Before it wasn't, the planet was like any other.
As long as anybody could recall, there had been consistency in life. While working, learning, and going about their daily lives, people dreamed of something more, something amazing. But the ordinary was upended in an instant on a day that had begun like any other.
There was a golden glow at first.
It began as a faint glow in the distance, akin to the first light of daybreak. However, when the sun rose higher in the sky, this light remained constant. Rather, it became stronger, sweeping across the sky until a bright, golden glow enveloped the whole planet. It seemed almost like a soft embrace from the cosmos itself, the light being warm and soothing.
People came to a standstill and stared up into the sky, amazed. While others prayed in hushed tones, others just gazed, unable to believe what they were seeing. It felt as though time had stopped for a minute.
And then the miracles started.
Derek Collins was working on yet another job application while seated in his little apartment, his eyes fixed on the computer screen. His life had been a succession of near-misses and what-ifs, with every rejection letter serving as an agonizing reminder that his aspirations to become successful were evaporating. He had always felt that he was destined for more, but such dreams were often dashed by the outside world.
Derek's heart skipped a beat as the room filled with golden light. He moved away from his workstation and toward the window in order to have a closer look at the outside phenomena. A calmness overcame him as he gazed up into the sky, with the entire city enveloped in a golden glow.
Then something erupted inside of him—a sudden flash of energy. A powerful stream of energy shot through his veins as though a dam had collapsed inside of him. Derek collapsed to his knees, panting for air as his vision went black and a ton of information rushed his head—knowledge of something old and strong that had always eluded him but was suddenly under his control.
A distinct, authoritative voice resounded in his head.
"Greetings, Selected One. The System of Ultimate Potential is yours to use. This allows you to develop your abilities, pick up magical skills, and rise to the top of the hierarchy. This is the start of your trip."
Derek's stunned eyes grew wider. The words felt unreal, like they belonged in a fiction book, yet he knew deep down that they were true. He sensed the system, an unseen force that reacted to his thoughts and presented him with a menu of choices and capabilities that he could now utilize.
"Is this real?" he said, his voice quivering with a mixture of excitement and terror.
His hands trembled as he visualized the translucent screen with icons and statistics that was the system interface. He could see how pitifully poor his own qualities were: strength, intellect, and agility. However, more tabs existed, ones that guaranteed the capacity to get new abilities, boost these numbers, and get stronger every day.
Heart raced in Derek. That was it. He had been waiting for this opportunity to break free from his situation and become more than simply a face in the throng. He can be a legend, a hero, or someone that the public adored and looked up to.
But when the initial rush of excitement subsided, Derek became aware of an oddity. The world beyond his window appeared to be in disarray. Shouting and racing through the streets were people, some in terror and others in glee. He saw a guy run across the pavement, then launch himself into the air, his body shooting skyward encircled with a subtle, luminescent halo.
A little distance up the road, a woman extended her palm and a shimmering wall of light materialized in front of her, diverting a piece of falling debris from a neighboring structure. Derek squinted and saw that the adolescents racing by on bicycles had vanished, replaced by swords they rode like skateboards.
As Derek started to realize the reality, his stomach fell.
It wasn't just him.
People were finding their own powers, systems, and astounding skills everywhere he looked. In a moment, everything had changed and everyone had become amazing.
Derek was excited at first, but soon he became nervous. How was he meant to be seen in a society where each person was unique? Given that everyone around him had the same opportunities, how could he attain greatness?
With a thousand thoughts running through his head, he mumbled, "What am I supposed to do now?"
But the mechanism in his head intervened before he could sink much further into uncertainty.
"You must develop your skills, take advice from people around you, and never lose sight of your actual potential if you want to rise above the others. The road to greatness is long and difficult, but in this age of global cultivation, you may become a master, a legend, and rise above everyone else if you have persistence and knowledge."
Derek balled his fists, his resolve gradually taking the place of his dread. His dreams had not altered, even while the world did. In fact, this new situation was just one more thing to conquer, one more struggle. Being simply another face in the throng would not satisfy him. Regardless of the cost, he was going to overcome.
Derek inhaled deeply, turned on his system, and set off on his adventure. Although the path ahead was unclear and paved with obstacles and competitors, it was also paved with opportunity. Derek was prepared to grab them all.
This was the start of a brand-new period in which everyone might become a god and the elite would only be the genuinely remarkable.
Derek Collins was adamant about joining them.