The Beginning of Chaos

The sky above Earth split open.

A voice, ancient and omnipresent, echoed through the minds of every human being. It was neither male nor female, yet it carried an undeniable weight of authority. It spoke in every language simultaneously, ensuring none could misunderstand.

"Humanity, your world has been chosen. An invasion is imminent. Beings from beyond your realm will soon descend upon this planet. But you shall not face this calamity unarmed. As of this moment, each of you shall awaken to abilities befitting your essence. Some shall rise as warriors, others as strategists, and some shall merely find gifts useful for survival. Adapt, evolve, and overcome—this is the only path forward. The first wave shall arrive in one month's time. Prepare yourselves."

Then, silence.

The voice faded, but the world remained still for several seconds as if reality itself had paused to process what had just occurred. Then, chaos erupted.

The Awakening

Aurora Evernight sat frozen on her bed, gripping her phone with trembling hands. The live news broadcast showed the same surreal scene worldwide—the sky had returned to normal, yet panic spread like wildfire. Social media exploded with messages of confusion, excitement, and dread. Some people cheered, believing this was the dawn of a new era, while others wept, fearing the worst.

Aurora, however, remained eerily calm.

A sharp pain shot through her mind as a holographic screen appeared before her eyes.

[System Initialization Complete.]

[Welcome, Host. You have been granted the "Gacha System."]

Her breath hitched. Unlike the countless others who received abilities tied to their jobs or personalities, she had been given something entirely different—a system, something that only existed in fiction.

[Daily Login Reward Acquired!]

[You have received: 1x Beginner Gacha Ticket]

A blue ticket materialized in her palm, shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

"...This has to be a dream." Aurora muttered. But deep down, she knew it wasn't. The announcement, the abilities, the impending invasion—it was all real.

Taking a deep breath, she examined her system interface. It was structured much like a game, with sections for Gacha, Shop, Quests, and Inventory. There was also a peculiar tab labeled Templates.

She decided to test the gacha first.

[Using 1x Beginner Gacha Ticket...]

[Congratulations! You have acquired: Herrscher of the Void (Kiana Kaslana) Template]

Aurora's eyes widened as a rush of knowledge and power flooded her body. She felt an overwhelming presence within her—Kiana Kaslana, the Herrscher of the Void. Her very appearance had changed; her long black hair transformed into platinum white, her eyes glowed a deep violet, and her outfit shifted into the battle attire of a Herrscher.

A mirror on the wall reflected the impossible.

"This... this is insane." Aurora whispered, touching her new form.

Her mind raced. If she had transformed into Kiana, then others would immediately recognize her. Kiana Kaslana was not an obscure character; she was famous, loved by fans worldwide. If someone saw her like this, they would assume she had been summoned, not realizing she was still Aurora beneath the transformation.

A smirk played on her lips.

"If I want to fight without revealing my true self... then this is the perfect disguise."

The World's Response

The world erupted into chaos as people discovered their newfound abilities. Some were thrilled, testing their powers in public, while others panicked, unable to comprehend what was happening. Governments scrambled to assess the situation, issuing emergency broadcasts urging people to remain calm. Scientists worked frantically to understand the phenomenon, but no answers surfaced.

Then came the dungeons.

Massive, otherworldly structures materialized across the globe, each brimming with monsters and treasure. Humanity was given a chance to adapt before the invasion truly began. These dungeons varied in size and difficulty, some appearing in remote forests while others emerged right in the middle of cities. People ventured inside, testing their abilities against the creatures that lurked within. For some, it was exhilarating. For others, it was a nightmare.

Even as the dungeons provided a means for humanity to grow stronger, they also served as grim reminders of the battles yet to come.

Among all this chaos, the internet buzzed with discussions about what had just happened. Some debated the origins of their abilities, some theorized about the invasion, and others feared what was yet to come.

And then, something peculiar happened.

A single question began to spread like wildfire across forums, social media, and news outlets:

Why did Kiana Kaslana appear in the real world?

Videos and pictures surfaced online, showing Aurora—no, Kiana—standing on a rooftop in the city, observing the world below. Some claimed she had been summoned, others speculated she had accidentally crossed over from her fictional world. Theories emerged, ranging from government conspiracies to alien intervention.

Aurora watched it all unfold with an amused chuckle. Her transformation had drawn attention far sooner than she had expected, but perhaps that wasn't a bad thing. With so many people believing she was truly Kiana Kaslana, no one would suspect that the real person behind the mask was just an ordinary girl named Aurora Evernight.

If she played her cards right, she could keep it that way.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her system interface again. The Templates tab intrigued her. If she could obtain more templates, she wouldn't just be Kiana—she could become anyone. Any hero, villain, or legend from movies, games, and novels could become a part of her arsenal.

And that meant she had endless potential.

"Looks like this world's about to get a lot more interesting," she murmured, closing the screen with a flick of her hand.

The first wave was coming. She had one month to prepare.

And she intended to make every second count.