The cold rain poured relentlessly over Sector 7, soaking the cracked asphalt and crumbling buildings of the slums. In the dim glow of malfunctioning neon lights, a man lay motionless in an alley, his body frail, his breath shallow.
Xuian Nethersoul opened his eyes to a blurry, unfamiliar world. His head throbbed as a flood of foreign memories slammed into him. Memories of fear, humiliation, and a life spent at the bottom of society.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. His mind spun as he processed the truth: he wasn't Xuian Nethersoul. At least, not originally.
He had transmigrated into this body.
In his previous life, he had been an ordinary man. But here, on this strange world called Abyssal Earth, life was ruled by power, wealth, and a mysterious system tied to supernatural abilities. Those who awakened thrived, while the rest were left to struggle for scraps.
The memories of the body's former owner were pitiful. An F-rank nobody, crushed under debt and at the mercy of ruthless awakened gangs.
"Great," Xuian muttered, forcing himself to sit up despite the weakness of his body. "I'm stuck in the body of a loser. Just my luck."
---
The sound of footsteps echoed through the alley. Xuian turned his head to see a group of five men approaching, their silhouettes ominous against the flickering light.
The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stopped a few feet away. He toyed with a black dagger, his grin predatory.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't Nethersoul, the slum rat. Late on your Abyssal Coin payments again, I see."
Xuian didn't respond immediately. He was still assessing his situation, his mind racing.
"Nothing to say?" the scarred man continued. "No excuses this time? Fine. We'll take your life as payment. Honestly, it's worth less than a single Abyssal Coin anyway."
The gang laughed, their voices echoing in the alley.
Xuian's jaw tightened. He forced himself to his feet, leaning against the wall for support. His body was trembling, but his mind was sharp.
"Five against one," Xuian said, his voice calm despite the odds. "Not very honorable, is it?"
The scarred man snorted. "Honor doesn't pay the bills, loser. Kill him."
---
Inside Xuian's Mind
As the gang members moved closer, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Xuian's head.
[System Activation... Loading...]
[Binding to host: Xuian Nethersoul...]
[Congratulations! You have awakened the Sovereign Core. Initializing...]
Xuian's eyes widened in shock. A System? Am I awakened? Before he could process the thought, more notifications appeared.
[Analyzing host potential...]
[Grade: SSS]
[Cheat Ability: Devourer of Domains acquired.]
[Special Talent: Infinite Evolution unlocked.]
Power surged through his body, erasing the weakness he had felt moments ago. His hands steadied, his vision sharpened, and a newfound clarity filled his mind.
---
Reality
One of the gang members lunged forward, aiming a rusty blade at Xuian's chest. But before it could land, Xuian moved.
His body acted on instinct, faster than he thought possible. He sidestepped the attack and grabbed the man's wrist, twisting it with a sickening crack.
The gang member screamed, dropping his weapon as he fell to his knees.
"What the hell?" one of the others shouted, eyes wide with disbelief. "He's just an F-rank!"
Xuian smirked, stepping forward. "Not anymore."
The scarred leader growled, his grin turning into a snarl. "Kill him!"
The remaining gang members charged, but Xuian was ready.
---
Xuian's System Unlocks
A translucent screen appeared before him, visible only to his eyes.
[System Update Complete.]
[Current Abyssal Coins: 0.]
[Domain Unlocked: Abyssal Graveyard.]
Xuian felt it—a connection to something vast and dark. In his mind's eye, he saw a desolate graveyard, its tombstones broken and shrouded in mist. From the ground, skeletal hands clawed upward, eager to serve.
[Ability Unlocked: Summon Specters.]
[Summon Limit: 5/5 (Initial Rank).]
Xuian raised a hand, and black mist poured from his fingers, coalescing into five shadowy figures. The specters hissed and howled, their forms flickering with eerie light.
The gang froze in terror.
"What... what is that?!" one of them stammered, his voice trembling.
Xuian didn't answer. Instead, he pointed at the leader.
The specters moved like a storm, descending on the man with unnatural speed. His screams echoed through the alley as they tore into him, their ghostly claws slicing through flesh like paper.
The remaining gang members dropped their weapons and ran, their courage shattered.
---
Aftermath
Xuian dismissed the specters with a wave of his hand, the alley falling silent once more. He stood there, rain dripping from his hair, his expression cold and unreadable.
He glanced at the translucent screen still floating before him.
"So this is the power of the awakened," Xuian murmured. "Abyssal Coins, Domains, strength... It's all about survival."
He clenched his fists, feeling the faint pulse of his Domain growing stronger.
"This world runs on power and money," he said, his voice low but firm. "If that's the game, I'll play it. But I won't just survive ."
He turned and walked into the shadows,his figure disappearing in the rain.
"I'll conquer it all."