"Sigh! I wish I had a girlfriend too," an average-looking young man muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the school grounds where couples walked hand in hand, laughing and sharing moments of joy.
The sight made his heart ache with longing. He had always been the type to fade into the background, blending in with the crowd, never standing out.
Born into a poor family, he hadn't had the luxuries many of his peers enjoyed. He lacked the athletic prowess that attracted admiration or the academic brilliance that earned respect.
Mediocrity seemed to define his existence, and he had long since resigned himself to a hard, uneventful life.
This feeling of inadequacy weighed heavily on him, especially now. He had no special talents, no charm to woo anyone, and certainly no future prospects that could change his current situation.
He knew this, and it only deepened the loneliness gnawing at him.
While others enjoyed the simple happiness of companionship, he could only watch from the sidelines, reduced to silent wishing and daydreaming, hoping that maybe—just maybe—his life might take a turn for the better someday.
But deep down, he doubted it.
Luckily, fate decided to intervene at that exact moment.
Ding!
"Congratulations, host! You have been granted the cultivation base of a True Immortal! Please enjoy your life from now on," a sweet, melodic voice echoed in his ears, its gentle tone almost surreal.
For a moment, the young man stood frozen in disbelief, unsure if what he had heard was real.
But then, before he could process what was happening, an overwhelming sensation surged through his body.
A sudden and unimaginable transformation took hold of him. His bones strengthened, his muscles expanded, and every fiber of his being hummed with boundless energy.
In the blink of an eye, he realized he now possessed the power to obliterate the entire universe with a mere flick of his finger. It was as if the entire cosmos had bowed before him, waiting for his command.
Countless immortal techniques, once lost to ancient history, flowed into his mind like a rushing torrent.
Knowledge of every art, every secret, and every path to immortality filled his consciousness, and he mastered them all in an instant.
The myriad Eternal Daos—secrets that even the most revered cultivators sought for millennia—were now his to command.
"Wow," he whispered, his voice trembling with awe. He looked at his hands, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through him, and for the first time in his life, he was truly afraid—afraid of himself.
Could he accidentally shatter reality with just a breath? Would a single misstep tear the heavens apart?
His mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain: the world he once knew was now fragile in comparison to the being he had become.
Our now overpowered MC was too afraid to even raise his voice, fearing that a single loud word might shatter the world around him.
The sheer magnitude of his new strength was both exhilarating and terrifying. He took a deep breath and decided to take stock of his situation.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward, and to his immense relief, he discovered he had absolute control over his power.
Every bit of energy coursing through him was perfectly contained, as though the universe had made him its ruler but also granted him mastery over that responsibility.
"System, are you there?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement. He had spent years engrossed in web novels, dreaming of such moments.
He knew all too well how the protagonists of those stories often had systems, guides that offered them unimaginable power and skill.
He never expected to be one of those lucky few, to step into the shoes of an immortal hero in his own world.
The seconds stretched on, but no reply came.
"..." The system remained silent.
A knowing smile spread across his face.
"I get it," he said quietly to himself.
"Now that I stand at the top of the food chain, there's nothing more the system can give me. I've already surpassed the need for it." His eyes softened with gratitude as he gazed up at the sky.
"Thank you, system! I'll never forget what you've done for me!" His shout rang through the school courtyard, full of pride and energy.
Nearby students turned their heads in confusion, casting puzzled glances his way. To them, it was as if he had suddenly lost his mind, shouting out of nowhere like some crazed lunatic.
Some whispered among themselves, while others simply stared, their faces a mixture of confusion and amusement. But he didn't care. He didn't even register their reactions.
Why would he? A giant had no need to concern himself with the opinions of ants. He had transcended beyond their understanding, beyond their reality.
His thoughts wandered to what lay ahead. With this power, the universe was his playground, and the petty concerns of the mortal world seemed so small now.
He could do anything, be anything. The possibilities were endless.
In the end, a wide grin spread across his face, and he burst into laughter, a sound full of freedom, joy, and a hint of madness.
The weight of his past insecurities lifted off his shoulders as he embraced his new identity.
No longer the weak, forgotten student at the fringes of society—he was now a god among men, and the world would soon know his name.
Once our overpowered MC finally managed to calm his excitement, he decided it was time to test the full scope of his abilities.
Closing his eyes, he activated his divine sense, unleashing it across the entire universe with ease. Instantly, he could feel everything—every planet, every star, and every form of life, no matter how insignificant or grand.
He marveled at the complexity and vastness of it all. There were civilizations thriving on distant worlds, some primitive, others advanced beyond Earth's wildest dreams.
And then, his senses picked up something even more extraordinary: entire xianxia realms.
These were worlds straight out of fantasy, where immortals walked the earth, goddesses and fairies lived freely, and the laws of reality bent under the weight of spiritual energy.
The sight took his breath away—or it would have, if he hadn't already mastered the art of not needing to breathe.
But even beyond these realms lay something greater: the infinite multiverse. Layer upon layer of reality stretched endlessly before him, each one different, each one filled with possibilities.
The sheer scale of it was almost incomprehensible.
But despite all the wonders he encountered, one thing surprised him more than anything else: there were no other true immortals like him.
While there were ancient cultivators who had lived for trillions upon trillions of years, none had reached the level of immortality he now possessed.
These ancient beings, once feared across their realms, were hiding away in isolation, buried in secluded caves or locked away in coffins, desperately trying to avoid attracting the attention of the heavens.
They lived in constant fear, clinging to life as long as possible, yet never truly living.
In his eyes, this was not immortality. It was mere survival, a pitiful existence.
"Hmmm..." he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, I'm really at the top now. No rivals, no one to challenge me. Interesting." The idea of exploring these xianxia worlds intrigued him.
He could visit them anytime, unravel their mysteries, and test his strength against their so-called gods and immortals. But for now, something else held his interest.
"I'll visit those xianxia worlds after I get bored here on Earth," he decided. The possibilities were endless, but he had something more personal on his mind.
His thoughts drifted back to his old self, the one who had watched from the sidelines as others enjoyed their lives.
Now, everything had changed. He was a god among men, and the power he held was limitless. He could do anything, and what was the first thing he wanted?
"But first, I need to get myself a girlfriend!" A wide grin spread across his face, the excitement of this new chapter in his life electrifying him.
He had always been an outsider, watching as others formed relationships, feeling the ache of loneliness as happy couples passed him by.
But now, with his limitless strength and newfound confidence, he was no longer the shy, average guy he once was. He was ready to experience everything life—and the multiverse—had to offer.