June 16th, 2500 – World of Celestia
In the capital of one of the great nations of the world, the metropolis pulsed like the true technological heart of Celestia.
At night, beneath a sky distorted by artificial lights and vibrant neon signs, the city buzzed with endless activity.
Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, adorned with shimmering holographic panels. Drones glided silently above, patrolling the skies with mechanical vigilance.
The constant flow of people on the streets mirrored the frantic rhythm of the modern era.
Moving slowly through the crowd was Orion — his imposing presence a stark contrast to the frantic pace around him. The chaos of the city didn't faze him — he had already faced disorder in its cruelest forms, on the frontlines of countless battles.
His graying hair and penetrating gaze concealed the fifty years he bore on his shoulders — years marked by invisible scars collected through decades of military service.
Then, a gunshot cut through the urban noise. Barely noticeable to the average person, but Orion — with trained ears and honed reflexes — isolated it instantly amid the clamor.
His eyes widened as he scanned the skyline for the origin of the shot.
With steady steps, he broke away from the crowd and grabbed his phone.
"Target confirmed. I need backup at Central Avenue." His voice came out firm and steady — a command, not a request — before he hung up and quickened his pace.
Taking refuge in the shadows of a narrow alley, the city's vibrant lights faded behind him. Tension thickened the air. At the end of the alley, a young blonde woman waited, dressed in plain clothes that concealed her true nature. Their eyes met in silent recognition. Without a word, they slipped into an underground bar, hidden from curious eyes.
Inside, seated at a back table, they found a tall, muscular man. His scarred face and hardened frame made it clear he wasn't a civilian. The meeting was brief, but the air was heavy with ominous intent — as if something monumental was about to begin.
Hours later…
Back home, Orion collapsed into his worn leather armchair. The weight of years of secrets and duty pressed down on him. A sip of liquor wasn't enough to drown the growing unease. Something was off — the clear sense that the world was about to change.
The shrill ring of the phone shattered the silence. He answered reluctantly. The familiar voice on the other end was laced with anxious urgency.
The conversation stretched longer than expected, its cold, methodical tone only intensifying his alertness. After hanging up, Orion remained still, staring at the ceiling, thoughts spiraling. Something was coming — and it wasn't good.
The next morning, the armored jeep arrived on time. Without a word, Orion climbed in. His eyes watched the world outside, but his mind drifted to distant memories, connecting pieces of an unseen puzzle.
Suddenly, a barrage of gunfire erupted up ahead.
Armored vehicles blocked the road. Masked men leapt out, opening fire. The jeep's reinforced glass cracked under the brutal pressure.
The firefight was intense. Adrenaline surged through Orion as he tried to react. Then, a sharp pain struck his chest.
Looking down, he saw his shirt soaked in blood. The pain spread quickly, clouding his consciousness. And before he could understand what was happening — everything went black.
---
The Infinite Void
Orion opened his eyes. There was no darkness. Only an infinite space where time and reality dissolved into an eternal flow.
He floated weightlessly at the heart of the cosmos.
The silence wasn't the absence of sound — it was the presence of a profound calm that filled everything.
Nebulae pulsed in exotic colors. Black holes consumed the light of dying stars. Distant galaxies rotated slowly, like whirlpools in a cosmic ocean. Orion felt he stood at the edge of the universe itself.
At the center of the void, an ancient altar stood — disturbing and mesmerizing. The stones glowed with a bluish light, as if holding a forgotten secret.
After what felt like an eternity, an invisible force began to pull him toward the altar. Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared before him:
**[...Mortal... Orion Oliveira... from planet Celestia... sector ******...]
[...Detecting...
Soul...
Error...
Error...
...Soul did not enter the Reincarnation Cycle...]
[...Searching for solutions...]
[...Accessing protocols under cosmic equilibrium...]
[...@^#^@:$-%@%-%□"-%-%■^^@%****%$#...]
[...Accepted...]
[...Reincarnation approved...]
[3]
[2]
[1]
A blinding light erupted from the altar. Orion had no time to question what he was seeing — he was swallowed by the brilliance.
---
Immortal World: Aeternum
In the mountain ranges to the west of the Aetherion continent, an intense light pierced the ancient darkness that lingered there. It lasted for hours, yet oddly, no one seemed to notice anything strange.
When the light finally faded, it revealed a vibrant forest. Colossal trees reached the skies. Beasts roamed freely. Giant birds rested in nests that looked like natural fortresses.
At the center of this breathtaking wilderness, a man lay motionless.
His breathing was calm. Strangely, the creatures around ignored him, walking past as if he were invisible.
Over time, his fingers twitched. His eyelids trembled.
The man opened his eyes in shock. He found himself waking in a dark forest, vision limited to just a few meters ahead.
Confusion clouded his mind, but soon, his eyes — hazy with uncertainty — regained their brown color as fragments of memory returned.
Yes, he was Orion Oliveira.
He remembered dying in a gunfight, waking in an incomprehensible place, and seeing holographic messages before being consumed by light.
"Shit… what happened? I didn't die?" he muttered, slowly standing and glancing at himself, relieved to be whole and unharmed.
Scratching his head, he looked around. Was this the legendary afterlife?
"There's nothing useful here. Damn it… am I still in Celestia?" he said, finding no answers in the silent forest.
"This forest's way too dark. Just walking around clueless is begging for trouble. Thank God for my years in the army. Fufufu..." Finally deciding to explore, Orion took a deep breath and moved right.
"They say starting on the right foot brings luck. I'm gonna need it in hell," he muttered.
Lifting his right foot, a peculiar sound echoed in his mind, setting him on edge. Instinctively, he froze and scanned his surroundings.
Nothing. But as he moved again, a translucent screen appeared before him. Surprised:
"What the fuck is this? Am I dreaming?... AHHHHH SHIT!" He pinched himself, confirming it wasn't a dream. Approaching the screen, he read:
『DING』
『Congratulations. You have been chosen as the sole wielder of the Primordial System.』
『The Primordial System predates the Chaos that birthed Creation.』
『Its purpose is to help the host achieve their dreams in this new life.』
Confused, Orion didn't know what it meant. He raised his hand to touch the screen, but his fingers passed through it.
『DING』
『The host doesn't need to touch the screen. The System is embedded in your soul. Just think, and everything will follow your intent.』
"New life? I died in that shootout? Where am I?" he groaned, frustrated.
『DING』
『The host died. Under multiversal balance protocols, your soul was meant to enter the Reincarnation Cycle like all others. But with my intervention, you are now in another world…』
『...You are now in Aeternum — a world of cultivation.』
『Would the host like to learn about the current situation?』
Orion reflected deeply on the recent events. "System, tell me about…"
『DING』
『The forest you are currently in is safe. The continent has a low concentration of Ether. Nearby kingdoms and clans are in early cultivation stages, posing no long-term threats. Distant realms are more advanced and should be approached with caution. However, with the System, nothing is beyond the host's reach.』
"So I'm in a cultivation world… like those damn webnovels back on Celestia," Orion thought, stunned.
"Alright then… what features does the System have?" he whispered with rising anticipation.
『DING』
『The System exists to fulfill the host's will. I can do anything. The list of functions is infinite. Shall I transfer all functions directly to your mind?』
Orion thought deeply for a moment. Then, deciding to stop overthinking:
"Transfer it to me," he ordered silently.
Without warning, a storm of information exploded in his mind.
His eyes clenched shut, and a chill ran down his spine. The pressure mounted with each incoming memory.
Each data point was a shard — sharp, painful, overwhelming.
"No! What's happening?!" Orion tried to scream, but no sound escaped.
The pressure in his head built, threatening to burst. Memories collided in a chaotic vortex.
"Aaagrhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Suddenly, everything changed. A wave of information hit like an avalanche. Thousands of memories surged, one after another.
Hours later…
Orion woke on the forest floor, shirt drenched in sweat. He was groggy.
"Fuck… that was worse than dying."
"Glad I didn't kick the bucket again in less than a day. W-wait…"
Knowledge now filled his mind — organized, processed. Everything about the System was now his.
"Incredible."
He marveled at the possibilities. What would he do next?
Then he remembered: in every cultivation world, one truth remains — the strongest makes the rules.
"System, tell me the immortal cultivation realms of this world… and raise my cultivation to the strongest possible level. Fufufu–Hahaha!" he grinned wickedly. "And while you're at it… give me a new body. I want to start fresh."
『DING』
『The cultivation realms of Aeternum are as follows: (Be advised that higher realms exist in superior worlds)』
『Spiritual Refinement Realm, Foundation Realm, Core Formation Realm, Innate Realm, Nascent Soul, Eternal Palace Realm, Immortal Divinity, Dao Sage, Enlightened Sage, Transcendent King, Near-Emperor, Grand Emperor, Celestial Grand Emperor Realm, Near-Immortal…』
『...These are the realms of Aeternum.』
『...Now initiating Body Transformation…』
『3』
『2』
『1』
Orion's body began to emit a sacred light so intense that the forest beasts scattered in fear, instincts screaming to flee the mini-sun now blazing at the forest's center.