In the Crowded city square, a cold, robotic voice echoed in Adam's mind, its tone flat and clinical:
> "[System online: CyberGenesis activated. Host has been awarded a random novice gift pack...]"
Adam blinked, his heart racing in disbelief. After ten long years of nothing but radio silence, he finally heard the voice he'd been waiting for.
> "CyberGenesis, you have no idea how many times I've almost lost my mind waiting for you to wake up!"
It wasn't the first time Adam had found himself stranded in a world that looked a lot like Earth—until the whole thing went to hell. Hundreds of years ago, nightmarish creatures from myth and beyond descended upon the planet, leaving humanity in the dust. Now, Alienor ruled: everything from ghouls that liked to play peek-a-boo with the living, to mummies who couldn't quite let go of their ancient grudge, to legendary beasts like Kunpeng, the giant bird that would make any airplane jealous, Cerberus, the three-headed dog with more attitude than a high schooler, the Leviathan, who was basically the ocean's biggest mood swing, and the Hydra, who could ruin your day—and your 401k—just by looking at it.
Adam took a deep breath, trying to hide his excitement as he surveyed the massive crowd around him. Thousands of people stood in neat lines, ready for the government's talent tests—basically the worst lottery in history, designed to figure out who had the skills to survive—or at least make a good distraction for the Alienor.
Decades of humanity scraping by had led to the creation of fortified cities, organized resistance, and a wasteland civilization built on the hope that maybe, just maybe, the monsters could be held back. And now, with CyberGenesis finally giving him a gift pack (he was hoping for a sword or at least a decent snack), Adam was ready.
He wasn't just a survivor anymore. He was about to show the world that a guy with a system and a bad attitude could be a game-changer.
Adam had just inexplicably found himself in this world.
No family. No abilities. No past. Just an orphan in a World that would chew you up and spit you out without even a thank-you.
While most people huddled within the safety of walled cities, Adam was stuck in Crypta, a major city in the Darkhaven Imperium, a sprawling metropolis with a million souls. For someone like him—weak, unremarkable, and talentless—life was harsh. His home was a cramped, decrepit shack on the outskirts of the slums, where he subsisted on the tasteless energy bars handed out by the government. His job was little more than manual labor, spending long hours helping construct the city walls to keep the ever-present Alienor at bay.
In this post-apocalyptic world, common folk were nothing more than tools—tools for maintaining the fragile infrastructure and for population control. And Adam? He was just another pawn in a world that didn't care.
But there was one thing that could change everything—a single way to break free from the monotony of his life.
Become a Doom-Breaker.
Doom-Breakers were the ultimate warriors, trained to subdue and control the Alienor. They were the only force capable of standing against the Alienor's monstrous onslaught. With their power, they could tame these horrific creatures, turning them into Doomsteeds—deadly but controlled beasts that fought for humanity. The Doom-Breakers were humanity's last hope, and they were the ones who stood between the survival of the human race and utter destruction.
The world had plunged into an era where monsters ruled the land, and ordinary citizens could only watch as they struggled to survive behind their city walls.
For more than a decade, Adam had been nothing but a couch potato—someone who did just enough to survive without ever striving for more. He drifted through life, doing the bare minimum, never stepping out of his comfort zone. But today, everything could change.
At twenty, every citizen in Crypta had to undergo a government test to determine whether they had the potential to become a Doom-Breaker.
In this world, Doom-Breakers were the elite, the highest echelon of society. They commanded vast wealth, respect, and power, and they were seen as the guardians of humanity. They controlled the most valuable resources and were revered as the last line of defense against the monsters that threatened to end civilization.
And Adam? This was his moment. No more blending into the background, the forgotten orphan just scraping by. Today, he was about to find out if he had what it took to rise among the ranks of the mighty Doom-Breakers, and more importantly—if he could flip his fate upside down.
The talent test loomed large, and just in time, CyberGenesis had finally sprung to life, like a long-dormant beast finally waking from its slumber…
For Adam, and every other kid here, becoming a Doom-Breaker wasn't just a big deal—it was their ticket out of mediocrity. It could either launch him into a future of glory or sink him into the bottomless pit of failure. Talk about high stakes!
Would he rise above the rest? Or would he be left behind, a footnote in history?
One test, one chance—today would determine it all.
"I can't breathe... Why is my chest so tight?"
"I have to pass this. I have to! I won't be one of those losers..."
"Dude, calm down. It's not like you're facing a giant Alienor. It's just a test..."
"Someone! Someone help! This guy just collapsed and is foaming at the mouth! Again!"
The kids around Adam were in full panic mode, clutching their heads like the end of the world had come early. You'd think they were preparing for battle, not just a test.
Adam sighed internally. Amateurs...
As a time traveler, he knew one thing for sure: stress and panic were overrated. Keeping your cool? Now that was a skill. And besides...
I have a system.
With CyberGenesis activated, Adam was practically holding an ace up his sleeve. No sweat.
> [Host, would you like to open the novice gift pack now?]
"YES! YES! A thousand times YES! Do you really think I've been waiting for years just to stare at the gift pack?!"
[Opening newbie gift pack...]
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring the rare talent: Quantum Force...]
Adam blinked, standing there for a moment as an unfamiliar, warm current surged through him.
Quantum Force. That was the golden ticket for a Doom-Breaker. The ultimate talent.
To control the fiercest Alienor, a Doom-Breaker needed a Quantum Force strong enough to subdue even the most ferocious Alienor. It was like wielding an invisible force field that could command the fiercest monsters of the wasteland. It wasn't something you could train for—it was innate. It was in your blood.
The thing was, this talent only appeared after adulthood, and couldn't be developed with effort or training. That's why the government waited until people were over 20 to test for it—because the Quantum Force wasn't something you could fake.
Adam was practically bouncing with excitement. This was it. He had just gotten the most essential talent to pass the test.
It wasn't just a step in the right direction—it was a leap.
He was officially on his way to becoming a Doom-Breaker. The test? Piece of cake.
And just like that, Adam felt a sense of clarity. This was no longer a "maybe" moment. His destiny had just been upgraded from "mildly interested" to "world-changing hero."
The future? It was looking extremely bright, like sunglasses-on, gotta-wear-shades bright.
Adam could barely suppress a grin, the weight of it all dawning on him. He wasn't just going to pass this test—he was going to crush it.
Forget scraping by. He was about to become a Doom-Breaker. That meant power, fame, respect. Maybe even ahem, a nice paycheck. The whole world was about to notice the guy who had spent years drifting through life. No more lowly orphan status. Adam was about to be a big deal.
He grinned stupidly, maybe drooled a little. It was fine. He was having a moment.
"Line up and take the test in order! No cheating!"
A voice boomed, snapping Adam back to reality. It was coming from the guards standing on the raised platforms on either side, all dressed in crisp white uniforms, clearly not as thrilled about the test as the people in line.
Adam's gaze flickered toward the system's prompt.
> [Task information detected...]
> [Start posting tasks...]
> [Task 1: Successfully pass the Doom-Breaker talent test!]
> [Mission Description: A life without ambition is like a soggy sandwich—sad and pointless. Pass the Doom-Breaker Talent Test and officially step into a new adventure. Go on, brave soul, show the world your awesomeness!]
> [Special Tip: Completing this task will earn the host random rewards…]
Adam stared at the mission description for a moment. A soggy sandwich? He blinked, unsure if he was having a weird dream or if the system was trolling him.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's just... pretend that didn't happen."
There were times in life when you just had to roll with it. This was one of those times. He wasn't about to let some quirky system description ruin his mood.
After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Adam's turn finally arrived.
His heart raced. This was it—the moment he'd been waiting for. He squared his shoulders, ready to impress.
The testing station was under a simple tent, with the examiner—a serious-looking Doom-Breaker in a white robe—sitting at a table. But what caught Adam's attention wasn't the examiner. No, it was the creature crouching next to him.
The creature was roughly the size of a calf, looking like someone had taken a toad, covered it in swampy mud, and then sprinkled some moldy moss on it for extra effect. Its skin was slick and a sickly shade of green, covered in warts and dripping with something that resembled slime. Its scarlet tongue hung out of its mouth in a grotesque, almost mocking way, and Adam could've sworn it was eyeing him with a knowing look, like it was laughing at him from within.
It was... truly horrifying.
Adam blinked and shook off the unsettling feeling. No time for fear now. This was his moment. Time to show them what he was capable of.
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