Virtual Ascension

Returning to his dorm room, Venix ate the snacks he had purchased a few days earlier.

Four plastic bags lay neatly on his bed, untouched.

Venix offered some food to Jiyu and Ronan, but they had other plans and left him behind.

As they departed, Rael contacted Venix, asking how he was doing.

Rael was currently at the company where he interned. Due to specific reasons, Rael had to stay at the company for a few days, with temporary accommodations near its location.

After reassuring Rael that he was fine, Venix ended the call.

The clock showed 3 p.m.

After some thought, Venix decided to unwind by going outside to clear his mind.

His battles in the Origin Fragment Realm had mentally exhausted him.

Leaving the school grounds, Venix wandered through the city where he lived.

As he strolled, Venix glanced at the evening sky.

The sky radiated waves of vibrant colors stretching across the horizon. The hues blended seamlessly, forming soothing patterns that calmed Venix's heart.

However, to Venix, the sky seemed unusually vibrant, filled with radiant waves covering its entire expanse.

On his walk, Venix noticed many police officers in black uniforms stationed at various points.

At one street corner, some officers stood idly, arms folded across their chests, occasionally letting out wide yawns. They glanced around occasionally, seemingly indifferent to their duties.

In contrast, Venix also spotted officers with sharp, serious expressions, vigilantly observing their surroundings.

The stark difference in demeanor didn't escape Venix's notice.

Among six officers, only one exuded a sense of seriousness, which made Venix slightly suspicious.

"The movements of the Police Department are odd. Suddenly, the department head was replaced, and officers were ordered to patrol various areas," Venix mused.

"If this is connected to the advent of the Origin Era, then certain factions may already have access to Origin powers," he thought.

Feeling uncertain, Venix used his phone to search for the latest news.

As expected, not only his city but others also exhibited similar unusual activity, with measures in place to prevent chaos.

However, the authorities didn't disclose clear reasons for the disturbances to the media.

Frowning, Venix searched international news outlets.

Reports revealed that other nations faced similar issues.

Although their approaches varied, the goal was the same: maintaining stability.

The sudden movements sparked online discussions, with many speculating about terrorism.

Venix shook his head lightly, hoping his guesses were just baseless worries and not reality.

Lost in thought, Venix continued walking, his mind swirling with concerns.

Although Venix might gain access to Origin powers earlier than most and possessed the Numan World foundation for rapid development, other factors worried him.

For instance, to what extent had humanity in the real world integrated with Origin powers? What was the highest level they had achieved? Was it Rootbound? Or Primecore?

If chaos ensued, as Luna had mentioned in Numan World, the world's order would collapse, leading to power struggles everywhere.

In such a scenario, humanity would regress to ancient survival instincts, where the survival of the fittest dictated life.

With these worries, Venix felt a tightness in his chest. Thoughts of impending chaos overwhelmed him, like relentless waves.

As he pondered while walking, the sound of children playing reached Venix's ears.

Turning to the side, Venix saw a medium-sized soccer field where a children's match was underway.

He paused for a moment, a faint smile gracing his face. With light steps, he approached an empty seat and sat down, watching the children enthusiastically chase the ball.

While watching, Venix observed the players' expressions.

Some were catching their breath, while others wore fierce, determined faces, showing how seriously they took the game.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken? May I sit here?"

A man's voice came from beside Venix.

Turning, Venix saw a young man seemingly in his early twenties.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Venix smiled politely.

"Of course," Venix replied gently, his tone relaxed.

The man sat beside him, and they both continued watching the match.

"Is your younger sibling playing here?" the man asked.

Venix shook his head. "No, I don't have any siblings. I happened to pass by and found this game interesting, so I decided to watch."

"Children's matches can be captivating, can't they?" the man said.

"I just needed a moment to clear my mind, so I stopped here," Venix replied with a small smile.

"Relaxing, huh... It's been a while since I last relaxed," the man said softly. Realizing the oddity of his words, he quickly added, "Ah! Forget I said that."

The man coughed lightly, looking slightly embarrassed.

Venix didn't mind and quickly changed the subject. "Are you here to pick up your sibling playing soccer?"

The man nodded. "That's right. My younger brother has loved soccer since he was a kid. He dreams of becoming a professional player someday."

Venix smiled faintly, observing the man. "That's a wonderful dream. Soccer is fascinating, full of strategy and teamwork. But... maybe a bit challenging in times like these?"

The man smiled and replied, "Yeah, the competition is tough. On top of that, I can't afford to provide him with the nutrition he needs, which means he'll have to work extra hard to achieve his dreams."

Venix regarded the man thoughtfully and found his reasoning plausible.

Without adequate nutrition, becoming a professional athlete would indeed be difficult.

Chatting with a stranger helped Venix feel a bit more at ease.

Unintentionally, Venix asked the man, "What would you do if the world suddenly changed drastically?"

"Changed? How so?" the man asked.

Leaning back in his seat, Venix replied casually, "Let's say monsters suddenly appeared and began attacking the world, dismantling global order and laws. In such a world, what would you do?"

The man furrowed his brow, pausing for a moment before responding, "I'd do whatever it takes to survive."

"If you couldn't fight off the threats and ended up dying, would you regret it?" Venix pressed.

The man hesitated briefly before answering, "If I died protecting my brother, I wouldn't regret it. That would be enough for me."

"You really love your brother, don't you?" Venix remarked, looking at him intently.

"He's the only family I have. Whatever I do, I always think of him first," the man replied with a smile.

Venix felt a pang of emotion at his response. As an orphan, he longed for the experience of having siblings in his life.

The two continued their lighthearted conversation, discussing various topics.

Unnoticed, the day grew later.

The man's younger brother approached and politely greeted Venix.

Not long after, the siblings said goodbye to Venix and headed home.

The soccer field gradually emptied.

Venix closed his eyes, letting the gentle breeze soothe him in the fading light.

---

[ Quest "Awaken Perfect-Early Stage" Completed ]

[ Reward: 500 Resource Points Earned ]

Venix slowly opened his eyes, his expression growing serious.

[ New Quest Unlocked ]

[ Quest: Awaken Injection #2 ]

[ Reward: 500 Resource Points ]

His gaze remained calm, steady like flowing water.

[ Quest "Awaken Injection #2" Completed ]

[ Reward: 500 Resource Points Earned ]

[ New Quest Unlocked ]

[ Quest: Awaken Middle-Stage ]

[ Reward: 500 Resource Points ]

At that moment, Venix felt a sudden weight in his chest, as though a mysterious force was pressing heavily around him.

His brows furrowed, and his pupils slightly contracted as he sensed something intangible, something that unsettled his body and soul.

Thump-thump.

His heartbeat grew louder and more powerful, echoing through his mind.

Lifting his head, Venix looked toward the sky, now painted in mesmerizing hues.

Ba-dump!

The final heartbeat reverberated through his being, and in that instant, everything changed.

It felt as though the real world around him was slowly dissolving. Each breath he took felt unfamiliar—not just the air, but the very essence of the universe around him seemed altered, as though a veil had lifted, revealing an unseen layer.

This sensation mirrored the time Venix spent in Numan World!

More precisely, it reminded him of the moment he became an Awaken. In Numan World, he felt a unique difference that didn't exist in the real world.

In reality, Venix could only be described as a Pseudo-Awaken. Due to certain seals, he hadn't truly become an Awaken in the real world.

Because of this, he sensed something within him pulling energy from the surroundings. However, without a suitable vessel, that energy merely hovered around him, unable to enter his body.

This was Origin Source! An energy that only Venix could perceive in Numan World.

Origin Source was akin to invisible air—undetectable to ordinary people, but an Awaken could feel its presence, even if they couldn't see it.

Then, as though a critical point had been reached, an invisible shackle binding the Earth shattered!

Though Venix couldn't see or hear it directly, his instincts told him something had broken.

At that moment, his system interface appeared before him.

---

[ You have reached Awaken Early Stage, unlocking further system functions ]

[ Inventory menu unlocked ]

[ Virtual-to-Real World transfer feature unlocked ]

[ Virtual Ascension feature unlocked: Transfer the strength achieved in Virtual World to the Real World ]

[ Detected: The Origin Era has arrived ]

[ The Host now has body protection in the real world when entering the Virtual World ]

[ Virtual Barrier: Consumes 100 Resource Points to create an invisible barrier around the Host when entering the Virtual World. The barrier can withstand one full attack from an Awaken (Early Stage). ]

[ Barrier strength increases with the Host's power progression. ]

[ When the barrier is attacked, the Host will receive a warning through the system. ]

[ The barrier lasts ten days unless destroyed. ]

---

Venix's expression shifted as he saw the system unveiling numerous features. The ability to transfer his Virtual World strength to the real world was particularly significant!

Moreover, the Virtual-to-Real transfer feature would undoubtedly prove invaluable and immensely beneficial.

As his heartbeat gradually steadied, the discomfort dissipated. However, Venix was acutely aware that the Origin Era had truly arrived!

It wasn't just him—several individuals in black police uniforms showed similar reactions.

Anyone who had come into contact with the power of Origin could distinctly sense this monumental change deep in their hearts.

Guided by his thoughts, Venix accessed the system and reviewed his profile.

---

[ Name: Vain Venix ]

[ Level: Pseudo-Awaken (+) (Awaken Early-Stage) ]

[ Origin Power: Pseudo-Vulture ]

[ Virtual World: Numan World ]

[ Resource Points: 101,300 ]

---

A (+) symbol was displayed on his profile. Using his thoughts, Venix clicked on it.

---

[ Consume 500 Resource Points to transfer power to the Real World? ]

[ Please ensure the Host is in a safe location, as the transfer process requires time and is not instantaneous. ]

---

Scanning his surroundings, Venix considered his options.

Although the Origin Era had just begun, this was the first day. No Awaken individuals would appear immediately, and even if they did, they wouldn't yet possess the power to wreak havoc.

Trying to calm his nerves, Venix rose from his seat and returned to his school dormitory.

Ideally, he wanted to find a more secluded and hidden place. However, his concern for his two friends kept him from straying too far.

In terms of sustenance, Venix had already proven that eating in the Virtual World also provided nourishment for his physical body in the real world.

The connection between his Virtual World body and his Real World body was deep and intricate, making them feel almost like one.

Upon reaching his dormitory, Venix found it empty—Ronan hadn't returned yet.

Lying on his bed, Venix accessed the system and consumed 500 Resource Points to initiate the power transfer.

---

[ 500 Resource Points consumed. Seal release process initiated. ]

---

Watching the system screen, Venix's expression momentarily shifted.

"Seal?" he murmured softly, confusion flickering across his face. A sudden tension gripped his chest, though he couldn't fully grasp the implications.

Before he could delve deeper, an intense wave of pain surged through his body and soul!

Venix groaned in agony, struggling to suppress a scream.

If his cries were too loud, they might attract the attention of other dormitory residents or even the school authorities.

The pain felt as though his body was being torn apart—not physically, but within his very soul.

It was as if hundreds of needles were piercing directly into the depths of his being. His body trembled, drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through.

The ordeal lasted two excruciating minutes before finally subsiding.

Breathing heavily, Venix's face was deathly pale.

---

[ Pseudo-Awaken has advanced to Awaken (Early-Stage) ]

[ Origin Power Pseudo-Vulture has evolved to Vulture ]

---

A faint smile crept across Venix's face. With this, he could at least face some of the challenges that lay ahead.

Before he could rest, the Seed of Vulture within his soul began rapidly absorbing the Origin Source now permeating the Earth.

Although he couldn't see it, Venix could sense that the Origin Source was being drawn toward him, forming a swirling vortex in the sky.

Realizing this, Venix's expression grew tense.

At the same time, several black-uniformed officers turned their gazes toward the vortex in the sky.

On the rooftop of a tall building, a man in his early thirties with strikingly handsome features and an elegant demeanor observed the phenomenon.

This man was Jasper, the newly appointed head of the Police Department in Venix's city.

"It's begun, huh? Such a nuisance. The first Awaken has emerged in the city under my watch," Jasper muttered, letting out a faint sigh, clearly displeased.