Virtual Ascension

As Venix slept in Numan World, his consciousness slowly returned to the real world without his realizing it.

Venix was so deeply submerged in his sleep, his mind and body exhausted, that nothing could wake him.

The next day, around 10 a.m., Venix slowly opened his eyes, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains of his dorm room.

His vision was blurry, but he immediately recognized the plain white ceiling that greeted him every morning.

A mix of relief and confusion crept into his mind.

"Is this a dream?" Venix thought as he tried to move his heavy body.

Slowly, he shifted to sit up, feeling the weight of his body, still a little stiff.

Venix rubbed his temples, trying to ease the sudden headache.

"That was the worst experience I've ever had... What kind of game tortures its players like this?" Venix complained, his voice hoarse and almost weak.

Looking around his room, Venix finally realized that both of his friends were no longer there. The dorm room, usually filled with noise and chatter, now felt eerily silent.

"Those two must be busy with their own plans, huh?" Venix murmured quietly. Then a question suddenly appeared in his mind. "Did I have any plans of my own before graduation day?"

As someone trying to change his fate, Venix felt he must have had something important on his mind.

But as he tried to remember, it was as if a fog covered his memory. All the plans he had carefully thought of now vanished, reduced to nothing more than vague shadows he couldn't grasp.

"That's right... The System!" Venix suddenly remembered the system that had appeared yesterday—something strange he couldn't fully comprehend.

With focus in his mind, Venix opened the system interface.

The screen in front of him showed information he hadn't had a chance to see or understand before. Numbers and text spun like a puzzle waiting to be solved, beckoning Venix's attention.

[ Quest — Awaken has been Completed ]

[ Reward: 100 Resource Points Earned ]

[ You have received a new Quest ]

[ Quest — Seed Origin ]

[ Description: Determine the Main Seed Origin in the Origin Fragment Realm ]

[ Reward: 200 Resource Points ]

A notification floated in front of Venix, informing him that the previous quest had been completed.

Before he could fully grasp what had just happened, the system immediately gave him a new quest.

Venix stared at the system interface in confusion.

Resource Points. From what little information he could understand, these points clearly mattered for unlocking something. But what? The system didn't offer any detailed explanation.

"Is this really a game?" Venix muttered. The more he thought about it, the more things didn't make sense.

It didn't fit with what he had experienced. Virtual Reality technology was already highly advanced in his era, but not to this extent.

He had never heard of technology capable of creating such a real experience—where pain felt like the torment of hell, and consciousness was thrown out without any equipment. No helmets. No Pods. No cables.

"How did I enter the Virtual World?" Venix thought aloud, his eyes staring blankly at the system screen. Something felt very off.

Of course, logic tried to fight back. In this era, almost anything was possible. Earth had already entered the interstellar era, with humans scattered across four main planets: Earth, Mars, Europia, and Titania.

The world was no longer confined to one planet but had expanded to other solar systems.

Even so, Venix was just an ordinary person. For him, daily life remained the same as most others—work, study, entertainment. But beyond that monotonous life, there was something else that continued to stir his curiosity: the conspiracy theories scattered across the internet.

There were rumors of secret experiments on remote planets, alien technology found in asteroids, and even reality simulations that could deceive the human mind.

All of these theories not only intrigued him but also sparked wild questions in his mind.

So, when this mysterious system suddenly appeared, his mind immediately jumped to one conclusion.

Beta Tester.

"Yeah, this must be some sort of secret technology trial," Venix said, convincing himself.

That was the only explanation that made sense. The Virtual World felt too real to be just an ordinary game, but it wasn't plausible enough to be considered real.

To this day, that belief still held strong.

For him, whatever was happening, it had to be new technology being tested. Something not yet released to the public. Somehow, he had been chosen to test it.

And that assumption, strangely, made him feel calmer.

But deep down, there was a small unease. What if all of this wasn't just a game?

Feeling his stomach growl, Venix got out of bed. After quickly washing his face, he left his dorm room and headed toward the school cafeteria.

Eating was his top priority, especially after the shocking experience in Numan World that kept his mind spinning.

Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Venix immediately dug into his meal.

While chewing, Venix's thoughts drifted back to his earlier experience.

"It felt too real," Venix thought, recalling how his body had felt crushed when undergoing the Awaken Injection.

It wasn't just a virtual effect; the pain... it was real. So real that he could still vividly remember his own screams.

And the people—or maybe NPCs—he encountered in that world. They were alive, too alive for a game. Was this really a new technology being tested? Or was there something bigger behind all of this?

After finishing his meal, Venix hurried back to his dorm.

His curiosity outweighed the fear he had felt earlier. He wanted to delve deeper into the game.

However, on his way back to his dorm, something stopped him.

The sky.

Venix looked up, his brow raised. There was something strange.

Lights were dancing across the sky, forming a mesmerizing pattern.

Green, purple, and blue streaks glowed softly, moving like waves undulating in the ocean. Unlike a usual rainbow that would stay static after rain, this... was alive.

"Aurora?" Venix murmured. "But... it can't be an aurora here."

He rubbed his eyes, ensuring what he was seeing wasn't an illusion. But the light remained. Not only that, the color patterns seemed to be expanding, like ink slowly spreading on a canvas.

Without hesitation, Venix took out his phone and pointed the camera at the sky.

"Okay, let's capture this," Venix said as he snapped a photo of the scene.

However, when he looked at the result, his brow furrowed.

On his phone screen, all that appeared was the plain blue sky, with no sign of the aurora or the colorful lights.

Confused, Venix looked at the sky again. The aurora was still there. The colors still mesmerizing, moving gently like a dance in the wind. But on his phone's screen… it was empty.

"What's going on?" Venix muttered.

Venix raised his phone again, shifting his gaze between the phone's screen and the sky.

No change.

The aurora was real to his eyes, but not visible on the camera. Something was definitely off.

"Is it my eyes... or is there something else...?" Venix murmured, his voice filled with both anxiety and curiosity.

He returned the phone to his pocket and quickened his pace back to his dorm.

His curiosity was burning his mind. What exactly had he seen earlier? And why did that aurora... unsettle him?

Once back in his room, Venix dropped onto his bed.

The thoughts of the aurora he saw in the real world kept swirling in his mind. Without wasting any time, Venix opened the system with a thought in his mind.

The real world faded as a mysterious chill crept across his body. When he opened his eyes, the calm atmosphere of Numan World greeted him, but he knew something was different.

The first thing Venix saw when he opened his eyes was a clean, neat room—nothing had changed since the last time he left this world.

However, this familiar feeling didn't bring him any peace.

Rising from the bed, Venix quickly walked to the window. He hastily opened it and immediately looked up at the sky.

His eyes widened, his breath caught.

The colorful waves were moving slowly, like a dance of light in the sky. The colors curved and merged, forming a pattern that felt unfamiliar but familiar deep inside him.

Venix's heart raced. "This... can't be."

Faint memories began to return to his mind.

After receiving the Awaken Injection, his body in this world was no longer the same. At that moment, his consciousness had been in chaos, and his thoughts blurry, as if he were in a nightmare. But one thing Venix clearly remembered was—the sky.

A sky like this, full of moving auroras.

Venix felt familiar with the sight since seeing it in the real world that morning. The colorful waves looked identical, as if the real world and Numan World were beginning to share something in common.

"What's really happening?" Venix's mind was full of questions, and his chest started to tighten.

He tried to remember again.

Before receiving the Awaken Injection, the sky in Numan World had looked normal, just like the sky in the real world he knew. But after becoming an Awaken, everything changed.

His eyes seemed to have been given the ability to see something hidden that ordinary people couldn't.

But this wasn't what made him panic the most.

Venix swallowed hard, forcing himself to analyze the possibility that had crossed his mind.

His body in the real world had also been affected by this enhancement.

"This doesn't make sense," Venix muttered, cold sweat starting to form on his temples.

Numan World should only be a Virtual Game. His body undergoing evolution and becoming an Awaken should have been limited to this world.

However, the aurora in the real world had previously indicated something else— as if what was happening to his body in this world was affecting his body in the real world.

If that's true, then one terrifying question arises: Does death here mean death in the real world too?

That thought made his body tremble. His chest felt as if it were being pressed, and without realizing it, his knees gave way. His body fell to the floor with a soft thud.

"If I die here, what will happen to my body in the real world?" Venix's breath began to quicken, and he felt the cold sweat dampening his back.

He wiped his face with both hands, trying to calm himself.

Yet his mind kept racing, connecting the dots that were still unclear.

Numan World was a world of evolution, a place where everyone could gain superpowers.

But if the sky in the real world started resembling the sky here, would the real world also head toward the same evolutionary direction?

"That aurora... if it continues to expand, what will happen to Earth?" Venix thought. A horrifying image appeared in his mind: Numan World was not just a game, but a projection of the real world's future!

The thought made his back go cold. He felt his body tremble, not only from fear, but also from the possibility he had never imagined before.

If the real world were to transform into Numan World, then... everything would change.

Venix clenched his fist, trying to control the fear that enveloped him. "I need to confirm this. If my guess is right, then I can't afford to play around anymore."

Numan World looked incredibly peaceful. Its atmosphere was calm, as though this world had never known conflict or chaos.

But Venix knew better than to trust this deceptive calm.

How long had this world been in the Evolution Era?

That thought haunted him. In the early days of the Evolution Era, when superpowers first began to emerge in people's hands, there must have been major consequences.

The social order collapsed. Chaos reigned. The once-stable food chain turned into a war between predators.

If that scenario really came to pass in the real world, then Numan World might hold a crucial key for him.

This world was a place where he could study superpowers and learn how to survive in the chaos that would surely come.

"If this isn't a game... then what is this system?" Venix muttered quietly, his emotions a mix of frustration and fear. "Damn it! If you chose me, at least help me face the dangers coming in the real world!"

After venting his emotions, Venix took a deep breath. He returned to his bed and sat in silence, trying to calm his thoughts.

The truth was still hazy. All of this felt like a giant puzzle, and he had no choice but to start piecing it together, one fragment at a time.

Venix's gaze fell on the small table beside his bed.

A phone lay on the table, with a piece of paper on top of it. He reached out and grabbed the paper.

The phone in this world resembled those on Earth, strengthening his suspicion that Numan World might be a depiction of Earth's future.

But how could the system create a virtual world like this? Did it have something to do with the concept of space and time?

Venix flipped the paper over and read what was written on it.

"If you've woken up and feel fine, contact me at this number: xxx-xxx-xxx.

If you still don't feel completely healthy, continue resting until your condition improves."

The writing had been directly translated by the system, making it easy for Venix to read.

"Luna... did she leave this note?" Venix murmured quietly.

Without overthinking, Venix dialed the number on the phone. Within a few seconds, a dialing tone rang. Soon after, the call was answered.

"Hello~ Luna here," a familiar, cheerful voice said.

"Hello, Luna. Are you busy right now?" Venix asked, trying to keep his tone calm.

"Oh? I'm just finishing up some small tasks. Who's this?" Luna asked, her casual tone still intact, though there was a hint of boredom hidden beneath it.

"It's me, Venix," Venix replied.

Luna fell silent for a moment, sounding confused. "Venix? Who's that?"

Venix sighed. "I'm one of the participants of the Awaken Injection yesterday."

"Hm… Ah, right!" Luna finally exclaimed, as if remembering something. "Are you the one who screamed really loudly yesterday?"

Venix was taken aback.

"D-did I scream that loudly?" he asked, a bit embarrassed.

"Of course! If there were a contest for the loudest scream during the Awaken Injection, I'm sure you'd make it into the top three without any difficulty!" Luna replied, honestly and seriously.

"…" Venix.

Venix felt his face flush with embarrassment.

A record?! Seriously?!

Feeling embarrassed, Venix could only remain silent. How was he supposed to live with that achievement hanging over his head?

"Alright," Luna's voice sounded a little playful, "Since you're the interesting Sheep, is there anything I can help you with right now?"

Venix took a deep breath, trying to ignore the nickname that was now sticking to him.

"I want to know more about Awaken," Venix said, his tone serious. "What is it exactly? And what about the Origin Fragment? I want all the answers, and I hope you can help me."

On the other end of the phone, Luna smiled slightly, though Venix couldn't see it.

"Information like that is easy to come by. There are many open sources you can study," Luna said casually. "But... if you want more in-depth information, I can help you. With one condition."

Venix frowned. "A condition? What do you need me to help with?"

"Come to my workplace," Luna replied. "There's a card in the drawer of your desk. Use that to get here. We can discuss everything in person."

Following her instructions, Venix opened the drawer next to his bed and found a simple white card.

Luna explained that the card could be used to pay for food or services in the city.

"But don't expect too much on the amount," Luna added with a playful tone.

After giving her address, Luna ended the call. Venix stared at the card for a moment before heading out of his room.

On the side of the road, Venix found a metal pole as Luna had mentioned earlier.

It had a button with a simple instruction: "Press this button to order a taxi."

"Super advanced technology, but still needs a pole? Isn't this a bit too traditional?" Venix thought as he pressed the button.

In a few seconds, a taxi came speeding toward him and stopped in front of him. The car looked ordinary, similar to vehicles on Earth, with four wheels spinning like normal.

Venix felt a little disappointed.

"I thought I'd see a flying car…" Venix muttered quietly.

He got into the taxi and was immediately shocked.

There was no driver! All that was in sight was a small screen on the dashboard.

"Please state your destination," a robotic voice greeted.

"Umm… to this address," Venix said, giving the address Luna had provided.

Moments later, the taxi began to move on its own at a steady speed. Even though the streets appeared empty, Venix still felt uneasy.

"A car that drives itself? If there's an accident, who's at fault? Me or this robot?" Venix thought to himself.

In less than ten minutes, the taxi stopped in front of the destination building. After getting out, Venix stared at the building for a moment. A tall structure with a futuristic design, but not overly striking.

Venix followed Luna's instructions, using the white card on the electronic door guard.

A soft voice from the machine allowed him to enter, which made Venix feel like this was too easy.

"Is this some kind of VIP access? Or is this card just a scam?" Venix murmured.

After walking through several hallways, Venix arrived at a room labeled "Awaken Injection"—the same room where he had screamed at the top of his lungs just the day before.

Just as he was about to enter, a woman's voice sounded from inside, freezing him in place.

"Kill me, but don't put that thing inside my body!"

Venix froze. Wild thoughts began to whirl. "Did I enter the wrong room? Is this a torture chamber or something else?"

Slowly, Venix stepped forward and entered, curiosity overcoming his fear.

But before he could see who had spoken, the voice came again, more urgently this time.

"If you keep insisting, I'll bite your hand off!"

Venix swallowed hard.

"What... is going on in here?" he thought.

"Don't worry, the evil god will surely enjoy a young woman like you," Luna said with a sinister smile, making things even worse with her words.

Venix, who had already reached his breaking point with what he was seeing, finally spoke up.

"Cough... Hello?" Venix said, hoping to snap the people around him out of their state.

Luna had already noticed Venix's presence from the start, so she only glanced at him briefly without any surprise.

The young woman turned to look, her eyes widening when she saw Venix.

Upon seeing Venix, the woman was shocked. "You..."

"Hm? Do you know him?" Luna asked, turning her gaze to Venix.

Venix stared at the woman for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I don't know her."

After all, Venix had just arrived in this world, and honestly, the only person he knew was Luna. Even that had happened by accident.

"You... you're the one the tribe chief talked about!" the woman shouted, pointing at Venix with her trembling index finger.

"What!?"

Venix and Luna looked at each other, shocked.

Venix... the person the tribe chief was looking for???