The cold, damp air clung to Xuian as he lay sprawled on the ground, the faint hum of distant neon signs and mechanical whirring breaking the silence. His body ached as if he'd been crushed under immense weight. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision blurred but adjusting to the dim, flickering light of the unfamiliar alley around him.
A faint glow caught his attention. Floating before him was a translucent screen, its text glowing softly in the darkness.
[System Notification]
Welcome, Xuian.
You have been chosen as a host of the Sovereign System. Adapt and rise, or perish in the trials ahead.
Xuian's brow furrowed. "The... Sovereign System? What is this?" His voice sounded hoarse, alien to his own ears.
The screen shifted, displaying more details.
Name: Xuian
Awakening: Pending
Ability: None
Current Coins: 0
The words "Awakening: Pending" pulsed faintly, as though waiting for something.
Before Xuian could fully process the strange situation, the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. He tensed as figures emerged from the shadows.
They wore mismatched clothing that looked cobbled together, their faces obscured by hoods and masks. Though their weapons were simple—a few pipes and blunt instruments—there was a confidence in the way they moved.
"Look who we found," the tallest one said, his voice thick with mockery. "Lost, are we?"
Xuian's instincts flared with unease. These weren't the kind of people who offered help.
"I don't want trouble," he said, his voice firm despite his unease.
The leader chuckled, stepping closer. "Oh, but you've found trouble. Let's make this easy. Whatever you've got on you—coins, items, tech—you hand it over, and maybe we'll let you walk away."
Xuian instinctively backed up. "I don't have anything."
The leader sighed, shaking his head. "Wrong answer. Get him."
The group advanced, weapons raised. Xuian's heart raced, panic surging through him. He turned to run but tripped, landing hard on the cold pavement.
[System Notification]
Emergency Detected. Awakening Process Accelerated. Compatibility: 100%.
Pain lanced through Xuian's body as the system's notification faded. He cried out, clutching his chest as a rush of unfamiliar energy filled him. His surroundings seemed to sharpen—the damp air felt crisper, the hum of neon signs louder, and the slow approach of his attackers almost sluggish.
[Awakening Complete]
Name: Xuian
Awakening Grade: S-Rank
Ability Unlocked: Abyssal Resonance
Coins Earned: 10
Xuian blinked as the screen updated before his eyes. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but the sudden surge of power coursing through him was impossible to ignore.
"What... is this?" he whispered, his breath visible in the cool air.
The leader paused, noticing the change in Xuian's posture and the faint glow of the system screen hovering before him. "What are you waiting for?" he barked. "Take him down!"
The first attacker lunged, but Xuian reacted without thinking. His hand shot up, and an unfamiliar force erupted from his palm—a pulse of dark energy that struck the attacker square in the chest, sending them sprawling.
The others hesitated, clearly unnerved. Xuian stood slowly, the glow of the screen casting a faint light over his face.
"You're making a mistake," Xuian said, his voice calm but laced with an edge he didn't recognize.
The leader's face twisted with anger. "I don't know what trick you're pulling, but it won't save you!"
He charged, swinging a heavy pipe. Xuian sidestepped with newfound agility, the motion feeling instinctual. Another pulse of energy surged from his hand, sending the leader stumbling back.
The remaining attackers, seeing their leader fall, turned and fled, their courage evaporating.
Xuian lowered his hand, staring at it in awe. The raw power coursing through him was unlike anything he had ever imagined.
[System Notification]
Congratulations. You have passed the initial survival trial.
New Objective: Enter the Dimensional Rift and claim your Domain.
A ripple of energy spread through the air as the ground before him shimmered and split, revealing a swirling portal.
Xuian stared at it, his thoughts racing. "A Domain...?"
The system's words echoed in his mind: "Rise, or perish."
With a deep breath, Xuian stepped forward, disappearing into the portal, his journey just beginning.
End of Chapter 1