The light faded, and then he breathed.
Kiran jolted, lungs burning, his whole body seizing like he'd just been yanked back into existence. Cold sweat slicked his brow. Gasping, he sat upright—only to nearly fall off a flimsy mattress.
The room around him came into focus.
He was in an apartment—his apartment. Something was different though, he couldn't put his finger on it, but he could feel it.
His breathing slowed.
He looked down at his hands—still calloused from years of sewing by hand, fingertips roughened by needle pricks and worn tools. Still his body. Still him.
He walked to the cracked mirror above his sink. A young man with a light tan complexion stared back at him—blue eyes, brown tousled hair, features that were sharp but slightly worn. Athletic but not bulky. He began to think that everything was just a dream, but before he could finish that thought.
A chime echoed through the room.
The screen on the wall—the one he never turned on because he couldn't afford the power—lit up in perfect clarity.
_____________________________________________
WELCOME TO YOUR REINCARNATION
Subject: Kiran Ren
System Interface: AURA (Automated User Reincarnation Assistant)
Status: Orientation Phase Active
_____________________________________________
He blinked.
A voice, sterile and unnervingly calm, echoed in his mind at once.
"Welcome, Kiran Ren. Your reincarnation has been successfully executed. Please remain calm during system initialization."
Kiran rubbed his temples. "I'm still dreaming, right?"
"Negative. This reality has been designated as Earth-Null-7—a Rift-Class planetary system."
The room shimmered, and suddenly the screen projected images: distorted maps of Earth overlaid with glowing red scars, interdimensional cracks, zones pulsing with unknown energy. Cities fused with alien architecture, skies burning with unnatural colors.
"This is an alternate reality to where you came from. All history remained the same until approximately 750 Earth years ago when this planet experienced a dimensional collision—an event referred to as 'The Riftings.' As a result, local reality fractured. Alien species entered. And native biology mutated."
Kiran's eyes flicked between the chaotic images—beasts towering over skyscrapers, mutated humans wielding lightning, factions battling in the skies.
"Humanity adapted as it always does. Power is now the dominant social currency. Individuals are ranked by their strength and status."
"You will retain full memory and personality of your previous life, but do know your life will never be the same again. Further orientation will be provided shortly."
The screen flickered to a series of public records.
_____________________________________________
Species: Human
Population: 18 billion.
Dominant Human Power: National Mutant Association (NMA).
Other Factions: Family Bloodline Clans, Corporate Organizations, Dark Clans, Alien Coalitions.
Common Power Ranking System: S-F Class.
Note: Rankings are sociopolitical and do not reflect true potential.
_____________________________________________
"My job as AURA is to integrate you fully into your new world and inform you of the differences between this world and your last. I will provide no strength or status benefits and will shut down once orientation is complete."
_____________________________________________
Time until system departure: approximately 12 hours. Please use this period wisely.
_____________________________________________
Kiran stared at the now-static screen, a mix of awe and unease creeping into his gut. He paced the room once, twice, before finally stopping dead center and throwing his hands in the air.
"Demon beasts? Alien invasions? Superpowered societies?" he muttered. "How the hell am I supposed to survive in a world like this?"
He paused, blinking. "And wait… why am I so calm about this?"
"Upon awakening, and AURA initialization, your emotional regulation pathways were temporarily stabilized to ensure retention of critical data and prevent psychological shock. The effect will wear off shortly."
"So you... tweaked my brain chemistry?"
"Non-invasive modulation only. Your core cognition remains unaffected."
He exhaled, dropping back onto the edge of the cot. The questions kept multiplying.
"Alright. Then start from the beginning. What exactly happened to this world?"
"Acknowledged. Uploading historical data now."
Light flared. The room dissolved.
_____________________________________________
Scene One: Rift Emergence
The first rift appeared in northern Siberia. A spiral of prismatic distortion that hummed without sound.
Within a week, three more opened: one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Sahara, and one above the Andes.
People assumed they were natural disasters, freak quantum tears.
But then something came through.
_____________________________________________
Scene Two: Demon Beasts
The first creature emerged from Rift-3: a serpentine mass of black bone and molten red flesh, dubbed "Stage 4: Araxxor."
Within hours, it leveled three villages and triggered a global military response.
But this was only the beginning.
More came. Hundreds. Each beast varied—some like wolves made of mist, others like giants of crystal and lightning.
The name "Demon Beasts" spread quickly.
_____________________________________________
Scene Three: The Dhaer Invasion
Two years after the first rift, a massive rift split the skies over Antarctica. Ships descended—sleek, silent, crescent-shaped. And with them, the Dhaer.
Pale-skinned humanoids with geometric armor and unreadable expressions. Faster. Stronger. Smarter. They did not communicate. They conquered.
In six months, nearly 30% of the Earth's population was wiped out. Human weaponry was irrelevant. Governments fell.
_____________________________________________
Scene Four: The Mutation Awakening
Survivors exposed to rift radiation began to change. Some gained strength. Others could bend metal, freeze air, and regenerate from wounds.
Abilities once confined to comics became biological truths. They were dubbed Mutants, and for the first time, humans could fight back.
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Scene Five: War & Reclamation
A unified resistance formed.
Mutants led the charge, using crude versions of their powers to push back.
It wasn't easy. It took 20 years.
Eventually, the Dhaer fell silent. Their rift closed. Their ships crumbled. Their tech remained—abandoned, scattered, and dangerous.
_____________________________________________
Scene Six: The Rise of the NMA
In the aftermath, the world's remaining governments merged military, scientific, and societal powers into one global organization:
The National Mutant Association – NMA.
Their goals:
- Research mutations and their evolution
- Explore and secure rift zones
- Defend against Demon Beasts
- Regulate mutant populations
- Control and repurpose Dhaer technology
- Maintain order in a world changed forever
_____________________________________________
Scene Seven: Modern Day
750 years have passed since the first rift.
The world is now a blend of urban sprawl, post-apocalyptic zones, and hyper-advanced cities with floating architecture and energy cores.
Mutation has become a birthright, a status symbol, and a weapon. The NMA tries to maintain peace.
_____________________________________________
Kiran didn't speak. Just breathed. Sweat dampened the back of his neck. Before he could finish processing, AURA continued.
"Now, elaborating on the Mutation System, Rank Classification, and Survival Framework."
The floating holographic interface pulsed with a slow, patient rhythm.
"Human evolution on this Earth is no longer natural. Mutations, genetic rewrites triggered by prolonged exposure to rift energy, have restructured the species. Nearly every human develops a mutation by late adolescence."
AURA's voice didn't change tone, but the weight of its words pressed deeper now.
"Mutations are categorized by three parameters: Stage, Level, and Rank."
As it spoke, a new diagram shimmered into view, a vertical scale from 1 to 9 was shown.
"There are 9 known Stages of mutation, each marking a qualitative transformation in physiology, cognition, and metaphysical potential."
_____________________________________________
Stage 1 – Awakened
Levels 1–10
The mutation has just manifested. Users are learning to control and sense their ability.
Most civilians and students remain in this stage for years, if not forever.
_____________________________
Stage 2 – Refined
Levels 11–20
Control improves. Mutation becomes more versatile and efficient.
High-power combat applications and internal mastery become possible.
_____________________________
Stage 3 – Empowered
Levels 21–30
Mutation evolves in scope. Power output drastically increases.
Users often develop unique signature techniques or traits tied to their ability.
_____________________________
Stage 4 – Transcendent
Levels 31–40
Mutation surpasses typical human understanding. Can distort natural laws or exhibit phenomena beyond science.
This is the limit for most of society.
_____________________________
Stage 5 – Ascendant
Levels 41–50
Mutation becomes godlike in its category. Mostly populated by the elites of the world. Few common people reach this stage.
Bloodline traits usually play a significant role here.
_____________________________
Stage 6 – Sovereign
Levels 51–60
A mutation becomes capable of dominating large battlefields or affecting entire regions.
Multiversal or alien factions begin to take interest in users of this level.
_____________________________
Stage 7 – Mythic
Levels 61–70
Powers at this stage challenge global balance. Capable of interdimensional effects or mass-scale manipulation.
Only a few individuals in the world touch this rank, most belonging to the dominant factions.
_____________________________
Stage 8 – Celestial
Levels 71–80
Unconfirmed until recent centuries.
These individuals are even perceived as threats to intergalactic federations; only select dominant factions have these types of mutants.
_____________________________
Stage 9 – Undefined
Levels 81–90
Practically godhood for humans. Almost no verified users exist at this stage, and most believe it's theoretical.
_____________________________________________
"Each stage contains 10 Levels—milestones of growth within a stage. Leveling is possible through rigorous training, real-world application, or emotional breakthroughs."
[End of Part 1, story continues in Part 2]