There was no light.
No darkness, either.
No sky, no ground, no stars, and no horizon to distinguish one direction from another. Even the concept of distance had no meaning here.
This was not an empty universe. An empty universe would still be something.
This was the Primordial Expanse.
Beyond the boundaries of existence, beyond the laws governing reality, and beyond anything that could be understood by beings who belonged to the Omniverse.
And within this incomprehensible expanse, two figures existed.
One was a young man.
He looked entirely ordinary. Black hair, ordinary features, and a casual expression that seemed rather out of place in a location where existence itself had no meaning.
His name was Adams.
The other figure was...
Unknown.
It had no distinguishable appearance. No fixed shape, no recognizable voice, and no presence that could be measured. It simply existed.
Adams looked around.
Then he looked down.
Then he looked around again.
"Okay."
He paused.
"Where the hell am I?"
There was no response.
Adams waited a few seconds before turning toward the mysterious presence.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
"I am here."
The voice did not travel through the air. There was no air to carry it. Yet Adams heard it as clearly as though someone had spoken directly beside him.
"Oh, good. I was starting to think I'd been abandoned."
"You are not abandoned."
"Great. Then would you mind telling me where I am?"
A brief silence followed.
"Beyond."
"..."
'duhh'
Adams blinked.
"Beyond what?"
"Everything."
He stared at the mysterious figure.
"...That's not particularly helpful."
"It is the most accurate answer."
Adams scratched his head.
"Right. So, let me guess. I'm dead?"
"Your previous existence has ended."
"That's a yes, then."
He looked around once more, trying to find something familiar. There was nothing. No buildings, no people, no scenery. Just an endless absence that somehow wasn't empty.
"Did you bring me here?"
"Technically."
"Why?"
The presence remained silent for a moment.
"Because you have a purpose."
Adams tilted his head.
"A purpose?"
"Yes."
"Am I supposed to save the world? Defeat some ancient evil? Become a hero?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"You will understand in time."
Adams narrowed his eyes.
"That's a very suspicious answer."
"It is not my intention to make it easier for you to understand."
"Well, you're certainly succeeding."
He considered the situation. He had died—or at least, his previous life had ended—and some incomprehensible being had brought him to a place beyond everything.
There was no point pretending this was ordinary.
"So, what happens now?"
"You will receive the means to fulfill your purpose."
Adams raised an eyebrow.
"The means?"
"Yes."
'...bitch.'
"Are we talking about a second chance at life? A new world? Some extraordinary abilities?"
"You will have the freedom to decide what to do with what you receive."
Adams smiled.
"Freedom, huh?"
"Yes."
"Sounds nice."
The mysterious presence offered no further explanation.
Adams studied it for a while. There were plenty of questions he could ask, but something told him that he wouldn't receive particularly satisfying answers.
Still, there was one thing he wanted to know.
"Who are you?"
"I am."
Adams waited.
"...That's it?"
"That is all you need to know."
"You're not exactly a talkative one, are you?"
No answer.
Adams sighed.
"Fine. I suppose I'll find out eventually."
"You may."
The space around them remained unchanged, yet Adams felt that something had shifted. He couldn't identify what it was. There was no visible energy, no explosion of light, and no overwhelming sensation of power.
Only a quiet certainty that something fundamental about his existence had changed.
"One more thing." Adams said.
"Speak."
"Will I be able to do whatever I want?"
"Yes."
Adams grinned.
"Now that's an interesting answer."
"You should remember what I told you."
"About my purpose?"
"Yes."
Adams gave a casual salute.
"Sure thing by Daniel."
Whether he understood the meaning behind those words was another matter entirely.
"You have 3 minutes for all of your wishes."
"Become unkillable...."
And 3 minutes later
The mysterious presence said nothing more.
And then—
Adams disappeared.
...
Pokwang Plane.
Graveyard Forest — Outer Region.
A young man lay beneath an ancient tree.
His black hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and his body was in terrible condition. His breathing was shallow, and his face was pale.
After a while, his eyelids moved.
He slowly opened his golden eyes.
"...Where?"
His voice was weak.
He tried to sit up, but pain immediately shot through his body. He stopped and stared at his trembling hands.
"What happened to me?"
Memories began flooding into his mind.
A different life.
A different family.
A world where mana existed, where cultivation determined one's strength, and where countless races shared the same vast plane.
He saw a grand estate, familiar faces, and moments that didn't belong to him.
Then came the memories of betrayal.
A sudden attack. Blood. Screaming. The collapse of everything he had once considered home.
His father was dead.
His family had fallen into turmoil.
And he had been left in this forest, barely clinging to life.
Adams closed his eyes.
The memories gradually settled, leaving him with a strange mixture of familiarity and unfamiliarity.
"So..."
He opened his eyes again.
"I'm Adams."
He looked at his surroundings.
The enormous trees. The unfamiliar vegetation. The distant sounds of creatures hidden within the forest.
Then he glanced at his injured body.
"...And this is definitely not Taiwan."
He remained silent for several seconds.
Then he exhaled.
"Well, that's a problem."
He tried moving his legs. Pain followed. His body was severely weakened, and even the simplest movement required effort.
He leaned back against the tree.
"Transmigration, huh?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Of all the things that could happen..."
He looked toward the sky, barely visible through the thick canopy.
"At least I hope there's something good waiting for me."
A moment passed.
Then another.
A familiar sound suddenly rang inside his mind.
Ding.
Adams froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
"...No way."
A translucent interface appeared before his vision.
[Initializing...]
[Establishing connection...]
[Connection established.]
[Welcome, Master.]
Adams stared at the words.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"....OHHHHH! I forgot about you dawg."
Another message appeared.
[I am the Primordial Archive.]
[I have been created by the one you encountered.]
He read the message.
Then he leaned back against the tree, a curious expression replacing his excitement.
"Created by that mysterious fellow, huh?"
[Correct, Master.]
"Do you know who created you?"
[I know only that my creator is the one who brought you here. I do not possess further information regarding its identity or nature.]
Adams raised an eyebrow.
"So even you don't know much about your creator?"
[That is correct.]
"Hmm. Interesting."
He considered the name displayed before him.
"Primordial Archive..."
It sounded impressive.
A little too impressive, perhaps.
"Can I call you Jarvis?"
[I have no objection.]
Adams chuckled.
"Excellent. Jarvis it is."
[Acknowledged, Master.]
He glanced at the interface again.
"Well, Jarvis..."
His golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Let's see what kind of trouble I can get into."
[I shall assist you to the best of my capabilities, Master.]
Adams grinned.
For someone who had just awakened in an unfamiliar world with a severely damaged body, he seemed remarkably cheerful.
After all, he had received a second chance.
And somewhere beyond everything, an unknown existence had given him a purpose.
What Adams would eventually make of that purpose remained to be seen.
End of Chapter 1.