☆[TASK: CAPTURE A PLANET.]☆
Inosuke's heart pounded as the words echoed in his head.
"Capture a planet...?" he muttered, trying to keep his composure. "What planet am I supposed to conquer?"
Suddenly, a white glow shimmered into existence before him. It swirled, expanding rapidly until it formed a floating box-like screen. The center was a void of black space, speckled with glowing orbs—planets, each radiating a different color. A vast map of the multiverse.
☆[CHOOSE PLANET]☆
"Choose... a planet," he whispered, eyes scanning the dozens of swirling spheres. They all looked mysterious, unfamiliar and terrifying. Fear clenched his chest. How was he supposed to invade a planet?
Still, he had to try. He clenched his fists, remembering his sister. The the one person he had to protect no matter what.
"Can I get information about each one?"
☆[SELECT PLANET FOR INFORMATION]☆
He pointed to a glowing red orb. "This one."
In an instant, knowledge surged into his mind.
Planet Name: Tharnak.
A savage world dominated by humanoid beasts creatures with human-like bodies but animalistic traits, bred for war and carnage. Their culture revolves around constant combat. They care little for resources or diplomacy.
That last detail struck him.
Maybe… this mission isn't just about conquest. Maybe I can find something here. Something to help my sister.
He closed his eyes, trying to tap into his qi for more information resources, weaknesses, anything but nothing came.
"I guess that's all I get," he sighed.
Despite glancing at the other planets, his attention remained locked on the red one. Something about Tharnak pulled at him.
"I'm not ready for war," he muttered. "But maybe I don't need to win... maybe I just need to understand."
This time, instead of pointing, he reached into the glowing screen and grasped the red orb.
Everything went dark.
He felt his body stretch, twist, and spiral like it was being sucked into a wormhole. Then, stillness.
Inosuke opened his eyes.
He stood in the middle of a dense forest. The sky above was blood-orange. The trees were tall and crooked, their bark rough and blackened. The air was thick with the stench of death blood, rot, and something primal.
"This smell…" He gagged, covering his nose. The planet looked Earth-like, but everything about it screamed danger.
"GRRRRAAAAAAHHHHH!"
A thunderous roar shook the ground. Leaves scattered. Birds or what sounded like them fled the trees.
"Oh, no..." Inosuke braced himself.
From between the trees emerged a towering green beast. Muscles bulging beneath scaled skin, two twisted horns on its head, bloodshot eyes glowing red. Two massive fangs jutted from its jaw.
Inosuke froze. "Hi…"
Before he could finish, the beast struck him with a massive backhand.
He went flying.
Sailing through the air, crashing through branches and rocks, he finally slammed into a mountain shattering its face before tumbling down.
"Stupid cultivation..." he groaned mid-air. "Gain powers just to die? Did I even gain powers?!"
But as he laid there, he realized… there was no pain.
Half of his vision darkened. He grinned.
"No pain" He stood up, brushing dust off his shredded clothes. "Then let's see what I can do."
He bent his knees and jumped.
Within seconds, he landed back in front of the beast.
It flinched shaken by the survival of Inosuke.
"I didn't get to finish my sentence earlier," he said calmly, stepping closer.
The beast roared and swung again, but Inosuke sidestepped effortlessly. To him, the beast's movement was sluggish almost slow motion.
He marched forward, dodging each swing with ease as only an after image of him was left.
"To you, it looks like your attacks are landing," he muttered, now inches from the beast. "But to me… they're just air."
Then at its side,He leaned in.
"I'm going to test my full strength on you now. Got it?"
Elsewhere…
"He hasn't been found yet?!" barked a man in silver armor, pushing through the underbrush. His tone was sharp, commanding.
"Negative, sir," replied one of the scouts, dressed in dark patrol gear.
"Sir! Over here!" shouted another, voice shaky.
The officer approached and froze.
In the clearing, Inosuke stood tall. His body bloodied but unwavering. Kneeling before him, the monstrous beast groaned, its head bowed in submission.
The soldiers stared in disbelief.
"What… in the realm of monsters… am I looking at?"
To be continued...