According to the memories implanted in him, there were two ways for an ordinary person to gain power in this world.
The first was to become a Reality Walker—someone who entered a Reality Master's Fractured Reality, passed its trials, and proved their worth.
In return, the Reality Master would grant them a "Blessing" or a "Mark," bestowing unique abilities. The nature and strength of these abilities depended on the rank and authority of the Reality Master.
The second, darker path was to become a Reality Ruiner. These individuals discovered a Threshold Item, entered a Fractured Reality, and killed the Reality Master. By consuming the Master's essence, they would gain a unique power—at the cost of their morality.
It was clear which path the teenager who had attacked the newborn Reality Master had chosen.
Ivaim clenched his fists as he mulled over his precarious situation.
'If I stay in here, I'm just waiting for another Ruiner to show up. And if I step out, who knows what'll happen? Either way, I'm running out of time.'
He glanced down at his current appearance. Aside from his stark white hair and a long black robe, his body seemed human enough. He adjusted the fabric of the robe and frowned.
'Yeah, that'll stand out.'
With no better options, Ivaim reached for the wooden door handle.
[Would you like to exit your Fractured Reality?]
This time, he mentally replied, Yes.
The door creaked open, and the room dissolved into a swirl of black and white light. When the colors settled, he found himself standing in a dense forest. Massive trees surrounded him, their branches forming a canopy that let only slivers of sunlight through.
But the moment of awe was short-lived. Lying just a few feet away was the teenager's body, the same one who had attacked the Reality Master.
Blood pooled beneath the corpse, still oozing from the knife wound in his chest. The lifeless eyes stared upward, unblinking.
Ivaim recoiled, covering his mouth and nose. His stomach churned, but he forced himself to look away and focus.
'No time to fall apart now. I've got 48 hours before this body self-destructs.'
With a shaky breath, he approached the corpse and began rummaging through its belongings. A pistol lay loosely in the teenager's hand. He pried it free and inspected it. "Better than nothing."
Next, he checked the school bag the boy had been carrying. Inside, he found typical items: notebooks, pens, a folded uniform, and a few personal belongings.
He paused when his hand brushed against something cold and metallic. Pulling it out, he found a small, glowing silver coin.
"This must be the Threshold Item he used to enter the Fractured Reality," Ivaim muttered, pocketing it for safekeeping.
His eyes shifted to the uniform. It was a standard high school outfit—a plain white shirt and dark slacks. Without hesitation, he changed into it, discarding the black robe. He needed to blend in, and this was his best bet.
Before leaving, he couldn't bring himself to leave the body exposed. Using a flat piece of wood he found nearby, he dug a shallow grave and covered the boy with dirt.
"Rest in peace," he whispered, his voice tinged with guilt.
The burial wasn't much, but it would have to do. With that done, Ivaim focused on the task at hand. He glanced skyward and noticed faint trails of smoke rising in the distance.
'That should lead to people.'
As he began walking, he opened his system interface.
Abilities:
[Coin of Fortune]: Creates a coin imbued with a small amount of good luck. Anyone who possesses it will experience slightly improved fortune.
Ivaim activated the ability. A soft light glimmered in his hand as a golden coin materialized.
"Alright, lucky coin," he muttered. "Let's hope you live up to your name."
After walking for a while, he came across a construction site. The smoke he'd seen earlier came from burning bamboo, likely to cure it. Workers bustled around, some carrying materials, others shouting instructions.
Before he could slip past unnoticed, a booming voice called out to him.
"Oi! Kid! Shouldn't you be in school? It's nine in the morning!"
Ivaim froze. Turning, he saw a burly man in a construction uniform walking toward him. The man's face was weathered, his beard unkempt, and his broad shoulders hinted at years of manual labor.
Ivaim forced a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah… I kind of got lost on my way and forgot the direction. Could you help me out?"
The man crossed his arms, squinting at Ivaim.
"Lost? Right. And I'm supposed to believe you dyed your hair white because of school spirit?" He barked a laugh. "Kids these days. Always trying to skip class and look edgy."
Ivaim stayed silent, letting the man ramble.
"Let me guess, you're one of those dreamers hoping to find a Threshold Item, eh? Thinking you'll get superpowers and make it big like the folks on TV? Hah! Good luck with that. It's like finding a needle in a haystack."
The man shook his head, though his tone softened. "If I ever got that lucky, I'd quit this job in a heartbeat. Maybe join a Handler Group, rake in some cash, and spend more time with my daughter."
He sighed, then pointed east. "Your school's that way. Go back before you get into trouble, kid. Don't end up like me, working my ass off for pennies."
As the man turned away, Ivaim secretly slipped the golden coin into his pocket. He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Uncle. Good luck to you too."
The man chuckled without looking back. "You're a weird kid. Stay outta trouble."
With that, Ivaim headed toward the faint smoke trail, his mind racing.
'I need believers. But if I'm not careful, anyone I bring into my Fractured Reality might try to kill me instead. I'll have to play this smart.'
He glanced at the man one last time. "Let's hope that coin works some magic for you, Uncle."
And with that, he continued on his way.