Evolution

Jasmine nodded in agreement, equally defeated by the lack of solutions. They stood up to leave the room, the heavy mood lingering behind them. As they walked away, the other representatives remained in the room, still brainstorming and discussing despite the futility of their efforts.

The cavern pulsed with fading mana as Keshav stood over the remains of the boss monster.

Level 200 had been a myth.

Level 201?

A boundary untouched by anyone before him on earth.

Until now.

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> [Level Up: 201]

[Threshold Crossed: Mortal Limit Exceeded.]

[Innate Evolution Triggered.]

—Void Adaptation Activated.

You no longer require external protection in space.

Your body harmonizes with vacuum, temperature extremes, and cosmic force.

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The system fell silent after that.

Even it seemed unsure what he had just become.

Keshav stood motionless. Breathing.

But it no longer felt like air was necessary.

His skin no longer tingled from mana.

It hummed with a different resonance—subtle, deep, and boundless.

He was teleported outside the dungeon.

The wind was strong, the sky perfectly clear.

He looked upward, as he'd done a thousand times before

But this time, the sky didn't feel like a ceiling.

It felt like a door.

He knelt slowly, hand brushing against cracked stone, and pushed off the ground with no skill. No mana surge. Just intent.

His body responded.

Gravity flickered.

And then—he rose.

The clouds parted around him, not from pressure or heat, but because they respected his passage. The blue sky turned deep. Then darker. Then gone.

And above all, there was silence.

No oxygen.

No heat.

No shield.

And yet—Keshav was calm.

His heart beat steadily. His muscles didn't scream for air. His skin didn't blister in the vacuum.

Instead, his senses expanded.

He felt the pull of planets, the hum of magnetic fields, the subtle dance of motion and silence.

The Earth turned slowly beneath him—massive, alive, beautiful.

He floated effortlessly, eyes full of starlight and continents.

Not as a visitor.

As someone who belonged here now.

Suddenly system broadcasted to whole world [ First player reached level 201. Conditions met for world merge.]

The system's words echoed throughout the world, causing a ripple of unease and anticipation among the players and the military personnel. The first player had reached level 201, triggering the conditions for a world merge.

System continued [ After a player of a solar system reach level 201 his solar system is merged in a star cluster ]

System continued [ When your solar system is transferred to star cluster planets will become 10 times in size with everything in it strengthened to a minimum level to bear new gravitational force. Players above minimum standard of strength to withstand new gravity will not receive any boost in strength.]

The system continued [ There are many civilizations in star cluster. New civilizations joining will receive protection period of 10 years during which beings or constructs of other civilizations can't enter your solar system without permission of governing body of the solar system. If there are more than 1 governing body than majority should agree. After getting permission to come in, they can't attack people of this solar system unless it is in self defense. Player who became level 201 is given special privilege of allowing 10 beings to enter. ]

System said at last [ The merger will start in 10 days. ]

The system's message ended with a final announcement, stating that the world merge would begin in 10 days. This sent a wave of anticipation and unease throughout the world, as everyone braced for the coming change.

The news of the upcoming world merge spread quickly, causing a stir among the players and the military personnel alike. Some were excited, seeing it as an opportunity to explore new worlds and gain power. Others were apprehensive, fearing the consequences of joining a star cluster and the possible conflicts that could arise.

As the day of the world merge grew closer, tension in the world heightened. Players and military personnel alike spent their time preparing for the change, either by leveling up or making alliances. The military was especially busy, as they tried to assess the potential threat of the new civilizations they would be meeting soon.

The government representatives from all countries gathered to discuss the formation of a collective board with representatives from all countries, to make future decisions at the planetary or inter-civilization level. This was a significant meeting, as it could potentially shape the course of history in this new era. Everyone knew that the decisions made now would have far-reaching consequences, and so they debated passionately and extensively.

Some representatives, particularly those from countries with a history of conflict, were opposed to the idea. They were wary of giving up any sovereignty to an international body and feared that their interests might be underrepresented. Others saw the need for a unified front in the face of the new challenges they would be facing. They argued that the only way to survive and thrive in the changing world was to work together.

After a long and heated discussion, it was eventually decided that the collective board would be formed. This was a historic moment, as it marked the first time in human history that countries from all over the world came together to form a unified governing body at the planetary level.

The board was to consist of representatives from each country, and it was meant to make decisions on matters that affected the world as a whole. This included issues such as resource management, military strategy, and diplomacy with non-human civilizations.

The formation of the collective board was not without its challenges, however. The representatives from each country had differing viewpoints and interests, and it was difficult to find common ground. Some countries held more power and influence than others, leading to disagreements over who had more authority in the decision-making process.

But despite these challenges, the collective board was formed, representing the first step towards a unified global governance. It was a tentative start, with much work still needed to be done to ensure its long-term stability and effectiveness.

The news of the formation of the collective board spread throughout the world, with many people seeing it as a positive development. It showed that the countries were willing to put aside their differences and work together to face the new challenges ahead. Players also saw it as a sign of the world starting to adapt to the new reality of living in a star cluster with different civilizations.

The military personnel were also watching the developments closely, seeing it as a necessary step to navigate the new threats and opportunities that faced them. They were particularly interested in how the board would handle interactions with other civilizations, as alliances and partnerships would likely play a crucial role in survival.

In the remaining time before the world merge, Jasmine also worked hard to level up, eventually reaching level 201. This achievement was a testament to her strength and dedication, as only a few players had managed to reach this level.

The time for the world merge arrived, and it felt like the whole world was holding its breath. Players and military personnel everywhere braced themselves for the unknown, preparing for the changes that were about to occur.