The Genesis Archive was less a library and more the sanctum of a forgotten god. The air hummed with latent energy, and the cylindrical walls were lined with thousands upon thousands of glowing data-ports, each one a gateway to a lost art or a forbidden technique. It was the collective knowledge of a fallen civilization, a treasure trove of power that most students could only dream of accessing.
Michael stood in the center of the vault, a holographic interface swirling around him, displaying a near-infinite list of files. The sheer volume of information was staggering, enough to overwhelm even the most dedicated scholar. But Michael had an advantage no one else did.
"System," he whispered, "scan for mobility-enhancing genetic skills. Prioritize speed, evasion, and spatial displacement. Filter out anything below A-Rank."
**[Acknowledged. Scanning Genesis Archive... Cross-referencing 7,432 available skills...]**
The holographic display blurred into a waterfall of light and data. Names of techniques flashed by in an instant: [Gale Step], [Shadow Weave], [Blink Strike], [Phantom Dash]. For a normal person, sifting through this would have taken days, if not weeks. For the system, it took seconds.
**[Scan complete. 57 skills match the specified criteria. Displaying top-tier results.]**
A curated list of five skills appeared before him, each one pulsing with a powerful aura. He dismissed the first three—[Tempest Rush], [Meteor Sprint], and [Sun-Chaser's Stride]—after a quick analysis. They were powerful, offering incredible bursts of linear speed, but they were too straightforward, too predictable. They were skills for warriors, not for someone who relied on subtlety and precision.
The fourth skill, [Void Walker's Passage], was more intriguing. It allowed the user to step into a pocket dimension for a few seconds, rendering them invisible and intangible. It was a powerful escape and repositioning tool. But as he read the system's detailed analysis, he saw the drawback: the energy consumption was enormous, and it had a lengthy cooldown. It was a trump card, not a core part of a fighting style.
Then he saw the fifth file. It was different from the others. Its icon was dimmer, flickering erratically, and a stark red warning label was attached to it.
**[File Name: Phase Shift]**
**[Rank: SSS (Theoretical)]**
**[Status: Data Corrupted. Unstable. Highly Dangerous.]**
Michael's breath hitched. *Phase Shift*. He remembered the name. It was a legendary, almost mythical skill, whispered about in hushed tones by the top-ranked players in his past life. It was said to grant the user the ability to manipulate their own physical state, to shift between a solid and an ethereal form at will, making them a ghost on the battlefield. No one had ever successfully mastered it. The corrupted data was too volatile.
The academy's records were filled with horror stories. Gifted students, prodigies with S-Rank talents, had attempted to decipher the file. All of them had failed. The unstable energy feedback had fried their neural pathways, leaving them in permanent comas, their minds shattered by a power they couldn't control. The file had been deemed a deathtrap and was locked away, a forbidden fruit in the garden of power.
But Director Reed had given him Level 3 access. She had given him the key.
*Did she know? Did she suspect that I might be able to handle it?*
A thrill, a dangerous and exhilarating spark, ignited within him. This was it. This was the kind of high-risk, high-reward gamble that could elevate him from a mere prodigy to a true monster.
"System," he commanded, his voice a low whisper, "analyze the corruption in the [Phase Shift] file."
**[Analyzing... Data corruption at 97.4%. Neural feedback upon download is projected to be lethal. Probability of successful integration without system assistance: 0.0001%.]**
The odds were beyond abysmal. It was suicide.
"Apply the 10,000x comprehension multiplier," Michael said, a grin spreading across his face.
**[...Recalculating. Applying 10,000x multiplier to corrupted data stream. Stabilizing neural feedback pathways... Deciphering fragmented code...]**
**[Probability of successful integration: 100%.]**
"Download it," Michael commanded, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The corrupted file, a maelstrom of chaotic red energy, surged from the data-port and into his bio-monitor. The system's interface flared, a brilliant blue light enveloping the chaotic data stream. Michael felt a sharp, piercing pain in his temples as the raw, untamed information tried to force its way into his mind. It was a wild, furious beast, and it was fighting back.
But the system was a cage of absolute order. The 10,000x multiplier acted like a divine filter, catching every fragment of corrupted code, every spike of lethal feedback, and methodically reassembling it, purifying it, and stabilizing it. The agonizing pressure in his head subsided, replaced by a flood of pure, pristine information. The secrets of Phase Shift, a power that had eluded geniuses for generations, were laid bare before him.
**[Ding!]**
**[Corrupted SSS-Rank skill [Phase Shift] has been successfully deciphered and stabilized.]**
**[You have learned the skill: Phase Shift (Level 1).]**
**[Phase Shift (Level 1): Allows the user to momentarily shift their body into an ethereal state, becoming intangible and capable of passing through solid objects. Duration: 1 second. Cooldown: 10 seconds. Requires continuous genetic energy expenditure to maintain.]**
It was done. He had tamed the beast.
He tested it immediately, right there in the vault. He focused, channeling his genetic energy. For a fraction of a second, his body shimmered, becoming translucent, a ghostly after-image of his physical form. He took a step forward and passed his hand directly through one of the solid, metal data-ports as if it were nothing but air.
The sensation was indescribable, a feeling of utter freedom, of being unbound by the physical laws of the world. He could already see the possibilities. He could dodge any attack, bypass any defense, infiltrate any location. This skill, combined with his flawless combat arts and his high-frequency blade, made him a truly terrifying opponent.
Just as he was reveling in his newfound power, a new notification from the system appeared, pulling him from his thoughts.
**[New Quest Issued: The Gauntlet of the Rift]**
**[Objective 1: Enter Rift Zone Gamma-7.]**
**[Objective 2: Eliminate 100 Iron-Grade 1-star beasts.]**
**[Objective 3: Eliminate 10 Iron-Grade 2-star beasts.]**
**[Rewards: Massive EXP, High-Grade Lottery Ticket, System Feature Unlock.]**
Michael's eyes widened. A system quest. This was a first. It was one thing to receive quests from NPCs, but a direct directive from the system itself was a different matter entirely. The rewards were bound to be exceptional.
Then, as if on cue, the academy-wide alert system chimed, a formal announcement echoing through the Genesis Archive.
"Attention all first-year students. The mandatory field assessment will commence in one hour. Your designated location is Rift Zone Gamma-7. Assemble with your pre-assigned teams and prepare for deployment. Good luck."
Michael couldn't help but laugh. A system quest and an academy mission, both leading him to the exact same place. It was too perfect. This was his chance to test his new skills, to rack up kills for his quest, and to further solidify his reputation in a single, efficient operation.
He left the archive, the weight of his new power a comfortable mantle on his shoulders. His path was set. Gamma-7 awaited, and with it, the next chapter of his ascent. He was no longer just surviving; he was hunting. And his first prey was waiting.