On a floating island high above the clouds, a young man with short black hair lay sprawled on the ground, his body heavy with fatigue. His 180 cm frame rested on the wild grass, and his tan skin glowed faintly in the ethereal light. He groaned softly, his eyelids flickering open, revealing a shimmering, blurred landscape that distorted like a mirage in the distance.
Around him stretched an expanse of empty land, carpeted with wild grass. The island, a mere 5 by 5 meters in size, hovered amidst a sea of clouds that veiled everything beyond a few meters, shrouding the horizon in mist. Despite the warm, otherworldly glow from an unseen sun, Essim pressed a hand to his temple, struggling to clear the dizziness from his mind.
With great effort, he sat up, his body sluggish and unsteady, as if it hadn't quite adjusted to this new reality. He blinked rapidly, trying to steady his vision and focus on his surroundings. The disorienting shift from wherever he had been moments ago left him grappling for answers.
Peering through the soft haze, his eyes caught a faint glimmer near the center of the island. Squinting, he saw what appeared to be a transparent orb floating just above the ground, gently pulsing with an inner light.
Essim's curiosity piqued, and he approached the orb cautiously, his body still protesting with every step. As he got closer, he noticed that the orb's smooth surface reflected the golden light around it, giving it an almost ethereal quality. Hesitating for only a moment, he reached out and let his fingers graze its cool surface.
A holographic panel flickered to life above the orb, its text hovering in the air before him:
[Island Ruler Orb]
Owner: Select a name for the Ruler
Speed: 1 meter per second
Size: 25 square meters
The interface was familiar—eerily familiar. It resembled the countless video games he'd played during his youth. A jolt of both excitement and dread coursed through him. "Can this be described as... an Isekai?" he murmured, half-amused, half-anxious. The thought of being transported to a world like this, once his fantasy, now felt too surreal. But it wasn't just a game anymore. The stakes were real.
And with that reality came fear. The thought of pain, of danger lurking in every corner...
His heart suddenly seized with panic. "Aisha!" The name tore from his lips as he spun around frantically. His younger sister—his only family left. He needed to find her, protect her. She had been at school, far from his office when... this happened. But now, with everyone transported to this strange "Mystic Realm," where was she? Even his colleagues, who had been near him when it all unfolded, were nowhere to be seen.
His mind raced, anxiety tightening in his chest. But just as his panic threatened to spiral, another notification appeared.
[System Notice: As a Ruler of Region #1825, you are granted a single wish. Speak your wish, and it will be fulfilled.]
A wish? He stared at the panel in disbelief, his heart pounding. Without hesitation, he whispered, "Bring my sister, Aisha, here."
The system seemed to pause, as though considering the request.
[Wish granted.]
In the blink of an eye, a figure materialized in front of him. Aisha stood there, looking dazed and disoriented, her 155 cm frame trembling slightly as she took in her surroundings. Her silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her delicate face reflecting the same confusion that Essim had felt moments earlier.
"Aisha..." Essim breathed in relief, rushing to her side. His hands shook slightly as he touched her shoulder, reassuring himself that she was real.
Aisha's eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, fear darkened her expression. But as soon as she recognized her brother, the fear dissolved, replaced by relief. "Brother, where are we?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
Essim swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure. "I don't know, Aisha. But don't worry—we're together. That's what matters most."
Before they could even begin to process what had just happened, the same cold, detached voice echoed across the island.
[Welcome to the Mystic Realm.]
Successfully entered Region #1825...
Loading status panel...
Obtaining beginner's chest...
Evaluating talent... Acquired talent: (Infinity Duplicate - EX)
Essim's breath caught as he read the words on the panel. "EX-ranked?" He quickly opened the talent description, his heart racing.
(Infinity Duplicate - EX)
Duplicate 1 item into 500.
Cooldown: 1 hours.
Duplicate any item in the universe.
The power to duplicate anything in the universe... The implications left him breathless. This was beyond extraordinary—it was godlike. Essim's thoughts raced. The possibilities were limitless. His hands trembled slightly as the sheer magnitude of the talent sank in. If he could duplicate anything, a thousandfold...
"Aisha, did you get a talent too?" he asked, barely able to contain the mixture of excitement and disbelief coursing through him.
Aisha shook her head, her voice tinged with disappointment. "No, the system said I have no talent."
Essim placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. We'll figure this out together." He explained his newfound power to her, and even Aisha, who wasn't much into games, could understand the gravity of duplicating anything a thousand times.
As they discussed what this power could mean for their survival, Essim opened his status panel to review his attributes.
[Status Panel]
Ruler's Name: Insert name
Level: 1 (0%)
Attributes: Strength 3, Agility 2, Intelligence 1, Resilience 3
Equipment: -
Features: Market, Chat, Friends
Seeing the blank entry for "Ruler's Name," Essim entered his real name—he wasn't going to hide behind an alias in this world.
Next, he checked the Regional Chat panel.
[Regional Chat #1825]
Mani: Help, save me...
Franck: Be careful, this is not a game; death is real here... My friend…
Rando: Someone, I'm near a large black tower, is anyone near?
Sutan: My family is with me. I will protect them at all costs...
Greg: Don't fall off the island; you'll die...
Tommy: What did you all wish for ?
Tribor: I wished to become Immortal… But it was denied, and I lost my wish…
[System: Badir has died.]
The chat was flooded with messages from Rulers scattered across the region, offering warnings, pleas for help, and glimpses of the dangers that lurked within the Mystic Realm. The death notifications alone were enough to tighten the knot of urgency in Essim's chest.
Finally, after scanning the market and friends feature, he turned to the last task: opening their Beginner's Chests.
Essim's chest contained a simple wooden sword and a vial of 10 cl of water. Aisha's chest held the same.
"The system is really stingy," Essim muttered, frustrated by the paltry rewards. But then it hit him—he could duplicate the water. A thrill of realization surged through him. "I can multiply the water by hundreds."
A small smile tugged at his lips as he envisioned the possibilities.
-----
3 chaps a day !
I hope you will like this as much as I love working on it !
If you do, please don't forget to support this re-writing ! Vote and Review helps me a lot :)