Zhao Long had submitted countless "plans" into the sea of spiritual energy — essentially broadcasting his will to the universe. He was burning his soul, making grand aspirations, all for one core purpose:
> To help his younger brother…
…by transmitting the hundreds of thousands of novels he had read over the years to the world consciousness.
Whether those novels were useful or not didn't matter. The key was quantity — with so many stories, at least one would align with the advancement path the world consciousness was seeking.
He believed it wholeheartedly:
> "There's no way the world consciousness doesn't want to evolve stronger than it already is."
There was no reply from the world consciousness, but judging by what happened next, Zhao Long believed his proposal worked. The timeline was reset. He retained his memories, reborn and now chosen to fulfill a role — even if it was a self-assigned one.
Still, there was a problem.
---
❖ Where's His Awakening?
Three months before the Great Rip, people began awakening supernatural powers. Zhao Long had awakened in the first month during his last life.
But now?
After his rebirth?
He waited… and waited…
Nothing.
> "Is this a joke?!"
He had no abilities this time!
"Maybe I forgot…" he muttered.
It felt as if the world consciousness treated him as nothing more than a pawn. Maybe the reset was because something went wrong in the original timeline. Still, Zhao Long tried to stay calm.
> "Doesn't matter. I need to become a superhuman — no matter what."
Whether it was for the plan, or for surviving the Great Rip in two months.
He refused to believe that a world consciousness influenced by hundreds of thousands of novels would repeat the same failed path.
---
❖ A Step Away from Godhood
Zhao Long had an instinct — a premonition — that the future's downfall would involve god-level ability users. It was a gut feeling, the kind you get when you're just a breath away from becoming a god yourself.
Now that he had the Fantasy Stone, becoming extraordinary was inevitable…
…but the side effects? Severe.
---
❖ Paths to Power
There were many paths to becoming supernatural. Most involved "career systems" created by god-level beings — but these only appeared after the second year of the Great Rip. Or so it seemed.
In reality, they already existed before the catastrophe but had been dormant.
> Without the Fantasy Stone, he'd have to wait two years.
By then? He might not even be alive.
These "career systems" may not be as divine as they appeared. They could be flawed — Zhao Long had learned that the hard way in his previous life.
---
❖ Zhao Long, the Humanoid Disaster
Back then, his awakening gave him the ability to manipulate gold within a hundred meters. Later, he walked the path of an "actor" — literally gaining the ability to transform. A single strike from him could wipe out half a street.
With a monster-like physique that could withstand missiles, he was feared — a walking natural disaster.
But now?
He had nothing.
No powers.
No luck.
Only two options remained:
1. Role-Playing Path
2. Combat Power Path
---
❖ Role vs. Power
Role-Playing Path:
Become a virtual character, then eventually merge with its essence to transcend humanity.
Combat Power Path:
Absorb spiritual energy and strengthen the body. With enough nutrition, the physique could adapt to the world of the Great Rip.
But time was short.
To reach the rank of General in combat strength took three years. There wasn't enough food in the apocalypse to survive that long — let alone grow stronger.
Just imagine:
> A man who can fly at the speed of sound, punch with a force of 100 tons, and tear through steel like paper —
— But still dies from a single anti-material bullet.
Why?
Because without proper ability assimilation, kinetic weapons are fatal.
This is why orthodox ability users start at the General level — with fields around their bodies that make kinetic weapons useless.
Once you're past that point?
> You're a living missile.
A disaster-class being.
Unlimited firepower.
---
❖ The Bigger Picture
In the early days of the Great Rip, only tens of thousands had true abilities. But with secondary power users, plant-enhanced humans, and other anomalies, that number grew into the hundreds of thousands.
Zhao Long knew he had to act fast.
> "I'll take the Role-Playing Path... but I'll train in combat too."
There was no other choice.
But here's the catch:
> You can't even begin the Role-Playing Path…
…unless you're already extraordinary!
Extraordinary plants?
Yes — they have fewer side effects — but they don't appear until after the Great Rip.