The Unavoidable Choice
The Border Star System was a hotbed of conflict. Human Civilization had offended numerous interstellar alien races, and the front lines were constantly under attack, threatening to fall at any moment. Conscription was a nice word for sending people to the front lines as a reserve force, or more bluntly, as cannon fodder. Going was almost a certain death sentence.
A mysterious, unknown voice, seemingly filled with twisted glee, echoed in Zane's ear. "Oh, you poor unlucky fellow, you will soon face death. What choice will you make?"
"Oh, no, what choice can you even make? You can only go to the front lines, and only death awaits you, making your final contribution to the Human Federation~"
The voice seemed to be prophesying his tragic and inevitable end. Zane's frown deepened. "What exactly is this voice?" It didn't feel like a system; it felt like some unknown, malevolent entity, an anomalous phenomenon. He had a chilling feeling that this voice was somehow connected to his future fate.
"What should I do? Am I really going to die? Make a final contribution to the so-called Human Federation?"
His eyes grew red, and his emotions flared as he touched the glowing wristband. Was he really going to die on the front lines, just as the voice said? He clenched his fists, his breathing rapid.
Just then, a powerful energy fluctuation erupted around him. His vision blurred as countless scenes of starlight and unknown events—past, present, and future—flashed before his eyes. After an unknown period, the anomaly subsided, and a glowing, ethereal panel solidified before him.
• Name: Zane
• Age: 18
• Superpower: Transcendence Derivation Manifestation
• Innate Talent: None
• Strength: Ordinary Person
A massive amount of information flooded his mind, explaining the function of his new superpower. Transcendence Derivation Manifestation allowed his consciousness to travel through the past, future, or unknown worlds and bring back acquired talents and powers as a manifestation. Each time he traveled, he would be presented with three derived Extraordinary Talent options to choose from.
Zane was stunned, his heart racing. "What is this... an awakened superpower?"
The mysterious voice seemed puzzled. "Oh? What happened to you?"
Ignoring the voice, Zane's mind raced as he tried to understand his new ability. It was at this moment that a group of people emerged from the crowd, and Zane instantly recognized them: his former body's father, mother, older brother, and younger brother.
His father, Marcus, led the group, and a heavy atmosphere settled over them. "That Kai Rohan... he already talked to us," Marcus said in a low voice. "The Rohan Group is powerful, and our family can't resist. He has already reported our conscription quota. Someone from our family must go to the Border Star System tomorrow morning."
He glanced at his eldest son, Leo, who was impeccably dressed and looked like a successful man. After a long moment of hesitation, Marcus continued, "Your older brother, Leo, has a stable career and plans to start a family. Your younger brother, our third child, Finn..."
"His talent is the best in our family. He has already been accepted into a prestigious academy, and his future achievements are immeasurable. Once he grows up, he'll be a source of pride for all of us. Perhaps he can even get you out of the front lines in the future..."
Zane looked at his two brothers. Leo was an ordinary person like him, but Finn had awakened the ability to control metal magnetism, much like Magneto from his old world. His talent was so strong that he ranked in the top three of the province's talent ranking, far surpassing Kai Rohan.
Leo's face showed a hint of guilt, while Finn lowered his head, his eyes evasive. But a second later, perhaps recalling what his father had just said, Finn looked up and met Zane's gaze without flinching. His eyes were filled with pride, as if to say that his talent was the best in the entire family. It was an honor for Zane to be his brother, and it was more suitable for Zane, an ordinary and unremarkable person, to go to the front lines.
Watching this, Zane felt nothing but coldness. He turned and walked toward his apartment. Marcus, his wife, and the two brothers looked at his back, a complex mix of emotions on their faces.
His mother, Clara, choked out, "If our second child doesn't want to go, then don't make him. Can't we refuse?"
Marcus sighed. "His personal information has already been uploaded by Kai Rohan to the conscription system. Can we still change it? Zane has to go sooner or later, alas..."
Back in his room, Zane's brows were deeply furrowed. "I absolutely cannot go to the Border Star System. I must find a way."
He knew he had no chance of survival there. He also refused to let Kai Rohan get his way. Sitting on the bed, he tapped the optical brain on his left wrist, bringing up a green holographic projection. He searched for ways to escape conscription.
Soon, a list of methods appeared.
• 1. Make significant contributions to Human Civilization and become a Federal Citizen of Level Two or higher. This includes providing new scientific research technologies or new Extraordinary Evolution Paths.
• 2. Become a First-Order Transcendent Evolutionist.
• 3. Other methods…
Zane's expression turned grim. He wasn't Einstein or Tesla; how could he develop new technologies in this advanced era? As for uploading new evolution paths, that was even more ridiculous. He wasn't some ancient Dao Ancestor.