The sound of silence was deafening.
Max's last memory of Earth was fragmented—like a book with its final pages torn out. He remembered walking down a familiar street on a quiet evening, neon lights reflecting off puddles, the faint buzz of city traffic. Then, an overwhelming sensation, as though the world itself had folded inward, crushing his breath, his body, his very soul. There was no pain, no accident, no flash of light—only a sudden weightlessness, a void swallowing him whole.
And then… nothing.
When Max opened his eyes again, the world was no longer the one he knew.
Above him stretched a sky too vast, too overwhelming to belong to Earth. It was not just blue but painted with faint strokes of violet and gold, as though the heavens themselves were alive with flowing energy. The air felt heavier, richer, every breath filling his lungs with vitality he had never known. Beneath him lay soft grass, darker and lusher than any field he had ever walked upon. A cool breeze brushed against his cheek, carrying with it the scent of pine, damp soil, and something sharper—something unfamiliar.
Max sat up slowly, blinking as his eyes adjusted. A forest stretched endlessly before him, trees towering like titans with bark etched in faint glowing lines, as if veins of energy pulsed within them. Birds—or things that resembled birds—sang with haunting cries from the canopy above, while in the distance, he could hear the distant rumble of waterfalls.
His mind spun.
"Where… am I?" he muttered under his breath. His own voice sounded strange, sharper, clearer, as though the air itself amplified it.
Then, it came.
A soundless chime, echoing not in the air but directly in his mind.
[ Ding! ]
Max froze.
[ The Strongest System has been bound. ]
Words—bright, golden, and absolute—appeared before his eyes, hovering in the air. His breath caught. A system? Like the ones from the countless novels, anime, and games he had consumed back on Earth? He rubbed his eyes, half-expecting the vision to fade, but the letters remained, unwavering.
[ Welcome, Host: Max. ]
[ You have been chosen to bear The Strongest System, the sole vessel of infinite potential across all realms. ]
[ All paths of power are yours. All skills, arts, abilities, and divine functions exist within your reach. ]
Max's heart raced. His throat went dry, but excitement surged within him. He had read enough stories to know what this meant. A golden finger. A cheat. A system not bound by rules but by the very essence of ascension itself.
"Show me… my status," he whispered, hardly daring to hope.
The world shifted again. A panel unfolded before him like a scroll of light, lines of text etching themselves into reality.
[ Status Panel ]
Name: Max
Race: Human (Unascended)
Tier: 0 (Mortal)
Level: 1 [0/100 EXP]
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Spirit: 10
Luck: 10
Charisma: 10
[ Free Attribute Points: 0 ]
Functions Unlocked:
Level System ✅
Attributes ✅
Skills (Locked)
Abilities (Locked)
Divine Arts (Locked)
Unique Abilities (Locked)
Max stared, heart pounding. It was simple, yet the weight of it was staggering. A foundation—bare, but limitless.
"This… is real."
For the first time, he laughed—not out of humor, but from disbelief and awe. The sound echoed through the forest. Back on Earth, he had been nothing but a man drifting through life, chained by routine and limitations. But here? Here, he had a chance.
[ First Quest Generated. ]
A new panel appeared.
[ Quest: First Blood ]
Objective: Defeat your first enemy.
Reward: 100 EXP, 10 Free Attribute Points, Skill Unlock.
Failure: None.
Max's smile froze. His first enemy? His hands curled into fists. He glanced around the forest, suddenly hyper-aware of every rustle, every shadow. His body was no stronger than it had been on Earth—Tier 0, nothing but a mortal.
A growl cut through the silence.
Max turned sharply. From between the trees, a creature emerged. Its body was low and sleek, covered in scales that shimmered dark green under the sunlight. A wolf, but not quite—a predator with reptilian eyes and fangs like daggers. Its claws dug into the earth, leaving scorched marks as though fire clung to its very touch.
The creature bared its teeth, drool hissing as it struck the grass.
Max's breath quickened. He had no weapon, no skills, no training. Panic threatened to claw its way up his throat. But then—
[ Combat Tutorial Initiated. ]
Golden text appeared before him.
[ Host may channel attributes directly into his body. ]
[ Command: "Allocate Points." ]
Max gritted his teeth. "I have no free points yet…"
[ Emergency Activation Granted. +5 Free Attribute Points issued. ]
The panel flickered.
[ Allocate Points? ]
Strength +2
Agility +2
Endurance +1
Power flooded his body instantly. His muscles tightened, his veins burned with fire, and his senses sharpened. He felt lighter, faster, stronger—beyond anything he had ever known.
The beast lunged.
Max moved instinctively, his body reacting faster than his mind. He dove to the side, the creature's claws raking against the earth where he had stood a heartbeat before. Dirt and sparks flew.
His heart thundered. Fear warred with exhilaration. For the first time in his life, he felt alive—not in safety, but on the edge of death.
The beast turned, snarling. Max clenched his fists. He had no weapon, but instinct screamed at him: fight or die.
The creature lunged again, jaws snapping. Max ducked low and swung his fist with every ounce of new strength. His knuckles slammed against the beast's jaw with a crack, sending it stumbling sideways.
Pain shot up his arm, but the beast hissed in shock, blood dripping from its mouth. Max's chest heaved. He could hurt it.
[ Combat EXP Gained: 10 ]
The notification flickered across his vision, but he barely had time to register it. The beast circled him, eyes glowing with fury.
This was no game. If he lost here, he would die.
The fight continued—claws against flesh, fists against scales. Max dodged, barely avoiding death by a breath each time. His body screamed with exhaustion, but his spirit burned. He refused to die here, not when he had been given this chance.
Finally, the beast lunged once more, jaws wide. Max roared, throwing himself forward instead of back, driving his fist straight into its throat. The impact crushed cartilage, and the beast gagged, choking. Max seized the moment, grabbing a sharp stone from the ground and driving it into the creature's eye.
A final shriek tore from its throat before it collapsed, thrashing once before falling still.
Silence returned to the forest.
Max stood over the corpse, chest heaving, arms trembling. He was covered in sweat, dirt, and blood—his and the beast's alike. His hands shook, not from fear, but from the adrenaline still coursing through him.
Then the system spoke again.
[ Quest Complete. ]
[ Reward: 100 EXP, +10 Free Attribute Points, Skill Unlock. ]
The panel appeared.
[ Level Up! ]
Current Level: 2
EXP: 10/200
New Skill Unlocked: [Basic Combat Instinct]
Enhances reaction time and combat intuition by 10%.
Max collapsed onto the grass, laughing breathlessly. His body ached, but inside, a fire burned brighter than ever.
This was real. This was his new life.
But as he lay there, staring up at the endless sky, a shadow passed over his heart.
If such a creature existed here—if such power was possible for even beasts—then what of the beings that legends had named gods? Odin. Zeus. Hades. Demon Kings. Angels.
The system pulsed, as though answering his thoughts.
[ Reminder: All "gods" are ascendants. They are not divine. They are mortals who reached high Tiers and carved realms of their own. ]
Max froze. His eyes widened.
And then, one last line appeared—simple, but absolute.
[ There is only One Almighty. ]
The words sank into him like thunder, undeniable, unshakable. His path was clear. His strength was limitless, his system the strongest—but even if he reached the peak of the multiverse, he would remain nothing before the Almighty.
And that truth… would guide him forever.