Chapter 1: The Shadow That Blocked the Sun
The first thing Yazen noticed was the light.
Not the usual sunlight that slipped through the curtains of his room, but a strange blue glow that swallowed everything. Before the sounds reached him, he saw that light turning the familiar colors of his small room into dark, muted shades. Then the noises erupted. They weren't explosions—just screams coming from everywhere: from the street, from the TV, from his phone that suddenly vibrated as if dying.
Yazen rose from his chair and walked toward the window. What he saw froze him in place. In the sky above the city, where clouds and planes were supposed to be, hung a colossal screen. Not an ordinary screen, but a solid mass of light—as if the stars themselves had fused to create this phenomenon.
"What is this…" Yazen whispered to himself, though his voice drowned in the city's chaos.
Then he heard it.
A metallic voice, merciless and stripped of any human tone, speaking perfect Arabic with a strange robotic accent.
"People of Earth, I am the System."
The air grew heavy around him. Time itself felt like it had paused. He saw people in the street frozen in place—some collapsing to their knees, others staring up at the sky with wide, trembling eyes.
"One hundred individuals have been chosen to participate in the Civilization Reconstruction Project."
Yazen's heartbeat quickened. His mind raced, analyzing the situation like he always did.
Where was the voice coming from? What technology could do this? What purpose did it serve?
"Each chosen participant will be granted a piece of land in the ocean, raw materials, and the opportunity to build a great kingdom."
Screams rose from the street.
"Lies!"
"A trick!"
But the metallic voice continued, slicing through the air.
"Every month, the chosen will compete in specific tasks. Those who excel will receive great rewards. Those who fall behind… will face consequences."
Then it happened—something he could never have prepared for.
A glowing emblem appeared before his eyes. Not on the wall, not floating in the air, but etched directly onto his vision—inside his own retina.
The number 73 inside a golden circle.
"You have been chosen, Yazen. Prepare yourself."
He felt invisible hands gripping him from every direction. He tried to resist, but he was like a sheet of paper in a storm. The world around him warped—melting like shattered glass sliding apart. A dizzy wave hit him before everything went dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in a white space that had no end. No walls, no sky, no ground—just endless whiteness. Around him, people began appearing out of thin air. Men and women of all races, wearing everything from business suits to pajamas to work uniforms.
"Where are we?" shouted a disheveled-haired woman.
"What is this place?" asked a man with a European accent.
Chaos spread quickly.
But Yazen stayed silent, observing and counting. Ninety-nine people. He was the hundredth.
Then the metallic voice returned—this time coming from everywhere at once.
"Welcome, chosen one hundred, to the virtual space."
Yazen scanned the faces around him—terrified, angry, confused. A young Japanese man trying to hide his tears. A determined-looking American woman. A wealthy-looking Arab man trying to speak, though nobody listened.
"Each of you will receive a ten-square-kilometer plot in the ocean. You will have three months of full protection to begin building your kingdom."
Murmurs broke out around him.
"Ten kilometers? That's not even a small town!"
"What kind of joke is this?"
"You will each choose five essential starting materials. Choose wisely—this decision will shape the fate of your kingdom."
A virtual screen appeared before every participant, displaying rows of materials.
Yazen scanned them:
Rare metals
Renewable energy
Advanced technology
Natural resources
Weapons
…and more.
His mind worked fast.
"Rare metals are useful, but not a priority. Energy is important but can be developed later. Technology… yes. That's what we need."
"You have two minutes to choose your five materials."
People hurried through their selections—some choosing gold, others weapons. But Yazen thought differently.
"I'll choose materials that build a foundation, not materials that show off."
He selected:
1. Adaptive Smart-Building Material (self-repairing)
2. High-efficiency renewable power core
3. Integrated water-desalination and air-purification facility
4. Advanced automated manufacturing lab
5. Secure communication and encryption platform
"Time is up," the System declared.
A massive world map appeared, showing the oceans dotted with glowing points.
"Now, choose the location of your future kingdom."
Yazen studied the map.
Some picked areas near their home countries.
Some rushed blindly.
But Yazen thought carefully.
"A strategic location. Not too close to major powers so I'm not under their influence. Not too far from trade routes so I can prosper."
He chose a point in the Pacific Ocean—close to international shipping routes, yet isolated enough to control a large region.
"Locations confirmed. Transfer begins in ten seconds."
His heart pounded.
His old life was over.
He was no longer a simple strategic analyst living in a small apartment.
He was becoming a ruler—building a kingdom from nothing.
"Ten… nine…"
He looked around one last time—faces determined, terrified, hysterical, or quietly resigned.
"…three… two… one…"
His body dissolved into light once more.
But this time, he didn't resist it.
"Transfer."
He shot out of the white void into a new world.
Into his new kingdom.
Into his fate.
When he opened his eyes, he stood on the shore of a small island surrounded by endless ocean. The air was salty, the wind strong. Before him were the five crates containing his essential materials.
No land.
No trees.
No people.
Only him and the infinite sea.
But instead of fear, he felt a strange thrill.
This was his
chance to build something great.
This was the beginning of his kingdom.
He lifted his head toward the sky and said:
"Alright… let's begin."
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