Everything felt real. Too real.
Rylan pushed himself up on the soft bed, his head still spinning a little from whatever had knocked him out earlier. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room. It looked like a small apartment, nothing fancy but clean enough.
Plain white walls, a single window with thin curtains letting in daylight, a wooden dresser in the corner, and a small kitchenette with a fridge that hummed quietly. There was even a tiny bathroom door cracked open. The place smelled faintly of fresh linen and old carpet.
He sat there for a moment, trying to piece things together. The last thing he remembered was all that blood and those shadowy things ripping people apart.
Then nothing. Now he was here, in this strange room, and deep down he knew exactly where he was. This had to be the Invincible world. The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine. He wasn't on Earth anymore. Not his Earth anyway.
Before he could spiral too far, a blue screen flickered to life right in front of his eyes, glowing softly like a holographic display only he could see.
[ Status Window ] [ Name: Rylan Voss ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Stats ]
[ S-Cell Density: 100 — Rank: Incomplete Viltrumite ]
[ Reactive Durability: weak — can survive 2 hits from Viltrumites ]
[ Combat Velocity: Mach 150 — Atmospheric | Weak - F ]
[ Regenerative Factor: 15% / min — Internal organs will stabilize within seconds ]
[ Willpower / Equilibrium: low ]
[ Skills & Powers ]
[ Active Skills ]
[ Flight (F rank), Super Strength (F rank) ]
[ Passive Skills ]
[ Healing - D rank ]
A calm, neutral voice spoke directly into his mind, smooth and clear like someone reading instructions.
"This is your personal system interface. You can gain new powers and upgrade existing ones as you level up. The highest possible rank for any skill is EX. There are no limits to how far you can push your stats. Keep growing, and you will become whatever you choose to be."
Rylan stared at the screen, his mouth hanging open a bit.
'This is a little too overpowered,' he thought, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. The possibilities made his pulse quicken with excitement.
He dismissed the screen with a thought and swung his legs off the bed. The wooden floor felt cool under his bare feet. He walked over to the small TV on the dresser, grabbed the remote, and clicked it on.
The news channel came to life. There he was on the screen, Omni-Man, smiling confidently during some interview, talking about protecting the planet. No mention of any massacre yet. The timeline was early. Really early.
That realization hit him like a wave. He had a chance to change things, or at least steer them his way. A quiet thrill ran through him. He wasn't going to bow to anyone in this world. Not heroes, not villains, not even the Viltrumites if they showed up.
Everything he did from now on would be for his own gain.
Rylan stood up fully and took a better look around the apartment. A small table held a wallet and a set of keys. He picked up the wallet and flipped it open. Cash, a driver's license with his face on it, and a couple of credit cards.
Somehow the system had set him up with money. He counted the bills quickly. Enough for a few things, but not a fortune. He shrugged and slipped the wallet into his pocket.
"Guess I'll make it work," he muttered to himself.
He stepped outside onto the street, and the city hit him all at once. Tall buildings stretched up into a bright blue sky. Cars moved along the roads, normal people walking with coffee cups and shopping bags.
But mixed in were the superhumans. A guy in a red and blue costume flew overhead carrying a delivery bag. Another woman with glowing hands helped an old lady cross the street, her palms lighting up softly as she steadied the woman.
Further down, a man with four extra arms was unloading boxes from a truck like it was nothing. The mix of ordinary life and casual power felt strange but alive. Rylan couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. He was really here. In the Invincible world. And he was going to make the most of it.
He had always wanted to be a hero back on his old Earth, at least in his daydreams. Now he had the chance for real. First things first though. He needed a costume. He used most of the cash in his wallet at a small shop that sold custom hero gear.
The owner didn't ask too many questions, just took the money and handed over the outfit.
The suit was all black, tight but flexible, made of some sturdy material that felt tough against his skin. A simple black mask covered the upper half of his face, leaving his mouth and jaw free.
The cape was his favorite part, black with gold trim along the edges, flowing just enough to look dramatic without getting in the way. He put it on in the shop's tiny changing room, adjusting the mask until it sat right.
When he looked in the mirror, he felt a rush of pride.
"Not bad," he said quietly, turning side to side. "This'll do for now."
Feeling more confident, he left the shop and headed straight for the forest on the edge of the city. The trees grew thick and tall, blocking out most of the noise from the streets. Birds called overhead, and the ground was soft with fallen leaves.
This was the perfect spot to practice without anyone watching too closely.
Rylan took a deep breath and focused on the flight skill listed in his status. He pictured himself lifting off the ground, just like he'd seen in the show. At first nothing happened.
He concentrated harder, willing the power to work. Slowly, his feet left the dirt. A small laugh escaped him as he rose a few inches.
"Okay, this is actually happening!"
He tried to move forward and immediately tilted sideways, crashing into a bush. Leaves and twigs scratched his arms as he tumbled out. He stood up, brushing himself off, cheeks a little warm with embarrassment even though no one was around.
"Alright, take it slow," he told himself.
He tried again. This time he managed to hover steadily for almost a minute before losing balance and dropping back down. Each fall stung a bit, but his healing kicked in quickly, the small bruises fading within seconds.
He kept at it, pushing higher little by little. One successful glide across a small clearing made him grin wide.
"Yes! That felt good."
He practiced for what felt like hours, falling more times than he could count, but each attempt taught him something new about how the power flowed through his body.
His muscles ached in a satisfying way, and every small improvement brought a quiet sense of merit. He wasn't some natural prodigy, but he was getting better.
Eventually he stopped, breathing a little heavier, sweat cooling on his skin under the suit. The sun was starting to dip lower through the trees.
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and listened to the quiet forest around him.
Then he heard voices. Low and rough, coming from deeper in the woods. A group of thugs, by the sound of it, laughing and talking about something that didn't sound friendly.
Rylan stayed still, ears straining to catch their words.