Adam walked through the unfamiliar streets, his sharp eyes scanning everything around him. Towering skyscrapers loomed above, their surfaces glowing like gemstones against the night. The city pulsed with life—cars zipped by, neon signs flickered, and the air buzzed with strange devices emitting artificial voices.
Everything felt foreign.
"This is hard to make sense of," he muttered.
For a man who had spent his entire life battling hordes of monsters, cutting through armies, and fighting for survival, this world was… bizarre. He had lived with a simple goal—defeat the Demon Lord and finally live in peace. But this place—this civilization—was beyond anything he had imagined.
His gaze drifted upward. [How bright.]
Despite the surrealness of it all, he noticed something familiar. Among the crowds of ordinary people, there were warriors—Rankers, as the system called them. They carried weapons and artifacts, their bodies pulsing with energy. Even in a world of technology, power still dictated one's standing.
Adam exhaled. "No time for useless thoughts. I need a place to stay and figure out my next move."
But where? He knew nothing about this world. No contacts, no history, no citizenship.
(Then, I'll obtain one. Simple.)
---
A Mother's Cruel Choice
In a dimly lit alleyway, a woman with flowing blue hair held a small bundle in her arms. The child, wrapped in a luxurious blanket, let out soft whimpers, unaware of the fate that awaited him.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Forgive me…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "I know what I'm about to do is cruel, but… you were a mistake."
She tightened her grip on the child for a moment, her heart breaking, before forcing herself to continue.
"If my family ever found out about you, they would kill you without hesitation—to maintain their image and ensure my marriage to the Forger family remains intact."
The baby stirred, unaware of her words.
Her hands shook as she stepped forward, placing the child inside a box near the entrance of a busy street. She bit her lip, holding back her sobs.
"This is the best I can do… Someone will find you. Someone will take care of you."
With one final look, she activated a stealth artifact, vanishing into the darkness.
The baby, now alone, cried out. "Waaah…"
---
Adam's Approach to Learning
Meanwhile, Adam was already putting his plan into motion. He had no identity in this world, no resources. That meant he had to acquire information—quickly.
As he walked through the quieter parts of the city, he spotted a lone man. A civilian, minding his own business.
Without hesitation, Adam moved.
A swift motion—his hand tapped the man's forehead, and golden energy surged. His skill, Soul Scan, activated. The man's consciousness flickered as knowledge flowed into Adam's mind.
He saw flashes—currency, government structures, laws, languages, social hierarchies, locations.
(That's enough.)
Adam let go, and the man crumpled to the ground, unconscious. With a flick of his wrist, Adam placed a gold coin beside him.
"Sorry for the trouble," he said before walking away.
Now, he understood the world better. He had the knowledge he needed.
As he walked through the darkened streets, his keen ears caught something.
A faint sound.
Crying.
A baby's cry.
His steps slowed, then redirected. He followed the sound, weaving through the alleyways, until he reached a small box tucked away in the shadows.
Inside, a baby lay wrapped in a fine silk blanket, its tiny fists waving in the air as it cried. The child's face was flushed, its little body shivering.
Adam's expression softened.
He knelt down and gently lifted the baby into his arms. The crying quieted slightly as the child felt warmth again.
Adam stared at the fragile life before him.
[I guess we're both alone in this world.]
A strange warmth filled his chest—an unfamiliar yet oddly comforting feeling. He had lost everything. He had no home, no family. But… neither did this child.
His grip tightened protectively.
"Then from now on… you are my child," he whispered.
The baby cooed softly.
"And I am your father."