The Omnipotent System

The settlement buzzed with energy as they walked in, golden banners announcing their First Clear fluttering above the main plaza. Players stopped mid-step, weapons lowered, market trades paused, conversations cut off as they watched the six walk by.

Jack didn't even glance at them. He led the group straight toward the central fountain, where the Sovereign Trial's rewards chest awaited. The marble statue of the Eclipse Goddess stood tall behind it, her eyes glowing faintly with approval.

"Alright," Jack said, cracking his knuckles as they stopped in front of the chest. "Moment of truth."

The chest pulsed with gold light, runes shifting across its surface. One by one, each of them tapped their interface to open their rewards.

Arianna squealed first. "Staff upgrade! Look at it!" She spun her new staff around—an ornate whitewood shaft engraved with sapphire runes, the crystal orb at its head pulsing with cyan light.

Jack whistled low. "Legendary drop, huh? Not bad."

Jameson flipped his new dagger between his fingers, inspecting the obsidian-black blade. Its edge shimmered with a faint purple hue that swallowed light. He didn't smile, but his shoulders relaxed in quiet approval.

Erren let out a shaky laugh as she held up a deep violet grimoire, gold chains wrapped around its cover. "Sovereign spellbook… I've wanted this for months."

Elamenor said nothing as he equipped his loot—a thick metal bracer embedded with crimson runes that pulsed faintly. When he flexed his fist, it emitted a deep hum of power.

Jack's own loot was a long black coat lined with storm-blue patterns, crackling faintly with black lightning. He slipped it on, rolling his shoulders with a satisfied sigh. "Perfect fit."

Kieran stood a little apart, staring down at his reward.

A simple sword.

Plain steel hilt, dark grey sheath. But when he drew it just an inch, violet light flickered from its edge like ghostly flames.

[Sovereign Edge – Phantom Class] [Passive: Grants user +30% Shadow Damage. Active: Allows phasing through solid matter for 1 second every 30 seconds.]

He slid it fully back into its sheath, feeling the subtle hum of power travel up his arm. It was light—perfectly balanced.

Jack clapped him on the shoulder as he turned back to the group. "Looks like everyone got something good."

Erren exhaled, leaning her staff against her shoulder. "Let's log off. I need a shower and real food."

Arianna brightened instantly. "Cake! Let's order cake on the way home."

Elamenor just shrugged, silent as usual. Jameson sheathed his dagger and closed his interface. "Agreed."

Erren paused, glancing back at Kieran, who hadn't moved from his spot. "Hey."

He looked up, violet eyes meeting her calm brown gaze.

"You… wanna come over for dinner tonight?" she asked, voice casual but without the usual teasing lilt. "We're ordering pizza and cake and… you know. It's been a while since we just… hung out with people outside the game."

Arianna perked up. "Yeah! Come over, Kieran! You're always so serious. Relax with us for once."

He blinked slowly, taken aback by the invitation. In his first life, no one had ever asked him that. Not once.

Jameson looked up from his interface, gaze unreadable but silent in agreement. Elamenor didn't say anything, but his golden eyes flicked to Kieran, then away again with a subtle nod.

Jack smirked. "You should. Arianna eats like a horse; it's entertaining."

"HEY!" she yelled, slapping his arm with her staff.

Erren rolled her eyes and sent a quick message to his party chat.

[Erren]: Here's the address. Apartment 3B at the Skyline Complex. It's walking distance from the lounge. Just buzz my name at the entrance.

Kieran read it silently, the small message box flickering before his eyes. After a long moment, he typed out a simple reply.

Arianna clapped her hands together with a bright smile. "Yay!"

Jack chuckled, opening his logout menu. "Alright, let's call it. Log out, regroup in an hour."

One by one, their forms flickered as they logged out. Jack vanished first, followed by Jameson, Arianna, Elamenor, and Erren last. Kieran remained a moment longer, staring at the empty plaza. The stone fountain glowed faintly under the darkening sky, water splashing quietly into its basin.

The world felt peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

He closed his eyes and opened his logout interface.

[Log out – Confirm?]

He pressed yes.

—

NovaCity – Gaming Lounge

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…

The pod hissed open with its usual sigh of decompressing air. Kieran blinked against the dim neon lights of the lounge as he sat up, heart still beating with the fading rhythm of battle.

He ran a hand through his hair, damp with sweat. The scent of disinfectant, metal, and faint coffee filled his nose, grounding him back in reality.

Outside, through the glass walls, NovaCity sprawled in endless lights and neon reflections. Hovercars zipped past. Digital billboards flickered with the latest NovaCorp ads—The Nova Edge hoverboard gliding between skyscrapers, the Nova Glide floating effortlessly above highways, the Nova Sentinel standing stoic with glowing golden eyes.

He unplugged the neural connectors from his temples and climbed out, stretching his arms above his head until his shoulders cracked. His muscles ached faintly, a psychosomatic side effect from full-dive immersion.

He checked his phone. Erren's message sat pinned at the top of his notifications.

Apartment 3B at the Skyline Complex.

He stared at it for a long moment before pocketing his phone and grabbing his backpack. The exit gates scanned his ID as he walked out, releasing him into the neon-washed streets of NovaCity.

The air was cool, damp from an earlier rain, the ground reflecting shifting colors from thousands of advertisements. He walked quietly, blending into the late evening crowds of office workers, delivery drones, and students heading home.

His reflection passed across shop windows and digital ads. Dark hair. Pale skin. Violet eyes that still seemed to glow faintly under the neon.

For the first time in years, he felt… something close to calm.

—

Skyline Complex – Apartment 3B

The lobby was bright, lined with artificial plants and clean marble floors. A soft piano track played from hidden speakers. He walked to the front terminal and tapped in Erren's name.

[Buzz – Apartment 3B]

A few seconds later, her voice crackled through the speaker. "Kieran? Come up."

The lock beeped, and the glass doors slid open with a quiet hiss. He stepped inside, took the elevator up to the third floor, and found himself standing before their apartment door.

It slid open before he could knock.

Arianna's bright face peeked out. "You came!" she said, stepping back to let him in. She was wearing loose grey shorts and an oversized white shirt that hung off one shoulder, hair damp from her shower.

The living room was open-plan and surprisingly clean. Jack was sprawled on the couch, still wearing sweatpants and a black tank top, scrolling through his phone. Jameson sat at the dining table, laptop open, typing quietly. Elamenor leaned against the kitchen counter, eating grapes from a bowl, still in his gym clothes. Erren was by the stove, heating up leftover pizza slices in a pan.

"Yo," Jack called out without looking up. "Took you long enough."

"Welcome," Jameson said softly, glancing up with a faint nod.

Elamenor didn't speak but raised one hand in silent greeting.

Arianna grabbed his wrist and pulled him further inside. "Come sit! I'll get you water. Or tea. Do you like tea?"

He blinked at the casual warmth of her question. "Either's fine."

She smiled brightly and hurried to the kitchen.

Erren turned from the stove, her short dark hair brushing against her cheeks. She met his eyes with a calm, almost motherly smile. "Glad you came. You can sit wherever. Food's almost ready."

He nodded silently, moving to sit at the dining table across from Jameson.

For a while, no one spoke. Jack continued scrolling through his phone, Arianna bustled around preparing drinks, Erren plated pizza slices, and Elamenor munched grapes like an unbothered lion.

Kieran sat there quietly, feeling the warmth of their small apartment settle around him.

For the first time since returning to this timeline… he didn't feel alone.

And as the city lights flickered beyond their windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floors, Kieran allowed himself a small, quiet smile.

Maybe, just maybe… this timeline wouldn't be so bad after all.