mortal_man

Betrayed by family. Bullied for being different. Left to rot in a remote orphanage with no future. Sixteen-year-old Orion had long accepted that life had dealt him the worst possible hand. But when a cruel twist of fate sends him plummeting into an ancient ruin, everything changes.

Awakening the Infinite Evolution System, Orion gains the power to defy fate itself. His body evolves beyond human limits, his strength growing with every battle, every challenge. But power doesn’t come without cost. As he fights for survival, he soon realizes that his fall into the ruins was no accident—it was a calling.

The universe is on the brink of war. Ancient races, forgotten civilizations, and cosmic overlords all vie for supremacy. Humanity stands on the edge of extinction, its fragile peace threatened by forces beyond comprehension. And at the heart of it all lies Orion’s own past—a mystery buried beneath layers of betrayal and blood.

Armed with an evolving system, a blade that adapts to his will, and a mind sharpened by hardship, Orion will carve his own path. He will rise from the ashes, claim the power stolen from him, and make those who abandoned him tremble.

From orphan to warrior. From outcast to legend.

He will become the Cosmic Overlord.

Infinite Evolution: From Orphan to Cosmic Overlord

Chapter 4: The Luckiest Unlucky Guy Alive

I stared at the massive Titan-Class Guardian, still wedged in the tight corridor, its glowing eyes flickering with what I could only assume was barely-contained fury. It wiggled, growled, and scraped at the stone, but no matter how much it struggled, it wasn't getting through anytime soon.

"I can't believe that actually worked," I muttered, still catching my breath. "You, my friend, are officially the dumbest ancient murder machine I've ever met."

The Titan let out a low, ominous growl.

"Yeah, yeah, be mad all you want. I'm alive, and you're stuck. So—wait, am I actually gloating at a rock monster? Wow, I need help."

I should've been celebrating, but then reality hit me—I was still trapped in this godforsaken ruin, and now I had an even bigger problem. The only real exit I'd seen was currently blocked by a very angry, very large obstacle.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Okay, let's think this through. I need a way out before I starve to death or something worse finds me."

My stomach growled. Right. Or before I run out of food.

Glancing around, I decided to do some good ol' fashioned exploring. The cavern was huge, and if ancient civilizations built this place, there had to be some kind of passage I could use.

I picked a random tunnel and started walking, being extra careful for any booby traps or sudden death pitfalls. Lucky for me, nothing immediately tried to murder me, so I counted that as a win.

I groaned and looked at my feet. There, half-buried in the dust, was what looked like an old, rusted chest.

"Oh-ho-ho, is this my lucky break?" I muttered, dusting it off. "Come on, ancient treasure. Daddy needs a magic escape rope."

I pried it open and immediately regretted it.

Inside was a single, half-eaten piece of dried meat.

I stared. "You have got to be kidding me."

The ancient civilization of whatever-the-hell left me a snack. A rotten snack.

"You know what? Fine. I didn't want treasure anyway," I grumbled, kicking the chest aside. "Why would I expect anything good? I'm basically the universe's favorite chew toy."

Just as I finished sulking, a low click sounded beneath me.

The floor shifted. Before I could react, the ground vanished from under my feet, and I plunged into yet another hole.

I landed with a painful thud, groaning as I rolled onto my back. How many times was I going to fall into things today?!

And immediately regretted every life decision I'd ever made.

Standing before me, looming in the dim glow of the ruins, was a creature. Not just any creature—this one made the Titan-Class Guardian look like a plush toy. It had six glowing eyes, each the size of my head, and a mouth lined with way too many teeth.

I let out a nervous laugh. "Hah… hahah… you know, I was just thinking this place needed more terrifying monsters!"

The creature tilted its massive head, almost as if it were amused.

"Oh no. You understand me, don't you?"

It let out a low, vibrating growl that I was fairly sure was laughter.

"WHY AM I THE UNLUCKIEST LUCKY PERSON ALIVE?!" I screamed as I bolted, the creature lunging after me with a gleeful roar.