The Fragment of Chaos
Alex awoke abruptly in a small, unfamiliar room. The wooden walls creaked faintly as a breeze swept through a slightly cracked window. The air smelled of fresh earth and wood smoke. It was serene, but the unease in his chest would not let him relax.
"Where… am I?" Alex muttered to himself.
He sat up slowly, his head pounding. His last memory was walking home late at night on Earth. One second he was thinking about the novel he was reading, and the next, there was darkness. Now, he was here, in this quaint little house in an unknown world.
A moment later, a sharp tone rang in his ears, and a glowing blue screen appeared in front of him.
Welcome, New Resident.
The Observer has unlocked humanity's potential. Talents will be distributed across the world, marking the beginning of a new age. Prepare yourself.
The screen flickered, displaying further text.
You have been chosen to partake in this game-like system. Select your talent wisely. Your fate, your strength, and your survival depend on it.
The message disappeared, and a new interface opened. Alex blinked as he saw the options displayed before him.
But unlike the people in the bustling city streets outside, whose talents ranged from simple Silver-Rank combat boosts to rare Gold-Rank leadership skills, Alex's interface was… different.
No list of options. No shiny titles.
Instead, there was just one single, ominous-looking black card hovering before him. Its edges shimmered with a faint, eerie light.
"What the…" Alex reached out hesitantly, his hand trembling as he touched the card. The instant his fingers brushed against it, text appeared on the card's surface in sharp, bold letters:
Fragment of Chaos.
It radiated a faint heat, and as Alex flipped it over, he saw a simple description:
Chaos Talent (Fragment): Ability - Plunder
"Unlock the power to steal and absorb the abilities of defeated foes. The full potential of Chaos remains unknown."
Alex froze, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through him. He had read about things like this in countless novels—a cheat skill, a golden finger that set him apart from the rest.
Yet, there was something unnerving about it. Unlike the other talents, which followed clear rules, this one felt unpredictable, almost dangerous.
"I have no choice…" Alex whispered to himself. He gritted his teeth and made the decision.
The black card dissolved into a dark mist and flowed into his chest. For a moment, he felt a searing pain, as if his body was being torn apart and put back together again.
Then, it was over.
Alex collapsed back onto the bed, panting heavily. The glowing screen reappeared, confirming the integration of his talent.
Talent acquired: Chaos (Fragment).
Alex stared at the words, his mind racing.
"This… this is insane. I've actually transmigrated to another world," he muttered. "And this talent… it's like something straight out of the novels I used to read. But why me? Why chaos?"
The screen blinked again.
The world of Blue Sky is vast and filled with dangers. The Mist will descend shortly, and with it, challenges and opportunities. Prepare yourself.
Alex clenched his fists. The weight of this new reality settled on his shoulders. He didn't know why he was here or what awaited him, but one thing was clear: he couldn't afford to hesitate.