John Erwin was just an ordinary college student on Earth—or so he thought. One moment, he was sitting at his desk, trying to finish up assignments, and the next, everything around him began to spin. His vision blurred, his body weightless, and an overwhelming sensation overtook him. It felt as though the world was slipping away, and before he could process it, everything vanished.
The next thing he knew, he was standing in a strange room, unfamiliar and unsettling. The faint smell of chalk and dust filled the air. His body felt different—his hands, his senses—everything was unfamiliar.
"What's happening?!" he panicked, his voice echoing in the strange room.
Before he could fully comprehend his situation, a voice rang out, calm and unwavering.
"Alright, class. Today, we'll learn about the ancient history of Eremon—once a world of five thriving continents. But, as you might guess, it didn't stay that way. Four of those continents were destroyed long ago in a war."
Erwin blinked, trying to process the voice, which came from a figure at the front of the room. The teacher, Mr. Aldrin, spoke with an air of authority. This couldn't be real—was he dreaming? Had he somehow transmigrated?
"Wait..." He shook his head, trying to grasp the impossible thought. "Is this... a dream?"
The voice continued, undeterred. "The war began with an invasion. Powerful beings called the Vorath—creatures of darkness and power—came from beyond the stars, overwhelming the people of Eremon. They nearly wiped out the entire planet. But the gods of this world, beings called God and it's respective leader God Kings, fought back. They defeated the Vorath, but at a terrible cost."
Erwin's head spun. The teacher's words seemed to echo in his mind. He glanced at the students around him, who weren't paying attention to him. They all focused on Mr. Aldrin, as if they were hearing these words for the hundredth time. Why did everything feel so... different? His hands were different. The name "John Erwin " was written on the desk in front of him. A strange feeling in his chest told him that somehow, he was no longer the person he thought he was.
"John Erwin?" He whispered, confusion flooding him.
Mr. Aldrin continued, his voice steady. "The gods won the war, but they were gravely wounded. The planet's energy—once vibrant and full of life—began to fade, unable to heal their injuries. As they prepared to leave, they discovered something terrifying: they couldn't leave."
The classroom seemed to settle around him. Erwin's thoughts raced. This was impossible. Transmigration, gods, ancient wars? He couldn't make sense of it. But before he could question any further, Mr. Aldrin's voice grew more intense.
"A powerful barrier was placed around the planet, trapping the gods. And the worst part? One of their own betrayed them. The God of Darkness, one of the most powerful of all, sealed the gods in. But the reason for this betrayal remains a mystery."
Erwin's heart raced. Something about this world felt too real. He had heard of transmigration stories before, but this? This was beyond anything he could have imagined. He had to get control of his thoughts.
Mr. Aldrin pointed to a map of the broken continents. "The gods didn't perish as the betrayer intended. Instead, they created secret realms on the last remaining continent. These realms were vast, hidden from the rest of the world, and only opened once every hundred years to select the most talented humans."
Erwin's thoughts sharpened. Secret realms? Was this somehow connected to him now? Was he part of one of these realms?
"Inside these realms, the gods built civilizations that rivaled entire continents. These places remain unknown to most of the world, but their existence is key to Eremon's future."
Erwin looked again at the map, focusing on the last remaining continent—the land of the God of Life. For some reason, the name struck him with a deep sense of meaning. He had no answers yet, but he felt the pull of something greater.
The class ended, and students began filing out. Erwin stayed seated, lost in thought. His mind was still struggling to process everything. He wasn't on Earth anymore, and yet, his memories of Earth—his past life—were still there. How could this be?
As the last student left, Erwin stood, feeling the weight of it all. His life on Earth was gone. There was no going back. And now, he had no choice but to face this strange world.
---
Later that day, as Erwin walked home, something clicked. He remembered what he had learned in class: every child in Eremon received a special rock at a young age. The rock contained a fragment of the planet's power. When attuned to it, it allowed the user to visualize legendary figures—beings like gods, heroes, and legendary beasts. But there was a catch: to successfully visualize these figures, the user had to know their name, their appearance, and their powers.
Every high school student received a visualization rock, but using it was far from simple. If someone attempted to visualize a powerful lightning bolt without a body strong enough to handle it, they would inevitably perish. A critical requirement for visualization was that the user's body had to be compatible with the power they aimed to manifest. However, there was a significant limitation to the visualization rocks: no one could ever reach or surpass the level of the original being they visualized. This restriction meant that humanity's peak achievement was the level of a demigod—breaking past this barrier and stepping into godhood was impossible.
Erwin's heart raced. This... this was something he could use. He had watched countless anime, read comics, and delved into Earth's folklore. He knew these heroes. Superman, Goku, Naruto... heroes he had admired. If he could visualize them, even just fragments of their powers, it could make him formidable.
But then, his thoughts darkened. The God Kings, beings of unimaginable power, were beyond the reach of this world's visualization technique. No one had ever visualized a God King. Their power transcended the planet's limits especially Superman and Goku.
Still, Erwin couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. If he could visualize heroes from Earth, maybe—just maybe—he could learn to unlock their power. The idea of using the visualization technique for beings like Goku or Naruto intrigued him, but there was one problem: the knowledge required was vast. He needed to know everything about these characters—every detail of their abilities, appearance, and story.
Erwin took a deep breath, thoughts swirling. Maybe he didn't have all the answers yet, but this world held endless possibilities. And he would figure it out. Whatever role he had in this world, he was determined to make it count.
As he walked toward his apartment, Erwin couldn't shake the feeling that he had just begun the most important journey of his life.
----
As Erwin walked lost in thought, he quickly snapped back to reality, realizing he had been standing at the door of his house for several minutes, lost in thought. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he pushed the door open. Inside, his four siblings were scattered around, immersed in their usual antics.
Alex, the third child, lounged on the couch, eyes glued to his phone screen as he played a game. He was in the C rank, and his visualization was of a bull from ancient times, capable of breaking mountains. But even though he could wield fragments of that power, whether he would ever reach that level depended on his potential.
The twins, Mary and Marie, darted around, giggling and shrieking as they played hide-and-seek. They were only in elementary school, their potential still untapped.
Meanwhile, Elad, the second oldest, was methodically unloading groceries onto the kitchen counter. He was the strongest in the family—one of the top 5,000 B-ranks, with the power of raijū that controlled lightning. But he wasn't content with just that. He want to reach S rank, he would need to train hard, pushing beyond his limits.
Erwin barely acknowledged the scene. His thoughts felt heavy, like a storm cloud brewing in his mind, and he headed upstairs to his room. But as he opened the door, he froze in place.
Sitting squarely in the middle of his bed was a massive, jagged rock, its surface glinting faintly in the dim light.
"Seriously?" he muttered, running a hand down his face in exasperation. "They probably dragged this in here after playing again."
The twins were notorious for their antics, often collecting random objects they deemed "treasures" and hiding them in his room. With a sigh, Erwin stepped closer, intending to haul the rock outside. But as soon as his fingers touched its rough surface, everything changed.
The rock began to crack.
A web of golden light spread across its surface, growing brighter and brighter until it burst into a dazzling explosion of radiant energy. Erwin stumbled back, shielding his eyes as the fragments dissolved into glowing particles. The light surged toward him, piercing his forehead like molten electricity.
"W-What the—?!" His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, clutching his head as wave after wave of searing energy coursed through him.
His vision swam with flashes of light and shadow, and in the chaos, he saw something—a swirling void. In its center floated a rock, identical to the one that had crumbled, radiating a raw, untamed power. It pulsed rhythmically, as if alive, and he felt it resonate deep within his chest.
When the storm of energy subsided, Erwin lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath. His forehead burned, and his hands trembled as he pushed himself upright.
"Am I… cursed?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
The image of the rock lingered in his mind, vivid and unyielding. It wasn't just there—it was part of him now, tethered to his consciousness.
"This… this feels like the visualization rocks from school," he murmured, staring at his trembling hands. "But it's different. Purer. Bigger. Stronger."
A flicker of curiosity replaced his fear. If this rock was as powerful as it seemed, what could it do? Could it go beyond the limits of the diluted rocks he had learned about?
Erwin closed his eyes, focusing on the image of Saitama, the unbeatable hero from his favorite anime. Every detail came alive in his mind—the bald head, yellow jumpsuit, and red gloves.
Energy surged within him, building to an incredible peak. But just as the image solidified, his body faltered. The energy overwhelmed him, dissipating into the air.
Erwin opened his eyes, panting. He looked at his hands, expecting to see some dramatic change, but nothing was visible.
"Did it... fail?" he muttered, staring at his unaltered hands.
As he sat there, disappointment began to settle in. But then, a strange sensation washed over him. It wasn't physical—no new power had manifested, but something deep within him felt... different.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Erwin could sense it. The energy he had tried to channel wasn't simply gone. It had been absorbed, used for unlocking something extraordinary.
"Is that what this is?" he whispered to himself. "The limiter's been removed, just like the original... but the physical power, it's not automatic. I need to earn it... through training."
A wry smile tugged at his lips as he stood up. The realization hit him like a thunderclap. He wasn't instantly powerful. No, his potential had been set free, but it was up to him to push beyond his limits.
"Alright, then," he said, determination filling him. "It's time to train."
He could feel it now: the dormant power inside him, just waiting to be unlocked with effort, focus, and time.
And with that, Erwin knew—his journey was only beginning.