Adam and his classmates sat through Mr. Smith's lecture when a magic circle flared under their feet and swallowed the room.
Darkness rushed up. They plunged as one, then slammed onto cold stone.
Torches ringed a wide stone hall. A robed woman waited on a low central dais. Her staff and collar caught the firelight.
"Welcome, citizens of the other star. I am Angelina, the pope of the Golden Star Church," said the robed woman, fingers firm on her staff. Around her stood knights and priests in matching uniforms. Their clothes and shields bore the same star, marking them as one order.
Her words sounded welcoming. Her tone did not. She continued as the class stared.
"You have come here to save our world. Why you? Because you come from a different world with different views and politics. Our world, Asteriona, needs a new direction, one that will lead humanity into an age without oppression." She paused. "May Her light lead that change."
A student called out. "You abducted us! Let us go home!"
"Impossible. The world is too chaotic for continuous summoning. You're stranded with us for at least a few years. Fear not. Each of you will find a fitting job. None of you were chosen at random. You carry innate talents that slept within you. Our ritual awakened them. Say 'Status' aloud to see them. See for yourselves."
Magic. Power. Fame.
Whispers spread. Students whispered "Status" and froze as floating screens blinked to life before them, listing innate abilities.
Adam did the same. "Status."
[Adam Winter Lv. 1]
[HP: 100/100]
[MP: 500/500]
[Bloodline: Chronos Bloodline(Divine)]
[Skills: Chronos' Checkpoint(Divine)]
[Chronos' Checkpoint(Divine): Checkpoint set at arrival. Return to the checkpoint moment with memories intact at will.]
Okay, that's… good. What did everyone else roll?
He listened. Most classmates' talents were far from divine. One had a common berserker trait. Another had an uncommon wind talent. Someone woke with a rare swordsmanship talent. Knights took notice, but Angelina's stare kept them quiet.
A popular student said, "I have a legendary phoenix bloodline!"
At the word phoenix, Angelina's posture lifted. Her fingers brushed the starburst brooch at her collar, and it caught the hall light like a small sun. "Impressive. You'll surely change our world and attain anything you wish. We will help you understand your bloodline and evolve it as far as possible. Rumor says the phoenix's abilities are magic‑based. I will attend to you personally. May Her light favor your awakening."
Her voice turned sweet; her expression matched. Jealous looks spread among the boys. Adam felt it too.
"I have a divine Chronos bloodline," Adam said before he realized he'd spoken.
Heads turned. For a beat, he felt daggers on his back. He checked the pope. Her smile held; her eyes cooled.
"Amazing. I'd love to hear more about it as well," Angelina said, her voice sweet but thinner. She didn't touch the brooch this time.
The boy with the phoenix bloodline, Elias, glared at Adam.
Was that him? Yeah.
Before the murmurs could grow, Angelina raised a hand. "Anyone willing to take a trial to grow stronger may do so now. We want to learn about you quickly. Forgive our impatience. We will use a small teleportation circle to send you to a low‑level dungeon where you can hone your abilities and level up. If you're interested, step forward."
Students stepped up in ones and twos. Adam stepped up too.
A new circle opened beneath their feet. Light swallowed them. The others landed together in a dungeon, but Adam arrived alone in a dark, humid corridor.
A footstep scraped behind him. A spear punched through his back and out of his chest, straight through his heart.
Wait, what?
He hit the stone face‑first. Blood spread under his cheek.
"Glory to the Golden Star, Our Lord, Ra! May she forgive us for summoning a spawn of another god!" the spear‑wielder cried, as if Ra were watching.
No shot. I… died?
[Chronos' Checkpoint has been activated.]
[Bringing Adam Winter to the Checkpoint's Anchor.]
An instant later, Adam stood in the summoning hall again, just seconds before Angelina's speech.
"Welcome, citizens of the other star…"
Adam clenched his hands without thinking.