DAY 1

  It was the beginning of a warm summer in Iron-Veil City, and the air buzzed with youthful enthusiasm. Michael had just graduated from high school, and he felt on top of the world.

  With stellar marks and impressive talent in Stellarion, he had earned a coveted spot in the elite talent camp, Nirvana, supported by the Empire. All the sacrifices his parents had made weren’t in vain.

  After celebrating with his friends Luke and Thomas, Michael returned home, walking under their envious gazes. Whether or not he made it into Nirvana, his future was bright. Unfortunately, they might never see each other again. Their paths were about to diverge.

  Only five students from his school had been selected for the training camp, and Michael was one of the lucky few. With the odds stacked against them, the likelihood of their paths crossing again was slim. So, they shared one last heartfelt meal together, knowing this would likely be their final farewell.

  At home, his mother, Rose, had already received the news through the phone and was bubbling with excitement. Rose worked as a secretary at one of the Modus arm industries in Iron-Veil City. While her salary wasn’t high, she held immense hopes for Michael’s future.

  She couldn’t wait to tell her husband, Laurent, as soon as he returned from work. The Bryant family—Michael, Rose, his father Laurent, and younger sister Mira—didn’t have much, but they were incredibly close.

  Michael’s happiness was their joy.

  “Have you chosen a career path yet?” Rose asked, her voice tinged with concern.

  Michael smiled. She already knew he wanted to be a pilot, but she wanted reassurance. His response was the same as always.

  “I want to be a pilot, Ma. I haven’t changed my mind. I’m going to make it.”

  A flicker of worry crossed her face. Becoming a pilot wasn’t without risk. She knew this was what he wanted, but the reality of it hit harder now that he was so close to his dream.

  Still, Rose forced a smile, adopting a brave front. Success came with risks, after all.

  Laurent returned home twenty minutes later, holding hands with Mira, who had just finished school. Surprised by the news that his wife had kept from him, Laurent was initially speechless. Then, his face broke into an excited grin.

  He pulled Michael into a tight embrace. As a construction worker, Laurent understood how hard life could be.

  “When you start making money, don’t forget about me,” Mira piped up. Her first year of high school was behind her, and she looked at Michael with a mixture of envy and pride.

  Mira was bright and pretty, having matured early due to a tough upbringing. Like most teenage girls, she had her insecurities, but seeing her older brother’s success filled her with both joy and a twinge of longing.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll buy you the prettiest, most functional clothes,” Michael replied, grinning. Being an Evolver came with plenty of perks. Clothes were the least of it. He would make her an Evolver, too, when he could.

  Building a career in this world was much easier with resources. Thanks to his scholarship, both from the school and the city, Michael was confident he’d be able to support his sister once he became an Evolver.

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  After being showered with congratulations, Michael retreated to his room, letting his family savor their joy. He still had one more thing to do.

  He entered his VR capsule, a gift from the city to all graduates. He let the darkness envelop him until the familiar HUD appeared, with icons representing various software.

  With eager anticipation, he selected "Stellarion." It was his first time accessing the game—something he’d dreamed of for years. You could only play after graduation, and now that the moment had arrived, he was bursting with excitement.

  “Welcome to Stellarion,” a warm, feminine voice greeted him in his ear. Immediately, a login window popped up. Entering his credentials would confirm his graduation, and after that, he wouldn’t have to log in again. The system would remember him.

  Once his credentials were entered and his graduation confirmed, Michael’s heart raced as he entered the game for the first time. Stellarion was an incredibly immersive futuristic VR world, so real it felt like he was stepping into another reality.

  He appeared in a bustling beginner town, dressed in basic, subpar equipment. Despite its name, the town seemed as alive and vibrant as Iron-Veil City itself. Michael stared around in awe.

  “This place… everything looks so real,” he murmured, marveling at the scenery. His fists clenched in excitement. He’d read about this in class, but experiencing it firsthand was overwhelming. It felt like teleportation—like stepping into an alternate universe that still felt completely real.

  The game’s starting point was randomized, but Michael knew he was still within the human territories. Your avatar looked exactly like you, so your appearance in the game was the same as in real life. Everyone started in a beginner town, and everyone received a talent, chosen by fate.

  Remembering his training in school, Michael focused on the icon at the bottom-right of the HUD. A menu appeared, showing his inventory, map, talents, money, resources, stats, and the logoff button.

  He selected the map and zoomed in, discovering that he was in the northwestern part of the human territories. The town he had spawned in was called “Afron.”

  After selecting the “Temple of Blessing,” a GPS-like trajectory appeared on his map, leading him toward the building. The temple was the grandest structure in Afron, towering above everything else. It looked like a futuristic Notre Dame, bathed in soft blue neon light.

  As Michael approached the temple, he passed higher-level players and NPCs. His heart pounded in his chest. Inside, a line of beginners waited in front of an altar, where a priest blessed them with their talents.

  Behind the altar stood a massive statue of a female angel, towering at least twelve feet tall. Her beauty was otherworldly. Each time a player received their talent, a vision would appear on the ceiling of the temple.

  The stronger the talent, the more spectacular the vision.

  When it was his turn, Michael stepped forward, eager yet nervous. The priest, with an indifferent expression, handed him a glowing orb.

  “Place your hand on the orb,” the priest instructed.

  Michael hesitated, but his nerves took over as he placed his hand on the orb.

  Ding—Congratulations. You have awakened the F-rank talent, 'Body Strengthening.' Your profession is now ‘Warrior Apprentice.’

  A weak vision flickered across the temple ceiling.

  Michael blinked, his heart sinking. He stared at the message, reading it over and over, hoping it was a mistake. But no, there it was: he had received an F-rank talent. A trash talent.

  His vision blurred as disappointment washed over him. He stepped aside, the priest’s indifferent gaze following him. Michael forced himself to regain his composure, though the crushing reality settled deep in his chest. His dream of becoming an elite pilot, of entering Nirvana, now felt unreachable.

  He could still attend a top university, but his chances of becoming a top-tier Evolver—let alone a pilot—were slim. How would he face his parents with this news?

  Just as he was about to leave the temple, a strange message appeared in front of him:

  Ding—Congratulations. You have awakened the EX-rank talent, 'Infinite Talent Evolution.' Your profession will evolve with your progress.

  At that moment, something incredible happened.

  The statue of the angel behind the altar seemed to come to life. Her eyes flickered with a soft, knowing light, and a faint, appreciative smile curved on her lips.

  Since the game’s launch, the angel statues had been mere decorations. They never reacted to anything, yet here it was—something extraordinary. Michael, too absorbed in the message, didn’t notice the change. The vision, brief as it was, vanished almost immediately, leaving behind only whispers of speculation among those who’d witnessed it.