Prologue

The world had changed.

Transmigrating into a world of future Earth myself, I felt a sense of joy could be seen in me.

Technology had advanced beyond imagination, and entertainment thrived like never before. With machines handling all of humanity's worries, money and work have become obsolete.

This world was a paradise, a dream I had never thought possible.

But just as I was about to embrace my new life, something unexpected happened, something… dramatic.

God had descended, forcing every human to migrate to a new world.

This world, known as Mythic, was where anyone could fight to grow stronger, a world where even the possibility of ascending to godhood existed.

Mythic's unique features included an MMORPG-like leveling system, occupation ranks, an inventory, and endless adventures, which were added to real-life elements.

As cool as this world was, I wanted to cry.

Just when I was about to enjoy life as a carefree salted fish, basking in endless entertainment, I got dropped into a dirt-poor town.

It's not fair!

Like me, most of the people transported here struggled to cope. After living with endless conveniences, they had become naturally lazy and unprepared, lacking even the most basic real-life skills.

One thing managed to calm my mind before I could sink too deep into despair.

[Andrew Huxley]

[Level]: 1

[Title]: Unpredictable (???)

[Talents]

[Outsider] – As an unaccounted-for foreign entity, the fate surrounding you remains a mystery. Unbounded by fate, you, an outlier, have the power to interfere with destiny itself.

[One Who Surpassed Death] – Awakened from death itself, you have gained a natural affinity with the power of death.

Just as I finished checking my status, a warning screen suddenly flashed.

Warning! Warning! Warning!

My heart pounded in my chest, an ominous feeling creeping over me. It sounded no and felt like something was about to change.

Issues with the souls detected! Forcefully merging!

A surge of energy coursed through me as my status updated before my eyes.

[Andrew Huxley]

[Level]: 1

[Title]: Unpredictable (???)

[New Talent Unlocked!]

[Heavenly Defier] – An entity that transcends fate itself. No matter the circumstances, you will always find yourself in a position of advantage. (Additional Effect: Having merged with the power of death, your affinity with death has reached its highest caliber.)

As the system forcefully merged my soul, a strange clarity settled over my mind. My talents had fused into something more significant, yet my body remained unchanged.

Or so I thought.

My vision shifted. Dark particles drifted through the air around me, swirling like embers in a dying fire. I had no idea what they were, but I could feel their power profound, overwhelming, and undeniably connected to me.

"I see what this is..." A smile crept onto my lips as I began testing the strange particles around me.

This power of death was now within my grasp. Thanks to my heightened affinity, I could see, feel, and even manipulate it. However, in my current weakened state, there were clear limitations.

Wanting to test its effects, I gathered as much death energy as possible and directed it toward a nearby tree large enough to stand two stories tall.

"Not bad..."

As the energy seeped into the trunk, the tree began to wither. Slowly, at first, its once-vibrant leaves dulled and curled. The bark cracked, its color fading like an aging corpse.

Five minutes passed.

By the end of it, not a single trace of life remained.

My actions hadn't gone unnoticed. Over ten thousand Earthlings had been relocated to this town, and among them, opportunists quickly took notice.

"That's an amazing power! Say, why don't we team up?"

One of them stepped forward, his tone eager, perhaps too eager.

I eyed him critically. "And what do you have to offer?"

Judging by his build and demeanor, I had my doubts. He didn't look like someone who could contribute much. Otherwise, why would he be so eager for a partnership?

Besides, I was in the same boat as everyone else and could barely care for myself. Right now, we have no way to obtain food or water. If I couldn't secure my survival, I didn't have the luxury of providing for others.

"Come on, with an extra pair of hands, can't we do more?"

I rolled my eyes at his persistence. Maybe if his hands weren't so greasy and bloated with fat, they looked like they could barely move.

"Yeah, no."

I had more important things to do. Now that I had a basic grasp of my situation, I ignored him and started exploring the town.

"Hey! Wait!"

I barely glanced back. He could hardly keep up with a normal walking pace. Pathetic.

Shaking him off, I approached a large building that seemed important. Guards stood at its entrance, and a steady flow of people, some well-dressed and others in simpler attire, moved in and out.

"Excuse me, is this the town hall?" I asked one of the guards.

He raised a brow before smirking. "A challenger, huh? You seem like one of the more capable ones in your group. Say, any idea why most of the people who came with you are so... overweight?"

The word challenger stuck in my mind. That must be what the residents of this world call us.

"It's not exactly a secret," I replied. "The world we came from was so advanced that jobs became obsolete. Machines handled everything: food production, labor, even entertainment. People could eat, laze around, and live comfortably without a care in the world."

I glanced at him and added, "If that doesn't make sense, just think of it like this. Everyone in our world lived like nobles. We're rich, lazy, self-centered, and entitled."

Come to think of it, my predecessor did a decent job maintaining this body. Unlike most others, I wasn't completely out of shape. I was just an average build by my old world's standards. That alone gave me a better chance of surviving in this game-like world.

"Is that so?" The guard chuckled. "Sounds like a nice place to live… well, if you guys hadn't been dragged here. Talk about cruel."

He laughed, clearly amused, before sneering at one of the people who had chased me all this way.

I glanced back. How can you sweat that much after just fifteen minutes of walking? Still, I had to give him some credit, and he was determined.

"Compared to the rest of your group, you actually have a decent shot at landing a high-paying job," the guard said. "Go straight inside and talk to the woman closest to the entrance. She's easily the most generous of the bunch."

"Thanks," I said, nodding before heading in.

The people here were surprisingly kind, especially toward foreigners like me.

As I entered the town hall, I noticed several other newcomers who had arrived earlier. Most of them looked utterly defeated, like candidates leaving a job interview after getting rejected.

"Hello, are you also a challenger who has descended?"

The receptionist greeted me the moment I approached.

"Yes, I am," I replied. "Are there any jobs available? Or maybe some tips for a newcomer?"

Right now, money is my biggest concern. If I could secure enough in a single day, food, water, and shelter wouldn't be an issue.

"Do you have any special skills?" she asked. "If so, could you demonstrate them? That way, I can match you with a suitable job."

"I can use magic. Do you have any useless materials around? I can use them for a demonstration."

"Magic?" The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise. "That's rare. Your affinity must be exceptionally high to access it this early."

She reached under the counter and pulled out a peculiar device. "Here, this is a Magic Input Device. It measures the quality and potency of your magic."

The device looked like something straight out of a fantasy world, a smooth, hollowed-out orb with intricate engravings decorating its surface.

I nodded and focused. Gathering the death energy took time, and I saw the receptionist growing impatient. It wasn't something I could just snap into existence—not yet, anyway.

Once I had gathered a sizeable amount, I guided the energy toward my palm and pressed it onto the orb.

The device lit up immediately. Numbers flickered on its surface, rising exponentially without stopping.

The real surprise came with the aftereffects. While the initial decay started small, it rapidly escalated, and its effects became far deadlier over time.

"Amazing," the receptionist murmured, eyes locked on the numbers. "Not only is it invisible, but it also gets stronger once it lands on the target."

That was new information. So, only I could see the death energy? That made sense if my affinity was this high. It wasn't something anyone could perceive.

"I have three suggestions for the path you could take," the receptionist said. "As a newcomer, I understand you're strapped for money. Any of these three options will get you out of poverty almost immediately."

Her words lit up my world. An hour into this isekai, I'm already securing opportunities that most people could only dream of.

"Let's hear it," I said, leaning in with interest.