Chapter 3: The First Awakening

  [Jin's Abilities]

  1?? Subspace: A personal dimensional space where you can store objects, people, or clones. Time can be frozen inside at your will. Limited capacity — overfilling risks collapse.

  2?? Clone Creation: Create a customizable, powerless clone linked to your mind. Clone can perish upon death or self-detonation. Clones can be stored inside Subspace.

  3?? Awakener’s Touch: Awaken latent power in others.

  * Conditions:

  * Male targets must kneel before you and join hands in prayer.

  * Female targets must willingly kiss your hand like a lover.

  * Note: Target must be aware they are about to awaken. No random awakenings allowed.

  4?? Riftwalker’s Leap: Travel between random alternate universes. Unknown destinations. 24-hour cooldown.

  Jin’s mouth twitched. A mixture of disbelief and distaste warred within him.

  “You expect me to make people kneel? And have chicks kiss my hand? Who the hell made these rules?!”

  The system replied, smug.

  [The ancient covenant of awakening rites. I enforce it. You execute it. And believe me — you’ll enjoy it.]

  Jin gritted his teeth.

  “And if someone recognizes me? If a Hunter sees me doing this in public, I’m dead.”

  [Exactly why you have this.]

  A new screen lit up, explaining Subspace and Clone Creation in detail.

  [Subspace: Can store up to 10 clones or individuals at your current level. Time manipulation inside — you can stop, speed up, or slow down time. Overcrowding risks collapse.]

  [Clone Creation: Your clone can be designed however you wish. Powerless, but fully controllable via mind link. Can enter and exit Subspace. Can act as a proxy to perform awakenings.]

  [Important:

  You cannot awaken someone unless they know it's about to happen.

  You must physically touch them according to the rites.

  Awakening attempts on unwilling or unaware targets will fail.]

  He grinned darkly.

  “Alright then… let’s scare the hell outta this city.”

  ?? Main City Circle — That Evening

  The city plaza was alive as usual. Neon lights bled against the evening sky, holographic ads flickered overhead, and the low hum of conversation mixed with the clatter of market stalls and patrol footsteps.

  Hunters in worn gear leaned against pillars, sharing drinks. Merchants shouted about relic deals. Kids darted between legs. A few Awakeners in guild jackets lounged near the fountain, weapons within easy reach.

  Then something odd happened.

  A figure appeared beneath the central pillar — tall, draped in a tattered black robe, face hidden by a deep hood.

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  No one paid it much mind at first. Street performers were common. Weirdos even more so.

  But then, its voice cut through the noise.

  A cold, steady tone. Amplified, but not mechanical.

  “You’ve all been cheated.”

  A few heads turned.

  “Your so-called Awakening Ceremony… was incomplete. Some of you should’ve been more than what you are.”

  That got people’s attention.

  A Hunter by the fountain frowned.

  “Who the hell’s this idiot?”

  The figure pulled back its hood.

  Where a face should’ve been, there was only a flat surface. Smooth, pale grey skin. A single crimson sigil burned in the center of its forehead, pulsing faintly.

  Gasps scattered through the plaza.

  A mother pulled her child closer.

  A pair of Awakeners stiffened, hands on their hilts.

  “If you were denied your power… come find me. Bring your price — be it coin, relic, or loyalty. Tomorrow. Same place. Eleven sharp.”

  The voice didn’t shout. It didn’t need to. Something in its calm, dead delivery carried weight.

  A merchant scoffed.

  “Yeah? And who the hell are you supposed to be?”

  The figure ignored him.

  “Some doors are meant to be opened twice.”

  A few nervous glances exchanged.

  Most people assumed it was a con. A lunatic. Another power-hungry charlatan.

  But not everyone.

  A scruffy teenager near the edge of the crowd muttered under his breath, “I didn’t awaken… even though I should’ve.”

  A middle-aged woman clenched the pendant around her neck.

  Some doubt, some curiosity.

  A pair of city guards started moving toward the figure.

  But before they reached it, the figure’s body disintegrated into a swirl of black mist. No sound. No flash. Just… gone.

  The guards stumbled to a halt.

  Dead silence blanketed the plaza for a few seconds.

  Then the chatter resumed. Skeptical. Uneasy. Whispered.

  “A stunt? A rogue caster?”

  “Probably some guild’s weird recruitment thing.”

  “That was no ordinary illusion.”

  The captain of the Hunters’ patrol squad spoke into his comm piece.

  “Get the overseers. Scrub the surveillance. I want a trace on that anomaly.”

  In a city where power meant everything, even the hint of a second chance would bring out the desperate.

  And desperation was exactly what Jin wanted.

  ?? Back Inside Subspace

  Jin flopped backwards into the void of his Subspace like he was diving onto a giant invisible beanbag. The moment his clone’s last vision flickered out, a smug, unmistakably entertained voice echoed in his head.

  [Not bad, Host. I give that performance a solid… six out of ten.]

  Jin raised a brow.

  “Six? Are you blind? That was at least an eight! Did you hear the gasps? That one kid was so freaked he almost pissed himself.”

  [Almost isn’t good enough. We aim for actual accidents next time.]

  Jin snorted, cracking his knuckles and letting himself float lazily in the endless black nothingness.

  “Well, whatever. Bet your sparkly data ass they’ll show up tomorrow. Desperate bastards always chase miracles.”

  [True. Desperation makes people do funny things… like kiss your hand for power. Hah!]

  Jin groaned.

  “Don’t remind me. That’s gonna be so awkward.”

  [Awkward for them. Hilarious for me.]

  The system chuckled darkly.

  [And let’s not forget the dudes. Watching them kneel and pray to you like you’re their long-lost ancestor is gonna be priceless.]

  Jin mock-shivered.

  “I swear, if someone calls me ‘Daddy’ I’m ending this planet.”

  [Noted. Adding ‘No Daddy Zone’ protocol to Subspace.]

  A translucent window popped up in front of him: [‘No Daddy Zone’ successfully activated.]

  Jin cackled.

  “You’re an idiot.”

  [Takes one to know one, boss.]

  He opened up his Subspace management panel. A glowing bar showed his current capacity:

  [Entities Stored: 0/10]

  Plenty of room for tomorrow’s fools.

  [Don’t forget — with time frozen in here, you can drag ‘em in, do the ritual nonsense, and shove ‘em back out without anyone outside noticing.]

  Jin smirked.

  “Yeah, yeah. Might even toss a few loudmouths in here just for fun. Let ‘em float in the void for a day.”

  [Host… are you becoming me? I’m so proud.]

  The system let out a dramatic sniffle.

  [I always knew you had potential, you evil little gremlin.]

  Jin chuckled, then stretched like a cat.

  “Alright, guess I should prep a few new costumes. Maybe one with horns. Or a tentacle face.”

  [Oooh, go full Eldritch horror. Nothing says ‘godly emissary’ like ten eyes and a mouth on your stomach.]

  “Noted.”

  The interface flickered with ideas as Jin yawned.

  “I’ll nap for now. Wake me up tomorrow morning — oh, and if you prank me again like last time with those fake ‘Host, the world’s ending!’ alarms, I’m disabling your notification sounds.”

  [No promises.]

  Jin rolled his eyes.

  “Seriously. Sleep mode. Now.”

  [Fine, fine. Sweet dreams, future overlord.]

  And with a final mischievous giggle from the system, Subspace fell silent.