-- INTEGRATION OF THE 300th UNIVERSE HAS BEGUN --
-- THE THIRD ERA SHALL NOW COMMENCE --
That was all Samuel Orogen heard before the sight of his half-finished breakfast disappeared.
In its place stood something… alien.
Two arms. Two legs. A head. But that's where the human resemblance ended.
Its skin—or whatever passed for skin—was a pure, featureless white. No mouth. No eyes. No ears. No clothes. No… anything. Just a blank, androgynous figure that looked less like a living being and more like a placeholder reality hadn't finished rendering.
Samuel froze, fork halfway to his mouth, confusion and fear crashing over him.
"Welcome."
The voice didn't come from the thing's nonexistent mouth. It echoed straight into Samuel's mind—cold, sterile, genderless.
His heart jumped.
"Welcome," the voice repeated, exactly the same as before. No emotion. No tone. Like a pre-recorded message playing inside his skull.
Samuel stood up too fast, almost knocking over his chair. "W-What… what are you?"
"Would #686393937395—Samuel Orogen—like an introduction to the Tutorial and The System?"
Samuel blinked, still processing the number that felt more like an inmate ID than a name.
"…Yes?" he said, the word more question than answer.
Instantly, the world around him shifted.
His kitchen. Gone.
His apartment. Gone.
Now he floated in empty space—endless black stretching in every direction, scattered with cold, distant stars.
His breath caught. Panic surged.
"The System detects an increase in heart rate from #686393937395—Samuel Orogen. According to Protocol-786, calming measures will now be applied."
-- CALMING SEDATIVE ADMINISTERED --
The terror faded as fast as it came, like someone had flicked a switch in his brain. His heart slowed. The edge of panic dulled.
But the fear? The fear stayed. Lurking under the surface.
"#686393937395—Samuel Orogen does not need to worry. This is a simulated environment. You are not physically in space."
Samuel exhaled, shaking but still standing. He'd read enough web novels to know where this was going. A cosmic entity. A System. Probably some kind of leveling mechanic. But knowing that didn't make this feel any less… real.
"The induction will now begin."
The white figure drifted closer.
"I am a manifestation of the System. I exist to assist individuals across the multiverse when integration protocols are initiated. Every being on Earth is currently undergoing their own induction."
Samuel blinked. "Even… animals?"
Why had that been his first question? Why not ask about survival? His safety? His future?
Oh, right. He didn't really have anyone he cared about. No family. No close friends. Just that one guy he occasionally grabbed drinks with… and even then, they hadn't spoken in months.
He pushed the thought aside.
"Yes. Even animals are receiving their induction."
Samuel nodded slowly. "Okay… so… what happens next?"
"When you return, Earth will no longer be the planet you knew. It will be fused with others from your sector—worlds that host intelligent life. You will be teleported to a random location, near other humans."
Samuel swallowed. This was bigger than he thought.
"Once there, you will gain experience from a variety of activities: combat, exploration, creation, survival… all contributing to your growth. You will level up. Evolve. Expand your Origin and your Chronicles."
"Wait… Origin? Chronicles? What does that mean?"
For the first time, the being paused.
"#686393937395—Samuel Orogen does not have the required authorization level to receive that information."
Of course not.
Samuel sighed. "Fine… then why? Why Earth? Why any of this?"
"The System is omniscient and omnipotent. Every event—past, present, and future—is known. Any ability imaginable can be enacted. Its primary objective: multiversal expansion. Its deeper aims are classified."
Samuel clenched his fists. Not satisfied. But pushing further felt pointless.
"And… the Tutorial? What does that actually involve?"
"The Tutorial is not a single event. It is a grace period. During this time, the System will answer queries, provided the individual has sufficient authorization level. This phase will allow you to grow… and survive."
The being turned, as if gazing out at the infinite stars. Then back at Samuel.
"The Induction Phase is now complete. You will shortly be transported."
"Wait! I still have more questi—"
Before he could finish, Samuel vanished—ripped from the vacuum like a glitch deleted from a screen.
The white figure stood alone.
Silent.
Still.
And then, for the first time… it spoke to itself.
"Interesting…"
Its tone—if it could be called that—carried something new. Something Samuel hadn't heard before.
Emotion.
"That one's bloodline… Samuel Orogen… I'll be watching."
With that, the being itself dissolved—space around it fracturing like broken glass.
Later—far, far later—Samuel would come to understand.
That thing hadn't been a simple System manifestation.
It had been something far more ancient.
Far more dangerous.
THE VOID GOD, PHALENOZUS.