Chapter 2:– A World That Never Sleeps.
The television let out a sharp crackle as it came to life.
The screen was split by thin fractures that distorted the image, but sound still came through clearly enough. Static buzzed softly in the background, a constant reminder of how old—and abused—the device was.
The girl sat on the floor with her back against the wall, knees pulled close to her chest. In her hands was a cheap cup of instant noodles, steam rising weakly into the stale air. The taste was bland, almost unpleasant, but her body welcomed it desperately.
Food was food.
Her stomach still ached, but the sharp pain had dulled enough for her to think.
She flipped through the channels, remote clicking loudly in the quiet apartment. Each channel felt like a window into a different part of the world—one she knew nothing about.
Channel 57 – Emergency News Broadcast
The screen cut to chaos.
A city skyline filled the frame, but the buildings looked small—insignificant—compared to the massive figure looming over them.
The monster was enormous, easily over a hundred meters tall. Its upper body resembled a beetle encased in jagged black armor, its head crowned with twisted horns. Two massive scythe-like limbs extended from its sides, slicing through buildings as if they were paper.
Its lower half was far worse.
A massive serpent-like body crushed streets and vehicles beneath its weight, its scales dark and cracked like stone.
Red warnings flashed across the screen.
"DANGER – DANGER – DANGER"
"4-STAR PHYSICAL MERGED VOID BEAST CONFIRMED"
The reporter's voice was tense, barely controlled.
"A merged void beast has appeared in City Number 77, a low-tier city. The creature's affinities have been confirmed as dark and earth. Evacuation protocols are in effect."
The girl froze mid-bite.
Low-tier city.
Just like hers.
The camera shifted, showing seven figures approaching the monster from different directions. They moved unnaturally fast, leaving trails of light behind them.
One raised a hand, fire exploding outward in a massive arc. Another slammed both fists into the ground, stone erupting upward to restrain the creature's movement. Lightning, wind, and other abilities followed.
The battle was brutal—and slow.
Buildings collapsed. Streets cracked. The monster roared, shaking the screen.
A new headline appeared.
"NIGHT WATCHER GROUP 'THE SEVEN RISING STARS' ENGAGES THE TARGET"
Her grip tightened around the noodle cup.
So even with seven powerful people, something like that wasn't easy to stop.
She swallowed.
This wasn't a rare disaster.
This was normal.
She switched channels.
Channel 77 – Nature & Environmental Watch
The screen changed to a forest.
At first glance, it looked ordinary—trees, plants, shadows—but something felt wrong. A faint black mist clung to the ground, drifting lazily between the trunks. Leaves were discolored, veins glowing faintly with dark energy.
The reporter stood before a wall of monitors, each showing similar forests from different regions.
"As seen across multiple zones," the reporter said calmly, "forests lacking void beasts have begun to deteriorate."
The camera zoomed in on a plant slowly twisting in on itself.
"Void energy exists in a constant cycle of gain and loss. In regions where void beasts are eliminated too efficiently, energy accumulates beyond sustainable levels."
The girl frowned.
"Plants in these regions are forced to absorb excess void energy, resulting in sickness, mutation, and ecological instability."
So monsters weren't just threats.
They were part of the balance.
Her stomach twisted again—not from hunger this time, but discomfort.
Killing monsters too well could destroy nature.
Letting them roam destroyed cities.
There was no winning.
She changed the channel again.
Channel 30 – Corporate Product Showcase
A sleek black humanoid robot rotated slowly on-screen, its surface smooth and reflective.
"Presenting the Mark-56 Void Robot—our most affordable and efficient model to date."
Text flashed beside it.
Price: 100,000 Mid-Tier Void Coins
The girl nearly choked.
"Designed for both industrial and civilian use, the Mark-56 can operate using void energy, solar power, and wind energy."
The robot's armor shifted, revealing thin solar panels and small rotating turbines.
"Even when void energy reserves are low, the Mark-56 can perform essential tasks."
Her eyes lingered on the screen.
Machines like that weren't luxury items.
They were survival tools.
Which meant people like her—poor, powerless—were already behind.
She leaned her head back against the wall.
"…This world is fucked," she muttered.
Putting the Pieces Together
By the time her noodles were gone, patterns began to form.
This world revolved around void energy.
Void energy powered technology. Void energy strengthened people. Void energy birthed monsters. Void energy even shaped nature itself.
And most importantly—
Void energy was not infinite.
Too little of it weakened cities and technology.
Too much of it corrupted land, plants, and creatures.
Balance wasn't optional.
It was survival.
Some people could interact with void energy directly.
They were born with talents.
Talent holders could absorb void energy into their bodies, refining it to strengthen themselves or unleash supernatural abilities. Those without talents relied on machines—robots, tools, weapons—to use void energy indirectly.
Contrary to what she expected, talent holders weren't rare enough to rule society.
There were a lot of them.
Enough that discrimination between talent holders and normal people barely existed.
If anything, talent holders were expected to fight.
To protect cities.
To die first.
Her eyes drifted to her reflection in the dark TV screen.
She had two talents.
That should have made her valuable.
Instead, it had made her a target.
The Star Systems
More channels, more programs, more pieces of information.
Eventually, a recurring concept became clear.
Power in this world was measured through star systems.
There were two primary paths:
The Physical Star System
Used by talents that enhanced the body—strength, speed, endurance, regeneration, adaptation.
The Mental Star System
Used by talents that manipulated energy or reality—fire, lightning, mind abilities, foresight, domains.
Higher systems existed.
Everyone hinted at them.
No one explained them.
And honestly? That was fine.
She wasn't even at the starting line yet.
Her biggest problem wasn't power.
It was survival.
Training required food.
Training required time.
Training required a body that wasn't on the verge of collapse.
She hugged her knees tighter.
"How am I supposed to do any of this…?"
As if answering her thoughts, the familiar red interface appeared.
Cellular Adaptation Speaks
"Basic training methods for the Physical Star System are publicly available," Cellular Adaptation displayed.
She blinked.
"…Publicly?"
"Yes. Low-tier cities broadcast them freely to increase local defense strength."
That… made sense.
More trained people meant fewer cities destroyed.
"Mental Star System methods are rarer," it continued, "but due to limited instructors in low-tier cities, some broadcasts are made freely available."
So the city invested in its people.
Not out of kindness.
Out of necessity.
For the first time since waking up in this world, something shifted inside her.
A small, cautious hope.
The Void Calendar
She waited.
Four days passed.
She spent them cleaning what little she could, rationing food, and watching the TV obsessively. She learned about the Void Calendar, introduced after void energy first appeared and reshaped the world.
It was strangely simple:
1 week = 10 days
1 month = 4 weeks (40 days)
1 year = 10 months (400 days)
Time itself hadn't changed—seconds, minutes, hours were all the same.
Just the counting.
On the 14th day of the 5th month, year 670, the broadcast finally appeared.
Channel 15 – Free Training Method Broadcast
The screen showed a clean, well-lit training hall.
A fit young woman stood at the center, dressed in simple athletic clothing. Her posture was relaxed but disciplined.
"Today, we will cover basic Physical Star System entry training."
The girl leaned closer.
The instructor began with warm-up movements—slow, deliberate exercises designed to increase blood flow and awaken muscles. Nothing flashy. Nothing dramatic.
Five minutes passed.
Then the instructor reached for a small case.
Inside were thin, metallic tools—not needles, but something similar.
"These are regulated void conduits," the instructor explained. "They allow controlled entry of void energy during early-stage training."
The screen split, showing a detailed diagram of the human body. Thin glowing lines traced pathways through muscles and organs.
"Void energy must circulate correctly. Improper flow causes internal damage, organ failure, or death."
The girl swallowed hard.
This wasn't safe.
But it wasn't reckless either.
It was structured danger.
A kind of danger she could prepare for.
Her hands trembled slightly.
For the first time since arriving in this world, she wasn't just reacting.
She was planning.
She turned off the TV slowly.
Tomorrow, she would try.
She didn't know if she'd succeed.
She didn't know if she'd survive.
But one thing was clear now—
This world would not wait for her to catch up.
.
.
.
.
.
End of Chapter 2