Chapter 18: The New Dawn

I woke up to the warm glow of the rising sun filtering through my window. Stretching my arms, I let out a long, satisfied yawn.

"AHHH… Now that was one hell of a good rest!" I said, feeling more energetic than ever.

"Good morning, sir," came the smooth, ever-reliable voice of Jarvis.

"Morning, Jarvis," I replied, rolling my shoulders.

"Sir, your breakfast is ready."

"Good. Give me a moment—I need to finish my morning routine first."

Discipline was key. Even at the peak of humanity, I couldn't afford to slack off. I went through my usual exercises—push-ups, crunches, endurance drills—activating every muscle fiber. Strengthening the body was just as important as sharpening the mind.

Once done, I took a refreshing bath, letting the warm water relax my muscles. A few minutes later, I was seated at my high-tech dining table, enjoying a well-balanced meal.

After finishing, I opened my personal profile, the holographic screen flickering to life.

Profile:

Name: Zero Celestia

Age: 24

Strength: 10 (MAX)

Wisdom: 10 (MAX)

Agility: 10 (MAX)

Vitality: 10 (MAX)

Charm: 10 (MAX)

Luck: 5

Extraction Points: 2

I leaned back, analyzing my stats.

"Peak human potential… but that's not enough," I muttered. "If I want to go beyond, I need more—technology, power, something that transcends human limits."

Turning to Jarvis, I asked, "How's the world looking?"

Jarvis' voice remained steady, but the weight of his words was heavy.

"Sir, the world is in a state of unrest. All major nations are preparing for war. Military forces are mobilizing, intelligence agencies are working overtime, and secret operations are already in play."

I exhaled sharply. The war drums had begun to beat.

"And the civilians? Are they aware?"

"No, sir. Governments have chosen to suppress the information to avoid mass panic."

I scoffed. "Typical. Though… I can't blame them. Fear would only accelerate the downfall."

A long silence hung in the air. Then, I smirked. "Alright, enough of the heavy talk. Boot up some of my favorite games—we need some big-boy inspiration today."

"Yes, sir."

A list of legendary spacefaring games filled my screen:

Starfield

No Man's Sky

Elite Dangerous

EVE Online

Mass Effect

Looking at these games, nostalgia hit me hard. These weren't just games to me—these were blueprints. Their awe-inspiring ships, vast universes, and advanced technology had always fascinated me. And now… I had the means to bring them into reality.

I navigated through the ship databases, searching for capital ships—massive, city-sized behemoths capable of interstellar dominance. But then I saw the Extraction Point costs.

"Ten points… fifty points… one hundred… two hundred?! Damn, the bigger and more advanced they are, the more points they cost," I muttered, rubbing my temples. Too expensive.

I sighed and rethought my approach.

"Forget capital ships. Let's start smaller—frigates."

I scrolled through different designs from various games. Each had its own unique appeal. Mass Effect's sleek Normandy. Elite Dangerous' powerful Federal Corvette. EVE Online's battle-hardened Caldari warships.

But in the end, my eyes locked onto one design from Starfield—a heavily armored UNSC Frigate.

Simple. Durable. Deadly.

"Jarvis," I smirked. "Let's make history."

-Extract: UNSC Frigate-STARFIELD-

-Extraction Complete-

As the command left my lips, a flash of blue light erupted in the void above Earth's atmosphere.

From the depths of subspace, the UNSC Frigate emerged. A towering beast of steel and firepower, its dark hull gleamed under the sun's rays, casting an ominous shadow over the planet.

It was massive. Even from Starfell Island, I could see it—a monument of power now visible to billions across the world. Governments, scientists, military forces, and ordinary civilians—they were all looking up at the sky, witnessing something that shouldn't exist outside of fiction.

"Jarvis, connect me to Aurora."

"Yes, sir. Establishing connection now."

A second later, her voice came through the encrypted channel. Clear. Commanding. Awaiting orders.

"Greetings, Supreme Commander," Aurora said, her tone unwavering.

"What's the status up there?" I asked.

"We are currently in standby mode, orbiting Earth alongside the ISS. Scans show global military forces are scrambling to identify the object—our frigate."

"Good. I want a full scan of that ship. Study it. Reverse-engineer it. Mass-produce it."

"Understood, Supreme Commander. Beginning full-scale analysis now."

I turned my gaze skyward, watching as my first step toward dominance unfolded. But there was one more loose end to tie up.

"And as for the ISS—that so-called 'space station'… dismantle it."

A brief pause. Then, Aurora spoke again.

"Confirming orders: Dismantle the ISS?"

"Correct. Strip it for resources. Extract every ounce of useful tech. As for the personnel onboard… detain them. I want them secured in our facilities. If any resist, neutralize them."

"As you command, Supreme Commander." The transmission ended. 

I exhaled, turning toward Jarvis.

"Jarvis, how's our people?"

"They stand ready, sir. Awaiting deployment at your command."

"Numbers?"

"Currently, we have 500 trained personnel. Additionally, I have successfully recruited over 100 elite pilots from inside of the OASIS and transported them here to Starfell Island."

A slow smirk crept onto my lips. 600 strong. Hand-picked. Ready to carve their names into history.

"That's good," I said

Meanwhile, at the United Nations Headquarters, world leaders sat in tense silence, their gazes locked onto the massive warship above Earth. The weight of an unknown force had settled upon humanity.

"Are you telling me aliens have arrived?" the Russian President asked, voice sharp.

"This is either a display of extraterrestrial power… or a warning," the Chinese Premier muttered.

Then, a security analyst rushed into the room, pale-faced.

"S-Sir… we just received new intel."

A video feed played, showing the International Space Station being dismantled piece by piece. The astronauts were gone. Their fate unknown.

A chilling silence filled the chamber. Then, the Russian President spoke, his voice dark with realization.

"…This is no first contact. This is a takeover."

The U.S. General clenched his jaw. "Then we're at war."

A heavy silence followed, thick with tension.

"We are no longer in control of this planet's future. That warship in our skies… that is the new reality. And we either adapt—or we fall."