he stepped into the rift.

Aur remained silent, his gaze narrowing slightly as he followed.

Countless thoughts swirled in his mind, but he kept them to himself. Talking too much only risks exposing information you shouldn't share.

As he stepped into the spatial tear, Aur could feel countless bewildered gazes fixed on him—most notably from the Tier Seven, eyepatched wizard.

"It's quite fascinating to see such a mighty figure, one capable of shaking the world, reduced to such a meek person."

Status, a defining concept in a world where strength reigned supreme, was fleeting. Nothing was permanent.

Even if someone attained status, without the power to sustain it, they were doomed to fall—whether by assassins or other, more insidious means. After all, there were countless ways to eliminate the weak.

Aur's gaze shifted as the world around him transformed. His eyes fell on a vast mountain landscape: tall, jagged peaks stretching endlessly into the horizon. The scene was blanketed in pure white, as if covered by a boundless carpet of snow.

The wind howled, icy and sharp, carrying countless swirling snowflakes. They danced through the air, making Aur's hair flutter as he stood amidst the frozen expanse.

"What is this place?" Aur asked, his voice tinged with astonishment.

"Welcome to Mount Sumeru, the mountain of Demons," Moonlight replied with a smirk. "Follow me."

"Okay." Aur followed silently, though his crimson pupils glinted with a faint blue light as he walked.

A blue panel appeared before him, but Moonlight showed no reaction to it.

'Does he lack a system, or is he simply unfazed by it?'

Aur mulled over the possibilities as he trailed behind Moonlight, his face remaining expressionless.

One must always remain vigilant, Aur reminded himself. The habit of analyzing one's surroundings was crucial to staying alert against potential attacks. The moment one's attention wavered, the senses would inevitably grow dull.

Before long, they arrived at a grand, flaming palace. Its crimson structure burned perpetually, fire licking every surface. Yet the palace seemed immune to the flames—as if the fire were not consuming it but was instead an integral part of its very existence.

"This is the Dragonian Palace, where the master of our bloodline resides," Moonlight said, turning toward Aur with a mysterious smile.

"Oh," Aur replied, glancing up at the palace's immense structure. "Not bad."

With that, he casually swaggered toward the entrance.

Before he could reach it, the massive doors creaked open on their own, and a voice echoed from within:

"I have been waiting for you, Aur."

Aur paused slightly, his gaze flicking back to the glowing blue panel before him. Without a word, he stepped inside the palace.