In the continent of Rodinia, all nations were subject to the federal union. Each nation had its own independent ruling system, known as the regional government. The federal government was responsible only for oversight and major affairs. After endless wars, the major nations had reached this system, which helped prevent wars on an international scale and boost the economy.
In a skyscraper on the twenty-third floor in the heart of the city, Alexander Ilya sat behind his desk, overlooking the balcony, typing on his laptop. Five years earlier, his parents had passed away in a car accident, leaving him this apartment and a set of rental properties, providing him with a substantial income, especially for a young man of twenty-two years.
Alexander felt a strong tremor; the building shook violently. He thought it might be an earthquake. He quickly hid under the desk, bracing himself. In situations like these, skyscrapers are the worst places to be, even with modern technology.
"Damn, since when does this city have earthquakes?" he muttered.
The entire building swayed as if it were a ship in the middle of a raging sea. Amid the violent tremors, a resonant sound pierced the air. The tremors ceased, and the building stabilized. The apartment was in ruins, with most of the furniture shattered.
Alexander emerged from under the table and stepped out onto the balcony. He was met with a sight he couldn't believe—a portal-like hole had opened in the sky. At the same time, a voice echoed in his mind:
"Mortals, the realms have united, and as one of the weakest beings in this universe, to preserve the strength of our cosmos, we have infused mana into this planet and will unlock your racial abilities."
Alexander felt as though he were in a warm bath, with a kind of energy flooding every inch of his body. Simultaneously, knowledge flowed directly into his mind, and he understood what the human racial ability was: a power called "Contract." The Contract worked by setting a series of constraints, and upon fulfilling these constraints, he could create specific abilities—the stricter the constraints, the stronger the ability.
Alexander sensed that this ability had limitless potential. With the right conditions, he could wield any power he could imagine.
He focused inward, trying to sense the Contract within him. After a few minutes, he managed to feel it. It appeared he had two Contracts, one of which was empty, but the other seemed to be complete. Trying to identify it, knowledge once again poured into his mind—it was an innate Contract, fully formed without needing specific conditions. Alexander tried to discern the ability granted by this Contract. It was called "Infinite Soul," a simple yet intriguing power that allowed the user to infinitely cultivate their soul.
Alexander frowned, disappointed. "This Contract doesn't seem to have any offensive or defensive capabilities—just pure support."