Kira had always felt like the world around him was too small, too predictable. But today, the air itself felt different. Today, the world shattered.
"Attention, mortals!"
The booming voice echoed across the sky, halting everyone in their tracks. The traffic stopped, and a hush fell over the streets. People looked up, confused and terrified, their lives grinding to a halt as they searched for the source of the voice.
Kira didn't move. He listened, his pulse quickening—but not from fear. For him, the voice in the sky was a confirmation. He had always known that something beyond the ordinary world was coming. His excitement grew with each passing second.
The voice continued. "I am your savior and your destroyer. Your world has lingered in ignorance for too long. Now, you will face thirty Acts—thirty trials to test your strength and will. Only the worthy will survive and ascend."
As the voice boomed, a figure began to emerge from the sky, like a vision drawn straight from myth. A deity, impossibly beautiful and radiant, descended upon the earth. Silver hair floated weightlessly around them, and their eyes gleamed with a mysterious light. They hovered above the crowd with an air of authority that made people drop to their knees in reverence or terror.
Kira remained standing, a grin forming on his face.
The deity spoke again, voice smoother now. "In each Act, you will face challenges, dangers, and opportunities. Your system will guide you, offering you a path to grow stronger. But only those who evolve will survive."
With a wave of the deity's hand, transparent screens appeared in front of each person, displaying stats and information.
"You must choose your starting skill. It will be your weapon, your lifeline through the Acts. Make your choice carefully, for it will shape your fate."
Kira's screen materialized before him:
[Name: Kira]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 6]
[Endurance: 4]
[Intelligence: 8]
[Starting Skill: Choose Now]
Three options flashed before his eyes:
Phantom Step – Short-range teleportation.
Flame Control – Manipulate fire.
Shadow Manipulation – Control shadows.
Before Kira could react, another message appeared, its text bold and glowing red:
[Please be advised: It is safer to get a skill.]
Kira stared at the message, then at the skill options. He could see everyone around him hastily making their choices, fear driving their hands. But Kira was different. He wasn't afraid. He was intrigued.
"Safer to get a skill, huh?" Kira muttered, the corner of his lips curling up. "Why get a skill now? I've always been able to adapt—why not try now?"
The deity's eyes shifted toward Kira, their glowing gaze lingering for a moment. Kira felt it—a brief spark of interest from the divine being. Though the deity remained silent, there was an unmistakable curiosity in their look.
"What an interesting subject," the deity thought, a faint smile playing at their lips. "No wonder his intelligence is so high. He wants to remain open to options… or perhaps he simply wishes to observe. We'll see."
As Kira closed his screen, choosing not to pick a skill, the deity continued speaking to the rest of the crowd. "You have chosen, or not. The First Act begins now."
Without warning, the world around them shifted. The ground beneath Kira's feet dissolved into an abyss, and moments later, he found himself standing in a vast, dark forest. Towering trees stretched into the sky, their twisted branches casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. The air was thick, humid, and filled with the scent of moss and decay.
Around him, the other participants began to materialize, disoriented and afraid. Some clutched weapons, while others tested their newfound abilities. But Kira? He had no weapon, no power—just his instincts and his mind.
And that was more than enough.
He took a deep breath, scanning the twisted forest around him, feeling the weight of the situation sink in. This wasn't a game—it was his moment.
With a small grin, Kira stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's see what this world really has to offer."