The Genesis Beyond was unlike anything I'd experienced before. Here, power didn't come from money, status, or strength. It came from survival, from conquering the world's challenges, and bending the game's rules to your will. And that, I was starting to realize, was exactly how I could thrive in this world.
The timer in the corner of my vision blinked as it ticked down. I had less than 24 hours left before I would be able to return to reality. Forty-eight hours. That was how long I had to survive in this twisted game before I could re-enter the real world. But the question wasn't whether I'd survive—it was what I'd take with me when I left.
As I moved through the wreckage of what seemed to be a once-bustling town square, I felt something shift. The air around me seemed to hum, and the strange interface that had appeared the moment I'd entered this world flickered again.
[Quest Complete: Survive for 24 hours.]
A rush of energy surged through my body, flooding my senses. I could feel it—a tangible power settling deep within me, awakening something primal. A system window appeared in front of me, displaying my status.
[Ethan Renner – Level 1] [Abilities Unlocked: Basic Illusion Mastery] [New Talent Available: Reality Bender (Tier 1)]
I smirked. So that was how it worked. Survival rewarded growth. The more you endured, the stronger you became. And the more power you could seize.
The illusionary abilities I had been using so far had been instinctive, unrefined. But now, with this new power, I could feel the potential expanding before me. The Basic Illusion Mastery gave me more control over my surroundings, letting me manipulate not just sight but sounds and even the atmosphere around me.
"Interesting," I muttered to myself, flexing my fingers as I willed the shadows nearby to take on a new shape. In seconds, the environment warped, and what had been a barren square now looked like an untouched marketplace, vibrant and alive.
But there was no time to marvel. If the Genesis Beyond had taught me anything, it was that power attracts danger.
The warning came in the form of a low growl. I spun around, eyes locking onto the source—another player. Unlike the ones I'd faced before, this one was different. He moved with a purpose, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of hunger and madness.
"Looks like you've been busy," he sneered, eyeing the illusion I had just crafted. "Too bad it won't help you."
He raised his hand, and in an instant, I felt a shift in the air. A torrent of wind slammed into me, knocking me back. Wind manipulation, then. The system made it clear—each player had their own set of powers, and this one was no exception. I rolled to my feet, blood pounding in my ears. My illusions wouldn't work on someone like him, not directly. He knew too much about how the game worked. I'd need something more.
Focusing, I drew on the new abilities I had unlocked. The illusion I had created shifted, warping the air around us. For a moment, the wind user hesitated, his gaze flickering as the world around him blurred and twisted. He lashed out with his wind again, but this time, I was ready.
I bent the light, turning the space into a kaleidoscope of confusion. He wouldn't know where I was, where I'd attack from. The wind whipped wildly in every direction as he struggled to regain control.
Then I struck.
In the chaos of his own storm, I slipped forward, driving my blade toward his chest. He barely managed to dodge, but I wasn't done. I let out a breath, weaving a new illusion—a mirror image of myself that darted to the side.
His eyes widened, and he turned to face the copy, leaving his back exposed. The real me wasted no time. I slashed down, cutting through his defenses. Blood spilled, and he dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. His wind power flickered and died.
I stood over him, my own breath steady. "You're not the first, and you won't be the last."
The game responded with a familiar chime.
[Enemy Defeated: +200 XP] [New Ability Available: Minor Wind Manipulation]
I knelt down, watching as the life drained from his eyes. The Genesis Beyond rewarded victory with power—and power wasn't limited to what you were born with. If you were strong enough, you could take anything you wanted from the fallen.