Stellar lines, like veins running along the spine of a cosmic giant, were reflected in Ardur's wide-open gray eyes, while his thick black hair merged with the darkness surrounding him, stretching into the endless void.
What Ardur was now looking at was the formation of his Bridge, the foundation of his power, the cornerstone of which was the Core Gene.
From the energy possessed by such a young Origin as Ardur, a great pillar-shaped object appeared, causing Ardur to raise his gaze.
The corners were dark as obsidian, while the center was a gray monolith with sharp edges protruding outward. Deep inside, at the very center, was his Core Gene.
Then, the silence fell.
Ardur looked around and cautiously approached the Bridge.
'I received the Core Gene? Hmm, but what is it?'
The moment he thought about it, runes appeared out of the darkness, forming text that he could understand.
[Core Gene – Fallen Perfection obtained.]
[Fallen Perfection
A fragment about a creature born for a brief moment from a deadly weapon and blood, but unable to live long enough to bring disaster upon the world, as it was killed by its own creator. For this creature, the fall was both the beginning and the end, and now all its potential and power were in the hands of its slayer, who desired only one thing: to destroy perfection.]
"Hah, I see. So I did manage to create the monster I needed and get rid of the plague after all? Well, it seems that by solving one problem, I found myself in the middle of a bunch of new ones."
Ardur was about to leave. He didn't know what to do, but he hoped that if he went into the darkness, he would soon get out of this place.
Crack.
At the same moment, something behind him caught his attention.
Cracks ran across the Bridge. The dark obsidian split apart as a passage to the center opened, revealing something that made Ardur's eyes widen.
He grinned and reached out for what was now rightfully his.
Every Origin needed a weapon, a unique tool to forge their path.
...
Naturally, the fall of a bright star, the morning star, was bound to attract attention. Not only Barna and Ren, but also monsters.
Barna logically assumed that the star was actually a wounded monster. Well, that meant the monster that arrived at the crash site first would be able to finish off the wounded beast and devour it.
Blink.
Ardur's eyes opened as he blinked several times to realize that this was reality.
'This was something like a space inside my mind, right?' He thought before looking around. 'Alright, I can figure that out later, but... Where the hell am I?'
Only stone peaks, sparse tall trees, and winding paths surrounded him until Ardur noticed something unusual in the distance.
A great island floated high in the sky, not high enough to reach the clouds, but enough to cast a shadow on the land.
Several heavy chains stretched out from the edges of the island, like anchors preventing it from flying away.
"An island?" Ardur muttered. "And these chains... They don't look like anchors, more like tentacles scattered around to devour all life around them."
For a moment, the corners of Ardur's mouth curled up.
'Should I go there, or is it better to turn the other way?'
Suddenly, a shout came from the side:
"Watch out!"
Ardur turned toward the sound.
"Agh?"
On the slope was a girl with gray hair and a brown-haired young man next to her. They didn't look like enemies, but they wanted to warn him of the danger.
Whoooooooosh.
Only this allowed Ardur to turn around in time as a crooked claw swept past his eyes.
"Rgk!"
The beast with red stretched hide on its protruding bones growled, digging its claws into the ground. It was prepared for the next attack, staring intently at Ardur.
Strangely enough, Ardur was not looking at the beast, but at Barna and Ren in the distance. They were running towards him at full speed to help.
'If this monster were strong, I would already be dead. It is low, weak, but fast,' Ardur thought. One glance at the beast was enough for his experience. 'But, the real question is something else.'
His eyes deepened, reflecting the approaching Barna and Ren.
'What role should I play? Should I let them save me, or...'
Step.
Ren stepped forward as he turned to Barna.
"Barna, you have to use it, or this monster will tear him apart!"
"I know! I'm going to do it right now—!"
Her eyes went wide when the man ahead reached out his hand, and a bright purple flash filled his grasp.
Slash!
The wide blade sliced through the air, sending gusts of wind toward the red beast.
The long, dark blade in Ardur's grasp had black chains coming out of the hilt, running along his hand to an iron bracelet on his wrist. As long as his grip was strong, the sword would not fall from his hand.
There was nothing remarkable about the sword itself except for its damaged blade. The edges were broken off as if it were an old, rusty sword that had been used to strike rocks for many years.
An experienced swordsman would consider this a serious defect. Who would want a blunt, broken sword? But Ardur only smiled when the runes ran across his eyes.
[Will to Ruin (Catalyst)
A weapon forged from the desire to live and destroy those who decided they came close to an unattainable ideal. Its appearance and type reflect the pure will to act for the sole purpose of making the heart beat faster.]
'Core Gene, the Bridge, and now the Catalyst? It seems this is the last surprise waiting for me, at least for now.'
Strangely enough, Ardur was wrong. As soon as he took a step toward the monster, new runes appeared.
[Your Catalyst is empty. Absorb the gene of any creature to ignite the Spark and gain your first ability.]
Before the Raging Plague destroyed civilization in Ardur's world, he lived a normal life, and entertainment such as movies, books, and video games was nothing unusual for him. It was this, more than anything else, that helped him adapt now, seeing similarities in the system.
'Tsk, maybe I should have had all this from the beginning. I still don't understand where I am, but I'll have to think about that after I deal with this bastard, right?'
"Grrrrrh!"
The red beast growled, lunging straight at Ardur.
He didn't have much experience with swords, but like all men, he served in the army. He had standard physical training and knew how to use a dagger.
True, a sword was very different from a dagger, but what choice did Ardur have?
The sharp fangs and the sword were about to clash when an electric shock from a third party struck between them.
Ardur and the red beast simultaneously jumped back as gray hair flashed before his eyes.
Unfortunately for the red beast, this was not another enemy, but Ardur's ally, although he only realized this now.
Clutch.
Barna grabbed the red beast by the tail and threw it over herself, slamming the monster to the ground with a loud crash.
"Go on! Finish it off!" she exclaimed.
Ardur didn't need to do anything more as he thrust his sword straight into the monster's head.
Blood burst forth as Ardur's gray eyes shone brightly, seeing what every Origin went through at the beginning of his journey.
[The first gene was obtained. The Spark of your Catalyst was unlocked.]