[Warning: Universal synchronization initialized.]
[Your conditions have met the hidden prerequisites for connection to the Multiversal Domination System.]
[Do you wish to forge the connection and transcend your limitations?]
[ Yes / No ]
Ethan stared at the floating window, the blue light refracting through the tears still clinging to his eyelashes. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
Ethan stopped staring, a weird mix of surprise and nerves bubbling inside him. What he saw in front of him just didn't make sense. Was he losing it?
Floating right in front of his eyes was this interface, like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was crystal clear, impossible to ignore. From what he understood, this kind of system was only for people who had awakened. And even then, they could only see it when they were in False Heaven.
That's where things got really strange. He definitely hadn't awakened. He was sure of it. And last he checked, he wasn't hanging out in False Heaven. So why was this interface staring him in the face?
He blinked, rubbed his eyes, even shook his head a little. The thing just wouldn't go away. It was bright, sharp, and felt unbelievably real and he couldn't explain it. The more he stared, the more questions popped into his head. What was going on? Was this some kind of elaborate joke? Or was his mind playing tricks on him? He had so many questions but no answers. He needed to figure out what was happening, and fast. He wasn't sure he was prepared for what was to come.
Reading through the interface again, his gaze met the word, 'conditions.'
"What conditions?" Ethan whispered.
As if answering him, a fresh window popped up, taking the place of the one before. It wasn't just giving info; it felt like it was reading his mind, answering with a cold, almost mocking tone.
[Inquiry Detected: Prerequisites for System Inheritance]
[The Multiversal Domination System has identified the following conditions met by the Host:]
> Condition 1: Absolute Physical Mediocrity. (Host's vessel is at the lowest 0.01 percentile of kinetic efficiency.)
> Condition 2: Peak Emotional Despair. (Host's psychological state has reached the 'Nothing Left to Lose' threshold.)
> Condition 3: Genetic Nullity. (Host possesses zero natural affinity for False Heaven's standard mana nodes.)
> Condition 4: The 'Chaos' Protocol. (The Primordial Essence of Chaos requires a vessel so pathetic that any growth serves as a testament to the System's absolute power.)
[Summary: You are the perfect blank slate because there is nothing of value currently occupying your existence. To inherit the legacy of Chaos, one must start from the true bottom.]
Ethan stared at the screen, a mixture of offense and awe washing over him. The system was essentially calling him the most pathetic creature in existence, a cosmic joke chosen specifically because he was so weak that his rise would be a statistical impossibility.
But beneath the insult was a golden thread of hope.
He thought of Baki's S-Rank talent. He thought of the $32,000 his mother slaved away for. He thought of the way the kids at school looked at him—like he was a piece of furniture that took up too much space.
"Pathetic, huh?" Ethan muttered, a strange, jagged smile forming on his face. "Fine. If being the worst makes me the best candidate, I'll take it."
He reached out his finger, his hand trembling, and pressed [ Yes ].
[Multiversal Domination System Initializing...]
[Connecting to the Primal Void... 10%]
[Analyzing Earth's Local Laws... 25%]
[Bypassing False Heaven's Firewall... 48%]
[Integrating Chaos Core into Host... 67%]
[Warning: Host's physical vessel is under-pressurized. Adjusting pain receptors... 82%]
[Rewriting.... 95%]
[100%—Initialization Complete!]
A rush of heat flared up in Ethan's stomach, exactly where he figured his dantian was supposed to be. It wasn't that soft, cozy feeling the teachers had talked about when they were checking everyone out either. This was a scorching, freezing fire. Seriously, it felt like a mini-sun had just gone off inside him. Ethan bit down hard to keep from screaming. The last thing he needed was to wake his mom. He grabbed his stomach, feeling like his insides were being ripped apart and put back together, all in a matter of seconds.
The blue interface shifted to a deep, dark purple, like something you'd find at the bottom of the ocean. He couldn't explain what was going on, but he knew it wasn't good. Was this how everyone felt the first time their dantian formed? He seriously doubted it. He tried to remember everything the teachers had said, but his mind was blank. All he could focus on was the insane heat and the feeling of his body being torn apart.
Panic started to set in. He wondered if he should try to get up and find his mom, but he was afraid to move. What if moving made it worse? What if he passed out? He took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down. Okay, think. What did the teachers say about controlling your mana? He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing, trying to find that center point inside himself.
It was no use. The heat was too intense, the pain too overwhelming. He felt like he was burning from the inside out. He squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, wishing it would all just stop. He had dreamed of this day, the day his dantian formed, the day he could start on the path to becoming an Awakener. But this? This was a nightmare. He just wanted it to be over. He just wanted the pain to stop.
Then, the pain suddenly subsided as a new interface panel hovered in front of him.
[Host Current Status: Weak]
[Current World: Earth (Sector-7G)]
[World Rank: E-Rank (Primitive/Mana-Deficient)]
[Current Quest: Increase Host Strength]
[Overall Quest: Dominate and Conquer the Multiverse]
"Multiverse?" Ethan breathed. "You mean... there are other worlds? Not just the pocket worlds in False Heaven?"
[Explanation: The 'False Heaven' your planet interacts with is merely a sub-dimension created by a Grade-C Galactic Civilization to harvest local energy. The Multiverse consists of infinite planes, spanning from Cultivation Heavens to Mechanical Hells. To Dominate is to stand atop them all.]
Ethan's head spun. The scale was too large to comprehend. But before he could sink into a fresh wave of confusion, the system began its final gift.
[Distributing Awakening Rewards...]
[Talent Awakening: Stat Exponentiality (Rank: SSS)]
[Effect: The Host's growth is no longer bound by effort. You gain 1 Unallocated Stat Point every 1 second.]
[Class Awakening: Shadow Assassin]
[Dantian Awakening: Abyssal Void]
Ethan stopped dead in his tracks, his mind racing. He quickly calculated the numbers. If he gained one stat point each second, that meant he'd get sixty points every minute. That's three thousand six hundred points within an hour. The thought hit him with full force: In just one day, he'd have more power than most Awakeners. It felt like he had found the key to rewrite what was possible.
He stood there, trying to take it all in. The sheer potential was almost too much to process. It was as if the universe had handed him an unfair advantage. He could not help but wondering just how far he could go with it. What limits would he have to surpass? He pondered whether such power came with a hidden cost or a responsibility he wasn't prepared for. As he stood there, a mix of excitement and apprehension washed over him.
[Class Skills Acquired:]
> [Shadow Step (Active - Level 1):] Phase into the shadow realm to move instantaneously between shadows within a 10-meter radius. Costs 50 Mana.
> [Monarch's Shadow Extraction (Active - Level 1):] Target a deceased or defeated foe whose cultivation rank is lower than yours. You may extract their shadow and manifest it as a loyal soldier. Shadow soldiers retain 50% of their living strength. Current Limit: 0/5.
> [Umbral Veil (Passive/Active - Level 1):] In darkness, your presence is completely erased from all senses and magical detection. While active, your first strike from the shadows deals 300% Critical Damage.
"This... this is insane," Ethan mumbled, his voice barely audible. A wave of disbelief washed over him, making his head spin. He couldn't wrap his mind around what was happening. It felt like stepping into a bizarre dream, one where the rules of reality didn't apply.
He took a shaky breath to steady himself and focused his thoughts. "System," he projected mentally, trying to keep his voice calm. "Give me the full picture. I need to see everything, understand everything." He wasn't sure if it would work, but he had to try. Remaining in the dark wasn't an option.
In response, a huge interface materialized in front of him, filled with intricate details and complex information. The display seemed to materialize out of thin air, expanding rapidly until it filled his entire field of vision. The sight was both fascinating and terrifying, like peering into the heart of something ancient and powerful. Ethan felt a mixture of awe and dread as he stared at the sprawling display, realizing that he was only just scratching the surface of something vast and unknown.A chill ran down his spine as he prepared to navigate this new reality.
[HOST INTERFACE]
Name: Ethan Darkwood
Class: Shadow Assassin
Title: Successor of Chaos
Level: 1 (Exp: 0/100)
Cultivation Rank: Dantian Maturation (1)
[ATTRIBUTES]
* Strength: 8
* Agility: 5
* Spirit: 12
* Stamina: 6
* Intelligence: 15
* Endurance: 11
[Stat Points Available: 142] (Note: Increasing at +1/sec)
[ENERGY SYSTEMS]
* HP: 120 / 120
* MP: 240 / 240
* Mana Saturation: 0.01% (Stage: First Awakening)
[UNIQUE MECHANICS]
* Multiversal Market: (Locked - Reach Level 25 to unlock)
* World Conquest Map: (Current: Earth - 0.00001% Explored)
* Chaos Shop: (Currency: Chaos Essence - Earned extracting chaos essence from monsters slain within False Heaven)
Ethan watched the [Stat Points Available] ticker.
143... 144... 145...
He felt a hysterical laugh bubbling up in his chest. If he just sat here on this couch for the rest of the night, he would wake up tomorrow with so many stat points. But the System wasn't done.
[New Sub-Quest: First Distribution]
[Objective: Allocate your first 100 points.]
[Reward: Beginner's Weapon Set.]
"Easy peasy," Ethan mumbled to himself after reading the quest content.
He glanced at his mom's bedroom door. She was still out cold, totally clueless that her formerly useless son had turned into the scariest thing on Earth.
Ethan flopped back onto the couch, but sleep was out of the question. His eyes were glued to the stat counter on the interface panel. The numbers kept ticking up.
210... 211... 212...