Jayden Ross was an ordinary high school student, the kind who blended into the background of every classroom. He wasn't particularly athletic, academically outstanding, or socially charismatic. In fact, Jayden had no friends to speak of. His days were spent in solitude, his only companions being the stacks of comics, novels, and movies that filled his room. They were his escape, his way of living a thousand different lives without ever leaving his small, mundane world.
One evening, after another uneventful day at school, Jayden returned home, dropped his backpack by the door, and flopped onto his bed. He grabbed his gaming console and lost himself in a virtual world for hours, battling monsters and exploring fantastical landscapes. When he finally put the controller down, the sun had long set. He ate a quick dinner, brushed his teeth, and crawled into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
But his peaceful slumber didn't last long.
Some time later—he couldn't tell how much—Jayden was jolted awake by a strange, otherworldly sound. It wasn't loud, but it was unsettling, like a low hum that resonated deep within his bones. Confused, he opened his eyes, expecting to see the familiar ceiling of his room. Instead, he was met with an endless expanse of darkness. There was no light, no walls, no floor—just an infinite void stretching in every direction.
Jayden sat up, his heart pounding. "What… what is this?" he muttered, his voice trembling. He waved his hands in front of his face, but he couldn't see them. The darkness was absolute. Panic began to set in as he realized this wasn't a dream. The air felt different—thicker, heavier, as if it were alive with some unseen energy.
"Is anyone here?" he called out, his voice echoing eerily through the void. There was no response, only the faint reverberation of his own words. He tried to stand, but there was no ground beneath him. He was floating, weightless, in this endless black space.
Just as his fear was about to overwhelm him, a voice spoke—not from outside, but from deep within his mind. It was calm and mechanical, yet tinged with an odd sense of urgency.
"Host, I am very sorry," the voice said. "Due to an error in time and space, I was unable to safely transport you to the world you were supposed to go to. Instead, you have become trapped in a vast, infinite space within the universe."
Jayden's breath hitched. "What… what are you talking about? Who are you? Where am I?"
"I am the System, an artificial intelligence designed to assist individuals like you in traversing dimensions and acquiring powers," the voice explained. "The space you are in now is called *Infinity Space*. It is a place so dangerous that even the strongest gods from all universes and multiverses dare not enter."
Jayden's mind raced. None of this made sense. "Why is it dangerous? What's so special about this place?"
"The mana here is unlike anything found in any other dimension," the System replied. "It is raw, chaotic, and overwhelmingly powerful. For beings who possess mana or divine energy, this space is a death sentence. The moment they enter, the mana here would clash with their own, tearing them apart from the inside. Even the most invincible gods would be reduced to nothing in an instant."
Jayden's eyes widened. "Then… how am I still alive? I'm just a normal human. I don't have any powers or mana or whatever."
"Precisely," the System said. "Your lack of mana is what has kept you alive. Because you are an ordinary human with no inherent energy, the mana here has nothing to clash with. It doesn't perceive you as a threat or an anomaly. In a way, your insignificance has become your greatest advantage."
Jayden didn't know whether to feel relieved or insulted. "Okay, but… what now? How do I get out of here?"
There was a pause, and for a moment, Jayden thought the voice had disappeared. Then it spoke again, softer this time. "I'm afraid there is no way out, Host. Infinity Space is a realm beyond the laws of time and space. Once you're here, there is no escape. Even I cannot withstand the mana here for much longer. It is already beginning to destabilize my core."
Jayden's stomach dropped. "What? No! You can't just leave me here! There has to be something you can do!"
"As a final act of compensation for my error, I will transfer all the knowledge, martial arts, and powers stored within my system to you," the System said. "It is the least I can do before I cease to exist."
"Wait, what? What do you mean, cease to exist?" Jayden demanded, but the System didn't answer. Instead, a sudden, searing pain erupted in his head, as if his brain were being split open. He screamed, clutching his temples as a flood of information poured into his mind. Techniques, spells, combat styles, ancient languages, alchemical formulas—billions upon billions of pieces of knowledge surged through him, overwhelming his senses.
The pain was unbearable. Jayden felt like his head was about to explode. He thrashed in the darkness, his screams echoing through the void. Just when he thought he couldn't take any more, the pain began to subside, leaving him gasping for breath. His mind felt… different. Sharper. Clearer. It was as if a fog had been lifted, revealing a vast ocean of knowledge he had never known existed.
But the System was gone. Jayden called out to it, but there was no response. He was alone again, floating in the endless darkness.
Unbeknownst to him, something extraordinary was happening. The mana of Infinity Space, which had been swirling aimlessly in the void, began to converge toward him. It seeped into his body, strengthening his muscles, bones, and organs. His senses sharpened, and he felt a strange warmth spreading through his veins. The process was slow and subtle, but over time, Jayden began to notice the changes.
When the pain in his mind finally subsided, Jayden took a deep breath and tried to make sense of his situation. He had no idea how long he'd been in this place—time seemed meaningless here. But one thing was clear: he couldn't just sit around and wait for something to happen. He had to take control of his situation.
Closing his eyes, Jayden focused on the knowledge the System had given him. It was like accessing a vast library in his mind. He started with the basics, practicing simple meditation techniques to calm his thoughts and center himself. As he did, he felt the mana around him responding, flowing into him more easily.
Next, he began to explore the martial arts and combat techniques stored in his mind. He practiced strikes, blocks, and footwork, moving through the void as if he were in a training hall. The movements felt natural, as if he'd been doing them his whole life. With each passing moment, he grew more confident in his abilities.
Days turned into weeks, though Jayden had no way of measuring time. He trained relentlessly, pushing himself to master every skill and technique the System had given him. The mana of Infinity Space continued to strengthen his body, making him faster, stronger, and more resilient than he ever thought possible.
But despite his progress, Jayden couldn't shake the loneliness. He missed his old life—his room, his books, even the boring routine of school. He wondered if anyone back home had noticed he was gone. Did they even care?
One day, as he practiced a particularly complex martial arts form, Jayden felt a strange sensation in his chest. It was as if something inside him had awakened, a spark of energy that hadn't been there before. He stopped mid-movement, placing a hand over his heart. "What… what is this?" he whispered.
The spark grew, spreading through his body like a wildfire. Jayden gasped as his vision blurred, and for a moment, he saw flashes of light in the darkness—images of distant worlds, towering mountains, and endless oceans. Then, as quickly as it had come, the sensation faded, leaving him breathless and disoriented.
Jayden didn't know what had just happened, but he knew one thing for certain: he was no longer the same person who had stumbled into this place. The System's gift and the mana of Infinity Space had transformed him into something more. He wasn't just a normal student anymore. He was… something else.
As he stood in the void, Jayden made a silent vow. He would find a way out of this place. He would uncover the secrets of Infinity Space and harness its power. And when he did, he would return to his world—not as the lonely, insignificant boy he had been, but as someone who could shape his own destiny.
With renewed determination, Jayden resumed his training, his movements sharper and more focused than ever. The darkness no longer felt oppressive. It was a challenge, a test of his willpower and resolve. And Jayden Ross was determined to pass it.