After rushing out of his house, Rey took a sharp turn down a quiet, nearly deserted alleyway—far from the eyes of wandering strangers.
"Will you stop already?" Rey groaned, massaging his temples. Aiden had been repeating his name like an alarm clock stuck on infinite snooze.
"But this time, it's important," Aiden insisted. "What I'm about to tell you could actually help."
Rey sighed. "Fine, I'll listen. Just talk."
"You remember what I told you before—that the Eternal Omniverse System isn't some run-of-the-mill system, right?" Aiden began.
"Yeah. You said it's the original. The source of all other systems," Rey recalled, nodding.
"And only true gods or their chosen candidates ever get access to it," Aiden added.
"So what?" Rey asked, folding his arms.
"Well," Aiden continued, floating a little closer, "this system also gives privileges. Abilities that don't need long descriptions. Just remember them, call their name—and they respond."
Rey's interest was piqued despite himself. "So, what is it this time? A new power? A hidden AI? Some starter bundle?"
Aiden smirked. "Nothing comes easy to a true god candidate. You're training to become a god among gods. Even someone at peak Rank 0 could outmatch mid-Rank 1s. Some Rank 5s can overpower Rank 6s. Our former master? He crushed a newly ascended god while still at Rank 4. So don't underestimate any part of your growth."
"Got it, Sensei. Now stop with the lecture and just tell me already," Rey grumbled, stepping back as Aiden floated a little too close.
Aiden finally revealed it. "The ability is called—
Zero-like particles formed the word mid-air before fading.
"...Huh? What the hell?" Rey blinked, then scowled. "That's what you've been hyping up? Inventory? Are you serious?"
"What's your problem?" Aiden asked, confused by Rey's disappointment.
"Dude, that's in every novel and manga ever. The hero gets an inventory to store stuff. It's basic! Not some god-tier exclusive!" Rey snapped.
Aiden narrowed his eyes. "You really think this is the same as those? This is a supreme ability—crafted through complete mastery of time and space laws. You're not going to find that in your bedtime power fantasies."
Rey raised a skeptical brow. "Come on, every fifth protagonist unlocks laws or cosmic truths by chapter fifty. They level up fast, get cheat items, beat gods, and repeat."
Aiden floated around him, clearly irritated. "Those systems only let users grasp 80% of a law—at best. We, the real ones, comprehend 99%. Only those with the Origin Law can reach 100%—and no one's done that yet."
Rey's expression slowly shifted. "So… if I did understand 100% of an origin law…"
"You'd be unstoppable," Aiden finished. "Even at Rank 4 or 5."
A heavy silence followed.
"…Alright, fine. I'll use the damn
There, inside the inventory, was an icon shaped like a heavy iron box.
"Wait… what's this? A beginner's box? I thought you said there was no starter pack."
"Oh, that?" Aiden replied nonchalantly. "That's just the safe we grabbed from the factory after dealing with Jacob. We figured you'd need funds."
Rey's eyes gleamed. Jackpot.
But just as he was about to open it—
"Hey, kid, aren't you late for school?" Aiden interrupted.
"Crap, I almost forgot!" Rey quickly shoved his bag into the inventory and broke into a sprint.
His legs moved with ease, light and powerful. He wasn't even winded.
'No sweat. No exhaustion. I used to get tired after two blocks… this is wild,' he thought, amazed by his transformation.
He sped past pedestrians, his speed approaching that of trained athletes. With fifteen minutes until the bell, he decided to take a shortcut—and that's when he came across the obstruction.
Barricades.
The path was blocked, the entrance to the old factory completely sealed off.
A police officer stood guard.
"Excuse me, officer," Rey asked politely. "What happened here?"
"Restricted area, kid. Move along," the officer replied, his tone firm but not unkind.
"Bu,t sir, I'm late for school and this route is the quickest. Can I just sneak by along the side?" Rey pleaded, trying to look as pitiful as possible.
The officer stared at him, unimpressed. "Don't test me. Step back before I write you up."
Aiden burst out laughing in Rey's ear. "You? Pitiful? You look like a mini bodybuilder trying to cosplay a victim. No way that was ever gonna work!"
Defeated, Rey turned away—only to circle behind the officer's line of sight. He climbed a side wall swiftly and quietly.
As he crossed it, he looked back toward the factory.
And what he saw made him stop cold in his tracks.
--> To be Continued...