"Life simulator," Adam called out softly.
Instantly, a blue luminescent panel shimmered into existence in front of his eyes.
[Life Simulator]
[Function 1: Receive one free simulation weekly. Simulate alternate worlds and obtain the corresponding rewards.]
[Function 2: Receive one free simulation monthly to simulate your current world. Retain the corresponding rewards.]
[Function 3: Paid simulation. By using mana stones, you can pay for simulations and bring back items, memories, or abilities from the simulated world into the real one.]
[Number of simulations: 1]
Adam stared at the glowing interface, his mind momentarily frozen. The cascading blue light illuminated his face, reflecting in his pupils. He blinked, taking a long breath as he tried to process what he was reading.
"Simulating life endlessly? What does that even mean?" His voice trembled slightly, and his brows furrowed in deep thought.
"I have one free simulation to explore an alternate world. The next one only unlocks after a week... should I use it now or wait?"
His hesitation lasted only a moment. A half-smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he leaned back and muttered under his breath, "Might as well see what my ability does since I am already confused."
With that, he spoke with more clarity, "System, I want to use the simulator."
As soon as he finished speaking, the panel flickered. Another set of glowing words materialized before his eyes.
[Please draw a talent.]
[There are currently three grades of talent available.]
[Red Talent: One percent chance of being drawn.]
[Green Talent: Nine percent chance of being drawn.]
[White Talent: Ninety percent chance of being drawn.]
"Huh? There is something like this?" Adam's eyes widened. He straightened up and read more attentively.
A moment later, three choices appeared before him.
[Arm Grip (White Talent): Enhances the grip strength of the user by three percent.]
[Debuff (White Talent): Causes the user to lose one year of lifespan every three years.]
[Genius (White Talent): Makes the user comparable to a genius born in a small remote village.]
"Damn," Adam cursed softly, his eyes narrowing. He skimmed over the other talents but barely gave them any real thought.
"I choose Genius," he muttered with conviction. At a glance, anyone could tell he would never choose Debuff. The idea of losing lifespan over time was repulsive. As for Arm Grip, he could not even tell how that would help in the long run. It seemed almost entirely useless.
At the very least, the Genius talent felt like it held some promise.
The simulator appeared to acknowledge his decision. A brief flicker ran through the panel before another prompt emerged.
[Please choose the alternate world you would like to simulate.]
[1. Xianxia Realm]
[2. Ultra Fantasy]
[3. Underworld]
[4. Realm of the Forgotten]
[5. High-Tech World]
[6. Ancient Immortal Realm]
[7. Dream Dimension]
Adam stared at the seven worlds displayed, his heart pounding with anticipation. He raised his head slightly, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully, then lowered his gaze again. His mind swam with possibilities.
The choice was overwhelming. Which world would provide the most insight? Which would give him the greatest advantage?
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"I choose the Ultra Fantasy world."
His voice was firm. The decision came from a place of instinct. Adam felt that the Ultra Fantasy world might resemble his current world enough to be manageable, yet hold enough differences to offer a unique perspective.
The screen flashed once more. The simulator began processing the selection.
"What now?" Adam muttered, watching the glowing letters swirl across the panel.
The system did not keep him waiting. A new string of text appeared immediately.
[Age 0: You were born in the Southern Continent of the East Pavilion. At the moment of your birth, you were abandoned and picked up by a passing villager.]
[Age 1: The villager nursed you back to health. You became familiar with the locals. Due to your Genius talent, you were able to quickly learn the language of the world.]
[Age 2: Your body remained slightly weaker than normal. The cause was unknown. You lived in quiet suffering, enduring pain each day.]
[Age 5: The pain worsened dramatically. You could barely move, and each day was filled with agonizing groans.]
[Age 5 (continued): Your abnormal condition drew attention. The village head looked upon you with regret and revealed that you had been marked by the gods as the next sacrifice.]
[Shocked and terrified, you refused. But the village head seized you by the neck and threw you into a dark prison.]
[Inside the cell, you found others like you, all in torment. Despair filled your chest. Your heart ached with bitterness.]
[Accepting the cruelty of your fate, you began to showcase your talent. Over the years, your Genius ability had blossomed, making you a master of literature. You hoped your brilliance would be noticed. That the village head would spare you.]
[One day, while reciting a melodic poem, the village head passed by. You looked up with hope, but he gave you only a cold glance and then slapped you violently.]
[Your eyes widened in disbelief. Pain exploded in your chest. In the final moments of your life, a terrifying presence gazed down at you from the void.]
[You died.]
"Damn!" Adam cursed aloud. He reread the simulation, this time slowly. His throat tightened as he internalized the brutal sequence of events.
"So this is what a simulation talent really is," he muttered under his breath.
It was more than just a projection. It was a full dive into what his life would become in a foreign world, including the suffering and inevitability of death. The realization hit him hard.
"If I had transmigrated into that world without this simulator, I would have died just like that. A wasted life, cut short and forgotten."
A chill passed through him. For a moment, the weight of mortality felt suffocating.
"Luckily, this talent belongs to me. With endless simulations, there is no way I will not rise above everything. Eventually, I will become invincible."
His eyes shimmered with determination. Yet, deep within, another thought formed.
"I wonder what my simulation in this current world would look like. Could there be dangers I do not yet know?"
Adam glanced at the panel once more. A flicker of curiosity danced in his chest.
"If only I did not have to wait a whole month. Maybe if I use the paid simulation option, I can simulate my real life sooner."
A wry smile tugged at his lips. He shook his head slightly, then returned his attention to the simulator.
The screen had changed again.
[Please draw one reward.]
[1. Your strength in the simulated world]
[2. White Talent: Genius]
[3. Knowledge of the Ultra Fantasy World]
Adam's eyes studied the glowing options for a while. His fingers twitched. The glow from the screen reflected in his pupils.
He took a slow breath and whispered with resolve.
"System, I choose…"
...
A/N: I hope you enjoy the opening of this novel. Support by adding to your library and giving a power stone or two. Thank you.