The soft, rhythmic breathing of Astra filled the quiet room. She was curled up on the small bed, a picture of peaceful slumber, oblivious to the momentous day they had just experienced. Alister sat on his own bed, the first-year spellbook open in his lap.
The cover was simple, but the knowledge inside felt like a key to a new world. His mind, the System humming in the background, was ready. He had the perfect control, the raw power, and the logical mind of a warrior. Now, he would learn his first spell.
He opened the book and his eyes immediately found the first spell listed: Lumos. The description was simple—it created a small beam of light from the tip of a wand. The instructions were to say the incantation and flick the wrist.
Alister, however, had a different idea. He closed his eyes, his mind focusing on the concept of the spell, not the words. He saw the pure Tier 3 magical energy within him, a vast, swirling sea of power. He felt the System, a perfect conduit, ready to shape his will into reality.
He extended his arm, his hand empty, and focused on the simple, clear goal: light. He didn't need a wand. He didn't need a word. He just needed to will it into existence.
The magical energy within him, under the System's flawless control, obeyed. It moved through his body, down his arm, and gathered in his palm. A warm, gentle pressure built up—a feeling that was both familiar and alien.
When he opened his eyes, a small, perfect ball of pure white light floated just above his palm. It was a silent, unblinking orb, a flawless sphere of energy that illuminated the dusty room with a soft, steady glow.
He had done it. Wandless and wordless casting. His first spell, and it was perfect.
A clear, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Magic Learned: Lumos]
[Status has been updated]
________________________________________________
[Status]
Name: Alister Potter
Age: 11
Race: Human
Tier: 1 (Apprentice Mage)
Magical Attributes:
Magic Power: Tier 3 Beast Tamer: Tier 0 Potion-maker: Tier 0 Alchemist: Tier 0 Astrologer: Tier 0 Transfiguration: Tier 0 Physique: Tier 0
Magic Learned: (Highest Tier 1)
Tier 1: Lumos
__________________________________________________
Alister stared at the transparent blue screen. He had cast his first spell, a simple act of will, and his status had changed. The words "Tier 1" seemed to mock his powerful, latent magical core.
He looked at the other ratings: Beast Tamer: Tier 0, Potion-maker: Tier 0. The numbers were a cold, hard truth. He had no knowledge in these fields.
"System," he thought, his question a silent command. "What are the tiers based upon?"
The System's mechanical voice hummed to life.
[Tiers are a reflection of an individual's mastery of magical knowledge and skill. Raw magical power is but one component. The true measure of a wizard's strength is their ability to understand and apply magical theory to achieve a desired effect. Each discipline has high potential and can lead to Tier 8 existence.]
The System's explanation continued, breaking down the tiered system into a more comprehensible framework.
[Your current magical power, a Tier 3 level, provides you with the raw energy to perform great feats. However, your lack of knowledge and practical experience places you at Tier 1 in spells. You have learned a single spell, Lumos, which is a Tier 1 spell. As you learn more spells and progress in your understanding of magical theory, your Spellcasting Tier will increase. Similarly, your Tier 0 ratings in Potions, Transfiguration, and other fields reflect your complete lack of knowledge in those areas.]
"But why do you say they can lead to Tier 8?" Alister thought, a new question forming. "What about Tier 9?"
The System's voice was immediate and final.
[The ultimate state of ascension, Tier 9, is not a destination. It is a state of being. To reach it, one must master all six magical disciplines to their pinnacle. Only when an individual has achieved Tier 8 in Physique, Potions, Alchemy, Transfiguration, Beast Taming, and Divination can they be considered for ascension to Omniversal Sovereign.]
Alister's eyes widened. Six disciplines. Tier 8 in each one. It was a feat of impossible scale for most. But he would have to master all six eventually—the world's ascension would require his involvement in every field.
"What should I do now?" he asked, the question a simple, direct command.
The mechanical voice replied instantly, its cold logic unwavering.
[To progress from your current magical power level of Tier 3 to Tier 4, your physical body must be capable of withstanding the immense strain. The knowledge to improve one's physique with magic has been lost to this world. Your current physical body is not suited to contain magic above Tier 3.]
"Looks like I need to find my own way then," Alister said, his voice a low, determined rumble. He had always relied on himself. He would do so again.
He laid the spellbook on the small desk and picked up the heavy tomes on magical theory he had bought earlier. The pages were filled with complex diagrams and ancient runes, but Alister was not discouraged.
One Month Later - King's Cross Station
The morning after their Diagon Alley adventure had been quiet. Hagrid, with a final paternal nod, had handed Alister a small rectangular ticket before departing. The words Hogwarts Express were emblazoned on it in beautiful, ornate script. The address was simple and bewildering: Platform 9¾, King's Cross Station.
The Dursleys had been waiting at Privet Drive. They watched from behind the curtains as the giant of a man delivered Alister and Astra to their doorstep, and the sheer terror on their faces was a welcome sight. Alister didn't bother to hide the books or the clothes. He simply walked past their flustered, terrified faces, leading Astra by the hand.
He didn't waste a moment. He spent the next month buried in his books.
The Ascension System was a tireless guide, analyzing complex magical theories, deciphering ancient runes, and helping him understand a world that was both new and ancient. By the second week, he had begun to find a way to improve his physique with the help of magic.
The Dursleys, surprisingly, had capitulated entirely. Their fear of Alister and the world he represented was more powerful than any curse. They left him and Astra alone, serving them meals without a word of protest and leaving them to their own devices.
As the month drew to a close, he made sure they understood that Astra was to be cared for with the utmost attention before he left for King's Cross Station.
Now he walked across the bustling station, the ticket to Platform 9¾ a small, unassuming rectangle of paper in his hand. The air, thick with the scent of hot dogs and diesel, hummed with a low, magical energy he had only just begun to recognize. He looked around for the space between platforms 9 and 10, while communicating with the System.
"System," he called, "bring up the panel."
__________________________________________________
[Status]
Name: Alister Potter
Age: 11
Race: Human
Tier: 1 (Apprentice Mage)
Magical Attributes:
Magic Power: Tier 3 Beast Tamer: Tier 0 Potion-maker: Tier 0 Alchemist: Tier 0 Astrologer: Tier 0 Transfiguration: Tier 1 Physique: Tier 1
Spells Learned: (Highest Tier 1)
Tier 1: Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos), Softening Charm (Spongify), Severing Charm (Diffindo), Fire-Making Spell (Incendio), Unlocking Charm (Alohomora), Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa), Locking Spell (Colloportus), Mending Charm (Reparo)... [expand]
________________________________________________
The transparent blue screen shimmered before Alister's eyes, displaying his updated status. A month had passed since he left Diagon Alley—a month spent in the quietness of the Dursleys' house.
He had spent every waking hour with his books. He had devoured the elementary spellbook, mastering every charm listed, from the simple Wand-Lighting Charm to the more advanced Unlocking Charm.
With the System processing them, casting was effortless. He didn't need a wand or an incantation; the spells were simply an extension of his will. He hadn't just learned them—he had mastered them, going beyond the basic requirements to understand the underlying theory behind each one.
His attention had also turned to Transfiguration. What was a difficult and demanding discipline for others was, for him, surprisingly simple. His perfect control allowed him to reshape matter with ease.
The System's guidance was a flawless hand, and the knowledge from the books was a clear map. His mastery of the basics had pushed his rank to Tier 1, a feat that would have taken a normal wizard years to achieve.
His work with Potions was different. He had only read and memorized the contents of the textbook. He knew the ingredients, the steps, and the precise measurements, but he had yet to brew a single one. He remained at Tier 0, waiting for the chance to apply his knowledge.
But his most important work was in Magical Theory and physique enhancement. He had scoured his books, searching for any clue, any hint of a way to use magic to strengthen the body. He tried guiding magical energy through his body—a risky idea, but a viable path.
He began to experiment. As his body digested food, he would use his magic to guide the small, latent magical energy contained within it, focusing it on his muscles, bones, and blood. It was a slow, grueling process, but it worked.
He could feel his body changing, growing stronger—though it only worked until his physique reached Tier 1. Now he would have to find another way at Hogwarts to advance further.
He closed the status screen, a sense of quiet satisfaction filling his chest.
Soon, he found himself standing between platforms 9 and 10. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and walked forward, pushing his body toward the solid brick wall. The world around him rippled—a strange, liquid sensation that warped reality.
He felt a soft pressure against his body, like pushing through a heavy curtain. The familiar sights of the train station blurred into a cascade of colors.
When the feeling subsided, he opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him was testament to the fact that his new reality was far more vibrant than the old.
He was standing on a bustling, hidden platform, bathed in soft golden light. A magnificent scarlet steam engine—the Hogwarts Express—stood proudly at the platform, its engine letting out a great plume of white smoke that hung in the air like a cloud.
The platform was a sea of young witches and wizards, all dressed in robes, pulling their luggage and surrounded by floating trunks and cages full of owls.
He didn't waste any time. He found the nearest carriage and boarded the train, his luggage—a large, heavy trunk—now a small, barely-there lump in his robe pocket. The Traceless Expansion Charm, a Tier 3 spell not available in the textbook, had been cast on his pocket.
He walked through the crowded carriages, the air thick with the smell of magic and candy. He found an empty compartment at the end of the carriage and slid the door shut. The loud, boisterous voices of the other students faded into a low hum.
He was a sentinel, alone in a strange new world, and he didn't want any distractions.
He sat down on the comfortable seat, his mind focused. He raised a finger, and a large book—a tome on Magical Creatures—floated into his hand from his pocket.
Time to continue his education.
(END OF CHAPTER)
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