Billions fell to their knees at the mystic, cold voice that echoed throughout each continent, sparing no one from its shrill, soul-piercing pressure. The heavenly weight bore on everyone, restricting the slightest movement and even the capacity for speech.
When the earth stopped trembling, the voice began his discourse immediately. His restless continuity left no room for adjustment to the fantastical situation.
''My presence here is due to fate's arrangements; however, my time here is vastly limited. As such, I will only provide the most important information in this short time.''
''First, let me answer some of your most earnest questions and fears. As some of you may have realized, adults seem to have completely vanished from the surface of this world. The truth is that all adults above the age of twenty were brought someplace else. The same goes for newborns up to six, leaving you with those between six and twenty years old.''
In the sparse moments of movement allowed by the diminished oppressive pressure, the thousands of students erupted into a cacophony of emotions. Some shuddered, others cried out, their voices rising in fear and disbelief. Yet, a few students managed to remain calm, even in the face of such devastating news.
But still, nearly everyone else was on the verge of utter mental breakdown, and it would cause their deaths. So, as if responding to their cries of madness and prayers for help, the god soothed their tormented souls and hearts.
''Fear not, they are not dead. All of your family members and friends—all those that disappeared among them—they're all alive and well. Now, the most important thing for you should be to reunite with them, right? This is possible, but you will need to face many dangers and trials and transcend your human limits.''
"As I said, your world will undergo countless transformations—it will not remain as it is. You, the inhabitants of this planet, have been chosen as the most suitable participants to fulfill my goal. An example of the many changes that will soon occur will be the disappearance of a few technological inventions and objects. Things such as cars, computers, and phones, will be gone from this earth because they limit your growth."
''However, before I explain further, I will implant a brand within each of you. This brand will awaken your neurons, unlocking your brain's latent potential. Without it, none of you would be capable of hearing what I am about to say—you would simply die."
As his words reverberated, a divine light tore through the sky, piercing straight into everyone's minds. The brand unlocked the hidden potential of every student's brain, expanding its capacity and enabling them to comprehend the divine knowledge this mysterious 'god' held in reserve.
In mere minutes, the transformation was complete. Of the three thousand panicked students, ninety percent now sat in eerie silence, their eyes fixed on him, waiting for his next words.
''Great, now most of you are worthy of hearing this next course of information without any consequence. As mentioned previously, to be able to meet your loved ones again, you will need to adapt to this new world that's about to change. I took those least suitable hostages so you would be fully willing to participate, so it is a fair exchange.''
''This exchange is simple: you will need to build new empires and societal orders, grow stronger while using my world's magic, and rebuild your world from scratch. To permit the fastest growth rate, each of the billions of humans present here will be allowed to undergo 'Ascension' through the Well of Ascension Ceremony.''
"Following my few monthly instructions and undergoing this world's many trials and mystical places, one of you shall emerge as the most dazzling, prominent star. After six Well of Ascension ceremonies, each happening at an increasing three-month interval compared to the previous ones, there will be a final trial to decide who is the greatest, mightiest Ascended in this world.''
''Once this mightiest Ascended completes the last trial and emerges as the final victor, he will have accomplished my task, and I will thus allow him three wishes. As you probably understand, this signifies this person can wish for everyone who has been taken hostage to be freed and brought back to earth.''
Those words gave many people a blazing determination. They were no longer too badly affected by the uncanny, godly presence. Most had collected their wits together and were now earnestly listening in reverence, eager to learn more. It was almost scary how nobody had questioned him even once, but then again, his earlier pressure had rendered us unable to say anything. Now, everyone was simply listening and finding answers to their many questions through God's limited source of information.
And once again, as if hearing everyone's thoughts, he began explaining the Well of Ascension's functions and capabilities.
''Now, before this can happen, you'll have to struggle madly to develop your strengths. To help, the first two Well of Ascension Ceremonies will be available to everyone for free. However, the four others will require everyone to participate in forced dangerous trials to be authorized to bathe in the divine waters that permit your bodies to transcend their mortal limitations."
''The Well of Ascension is a mighty power that can increase your physical strength by a certain amount depending on how well you performed before receiving its help. The stronger you become from day 1, and the more achievements you gain before bathing in the Well of Ascension, the greater the benefits will be.''
"This is why I suggest training relentlessly if you want to be ahead of others and stand a real chance at competing in the final trial. Trust me, the rewards will be worth it. Within the Well of Ascension lies a unique liquid with incredible transformative power. Submerging yourself in it for just a few minutes will completely reconstruct your body. Bones, muscles, veins, organs, blood—every part of you will be reshaped. Your strength, flexibility, endurance, and resistance will be dramatically enhanced with every opportunity you get to immerse yourself in this liquid."
''On another note, I acknowledge the suddenness of these events and understand that some of you might still not have fully adjusted to the changes after my explanation. This is why I have taken the time to watch how your underdeveloped, inferior world functions. After some time, I realized that giving you all a starting gift would be fair. This gift will grant everyone the ability to see his approximate strength and other conditions through a 'video game-like' status window.''
The god stopped talking for a few seconds. The short silence that followed his sudden halt left the students restless and worried. However, when his voice rang out again, it beamed with more excitement than earlier. "Let me bestow upon you all the System ability. Prepare yourselves."
...
When the final syllable clicked under his tongue, a veil of pitch darkness fell like a curtain, blinding us all. As the blackness absorbed all the light, I lost my sense of sight and touch.
I couldn't feel anything anymore, and it didn't matter how hard I was trying to touch my body and legs with my hands, or even how much effort I put into sensing my surroundings; I felt nothing.
Trapped in this true abyss of nothingness, I slowly lost my sense of taste and hearing. I couldn't gather saliva in my mouth or even feel the flavor of yesterday night's dish. It was a terrifying sensation of nothing, and I wanted nothing more than to escape this place, but there was neither solace nor recluse anywhere my mind wandered.
Some time after losing four of my five human senses, dizziness etched across my mind, and I soon regained my sense of touch. Then, before I could try anything, I felt an intense burning sensation in the upper part of my right arm; it gnawed at its insides like acid through this dark, suffocating mist. The last thing I remember after that is me falling unconscious.
...
"Ngghhh... Ugh... what—'' My words got lost in my throat as my eyes narrowed down to verify I hadn't seen wrong. There were rows of perhaps hundreds of students lying on the floor, all asleep—unconscious, I corrected myself. They'd been surely knocked out, just like I'd been earlier. Then I remembered the scorching sensation on my right arm and checked over my shirt. A black line had been engraved on my arm just below my shoulder, lined a little above my chest.
'What is this?'
My gaze then swept through my surroundings, and I directly remarked that the grand building that used to be my high school had completely disappeared. Instead, a strange-looking stage stood where my school once was. The imposing stage was made up of gray and white marble stones, and to reach it, there was what looked like a royal staircase made up of gold embroidery, and ruby material.
Baffled to no end by the sight, I pried my eyes away and searched for my friends instead. To my right, Arthur and Benjamin were unconscious, dead asleep on top of one another. To my left, Kal seemed to be on the verge of waking up. His body spasmed slightly in discomfort.
After scanning through the whole place, I realized that a few other people were also awake, each more confused than the other as they checked their marks. I didn't exactly know all of them, but some were pretty famous in the school, like Lisa Aberman or Wilson...
I went to Kal's side and helped him wake up. Once that was done, I did the same with the two other snoring morons who had been mindlessly sleeping next to him. Soon after, most people started to stir awake, and after over ten minutes, everyone stood and waited for further instruction. It was as if whatever he'd done to us and the environment had helped us cope with the situation. And to be honest, it did feel different. I was myself rather calm and okay with what had happened...
''Alright, now you all look better with those marks engraved on your arms.'' The electric voice of God rang out again, but this time I heard it more distinctly. He had truly done something to our bodies.
''Let me apologize for the pain, fear, and discomfort you had to go through, but this was the only way. And trust me, you'll have to face far worse pains soon enough. Now, let's proceed quickly; my time is running short. Please speak the sentence 'Open Status Window'; this will let you see your overall combat power and other personal information.''
Dozens of people obeyed his order instantly, surprising me slightly. Surely, I wasn't the only one who had questions. Yet, even then, I couldn't help but admire his efficiency in making every human adapt to these insane changes: the disappearance of our families, our missions, the knowledge that superior power existed, and—most frightening of all—his godly existence.
So this is what a god can do? With enough training can I be as strong, or even stronger than this deity speaking right now?
Shaking off my wonder and leaving my noxious reverie, I refocused on the mission he had assigned us. By the time I escaped the dreary corner of my thoughts, Kal and the others had already opened their 'Status Window.' They were clicking some hazy, golden panel in the air, but I couldn't see anything written on it, as if only the owner could see his interface.
"Open Status Window." My voice was confident, yet I couldn't suppress the sparks of nervousness that tinged its edges.
[Status Window]: 'Aiden Glain, 17Y, Male'
[Social Status]: 'Second-Year High Schooler'
[Battle Score: 27]: 'Middle-Tier Human'
"Twenty-seven... Is this supposed to be good or bad?" I wondered aloud, not realizing that a few dozen students had heard me.
"Yooo, twenty-seven? That seems like a lot. I only got twenty-two, yet I can bench press over forty-five kilos easily and I'm quite decent at sports." Benjamin's voice boomed over the heavy stares of envy directed at me, though his words barely made me feel better.
"You seem disappointed, old Aiden, as always. You're never happy with anything, haha." Kal mocked, his face as unserious as ever. "My power is at twenty-four, and you know I'm not weak, so you're very well off with your twenty-seven."
Right, Kal was right. If I was already ahead of the average fit, near-adult teen, then I had the potential to reach far higher with proper training.
Right... training...
As a former bullied elementary and middle school kid, I'd never cared about my physical condition and thus I'd never properly trained, aside from a little bit of boxing in my garage and self-kendo practice. Realizing this now actually scared me. How the hell was I three points stronger than Kal, who looked vigorous and athletic and took swimming and climbing classes?
What did I have on my end? I was barely fifty kilos, my arms scarily thin for my age—though not quite chopsticks. I hated physical activity, and most people knew me as a lazy ass during sports class. All I had was my knowledge, my kindness, and my maturity—all mental strengths that had nothing to do with battle prowess. So how was I this strong?
Just as I was about to ask about Arthur's strength, God interrupted, shattering our brief moment of comfort and laughter.
"Alright, that's enough. You will have more time later to analyze each hidden function of this system. For now, let me explain what the term 'battle power' truly means."
And just like that, we were back to instinctively revering him, our ears pointed to the sky as we fervently awaited his divine knowledge.
"Most of you have probably noticed that the average strength ranges between twenty and twenty-five and that some people who are physically weaker than others may have a higher battle power. This is normal. Let me explain: Your battle power—or combat power if you prefer—is calculated through this complex system that I have so kindly bestowed upon you. This includes your—"
And with that, he began listing an extensive catalog of factors that determined an individual's strength.
"—movement speed, recovery speed from injuries or soreness, endurance—meaning how long you can run, fight, defend, and attack. Your resistance, both physical and mental, is also a major factor. It determines how many hits you can take before going down, your overall stamina, and the resilience of your body."
He paused briefly, allowing us to absorb the flood of information before continuing.
"Your battle experience and martial arts knowledge are also crucial factors in increasing your combat power. Reflexes, intuition, experience, cognitive abilities, quick thinking, and intelligence are just as important as physical strength and magical prowess."
"Yes, you heard right. Magic exists in this new world. Your magical strengths and capabilities will complement your foundation, which relies on physical attributes, adding to your overall power. However, note that you will only be able to learn magic from books, tomes, or other ancient treasures and scrolls after you ascend. This should be obvious, but without the Well of Ascension ceremony, your bodies will remain mortal, unable to withstand the burden of learning anything magic-related."
He smirked. "Well, I say magic, but it's not exactly that... Anyway, you'll discover it yourselves in three months after ascending. Now, onto the final factor that can increase your battle score: enchanted armor and weapons. These can only be found after the first Well of Ascension ceremony, hidden in various secret locations. They await brave adventurers seeking strength and treasure in the dangerous lands that now make up your world."
A hushed silence fell over the crowd. The weight of his words settled deep within us, leaving only one truth: we had just stepped into a world where strength was everything.
This truth was confirmed when he began to explain the combat power hierarchy and the tiering system between different people.
As of right now, any human with a battle power between ten and fifteen was granted the title of ''Weak-Tier Human.'' Those with strength above fifteen and up to twenty were considered ''Low-Tier Humans.'' Those were ordinary teenagers and weak adults. Between twenty and forty in battle power were those in the ''Middle Tier.'' This corresponded to average adults and very fit adults in terms of strength, depending on how high they were in the tier. About forty percent of the world's population was at that level according to God's words.
In our fear and excitement, we had forgotten that he had been talking to not only us but the whole world. I had no idea how he did so; perhaps he had divided his voice into millions of separate entities that spoke to every region of the world, or maybe this single voice we heard was just him. I had no clue.
But as important as that information was to me, it quickly got discarded away by the intriguing hierarchy he had just finished introducing.
After the ''Middle Tier Human.'' were two higher tiers. The High Tier Human, obviously, for those with a battle power ranging from forty to eighty. God said very few people were at this level right now, as those High-Tier Humans could be compared to pro boxers or elite body-builders with a bit of martial arts practice once they neared sixty and above in score.
As for the final mortal tier, it was the ''Peak Tier Human.'' Only those between eighty and ninety-nine could achieve this title. A world-class boxer like Mike Tyson in his prime would barely be at this level, as per God's word, around eighty-two or eighty-three.
Quite strict. Even Iron Mike in his prime only reaches the low-end Peak Tier Human. How strong would someone with over a hundred combat power be then?
After this, God shortly explained the flaw of the system's way of calculating power, going on about how it couldn't exactly calculate the strength of an individual correctly every time since, sometimes, people with a lower combat power could overpower and defeat someone with a greater battle score. This was because so many factors were used to determine the value of someone's strength—when in truth, in a duel all it took was a second of inattention, a slight negligence, to separate death from glory.
He then quickly finished his explanation of the tier system, briefly muttering about how the value required to be recognized at a specific tier would often change. The overall strength of martial artists would constantly improve over time, especially since the Well of Ascension was by no means the only way to increase one's strength.
"Now that you've been informed of the most important matters and changes in your new world, I trust you understand the seriousness of your situation. You cannot take this lightly. I hope to soon see figures rising from the shadows, names that will resonate throughout the world for their strength, leadership, and charisma!"
"Now, onto the final part of my speech. I just mentioned 'leadership,' and you must understand that this will be a crucial part of the power struggle in this new world. Each small region of every city and country will have to choose a leader. We are starting on a smaller scale, but in time, there will be trials and special events to decide leaders with greater authority and power, and who will have control over a larger portion of land.
"At present, no region will exceed ten thousand people. These regions will not resemble South America, North America, Eastern Africa, or any previous geopolitical divisions. Forget your world's countries, their names, and their borders—they are gone forever. I have transformed this entire world's structure and geography while you were knocked out receiving your systems. As of now, there are over five hundred thousand respective regions. In the future, there will be far fewer, but they will be larger and far stronger."
''By the way, your region's name is G-712. The way that the region naming works is simple. I've used every letter in the alphabet and added a number ranging from one to twenty thousand.''
"Now, it is time for me to call out the names of the ten characters who have the highest suitability rate for the role of leader in each region. However, for that to be possible and quick, I will divide my voice into countless parts so it speaks individually to each defined region of this world.''
As he spoke those words, the process of his voice splitting into individual part initiated. There was a small rumbling in the earth, but it didn't last long. Then, I could feel a deeper sense of connection with God as his voice now sounded more closely related to us.
"Alright, I will now enumerate the names of all 10 candidates; the concerned ones may walk up toward the marble stage ahead and stay in line."
And so he began to enumerate...