Earth
In an ancient archeological site where mysteries unravels through blood, sweat, and tears, a group of workers were pulling a massive humanoid statue toward the levitating cart.
"Pull harder, you useless bastards! Don't stop!"
"Argh, we're trying, Sir! But it won't even budge… it's too big!"
"Too big? There are ten of you! And you're telling me that's not enough?"
"It's that brat's fault, Sir. With his scrawny body, he's barely helping at all."
"Yeah, he's just a dead weight."
"What's his name? And who allowed a child onto my site?"
"Neo Godson, Sir. That bald boss assigned him here. He said the kid needed work."
"Neo Godson…? Hah. Figures. Oi, boy!"
"Yes, Sir?" came a tired reply.
"Either start pulling like a man, or get the hell off my site. The statue you're pulling is millions of years old. Any mishap could lead your life to ruin, understand?"
Neo inwardly: "As if my life is not ruined enough.
Outwardly: "Understood sir"
Neo was young, looking about 19–20 years old. His most noticeable trait was his 6 feet 2 inch height. Other than that, everything else was ordinary.
Black haired, tanned skinned.
But unlike their claims, he wasn't skinny at all. His physique was lean and compact.
Any impartial observer could tell he had been a labourer for years.
His calloused hands didn't lie about how many times he had pulled ropes like this. His scarred back didn't lie about how many times he had been injured while doing so. His trembling legs didn't lie about the strenuous effort he was putting in.
He was working harder than any grown man could, and yet they placed the blame on him.
It was normal. Like most people, they also saw him as an easy target.
To them, he was nothing but a poor brat whom they could use however they wished.
At this, he mocked no one but himself.
In the interstellar era, being poor was the greatest sin.
It was currently Year 100,000 on the great Interstellar calendar.
Earth had transformed ever since the Omnipotent System integrated it into its Universal Network almost 100 years ago.
Earth became one of countless worlds that gained many benefits because of this Universal Network.
The exchange of high-level goods, knowledge, and technologies became extremely easy.
Within just 100 years, Earth progressed rapidly.
Levitating cars, high-rise skyscrapers, space travel, mechas, and integrated AI robots were no longer distant things.
However, this also changed the social hierarchy forever.
Those with early access to the System, mostly top military personnel, politicians, and tycoons, became the godfathers of the world.
The naive ordinary citizens became trapped in the system before they even knew it.
They still remained tools to serve the rich and influential.
Yes, you had a chance to rise, but not enough to break the chains of invisible slavery.
Everyone called the Omnipotent System as: "DIVA."
In his naive years, Neo named it: "ONI" (meaning: demon).
But as he grew older, he realized this was just the natural order of the world.
Life taught him a cruel lesson: someone has to stay at the bottom to let another rise.
This was not injustice. This was the order of the universe.
But a question always scratched at his heart: "Why him?"
Not only he was born poor, but also his father died early in an accident, leaving his mother and little sister as his responsibility.
Not to forget the mountain debt accumulated over two generations.
He also had a genetic disease called: Vitality Decay Disorder (VDD), that consumed his Lifespan just to let him breathe a second longer.
It was said his grandfather had this disease, and he likely got it from him
Notheless, right now he was aging twice as fast than nornal people.
At most he could live another 10 years.
So, the amount of effort he put in to pull that heavy piece of ancient junk was simply unthinkable.
This natural order was too cruel for him.
While other boys his age went to top-notch universities, dreaming of becoming spaceship pilots or legendary Ascenders, Neo was stuck for earning a living to feed his family.
Neo never dreamed that big; he just wanted to live.
It was at that moment that something unexpected happened.
Thud!
One of the workers couldn't handle the pressure and collapsed onto the stone floor.
The rope he was pulling was set loose, creating a rebound force that made the ancient statue sway forward and backward.
"Fuck! Hold tight, motherfckers! If this statue falls, I will skin everyone alive!" the fat manager growled.
But alas, what was to happen would happen.
With earth-shaking vibrations, it began to fall, right above the workers.
Neo was among the unfortunate ones as well.
But unlike the others, Neo's face was calm.
"So this is what the order wants, huh?" he said to himself mockingly. But there was also sadness at parting.
"I'm sorry, Nina. Your big brother couldn't keep his promise."
Rumble!
At last, the ancient statue crashed onto Neo and a few others who couldn't run in time.
All of them were crushed into mincemeat, while the statue also crumbled into countless pieces of rubble and dust.
Seeing this, the fat manager's face turned aghast.
He collapsed onto his knees, clutching his head.
"Over… it's over! Everything is over! Two hundred million, all of it went down the drain!"
The three surviving workers looked at him angrily.
"Manager, you only care about the money. Look there, seven of our brothers have been buried under the rubble."
"Do you not even have the tiniest bit of humanity to care about their lives at all?"
"Hey, hey, hey. Why are you shifting the blame onto me? They all deserved it," the fat manager spat with disdain. "You three will not get away unscathed either. Our company will sue you all for every penny."
"What! Sue us? Unbelievable!"
While they continued their argument, unbeknownst to everyone, something mystical was occurring within the mountain of rubble.
A small globe, the size of a walnut and glowing silver in color, entered Neo's body.
Ding-Dong!
Ding-Dong!
[ A Beyonder Core Has Been Detected Within User: Neo Godson ]
[ Vessel and Core Compatibility: 100% ]
[ Granting System Access.... ]
[ Complete. ]
[ Initializing Core merge...]
1%…
2%…
6%…
17%…
37%…
71%…
99.99%…
[ Merge Complete! ]
[ Congratulations, Beyonder Neo Godson! You Have Obtained a Unique Talent: Universal Synthesis (Supreme) ]