Second Genesis

Grey stared at the corpse of the Holy Knight, his pupils constricted about as far as they could go.

He remembered how helpless he had felt in front of Captain Terran. It wasn’t as bad as what he faced with Valdris and Esmeralda, but at the time he hadn’t had any chances at rebirth left. The weight of it all was vastly different, almost like he was a candle in the wind and the Holy Knight could end him at any moment.

And yet, here was this behemoth of a woman, supposedly a participant just like he was, using one of them as both a stool and lunch.

’They’re so strong right at the start. How long would it take me to get Vector Class power?’

From the looks of it, Clarri had basically taken her city over already and here he was still stuck in politics.

’This can’t continue like this.’

Grey didn’t say a word, but he had made a silent decision at that moment. The air around him changed and the smirk that seemed to perpetually hang on his lips vanished for the moment.

"The Orne have always had strong contenders, but this year they’ve truly brought out the big guns. I like to have some variety, so it took quite some effort to eventually choose a single one.

"Maybe I’ve put a target on Clarri’s back," the Great Udon burst into uproarious laughter.

For some reason, Grey had a feeling that Clarri might not be the best of the Orne at all. She was certainly among the strongest, but Grey felt that the Great Udon was the sort to stir trouble on purpose.

He had already said that his list was subject to change, and this was just the first. Plus, with his power, and how most people would be watching this main feed rather than a private feed like Grey’s, anyone the Great Udon introduced like this would likely gain a huge influx of sponsors.

But the floating head obviously didn’t care about benefiting the ones he chose. The Great Udon served himself and the product first and foremost. Meaning, he wanted the most entertaining result.

He wasn’t choosing these candidates on who was most worthy. He was choosing based on what would have the most interesting result.

Purposely picking a weaker candidate and then watching those who were stronger chase them down to prove themselves.

’What a bastard. It’ll probably be hard to find her though. He never mentioned what Zone she was in, and I’m not even sure travelling between Zones is possible...’

Grey never thought he’d find himself feeling sorry for someone literally eating a human skull, but what could he say? Those thighs were hypnotizing. They deserved to live.

The images flashed and soon the screen had a new candidate on it.

’Holy... what is that...?’

The creature looked like it was nothing but a floating armor. Its chest plate was solid, but the plates of armor covering its arms and legs were separated by motes of light, a cloudy energy, and crackling lightning that made it obvious there wasn’t actually a body inside of it. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

And then there was its head, a floating mass of the very same cloud-like blue energy and crackling golden lightning. Its eyes were concentrated masses of this lightning, and when it moved, it quite literally left streaks of lightning in its wake like it was tapping into the speed force or something.

’I do not want to fight that thing. Where the hell are its vitals? What do I cut?’

Grey had only just had the thought when the thing expanded into a giant, the joints of its armor separating as the armor itself expanded.

And then it... burst?

Rivers of lightning curved around the corners of tunnels and fried everything in its path to ash.

Just like that, it cleared the tutorial.

’Is this a fucking joke?’

Every battle the creature fought was just as ridiculous as the last. Grey was convinced it wasn’t even taking things seriously. It was just dicking around, trying to see how far it could push its body before its enemies forced it to be serious.

That time didn’t come.

The last scene was quite literally it bolting into the skies in a streak of lightning, fusing into the clouds, and then sending a beam of judgment downward that wiped out its entire city in one go.

’... What the hell...?’

Grey was suddenly even more convinced that the Great Udon was trolling Clarri. What was this ridiculous amount of strength? That thing had just leveled a city.

What Grey didn’t know was that the strength of the two were a lot closer than it seemed. It was just that the mass of cloud and lightning was using what the gamers of the world would call hacks.

Every Race that entered the Genesis Games had their own advantages and information to make use of. This creature had just happened on an exceptionally lucky roll and taken advantage.

"Wow, wow, wow! What a moment! I’ve seen many brute force methods of clearing the first act, but it’s very rare anyone destroys their Zone City so thoroughly."

Grey frowned. ’Is that the objective of the first act? Destroy the city? That seems a bit...’

There was something else that stood out. Whether it was the tutorial or the city, there should be other participants. Had they just killed them all?

Grey felt like he was missing something.

"The Ashen Arc Clan is truly a fascinating one. The Volthari have produced quite a number of talents, but Zyrel stands out amongst them all. He just might be the strongest of them all, a powerhouse that stands beyond all the others.

"Rumors have it that he was born with a Perfect Resonant Frame, guaranteed perfect up to the Dominus Class. What a powerhouse indeed!"

The Great Udon grinned and Grey’s eyes narrowed.

"This last choice, though, has a truly special place in my heart. A member of a Cracked World, and an elite amongst elites, he has shown himself to be truly exceptional."

The screen flashed and Grey’s heart skipped a beat.

The scene of a man wielding a golden spear appeared.

Joaquin.