Julian stood frozen.
A gentle breeze swept across the endless grasslands, carrying the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth. The sky above was impossibly blue, without a single cloud.
Everything before him felt... alive.
Not like a dream.
Not like an illusion.
It was real.
His heartbeat quickened as he slowly turned in a circle.
To his left stretched an endless emerald forest.
To his right, towering snow-capped mountains pierced the heavens.
In the distance, an ocean sparkled beneath the golden sunlight, its waves crashing rhythmically against a pristine white shoreline.
"This..."
Julian whispered.
"...is impossible."
The mysterious voice echoed once more.
"Nothing is impossible for the chosen Master of Genesis."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
A moment later, countless golden lights gathered before him, slowly forming the shape of a young man dressed in flowing white robes embroidered with silver runes.
He appeared no older than twenty-five.
Long silver hair cascaded to his waist.
Golden eyes shone like stars.
His face was so beautiful it seemed carved by the gods themselves.
He smiled politely before bowing.
"Greetings, Master."
"My name is Orion."
"I am the Guardian Spirit of Genesis."
Julian instinctively stepped back.
"Guardian Spirit?"
Orion nodded.
"Yes."
"I have waited countless years for your arrival."
Julian stared at him.
"If this is some kind of joke..."
"It is not."
Orion raised a hand.
The world around them suddenly changed.
Images appeared in the air.
Julian saw planets.
Galaxies.
Stars.
Then...
One world after another was swallowed by darkness.
Cities burned.
Creatures far more terrifying than zombies devoured entire civilizations.
Millions died.
Then billions.
Julian's breathing became uneven.
"What am I looking at?"
"The end of countless worlds."
"The apocalypse is not unique to Earth."
"It is merely another world undergoing a trial."
Julian frowned.
"A trial?"
Orion nodded solemnly.
"The strong survive."
"The weak perish."
Julian clenched his fists.
"So billions of innocent people are simply... sacrificed?"
"I do not create the rules."
"I only guard Genesis."
Silence fell.
Julian looked away.
He had witnessed enough death in his previous life to know that life was cruel.
Perhaps...
The universe was even crueler.
...
After a long pause, Julian finally asked,
"What exactly is Genesis?"
Orion smiled.
"Genesis is your inheritance."
"It is an independent world."
"It exists outside time and space."
"No force from your universe can destroy it."
Julian looked around again.
"It really is..."
"...an entire planet."
Orion nodded proudly.
"The surface area exceeds Earth's."
Julian couldn't hide his surprise.
Larger than Earth...
No wonder he couldn't see its end.
"Everything here belongs to you."
"The forests."
"The rivers."
"The oceans."
"The mountains."
"The creatures."
"The palace."
"Even the sky."
Julian slowly exhaled.
His world...
An entire world...
Belonged to him.
...
"What can I do here?"
Orion smiled.
"A better question would be..."
"What can't you do?"
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly—
Hundreds of fruits appeared on a nearby tree.
Golden apples.
Silver pears.
Blue peaches.
Their fragrance filled the air.
"They grow naturally inside Genesis."
Julian picked one.
The fruit was warm from the sunlight.
He hesitated before taking a bite.
Crunch.
Sweet juice exploded across his tongue.
His eyes widened.
"This..."
It was the most delicious fruit he had ever tasted.
The fatigue in his body disappeared almost instantly.
Even the old scars from his previous life seemed lighter.
Orion smiled knowingly.
"Everything grown within Genesis contains Life Essence."
"It nourishes both body and soul."
Julian looked at the fruit in disbelief.
"If these were sold..."
"They would be priceless."
"They are."
"But Genesis was never created for profit."
...
They continued walking.
Soon they arrived before an enormous crystal lake.
The water was so clear Julian could see every pebble beneath the surface.
"What about this?"
"The Spring of Life."
"It never runs dry."
"It purifies all impurities."
"It accelerates healing."
Julian knelt beside the lake.
He cupped some water in his hands.
The moment he drank it—
Warmth spread throughout his body.
Every muscle relaxed.
Even his mind became clearer.
"This..."
"Impossible..."
"You will become accustomed to such miracles."
...
Hours passed as Orion introduced Genesis.
There were endless fertile plains capable of feeding billions.
Ancient forests filled with rare medicinal herbs.
Snow mountains rich in minerals.
An ocean teeming with fish.
Even wild animals wandered peacefully.
Deer.
Horses.
Rabbits.
Birds.
None feared Julian.
It was as if the world itself welcomed him.
...
Eventually...
They reached the massive white palace standing at the center of Genesis.
Its golden gates stood nearly fifty meters high.
Ancient dragons and phoenixes were carved into the walls.
The entire structure radiated unimaginable majesty.
Julian looked upward.
"I've never seen architecture like this."
"Because humanity didn't build it."
Orion placed a hand against the gate.
The enormous doors slowly opened.
Rumble...
A breathtaking hall appeared.
Golden pillars.
Crystal chandeliers.
An endless red carpet.
Bookshelves reaching hundreds of meters high.
Ancient paintings.
Weapons unlike anything on Earth.
Julian stood speechless.
"This..."
"...is my palace?"
"Yes, Master."
"But most areas remain sealed."
Julian frowned.
"Why?"
"You are currently too weak."
"When your strength increases..."
"The palace will acknowledge you."
...
They stopped before a floating crystal.
It glowed with countless colors.
Orion gestured toward it.
"Place your hand upon the Genesis Core."
Julian obeyed.
The instant his fingers touched the crystal—
BOOM!!
Golden light exploded across the palace.
His body floated into the air.
A strange energy surged through every cell.
Heat.
Cold.
Lightning.
Wind.
Nature.
Water.
Fire.
Everything seemed to flow around him.
Then—
The energy suddenly calmed.
Julian slowly descended.
He looked at his trembling hands.
Tiny flames danced across his fingertips.
A droplet of water floated above his palm.
A delicate vine sprouted from the marble floor.
Several silver knives nearby began floating into the air.
Frost spread across the ground.
Julian stared silently.
Fire.
Water.
Plant Manipulation.
Telekinesis.
Ice.
His abilities...
They had awakened before the apocalypse.
Orion smiled.
"As Master of Genesis..."
"You possess an extraordinary affinity with elemental energy."
"But remember..."
"Power without discipline is destruction."
"You must learn to master them."
Julian closed his fist.
The flames disappeared.
A slow smile spread across his face.
This time...
He wasn't weak.
This time...
No one would starve him.
No one would betray him.
No one would use him as a shield.
Ryan...
Julian's eyes grew ice-cold.
"I'm waiting for the day we meet again."
Outside the palace, the wind suddenly howled.
Far beyond Genesis...
On Earth...
The countdown to the apocalypse had already begun.
To be continued ...