Chapter 1: The Awakening of a New World

YEAR 2025

IN THE SCHOOL OF DRAGON UNIVERSITY

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the classroom, casting a warm glow over the students. Among them, Maximus Omniclone sat slumped over his desk, arms folded beneath his head as he dozed off yet again.

"Maximus Omniclone!"

A sharp voice shattered the calm, drawing the attention of the entire class. Heads turned toward Maximus, who groggily lifted his head, blinking in confusion.

"Here he is, sleeping again," a student snickered.

"He doesn't even go to the gym, yet he looks like he just lifted a hundred kilos," another added.

"If he weren't the top student, the teacher wouldn't even bother calling his name," someone whispered.

Standing at the front of the room was Angel, their mathematics teacher. At just twenty-six, she had the kind of beauty that made people wonder why she was teaching instead of modeling. But despite her stunning looks, her temper was as sharp as her mind.

"Wake him up," she ordered.

Before anyone could move, Maximus suddenly recalled a vivid dream—a battlefield soaked in blood, bodies of different species piled high. In the center stood a lone figure, his presence terrifying, like a god of war.

"Maximus!"

His friend Manny nudged him, snapping him out of his trance.

"Present, ma'am," Maximus finally responded, rubbing his eyes.

Angel sighed. "Since you're awake now, solve this problem."

Still half-asleep, Maximus got up, walked to the board, and took the marker. He solved the complex equation effortlessly in seconds.

The classroom erupted in whispers.

"He solved that like a human calculator!"

"He wasn't even paying attention!"

Angel examined his work and sighed. "Correct."

Without a word, Maximus returned to his seat and immediately resumed his nap.

As the final bell rang, he stretched and grabbed his bag. "Finally. Time to go home."

"You heading straight back?" Manny asked.

"Yeah. Gotta check the crypto market."

Maximus rode his motorcycle home, the city passing in a blur. His house was small, a simple inheritance from his late grandmother. The only thing she left behind besides the house was an old necklace whose purpose remained a mystery.

The moment he got home, he powered on his computer and checked the latest news.

"Multiple volcanic eruptions recorded worldwide—scientists baffled!"

"Unexplained natural disasters on the rise. Is the world facing an unknown threat?"

His brows furrowed. Something's not right.

Then, a live-streamed video caught his attention.

A shaky camera captured a chaotic street scene—people screaming, running in terror.

"Guys, do you see this?" the voice behind the camera stammered. "A guy just bit someone! Wait—why is his skin so pale? It's melting—OH MY GOD, HE'S RUNNING TOWARDS ME!"

The screen suddenly cut to static.

Maximus's heart pounded. Was that… a zombie?

More breaking news reports flooded in.

"A mysterious mist is spreading worldwide. Those with weak immune systems are turning violent and attacking others. We call this the Mutation Virus. If bitten, a person transforms into one of them. Stay safe. Arm yourselves."

His gaze flickered to the window. The sky had changed—no longer the usual blue, but an eerie red, streaked with violet.

Then, a blinding blue beam shot down from the sky.

A powerful shockwave followed. Maximus stumbled back, shielding his eyes as an ethereal voice resonated in the air.

"Greetings, world. I am the System. I have awakened the spiritual energy of this planet. This energy will allow you to evolve, grow stronger, and fight against the threats that now walk among you. But beware—your enemies will evolve as well. The zombies are only the beginning."

Beneath the earth, something ancient stirred. A power long sealed away—the Origin Energy—began to spread, saturating everything it touched.

Plants grew unnaturally fast, twisting into monstrous forms. Animals became stronger, fiercer. And the infected… they changed. No longer just mindless creatures, they were evolving.

In a small house across the city, a father desperately held the door shut. His daughter, Aly, clung to him, sobbing.

"Dad… what's happening?"

"Don't cry, sweetheart," he whispered, though his own hands shook. "I'll protect you."

But he knew. No one was coming.

The door splintered, then shattered completely.

The zombies rushed in.

The father swung a kitchen knife wildly, but there were too many. Teeth sank into his shoulder. Blood gushed out.

"RUN, ALY!" he screamed.

She fell to the ground, trembling, clutching her head as grief and terror consumed her.

Then—something awakened inside her.

A chilling wind filled the room. The air turned frigid.

Her eyes glowed an unnatural blue. The temperature plummeted, and in an instant, the zombies froze solid—encased in thick ice.

Aly stood slowly, her body trembling with newfound power.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, "I'll kill them all… every last one of them."

Across the world, similar awakenings took place. People discovered abilities they never thought possible—fire, lightning, earth, wind. The System had given humanity a fighting chance.

And in the midst of it all, Maximus Omniclone stood at the crossroads of fate, watching the world he once knew crumble before him.

His instincts whispered that this was only the beginning.